Thursday, the long awaited virtual community for users of Sony Corporation’s PlayStation 3 gaming consoles will finally open its gates throughout the world, with the launch of the free-of-charge PlayStation Home service.

The latter, although it is not expected by company officials to entice new gamers into purchasing the console, is aimed at making the gaming experience more fun for those who already own a PS3 machine.

The service allows users to download the PlayStation Home software and then connect their gaming consoles to broadband in order to create their avatars in the virtual community and also get in touch with other owners’ avatars.

Even though the main activity on PlayStation Home is playing games and consequently making new friends who share their devotion to Sony’s PS3, members of the community can also stroll down virtual lawns and visit bowling alleys, arcades and other users' homes.

Sony Computer Entertainment Japan vice president Junji „JB” Shoda has revealed that the Home service did not aim at going head-to-head with virtual worlds such as Linden Lab's „Second Life,” which has created a craze among millions of people and can be played on PCs.

Moreover, he added that the virtual community only targeted gamers, in an attempt to boost their interactive experience.

After having been postponed twice, the service is now scheduled to become available in eight languages in Japan, Europe, United States and other areas where the PS3 console has been released.

Sony announced that PlayStation Home would be updated with new games, licensing partners and events like a New Year’s countdown ceremony.