PS3 Home Revealed Options

[Strife]

PS3 "Home"

All in all, I think it looks pretty cool.

[Zed]

There's a video from the GDC showing the Home here: http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?id=...mov&pl=game

I just hope it dosent slow down you getting into a game. With Xbox Live, while in a game, you can spam off invites to friends very quickly. If in Home you have to drop out and find peoples avatars... might be slow as. But if the intention is more like a big pre-game lobby, then yeah could be ok.

[Anpheus]

Couldn't make a batch of screenshots without pimping Resident Evil: Extinction or Spider-Man, could we Sony?

Aside from that, I have a couple questions as to how this is going to work.

How does chatting occur? Text chat is great for large groups of interacting people as it is easier to identify individual speakers (by name next to message,) voice is better in small groups but can easily leave ambiguity as to who is speaking if implemented poorly (see: Gears of War versus Halo 2. Halo 2 actually tells you who is speaking.) It looks like it's almost all textual... but I don't see a Sony keyboard anywhere. We should be able to just plug in any keyboard, but IMO, they really should release a custom multimedia one.

As Zed mentioned, how will it (or rather, can it) integrate with an in-game interface? That's a big one! Xbox 360 developers knew from the start that the Xbox Live services would be running in the background and could cover the display at will, and they also knew that players might be playing music at the same time as they play the game, or sending friend invites, whatever. Here's the problem: If Sony announces a similar service as part of Playstation Home or as a firmware update, will games that already have the occasional, infrequent performance issue still have those problems as infrequently? The implementation of a similar service would add a performance overhead, which means Sony has basically two choices: Allow it to possibly degrade performance on games developed prior to knowledge of Playstation Home, or disable it on those earlier games.

Sony has some tough choices up ahead because of their unwillingness to provide the sort of stable network that Microsoft provided all along (despite all the annoyances of Xbox Live, my experience has been positive.)

I hope Sony can finally pull off a quality network experience, but I'm doubtful that they can do it now that it sounds like an afterthought.

[Daniel]

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/770/770998p1.html

IGN has some screens....

Looks pretty interesting to me. This is definately a unique feature that will help Sony stand out more.

[Anpheus]

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/770/770998p1.html

IGN has some screens....

Looks pretty interesting to me. This is definately a unique feature that will help Sony stand out more.

Stand out != provide superior experience.

The screenshots are pretty (what else would we expect from Sony?) but don't do a whole lot to show us why we would use it.

There are some potential (but not impossible to fix!)... flaws to the concept. A big one is: is there a market for people to sit around in a virtual world and do nothing? I mean, that's basically what people do in WoW, but at least you have the illusion of bettering your online persona. Playstation Home is looking a lot like an MMO type world... but what's the incentive to inhabit it or even spend more than a few minutes in it to meet with a few friends and agree on what game to play?

[Lotus-6]

Encouraging to see a big, pretty, ARMORED CORE 4 ad in the middle of the article.

Looks pretty neat though. Kind of like... second life... almost? But perhaps a little less retarded than second life.

[Daniel]

IMO, it's more about the customization..... More like Myspace: The videogame. You can customize your 'appartment', character, etc. Upload movies, images, and show off your game trophies as well as play online games like bowling and pool....

[Anpheus]

Ok, I finished the download and viewing of the video linked to by Zed.

I'm liking it, though some of the features seem a little cheesy right now. The whole 'sharing music' thing might come under fire from other RIAA members. (Sony BMG is a large part of the "Big Four" of the RIAA.) And of course, they have some leverage in the MPAA too (Sony Pictures Entertainment is one of the larger members of the MPAA.) So it's possible they could pull it off, but I have to ask... why? I suppose Sony is going to include every possible feature they can no matter how inane, but I'm not sure how well this virtual spaces, virtual sharing of media thing is going to work. Are people really going to be interested in going online just to listen to someone else's music and have a silly avatar do silly, fake dancing? The other features, such as the ability to jump straight into a game, are great.

Clan/Guild/whatever you crazy kids call it these days/Whatever Sony brands it support would be nice too. Guild Halls or Clan Halls are a nice idea, and might have a lot more interest than personal spaces. After all, having a decadent and well-designed Raven Haven home online would be interesting, and it'd be even better if it could be used as a meeting place before tournaments and duels in games (such as AC4,) etc. Even better if it could possibly allow us to watch said games in the virtual space.


To sum up my opinion after watching the videos: it has promise, yes. But dammit, so do a lot of Sony ventures, and we have seen how some of their ideas turn out when implemented or marketed poorly. I wish them all the luck, and if they succeed in implementing some of the features I'd like to see, that'd be a pretty big selling point for owning a PS3 down the road.

Reply to Daniel: I never really got into the whole mySpace thing though. And while that may make me part of a minority here, there are a lot of other people like me who think "Wow, this is fucking retarded." when going to mySpace pages.

[Strife]

Honestly, I can see this appealing to people who love the sims.

[Warhawk]

And a lot of people love The Sims. Hell, it's half the PC game market.

Suddenly, all that nonsense Sony was spewing about the importance of user-created content is starting to come into focus. Home reminds me of an "MMO lite" that strips out actual gameplay in favor of the online social experience, which I can really get on board with. The customization of the avatars also blows Nintendo's Mii concept out of the water visually (though I still think Miis are an awesome, simple way of expressing yourself, Home looks to give you the tools to actually create your likeness with a good degree of accuracy).

Speaking of user-created content, I encourage everyone to checkout the demonstration of LittleBigPlanet; it's really fascinating stuff.

Virtual trophy room looked tight as well. Nice alternative to in-game achievements simply rewarding you with tiny images and a universal score.

Anpheus touched on one of my big concerns: will Home be a necessary stop-gap for playing with your friends on the PS3? I wonder if Sony will start to encourage developers from doing away with online lobbies altogether and push players towards using the Home interface instead, which I think would get kind of cumbersome. Shouldn't I just be able to boot up the game to play with my friends?

Being "free of charge," while awesome, leaves the door wide open for micro-rapements and advertising as well. I aint paying 99 cents for a sombrero of slogging through ads for Bravia TVs.

I'm excited overall. Definitely gives me an incentive to eventually pick up the system.

[Zed]

How does chatting occur? Text chat is great for large groups of interacting people as it is easier to identify individual speakers (by name next to message,) voice is better in small groups but can easily leave ambiguity as to who is speaking if implemented poorly (see: Gears of War versus Halo 2. Halo 2 actually tells you who is speaking.) It looks like it's almost all textual... but I don't see a Sony keyboard anywhere. We should be able to just plug in any keyboard, but IMO, they really should release a custom multimedia one.

It looks like you get your username above your head and then a cartoon-like speech bubble with your text pointing back down too you, so yeah should be too confusing. if voice-chatting you get a speaker symbol above you.

Currently you can plug in any USB keyboard, and some wifi (with dongle) keyboards. I'm using a wireless BTC 9019URF which seems fine.

there's more media here: http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=2185 including a bit on the "Trophy Room".

[Versellios]

It's about time some good news came out the Sony camp. I just don't understand why people are all of a sudden justifying their PS3 purchase over this. There are comments like, "I'm definitely getting a ps3 now". WTF?!?!? How can you be on the fence about the PS3 and then make the decision based on Home?

It's pretty cool. I like the mini game thing.

[Kobel]

WTF?!?!? How can you be on the fence about the PS3 and then make the decision based on Home?

Maybe because it's a pretty solid indication of Sony's dedication to making a competitor to Live, one of the largest reasons people pick MS console's over Sony's?

[Versellios]

I disagree. I think Live is definitely an added value of having a 360, but if you weren't going to buy a PS3 before the Home announcement, why would you buy one now? If you really thought Live was that much better than PS3's network, then you'd have a 360. Unless of course, you planned on buying both. Aside from the mini-game hookups, it's nothing ground breaking. It's still good to see some positive news about the PS3. I was more amazed by the new Heavenly Sword and Littlebigplanet footage.

[Kobel]

If you really thought Live was that much better than PS3's network, then you'd have a 360. Unless of course, you planned on buying both.

Or maybe you're just a guy who waits until both consoles have been out long enough to actually have, you know, GAMES, before you buy. In other words, not an idiot.

[Daniel]

Reply to Daniel: I never really got into the whole mySpace thing though. And while that may make me part of a minority here, there are a lot of other people like me who think "Wow, this is fucking retarded." when going to mySpace pages.

That's understandable. I also know several people who aren't interested in it. Quite frankly, I only have a Myspace profile because it's a good way to keep up with old highschool friends who have moved away.
But for others it seems to be 50% social and 50% egotism. There are a lot of people who take pride in the way their Myspace pages look and simply enjoy the possible attention it might earn them.

[Kurenai]

LOLMG, Killzone still exists. That's cool.

Not much to add about the Home thing. I normally wouldn't care, but the fact that it's free throws a wrench into my normal apathy strategy.

[Zed]

I've never felt inclined to do a MySpace thing, and in all likelyhood my Home house will have one TV, no furniture and a pile of trophies jumbled and neglected in a corner. Maybe a few anti-Bush posters

In other words, not an idiot.

Great. So now i am an idiot

But i do agree, as i have said before, that the PS3 isnt worth it at the moment unless you want HiDef movies and a few PS3-only games. When there's more content its appeal will be there for greater numbers of people, and it is all about the games. Home wouldnt sell me a PS3, it would encourage me that the online aspects wont be gipped (al la PS2), but sell? No way. Only idiots like myself, Thinimus, Caco etc should buy one, you sane people should have your pennies until June or later.

[Sigma]

What's funny is that there are people out there who actually hate this idea.

[Strife]

What's funny is that there are people out there who actually hate this idea.

There are people who hate everything Sony does these days.

[Warhawk]

Well Home on its own merits doesn't sell me on investing in a PS3 right away, but it's very indicative of Sony's grander plans for social networking. Whereas the current PSNetwork is a nebulous midpoint between PS2 Online and Live on 360, Home gains ground on XBL and brings visually unique (if not conceptually derivative) facets to the online console space.

Unlike some of you around here who've experienced gaming since it was practically invented, the ability to play games online is a pretty big fuckin' deal to me and has been since I've started getting into games as a primary hobby. So I can't wait to see how Home will evolve and catch on with other PS3 users.

That said, I can't see myself dicking around with the billiards/arcade cabinet/mingame stuff for more than a day. Same goes for inviting other users to my crib just to check out how I decorated the place. I hope I can set my house up for public viewing instead of just private invitation.

I'd actually much prefer Home to be the end-all front end user interface for the PS3 and replace the Cross Media Bar altogether, if for no other reason than to group all of the console's outside-of-the-game features into a cohesive package.

[Anpheus]

What's funny is that there are people out there who actually hate this idea.

I'm going to start of by typing your reply to the following in advance, you know, to save you or anyone else the trouble.

"Tex, I have three words for you: Pot. Kettle. Black."

The people who hate this idea are probably just afraid that Sony is going to fuck it up, which, you know, they have an unfortunate habit of doing whenever they have good ideas. As Zed said, you might get a whole lot of stuff free, and then find out that your furniture is going to cost you 50 cents per chair. Awesome. Oh, a radio to play your music? That'll be $2, you know, to 'protect the artists.' Stuff like that. I'm not saying that's what will happen, I'm saying that that's what could happen. I want you to pay attention to some of the screenshots shown, in the screenshots, there is a luxury apartment, and a basic apartment. If it's free, do you think anyone will choose the basic apartment? Hell. No. That's a micropayment. You want the luxury apartment? That'll be $5.

Liking the Sims? What are you talking about? This isn't like the Sims, those avatars walking around are real people, and you aren't controlling one indirectly, you are your avatar. You know what I liked about The Sims? Building crazy ass homes and finding the most amusing ways to kill my Sim and his neighbours. And I mean, we're talking trying to trap the entire neighborhood in the second floor of a house supported solely by a staircase which is now walled off. That's tough to do, you know. Ok, I did have fun otherwise with the Sims, but this is something different, it's more like... WoW without the dungeons. Or quests. Or anything other than the people.

That's not to say they can't make it an awesome service by integrating Playstation Home with the games. I can think of nothing cooler than being able to go to some sort of Raven Haven mansion in Playstation Home, step in, look around, see a plasma screen on the wall with some hard to make out game on it. I walk over and the image becomes clearer, and it becomes obvious that the two guys on the couch are... playing Playstation 3. I sit down in a nearby chair and focus on the screen, which now fills mine, and lo' and behold, in 1080something glory I see two people from RH dueling.

It's a lofty fucking dream, and yeah, it won't fucking happen within a year. But that's what this service COULD offer. I want it to happen, oh I do. It would knock the pants off Live if it did.

But I'm sad to say that I think Sony will fuck this one up and fail to meet expectations.

[Misk]

HOME beats myspace and The Sims put together. Who needs myspace when you got HOME? But you need a PS3...soooo it's balanced. Great way to advertise SONY.

[Daniel]

You could actually have a link to your myspace page in your PS3 Home.

Unfortunately, It looks like it will offer some stuff for free, but you'll have to pay for the good stuff. Right now it sounds like shit, but I could see myself paying for online stuff (once I... ya know... have a job again) if it's at the right price.

[Misk]

Since you can make your own face in that game, could we do it the same way the 360 does it for Rainbow 6? I'm not sure if that eye of judgment is for that type of stuff. Maybe they'll have some different item that will come with the HOME project.

I think HOME pwns the Wii's Miis.

[Anpheus]

No, I think they appeal to different groups Misk. I think Home obviously appeals more to you than the Mii system.

[Duneman]

Home... it was interesting until they mentioned paying cash to purchase your individualized avatar.

Although it would be nice if they let you 'rip' music from games you own to play on the stereo of your personal apartment, or transfer stuff from your PC. Of course, I'm guessing it will be limited to 'basic cool stuff', like futons and crap. Be sure to let me know if they suddenly allow you to do themed apartments. Then I'd invite you to my pirate den.

Then again, free arcade classic facsimiles is probably more than enough reason to at least check Home out if you have a PS3. I hope they have a knock-off of Worms available.

That and I'd have to put an AC on display in the trophy room. Although they probably wouldn't allow somethign that elaborate, pulling your AC design from the game. My guess is that trophies are preset based on which games have save files on your PS3, and how far you got in unlocking stuff.

[EvaUnit02]

*Yawn* Looks like a rip off of Habbo Hotel. "THE POOL IS CLOSED."

[Sigma]

*Yawn* Looks like a rip off of Habbo Hotel. "THE POOL IS CLOSED."

I had a feeling you were a fucking /b/tard. Christ, now we have two. They're going to start multiplying soon.

[Daniel]

Uuuuhhhh...... What now?
The hell is Habbo Hotel?