Is Home Ready for Success?

GamerLimit writes: "Sony is constantly thinking of great ways to get the Playstation 3 ahead in the market. With continuous updates and growing support the console has gained ground and momentum since its launch. Sony's announcement of Home gave people another reason to expect huge things from Sony Computer Entertainment. Sony has shown off Home as having many areas to visit in its virtual community. From a theater to game related spaces, the possibilities are endless for Home. But as promising as Home is now, is it truly ready to exceed expectations?"

[THC CELL]

home is a lot more than u think man
it will evolve more than the flop box nxe ever will

what sucks anyways

[Capt CHAOS]

"But as promising as Home is now, is it truly ready to exceed expectations?"

i.e. Will it match it's hype? For Sony this could be a first.. but unlikely.

[ape007]

home will be huge.mark my words

but damn it sony we want it now

[WANNA GET HIGH]

Yes it will be a success.The only thing that can stop it from being that is if server problems occour due to to many people loging in.I hope sony makes sure that there servers are ready for over 14million PS3 to update at the same time.

[Kill Crow]

just like NXE is going to sell consoles ....

i.e. it won't.

People are buying PS3's and Xbox's for Games, and in the PS3's case for Blue-Ray. I don't know a SINGLE perseon who is buying a console for the Online Community ... That's just crazy.

When deciding What to buy, do people sit there and go ... Hmmm what's important ... Halo 3 and Gears of War 2 or Kill Zone 2 and LBP ....

.... or do they sit there and Go Hmmmm Avatards and Lips .... or 3D Avatars and Trophies ....

PLEASE people .....

In fact, a major deciding factor these days is probably MORE about how many mates are playing on whuich network ... i.e. if all your mates are on PSN then it'd make sense to go that way ...

[FantasyStar]

Cross-Game Invites
8 Player Private Chat room in-game.
Voice Messaging

Is that really alot to ask? IT's all about the games first, how important is Youtube Support really?

[psnDevistator356]

If you want an n4g group in home you can. Meet the type of people your attracted with and play games with those people or etc...

Actually I see endless potential in Home.

Sony just has to make sure to implement it right.

[JOLLY1]

I thought that home was launching day and date with NXE. Isn't that what was reported a few weeks ago?

[yoghurt]

I think HOME is being hyped up too much. I love it, I think it looks fantastic, but I also feel I should keep my feet on the ground and appreciate it for what it is. Which is as I understand it a portal to do all things on your playstation, and a central hub for he community. It's all great, and its FREE, but sites are building it up so much like its a world changing thing, therefore setting themselves up for giving it a bad review when it comes. Even though I don't think it should be reviewed, its a service not a game.

[bohemian 23]

That still isn't out yet ? At least it only took 2 years for that and going on 3 years for Killzone. Reminds me of a slogan from the army days "Hurry up and wait".

[Nitrowolf2]

man sony needs to give us new news on HOME other then its coming soon.

[TheColbertinator]

Many gamers including myself have no idea what HOME is.How in the world are they going advertise it anyway?

[Why o why]

*shrugs shoulders* I didnt know about facebook until i tried it and luckily HOME is free and maybe the word will spread if its good. Either way its another prong to sony's strengthening of PSN

[Mr PS3]

And if you wanna compair it to that Crap Avataturd Update that the BoTs got Yesterday

Then

HELL YEAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kevnb]

as far as I can tell, the only people that even care about home are the obsessive gamers.

[WANNA GET HIGH]

It might sell consoles if it is marketed well in the public.From what i have seen and heard Home is a very big social network"and i mean VERY BIG"with the amount of thigs u can do.They are even RUMOR that u can watch movies form that are out in the cinema on home if u pay for it(its just a RUMOR so dont get ur hopes up).

[kevnb]

however, being in canada im sure it wouldn't happen here anytime soon.

[t_tocs]

...and it's really nothing special. I was excited about it, but the thing is, it's been done before. If you ever played the sims online or the sims 2 for that matter, you know what to expect. Minus the drinking and peeing on yourself, its the same thing. You run around with a virtual avatar, you see people, you dance with people, you can talk to people, you can bowl, and that's about it. There's really nothing special here. Over time, I found that I didn't even want to load up home because it became more of a hassle than anything else. I just don't see home being a huge success. It will be more of a novelty than anything else.

And this is coming from someone who loves PS3. I really had high hopes for Home, but at it's current state, it's very very very short of breathtaking.

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

If you don't want the beta...

...hehe...

...I'd be glad to take it off your hands.

I wish that was possible, dude. I just want to be in it!

[Kill Crow]

Can anyone say what different about HOME and second life apart from the 2 obvious that you can start games from home, and that it's Directed at the gaming community as opposed to anything and everything in second life?

Anyone?

EDIT: This is all the CNN article mentioned about it below @ point 9 ... I still do'nt see any major difference here, and those that deny it's like SL don't appear to be able to back it up ...

"In fall 2008, the PlayStation Network will launch PlayStation Home. Home is an online virtual world, somewhat in the vein of Second Life, where gamers can have their avatars interact with one another in addition to the ability to virtually create your own "home." From Home's interface, you can set up game matches and communicate with friends as well as other gamers. The service also promises to integrate the recently-debuted Trophy System, the PS3 equivalent of Xbox Achievements"

For the size and depth of the article, if that's all they had to say I think there's going to be some unhappy people when its finally released ..

[ultimolu]

Isn't it a service that improves overtime?

I didn't think people wanted ALL the features in one go. I'm pretty sure updates will be implemented.

[t_tocs]

I'm sure they will expand upon it over time, but how far can you take a virtual world. The commenter above who referenced the CNN article is spot on. This is like second life, except with more mature graphics, a central theme (ps3), and no strange cartoon sex (thankfully). Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it will be a neat feature that a lot of people will like. But when the novelty wears off and people get tired of the long load times between zones (trust me, they are long!) and the boring activities, it won't be long before Sony stops updating it and just lets it play out.

[kevnb]

how refreshing, someone who sees home for what it is. Nobody has been able to convince me that home is worthwhile.

[t_tocs]

If you own a PS3, it's a must download because they will be releasing a lot of stuff for it. But I can guarantee this will not sell consoles. Unless of course, there are people who play Second Life and want to get into console gaming. Then the obvious choice will be PS3.

[Sparx_4_4_]

still hyped up coz they gave a release date i hear 28th

[Socomer 1979]

article from CNET & I must say they impressed me. The article is so positive.
Article is called Review: 80 gb playstation 3 a superb gaming console.

Hurry up & bring that story to n4g .

Home is great btw!

[Erotic Sheep]

http://www.n4g.com/ps3/News...

\o/

[LeonSKennedy4Life]

It's ready...

Release it in each region one day at a time...to prevent server crash...

DUH!!!

[Cenobia]

Forcing Home on start up is a really bad idea. It would cause an unnecessary strain on the Home servers causing them constantly to crash. Plus, it wouldn't even matter if people were forced in if they left right away. You'd just get people popping up in their houses to leave right away. It would add a ridiculous load time just to boot the PS3 into a game.

That would be the worst move Sony could make. It would make the process of booting the PS3 a chore for people who don't want to go into Home (or just want to start a game right away). Home is just a nice feature, and shouldn't be forced on anyone. If they want to keep people coming in, they just have to give them reasons. Keep the game themed rooms coming, for example. They could release a room before the game, causing people to go into Home for a sneak peek at highly anticipated release. They could also continue to add and improve the games inside Home, so it becomes a multiplayer experience itself.

[Socomer 1979]

its a 3d chat room lobby. Many lobbies. You ever take a look at your recent players list & send friend request from there? Now you can do that in a open world with your personalized character. Ever play arcades before you watch a movie? Stop by in home. Whats so hard to understand? Ever wonder who's who of psn? Looking for a rowdy bunch? Need a clan? Its gta4 the censored version. Make friends & be a part of the developers spaces. Stop by the warhawk room & join a game with people with mics. Whats the problem? I'm not selling it because its free. Whats a mii? Whats a avatar ? What do they do? Home is that plus a million. Simple.

[ToastyMcNibbles]

damn good answer my friend bubbles for you...i've always been excited for home and understand that its going to be a growing service but you got me just a bit more excited haha cant wait for it to finally be released...people just have to stop questioning the purpose of home and just accept it...if you dont want home dont download it simple as that...its a free service for crying out loud...if we had to pay then i can understand everyone questioning it but we're not being charged here..just accept it and try it out once its available..you may just like it

[Foxgod]

please people, stop hyping Home, and let the joy come when its out.
Theres too many hyping going on around ps3 products, it makes things look bad.

I prever to wait and see....

[aiphanes]

NXE looks cool...but it is weak compared to home and even the Wii interface.

What the xbox 360 needs now is a wand like controller...

[giovonni]

Want to get some practice with home there are web sites that support the whole idea of community networking. Go sign up for IMVU.com create your avatar, Decorate your home with furniture, music, and poses. Invite friends over, buy new property or scenes. Buy clothing all community created, and get trophies for contest winnings.

the only thing that's different with IMVU vs Home, you can't play PS3 games. However, the same community based options are there. There is also another program kanival or something like that is the exact concept of Home. These programs are located on the net and will give you some idea of how home will function. Don't believe me? Try them and you will see.

[aiphanes]

For all you folks not in the beta...keep tight...you will be in it soon. Get your Qore download, or just wait for the open beta.

You are going to hear a lot of Home info in the next few days and weeks.

I was just in home last night and it is so easy to meet people.

I also update my xbox 360 last night too...and the New Xbox Experience is weak at best....its too WII like...it is just avatar based...PS HOME is a fully 3d environment. No other console is doing this.

Home is going to rule...give sony some time.

Remember all those people on the dev teams for 8 days and that other awesome game in europe that was put on hold are on the HOME dev team. They got some good people working on home.

When you give sony time, they come up with some cool out of this world stuff like Killzone 2 and the release of HOME.

[Kasatka]

then stay off it, if you do like it then use it. no need to start a war over a 3D social chat service

[mt]

who knows when we play we will tell

[LiquifiedArt]

I hope they give me the option of Booting my PS3 DIRECTLY into home. And allow me to use all the neccessary OS features in Home and i'll never leave. I'll just use it like the PS3 3D Operating System. I'll suffer through a 20 sec loadtime rather then a 5 second but it gives me the freedom to putz around walk around and get my self psyced up to game. I think of HOme as a "Pre-Game" like going to a bar. You pre-game it in Home. It also acts as a place to Crash. Post-Bar. A place to chill and talk without the sound of bullets and cars whizzing around.

[LiquifiedArt]

Its much more then a simple interface update. Its a Comprehensive Toolset for Developers as well as a PSN Service. This is something that will be around for ALONG TIME, expect updates to come frequently.

[ThatArtGuy]

is the ability to start a game without having to wait on the in-game lobby. From one of the videos I saw, you were able to launch directly to the race in GT5:P without going through the entire internet screens.

That's awesome.