Home beta client updated to version 0.98

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 29th 2008 at 10:30PM }

A PS3 Fanboy tipster (left anonymous to protect his identity) told us about a new update to the Home beta. The update adds a few redesigned locales, like a brand new Home Square. A new music application is being added to the central square as a meeting place for Home's virtual citizens. Here, they can listen to music as a group and even virtually dance.

The beta program will continue to expand over the next few weeks, and looking at the version number -- it won't be long until this baby reaches good ol' one point zero. At that point, is Home considered officially "ready"?

Tags: beta, home

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Tony @ Aug 29th 2008 10:37PM

1st comment!

The1stMJC @ Aug 29th 2008 10:50PM

Hey yay for you, Finally You are first at something. Too bad it is something like this. Well gotta be happy for something right sad life you live.

Averna @ Aug 30th 2008 8:52AM

What a tool.

ON TOPIC! 0.98 sounds awfully close to 1.00 lets see how long it takes them to pump out those last 2 subversions.

Sholay1 @ Aug 29th 2008 10:40PM

so close!

Erik Hansen @ Aug 29th 2008 10:40PM

Maybe home will come out right around the time of LBP thats why the LBP date has been changed so many times

stargateheaven @ Aug 30th 2008 8:16AM

It's changed twice.. Just twice. And the 2nd time was only 30 days different.

We first saw LBP in 2007. And it's coming out this year, in 2008. Why do people feel that it's been delayed so many times? twice. And why do people feel like it's taking forever to come out? We only saw it 1 year ago!

Jerses @ Aug 30th 2008 12:06PM

Because they told us that home was coming in summer... we have to wait 1 year for that (in 2006 they anounced home check it out in wikipedia)... summer came... what was the news? HOME DELAYED a YEAR!!!!!! something you waited to come...its not coming until next year...summer...but then it was delayed till November 2008.. And home its not free... its like those MMORPGs.. free to play *But to really enjoy the game you need to pay for the good stuff. I imagine you will have to buy a t-shirt for $1.99 pants for $2.99 shoes for $1.99 well you get the point.. you will end paying $9.99 for youre cloths...furnitures? So yeah... we want this home to be released so we can "buy stuff"

Edie D. DUB @ Sep 2nd 2008 12:23PM

What I would think a good plan for paying for things in HOME is with the amount of trophies you have. Anyone agree with this?

spcflip @ Aug 29th 2008 10:50PM

does anyone know if the closed beata invites went out yet? psn:spcflip, warhawk clan:supersonic add me

benny boy @ Aug 30th 2008 8:03AM

They have in Europe and I think they have in Japan but I don't think they have in the US. But don't quote me on that.

Brodie-san @ Aug 30th 2008 11:48AM

Yes, the closed beta invites went out. At least in Europe they did. That's all I can say.

(And no, I didn't get one)

TinyTim121 @ Aug 29th 2008 10:50PM

Well we can hope Home will be ready at version 1.00

But if Sony can blame paper for Life on Playstation being delayed then i'm sure "we lost count of version number" or "Ahh we thought we'd redesign the home square again" would be satisfactory Sony excuses.

Anyway, if version 1.00 is the finished product then are Sony NOT doing a public beta?

TinyTim121 @ Aug 29th 2008 10:52PM

Yes Tony, and your point is... ?

ImBakinBacon @ Aug 29th 2008 10:55PM

OMG OMG OMG I want Home...!

It can't come soon enough!

batmanhill6157 @ Aug 29th 2008 10:59PM

well I'm still waiting for an email, common Sony...

meh @ Aug 29th 2008 11:13PM

just like second life......

LatinoLA1 @ Aug 29th 2008 11:48PM

geesh taking so long, get it out before my ps3 runs out of style =P

beta member @ Aug 30th 2008 12:02AM

Seriously PS3 fanboy. This leaking has gone out of hand. I am in the home beta community and trust me, all our members are pretty frustrated of the shamelessness of this leaking.

I find it very irresponsible of you to accept information like this that was only provided because someone broke their NDA. And I believe it is your moral responsibility to report this leaker.

JaseH @ Aug 30th 2008 12:34AM

Piss off!

__________________
JaseH.

zdog513 @ Aug 30th 2008 1:49AM

go take the rule book n shuv it

anthonyjh @ Aug 30th 2008 5:51AM

Maybe you should calm down a bit there chief. I say it would be irresponsible of them, as journalists, to not report news as it breaks.

Metal_Gear @ Aug 30th 2008 7:33AM

Selfish much? There are some people who are really looking forward to Home who cant get in, how about you shut your trap or confirm/deny the article?

Kspraydad @ Aug 30th 2008 7:36AM

1 word: Watergate.

benny boy @ Aug 30th 2008 8:08AM

This change to the Home Square must have only happened in the US version as the EU version is no different after the update.

And this music application is not actually an application: it's just someone playing music over their microphone and people gathering around to dance to it. That's been happening since before 0.98.

That is unless it's some US exclusive feature.

And beta member stop being an idiot.

beta member @ Aug 30th 2008 10:20AM

@ Metal_Gear & benny boy & JaseH

Hey smart guys, did you ever once and stop to think maybe more people aren't being let in because of all the rampant leaking? Even with the few people that are in the beta now, there is so much leaking. Adding more people (like you) would probably cause more leaking (if that is even possible)

Levi @ Aug 30th 2008 11:40AM

Uhmm.. nobody would do a beta that involves inviting members of the public if they wanted to seriously avoid leaks... I know it's not a public beta, but they are essentially random people. It doesn't matter if they evaluated their PSN usage or whatever. Even when you get trusted people to sign in person for non disclosure agreements, things still get leaked. Why do you think CD's are always available as torrents before they are released? Even GTA4 was leaked.. The entire game...

Plus, I'm sure Sony wouldn't be too concerned with a leak like this... Whoopdiedoo, we know that they added things to the beta that we already knew they were going to add.

On a positive note, it's good to see they're making progress.

Metal_Gear @ Aug 30th 2008 11:43AM

QQ elsewhere please, you obviously have no idea what any leaked information will do to the game you just seem to like saying 'leaking'...

...leaking...

Seeing as the release date was held back a year, this game will be the most reported, NDA or not so shut thy trap and get Beta testing the new stuff.

beta member @ Aug 30th 2008 2:45PM

Believe what you guys want but we've had long arguments about the significance of leaks and NDA's. And we have concluded that leaking this information is simply shameless. An NDA is a legal binding contract. I never stated a leak is never going to happen. But the
fact you guys see nothing wrong with leaking shows me why leaks happen. Just because it's going to happen doesn't mean it shouldn't be fought against or stopped.

Whether a leak is going to happen or not, we were given the responsibility to test home and not leak it. And some of the beta tester obviously could not handle that responsibility. And from the way you talk, I doubt any of you could have handled the responsibility either.

benny boy @ Aug 30th 2008 5:52PM

When I downloaded and installed home, nowhere did I have to sign or agree to a NDA. Therefore I am not in a legally binding contract.

Why do you care so much if there are leaks. Of course Sony would have expected it. I doubt they actually care. I mean what is the negative aspect of "leaking" information anyway. Non-beta users get to find out more about Home, the hype builds even more, Everyone wins.

anthonyjh @ Aug 30th 2008 6:19PM

Good lord. Sounds like you need a few beers and a good lay.

The leaks do nothing but good for Sony, building hype. They also bolster confidence in the community.

And it wouldn't be wise to get in to a debate on morality, which seems to be your intent.

beta member @ Aug 30th 2008 6:49PM

benny boy:

You don't read very carefully do you? When you first got the email that gave you a chance to sign up, it specifically said. "You must accept the Home Beta Trial Agreement to sign up." So by clicking sign up you entered into the NDA agreement.

Other guy right below benny boy:

Well okay I suppose it doesn't do that much harm, but the earlier leaks, especially with commentary hurt home's image because people were bashing home for being not that good. Even though it was an early beta.

LAZoftheTamarinds @ Aug 30th 2008 12:04AM

BUBBLES!!!!

H2Os @ Aug 30th 2008 12:07AM

I can't wait for version .9999999999

Ac3theone @ Aug 30th 2008 12:11AM

mayb 1.00 will be wen we have the public beta

Autopsy15 @ Aug 30th 2008 12:23AM

No. Having version 1.00 of a product means that it is finished and it's the full product. THERE IS NO PUBLIC BETA. THERE WILL NEVER BE A PUBLIC BETA.

Nick @ Aug 30th 2008 2:11AM

Home will never be 100% finished. Hell, even the Sony guy said that when Home goes public it will still be far from complete. So when Home does finally become available for all, I think it would be wise to treat it as a beta, lest your hopes and dreams are dashed.

Averna @ Aug 30th 2008 8:55AM

1.00 is 'usually' a release version. However, like an MMO, Home will always be growing and evolving. It is more than likely that 1.00 will be the version that is released to the public at large, however dont expect it to be free of bugs and/or features, think back to Firmware 1.00... would you be happy with that for the life of the ps3?

Superbean @ Aug 30th 2008 9:37AM

Beta or full release...I really dont care which 1. I just wana go Home

Autopsy15 @ Aug 30th 2008 12:22AM

I'm going to laugh so hard when Home finally gets to 0.99 and they announce that the next update is coming soon. Everyone will freak out that Home is finally going to launch. Then in shock and horror you find it has been updated to 0.991. And I will laugh...(and cry a bit inside)

Bo @ Aug 30th 2008 7:29AM

Technically, .991 would come out before version .99, since it's a lower number.

If anything it'd be .99a or .99.1

Kabapu @ Aug 30th 2008 10:19AM

Bo .... what's wrong with your math, dude? 0.991 is a larger number than 0.99.

asia @ Aug 30th 2008 12:30AM

little big planet is available in the playstation store as a download go to playstation.com, click asia and then singapore, there is information on LBP and they say that it is available as a download

Joeman @ Aug 30th 2008 12:41AM

Sony gets bashed for delays, but at least YOUR GETTING THE STUFF!!!!!! I think Sony (and every other company that makes software for that matter) should add 4 months to the release date they where going to originally say.

Come Get Me!!! @ Aug 30th 2008 12:52AM

and this is good for owners here in the us because???????????

acedoh @ Aug 30th 2008 12:56AM

I am in the HOME community and so called BETA member please shut up.... It's SONY's intent to get the hype built up on this by having beta members talk it up. I am a beta member and am quite happy with the changes. Also the theatre has had a change which is good and bad. I won't get to much into that but I am very happy with the improvements.

Also there really shouldn't be any secrets since SONY has openly displayed HOME and it's features in the last two game shows...

Dave @ Aug 30th 2008 10:07AM

How much is Home suppose to cost when it releases? Retail price? And is there a monthly fee? This is information that I'm more interested to know, and I've never seen information answering those questions.

PSN ID -- TheUnforgivenII @ Aug 30th 2008 10:33AM

I think it'll be free, I guess

davey @ Aug 30th 2008 10:39AM

The HOME service is completely free. You can do everything in the service for no cost at all. The only thing you pay for is things like clothes for your avatar and items for your apartment such as furniture. Sony makes most of the money off in-game advertising and the rest off the little micro-transactions.