Home for Christmas
Kirsten Kearney
December 14, 2008
The Home beta has finally gone live to the public. Of course it’s still in beta because God forbid Home should ever actually be ready. We’ve only been waiting since the Playstation 3’s launch for it. I’ve been fortunate enough to have had access for a while now and it was an interesting jaunt into the cyber world. Firstly I should point out that I’m not about to slag off Home. If you are looking for that you can go and look at just about any other site on the entire internet. I think Home is pretty good and I have reasons for thinking that which I will put forward to you forthwith.
Firstly there is no arguing that in terms of the big console’s avatar creation systems Home provides the clear winner. Mii’s are very cute although almost completely unrecognisable as anything other than little weeble people. The only realistic Mii’s are Brian Blessed and Gordon Freeman which says more about them than it does about Mii’s. Xbox 360 avatars are a little more detailed and have a slightly better choice of clothing. Home avatars are in a class of their own offering incredible detail for what is essentially a little representative figure, there for a bit of fun.
The world of Home itself offers a tad more interaction and fun than a Mii parade or Xbox dashboard. It’s a whole life to live, with your own house, a bowling alley, gaming arcade withing the world, a theatre, a town square and a shopping mall to buy new furniture, clothes and items. It’s a mini Second Life. Second Life is an easy comparison to make, as another free-to-play sim world where interaction and expression is the currency. Of course it’s not a comparison where Home will ever come out on top. Second Life offers you an unlimited amount of freedom and a massive amount of eye-popping adult content. This is where my one issue with Home comes into play. Home doesn’t allow you to make a child avatar, nor is any of its content aimed at children. What child would want a sophisticated waterfront apartment and a visit to the town square to play chess? Yet there is absolutely no adult content available. You can’t even make a slightly naughty gesture never mind dry hump another person’s avatar. In aiming Home at everyone, it may capture the interest of no one.
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| Second Life | Playstation Home |
I would however urge PS3 owners to think of Home as the free interactive hubworld it is. It’s there so you can interact with your friends and as a nice place to launch your gaming sessions from; for its purpose it is astonishingly well designed.
December 14th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
It certainly looks impressive, putting me in mind of the Sims a little where you can potter aimlessly to your heart’s content. You make a very good point about the adult content, which does seem a little ridiculous to have left out given the more mature slant on things.
And I want that top your Home avatar is wearing :D
December 14th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
All it needs is an essential feature. Once it has that it will be irresistible.
December 14th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
I really like Home. The avatars are superior to the other networks and it looks beautiful. Once they get that trophy cabinet in there I think we’ll be all set.
December 14th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
The issue I have with Home as a non PS3 owning person is why? If it’s meant to improve my experience I can see it offering everything but nothing. yes I can launch and browse and do things from the Home but I can do it faster from their pre Home-era menu system. if it’s meant to enthrall me it’ll fail, there’s no depth, not much to do and I’m not paying to decorate or clothe something that isn’t real.
I said back when we were calling the Wii the Revolution that they should have Animal Crossing pre loaded with the ability to launch games if you wanted. But that makes more sense than Home because it’s an actual game with end results and a crafted vision. This just feels…sterile. A game made by marketing and with looking slick/advertiser friendly as it’s only goal. After all, once you’ve hit a few strikes, played all the arcade games and made your house what will you do except quit it?
December 15th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I didn’t know Home avatars looked like that!
December 15th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
I just don’t really understand what Home is trying to be.
December 15th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
My guess: a vector for the ads which will be paying for the PSN. Which will only work if it’s a thing people want to use.
December 15th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Good for users who already have a PS3, but its not going to shift units off from the shelves. As Simes forcasts, I also believe it will be about getting revenue from elsewhere, namely advertising, avatars clothes/rooms etc
December 15th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
^^Barry.
Work computer always puts me in as anon :(
December 15th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
You have to logout of the forum, to avoid being “Anonymised” (some say its a fate worse than death).
December 15th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Thanks, Darach (Skill?) I was wondering why it kept happening to me…
For some reason, Home doesn’t really appeal to me – it’s too real and seems to take away the escapist aspect of gaming.