What Makes Playstation Home so Special?

[Peench]

I posted this in the Sony forums, but wanted to post it here as well to get your take.

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I've seen the release video and read other information on the upcoming Playstation Home. I've also read in many, many posts that once Playstation Home is released that PSN will blow any other online service out of the water. After reading all of these things I'm a bit confused.

From what I have seen Home looks very cool. It looks like a program that can be run from the Xbar where you can hang out with people virtually and show off trophies of some sort. You can invite people to hang out at your virtual pad and listen to music, etc.

Unfortunately, Home doesn't seem to offer any integration with gaming. From what I understand, there is no way to jump immediately into a game directly from Home. Instead, the Home program must be quit, the game loaded up, and then your buddies found online again if you want to hook up with them.

The concept itself seems very cool for people who are big into sims, second life's, etc., but as far as making the entire gaming experience better, I guess I'm not seeing it.

I'm writing this because it doesn't make sense to me. Perhaps it doesn't make sense because I don't know enough about it. I've tried to educate myself about it, but perhaps I'm missing something. What I would like to know from all of you is:

> Why do you think Playstation Home will be the be all end all online experience that will propel PSN far and above any other online service?

[D_Litch]

Can you post a link to your thread, the Sony Defense Force is going to eat you alive. I tried talking about how Gran Turismo is lacking in each iteration more and more, and I was called stupid, unsophisticated, and many racial slurs.

As as Home is concerned, I doubt I'll use it very much. I'm a sucker for designing virtual rooms(I'm a sad individual) and I think this looks interesting. I never got into Second Life because you had to pay, this being free makes it at least makes it a "check-out" for me. I just hope no gigantic KY Jelly ads get put in my eLiving Room.

[lovekeiiy]

I honestly don't think it will be that special. 2nd life doesn't appeal to me. I don't need a 3d representation to have a conversation with online friends. Forums and IMs work very well for me. And besides, I bought the machine to play games, 2ndly for some BR movie action.

To me, it's a gimic, like MS gamerscore, which I do like because I can see what and where people are at on games.

[BrewCityUpstart]

Home is stupid. I wish they would've used the time that they wasted on that and built a better PSN.

[CamDawg]

I'm with keiiy and Brew. I could care less about Home. I think most folks our age have enough going on in their lives that they don't have time for a "2nd life". I play video games to unwind for a little while; the whole "2nd life" concept doesn't really appeal to me.

[BiffCo]

I guess I'm one of the few looking really forward to it. Can't wait till it's released. One of the coolest things is you can share pictures (porn?) and movies (more porn?) that are on your HD with other people in your theater. I think it will be huge (Home, not something perverted)!

-Brad

[Jon Liu]

I think you are the only one who is excited about it! Unless it's implemented just right, I don't think it'll take off. I still refer to it as being a glorified DOA4 lobby. That lobby was a novel idea, but just didn't work. And from what it seems, since Peench pointed out, there is no "direct-to-game" option for Home. Kind of defeats a lot of the purpose of wanting to mingle with other "Home"-ly people.

[GoatMother]

I just want to play online with my friends, that doesn't happen nearly as often on the PSN as it does with live..

[D_Litch]

I agree with you guys, I like the simplicity and depth of XBL. I just want check out Home to what it's like(not for the porn.........I swear.)

[KEEZY]

I think it could be very cool... but it depends on how it is implemented. Achievement points were just a minor detail to me before the 360 launch, but now have morphed into a pretty damn cool idea.

I like the hanging out aspect of it. The most fun I've had in Saint's Row has been in the PreGameLobby of it. I think, however, that it may not bring much to the gaming aspect of the PS3. It will, however, hopefully create a stronger community aspect.

The "2nd Life" comments are great thoughts. Some people don't have time to live a second life... especially a virtual one.

We'll see how it goes though... it has some potential!

[Peench]

I made the post in the GAP forums so I'm not sure how many people will be able to access it (other than other GAP members). Uh... I was going to link to the story, but it appears that it either was not fit for "story" publication or I simply can't find it. I'll keep looking. I know we have another GAP member here (but can't remember who it was - sorry!). If you can find my story, please let me know. Thanks!

I can't see why it wouldn't be permitted as a "story" as it had more probative value than many other "stories" posted. Oh well, if it was dinged and/or not posted, it certainly won't raise my thoughts on Sony or this whole GAP thing.

[Fragmintz]

I think it could be cool but I agree: if it doesn't allow me to jump right into a game w/someone I meet in the World, then it seems kind of like just Second Life on my PS3 (which I don't own yet, but might buy if Home turns out to be something more than a gimmick, which everyone seems to agree it is right now). As for the porn ... you left out avatar porn (which you can do in 2nd Life). Hmmmmm.....

[lovekeiiy]

Originally Posted by GoatMother

I just want to play online with my friends, that doesn't happen nearly as often on the PSN as it does with live..

I agree. Right now it a question of what is there to play? PS2 games or Resistance or Motorstorm, neither of which I have. Heck, today I purchased my first PS2 games, LOL (God of War 1 and TT Superbikes), although they were used. I did not purchase a PS1 or 2.