
Hey fans of The Tester. We have a special treat for you this week. Two of your favorite cast members from The Tester, Luge and Doc, will be dropping by The Tester theater in PlayStation Home tomorrow, Wednesday, from 6PM PDT/9 PM EDT – 7PM PDT/10PM EDT to take your questions. Here’s your chance to get the answers to the questions you’ve been dying to ask: What’s it really like on The Tester set? What’s it like in the hamster ball? How are beerios?
If you’ve been following the series, you know that this past week’s Episode 4 was no easy LARP in the park for both Luge and Doc. And, we all want to know what’s next for Luge and what’s Doc’s strategy to win as we get down to our final six challengers.
More cast guest appearances are slated in the weeks ahead. So let us know the other contestants you would like to hear from. And, remember, Episode 5 hits PlayStation Network on Thursday!






By now you’ve read Jack’s post regarding the exciting new update to PlayStation Home’s core client, which will, among many other things, greatly improve loading times as well as streamline navigation in-between spaces. But we have much more than just the 1.35 update coming at you this week. We’re talking FINAL FANTASY XIII content, new Indiana Jones items, and more personal spaces than you can shake a stick at.
The reviews are rolling in and, to say the least, they are positively glowing. FINAL FANTASY XIII, Square Enix’s latest addition to what is inarguably one of the critically-applauded RPG franchises of all time, has just been released and, chances are, you are reading this blog on a brief detour to the ultimate destination: Pulse. Which means that we caught you just in time to let you know about an additional option for those of you who, like me, simply must immerse themselves in all things FINAL FANTASY-related – namely, the brand spanking new FINAL FANTASY XIII personal space (as well as the corresponding furniture items) that is releasing tomorrow, March 11 into the ever-expanding world of PlayStation Home.
Also releasing this week is a brand new personal space sure to make every racing fan’s pulse pound – the Luxury Race Box. A true must-have for all you speed demons, the Luxury Race Box is the ideal location to kick back and relax with your friends. That’s if your idea of “relaxing with your friends” is being bombarded with the shrieks and squeals of cars that are motoring by mere feet away whilst the smell of burning rubber fills your nose. Peep the video below for a closer look at this exhilarating new personal space.
Magnus Keynes’ Mall Madness sale continues this week with a huge price cut on some of the most popular personal spaces to ever grace the PlayStation Home platform. We’re talking the Summer House, Lakeside Log Cabin, Wizard’s Den, Post-Apocalypse, and even the Halloween favorite “Deadquarters” (which turns you and all of your friends into zombies just by entering) – with prices ranging from $1.99 to $4.99 for a bundle. Needless to say, Magnus has been going a little nuts with the proverbial scissors but it fares well for the rest of us, so let him do his thing! Here are a couple shots of some of the spaces that are on sale this week. These spaces are only available at this super-low price for a limited time, so be sure to pick yours up on tomorrow morning.

It’s a new week, which means that a new episode of The Tester will be playing in the PlayStation Home Theater come late Thursday afternoon. And, of course, we’ll be giving out free items to everyone who watches Episode 4 of this PlayStation Network exclusive reality series, as well as offering commemorative items in the Central Plaza and Theater kiosks – like this special The Tester jersey!

In other news, another batch of Indiana Jones items are coming to PlayStation Home this Thursday – including your very own Ark of the Covenant for your personal space. Of course, you need to make sure you are pure of mind, body, and soul before you pick this one up…
In terms of Sodium updates, two new Salt Shooter weapons will be available this Thursday: The Multi Shot Grenade Launcher and the Long Range Plasma Emitter. The MSGL is a powerful and deadly addition to your arsenal that is perfect for taking on multiple enemies at once, while the LRPE boasts fantastic accuracy, rapid rate of fire, impressive range, and an efficient cooling system (the LRPE can be upgraded to become the most powerful weapon in the game and will help you achieve new personal high scores left, right and center!) To get these new weapons, all you have to do is purchase the corresponding items of furniture from the Sodium store. When you have these, you will be able to equip your tank with the weapons next time you play the Salt Shooter game.
Come tomorrow, you’ll also start receiving Bronze, Silver and Gold Accolades as you progressively earn more credits playing the Desert Quench mini-game in the Sodium hub. To earn credits as a thirsty customer you must drink your way through beverage after beverage following the command prompts which appear on screen – the less prompts that you miss, the more credits you’ll earn. As an employee, you should aim to serve customers the right drink combinations – correct combinations will earn you the most credits and get you closer to those precious accolades.
See you in Home!


Hello again Home Community,
I am thrilled to be back on the PlayStation.Blog to share some exciting news. Tomorrow we will be launching PlayStation Home 1.35, a new client update that will include some very significant enhancements that will make your PlayStation Home experience even better.
This update will bring several of the changes that you, the PlayStation Home community, have said are most important to you. Most notably, this update features faster load times, giving you quicker access to PlayStation Home and all the great content within. The new 1.35 update also enhances the login process. Now, once you have launched into PlayStation Home from the XMB, you will be transported directly to a new intuitive navigator, without the need to click through message screens.

Like much of PlayStation Home, the design of this new navigator is directly based on community feedback on how to improve access to the content used most in PlayStation Home. This streamlined interface features categories to help you quickly move through PlayStation Home and locate friends in just a few clicks.
Categories will include:
Just a reminder that PlayStation Home will not be accessible for a brief period tomorrow as we work the magic on our side to bring you this update. If you have any questions or comments, as always, please drop us a note in the PlayStation Home forums.
With now 12 million users around the world playing games, attending special events, watching videos, listening to music, and meeting new friends, there has never been a better time to join the PlayStation Home community. For those of you that are already part of the party, with tomorrow’s 1.35 update, I think you’ll agree that everything you love about PlayStation Home just got that much better.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve received tons of requests from you in-world, via Blog comments and in the official PlayStation Home forums. You’ve asked for more Star Wars and Indiana Jones offerings in the recently-opened Lucas Arts store. You’ve asked for us to bring over the Irem Seaside of Memories public space. You’ve asked for more dazzling personal spaces in tropical locales. So we’re bringing these things (and more) to you, the loyal PlayStation Home community tomorrow, March 4. Want more info? Read on, my friends…
You asked for more lightsabers – you got ‘em! You wanted more costumes, like the Dark Lord’s armor Star Wars: The Force Unleashed? Or maybe you want to dress up like a Clone Trooper? As a hardcore Indiana Jones fan, you might want Mutt Williams’ gear or a Crystal Skull for your personal space. That’s why our friends over at LucasArts are stocking the shelves with tons of hot new items this week (as well as dropping a Yoda Fountain in Central that answers all of your pressing questions). Here’s a taste of what to expect come Thursday morning.

We’re pleased to announce that the highly-requested Irem Seaside of Memories public space – with its resort-like atmosphere, complete with three huts (including one swimwear storefront), white sand beaches, and some totally rad rewards for all you guys and the gals – is launching this week. This serene oceanfront locale is the perfect place to catch some sun, take a swim, and just chill out with your friends. Check out the pics below for a sneak peek of what is in store for you this week.

In these short winter days it oftentimes feels like you can never have too much sun…or too much fun. And that’s precisely why we have decided to release two new additions to our luxury personal space line. These two spaces – a beautiful Santorini-based seaside mansion and a wave-faring Yacht – are the textbook definition of opulence and affluence. Since these dazzling new spaces complement one another perfectly, we’ll be bundling them together at a reduced price of $7.99 (they will also be available for $4.99 separately). Look at the pics to get a better look at these fantastic new personal spaces.


In terms of what is going down this week in the PlayStation Home Theater, you’ll find the newest episode of The Tester – the PlayStation Network exclusive reality series – playing come this Thursday (the previous week’s episode will be screening in the lobby for those of you who need to catch up). We’re also releasing a new The Tester commemorative item, pictured below. In addition to The Tester footage, you’ll find new footage from this here Blog, including videos relating to BioShock 2 and Final Fantasy XIII.

Finally, we’ll be offering you a chance to enter a raffle for a chance to win one of 50 free Warhawk personal spaces. All you’ll have to do is follow the instructions on the Warhawk posters plastered around PlayStation Home this week to enter. Oh, and you’ll also need to read the official Rules and Regulations, which are posted below for your convenience.
See you in Home!
Warhawk Personal Space Sweepstakes
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void outside the 50 United States and D.C. and where prohibited. The following promotion is intended for viewing in the 50 United States and D.C. only and shall only be construed and evaluated according to United States law. Do not proceed in this site if you are not a legal resident of, and located in, the 50 United States or D.C. and are at least 13 years of age at the time of entry. To enter, you must have a PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, a valid PlayStation Network account, internet access and a copy of PlayStation HOME installed on your system. All communications concerning the Warhawk Personal Space Sweepstakes (“Sweepstakes”) will be sent to your authorized PSN email address. The Sweepstakes begins March 4 at 12:00pm (noon) PST and ends March 10, 2010 at 11:59pm PST.
To be valid, entries must be received no later than March 10, 2010 at 11:59 PST. Limit one entry per person and e-mail address. Subsequent entries will be disqualified. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc (the “Sponsor”) is not responsible for lost, late, mutilated, illegible, incomplete or misdirected entries. Sponsor is not responsible for technical, hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections or failed, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit an entrants ability to participate in the Promotion. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel or suspend this Promotion should virus, bugs or other causes corrupt the administration, security or proper play of this sweepstakes. Entries not satisfying these Official Rules will be automatically disqualified.
2. PRIZES: Each prize winner will receive a voucher via email that entitles them to download the Warhawk Personal Space (ARV $4.99). Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prize of equal value if prize is unavailable. Prizes are non-transferable and no substitutions allowed.
3. WINNERS: Winners will be determined by a single random drawing of all valid entries received by Sponsor. Selection will be held on or about March 17, 2010. Winners will be notified via their registered PSN e-mail address. If any winners do not respond to Sponsor’s notification email within 14 days of the date that it is sent by Sponsor, they will be disqualified and new winners will be selected based on the original selection criteria. Please allow two to three weeks for receipt of prizes.
4. ODDS OF WINNING: The odds of winning depend on number of valid entries received.
5. ELIGIBILITY: Open to legal U.S. residents only aged 13 or older. Return of any prize/prize notification as undeliverable will result in disqualification and an alternate winner will be selected. Prize winners may be required to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility and Release within fourteen (14) days of prize notification. By acceptance of prize, winners agree to the use of their name and/or likenesses for purposes of advertising, trade, or promotion without further compensation, unless prohibited by law. Additionally, by acceptance of prize, prize winners agree to release Sponsor, its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates from any and all liability, claims or actions of any kind whatsoever for injuries, damages or losses to persons and property which may be sustained in connection with the receipt, ownership or use of the prize or while preparing for, participating, and /or traveling to any prize-related activity. Employees of the Sponsor and its parent, subsidiaries and affiliated companies and their immediate families are not eligible to participate in this contest. Neither the Sponsors nor its affiliates, subsidiaries, division or related companies are responsible for any damages, taxes, or expenses that winners might incur as result of this sweepstakes or receipt of prize.
6. WINNER LIST: To obtain names of winners, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Warhawk Personal Space Sweepstakes, 919 E. Hillsdale Blvd. 2nd Floor Foster City, CA 94404. Prize winners’ name request will be fulfilled within four weeks. Requests for winner list must be received by April 1, 2010.
7. RESTRICTIONS: Void where prohibited or restricted by law.
8. SPONSOR: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc, Foster City, CA 94404.




Greetings Homelings,
If you’re like me and your closets are overflowing with all the awesome new virtual items we release each and every week in PlayStation Home, then this Thursday’s content update is truly a cause for celebration. Not only are we dropping a bunch of new virtual items inspired by some of your favorite PS3 and PSP games, but we’re putting hundreds of items on sale in our brand new Exclusives store at a mere fraction of their original price. You can thank our new resident business guru Mr. Magnus Keynes – he of the iconic (and snazzy) gold suit – who is committed to bringing you, the loyal PlayStation Home community, the best deals he possible can. And when we say “best deals”, we mean that Magnus is straight up slashing prices like a certified maniac at a lakeside summer camp!
If you’re an UNCHARTED fan (which you are – everybody is!) then you’ll need to drop in to the PlayStation Home Mall and pick up the new UNCHARTED costumes and furniture items we are releasing this week. I’m talking Nathan Drake, Sully, Chloe Frazier, Elena Fisher, and Tetram costumes along with some serious treasures for your personal space, pulled straight from the UNCHARTED franchise. See the pics below for a few choice samples.

On a similar note, we’re also releasing some special SOCOM: Fire Team Bravo costumes along with some exclusive Warhawk costumes (for the Eucadian and/or Chernovan in all of us). Don’t believe me? Here’s the evidence.

We will be continuing to air full episodes of the PlayStation Network exclusive reality series, The Tester, in the PlayStation Home Theater this week, with Episode 2 going live tomorrow, February 25th. Come out and watch as a group of hardcore gamers all compete for their dream job as a member of the SCEA QA team and pick up a free commemorative item from the Theater (additional The Tester items are also available for sale, like this goat chair, shown below as proof that we are slowly, but surely, going off the deep end).

Remember to come back to the PlayStation Home Theater every week to watch new episodes of the Tester (updated every Thursday) for the rest of the season.


Hi Home Community,
As many of you know, 2009 was a big year for PlayStation Home. The millions of you that use PlayStation Home saw us transform from a 3D virtual world into a true social gaming platform with more than 50 spaces and over 100 games. One of the biggest highlights of the year was the launch of the popular Sodium One space, which has redefined what a social game can be by combining massive action, stunning graphics and social experiences in a way never done before. PlayStation Home has become a leader in the evolution of social games from simple 2D web games to immersive high-definition 3D experiences made possible by the tremendous horsepower of the PlayStation 3.

As we start the new year, we are not slowing down. We are adding new spaces, community events and virtual items each and every week, with many of these updates based directly on your feedback. Last week marked an important milestone in our evolution with a new iteration of the Mall, which was heavily influenced by our community’s request to have a more streamlined shopping experience. The Mall now features stores from some of our closest partners, including Loot from Sony Pictures who brought us all of the awesome Ghostbusters gear, our friends at Lockwood – creators of Sodium, and of course EA Sports, who have been among the strongest supporters of PlayStation Home since the earliest days after launch. One new face to PlayStation Home is LucasArts, who brought both Star Wars and Indiana Jones to their new store in the PlayStation Home Mall. I for one will be rocking the Imperial Stormtrooper outfit for the foreseeable future.


PlayStation Home is based on a “freemium” model, which allows you, our community to play games, meet friends, explore and discover rewards – all for free. In addition, there are opportunities to personalize your experience with virtual items that allow you to stand out from the crowd, or even play your favorite games in PlayStation Home better (thank you Stomper Boots!) Whether you buy virtual items or just play games and hang out, I would like to extend a huge “thank you” for your support from everyone on our team.

With all that said, this is just the beginning of what we have in store for you. Many of our long time community members have been asking for features, fixes and content that we have been secretly hard at work on, and will be rolling out over time. Rest assured that we hear your requests loud and clear (I personally use Home and read the forums daily), and although we can’t deliver everything we’re asked for, we will compliment all of these new features and content with a renewed focus on open dialogue and service. Our Home Community Managers, along with myself, continue to work on addressing your questions regarding our direction for the next year, so stay tuned to the PlayStation Home forums for what is sure to be a lively conversation!
We have an incredible number of new surprises ahead, so if you’re not already a member of the PlayStation Home community, there has never been a better time to jump in and experience all of the fun.
Thank you Home Community. Keep being awesome.
Best,
Jack






