Playstation Home is Ready

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 11:14 pm

I just noticed the icon on my PS3; an open beta was released 3 days ago.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 11:40 pm

Eurogamer pretty much destroyed the thing in a recent article:

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=337095

UnscathedFlyingObject · Sat Dec 13, 2008 11:57 pm

I guess it's not fun to play.

Udderdude · Post by **Udderdude** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 1:43 am

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 2:13 am

Turrican wrote:Eurogamer pretty much destroyed the thing in a recent article:

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=337095

I heart Eurogamer. They're always brutally honest and very accurate. Oli Welsh is a particularly talented staff writer, as is Tom Bramwell, who did the most impressive review of the new Prince of Persia I've read so far (daringly scoring it a 6 out of 10, with good reason, and critical over the most pertinent points.)

Playstation Home is only a beta - it's really too early to judge what it will become. But as an initial impression, the EG article sounds on the money to me.

Charging for furniture? WTF Sony?!

UnscathedFlyingObject · Sun Dec 14, 2008 2:23 am

It's the trend nowadays. Nickel-and-dime-ing people to death that is. There's only one thing I have to say about charging people for something that should've been in a game to begin with and that is "F you!"

Dremark · Post by **Dremark** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 2:55 am

I never quite understood why home was considered a big deal. I tried it briefly and I guess it's fine for what it is, but I don't think I'll be bothering with it very much.

nem · Post by **nem** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 7:39 am

It's terrible

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 7:42 am

I like it already. I mean what exactly can you expect in 3 days?

It does the job and gives you a feel for the place. I'm all for it. Its going to be an ever lasting update where any idea can be stolen from elsewhere.

LaserGun · Post by **LaserGun** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:40 am

People actually give a shit about Playstation Home?

PROMETHEUS · Post by **PROMETHEUS** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:46 am

IGN completely destroyed it too. I can't believe Sony put all this effort into something that just doesn't work out at all.

Jockel · Post by **Jockel** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 10:38 am

It seems like a typical "game" programmed by Sony.
Great ideas, terrible execution.
Look at Echochrome or Little Big Planet - they both are no fun to play.

E. Randy Dupre · Post by **E. Randy Dupre** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 11:37 am

LBP is only published by Sony, not internally developed.

Jockel · Post by **Jockel** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 11:39 am

Oh ok, sry.
It's still no fun, though

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 11:41 am

Playstation Home is great! Now your grandma can buy you a virtual pair of socks for Christmas.

I think I won't even bother to install Home.

Pay real money for virtual crap? Hahahahahahah!

Bootaaay · Post by **Bootaaay** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 12:27 pm

Ceph wrote:Pay real money for virtual crap? Hahahahahahah!

It's not like they are forcing you to buy the virtual crap - personally I much prefer Sony's method of charging for optional premium content to Microsoft's method of charging a flat yearly rate as well as charging for optional premium content.

As for Home, it's not really my thing. I don't have much interest in meeting random PSN users, or buying virtual crap - however, Home has proved quite usefull for playing Warhawk, now I can meet up with my mates in my Home apartment and launch straight into a game with them and once the actual Warhawk game-space is open, it'll be much easier to meet PSN users specifically interested in playing Warhawk.

Another aspect I like of Home is the fact that you can unlock new items by playing other games - currently only the NAMCO Museum beta (available on the JP PSN) supports this feature, but once it becomes widespread it should really add to the simple achievement/trophy idea.

MX7 · Post by **MX7** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 12:36 pm

http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/2008/12/s ... 17829.html

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 12:47 pm

MX7 wrote:http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/2008/12/s ... 17829.html

Sad but true. It does make you wonder why it took so long, especially as it was tipped as the next big thing for PS3.

Harsh comments though, it's clearly just xbox owners taking delight in ribbing Sony for getting it wrong.
However, there's still something in it: without any indication of a price drop on the horizon, and marketing gaffe after marketing gaffe, it's starting to look bleak for a comeback. I'd go as far as to hedge my bets and say its not going to happen this generation at all.

Winning online gamers first is the future of winning the console race. Next time around Sony will need an XBL beater to stand a chance.

Taylor · Post by **Taylor** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 12:50 pm

Well, paying for virtual items isn't that shocking to me. DMT basically funds the sickeningly popular MMO's in Asia, and communities like Habbo Hotel that this is based on.

Though even if Home was pulled off perfectly, it still wouldn't be something I'm interested in. So I'd have to be pretty bored to check it out.

Edit: That UK:Resistance article sure is a quality piece of journalism with their random quotes seemingly pulled from their ass. Though I can’t disagree that’s what most gamers would say about it, but again it's more aimed at IRC and Habbo obsessives.

comments

I've read 7 pages of comments on Gamersyde of xbox owners saying Killzone 2 is going to be terrible because one texture map on a sandbag is, debatably, worse than some of a carefully selected array of texture maps in Gears of War 2. Scientists will soon discover that comments on gaming news sites are the most condensed form of stupid known to man.

D · Post by D » Sun Dec 14, 2008 12:56 pm

neorichieb1971 wrote:I like it already. I mean what exactly can you expect in 3 days?

It does the job and gives you a feel for the place. I'm all for it. Its going to be an ever lasting update where any idea can be stolen from elsewhere.

Finally somebody positive. I too think it is great.
You can play:
Bowling
Pool
arcade games:
-Xevious
-Dig Dug
-Galaga
-Pac-Man
non-arcade games:
-ice breaker
-Ecodrome or whatever it is called you know
-something else
and some strange board game is a farcry environment
There's a jukebox where you can vote what song will be played next.
And you can wander into a new world, explore a bit and enjoy the scenery.
The only thing that sucks a little is that I had to free up 3GB, but it was worth it.
On my Hong Kong account I'm now wearing a DigDug t-Shirt. Where's lordstar now?

Nice one Sony. All people bashing it are people that either expected too much, like the second coming of christ or are just upset people to begin with.
Look it's something that will not take up 5 hours of every day, but it's a nice extra. Especially for people who do not have money to buy games. And it's free. you can buy things that are useless but you can buy things that are useless in the psn store too like littlebigplanet outfits

Verdict: it's a neat nice little project. Don't expect heaven and you can have a little fun. Who wants to bowl or play pool a bit?
I've been in the HK, US and JP environments. I should check out the PAL one

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 1:26 pm

Taylor wrote: I've read 7 pages of comments on Gamersyde of xbox owners saying Killzone 2 is going to be terrible because one texture map on a sandbag is, debatably, worse than some of a carefully selected array of texture maps in Gears of War 2.

I've played Killzone 2 and I can hand on heart say that it looks absolutely incredible. As much as I love GOW2, Killzone 2 really is jaw dropping from the off. It'll absolutely put that stupid sandbag argument to rest.

However, playing it was very worrying indeed. Remember the annoyances of the original: shooting enemies in the head over and over without them dying, annoying pin-point accuracy, and just something about the combat that didn't quite work? Same thing so far.
I really hope this gets sorted by the time of release. For a game that looks so good, it deserves to play better.

Frederik · Post by **Frederik** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 3:24 pm

Taylor wrote: Edit: That UK:Resistance article sure is a quality piece of journalism with their random quotes seemingly pulled from their ass.

UK:R is ALL about quality journalism and highly objective considerate gaming news. What I especially like is they aren´t biased towards any system or game developer at all.

Also, roughly related:
http://gizmodo.com/5083371/a-call-for-r ... ta-culture

Considering the micropayments (from Eurogamer):

We appreciate that Home is a completely free release, and that Sony needs to make money from it somehow.

I disagree. I don´t think I would want to buy an already very expensive console, only to play a dumbed-down Second Life and then pay for almost every single step I do. They should make everything in Home free so that MAYBE people will start do desire it and PS3 sales will pick up.

And I don´t know, the whole idea of paying real money to buy real world brand clothes in a virtual world sounds very shallow and depressing to me. At least give us something we CAN`T buy in the real world. Making me pay for a virtual DIESEL shirt is making me pay for advertisement. (Not that this is much different from real-life brands, but meh.)

I think Sony really has missed the whole point of why people populate virtual worlds.

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 5:10 pm

I completely agree.

D · Post by D » Mon Dec 15, 2008 9:47 am

How can you complain about something that is free?

I mean, really, think about it

The point is not missed, it's great!
Forget about the paying stuff. Why focus on that? you can buy stupid outfits on psn as well, ridiculous, but don't get distracted about that.
I allready wrote a huge post about it which tries to explain things/put things in perspective. Did I wrote it in Dutch? Really, I did?

Udderdude · Post by **Udderdude** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 9:56 am

D wrote:How can you complain about something that is free?
I mean, really, think about it

Hey look, you can get some free dog poop from off the sidewalk. Do you want it? It's free, man! Don't pass it up!

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 10:04 am

@D
I read your post, but you didn't address the main question: What's the point?

If anything, "Home" should allow for the (free) creation of social networks. Yet Sony wants to charge money (GBP 3.99 according to Eurogamer) and monthly fees for forming "clubs"? That's like charging money so you can post in a forum of your choice. You've got to be kidding me. That alone screams "epic failure". Can you even meet people from different regions in Home?

And instead of allowing you to create your own accessories for some real individuality, they expect you to pay money to turn into a brand-name advertisement?

PS.
Why did it take them years to set this up? It's a very limited environment with no freedom and it's not even seamless. Pretty embarrassing. If you want to see an interesting virtual world, then play some Shenmu (from 1999).

Udderdude · Post by **Udderdude** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 10:30 am

http://streetskaterfu.blogspot.com/2008 ... -home.html

lololol

D · Post by D » Mon Dec 15, 2008 11:08 am

Ceph wrote:@D
I read your post, but you didn't address the main question: What's the point? If anything, "Home" should allow for the (free) creation of social networks. Yet Sony wants to charge money (GBP 3.99 according to Eurogamer) and monthly fees for forming "clubs"? That's like charging money so you can post in a forum of your choice. You've got to be kidding me. That alone screams "epic failure". Can you even meet people from different regions in Home?
And instead of allowing you to create your own accessories for some real individuality, they expect you to pay money to turn into a brand-name advertisement? PS. Why did it take them years to set this up? It's a very limited environment with no freedom and it's not even seamless. Pretty embarrassing. If you want to see an interesting virtual world, then play some Shenmu (from 1999).

What's the point in playing games you mean? yup, good one. What's the point of living!......
The whole world wants to charge the rest of the world. It's called business. Did you not learn that? Not that I will ever in my life pay any kind of money for virtual stuff.
Should this not be discussed in 2dgaming? it has all of these 2D games!

Udderdude wrote:Hey look, you can get some free dog poop from off the sidewalk. Do you want it? It's free, man! Don't pass it up!

Exactly! Did you pay for that turd? no. If you did, I would have backed all of your complaints.

I give up. Only neorichieb1971 got it.
It's freeeeeeeeeeee.
And indeed there's a turd on the sidewalk...... you can't complain about it. Cleaning it up is much easier and a delete button away!
I'm going bowling with neorichieb1971 later and maybe some pool as well

You can't complain about something that is free. If you complain it means your expectations are wrong. Then say that: "Look, I expected the world to end, I was wrong.". This is much like I expected and more. alot of work has gone into this. you can't see that obviously.

MadScientist · Post by **MadScientist** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 3:45 pm

I spent about an hour in Home, wandered around a bit, played some of the arcade games and turned it off. Haven't gone back in since. Not really my thing, though I was never expecting it to be. If they had more arcade games (and better ones), it might be cool.

Frederik · Post by **Frederik** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:18 pm

Udderdude wrote:
D wrote:How can you complain about something that is free?
I mean, really, think about it
Hey look, you can get some free dog poop from off the sidewalk. Do you want it? It's free, man! Don't pass it up!

Yeah. The question is not whether or not this is worth your money, but if it´s worth your TIME. Otherwise all free browser flash games would get a 100% rating because they are FREE. You don´t have to buy the right to criticise something. (Note that I wrote "criticise", not "complain".)

If you like it, then that´s good, and even better that you got it for free. It´s just that this argument doesn´t make much sense to me.