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Sony announces 'Xi,' an alternate reality game for Home photo

Today, Sony announced the arrival of Xi in Home. Xi -- a gloriously vague name -- is an alternate reality game based inside the social service. To join in on the cryptic shenanigans, all you have to do is step through the looking glass the silly little "Xi" insignia in front of the apartments in Home’s Central Plaza. Once entered, you’ll be transported to a new space called The Hub.

If you’re at work, or just like clicking on things, I’ve included some pictures of the space in the gallery below. As you observe, it’s a fairly sterile area. But don’t let that fool you -- there’s actually something to do in the space.

The first objective of Xi is to figure out what fuels it. Picking up the three scraps of paper scattered around The Hub sheds some light on the odd new addition to Home. (You can get a sneak peek here if you’re really interested.)

I won’t spoil the rest of the adventure, but I wanted to comment on how nice it is to actually do something other than dance. This ARG stuff actually gives you initiative to talk to people and check out all the areas in Home. It's, if you’re into riddles and are tired of dancing to the new 50 Cent songs blasting through the jukebox.

According to Home’s community manager, CydoniaX, Xi will be “changing day by day, week by week, in real time.” So look forward to plenty of cryptic stuff moving in the weeks to come. And, hey, be careful: you might have a good time.


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16 comments | showing # 1 to 16

mascot1063's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 14:50
mascot1063
but... what is.... xi >.> love the cat though
ZombiePlatypus's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 14:51
ZombiePlatypus
Well done Sony, you've gotten me interested in logging back into Home. We'll see how long my interest holds...
PhazonYoshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 15:23
PhazonYoshi
This would have been really fucking cool if it were less obviously placed, and they didn't tell anyone about it.
Niero's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 15:24
Niero
if the cat's not in it I'm going to be fucking pissed
Saint Demon's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 15:24
Saint Demon
So is the hub powered by kittens?
loki d20's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 15:26
loki d20
Meh. No thanks.
SuitcoatAvenger's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 15:33
SuitcoatAvenger
"Xi"? Isn't that the new name for Blackwater? Oh, no.. that's "Xe".

Good one, Sony. That probably won't come back to bite you on the ass.
triclops41's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 15:43
triclops41
sounds interesting,ill give it shot. btw, this is pretty much the only potential advantage home has over xbl
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 15:47
Chronic Logic
A time killer for those haning around Home?
The Pat Man's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 16:15
The Pat Man
I just finished it and it's not bad. My only gripe is its a one challenge a day sort of thing, or I assume since I finished both the simple and complicated task and I can't move onto another. It definitely is something that'll make you log into home every day even it its for 15 minutes or so (depending on how good you are with puzzles and if you'll do the lazy way out or not). Much like the rest of home, it has great potential.
DinnertimeNinja's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 16:30
DinnertimeNinja
I = Intrigued...

I'm a sucker for puzzles, but I'm also a sucker for NOT logging into Home.

WHICH SUCK WILL PREVAIL??!
SP420's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 16:49
SP420
Well...

Sounds better than pressing the triggers while on the Xbox Live main menu and watching the selections go really fast back and forth for amusement.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 17:35
Holyetheline
*Spins around in chair* WHY HELLO MR HOME GLAD TO MEET YOU ILL BE IN MY STUDY IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.
*end scene*
AgentMOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 18:15
AgentMOO
Wait, an alternate reality alternate reality game? That's fucking meta!
Magesx's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 18:18
Magesx
STOP MAKING HOME STUFF

NO ONE WANTS IT
Sexualchocolate's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/24/2009 09:45
Sexualchocolate
This is what Home is for.

Were it not for home missing the basic building blocks (below) it would be an awesome replacement for the XMB.

1) TV's - sort this issue out Sony, sort it out now.
2) Stereo's - If we can listen to our music in Home we will come here more often.
3) Picture Frames - Just do it. I know there's "rights" and "content" issues but sort it out.
4) Incorporate PlayTV - let me watch real TV while in my appartment, don't even let others watch my TV, i just want to use HOME like the XMB.
5) Game Launching - what's a console GUI without Game launching??
6) Full screen bloody theatre screens. No-one likes a poncy theatre boarder.

add that shit, and even an "auto launch" option for home so i never need to use the XMB, not that I don't love the XMB but a HOME based GUI that let me use at least most of my PS3's features would be out of this world. Not to mention would take the piss out of that new errorbox GUI, what was it called, the E74's mask? RRoD disguise? Something like that.
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