To say we have a pretty massive update coming for all of you this Thursday, June 18th would be the understatement of the week. To start, we’ll be unleashing the long-awaited SOCOM Tactical Operations Center space. This space is the first installment of a two-part SOCOM Home hub (the second highly interactive space – OPFOR – will follow the TOC shortly) that is the ideal 3D locale for the huge SOCOM community to meet up and socialize. At this new SOCOM strategy post, you will be able to plot the next course of action with your friends by gathering around the Telestrator tool and coordinating your next assault. Chock full of maps and modes from SOCOM: Confrontation, the Telestrator is a powerful tool that the Home community can use to collaborate, strategize, and enhance their gameplay experience. On top of this, the TOC boasts a regional leaderboard that pulls data from the SOCOM site and updates Career stats (such as all-time ranking, kills, deaths, and kills/deaths ratio) in real-time. And in an imminent refresh of the TOC you’ll also be able to purchase a slew of related virtual items to decorate your avatar with. So if you like to sport the Military chic look you’ll have to make a point to stop on by and load up on bandoliers, balaclavas, and other assorted tactical outerwear.

Also coming to the world of PlayStation Home this week is our first foray into movie and game-themed personal spaces. All of you virtual Egons will be overjoyed to find a Ghostbusters Firehouse personal space available for purchase. This 3-floor space comes jam-packed with tons of furniture and assorted decorations at no additional charge (including your very own Ecto-1). We hear that the basement’s ghost containment unit might have accidentally leaked a poltergeist or two, so you’ll have to keep an eye open for supernatural activity. Lucky for you, the Ghostbusters Firehouse comes with full Loot Stage Set functionality (including move props and portable blue screens) so you can stage your own Ghostbusters machinima. And as a token of our infatuation with the Ghostbusters franchise, we’re giving away free t-shirts that commemorate the 25th anniversary of Slimer hitting the silver screen. So be sure to log in and load up on all the goodies while the gettin’ is there to be gotten.

Electronic Arts is also freshening up their hugely-popular EA SPORTS Complex with additional Racing tracks, a leaderboards, Racing Boost Shop, and Poker updates (including bracelets for the ladies). The as-of-yet-unopened Golf Pro Shop space will temporarily disappear but will reappear and launch within a short time, so have no worries. All in all, this is a pretty significant update to the Complex, so if you haven’t been over for a while, this Thursday would be a dang fine time to drop on by.

We’re also bringing you some more game-related virtual items (did somebody say Street Fighter IV?!?!), including the free inFAMOUS Cole Costume for all of you that downloaded the demo and played it through to completion. Keep your eye on the official PlayStation Twitter page for more info regarding the awesome updates we have in “store” for you (terrible pun, I know).

To top this all off we have two events running this weekend in addition to the regularly-scheduled Resistance: SRPA Siege and Saturday Night Street Fightin’ game launching events (check the Clubs and Events subforums on the official PlayStation Home messageboard for more details). The first event starts Friday morning and ends Friday night and has something to do with you and your friends going on a scavenger hunt for parts of a secret code scattered throughout Home and the first 100 winners receiving a free download of Bomberman Ultra from the PlayStation Network. The other is scheduled for Saturday night and also involves free stuff, but you’ll have to keep your eyes on the video screens throughout Home between now and then for more details, because my memory is getting a little furry in my old age…

Oh, and by the way, the Killzone 2 Visari’s Throne and the Namco Bandai Museum are indeed coming to SCEA’s version of PlayStation Home. But not this week. You’ll have to keep an eye on the official Blog, forums, and Twitter accounts to stay up to date as to the progress of these spaces. But don’t despair; you can always spend the time between now and then launching into games of Crash Commando with your friends in Home. Don’t believe me? Give it a try…

If you’re interested in busting the Joker, busting a tire, busting ghosts or busting a tackle, we’ve got you covered this month! We’re also excited to announce that Qore annual subscribers are invited to the upcoming UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves multiplayer Beta (see details below).

Enter the Asylum
Arkham Asylum. It’s the place where Batman’s most psychotic foes are kept under lock and key…at least, until the Joker takes control. Developer Rocksteady Games brings us inside the Gotham City landmark—the location of their upcoming game.

Who You Gonna Call?
It may have been twenty years since the Ghostbusters last strapped on their proton packs, but the films have not been forgotten. Audrey Cleo catches up with Dan Aykroyd about his contributions as writer and voice actor in the new game that’s revitalized the beloved franchise.

Take a Spin
Veronica Belmont also visits Codemasters in the UK for an early look at the next iteration in its DiRT rally racing series evolving the gameplay with improved handling and new stadium events.

Natural Co-Motion
Euphoria, developed to create extremely realistic character AI and animation in upcoming games such as Backbreaker, will change the way you play– foregoing canned animation for real-time interaction. We take a close look at this new technology.

Everyone who downloads Qore this month will receive an exclusive inFAMOUS PS3 “Good Karma” theme that, like the game’s main character, evolves over time. New Qore subscribers will also receive High Velocity Bowling as our way of saying thanks.

Great News for Subscribers!
All existing Qore subscribers will also receive a special voucher via e-mail allowing them to join the UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves multiplayer Beta on June 3. Everyone who becomes a new Qore subscriber on or before May 15 will also receive the Beta invitation.

This Beta is just one of the many benefits offered to Qore subscribers during this inaugural year. And, as a reminder for our June 2008 subscribers, you still have one more episode coming your way after May’s Episode 12 to complete your 13-episode subscription.

Look for Qore Episode 12 available tomorrow, Thursday May 7.