Sony will launch the beta version of PlayStation Home, its long-awaited PS 3 online service, beginning tomorrow.
PS Home would appear to be Sony's long-overdue riposte to Microsoft's popular Xbox Live service, which has been building a strong user base since the days of the original Xbox. Home takes a decidely different approach to its user interface, however. The service will function as a virtual 3D world along the lines of Second Life. Users will have individual avatars as well as personal spaces called "apartments" which can be decorated.
A company press release describes Home as:
...a ground-breaking 3D social gaming community available on PS3 that allows users to interact, communicate and share gaming experiences... Within PlayStation Home, users can create and customize their own unique avatars and explore the virtual community in real time where they can communicate freely through text or voice chat.
PlayStation Home users will not only be able to enjoy variety of entertainment content such as mini-games, videos and special events along with their friends, but will also be able to create their own community by using the “Club2” feature to create clubs with other PlayStation Home users who share the same interests. PlayStation Home also allows groups of users to launch directly into their favourite online games together from PlayStation Home.
VentureBeat's Dean Takahashi, who participated in Home's closed beta, writes:
Home is different from Second Life and World of Warcraft. Unlike those fully-built worlds, Home isn’t really a world. It’s more like a series of virtual spaces. If you want to visit your own personal apartment, where no one can visit without your permission, then you teleport there. If you want to go to the central plaza, you teleport there. Same goes for the bowling alley or the bar from the game Uncharted. You’re free to decorate your home as you wish. If you want to listen to music, you can walk up to a jukebox...
In the movie theater, you can go into a room and see what’s playing. You can actually watch that movie with your avatar in a social setting, making comments about it that others in the theater can see. That turns movie-watching into an online social experience. There is a profanity filter, and Home will be compliant with the PS 3’s own parental controls.
GP: The Home launch is a critical step for Sony and the PS3. Let's hope that they get it right. However, as a PS3 owner who tries to stay optimistic (Sony doesn't make this easy), I am concerned about the PS Home press release (I'm looking at the SCEE version), which devotes several paragraphs to the marketing of virtual crap for avatars. For example:
Thanks to Diesel, avatars can look great from the start with Diesel offering the latest men’s and women’s designer avatar clothing, with items ranging from free of charge to €1.50...
PlayStation®Home gives everyone their own apartment to spend time in and entertain friends - who will now be able relax on exclusive Ligne Roset furniture. At the virtual store, people will be able to choose from a selection of the most popular Ligne Roset designs...
A selection of virtual Watchmen merchandise e.g. T-Shirts with the smiley face logo, Doomsday clocks and character statues, will also be available in the New Year...
Meh.
XBL got it right by making an easy-to-use, pleasant gaming environment. Sony really needs to focus on its core gamers with PS Home. Everything else is just a distraction.
Comments
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
Yeah, the MS avatars and Home are quite a bit different. Home sounds more like Sony's attempt to cut into the Animal Crossing market, only they figure instead of earning bells or what not, you can use real money! Then you can dress your character, decorate your home and pay off Tom Noo--- I guess since you are dealing with real money, it's more like paying off Visa. The MS Avatars are trying the same thing with closthing in a little time, and I look down on their attempt to do so as well.
Anyway, I see this as a dividing moment. A third of the people on a PS3 really could care less, a third will try it out, and a third will go crazy over it. Actually, I flubbed those fractions just to keep from starting a flame war, personally I think the fractions will be a bit different.
Once I set my XBox avatar, I haven't done anything with it. I have Gold membership for Netflix, but still haven't played any games on line and so I don't have any XBox Live Friends. I just don't really see the console as a viable online gaming platform, mostly because a lot of the online games are FPS's (or UNO) which I don't like playing with a controller (prefer mouse/keyboard (or cards for UNO)).
In short, after a little time, the only people we will be hearing about Home from is either Sony press releases ("Now enjoy your favorite GAP virtual clothing, up to 30% off!") or the rabid fanboys ("OMG! H0m3 is t3h w1nn! Y0u d0n't h4v3 4nyth1ng l1k3 1t 0n t3h SUCKB0X! L0L!!!11!1!"). Everyone else will just see it as a casual feature, not a selling point. It's there if they want to use it, but it won't be a major revenue stream, and it won't be the point of the console.
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
Yeah, I see Home being more attractive to the "MySpace people", those people that like to deck out their homepages with a lot of glitter, music and animations to the point that it looks like a tornado crashed into the website. I don't know if the clothes and home accessories do anything major for the online experience.
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
You forgot new users. I think that's what Sony's really going after rather than solidifying their existing user base.
-- http://pixelantes.blogspot.com/
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
How will this attract new users? The entry cost for a PS3 is pretty steep, how can Sony justify it?
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
Free Online Gameplay - $50 a year for 360
Free Wireless internet capabilities - $100 extra for 360
An 80-160 GB hard drive - As opposed to a 20-120 GB on on the 360
Blu-ray medium which not only is hard to damage, but also give you the most out of your HD TV for movies - To be fair, netflix is available on the 360 now although I don't know if they offer HD movie downloads nor do I know the pricing for the service.
A much better defect rate. Around 1% as opposed to 360s 18-20%
Loads of reasons actually.
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
What I want from online is demos (free on both), and info (pay for Qore on PS3). So much for the $50, PS3 is more expensive online.
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
You have the average consumer sitting in the store. There's a 360 for $199 and a PS3 for $399. The nearby games have more 360 than PS3 (Target, Gamestop, Best Buy). Which one is going to get purchased?
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
A subscription is not needed for some multi player features.
New 360s comes with a 60GB HDD for now added cost.
New 360s have a 5% fail rate.
The 360 has more games its for lack of better terms the PS2 of this generation.
The online market place is polished, refined and easy to navigate.
The added cost of blu ray has forced the PS3 to drop PS2 support making its BWC as questionable as its price.
The PS3 is a beast to code for leaving some ports and games buggy.
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I could go on but really they both have almsot the same level of online features most of the "port down to me bugs" have been fixed on both systems, both are littlered with neo hardcore casaul shovelware titles with a few worthwhile ones between them the WII is better...at least its best games are better than the others..... at half the cost.... of course if you play ti enough you wont have anything to play because...it dose not have that many great games....I guess it comes down to jRPG/Jaction(PS3) , shooters/action(360) or cheap(WII) but frankly there is lil difference in the overall quality of all the the systems they offer lil if no user customability(control options,unrestrained media viewing)and the games are heavily watered down for better penetration of the casual market, the only thing they have unique to them is the number of genre based titles.
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Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
The numbers given are for all PS3 owners futrue and current, 60% will use it in soem fashion the rest will ignore it.
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Pirates,Shearers,Lenders and downloaders are not a market that can be taped by the mainstream.
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http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Let's renegotiate them.
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Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
Actually 30/30/30 is not a bad expectation 10 wont fool with it because they are off line, 30% will go nuts over it 30% will use it and like it, 30% will diss it for street cred give or take 10% to any of the numbers but it still comes out to it will be used and enjoyed by millions and millions more will be plunked into it over the frist acouple of years.
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Pirates,Shearers,Lenders and downloaders are not a market that can be taped by the mainstream.
---------------------------------
I is fuzzy brained mew =^^=
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Let's renegotiate them.
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Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
"XBL got it right by making an easy-to-use, pleasant gaming environment."
You know, ease of use is one thing. But Pleasant Gaming Environment? You're press, you have connections with decent fellows, you likely have a full friends list. I don't. I have about 20 people on my friends list. During a heated round of Lumines last night I was informed I was a faggoty nigger bitch choking on cum. If Live does have a pleasant gaming experience on offer, most of us can't access it. Most of that experience is a pool of racism ignorant children who believe the f-bomb is the best word ever.
Wall of Text Simulation- Insert coin to continue.
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
Abso-bloody-lutely mate. Most of the XBL crowd seem to have left their decorum and language skills behind them when they turned on their console. Some of the racism and insults are just downright horrific.
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
Depends on the game, though. When I used to play a lot online (i.e. over the summer, but, even then, it was a couple years ago), I ran into very few people like that n Rainbow Six Vegas. Halo, on the other hand...
It's not just the system. It's the game as well.
... And, also, the fact that other people don't know who you really are really brings that side out of people, because, well, what consequences will there be?
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
That's what you get for slumming.
Join an online gaming community of non-morons. Trust me, your experience will change like night and day.
There're so many communities to choose from these days.
-- http://pixelantes.blogspot.com/
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
But you can put those ppl on ignore and rate them and give them bad ratings and change what area you're in (underground, family, etc). My XBL experience has actually been very pleasent, i've managed to meet several good players on games like gow, gow2 and we'd keep in touch or w/e.
I'm in the PS3 camp myself, i prefer it because i've always liked the PS line. But you can't deny that of all 3 systems the 360 has the best online matching interface with all the controls you need to have a good time. I agree with the last part of what you said though, I hate when parents let their 12 year old kids play unsupervised and they just say the dumbest shit over and over and cuss as much as they can and such. man if i caught my kid doing that i would whoop his ass. Funny enough my 12 year old son actually doesn't like playing online becuase of kids tht act that way. He wants to be able to play but after about 10 minutes of playing he turns it off and tells me he remembers why he stopped playing online to begin with :P
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Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
um im confused.. arent HOME and XBL completely different things?
surely sony already competes with XBLive with PSN.... HOME is like one specific application that utilises PSN.
isnt comparing Home, a virtual second-life esque social networking experience, with XBlive, an online content delivery service, a bit.. i dunno.. mismatched?
Like trying to compare a method of cooking potatoes (mashing, frying, roasting) with a potato itself...
could be wrong :P
'The Home launch is a critical step for Sony and the PS3. Let's hope that they get it right. However, as a PS3 owner who tries to stay optimistic (Sony doesn't make this easy), '
agreed with that 100% though!!! its getting really difficult to keep optimistic about ps3. Found out today, the next major (non handheld) dragon quest will be on ... wii... i.e. departing from the tradition of playstation, like many other devs.
Kinda gutted i bought my ps3 primarily for RPGs, and there literally are none, let alone exclusives.
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
Literally there are none? Wow... ummm, Valkaria Chronicles says "Hi there sailor, looking for a good time?"
The problem with Sony and RPGs can be broken up in three distinctive problems.
1. Until PS3 starts ACTING like a Japanese console, japanese developers won't consider it as such.
2. Sony doesn't pay for exclusives... MS does. Sony focuses on internal development which is why White Knight Chronicles is an exclusive whereas Tales of Vesperia can and likely will go to PS3 eventually.
3. The RPGs they ARE getting are far too niche. Chronicles of the Aegis War as an example. Expecting this to do well outside of Japan is foolishness. Or how about an RPG crossing the universes of Nippon Ichi, Creative Factory, and Capcom? Excellent game, but like Namco X Capcom, no chance in hell of leaving Japan.
Wall of Text Simulation- Insert coin to continue.
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
Valkyria Chronicles was probably the best RPG I have played in a long time. Plus, its a tactical one to boot. Screw FF tactics.
Although I do wish there were more RPG's on the PS3. That was my reason for getting a PS3 instead of the 360 when I had the money. Now I come to find out that FF13 is going to be on the frickin xbox anyway, because they didn't buy the exclusive on it. Plus, most of the good RPG's that have come out this year have been on the 360, which really really REALLY sucks. Oh well, doesn't that only apply to the actual 13, and not Versus 13?
There are plenty of good non-japanese developers for RPG's, but they all tend to have this trend of having open-worlds ala Oblivion and Fallout, where the japanese ones are more story driven. I tend to like a more linear storyline, with possible multiple routes, more along the lines of Neverwinter Nights and KOTOR. Can't wait for Dragon Age.
As for Home, I'll probably try it out but I don't know how much I'll enjoy it. I can certainly see it helping me to get in touch with other PSN people and add some names to my empty friend list, especially since I don't have a mic to actually chat with anyone in-game.
Comparing PSN to XBL, all you need to do is mention "free" and I'm sold. I don't care what features XBL has, it doesn't beat playing all I want online, for years to come, without incurring additional costs. PLus there are a whole lot less of the whiny bastards and general all-round assholes that seem so pervasive on XBL multiplayer. Rarely do I have to mute someone while playing online, and if I do, its usually because they have a crappy mic thats picking up constant feedback and it hurts my ears.
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
That's what I been telling the Gametrailers.com PS3 fanboys. But fanboys would be fanboys.
But Ps3 has more true exclusives. When I say that, I mean that almost every game on the Xbox 360 can be bought on PC too.
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
While I personally do not think I'll like the service much, there're plenty of people who already do pay for online virtual worlds and "dress up". Habbo Hotel, Second Life, Disney's Virtual Kingdom are all doing it and have been doing it so for years in some cases. Habbo Hotel is EXTREMELY popular.
-- http://pixelantes.blogspot.com/
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
Habbo Hotel is also EXTREMELY racist.
There was a reason for those raids.
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
Habbo Hotel is Europe-based, right? Which groups face the most racism in that hotel?
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
So Sony is trying to break into that market, you think?
I don't think it will work.
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
I don't really know what market they're after, because their communication about the service's goals has been neither here or there and quite frankly I don't think they even know what the hell they're doing with it. But if I were to guess, they're going after the non-hardcore market, and even non-gamer market.
The users of services like PlayStation Home have interesting demographics...there are more female users, and they're also younger than the avg gamer.
If PlayStation Home works as "well" as the beta, it'll definitely not work.
The success of products like Habbo Hotel and The Sims is a complete mystery to me, so if those succeeded, then maybe Home might as well. I get what's compelling about creating personalized virtual worlds for yourself to interact with friends, but to pay (so much so that making the content producers rich) for the privilege I simply do not get.
-- http://pixelantes.blogspot.com/
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
I see it as a slice of life MMO alternate GUI for PSN, its meant to get people who are easily distracted and have disposable money to plunk money into it, don;t be confused by the dev speak or PR blunderbus this is about future profit.
Also the beta was limited but alot of thigns and home will take a few months if not 2 years to take off but it has huge potenail.
=================================
Pirates,Shearers,Lenders and downloaders are not a market that can be taped by the mainstream.
---------------------------------
I is fuzzy brained mew =^^=
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Let's renegotiate them.
---
http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
They're going in the wrong direction. They're trying to appease current customers even more, instead of drawing in new customers.
Quite frankly, this feature holds none of my interest. Why do I have to set up a virtual apartment? I just want to play games, watch movies, and listen to music. I don't care about a jukebox, and if I did, then some music player item better be already available (instead of searching through a list of downloadable items, or paying for it).
Also, my Xbox, to the best of my knowledge, hasn't gotten the new dashboard update, because it's never connected to the internet (I'm ending my first semester as a college freshman; if I didn't have enough money in high school for the Xbox adapter, then I don't have the money now). I like playing over the internet, but I'm just not connected enough to make it worthwhile (it should change with L4D, though...).
There were two things that I wanted for the PS3: Little Big Planet (seems fun), and Metal Gear Solid 4 (which, if it follows the trend of previous games, will be out for other systems eventually). If those two aren't enough for me to get one, then this is NOT going to help.
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
On the virtual apartment: I agree, I also have no interest. I'd have preferred not to set up an NXE avatar at all, but that's not a choice. Doing it is mandatory.
As for the update and the network... adapter? What adapter? The 360 (like the first gen box) has an ethernet port. Unless you really, really need to use wireless instead of a wire, or get your internet from a device that has a single ethernet port and no possibility to use a hardware or software router, you don't need anything additional except an ethernet cable to hook your 360 up to the 'net.
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
I don't see it going anywhere, really. Sony's market share is already the smallest of the big three - what is one more feature going to accolplish for them?
Edit: Further, who wants to pay for virtual clothes to dress up their virtual avatar so they can hang out with other virtual people who've decked out their virtual apartments in virtual firniture? It seems like a lot of effort went into making a game with no point, except possibly as a launching pad for other games - XBL will do it faster, in the end, and that will be a critical factor.
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
More point than the X360 version of this concept... They both should have just dropped it and focused on figuring out something more advance that could be more fun to everyone. Netflicks is a good start, at least though...
In the end, they are just trying to make more money off of this stupid stuff.
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Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
The 360 avatars are mostly a visual aid for finding your friends in your friend's list, I think, and I'll admit that I did have some fun making the avatar look a bit like me, but in the end that's about as far as I care to go with the concept. I don't really care to give him a place to live, or a virtual world to hang out in - I turn on my XBox to play games, not to watch my avatar virtually socialize.
Re: PS3 Home Launches Tomorrow... Can it Compete with XBL?
A visual aid for the friends list? Who was asking for that? If I can't remember their names, are they really my friends?
If anything, the new friends list is much less convenient. It takes longer to load, uses more screen real estate, and thereby shows fewer friends on screen at once.
The ONE advantage it has is showing who is in a party with whom without having to load up a game. However, in all other situations the old friends list functionality, now in the Guide, is greatly preferable.
Some people like the NXE and some don't. Others have parts they like and parts they don't. What I find amazing is that, as a whole, this was an update that I don't think anybody asked for. I don't recall seeing anyone say that XBL functions just fine most of the time, but needs a huge visual overhaul that mandates creating a wii-style avatar, buries useful functions in deeper menus than before, and spreads Marketplace advertisements over multiple screens instead of the one it was restrained to previously.
This was driven by MS and content producers, not by users.