The perennially forthcoming PlayStation Home is finally entering open beta Thursday, allowing those of us who weren't invited to the closed beta to figure out what all of the avatar-centric fuss is about.
It's an ambitious idea – a sort of console-based Second Life, where players can create avatars that can walk around and do stuff, unlike those on Wii and Xbox 360.
While access to Home will be free of charge, prepare to swept up in a sea of advertising and microtransactions. Players will get their own apartment, and activities will include fraternizing with strangers in themed locales, playing social games, buying your digital self designer clothing and picking out fancy furniture you couldn't hope to afford in meatspace.
Home will also be a place to gorge on all sorts of media, with content providers like Hexus TV, Eurogamer and Paramount providing exclusive programming to watch, with trailers and merchandise from the upcoming film Watchmen kicking everything off.
But it's still all about the games, right? A Far Cry 2 space will be one of the first available, where you can chat with other players about all things Far Cry. Uncharted, Warhawk and Motorstorm
spaces are set to follow shortly, and Sony is reportedly working with the likes of EA, Ubisoft, Sega and others to create even more environments for us to frolic in.
As for the new question on everyone's mind: Will it all be worth the wait?
Image courtesy Sony
PlayStation Home Open Beta Launches Tomorrow [Playstation.blog]
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