Tomorrow Sony will launch it’s new virtual world ‘Playstation Home’ . The world will be accessible to PS3 owners and will allow PS3 owners to navigate a vast virtual world, playing games, watching videos, shopping, and communicating with other PS3 owners.
There seems to be plenty of hype around Playstation Home, with Redbull and Diesel already confirming a presence within the virtual world.
Though Hype aside we need to ask ourselves if people really want this? Virtual world Second life is hardly thriving, Reuters just pulled their presence, and Google is scrapping their ‘lively’ virtual world. Furthermore, People seem pretty satisfied with the more simple and direct online services offered on the xbox and wii. Are sony just over complicating the matter, people want to play games and watch video online through their games consoles but maybe they just want to get to the content and functions as quickly and easily as possible.
On the other hand sites such as Club Penguin, a popular virtual world with the younger age demographic show the next generation might be more willing to experience a virtual world. Furthermore, Sony are not pushing this mainstream but to potential and current PS3 owners who are likely to be more willing to experience a virtual world.
Time will tell if the virtual world is a success, brands might be wise to see if people are happy to sacrifice speed and ease for a more involving experience before they invest in this or similar virtual worlds.
