PlayStation® Home has more than 20 million users, and what better way to let them experience the Ford Edge and Fiesta than through a virtual showroom? Ford is the first automaker to launch a space within the North American version of this free, social-game platform, developed for the PlayStation 3 system and accessible by users through the PlayStation Network.

This gives players a unique opportunity to explore the Edge and Fiesta as well as Ford technology. In addition to being able to view the exterior and interior of the two vehicles, the in-car connectivity system SYNC® allows for interaction; users can pair a virtual mobile phone (already in the car) with SYNC. The system will start and a game menu will appear, with an option to play three quests: Music Quest, Turn-by-Turn Quest and Phone Quest.

Here’s a taste of what this virtual world is like: If you were playing, the person you controlled – avatar, for you hipsters – would enter the Ford Showroom and nab a virtual T-shirt with the Ford logo, just for showing up. The avatar could then take a gander at the Edge and Fiesta (including getting inside in order to check out the locations of key controls), with a virtual Ford rep introducing the vehicles and games.

About those quests: In Music Quest, avatars plug in an MP3 player and receive audio instructions that lead to a mini-game in which players take part in a music-based activity. If completed successfully, you receive a SYNC-branded virtual MP3 player with docking station that you can take to your own PlayStation Home apartment.

Turn-by-Turn Quest requires you to follow a map that leads to a puzzle that must be completed in order to win a holographic digital globe furniture item. Phone Quest requires use of a virtual phone to receive clues about how to find the last challenge, which is a logic puzzle. If completed, you would win a virtual SYNC-branded hooded sweatshirt with a glowing logo.

After you’ve completed all three quests, you’ll be instructed to return to the Ford Showroom for the grand prize of a virtual digital picture frame with the SYNC brand on it.

“We want users to really feel like they are inside one of the vehicles,” said Brian McClary, Ford Social and Emerging Media Specialist. “The purpose of Ford participating in PlayStation Home is not only to educate users, but to help entertain as well.”