PSN Operations Director, Eric Lempel, has a lot of fighting words to say about the state of online service, the PlayStation Home. And it all boils down to this: there's no more fighting with Xbox Live. He also said something about their "competition" with Apple, saying that they don't necessarily want to go down the path of offering various software options, particularly for the PSP, because they don't want to degrade the experience. Read on after the jump.

Looks like Sony's not through with its aggressive campaigning for the PlayStation 3. They're not calling Microsoft an add-on peddler this time, but they do want to point out that the US$ 50 you spend for your subscription to Xbox Live can get you a sh-tload of actual content on the PlayStation Network.

Clothes make the man. And the woman. And their respective avatars. According to Rare, Xbox 360 games will soon give player avatars new clothes and accessories through games, much like achievements. This makes me sad. This means my avatar will have a larger wardrobe than I do.

A big "oh no, they didn't!" moment came about last week when Ernst & Young revealed that Microsoft is one of their many clients that are joining in on tests to see if PlayStation Home could become a viable environment for virtual corporate meetings. Today, Microsoft has dismissed these reports, saying that they have everything they need as it is.

Who needs webcam conferences when you can have it over at PlayStation Home? Video conferences are so last year, especially now if you can have your avatar drop some cabbage patches or a running man while sealing a multimillion dollar deal over the network. Gives an entirely new definition to "working at Home," doesn't it? Yes, apparently, some companies are already testing out this new venture: virtual corporate meetings at Home. And that includes Microsoft!

You've seen every screenshot, watched every movie, pre-ordered and camped out to get a hold of the game on day one, frantically ripped off the wrapping, shoved it into your machine of choice and then... disappointmenton. Here's how we felt, what about you folks?

Ah yes, it's the Christmas season indeed. The spirit of joy and cheer is all around us: angry shoppers, traffic jams, and the occasional cross-platform bashing between Microsoft and Sony.

Xbox 360 product manager Aaron Greenberg talks about how Microsoft is dealing with the holidays, especially in these times of economic turmoil. Meanwhile, he also takes a potshot at every Sony fanboy's favorite Christmas present: PlayStation Home.

Microsoft and Sony are still going head to head in the consoles race. Each continue to churn out services and products that aim to outdo the other. Sony, though, is confident that they will hit a homerun soon over Microsoft, especially since the debut of Home is drawing very near.

In the long run, whether or not the Wii is a fad really doesn't matter since it's still selling like hotcakes and still has the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 eating its dust. Peter Moore, former Microsoft exec and now head of EA Sports, believes that the Wii will win the console war. Details in the full article.

Microsoft has been asked some intriguing questions about their online service strategy involving Avatars and more. The software giant said that they're not taking ideas from Nintendo and they're not threatened by Sony's PlayStation Home. David Gosen speaks for the boys in green after the jump.