14 DAY TRIAL // While other console manufacturers are busy making their products more attractive to customers by resorting to price cuts or advantageous bundles, Sony is still backing up its added value strategy in order to make the most of the powerful hardware that is in its PlayStation 3 console.
One such feature is the currently open-beta Home online service, which aims at providing a social experience for all PS3 gamers out there. Although it was mocked by Microsoft for trying to be a Second Life for gamers, hinting at the popular online game Second Life, Sony is partnering up with companies left and right to introduce new content to the online social network.
We've already seen Red Bull arrive in Home, with its own island where people can pilot airplanes through a series of courses, and EA Sports will soon unveil its own private space where PS3 users will be able to check out leaderboards and indulge in mini-games based on the full-size sports games from the company. But now it looks like even newer content will arrive soon, as Sony announced that Ninja costumes and some based on the upcoming Street Fighter IV title would be available for purchase in Home.
The Ninja costumes were heavily requested by fans and will arrive tomorrow in the stores of the Home mall. As part of building hype around these new clothes, Sony will also hold, one day later, on February 13, a special “I Love Ninjas” party in the recently unveiled Gamer's Lounge, where people dressed as the deadly assassins will be able to win vouchers for the upcoming Warhawk and SOCOM spaces that will be unveiled soon.
Also, as part of a partnership with Capcom, by playing the soon to be released Street Fighter IV title, gamers will unlock various costumes for their Home characters. Don't forget that the special Resident Evil 5 space, which will allow you to launch the game directly from it after meeting someone with whom you can play co-op, will also be unveiled.
All in all, it seems that Home will slowly but surely be full of content for each and every PS3 user out there to experience and, in a lot of cases, buy. Hopefully it will soon get out of beta and we will be able to enjoy a great service, but until then we can still enjoy the numerous ways in which we can have fun in Sony's online service.
