A tipster from the Home beta took a snapshot of this recent thread in the beta message board. A bug affecting Home users got a response from the Home Manager, "TedtheDog." The bug currently freezes PS3 systems running the beta and also gives users sporadic Network errors. He says that the bug will be fixed in an upcoming system software update. "2.5 is what we're waiting for and 'October' is what I've heard, later October is my guess."

The firmware update will also be released in conjunction with Home version 1.00, according to the post. Currently, the beta is at version 0.98. The simultaneous release of firmware 2.50 and Home 1.00 has us thinking that perhaps this could mark the beginning of the wide release of Home. Stay tuned.

Update: Since writing this article, the PS.blog has updated about the expansion of the Home beta. More invites are being sent to users right now. The continued growth of the beta adds even more weight to the possibility that the final version of Home will be available next month.

http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/09/19/home...r-october/
Playstation blog link: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/09/1...ded-today/

Very interesting indeed. I was a little scared of "Home", but now that I have slightly faster internet I think I'll be ok. It's one of those things I just want to try and make my own final judgment on.

I'll definitely check out HOME but not sure about how often I'll use it. I hate games like the SIMS or Second Life and if it's like that then count me out. I can't say too much bad about it because it is free after all.

I can't wait for it. I love games like the The Sims and HOME just sounds like an interesting FREE investment.

That's cool to hear.

Does anyone know (and this isn't a crack at Sony, really) is Home ever going to have a "final" (ish?) version, or is it going to just be a perpetual beta (a la gmail)?

^I heard early next year it will be final.

But I am going to take a guess here.. I bet the Public beta is released the same time as Little Big Planet. I wouldn't be suprised if they had it where you get a beta code if you preorder the game.. it would be an extremely good marketing strategy for Sony i'd think. But we'll just have to wait and see..

doubt it, seems like vaporware to me

maybe '09

We thought Disaster Day of Crisis was vaporware to, but it is now coming out. So I won't write this off.

Sony has said that this game will never be final. They said it will keep expanding and they'll keep adding on and that it will also be used on the PS4 (or whatever they call it) and that it would just keep continuing on. Full Open Beta will be before the end of the year and then everyone will have access to it.

I just got in on the HOME Beta and it's nothing short of lame.

Hey, me too! I just saw an email from Sony and I'm downloading it now. I don't expect much though but still cool to actually get in it. First LBP and now this!

NICE! How's LBP?

LBP is great and the level creation is so deep that it can be quite scary. There are many tutorials to help you out though. I can see many people just playing levels created by others because they may feel the level creation is too hard but even then they'd have tons of levels to play through.

Sweet. Yeah I'll be one of those people playing levels... Got to much on my plate these days to design UGC... It sounds and looks rad though!

After lookign at some screens of Home, i think its time to buy another PS3 for myself.

People who were in the beta before had told me that it was boring and you'd lost interest in it fast. After trying it out a couple of times I couldn't agree more. It just isn't fun for me at all. I hate the Sims and SecondLife and this is basically the same thing in my opinion. I doubt I'll ever open this up just to launch a game or whatever. If I want to chat with my friend I'll call the local ones and chat on MSN/Skype with the others.

Yeah I'm not into the whole virtual dancing around bubble machines personally. I'd much rather just play an actual game than pretend to have "cool" things in a virtual space.

i received a beta code for home today and i didnt even apply to get in. you guys might want to check your emails and see if you got one too.

Ah Home. Kinda like the GTA IV 360 DLC...who cares anymore?

how do you just randomly get one?