Want into the PlayStation Home Closed Beta Test? Here’s How to Apply

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Jack Buser Senior Director, PlayStation Now
10 Author Replies

Today we’re announcing the expansion of our closed beta test for PlayStation Home to begin at the end of the month.

Home Theme

Later today, the PLAYSTATION Store will be updated with a PlayStation Home theme. By downloading the theme, users are submitting an application to join the PlayStation Home Beta test community. We will be using a variety of criteria including activity on the PLAYSTATION Network to determine eligibility for the Beta community. Existing beta testers have automatically qualified to be part of the expanded beta.

We’re really excited about this milestone and want our most loyal fans to be a part of the evolution of PlayStation Home.

In Europe, SCEE is also beginning their expanded closed beta, directly targeting consumers who have been most active on PLAYSTATION Network and PLAYSTATION Store. SCEE will be in email contact with their PSN audience very shortly.

Let us know what you think.

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1,132 Comments

10 Author Replies

  • Scodo_Thope
    August 7, 2008 at 12:21 pm PDT

    I don’t do a lot online, but that doesn’t mean I won’t with Home.

    Am I excluded because I don’t have many online friends? :(

    :P

  • Dave702
    August 7, 2008 at 12:22 pm PDT

    WOW, this is Great i hope i get in. i think home is very cool and would like to try it out.

  • Johnbot5k
    August 7, 2008 at 12:23 pm PDT

    YAY!!!!! Beta or not – I can’t wait for HOME…. The end draws near! (or is it the beginning?)

  • wmusgrave
    August 7, 2008 at 12:24 pm PDT

    Question for Jack..Is this for Canada? Also..

    I really hope I get an invite. Im not sure what Sony means by Network time, But my PS3 is on most of the day. Im always downloading free content, i bought a Annual Qore subscription, games, themes. Im updating my profile constantly, and I am hoping I will get an invite.

  • SUPREME
    August 7, 2008 at 12:24 pm PDT

    I”ve been waiting since 11:30 AM (EST) to download the theme, but nothing yet… Any clues as to what time it will be available? I would like to be able to leave the house for a few minutes without missing anything…

    I’ve been on the Playstation Store all day now…

    PSN ID: SUPREMENYC

  • Zaku
    August 7, 2008 at 12:24 pm PDT

    Great news to hear. It’ll be the first thing I download off the Store today and it’s quite a ‘different’ way about going to get participants. Hope I get in :)

  • czakhary
    August 7, 2008 at 12:25 pm PDT

    This is great news regarding the progress of Home. It would be nice to partake in the expansion. Thank You for the chance!

  • necronzero
    August 7, 2008 at 12:25 pm PDT

    OMFG I WANT IT NAO!

  • redgopher
    August 7, 2008 at 12:26 pm PDT

    Jack:

    Just wanted to say that your Flynn avatar is epic win. Can’t wait for TR2N. :D

  • COLOMBIANBUNCH
    August 7, 2008 at 12:26 pm PDT

    I really want to be beta. I dont have too much games but I spend a lot of time playing online the ones I have

  • RelentlessRolento
    August 7, 2008 at 12:26 pm PDT

    actually even without the Home sign up thing the icon set for this theme is nice.

    I do want in Home very badly… 90% of my time in games is spent on home decor and character creation when a game allows me to do so.

  • afchst
    August 7, 2008 at 12:27 pm PDT

    Is time for buying a ps3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    LOL

    The theme looks great, is kind of a blueprint, very original.

    Thanks a lot.

  • THATPSPGUY
    August 7, 2008 at 12:27 pm PDT

    JUST OMG WOW! Finally speechless!

  • mupmuck
    August 7, 2008 at 12:27 pm PDT

    Congrats on the progess, Jack! :) By the way, could you add me to your buddy list? I’d be very honored to have you on my psn buddy list. :) My psn id is mupmuck. :)

  • Basay
    August 7, 2008 at 12:29 pm PDT

    I deffintly want in. Being a member of GAP and teh PSU since 2003, and being more then active on my PS3 and in the PSN. I would hope that I get in. Not to mention I have not been invited into a beta since the R&C game for PSP. Here’s hoping that BASAY gets into the HOME beta!!!!

  • ejg930
    August 7, 2008 at 12:29 pm PDT

    I’m so excited about this!!!!
    Will GAP members get in automatically?

    Also, when will we find out if we got in or not?

  • Brad1337
    August 7, 2008 at 12:30 pm PDT

    Ergh, with my luck I probably won’t get it. But at least I’ll get a sexilicious theme right?

  • Wozamil
    August 7, 2008 at 12:30 pm PDT

    Will hombetatrial.com finally be updated?

  • aiphanes
    August 7, 2008 at 12:30 pm PDT

    This is great. It is a great concept for a Beta Test application. Thank you sony and I hope to get in. I know Home is going to be awesome.

  • Scar28fo
    August 7, 2008 at 12:30 pm PDT

    awesome! downloading it once it comes out! Cant wait for the Update!

  • IoWn3rU
    August 7, 2008 at 12:31 pm PDT

    Mr. Buser, I have a very important question.

    Does the time of day or the amount of time between the theme being put up and the download of it count, because I moved and haven’t had PSN for about 1 1/2 months, (SUCKS I KNOW :D), and I won’t be setting up my router until tomorrow or Saturday, will I be put at a disadvantage since I’m downloading this theme later?

    Please answer. :)

    Thank you,
    IoWn3rU

  • MichaelVash7886
    August 7, 2008 at 12:32 pm PDT

    I’ve actually tried to figure out how we can ask for press access to the beta, but I haven’t had luck finding who to contact. Obviously I won’t be able to write about it if I get in this way (probably not even if I got in the press way) but either way I really want to see what Home has got going on. It seems like a really cool idea and I’m very interested.

  • Wollan
    August 7, 2008 at 12:32 pm PDT

    Thanks for the info Jack.

    I have a question: Regarding the Uncharted/Resistance/Warhawk spaces shown at E3. Is there an ETA for when they will go live? Thanks.

  • xplosneer
    August 7, 2008 at 12:32 pm PDT

    I’m in GAP, so you know me :) Thanks, at least some info!

  • ntpnick
    August 7, 2008 at 12:33 pm PDT

    Thanks so much you guys. Home here I come.

  • SUPREME
    August 7, 2008 at 12:33 pm PDT

    I wonder how Sony is going to allow Beta testers to comment on their findings in HOME… For example, how will we be able to report glitches, suggestions, etc.?

    HERE’S HOPING I GET IN!!!!

    PSN ID: SUPREMENYC

  • Jiong
    August 7, 2008 at 12:34 pm PDT

    OMG I WANT IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • TypeF
    August 7, 2008 at 12:34 pm PDT

    what do you mean by ACTIVE?

  • krae_man
    August 7, 2008 at 12:35 pm PDT

    Sweet! I dont play COD4 or Warhawk online hardcore or anything. So I hope my 18 PSN game purchases, DLC purchases, Full year Qore subscription, and the fact I’ve had my PSN account since Jan 07 are enough to get me an invite.

    Couple of other things:

    1) Could you please make some changes to the playstation information board for Canadians? Currently we have the same one as the US and updates regarding the Video Store make me sad:(

    2)Question regarding PSN cards that are comming very shortly. Are people who buy them going to be charged sales tax twice?

    Your competitors have point cards and you pay the tax when you buy the points(either online or in store) and redeem points to purchase items.

    On PSN you pay the tax when you buy the item. It seems as though all PSN cards do is add funds to your wallet and nothing else so unless they are going to be tax free at retail or you have some sort of system in place to tell which funds in someones wallet came from PSN cards when calculating tax on a purchase people will end up being charged sales tax twice.

  • Devil240Z
    August 7, 2008 at 12:35 pm PDT

    what does it mean “activity on psn”?
    I am always on PSN and I buy alot of stuff but I dont play alot of games online. socom isn’t out yet!
    will I still have a decent chance of getting in?
    Ive wanted to be apart of the home beta since before I got my ps3 like a year ago.
    I actually sold my 360 and bought a PS3 THE WEEK HALO 3 CAM OUT. thats how much sony means to me.
    ps. I only bought a 360 cause ps3’s were neigh impossible to find. once they became available i got me a 60 gig.

  • Quan24
    August 7, 2008 at 12:36 pm PDT

    HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO BE IN THE BETA?

  • mustaphadamus
    August 7, 2008 at 12:36 pm PDT

    This SUX,

    My PS3 died 3 weeks ago. I have the Target extended warranty. I contacted Target THREE times now to ask them to send me my effing shipping box so I can send this thing back to them. I have received the run around from these unprofessional morons. They said they were over nighting the box to me this last call and that I should get it this week. Well, here it is Thursday, no box, can’t sign up for this beta. This is just utterly annoying.

  • Shqype
    August 7, 2008 at 12:36 pm PDT

    WOW Jack Buser! This is excellent news! I’ve been keeping a close eye on home and have eagerly been waiting to test it out for myself. I have some Xbox360 fans in my family that are excited by Home and I’ve been waiting for a chance to convert them from XboxLive, as PSN is improving by the day.

    Can you offer any hints as to what will enable us to qualify for BETA invitation? I’d like to improve my chances of acceptance by completing whatever criteria is necessary. I can definitely devote a lot of time to beta testing and reporting bugs, plus providing suggestions on how to improve the Home experience.

    Thanks again for the great news!

  • THATPSPGUY
    August 7, 2008 at 12:37 pm PDT

    I’m just gonna say please. after everything let me be picked. (I know it might not be the deciding factor by asking here but I’ve had a few this year)

    Time to release my own Home theme, that I’ve been saving for months. Maybe the video of me eating my thread in the forums under the nomicker SOOPERGOOMAN. Maybe….

    Home would rock . If anything I have been a big supporter of Sony by backing them up when other console fanboys hate. I’m also the goto guy in my friends and family when it comes to PlayStation issues they might have( usually nat3 and router help).

    Home would be a fantastic chance to experience what we all have been wondering about for so long. This is by far the BEST news ever. Also it would keep me out of here. Incentive Enough. LOL

  • Fersis
    August 7, 2008 at 12:37 pm PDT

    Yeah, the theme looks pretty slick.
    I really like it, maybe this is the theme wich will replace my ‘original’ one

  • viper262
    August 7, 2008 at 12:37 pm PDT

    Thanks Jack for allowing more people in the beta. I just have to say i hope i get in.
    PSN:COD4Finest

  • FritoZ
    August 7, 2008 at 12:38 pm PDT

    i’m glad at least this means Home really is coming, someday!

    i hope you guys can get it out before Microsoft’s new Avatar system is up and running, it would be sad if they beat you to your own game!

    But i would rather have Home fully functional and working and awesome instead of rushing it just to beat Microsoft..

    anyway, thanks for this update and the free theme!

  • Emadeowa
    August 7, 2008 at 12:38 pm PDT

    AAAAWWWWWW YYYEEEEAAAHHHHH! thank you for the wicked news Jack..

  • Coolwater
    August 7, 2008 at 12:38 pm PDT

    I’d love to participate. I’m a beta veteran!

  • hejjj12
    August 7, 2008 at 12:39 pm PDT

    Ooh! what to try it :D

  • jbat17
    August 7, 2008 at 12:39 pm PDT

    i want to join but tomorrow’s my lucky day, not today.. you know, tomorrow is 08/08/08

  • joshua2327
    August 7, 2008 at 12:39 pm PDT

    Woah this is awesome news

    I Can’t wait to try out Home

  • Kenaue
    August 7, 2008 at 12:40 pm PDT

    Is this for real? I assumed HOME was a myth. I MUST SEE THIS!

  • Jeo
    August 7, 2008 at 12:40 pm PDT

    Question…

    Will there be some kind of notification to let us know whether we got in or not? I plan on downloading this tonight, but it’d be nice to know whethere I got in or not.

    At a minimum, will you guys post once all spots are full?

  • notmarealname
    August 7, 2008 at 12:40 pm PDT

    oh my goodness gracious thank you jesus! THANK YOU SONY!!!!! ive been waiting for the home open beta for a really rrealy long time.

    dang but then again, i mite not get in…
    i hope ill get in, im sure everyone else is saying the exact same thing, who doesnt want this? its almost like the full version, and you get to help make it better :)

  • Devil240Z
    August 7, 2008 at 12:40 pm PDT

    also,
    Noel Silvia is an awesome name!

  • Chayness
    August 7, 2008 at 12:41 pm PDT

    OMGness! Awesome news! I hope I get in!

  • Adamalicious
    August 7, 2008 at 12:41 pm PDT

    I know what my first download today’s gonna be :)

  • Jer1ch0
    August 7, 2008 at 12:41 pm PDT

    If it helps guarantee me a spot on the Beta please note that I write a regular column on http://www.blogcritics.org regarding the weekly PSN updates and I am the gaming sections PS3/PSP fanboy, so my activity on the PSN is huge!

    https://blogcritics.org/archives/features/playstation_network_updates.php

    PSN ID: Jer1ch0

    P.S. I will download the theme when I get home…
    P.P.S. Home is one of the reasons I bought the PS3, I have mentioned this weekly on our podcasts at blogtalkradio
    http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stations/bc/gaming

  • Trustter
    August 7, 2008 at 12:43 pm PDT

    Hi Jack!

    I have been waiting for HOME since it was announced. I am always expecting to make part of the BETA testers community but I was never lucky enough.

    Now there are few BETAS coming and unfortunately I will be traveling in Europe for couple months. So I will miss all of it.

    As a graphic designer I can tell this is pretty cool Theme. I wish I could make part of Sony team. :(

    Thank you

    • Avatar photo
      Noel Silvia
      August 7, 2008 at 12:53 pm PDT

      Use the \”Contact Us\” to send us a copy of your resume and link to your portfolio.
      You never know when we might be hiring…

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