PS Home gets real-time multiplayer

By Ellie Gibson Published 1 March, 2011

And better graphics, thanks to new dev tools.

Sony will release new tools which will allow developers to create real-time multiplayer games for PlayStation Home.

Version 1.5 of the Home core client is scheduled to launch this spring. According to Sony, it will allow for the creation of "fast-action" online first-person shooters and racing games within Home.

Such as Sodium 2: Project Velocity, which Sony showed a brief demo of during an update briefing. It looks like a futuristic racer set within desert landscape - WipEout meets MotorStorm, in other words. Expect customisable vehicles, a "pounding" soundtrack and a spring release date.

The update also features a revamped physics engine, said to allow for more realistic collisions and other physics elements. Plus there are new animation tools for better graphics and improved frame-rates.

Making the announcement, Sony Computer Entertainment America Executive Jack Buser said the new update is part of Sony's strategy to offer new gaming experiences within Home. "It's evolving from a social network into a world class gaming platform," he added.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (13) Latest comment 1 year ago

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  • George-Roper #1 1 year ago

    "It's evolving from a social network into a world class gaming platform"

    glol!
    Edited by George-Roper at 01/03/11 @ 20:06

  • Yuroko #2 1 year ago

    Well Home certainly needs some purpose. This can only help. I thought Home sounded brilliant when they first announced it. The game launching and watching movies in your house with friends and stuff. It sounded really interesting and perhaps something that would replace the xmb and have the ps3 boot straight into Home and you do everything from within Home. Then it launched and boy was it disappointing. On paper it still sounds pretty cool but in reality it's just a mess.

    Think they should have just put that kiddie MMO SoE made (name escapes me) on there. Or something similar at least.

  • Ryze #3 1 year ago

    They seem to have forgotten the original goal of Home.

    This has become as direction-less as the PSP.

  • captain_Carl #4 1 year ago

    Time for 500 comments from idiots who declare that "no one uses home anyway".

    Sounds like a good update. Looking forward to giving Sodium 2 a try. Never got into Sodium 1 that much but am willing to give 2 a go :)

  • youhavenomail #5 1 year ago

    All I want is a punch button.

  • Acrid #6 1 year ago

    last time I was on home it was still in Beta form and now they're about to release v1.5 you say, might be worth a peak.

  • Retroid #7 1 year ago

    "It's evolving from a social network into a world class gaming platform," he repeated to himself while curled up into a fetal ball until the orderlies came and gave him his brain medicine.

    It had so much potential, which has been utterly squandered with some deeply stupid decisions & limitations.

  • TheEarlOfZinger #8 1 year ago

    It still has potential, but it will take a lot to bring me back.

  • uknortherner2000 #9 1 year ago

    Even with the current client, there are things Sony can do to make using Home a better experience. For instance:

    1) Actually make the client make use of the HDD space I've reserved for it. Allow it to store the most commonly-used clothing and hair items so that I'm not faced with 100 ghosts every time I switch spaces as it slowly downloads the same items again and again - this would save on bandwidth too. Same goes for the trailers. Also, would it kill you to have more than one trailer running on the screens? Advertising fatigue sets in very quickly when it's the same clip on constant repeat.

    2) Actually *advertise* events taking place in Home on the XMB. It's no good hosting competitions and the like where the only place I get to hear of it is in Home itself, weeks after they've ended.

    3) More arcade games for the bowling space, even if it's on a rotation pattern.

    4) There's a need for user-generated content in Home I feel. Second Life was popular for this very reason - Home feels sterile because it lacks this ability.

    5) The Midway spaces - lag makes the games unplayable. You want me to spend money in there? Fix the damn lag!

    6) "Ignore user" should also physically hide that user from me in-world.

    7) Allow me to stream my own videos and music in my apartments.

    I'm sure there's more, but these are the ones that usually spring to mind when I'm logged in.
    Edited by uknortherner2000 at 01/03/11 @ 22:19

  • ZuluHero #10 1 year ago

    Jack Buser, rogue CTU agent ;)

  • Murton #11 1 year ago

    Erm, doesn't Novus Prime do exactly that? Is this old news?

    I have a soft spot for Home, don't use it anywhere near as much as I'd like to though, truth is that the content on offer doesn't last very long. There's a vast array of mini-games, that's true enough but most of them don't really offer much beyond a five minute kicker, especially the arcade machines. Novus Prime was pretty good when I discovered that on one of my "I wonder what's new with Home" visits, I actually logged back in the next day to collect my "salary" and have another game, but it's not something I can be bothered to invest the time into.

    The improvements suggested above would certainly help, but I'd like to suggest the idea of "Home credit" as something similar to the PSN wallet for use exclusively in Home. I'm not overly keen on the idea of spending real money that I could use for games/DLC on items in Home. If my PS+ Membership or engaging in various activities/attending events gave me credit to spend I'd happily hoover up a load of cool looking items and clothing. At launch Sony floated the idea of trophies unlocking content in Home, I'd like to see that actually happen some time.

  • jefranklin18 #12 1 year ago

    @youhavenomail: All I want is a punch button

    There is actually some merit in having an area where punching/kicking and extending jumping is possible. Base it on a suitable venue such as a disused warehouse and let people run riot. Obviously having it Home Square would be kind of frustrating for those of a non-violent persuasion ;)

    @Murton: At launch Sony floated the idea of trophies unlocking content in Home, I'd like to see that actually happen some time.

    In fairness it does already happen in somecases. Singstar unlocks a couple items as you win trophies. The only one I have is a "I

  • jefranklin18 #13 1 year ago

    @uknortherner2000

    Even with the current client, there are things Sony can do to make using Home a better experience. For instance:

    1) Actually make the client make use of the HDD space I've reserved for it. Allow it to store the most commonly-used clothing and hair items so that I'm not faced with 100 ghosts every time I switch spaces as it slowly downloads the same items again and again - this would save on bandwidth too. Same goes for the trailers. Also, would it kill you to have more than one trailer running on the screens? Advertising fatigue sets in very quickly when it's the same clip on constant repeat.

    I tend to agree with these points. I would especially like to see more in the trailers and in the movie theatre.

    2) Actually *advertise* events taking place in Home on the XMB. It's no good hosting competitions and the like where the only place I get to hear of it is in Home itself, weeks after they've ended.

    If you know where to go (blog & community.eu.playstation.com), then they are advertised in advance but yes, they could be better at this. One of the suggestions on the US blog is to add a calendar control to the PS3 so that events, etc could be easily published. If this was implemented, then it too could be used. The other option is for the Home community leaders to PM all PS3 users, but that could be a pain...

    3) More arcade games for the bowling space, even if it's on a rotation pattern.

    Never really use so can't comment, but if they could get some arcade classics on there, then that would cool.

    4) There's a need for user-generated content in Home I feel. Second Life was popular for this very reason - Home feels sterile because it lacks this ability.

    Agree with this 110%. If they are concerned about some of the dodgy areas in 2nd Life being replicated then they can have a Appstore vetting process but lack of UC content is hard. If they were to introduce a virtual currency as mentioned elsewhere, it will allow users to buy/sell goods.

    Edited by jefranklin18 at 02/03/11 @ 12:54