Ben-DutkaPlayStation Home will undergo quite the design overhaul , as we reported yesterday.
Last week, we spoke to Home boss Jack Buser about the upcoming changes and upgrades, and he elaborated upon the public information you've probably already seen. Key to the Home transformation is that Sony has recognized one immutable fact: Home is for gamers and gamers love to…well, game. They like to play games and talk about games, which is why Home is heading in the appropriate direction. Said Buser:
"We're going to reinforce the evolution of the network with central focus on games. We have learned that social games are the killer app for building the PlayStation community. Social games are the killer app. It’s what gamers talk about. Social networks have discovered this, too. But when you’re talking about the PlayStation audience, these are gamers to start with. 'Gameification' is a huge trend going on; it just makes sense for us. It’s going to aid people in their entertainment; it’s going give them this sense of accomplishment."
He also talked about how there will be one overarching adventure that encompasses all of Home; it's an "entire quest system" that encourages you to explore and participate. He said that one of the big questions people have concerning Home is, "what is there to do?" Well, in addition to the part where Home itself becomes a game, there are the four districts based around different genres. He even hinted at daily quests and "very sophisticated, branching quests that could take months."
Plus, Home will identify you whenever you log on:
"Home will remember choices you made in the past; it'll remember whether you've won or lost a game, and then it'll branch out. One decision will lead to another. Home will know the users that have been with us since the beginning, and it'll also know newcomers."
Lastly, Buser reminded us that one of the coolest new parts of Home will be the user-generated event system. Members of the PlayStation community will be able to coordinate events within Home and even promote those gatherings. But even with the new structure (the Hub and districts), you should know that everything you've known and loved about Home will remain the same. All this great new content is optional.
But man…that's quite the option. We've seen a large number of people show up at our PSXE Home shows, and we encourage everyone to check out what the service has to offer.
I'd like to get voice chat back. I remember when Home first was released being able to talk to those around me. It was taken away a while ago and I'm pretty sure hasn't been brought back. My hands get annoyed with all the typing required to talk to a dozen or so people.
Yes I'm lazy.
It is possible, but I think the issue is bandwidth and the extra strain this would add to data loads already needed to keep x number of users in a room simultaneously. Server costs must be astronomical.
Voice chat though could end up being offered as a paid PlayStation Plus feature. Some of that subscription money could go to help pay for those extra costs…
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
Well I believe it was originally taken away because people were abusing it and mic spamming. I don't see why they can't just implement a like feature which allows a user to select who they want to hear from.
Yeah what's wrong with a little VOIP? I remember when they moved it so that anybody you invite to your apartment you could voice chat with.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 8/23/2011 10:02:40 PM
You can chat on PS Home. If the person is on your friends list and you select them you have a "call friend" option. As long as you both have headsets or bluetooth and you remember to hold down R2 while talking you can effectively have a conversation whilst enjoying the wonderful world PlayStation Home has to offer.
However, the public free chat feature that has been removed is something that I rather doubt we will ever see again. Many, many people would have had to abuse the privilege to have it taken away entirely. And remember, when people are given a nearly complete wall of anonymity they tend to do stupid things 🙁
It's ridiculous even if you set it up privately having to hold the R2 button down though.
Thanks LV, I didn't know that 🙂
Don't know why I was so heavily thumbed down though? How odd?
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
I am eager to explore Home again. I haven't had my fix for a while and I am missing it.
What I like about these developments is what I have always felt HOME should have been; and that is a more cohesive gaming environment with a polished engine to boot. I hope these new improvements up the visuals and environments of Home as well, not to mention more flexible movement and interaction with the general environment too.
I always felt a "little stiff" playing Home – hopefully the updated engine, new environments and activities will give HOME a better flow. I think these new additions are a boon for HOME users and I am sure the improvements are going to make the service even more popular. My only worry is I hope it does not turn into a paid subscription service. I can imagine some parts of HOME may be only accessible to PlayStation Plus subscribers. This may be the case already, but limited.
We will see. Hopefully the basic service will always remain available for free and offer all the great stuff Sony has been offering in the past – only better and more 🙂
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
Last edited by Qubex on 8/23/2011 9:44:00 PM
So Home is gonna be Big Brother eh?
Lol… yhea World, probably… But… and there is a big BUT, they would still have to get past you. Only you and you alone can end the World 🙂
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
From Hell's heart I'll stab at them.
I would say yes, rpg is usually Japanese turn based level up venture, in the traditional sense. To me its always been a function more or less. I still consider borderlands to b an rpg. Hell deus ex sounds like a contemporary rpg as well. Just because its not the traditional style doesn't mean it can't have all the elements rpg have in common with different art design etc.
I think ur comment is in the wrong article 🙂
It's been a while since i went into home, never get really into it.
Tryed to play some pool but all the tables were full, just wait for about 15 minutes and then I left… never come back since then.
Home is fun with friends around. I'm glad they're making changes to have it more innervated, right now other than virtual chatting it's main incentive is free prize grabbing and watching some shows/trailers.
Last edited by VampDeLeon on 8/24/2011 10:59:53 AM
Let's hope they can fix the instances somehow.
It's been heck trying to get into the right PSXE show instance and I still haven't done it, no matter what time I show up, whether early, on-time, or 5 minutes after. And closing down Home & then re-entering doesn't do it either.
Be-Friend a bunch of us. We'll do our best to get you in via invitations.