60°

GI.Biz: Virtually Social

Spare a thought for PlayStation Home - not even out the door yet, and already being lambasted from all sides. Trip Hawkins reckons it doesn't know its target audience, and won't appeal to the mass market - and since he was bashing a platform holder, he was elevated by most news sites to "founder of EA", as distinct from the less impressive "head of Digital Chocolate" title that he gets the rest of the time.

Microsoft, unsurprisingly, is equally unimpressed, with Aaron Greenberg accusing it of feeling like an outdated product from 2005 - a somewhat uncharitable statement coming from someone whose company just got around to shamelessly copying the avatars unveiled by Nintendo in early 2006.

Much of this criticism may raise quizzical eyebrows (especially in Microsoft's case - in Hawkins' defence, it's hardly his fault that less than scrupulous reporters chose to directly attach his statements to a company he effectively left over sixteen years ago), however, there's something interesting to be read into the approach that both vocal critics take.

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gamesindustry.biz
TOO PAWNED5614d ago

I tried to get in last night, no some server error C-931 or something, tried now, nope again same. If it happens 3rd time i wont give a s..t anymore, i might even uninstall it if possible.
Also it take too long to get in home world. it needs to be fast like XBL, not to loose 10 minutes every time.
I dont see it taking my interest, rlly pointless.

Darkseider5614d ago

Granted the initial wait was a bit time consuming due to timeouts from the high demand. Once Sony gets more info on how to shape traffic and reinforces the nodes in the heavier regions things should be just fine. What I can say is that I spent 4 hours in Home and loved it. I haven't even gotten to the FarCry 2 area yet. Also, once I was in it was stable and fast. Remember this is NOTHING like XBL/NXE with simple 3D menuing and simplistic avatars. It is also an open BETA which means Sony is fleshing it out to make sure it will be stable and perform well when they start adding other areas and features. Personally I enjoyed it alot and look forward for things to come in Home.

rhood0225614d ago

I was having some connection issues in the afternoon. But I tried again around 10pm and it connected really quickly and everything ran surprisingly smooth for the amount of things going on. I was surprised.

Jamie Foxx5614d ago (Edited 5614d ago )

Microsoft, unsurprisingly, is equally unimpressed, with Aaron Greenberg accusing it of feeling like an outdated product from 2005 - a somewhat uncharitable statement coming from someone whose company just got around to shamelessly copying the avatars unveiled by Nintendo in early 2006.

OUCH

kingOVsticks5614d ago (Edited 5614d ago )

people in glasses houses shouldn't be throwing rocks Greenberg! *cough no built in wifi*cough cougHh* disc tray*cough cough*. asthma acting up again :P.

TomMcBaum5614d ago

Home's first two "open beta" expansions are for Uncharted and Far Cry 2, and the first video feature in the second wave closed beta (the last couple of weeks) was SOCOM, and Red Bull is up next. There's a shopping mall to hang around in, and everybody (to date) gets to have their own luxury apartment and house, cool clothes, voice chat, etc. That sounds like "knowing its audience" to me. The virtual arcade games that allow you to win clothes (what, you didn't know?) are pretty cool. I think Home is the most futuristic and slickest "free" virtual world yet.

Solidsnakex235614d ago

I don't understand why they have to label it "second life" or something in the lines of "WoW". Home I think is a new genre. In HOME you do NOT have to buy clothes or anything of the sort. Home is just a software where you can meet new people. I have a blast in HOME. I admit, it isn't for everyone, although I don't think that the NXE avatars are for everyone as well. One thing about HOME is.... it's an optional application!! and FREE

hektop5614d ago

A couple of people have ask me how I got my avatar with an icebreaker shirt and I told them to go and play the game and get a high score and you will unlock one, there a lot of more things to unlock but people do not want to work for them.

70°

Alone With You, Home Could ‘Totally’ Receive Nintendo Switch Ports

Benjamin Rivers has suggested that it is “totally possible” for two of his titles — Alone With You and Home — to be ported to Nintendo Switch.

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hardcoregamer.com
50°

So, I Finally Played Home

I recently published an article about beating my Steam backlog by getting organised and the first game I’ve completed with this new approach is Home.

I chose Home not because of its production values or reviews, but because, well, it’s short. I needed a game to start my new approach on the right foot and read that Home takes less than two hours to beat.

Whatever my reasons for finally installing Home, I found it to be an enjoyable yet flawed title.

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growngaming.com
100°

PS Vita New Releases February 2018

Handheld Players takes a look at the PS Vita new releases in February 2018.

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handheldplayers.com
masterfox2273d ago

Good to see the Vita alive and kicking. :D

2273d ago