Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios President Phil Harrison has spoken at GDC, lifting the lid on the 'Home', an social and reward system first hinted at in leaks last week.The will offer a whole new social chapter on the PS3 Online, giving gamers 'apartments' to customise, areas to interact, share and chat. One surprise Harrison did let out of the bag, was a game called LittleBigPlanet, which promises lashings of social-led content.

PS3 Home will begin beta testing in April, and as expected we're going to get an avatar-led social network, the community will get a widespread launch in the autumn. Speaking about the third-generation of videogaming, Harrison outlined his vision of 'Game 3.0', which is all about putting "the spotlight back on the consumer."

He spoke of the Game 2.0 experience introducing connected consoles and a new method of delivering 'static' content, while the third stage of gaming evolution will see users interacting together and crafting their own gaming experience, in a similar fashion to the way MySpace and YouTube are defining the web experience for many people.

Harrison was quick to add that 'Game 3.0' was not a product, but rather a 'trend', which he believes will "power the next decade of growth in our industry." will be trying to help their third-party partners embrace this evolution, as well as launching their own products tapping into this zeitgeist.

Back to 'Home', and we learn that realism will be the order of the day - quite the opposite of Nintendo's cartoon-like Mii avatar - instead players crafting a character in intricate detail. New customisation options will also be unlocked in PS3 titles, and various features will be presented via a 'virtual on-screen'. Sony state that the game will play like a free title, complete with virtual environments, avatars and plenty of social interaction.

Interaction in the world of Home will take place by approaching another character, and you'll be able to communicate via controller shortcuts, a USB keyboard, or via voice chat. Video, and real-world games (bowling, pool, etc) will be a part of the game world. You'll even be able invite virtual friends to your virtual apartment to watch virtual HD video downloads on a virtual TV. Can anyone spot the theme, here?

Meeting friends in your 'apartment' (which you'll be able to deck out with TVs, games, etc), you'll even be able to launch into other online gaming sessions, your home serving as 'Clan HQ' should you wish. A public space 'cinema' will act as a lobby, where user-defined content and trailers will be aired. Online chatter is already pointing to various 'spaces' acting as MySpace-like areas for individuals and organisations, no doubt providing a huge marketing opportunity in the process.

Success in PS3 games will see players awarded trophies, to be displayed in a players' apartment, with Harrison stating that he hopes to "create loyalty and excitement around PS3."

Then there's LittleBigPlanet, a game being created by a new firm (Media Molecule) run by Mark Healey and Alex Evans of the Rag Doll Kung Fu fame. The new community driven game is said to be the embodiment of Sony's 'Game 3.0' ethos. The physics-based game will be all about customising a world, which players will experience as a rag-doll character, moving around highly interactive, totally malleable worlds.

Freshly crafted 'spaces' will be shared online, with players exploring endless user-generated online landscapes, with leaderboards charting popular creations, online community feedback and more on offer. A version will hit the net in 2008, we're told.

Dylan Jobe took to the stage after Harrison's revelations, announcing that WarHawk is being transformed into an online game. Finally, Harrison spoke of PlayStation EDGE, a set of new tools set to make game creation on the PS3 much easier. The speech concluded with a trailer and the promise of more at E3. Very exciting it all is too. Now, as Sony would clearly endorse, its over to you...

By Luke Guttridge