More exciting announcements from the E3 press conference, where company spokesmen made part of their presentation from within PlayStation Home using virtual avatars. Phil Harrison, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, also discussed some new key features of their ambitious 3D community.

"After more than three years in development, we’re preparing for a landmark global roll out of PlayStation Home in the fall. As an integrated service of the PlayStation Network, PlayStation Home will enable people to build connected communities around all of the entertainment experiences that PS3 has to offer."

Highlights include mobile phone access, the ability to launch games and movies from within PlayStation home, and friends who want to play a game together can meet in one location to set options and let the fragging commence. There's also a newly-designed Home Square (which replaces the original lobby concept), and a choice of four personal spaces to allow for greater choice and customisation.

It has to be said, the inclusion of a virtual community is a compelling reason to buy a PS3, not least because it's a major point of difference from anything offered by Microsoft and Nintendo. It's a shame it wasn't available at the console's launch, but it's not too late at this stage of the game to repair the damage. And right now, PlayStation Home is looking like one giant plaster.

More nuggets of info over at Gamasutra

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