<![CDATA[Gawker: valleywag, peter edward]]> http://tags.gawker.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/gawker.com.png <![CDATA[Gawker: valleywag, peter edward]]> http://gawker.com/tag/valleywag/peteredward http://gawker.com/tag/valleywag/peteredward <![CDATA[Sony's virtual police know where you live]]> Build a virtual world, and they will come. That's the mantra behind Sony's jump into Second Life-style social networking. Unable to match Microsoft's 7 million-strong online user base for the Xbox 360, Sony is hoping to lure users in by building its own 3D metaverse. Home is like a prettier, stripped down version of Second Life that will, Sony promises, be void of the latter's rampant lawlessness. At most, you might get away with posting a raunchy picture you've uploaded to your imaginary digital crib.


Leave aside the question of whether Sony will be able to attract anyone to such a nothing-goes environment. What may turn more users off is Sony's police-state enforcement of Home rules. Home director Peter Edward promises violators will be dealt with swiftly, and permanently:

Ultimately we know a user's details, we know machine details and we know where they live.
Sony will have more than just users' account information — it will tie the user's online identity to its network connection and PlayStation 3 console.

Edwards explains that griefers who abuse Home will be exiled for good; your PS3's access to Home will be remotely disabled. Someone would have to move to a new house and buy a new PS3 in order to reenter the world. Well, that's one way to boost lagging console sales.

]]> http://gawker.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=289886&view=rss&microfeed=true