WELCOME HOME
Welcome to PlayStation®Home, the online community for PLAYSTATION®3. Whatever you’re into – adrenaline-fueled gaming tournaments, access to exclusive PlayStation® news and events or free text and voice chat with friends old and new – you’ll find it in PlayStation®Home. PlayStation®Home is an evolving 3D world that is yours to explore, to experience and to enjoy – and this Online Manual is intended to help you make the most of it.
First, you’re advised to take a look at the basic controls outlined below: they will help you find your way around the various spaces within PlayStation®Home and the all-important Menu Pad without any difficulty.
When you’re familiar with the controls, simply select an option from the menu to visit the relevant section of the manual. We promise it won’t be long before you feel completely at home.
| 1) [UP] | 10) [SQUARE] button |
| 2) [DOWN] | 11) [START] button |
| 3) [LEFT] | 12) [SELECT] button |
| 4) [RIGHT] | 13) [R3] button (press) |
| 5) left stick | 14) [L3] button (press) |
| 6) right stick | 15) [R1] button |
| 7) [X] button | 16) [R2] button |
| 8) [CIRCLE] button | 17) [L1] button |
| 9) [TRIANGLE] button | 18) [L2] button |
DIRECTIONAL BUTTONS
In this Online Manual, [UP], [DOWN], [LEFT] and [RIGHT] are used to denote the direction of the directional buttons only.
MENU CONTROLS
Press [UP], [DOWN], [LEFT] or [RIGHT] to select a menu option and press the [X] button to confirm. Press the [CIRCLE] button to return to the previous menu screen.
AVATAR CONTROLS
| left stick | Move avatar |
| right stick | Look around |
| [X] button | Confirm/Interact |
| [CIRCLE] button | Cancel/Go back |
| [TRIANGLE] button | Text chat |
| [L1] button | Quick chat |
| [R1] button | Gesture |
| [R2] button (hold) | Voice chat |
| [L3] button | Expand Chat Log |
| [R3] button | Adjust viewpoint |
| [START] button | View Menu Pad |
| [SELECT] button | View PlayStation®Home Safe Screen |
ALERTS
Sometimes in PlayStation®Home an alert will be displayed on-screen. To read the alert, press the [START] button. To read the alert, no longer displayed on-screen: go to the Menu Pad, choose “Alerts” and select the alert you want to read from those available.
HOME TIP: Don’t forget, the Online Manual is just one way to find out how PlayStation®Home works. Check out the “Help” option on the Menu Pad for more tips, and remember you can run through the tutorial as many times as you like!
PLEASE NOTE: the information in this manual was correct at the time of publication, but some minor changes may have been made late in the product’s development. All screenshots for the manual have been taken from the English version of PlayStation®Home.
“
”, “PlayStation”, “PLAYSTATION”, “PS3”, “
”, “SIXAXIS” and “DualShock” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "SONY" and “
” are registered trademarks of Sony Corporation. The “Home” icon is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited. All titles, content, trademarks, designs, artwork, and associated imagery are trademarks and/or copyright material of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
SAFETY
Play, participate, debate, discover – you can do it all in PlayStation®Home. Remember though: any community is at its most enjoyable when all of its members treat each other with courtesy and respect. Check out these tips to ensure your PlayStation®Home experience is a safe and happy one:
THE PlayStation®Home SAFE SCREEN
The PlayStation®Home Safe Screen lets you control how you interact with other members of the PlayStation®Home community. Press the [SELECT] button at any time to view the PlayStation®Home Safe Screen and choose from the following options:
Change your communication settings: Enable or disable text and voice chat*.
Add someone to your Block List: View a list of members of the PlayStation®Home community currently at your location. Select an online ID to block that person from chatting to you. Blocked users will be added to the Block List in the “Friends” section of the PLAYSTATION®3 system’s Home Menu.
Go to your Personal Space: Leave your current location and go to your default Personal Space.
Open the System Friends List: View the Friends List in the “Friends” section of the PLAYSTATION®3 system’s Home Menu.
Submit a report: submit a report on the behavior of another member of the PlayStation®Home community.
* NOTE: The communication settings within PlayStation®Home apply only to chat functionality within PlayStation®Home. To disable chat entirely for a sub account holder’s PlayStation®Network account, please adjust the PLAYSTATION®3 system parental controls. Disabling chat using the PLAYSTATION®3 system parental controls will override the communication settings within PlayStation®Home.
YOUR AVATAR
The best place to get started in PlayStation®Home is with your avatar. It’s up to you to choose how you look, dress and whether or not you have a ridiculous moustache. Feel free to experiment: it’s sure to get you noticed.
YOUR WARDROBE
The first time you enter PlayStation®Home, your avatar will be displayed in your Wardrobe space. Later, you can access your Wardrobe via the Menu Pad – simply choose “Personal” then select “Go to Wardrobe”. In Wardrobe, the following options will be displayed:
PRESETS
Choose from a range of ready-made avatars of all shapes and sizes. When you choose a preset avatar, any unsaved changes made to your current avatar will be lost.
AVATAR
Fine tune your avatar’s appearance by adjusting attributes including gender, bone structure, body shape, skin color and hair style. Press [LEFT] or [RIGHT] or move the left stick or the right stick to adjust the settings in each category.
When adjusting the head, face, ears, nose, mouth and chin of your avatar, press the [SQUARE] button to access the advanced customization controls.
CLOTHING
Style your avatar from head to toe, choosing your headgear, your footwear and everything in between. In some categories, choose “None” if you do not want your avatar to wear any of the styles offered.
LOAD/SAVE
Load a previously saved avatar or save the current avatar.
HOME TIP: Customizing your avatar begins in your Wardrobe, but it doesn’t end there. Take a trip to the Mall to check out tons of trendy clothes and accessories guaranteed to have your avatar looking good.
GETTING AROUND
In PlayStation®Home, you won’t want to stay put. Make sure you know how to move from place to place and you’ll never be stuck looking for new sights to see or people to meet.
AVATAR MOVEMENT
Move the left stick to move your avatar around PlayStation®Home and move the right stick to look around: there’s always something worth watching nearby. Press the [R3] button to change your viewpoint on the action.
HOME TIP: Move the left stick just a little in one direction to walk slowly or move it further to pick up the pace.
DOORWAYS
In PlayStation®Home, doorways often lead to different spaces. Move through doorways to move between different areas within PlayStation®Home.
THE WORLD MAP
The World Map is a great way of hopping quickly from place to place within PlayStation®Home. On the Menu Pad, choose “Locations” then select “World Map” to view all spaces available within your region. When several spaces are grouped together, they will be displayed as a stack of tiles or “chips”.
Highlight a stack and press the [X] button to spread out the chips. Each chip represents a separate location. Highlight a chip and press the [X] button to visit that location. Alternatively, highlight a chip and press the [SQUARE] button to add the location to your Favorites List. Locations in your Favorites List are marked with a heart icon. Press the [TRIANGLE] button to access the World Map Menu and view or edit your Favorites List.
PERSONAL SPACES
Your Personal Space is just that – your own space within PlayStation®Home. You can decorate it however you like, invite friends from your own region or other regions back to chat or even throw a house party.
The default Personal Space is the Harbour Studio – a sleek, contemporary pad with stunning views across a sunny marina. There are, however, some spectacular alternative properties available at the Shopping Centre – keep a look out for them.
To access your Personal Space from the Menu Pad, choose “Locations” then select “Owned Spaces”. A list of currently owned spaces will be displayed. Choose to go to one of these spaces or to set a particular space as your default Personal Space.
HOME TIP: You can also access your default Personal Space directly from Home Central Plaza: simply enter the apartment building and approach the lifts inside.
REDECORATE YOUR PERSONAL SPACE
Redecorating your Personal Space is a must if you want to ensure your personality is stamped across every inch of it. Fortunately, all the right tools for the job are close at hand.
Ensure your avatar is in your Personal Space, then access the Menu Pad. Choose “Personal” and select “Redecorate Personal Space”.
HOME TIP: In the Harbour Studio, you can choose a wallpaper design and watch as your studio is instantly altered beyond recognition.
ADD FURNITURE
Spruce up your space with a wide range of furnishings, from stylish sofas to potted plants. You can always add to your inventory of items later, with a visit to the Mall, but until then you should find enough interior design inspiration to get you started…
PLACING AND REARRANGING FURNITURE
Choose an item of furniture and position it in your Personal Space as follows:
| left stick | Move item |
| [L2] button | Lower item |
| [R2] button | Raise item |
| [L1] button/[R1] button | Rotate item |
| [X] button | Place item |
| [CIRCLE] button | Cancel item placement |
When you have placed an item, press the [X] button to accept its position or press the [CIRCLE] button to cancel the placement and try again.
To rearrange an item of furniture that has already been positioned, approach the item and the item’s name will be displayed on-screen. Press the [X] button and the Action Menu will be displayed. Choose “Move” to reposition the item or select “Remove” to remove the item from your Personal Space completely.
HOME CENTRAL PLAZA
Home Central Plaza lies at the heart of the PlayStation®Home community, a light and airy public space that’s always full of things to see and people to meet. Sit in the sun and chat with friends or check out the many posters and video screens to see what’s in the PlayStation® pipeline.
POSTERS AND SCREENS
To get a closer look at a poster or video screen, approach it until its name is displayed on-screen. Press the [X] button to access the Action Menu, then choose from the options displayed.
GAMES
To play one of the games available in Home Central Plaza, approach the game's table an its name will be displayed on-screen. Press the [CROSS] button to access the Action Menu and choose “Play” to play the game.
If you are the only player present, you can practice by playing the game against yourself. If another player joins you – or if you joined another player at the table – the normal game will begin.
A game finishes either when a winner is declared, the game is declared a draw or one player leaves the table.
CHESS
Standard chess rules apply.
Position the cursor over the chess piece that you want to move and press the [X] button to confirm. If the selected piece is not obstructed and can be moved, yellow dots will be displayed on all possible destination squares. Position the cursor over a destination square and press the [X] button to move the piece to that square. Alternatively, press the [CIRCLE] button to cancel the move and choose another piece.
BOWLING ALLEY
The Bowling Alley is the perfect place to kick back and relax with friends. Challenge all comers to a pool tournament, team up for ten pin bowling or try your hand at one of the arcade games available.
To play one of the games in the Bowling Alley, approach the game until its name is displayed on-screen. Press the [X] button to view the Action Menu and choose “Play” to play the game.
If you are the only player present, you can practice by playing the game alone. If another player joins you – or if you joined another player’s game – the normal game will begin.
A game finishes either when a winner is declared, the game is declared a draw or one player leaves the game.
HOME TIP: When a second player joins a game of ten pin bowling, a twenty second countdown will begin, in which time more players can join the game. At the end of the countdown, the game will start.
POOL
Standard eight-ball pool rules apply. The controls are as follows:
| left stick [LEFT]/[RIGHT] | Move cue right/left |
| left stick [UP]/[DOWN] | Zoom in/out |
| right stick [UP]/[DOWN] | Adjust viewing angle |
| [X] button (hold) | Prepare shot power |
| [X] button (release) | Take shot at current power |
| [R3] button | Toggle overhead view on or off |
TEN PIN BOWLING
Standard ten pin bowling rules apply.
Move the left stick to position the bowling ball in the bowling lane, then press the [X] button to confirm and place the ball. A direction indicator will be displayed on-screen.
Press the [X] button to select a direction and start the power gauge, then press the [X] button again to set the power level and start the spin gauge. When you are happy with the amount of spin on the ball, press the [X] button to bowl the ball. A scorecard will be displayed on-screen after each bowl.
ARCADE GAMES
Check out the arcade machines for some mini-game action.
HOME THEATER
Home Theater is a luxury ten-screen cinema showing trailers for all kinds of exciting stuff: game news, movie trailers, technology and lifestyle videos and much, much more.
MALL
Have a special SingStar® event to attend? When followers of fashion want to look their best, there’s only one place to head: the Mall.
The Mall brings PlayStation®Store to PlayStation®Home, allowing you to purchase fancy new threads for your avatar, fun items to add to your inventory, chic furniture for your Personal Space, even new apartments, all using funds from your PlayStation®Network Wallet.
MAKING PURCHASES
When browsing items in the Shopping Centre, the controls are as follows:
| [X] button (when an item is highlighted) | Add item to basket |
| [TRIANGLE] button | View basket |
| [TRIANGLE] button (when an item has been selected) | Checkout |
| [CIRCLE] button | Cancel |
PlayStation® EVENTS SPACE
At certain times, lucky members of the PlayStation®Home community will be invited into the exclusive PlayStation® Events Space – a venue for special events, announcements and VIP parties. The PlayStation® Events Space even features some special mini-games to challenge anyone who’s mastered those in the Bowling Alley… so keep your eyes peeled for an invitation.
COMMUNICATION
It’s no fun running around PlayStation®Home in silence, not with so many friends to make and games to play. It’s time to get chatting…
NOTE: The communication settings within PlayStation®Home apply only to chat functionality within PlayStation®Home. To disable chat entirely for a sub account holder’s PlayStation®Network account, please adjust the PLAYSTATION®3 system parental controls. Disabling chat using the PLAYSTATION®3 system parental controls will override the communication settings within PlayStation®Home.
TEXT CHAT
Talking to fellow members of the PlayStation®Home community couldn’t be easier. Press the [TRIANGLE] button when you are close to another character to display the virtual keyboard, then simply type what you want to say. Text speech will be displayed on-screen in a speech bubble. Controls for the virtual keyboard are as follows:
| [UP]/[DOWN]/[LEFT]/[RIGHT] or left stick | Change key |
| [X] button | Select character or predicted word |
| [SQUARE] button | Backspace |
| [CIRCLE] button | Delete word/Exit virtual keyboard |
| [TRIANGLE] button | Space |
| [L1] button | Move cursor left |
| [R1] button | Move cursor right |
| [L2] button | View special characters |
| [R2] button | Change case |
| [START] button | Confirm chat entry and exit virtual keyboard |
HOME TIP: Connect a wireless keypad (sold separately) to your Wireless Controller to enhance text chat in PlayStation®Home. With a wireless keypad you can simply type the words you want to say. Press “Enter” on the wireless keypad to confirm your entry.
PREDICTIVE TEXT
The virtual keyboard is a clever instrument – look to the right-hand side of it and you’ll see a list of words that grows and shrinks based on the letters you’ve already entered. If the word you were intending to type is displayed, select it to enter it into the keyboard. What’s more, frequently used words will soon begin to appear at the top of the list, so text chatting will become quicker and easier the more you do it.
QUICK CHAT
Quick chat is a helpful way of speaking to people within PlayStation®Home using instant phrases like “Follow me” or “Where are you from?” Press the [L1] button to access the Quick Chat Menu, then choose from the available phrases.
CHAT LOG
A recent history of all text conversations in your vicinity, called a “Chat Log”, will be displayed in the bottom left corner of the screen. Press the [L3] button to expand the Chat Log and view a more extensive overview of what’s been said. Press [UP] or [DOWN] to scroll through the Chat Log.
VOICE CHAT
Connect a wireless headset (sold separately) to your PLAYSTATION®3 system for free voice chat with friends within PlayStation®Home.
Before you begin to use voice chat, first check the microphone settings. For further information on microphone settings, please refer to the “Settings” section of this manual. When your headset is correctly configured, press and hold the [R2] button to speak to anyone nearby.
TELEPHONE CALLS
Telephone calls are a great way to converse one-on-one with another member of the PlayStation®Home community. A wireless headset (sold separately) is required to make a telephone call.
There are two ways to make a telephone call via the Menu Pad. The first is to choose “Communication” then select “Phone Friend”. Choose a friend from the list displayed to make the call. The second option is to choose “Friends List” then select a friend from the list displayed. Choose “Phone Friend” to make the call.
When you receive an incoming call, an alert will be displayed on-screen. Press the [START] button to answer the call. You can also answer a call via the Menu Pad: choose “Communication” then select “Accept Call”. When a call is connected, press and hold the [R2] button to speak. To end a telephone call via the Menu Pad, choose “Communication” then select “Hang Up”.
GESTURES
With gestures, you can communicate with other members of the PlayStation®Home community using the ancient art of body language! Or you can boogie down alone in the centre of Home Central Plaza: it’s entirely up to you.
Press the [R1] button to view a list of gestures and choose a gesture from those displayed. A celebratory thumbs up? A conversational shrug? Whatever your mood, you’re sure to find a gesture to express it…
FRIENDS LIST
The Friends List shows you the current status of each of your PlayStation®Network pals. Friends currently signed into PlayStation®Home will be displayed at the top of the Friends List. One of the following icons will be displayed alongside each friend’s online ID:
 |
Signed in to PlayStation®Home and currently at your location |
 |
Signed in to PlayStation®Home |
 |
Signed in to PlayStation®Network but not signed in to PlayStation®Home |
 |
Not signed in to PlayStation®Network |
INVITE FRIENDS TO JOIN YOU
You can invite a friend to join you at your current location via the Menu Pad. Choose “Friends List” then select the friend you wish to invite and choose “Send Invite”. Your friend will be alerted to your invitation and, if they choose to accept it, will be brought to your location.
HOME TIP: You can invite friends from other regions to your Personal Space, so it’s easy to keep in touch with people all across the world!
JOINING FRIENDS
You can join a friend at their current location via the Menu Pad. Choose “Friends List” then select the friend you wish to join. Choose “Go to” and you will be taken to their location.
HOME TIP: It is possible for invitations and attempts to join friends to fail if a location is currently full, if you or your friend are too young to enter a location or if a location is not available in your or your friend’s country of residence.
GAME LAUNCHING
Rev up your racing engines, flex your fighting muscles or commandeer the sofa for an online quiz showdown: it’s time to play! In PlayStation®Home it’s easy to launch into some of your favorite games and enjoy multiplayer match-ups with like-minded souls across the globe. What are you waiting for?
CREATING A GAME
To create a new game via the Menu Pad, choose “Game Launching” and select “Set Up Game”. A list of all the game titles on your PLAYSTATION®3 system that support Game Launching will be displayed. Choose the game you wish to play to view its Settings Screen. When more than one Settings Screen is displayed, press the [R1] button or the [L1] button to cycle between screens. When you are satisfied with the settings, press the [TRIANGLE] button to create a new game.
JOINING A GAME
There are several ways to join a game launched by another member of the PlayStation®Home community:
- Approach any character with Game Launching information displayed above their head and their online ID will be displayed on-screen. Press the [X] button to view the Action Menu and choose “Join Game” from the options displayed.
- On the Menu Pad, choose “Game Launching” and select “View Existing Games”. All the games created at your current location will be displayed. Choose a game and press the [X] button to join.
- When you are invited to join a game, an invitation alert will be displayed on-screen. Press the [START] button while the alert is displayed to accept the invitation and join the game automatically. It is also possible to accept an invitation when the on-screen alert is no longer displayed: on the Menu Pad, choose “Alerts” and select the appropriate alert from those available.
LAUNCHING A GAME
There are two ways to launch a game you have created:
- On the Menu Pad, choose “Game Launching” and select “Launch Game”.
- On the Menu Pad, choose “Game Launching” and select “View Player List” to view a list of the players who have joined the game. Press the [TRIANGLE] button to launch the game.
CANCELLING A GAME
To cancel a game via the Menu Pad, choose “Game Launching” then select “Cancel Game”.
HOME TIP: When a game that has been launched from within PlayStation®Home ends, you will be asked if you want to return to PlayStation®Home or to the PLAYSTATION®3 system’s Home Menu. If you launched your game from a Clubhouse and you choose to return to PlayStation®Home, you will be returned to the Clubhouse. For more information on Clubhouses, please refer to the “Clubs” section of this manual.
CLUBS
Take all the fun of your favorite games and add the pleasure of sharing them with friends… wouldn’t it be great if there were a way to capture that combination and experience it again and again? With PlayStation®Home, there is: Clubs.
Clubs are the perfect way to hang out with old friends and make new ones within PlayStation®Home – and Clubs don’t have to be centered around games. You could start a Club devoted to anything you’re into, from music to style to SingStar®. The only limit is your imagination…
CREATING A CLUB
Creating a Club couldn’t be simpler. On the Menu Pad, choose “Clubs” and select “Create Club”. The Club Purchase Screen will be displayed. Confirm that you want to purchase a Club using funds from your PlayStation®Network Wallet, then enter the following information:
- Name – give your Club a suitably memorable name. The maximum amount of characters allowed in a Club name is 64.
- Tag – enter an abbreviated tag to represent your Club, like “[BF]” or “[HPG]”. The maximum amount of characters allowed in a tag is eight.
- Description – enter a brief description of your club to explain it to other members of the PlayStation®Home community.
HOME TIP: You can only be the leader (or Most Grand and Exalted Emperor, if you prefer) of one Club at a time. If you want to create a new Club, you’ll have to disband your current one.
INVITING OTHERS TO JOIN YOUR CLUB
Invite friends to join your Club via the Menu Pad. Choose “Clubs” and select “My Clubs” to view a list of all the Clubs of which you are a member. If you are the leader of a Club, it will be marked by a star icon. Choose “Admin Controls” and select “Invite”, then either enter the online ID of a friend using the virtual keyboard, or choose a friend from your Friends List.
When you have sent an invitation, press the [CIRCLE] button to return to the Invitation Screen and invite more people.
FINDING CLUBS TO JOIN
You can be a member of up to five Clubs at any one time, so it’s worth having a look around. On the Menu Pad, choose “Clubs” and select “Search Clubs” to display the search box. Enter the name (or a part of the name) of the Club you wish to search for, then press the [X] button to start searching. Remember though, search terms are case sensitive.
If your search is successful, a list of Clubs that match your search terms will be displayed. Choose a Club that you want to join and use the virtual keyboard to fill out an application message. When you are satisfied with your message, select “Apply to Join” to send your application to the Club leader.
CLUBHOUSES
Every Club comes complete with a Basic Clubhouse – a place where members of the Club can meet, chat, plan events and launch games together. Every Clubhouse also contains handy bulletin boards, on which you can leave written messages for fellow Club members.
MY CLUBS
On the Menu Pad, choose “Clubs” and select “My Clubs” to view a list of all the Clubs of which you are a member. Choose a Club and the following options will be displayed: “Go to Clubhouse”, “View Member List”, “View Club Profile” and “Leave Club”.
If you are the leader or a sub leader of the selected Club, the following option will also be displayed:
Admin Controls – view and edit the Club’s joining requirements, invite friends to join the Club, view a list of outstanding invitations or view the Member List. On the Member List, it is possible to choose a Club member and promote them to a sub leader.
The leader of the Club can also choose to upgrade the Clubhouse or disband the Club entirely, while sub leaders of the Club can choose to resign from their post.
HOME TIP: Only members can leave a Club. Leaders must disband the Club if they wish to leave it.
SETTINGS
There are various settings within PlayStation®Home that can be adjusted so as to fine tune your experience. On the Menu Pad, choose “Settings” and select one of the following options:
Pop-up Color – alter the color of on-screen information pop-ups, text chat speech bubbles and so on.
Sound – test your microphone settings and adjust the sounds, speech and ambient noises within PlayStation®Home.
Chat Log – choose to have the on-screen Chat Log automatically fade 20 seconds after the last text chat was received, or to keep it in view permanently.
Controls – adjust some of the PlayStation®Home controls.
Communication – enable or disable text or voice chat. By default, both types of chat are enabled. Changes made to the text and voice chat settings on the PlayStation®Home Safe Screen will be reflected here and vice versa.
Reset Tutorial – refresh your knowledge by viewing the PlayStation®Home introductory tutorial again. When you reset the tutorial you will be returned to your Personal Space to run through it again.
PlayStation®Home Information – view legal and other information about PlayStation®Home.