According to SCEE boss David Reeves, Sony was being too ambitious with HOME and other non-gaming applications. This is why HOME was delayed, apparently, in order to put the focus back on gaming on the PS3. If this is true, all we can say is, finally.

"We've realised that maybe we were too ambitious with the non-gaming applications within Home, getting sponsors and stuff like that," he went on to confess.

SCE announced today that they have decided to delay the launch of the PSN HOME service, and extended both the open and the closed beta porgrams. The closed beta will now run through Summer 2008, and the open beta will not begin until Fall 2008. Yet more delays Sony? What the hell is going on.

PRESS RELEASE

Tokyo, April 22, 2008 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today that it will expand the Closed Beta testing for PLAYSTATION®Home in Summer 2008, inviting a further number of registrants from the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) users. Following completion of the Expanded Closed Beta test, the PLAYSTATION Home Open Beta service will commence in Fall 2008.

This one has to be labeled in huge letters as RUMOR. Supposedly, Sony's Summer schedule for PSN releases has been dropped into the hands of a spanish news site. It details Home as a July release, Wipeout HD as a May release and many other dates for expansion packs and trailers. Namely, Resistance 2 trailer which should drop mid-April.

Sony has released a long video from the HOME beta that is taking place right now over the PSN. As you can see, it is a virtual community, pur and simple. Sony, we are sure, is hoping to attract the Facebook/Myspace/Twinkz crowd to the PS3 with this project, although some gamers may take to it, anything it possible. Wonder what you have to do to get a penthouse with your own hot tub and tons of floozies hanging around?

Well, the Tokyo Game Show is so close you can almost taste it...if you could taste a show...anyway. Big news from Sony's press confrence; Dual Shock 3 will make its debut in Japan this November, and North America/Europe this Spring. Also a headliner, Kaz Hirai told attendees that HOME in fact had been delayed, but they were adding more features we'll see in the final build. Keep an eye out on GamersReports.com as we begin our Tokyo Game Show 2007 coverage. Click read more for the official Dual SHock 3 Press Release.

PRESS RELEASE

Tokyo, September 20, 2007 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that it would release DUALSHOCK®3 Wireless Controller, a new controller for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) incorporating a rumble feature, in Japan in November as a separately sold accessory. It inherits the basic design and functionality of the popular PlayStation® controller, while keeping the high-precision, high response motion sensitive six-axis sensing system. Introduction to North American and European markets is expected in spring 2008.

According to Sony, the launch of the HOME PSN netowkr will not be a "Big Bang" event. The service will go online after a short public invite-only beta. The open beta will be low key, and then the official release will happen, and from there updates will follow. A public "invite-only" beta huh?

Sony has dismissed the rumor that they have settled on a HOME PSN release date. Kotaku and other sites reported that the release date was revealed, but it was apparently yet another jumping of the gun. The dates reported on are not official, according to a SOny spokesperson.

Microsoft's Shane Kim is not convinced that Sony's HOME service is going to catch on with gamers. He says that the PS3's network service is not Xbox Live, and to layer something like HOME over a service that is lacking to begin with, is a bad idea. He does make a number of valid points, but he is also assuming Sony is not planning to make any major changes before the official launch if the HOME service. The whole point of a beta, Shane, is to see what needs to be changed.

For those of you who were not able to really get a handle on just what the PS3 HOME service entails, we have a few more screens for you today. The service is basically a virtual world that players will use to meet others who want to play games with them online. THis is cool in theory, but hardcore gamers may not want to have to wander around a virtual plaza just to find a player for an online match. Sony would be smart to include a quick matchup feature in their games as well.

Sony has released two new screens from their upcoming HOME PSN service. The internal beta test commenced about a week ago, so we assume these new images come from said beta. As you can see, it will be an all-encompassing virtual environment that users will be able to navigate as they would any neighborhood.