Word out of Japan is the Open Beta for PlayStation Home is likely still on track for a mid-November release. More accurately, SCEJ has today issued a press release that says that the service will arrive “within this calendar year,” and that the company will “start the final stage of a large-scale closed beta test between late October and early November, to prepare for the Open Beta Service.” Via process of elimination, that means that Japanese users will get to go Home in mid-November or December.
Pretty vague for a press release titled “Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Announces Open Beta Service for PlayStation Home.” But the release goes on to detail something likely more important than an exact release date: the kind of support you can expect the service to have when it does finally arrive. In Japan, Sony has signed a full 24 third-party publishers and developers to provide content for the service.
Since E3, we’ve known that the big three third-party software publishers — Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts and Ubisoft — had all partnered with Sony in one way or another. It was perhaps our first indication that the service would be a legitimately interesting place to learn about new games.
Now, in Japan at least, they will be joined by Atlus, Capcom, Disney, D3Publisher, Koei, Konami, Namco Bandai, SNK, Tecmo and fifteen more. Capcom is apparently throwing more than their hat into the ring; Home will have “new and exciting experiences” featuring Resident Evil 5 and Street Fighter IV.
Full press release:
Tokyo, October 9, 2008 – Sony Computer Entertainment Japan (SCEJ), a division of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) responsible for business operations in Japan, announced today that it will start PlayStation®Home Open Beta Service within this calendar year. PlayStation Home is a 3D on-line user community service for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®).
Through the closed beta test conducted since late August this year, the company has offered users to test different areas in PlayStation Home, to enjoy communication, and to try games and events such as Namco Museum BETA from Namco Bandai Games Inc., echochrome and Destroy All Heros www from SCE. While the company continues to update and elaborate features and service based on various feedback obtained through the closed beta test, it will start the final stage of a large-scale closed beta test between late October and early November, to prepare for the Open Beta Service*1.
In addition to the already available game titles, PlayStation Home will offer new and exciting experience in collaboration with titles from first party and third party developers and publishers, such as BIOHAZARD® 5 and STREET FIGHTER® IV from Capcom Co. Ltd., and SIREN: Blood Curse, Hot Shot Golf 5, TrashBOX, Mainichi Issho, dress, and Derby Time Online from SCE. Additionally, users’ gaming experience will be further enhanced by communicating with other players in game lounges and experiencing “Home Rewards” system, where users will be able to obtain special items usable within PlayStation Home, depending on the level of their game play.
In Japan, 24 third party developers and publishers* have decided to join the Japanese version of PlayStation Home. Further details will be announced on PlayStation Home Official Site (www.jp.playstation.com/ps3/home/) as they become available.
Taking the opportunity of showcasing PlayStation Home at Tokyo Game Show 2008 starting on October 9, the actual SCEJ booth in real-life will be replicated within the currently running closed beta. In this virtually replicated booth, users will be able to watch promotion videos of various game titles and obtain exclusive items only available in this virtual area.
Through PlayStation®Network, PlayStation Home will offer a new and fun “playground” to all PS3 users.
Third Party Partners Joining PlayStation®Home for Japan (as of Oct. 9, 2008)
Company Name (in alphabetical order)
ACQUIRE Corp.
ACTIVISION Ltd.
AQ INTERACTIVE INC.
ATLUS CO.,LTD.
Capcom Co., Ltd.
D3 PUBLISHER Inc.
ELECTRONIC ARTS K.K.
GAME REPUBLIC INC.
Genki Co.,Ltd.
GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc.
HUDSON SOFT CO.,LTD.
IREM SOFTWARE ENGINEERING INC.
KOEI Co.,Ltd.
Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.
NIPPON ICHI SOFTWARE INC.
PAON CORPORATION
Q Entertainment Inc.
SEGA CORPORATION
SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION
Spike Co.,Ltd.
TECMO,LTD.
UBI SOFT KK
Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd.
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