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Capitalizing on the popularity of social networks and online worlds, Sony Corp. will launch its virtual universe and a 3-D game built almost entirely by players.

"Home" is a real-time, networked world for the PlayStation 3 in which players create human-looking characters called avatars. The concept is strikingly similar to Linden Lab's "Second Life," a Web-based phenomenon with nearly 4.5 million residents. But Sony's world will feature heavy doses of video games for avatars to play, as well as virtual arcades, music and other Sony-approved media downloads.

Sony will launch a beta version in April and officially debut "Home" this fall as a free download at PlayStation's online store.