One of the most interesting developments on the Home front for the PlayStation Network are the planned "portals" which are expected to be unique for online-ready PlayStation 3 games.  These game-specific portals will serve as more than just launch pads into the games themselves.  According to rumors gathered by Kotaku, they can be "home" to anything from special rooms where Home avatars can explore additional game content, fully-fledged mini games, to small-scale versions of actual in-game maps where teams can get together and plan their strategy before online multiplayer matches.

Admittedly, "Home" integration with games to such a level are currently limited to known first-party titles from Sony: Resistance: Fall of Man, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, and Warhawk.  The good news is that all these games are already released, so it's a good sign that other developers can cook up some Home integration of their own for both their current and upcoming game titles in their lineups.  Just imagine if PS3 RPGs (for example) had quirky little dungeons in their Home portals where your avatar can run around, complete with unlockable items that you can display in your own "Home".  Let's hope some cool ideas are brimming outside of Sony.