So, Home Comes Out Tomarrow

[Iron Past]

I don't have a PS3 or anything, but I know there are those that want to give this a whirl. I guess it doesn't really 'launch,' but I'm not savvy enough to know the difference between a true launch and a gigantic open beta (unless it's an excuse to blame all the bugs that need to be squashed on).

Some details from Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/10/scee-playstation-home-beta-launching-dec-11/):

As the press release dutifully notes, the service will become available for "all PS3 users around the world," except for those who find themselves in "some regions." You'll find the service nestled under the PlayStation Network bar of the XMB. The beta will include all the basic services and features, save for some content (like designer pants) which will, in fact, be charged for. Partially among those is the "Club," a social umbrella you can set up for your like-minded friends. Of course, it's bad luck to open an umbrella inside the Home, so you'll be asked to buy an "entitlement" if you want also want a "clubhouse."

They say many activities will ride on sponsors that are already lined up.

[frederec]

I have yet to hear a compelling reason to get excited about Home. I have a feeling I'll try it out when it comes out, play with it for a few minutes, then never touch it again.

Unless I'm missing the big reason to be excited. Anyone? What's the big deal?

[bapenguin]

Man, I remember when they first talked about Home how excited I was. Now almost 2 years later? Yeah not so much.

[Gorvi]

It'll be interesting to see what they do with it once it's actually live, because just Home itself is rather underwhelming.

[Norse]

I'll give it a try I guess, but I've never been tempted by Second Life. If I want to chat with people, I'll do it in via the UI. Still, judging by the popularity of Second Life and MMOs in general there's a market out there for this kind of thing. If these people exists on the PS3 remains to be seen.

[Yeti2005]

Unless tomorrow they drastically change things from what I've seen in the Beta then I doubt I'll be visiting Home anytime soon. I have a feeling we'll be hearing "Well it's not quite there but it has potential" a lot. If that sounds familiar it's the same phrase everyone was using when the PS3 was launched. The good news is the PS3 has gotten better (games, store front, minor improvements to XMB, etc) so there's hope for Home as well.

[rein]

It'll be interesting to see what they do with it once it's actually live, because just Home itself is rather underwhelming.

It looks like they are adding some new toys. I hope they do a little better than they have so far. If they don't, no harm. It's not like I have to use it.

[Squidbot]

Can someone explain to me what the point of Home is? It strikes me as just a big chat room, or an MMO with no gameplay. Or have I missed something?

[MachEnergy]

Can someone explain to me what the point of Home is? It strikes me as just a big chat room, or an MMO with no gameplay. Or have I missed something?

I think you are correct with both assumptions. It is also a much "cooler" way to show off your trophies.

[Primus]

Pretty lame so far. Its just one big commercial.

They need to do something with it, fast.

EDIT: It is pretty funny to see everyone on it saying it sucks though haha.

[violent]

You're gonna get a slice right down the middle as to those who love it and those who hate it. Right now, it's impossible to even log on the servers are so overloaded. I've been in the beta for a while and was in the open earlier today. Need to know something, just ask.

[violent]

Can someone explain to me what the point of Home is? It strikes me as just a big chat room, or an MMO with no gameplay. Or have I missed something?

Basically, it's a visual XMB. It allows you to basically do anything you can do in XMB but it is also supposed to allow a universal party system. Basically, everyone congregates to a location, sets up a game and everyone simultaneously launches. It's like a front-end of sorts.

[KingGorilla]

Man, I remember when they first talked about Home how excited I was. Now almost 2 years later? Yeah not so much.

About as exciting as the news that the US Army now has a base in Second Life.

[Deadend]

I predict that people will see that Home is a waste of time in about a week. Everything in home should be able to be done via the XMB.

[violent]

I predict that people will see that Home is a waste of time in about a week. Everything in home should be able to be done via the XMB.

2 things:

1. Have you tried it?
2. Everything you can do in the XMB can be done from Home. XMB cannot do everything you can do in Home. I imagine that's what you meant to say.

[astranoir]

2 things:

1. Have you tried it?
2. Everything you can do in the XMB can be done from Home. XMB cannot do everything you can do in Home. I imagine that's what you meant to say.

I couldn't figure out how to play a DVD from Home. Is it somewhere near/in the part where you choose to launch a game?

[violent]

I couldn't figure out how to play a DVD from Home. Is it somewhere near/in the part where you choose to launch a game?

You can't. At least, if you can I haven't been able to. I'm assuming that will come in conjunction with the eventual TV's in the game. Something that hasn't shown much progress since my involvement in the beta.

Basically, this thing is far from done.

EDIT: For the sake of mentioning it, my statement seems a bit contradictory to my response to Deadend but with you I'm discussing the beta whereas with D, I'm discussing the actual product of Home.

[astranoir]

You can't. At least, if you can I haven't been able to. I'm assuming that will come in conjunction with the eventual TV's in the game. Something that hasn't shown much progress since my involvement in the beta.

Basically, this thing is far from done.

EDIT: For the sake of mentioning it, my statement seems a bit contradictory to my response to Deadend but with you I'm discussing the beta whereas with D, I'm discussing the actual product of Home.

Yeah, I noticed a couple stores in the mall don't even have any content, and nowhere has any appliances/electronics (such as a television). What horrible movie is playing in the theatre? I didn't feel like waiting to load/download it, and everyone in the theatre was a moron who wanted to yell inane things through their headset. :( My flat is nice, though. It pleasantly reminds me of Dreamfall: The Longest Journey.

[Karak]

What a wierd beast Home has become.
That's what two years will do.

[violent]

Yeah, I noticed a couple stores in the mall don't even have any content, and nowhere has any appliances/electronics (such as a television). What horrible movie is playing in the theatre? I didn't feel like waiting to load/download it, and everyone in the theatre was a moron who wanted to yell inane things through their headset. :( My flat is nice, though. It pleasantly reminds me of Dreamfall: The Longest Journey.

You have already experienced like 80% of what's on Home in it's current state. I will admit, I pity the women that have a bunch of guys surround here saying god knows what. It's lame every time I see it.

If there is one thing though that I have to say Home did well was designing the actual homespace. The lake apartment is absolutely stunning. Make me feel bad whenever I look away from my TV.

[Generation ABXY]

I realize some people may not like HOME, but I’ve been in the beta since the beginning and I still like it. Of course, since it was pretty much a ghost town all the time back then, I mostly hung around just playing in the arcade; some of those games are reason enough to at least try HOME once.

EDIT: My mistake; I may not have been in this last one.

[astranoir]

You have already experienced like 80% of what's on Home in it's current state. I will admit, I pity the women that have a bunch of guys surround here saying god knows what. It's lame every time I see it.

If there is one thing though that I have to say Home did well was designing the actual homespace. The lake apartment is absolutely stunning. Make me feel bad whenever I look away from my TV.

Yeah, my boyfriend glanced up from his laptop while I was wandering around and commented that Home looked like a sausage-fest and that I should be careful. Do you know anyone who has bought/seen the summer house or whatever? Do you get two homes, or do you trade your lakeside apartment in for the summer house? The microtransactions in the mall are pretty horrendous. The clothing options (free and for sale) are awful, then they expect you to pay $0.49 for a pair of star-shaped sunglasses?! Also, I think it's odd that the glasses under the glasses icon not only are hideous, but also look nothing like the icon. My real glasses look quite a bit like the icon, but I can't choose to wear them. Oh well. My character is going to look creepy no matter what I do.

[violent]

I agree with your boyfriend that you should be careful whenever in a room full of dudes, even if those dudes wouldn't know what to do if they got you. Regarding the homes and transactions, we in the closed beta were given everything available in the mall for free, including the Summer home. Something that brings up a scary thought. A lot of those clothes and items really suck and the idea of charging for the seems a little preposterous. More so at those prices.

If you're at all interested in what the Summer Home looks like, I'm sure a woman would have no issues getting someone to oblige. If not, let me know. As I mentioned, it's the one thing I feel they did rather well.

[astranoir]

I might have to take you up on your offer sometime. I don't really feel comfortable talking with anyone I don't know in some other context. Also, I don't have a headset for my PS3, so that makes communication much more difficult :(

Edit: I added you as a PSN friend, btw

[violent]

I might have to take you up on your offer sometime. I don't really feel comfortable talking with anyone I don't know in some other context. Also, I don't have a headset for my PS3, so that makes communication much more difficult :(

Edit: I added you as a PSN friend, btw

Trust me, what we've discussed here has been infinitely more productive than any conversation we may have had on there anyway. While promising at first glance, the contemplating of the Running Man/Cabbage Patch transition technique will surely end with a trail of hatred and betrayal.

Also, when I log on I'll accept.

[Generation ABXY]

Wow.

Things have actually changed a lot since I was last on; kind of wish I had accepted that last beta run (especially since it appears I have to redo my account).

[Generation ABXY]

Seems not everything has changed: I got stuck in a door. -_-

[Orca]

After a half hour of listening to people shouting profanity - much of it racist, screaming incessantly, or blasting music, I shut off voice. Sat in the theatre for five minutes while the trailer loaded, listening to some idiot screaming 'COCKFEST' and 'FAGGOTS' alternately...then the trailer turned out to be for that vampire movie! I'd never have sat and waited for that!

[DangerousDaze]

.then the trailer turned out to be for that vampire movie! I'd never have sat and waited for that!

Hence the profanity. ;)

[Purple Santa]

Yeah, my boyfriend glanced up from his laptop while I was wandering around and commented that Home looked like a sausage-fest and that I should be careful.
Isn't gaming in general a sausage fest? :p Just saying... Besides, we seen pics of you...you would kick some sausage ass on there :)
I might have to take you up on your offer sometime. I don't really feel comfortable talking with anyone I don't know in some other context. Also, I don't have a headset for my PS3, so that makes communication much more difficult :(

Edit: I added you as a PSN friend, btw

I'll add you if you are still taking friend requests. I promise to be as irrelevant on there as I am here...

[Squidbot]

Wow, this thread has totally sold me....on not bothering with Home.

[MalReynolds]

just try it for yourself

[Iron Past]

Well, I'd assume that all the idiots will find their way out of it in no time. I can't imagine it's still fun to do stupid stuff like that after the first week. The only thing that really interests me (if I had a PS3, that is), would be the club houses. I think having a CoG clubhouse where people could go hang out while waiting for a game would be pretty neat. I wouldn't mind MS ripping that off with some sort of clan system at all, to tell the truth.

[Virtual Machine]

It's something that definitely has a huge degree of potential from a marketing standpoint. Check out *NEW MOVIE X* online at www.newmoviesucks.com or check out our HOMEspace on Playstation3!

I also see some really cool ways of tying it into specific games if they go ahead with being able to form parties and launch multiplayer games from within Home. Take Killzone 2 for example, you go to a ready room or barracks or something, and chat away, form parties with others in the district, move over to a ready room, complete with level sandtables and whatnot - pick your sides, and launch into Killzone from right in the Home space.

Could be cool.

Right now all i see is potential.

[Mohrbacher]

The biggest problem I see with Home boils down to simple economics. The types of content that people would actually enjoy would cost more to produce than people are willing to pay for. Most people can barely justify spending the time it takes to wander around a world that boils down to a brutally cumbersome UI. I just don't see a way to monetize it and it doesn't seem to be getting anyone excited enough to buy systems.

Maybe things will change down the line. Yeah...and maybe I'm a Chinese jet pilot.

[Ink Asylum]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2008/20081212.jpg

I like how Gabe captures the lifeless, cookie-cutter look of Home characters.

[Commissar Rob]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2008/20081212.jpg

I like how Gabe captures the lifeless, cookie-cutter look of Home characters.

Damn! You beat me to it! But yes, he's got the feel of the thing dead-on. :D

[DangerousDaze]

Anyone tried the Red Bull racing thing yet?

[astranoir]

Besides, we seen pics of you...you would kick some sausage ass on there :)
What does that mean? :confused:


I'll add you if you are still taking friend requests. I promise to be as irrelevant on there as I am here...
Yay, friends! I'll add you back when I get on again. :)

I'm not in a position to check at the moment, but how much do clan clubhouses cost? I have some extra money on my PSN account, so I wouldn't mind chipping in somehow.

[violent]

I haven't checked the price myself but I believe I've read it was about 5 bucks. I would do it myself but the person who started it is in charge of decorating and whatnot and I simply don't have it in me.

[astranoir]

I haven't checked the price myself but I believe I've read it was about 5 bucks. I would do it myself but the person who started it is in charge of decorating and whatnot and I simply don't have it in me.

I might just set that up later today, then. I don't mind decorating.

[violent]

I might just set that up later today, then. I don't mind decorating.

Awesome. Send me an invite to the club when you get it going.

[astranoir]

Awesome. Send me an invite to the club when you get it going.

Will do.

If anyone else wants me to send an invite, PM me with your PSN id. (I probably won't be on for another five or six hours, though.)

[QueQueg]

I tried logging in last night for about an hour, but never got any satisfaction. I made some good progress on Disgaea PSP while I waited though, so I got that going for me.

After reading this thread, I'm not sure that I'm sorry that I couldn't log in.

[jacob.armitage]

so, where did you lads find the download link for the client of home? i feel silly but i cant seem to find it anywhere.

[DangerousDaze]

so, where did you lads find the download link for the client of home? i feel silly but i cant seem to find it anywhere.

It's just there in your XMB. Have a look around, you'll find it.

[astranoir]

So a club already exists with the name "Colony of Gamers," so I am going to try to name it "ColonyofGamers.com"

Edit: or Home is confused? It looks like I have Colony of Gamers ... *shrug*

[DangerousDaze]

So a club already exists with the name "Colony of Gamers," so I am going to try to name it "ColonyofGamers.com"

It's not someone else from here is it? If it's going to cost you money it's worth checking first. BTW, can I add you to my friends list?

[MachEnergy]

OO! PS3 friendies!! I don't have any of you guys on my list.

Add me if you want. I'm pretty sure I'm Mach_Energy on there...

[astranoir]

I ended up getting Colony of Gamers. Anyone who wants to add me, feel free, and if you want to be in the "club," just let me know in the message you send me to friend me. One limitation is that currently clubs can only hold something like 38 members.

[astranoir]

Well, we have a club and clubhouse. Does anyone know if/how I can decorate this thing? So far, it just looks like I can post messages on the bulletin board. PM me with any thoughts or suggestions you may have, or just post them here :)

[violent]

Well, we have a club and clubhouse. Does anyone know if/how I can decorate this thing? So far, it just looks like I can post messages on the bulletin board. PM me with any thoughts or suggestions you may have, or just post them here :)

In your little datapad thingee, go to Clubs>my clubs>colony of gamers>admin>decorate clubhouse

Something to that effect.

[astranoir]

In your little datapad thingee, go to Clubs>my clubs>colony of gamers>admin>decorate clubhouse

Something to that effect.

I figured it out, finally. It's pretty sparse at the moment because I can only use furniture I own. There are spots for people to sit, at least, though.

[violent]

I figured it out, finally. It's pretty sparse at the moment because I can only use furniture I own. There are spots for people to sit, at least, though.

Hopefully I'll be able to add stuff. I got a bunch of crap.

[astranoir]

Hopefully I'll be able to add stuff. I got a bunch of crap.

Well, when you accept the invite, I'll try to add you as one of the admins, or whatever, for the club.

[violent]

I'll be on soon.

[Wilkz07]

I'll join the colonyofgamers.com group!!

Forgot to download it yesterday, watched a dvd instead but i did see that a system update notice was required so Home link will probably appear after that.

[astranoir]

I'll join the colonyofgamers.com group!!

Forgot to download it yesterday, watched a dvd instead but i did see that a system update notice was required so Home link will probably appear after that.

Looking up "colony" in clubs should be enough to find us (Colony of Gamers). Hopefully we'll be able to add stuff to the clubhouse other than furniture.

Speaking of furniture: GAH, Home didn't save all the furniture I added :mad:

[jacob.armitage]

wait, i have to pay to customize my avatar as well as furnish my home?

i don't think i quite get home.

still, it looks nicer than i'd imagined but is clunkier than i thought. i'll play around with it some more and hopefully the point of all this will click. so far it just feels like second life meets facebook.

i'll be sure to join the club though.
shame i can't get my avatar to look anything like me and where are the goatee/beard options!

[Variable Gear]

I will admit that Quincying (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/12/how-to-perform-quincying-in-playstation-home/) appears to be one of the most satisfying griefing mechanisms I've ever seen.

--KAq8V4phY

However, the practice will probably become expected by the time I get access to Home.

[cepwin]

I too have been in the beta for three weeks. Right now they have a decent infrastructure but not too much content. I'm hoping they soon make available things like appliances, etc. I mean, right now, even in the open beta your "living spaces" are basically rooms with some furniture (actually, in the "summer home" there isn't even any of that.) What I suspect as well is it's going to be micro transaction city...not sure how much $$$ I'd like to spend on that...probably not much...I'd rather spend it on a downloadable game. Still, there is potential, especially if home can eventually be used for virtual presentations or community get togethers with developers. Wouldn't it be cool to meet and talk to people from Media Molecule or Insomniac to discuss their games and hear about where they're going? Direct feedback! I like the idea of rooms for particular games where players can meet up and jump into the game or simply discuss the game.

[Generation ABXY]

I will admit that Quincying (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/12/how-to-perform-quincying-in-playstation-home/) appears to be one of the most satisfying griefing mechanisms I've ever seen.

However, the practice will probably become expected by the time I get access to Home.

Quincying? Damn it, I can't keep up with all the freakin' Internet slang!

[Variable Gear]

Quincying? Damn it, I can't keep up with all the freakin' Internet slang!
Generation ABXY has been Flora Dora'd (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Flora%20Dora) once again! :p

[biosc1]

Jeebus...Quincying is hilarious...

[Telefrog]

Jeebus...Quincying is hilarious...

OMG. I can't stop laughing! :D Fuck. That's awesome.

Okay, so I don't feel too stupid, why is it called "Quincying"?

[Virtual Machine]

Add me up if ya like: Virtual_Machine

I'd love to be a part of a club other than the Boy Scouts or people who lost their driver's license because of speeding tickets.

[Ink Asylum]

Still, there is potential, especially if home can eventually be used for virtual presentations or community get togethers with developers. Wouldn't it be cool to meet and talk to people from Media Molecule or Insomniac to discuss their games and hear about where they're going? Direct feedback!

You know where you can do that right now? On the internet. If game companies wanted to spend time talking to gamers and showing presentations they can do that without bothering with Home.

[Orca]

You know where you can do that right now? On the internet. If game companies wanted to spend time talking to gamers and showing presentations they can do that without bothering with Home.

And you could have a presentation to a far larger crowd. The population caps on Home mean that live showcases just aren't feasible unless they robo it out to multiple rooms. Doing that means they can't respond to people in individual rooms, though...but after an hour or two of Home I seriously doubt they'd ever hold a conference/presentation of any kind that didn't include everyone in the audience being gagged.

[cepwin]

Yes, you both (Orca and Asylum) have excellent points. In fact, one professional organization I'm a member of has continuing education presentations on-line on a monthly basis where people and listen live, see the presenter's slides and ask questions through a moderator. They also save the presentation for download later on for those who can't be there live. So you're both right, aside from the ability to present videos during the presentation itself, home really doesn't buy them anything over a web based presentation.

And you could have a presentation to a far larger crowd. The population caps on Home mean that live showcases just aren't feasible unless they robo it out to multiple rooms. Doing that means they can't respond to people in individual rooms, though...but after an hour or two of Home I seriously doubt they'd ever hold a conference/presentation of any kind that didn't include everyone in the audience being gagged.

[DangerousDaze]

I managed to get on once early this morning and sent a join request to the club. Not been able to get on since then though. :/

Quincying FTW!

[violent]

I have to admit, I'm loving this Quincying. Nothing worse that seeing 4 guys up on some girl who is also probably a guy. Makes the whole thing rather depressing.

[Xydarc]

Ugh. Spore and Home had so much potential, but both have been huge disappointments for me. You can tell Sony's marketing department got a hold of Home, because that's all it is now: a lame marketing tool.

[DangerousDaze]

Home still doesn't work for me. I think they just killed it in the UK. Yes, I know you're jealous. :p

[rinichanraar]

I sent in a request to join the club as well. I also finally changed my PSN ID to rinichanraar and added everyone I was friends with before. Seems like there's slightly more reason to have a separate identity now that Home's out, and I was getting tired of sharing with Joey, even though I'm usually on the PS3 to watch Blu-rays anyway.