Home open beta to be 'similar to Gmail'

by Andrew Yoon { Jun 3rd 2008 at 2:30PM }

For many PS3 fans, Home has been the carrot of a very long and frustrating stick. The online service was showcased at GDC 2007, but has remained in a closed beta since. Constant delays of Home have frustrated PS3 gamers, many who want an online multiplayer gaming hub.

Susan Panico, senior director of PSN, spoke to Wired about the availability of Home. It will be an "open, working beta." According to Panico, the "rollout will be similar to Gmail." Finally, it will be available this year.

Gmail launched four years ago to critical acclaim. During the initial parts of the beta, invitations to the service were sent from members already in the service. Many clamored for a lucrative invite in the early days -- now getting a Gmail account is open and easy for everyone. The problem? Gmail, after four years, is still in beta.

[Via Joystiq]

Tags: beta, gmail, home

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Thoas @ Jun 3rd 2008 2:37PM

Gmail FTW!

Wes @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:45PM

I'm thinking it'll somehow be more like Yahoo! Mail FTL instead of Gmail FTW.

Devin @ Jun 3rd 2008 2:40PM

If Gmail will be similar to Home then Home will be easy to use, easy to manage with minimal loading screens.

I honestly never knew Gmail was still in beta. It's rock solid. As for Home, of course it will be "in-beta" for years to come; one can only imagine what they can add to it later on down the road ...

deusmecha @ Jun 3rd 2008 2:44PM

Except Gmail wasn't delayed time after time after time after time after time because its creators know the meaning of "beta".

adolson @ Jun 3rd 2008 2:52PM

No surprise about the long-lasting beta, as "Home will never be complete."

Lars @ Jun 3rd 2008 7:09PM

I hope you're right because there's nothing worse than an online community portal that stagnates.

Riley Freeman @ Jun 3rd 2008 2:53PM

yea but who was really on the edge of their seat for another email service? im sure nobody really cared it came when it came. plenty of other email options there are no other HOME options.

nahworry @ Jun 3rd 2008 6:26PM

I dunno, but for the time being, GTA IV is my HOME.

Otsego_Undead @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:10PM

It will probably be beta for quite a while.. While there seem to be quite a few world wide closed beta testers, there is hardly anyone online. The main feat sony will have to overcome is the onslaught of HELLA people in HOME at once. I assume that was part of the reason for the HOME Beta night they had a few months back, but still Im guessing there was only about 200 people on at once.

Saeed @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:10PM

this is good news, if it does have the invite feature then ill have it soon. I have a good friend on my psn list who will hopefully send me a invite :)

True_Darknight @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:24PM

great news... So basically like Gmail.. it will come in and make the service better and make the other competitors offer more to keep up.

Not to mention be so damn good that most people assume is not beta!

works for me.. release the damn thing so that people can just get it and play around and then keep adding and tweaking!

drdre74 @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:13PM

If the thing is a damn Beta on release then why not just release the damn thing as is since its a Beta?

PJ @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:16PM

After waiting for so long and hoping for a sparkly new all singing all working HOME release, users will after all get a half baked "application".
on the other hand, i am still looking forward to using HOME and i'm pretty sure they wont release even the beta version with the risk of loads of bugs. It should be pretty close to the end result. Thunbs up and down at the same time.

Gaucho @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:18PM

forget Home. change gears, move the resources that are curently working on home to work on something else. The prospect of that this software can do is minimal. People, I'm sure, are more excited about the in-game XMB than Home. That should say something.

Zombie Huggles @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:34PM

I disagree. In-game XMB is great for the people on your friend list, but HOME offers the ability to meet new people from all over the world. I have friends from Warhawk, Vegas, and GTA, but it would be nice just to have friends. And then be able to meet and communicate with them where distance and long-distance bills have no influence.

And how many times have bought a game because a friend suggested it with great enthusiasm? It'll be great to now have an entire gaming community there to suggest games, share secrets, and simply bask the joys of electronic entertainment...together!..digitally...

phillip @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:33PM

ya'll better be nice to me or no invite :)

kultyper @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:44PM

that sucks.....i dont know enough dorks who would have or even want Home for me to be invited.

Nineteen88 @ Jun 3rd 2008 3:53PM

I love the part when the writer says:
"The problem? Gmail, after four years, is still in beta!"

That's hilarious!

NS @ Jun 4th 2008 8:22PM

whoever wrote this article is.. i'm sorry... kinda dumb. i don't think the "beta" will go away for a long while. they're constantly working on it, constantly trying to make it better which is what makes it BETTER. it's not a problem, it's a strength. many of their other services have been listed as in "beta" for a while now as well. Home will be the same way. sony will launch home as open beta and be constantly working on it.

sorry, i had to point that out...

NS @ Jun 3rd 2008 4:02PM

razielgn @ Jun 3rd 2008 4:07PM

I have a Gmail account since the beginning of time.
Beta or not it's the best mail manager on Earth even when it was just a post-alpha.

ichigo @ Jun 3rd 2008 4:16PM

ಠ_ಠ if this dosent say home is coming out now dont post it.

frankym @ Jun 3rd 2008 4:26PM

Home will be extremely BORING.

proog @ Jun 3rd 2008 4:36PM

Well, Google has a pretty sensitive approach to removing the "beta" stamp from their services. Pretty much everything except the web search is in beta, even if they have been rock solid without any flaws for years.

mjc @ Jun 3rd 2008 4:47PM

I WANT IN BUT I DON'T KNOW ANY HOME people. I just play hawk,2k8,gta,and band no one i know in beta

jimbob @ Jun 3rd 2008 7:46PM

MARKETING PLOY!!!!!! "like gmail" = like google (a MARKETING COMPANY)

http://www.weezerjonas.com/CDA5240F87574D8387EBDE8FEC733210/tracklink.asp?guid=9338E08DB4AC447A9F28C553C5A3D6B2

HektikLyfe @ Jun 3rd 2008 7:41PM

So Home will be ugly but free? (Or butt-ugly and free?) Hey, I don't mind as long as it is available and comes with the long overdue in-game XMB.

WolfBangaz888 @ Jun 3rd 2008 8:12PM

I wonder if there are some Gmailfanboys.

Watch out Yahoofanboys.

Kruegmeister @ Jun 3rd 2008 9:55PM

I'm fine with the Open Beta.
Let me in...
It is free after all, so who cares if it is not perfect.
I think they put the Beta Tag on so people will understand that it is not perfect.
Let me in...
So far from what I have seen it looks cool.
Let me in...
Although some of it is rather pointless, it is still kind of cool.
Let me in...

David Van (Cool Prizes Inc.) @ Jun 3rd 2008 10:04PM

Well... If they release the ability to send invites, invite me! PSN: CoolPrizes4Free I will make it worthwhile... :P

The Aggie CEO @ Jun 3rd 2008 11:59PM

Bullshit...........

I dont want a beta 2 years from now.........

I mean sure its not finished but shit..........

the PS3 itself isnt finished either is it???

like most firmware it constantly gets updates........

nuthin wrong with that......but we dont call the PS3 software a beta do we??

linebeginstoblur @ Jun 3rd 2008 10:40PM

Damn, forget worrying about whether the open beta will ever end. I'm thinking it's more likely we won't even see the open beta. I heard they started Home as a PS2 project, and if they delay this anymore, I'll really start having my doubts.

JoJo @ Jun 4th 2008 10:18AM

Well i heard it was on PS1.

Joel E @ Jun 4th 2008 2:55AM

i think this is great news considering I have a slight chance of getting invited now. I've been an avid fan of Home since its release and have been selling it to all the people I know... if anyone is kind enough to send an invite please do PSN ID: dj_siek although by the time it comes out this comment will prob never get read again haha.

SourceJR @ Jun 4th 2008 10:24AM

I have to assume that when they compare it to gmail that means there open beta roll out will be like theres. when gmail first opend to the public people from the closed beta had to invite others to join gmail and only had a limited number of invites to send.