The neverending saga over PlayStation 3's PlayStation Home service has a few more chapters to tell but we got a few choice pages about the long-developed service at the E3 Media and Business Summit in Los Angeles. The console's version of Second Life has a surprise for you. It will be region-locked.
Let me explain...
It won't be an entire wholesale region locking but according to a Sony showcase person, PS Home's public areas will not be accesssible all willy-nilly to people of disparate geographical regions. So no total freedom to interact in the virtual community's open social zones like an internet-using computer. You CAN, however, visit your global friends within the comfort of their own virtual homes. Outside of the house though, no foreigners. North Americans can only interact openly with other North Americans while Europeans can only interact freely with other Europeans. Japanese only with Japanese. 1963's George Wallace would be proud. "Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!"
The Beatles said, "come together...right now...over Home!" Well that last line wasn't quite accurate but you get the idea. Reasoned speculation says that the move was a way to protect advertisers' interests. With the varying deals different markets get, it would force a more uniform approach in offering promotions, prizes, and playing tournaments. As long as the disparity between the Euro, the Dollar, and the Yen exist don't expect wide open access from Home. I'm sure the cultural differences might have something to do with it too but language differences tend to take care of that anyhow.
Hey thanks, PS3Fanboy.com. You're the best.
John Lucas
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