Home’s Central Plaza now looks altogether different from this early, mall-like setting.

Since its impressive unveiling at GDC ‘07, the virtual community of PlayStation Home has gone from being Sony’s most ambitious software undertaking as a console manufacturer to something just shy of vaporware. We hear that more members of the gaming populace are being cherry-picked to test it, but despite this – and a spattering of showings at industry events – it nevertheless seems no closer to realization.

With the expanded closed beta underway and Sony still talking about a public “open beta” release by year’s end, Joystiq met with PlayStation Home director, Jack Buser, to get a look at what those under NDA are experiencing right now.

Our tour began in the totally re-designed Central Plaza, something that Buser calls the “pride and joy of SCEA.” This area, inspired by elements of modern architecture from Munich and Los Angeles, serves as an entryway and hub into the world. As it stands, the world is comprised of this space, the Games Space, which contains virtual pool, bowling, and arcade games; the Mall, which offers free and paid clothing, furniture, and even entire properties; and a currently single-screen movie theater, which is being used to screen trailers (WipEout HD at present) with plans to expand it into a multiplex offering “more types of video content.”

It’s clear that Home is still very much a work in progress, but, as Buser explained to us, will continue to grow long after its doors have been open to a (hopefully) eager public. Manning a DualShock 3 sporting Sony’s upcoming keypad peripheral, Buser walked us through Home’s current state.

First and foremost, Buser shared his distilled explanation of what Home is all about – something that was still fairly unclear to, well, anyone. “It’s all about expanding the game experience. Expanding the gamer community,” Buser told us, explaining that, “Every time we do anything, the first thing we ask ourselves is ‘How does this expand the game experience? How does this enhance gameplay? How does it enhance existing or upcoming games?’ That’s our ‘laser focus’ with Home.”

The original Games Space (shown) has undergone a major face-lift in the beta.

Some – ourselves included – have seen the Game Space before and wondered what was so special about multiplayer online pool and bowling. Buser explains that this area of Home is actually a key community component in the eyes of the team. “The real reason for the game space being there is to give you an excuse to do something to meet people,” he said. “Take pool. It’s just like playing pool in real life. You do it to hang out with friends. Maybe one out of 10 times you play pool it’s actually to get better at your game.”

Buser believes that the space will serve as a novel and better means of making online friends. “There are really only a couple of ways to meet new friends on traditional game consoles. Either play a game with them, shoot them down, and say, ‘Hey, I shot you down! Be my friend’ and add them to your friends list,” he noted, adding that, “Sometimes you often regret doing that and have to remove them.”

Via: Joystiq