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The much delayed PlayStation Home is finally due to go into public beta tomorrow, so UK PS3 owners can get a look at this interesting 3D/social platform.

Although it caused quite a bit of interest from gamers when it was announced back in March 2007 it has since been delayed a number of times. The free application allows user to create a custom avatar and ‘pad’ and then explore communal 3D worlds where they can chat to other users, play game, watch videos and arrange groups to play PS3 game online. It’s kind of second life combined with an xbox live style service. The service is free although some content (like extra clothes for you avatar) will cost.

There are themed environments based on recent and upcoming game. Areas like Red Bull Island allow you to play a virtual flying challenge. Paramount Studios will be showing trailers and interviews for films like Watchmen in the Home Theatre. Fashion label Diesel will offer up some trendy togs for you avatar while furniture designer Ligne Roset has all sorts of upholstery collections to make your ‘pad’ stand out from the crowd.

PlayStation Home could end up being an interesting new place to promote your brands (admittedly to an 18-30 male bias audience) but the jury is very much out in my opinion. While it all sounds like fun to begin with, whether most people actually want to explore 3D environments on there PS3 on a regular basis is yet to be seen. One to keep an eye on then.

Paramount pictures and MSN have debuted a new online ad format called ’sidekick’.

In the one-day homepage takeover for Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa users can sample exclusive clips, games and competitions, all from within the confines of the advertising. After interacting with a normal banner ad the whole website slides to the left to reveal a large area that is effectively a microsite within the ad space.

The new format uses the Eyeblaster ad technology platform.

Source: net imperative

Can’t remember this being done before, but Sony have placed Digital movie posters (an animated poster) around the net for their new Terminator movie. Could be good way to spread the word on blogs etc.

This is great, a LIVE experiment by Heinz to see if a tomato plant that has encouraging messages from users will do better than a normal plant. Pop some headphone on and hear what people are saying to the little fella.

Fantastic and immersive web game that use video and audio to great effect. Plus, you can only play it after 6pm at night to make sure your proper scared. Wooohhh!

Now this is a really nice example of a flash website. Sour Sally’s frozen yogurt is a flash website with a lovely hand-drawn art style and charming music. You can navigate by using the mouse to fly Sally around on her ballon or click to pop it and walk using the arrow keys. There are also hidden ingredients to find around the site which reward you with a gift if you find them all.

Unfortunately the site is a little low on content, but it’s engaging and intuitive and actually fun to use.

In response to a fan video on youTube showing a glitch in the Tiger Woods golf game where the character can walk on water, EA have created this viral video using the real Tiger Woods.

Fantastic interactive ’story’ by Samsung all done using YouTube. At the end of each video you get to choose what to do next.

Flash talking have made it possible to view Google maps within a flash banner allowing users to search for their nearest cinema for example. A fantastic innovation.

Lovely micro-site from Fosters that actually lets you control a little mini sub in a tank of water.