.....

[Nintendo Gamer]

.....

[agbulls]

I think we can officially call it Second Life for the PS3. It sure looks a lot better than I expected. My judgement is reserved until it launches---as I'm still buying multiplatform titles on the 360 thanks to the non-nonsense Live interface.

[udisi]

It does look interesting...Next, I want to see it in action and how much it will cost, but right now looks like something good.

[Nintendo Gamer]

.....

[Anthony1]

It does look interesting...Next, I want to see it in action and how much it will cost, but right now looks like something good.



In the trailer it said it was completely free.... didn't it? Or it said something about free. Maybe it's just free to use, but you have to pay to download the program. So it appears that Sony has been listening all along, and they are going to try to make their service more up to par with what Xbox Live is offering. Instead of Achievements we get a trophy room, and instead of the normal Xbox Live friends list and invite thing, we get a little virtual world to walk around in. When I first saw the trailer, I though, "Wow, this looks really cool, great job Sony!". But after thinking about it more and more, I'm not so sure this is going to be all that great. I think it will be really fun and exciting initially, but then it will wear off, and actually be a more time consuming process than necessary to simply join your friends in games.

Who knows, maybe it will turn out to be an awesome way to connect with your friends and other gamers and stuff, but I just hope the whole process of having to walk around in a virtual world doesn't make things take much longer than they need to. With Xbox Live, I can jump into a co-op Gears game in a matter of seconds, and with this virtual world thing, I wonder if that will be the case as well? Hmm. Regardless, it's a huge improvement over what we have now.

I'm definitely looking forward to this, I'm just a bit more cautiously optimistic.

[PallarAndersVisa]

that does look pretty awesome.

No monthly charge? Watch out Xbox Live

[jajaja]

Its free to get and use, but they will cash in on items like custom clothes, furnitures etc. that you can buy seperately. Its sorta like Second Life indeed, which is pretty popular. Im getting a PS3 myself eventually, but to be honest i doubt i will use PS Home activly. It looks cool and all, but it isnt my thing.

[Wolfrider31]

To quote my comment on Joystiq:

"I've gone from hating Sony and everything they stood for to consolidating my debt to afford a PS3 come winter.

Sony to Microsoft and Nintendo, "Start greasing up those cornholes."

Is anyone imagining the battle of Thermopile right now?"

[heybtbm]

I'm sorry, but this looks incredibly stupid. I'm not a MMO guy and will never understand its appeal. The underlying concept of a virtual "identity" seems so ridiculous to me...mainly I think it's just pathetic. I've never felt the need to "be someone else" or whatever it is these Sim things do. Maybe I'm too old...I just don't get it.

To each their own I guess.

[neuropolitique]

From what that trailer shows, I have to say "meh". 3D OSes are a neat idea, but invariably fail. Too slow to get the job done. Instead of a few button presses you are forced to navigate through rooms and shit. Too slow. The social interaction bit may be neato, though. It's basically what I've been saying Nintendo should do with Animal Crossing. But everything else can go.

[Virtualogik]

Interesting...

Sponsors area?... I've got mixed feelings about where this thing is going to head... could be great, could be crap... we'll have to see how that Sims expansion "home" grows and develops ;)

[Griking]

I watched that entire video waiting to see something cool and I never saw it.

So I can walk around in a virtual room and look at awards for games that I beat.<yawn>

I have to say other than an initial curiosity look around I'd probably never even use if I were a PS3 owner.

[RCM]

Sony has always targeted an older audience, although it's clear a lot of kids have owned Playstation hardware. I question how many adults are going to take the time to exploit all the features Sony is offering. Still, at least they're finally putting in the effort.

LittleBigPlanet looks amazing, the first PS3 exclusive killer app as far as I'm concerned. When I get a PS3 in a few price cuts I'm def. picking it up (and it's likely sequel).

[scooterb23]

The underlying concept of a virtual "identity" seems so ridiculous to me...mainly I think it's just pathetic.


So by that, I take it your actual name is heybtbm...is that first name or last name??

;)

As for the the Home thing itself...meh. It looks decent, but I just think it will get boring quickly.

I dunno, doesn't look like much to me.

[heybtbm]

So by that, I take it your actual name is heybtbm...is that first name or last name??

;)

I understand what you're saying.

When I say "identity", I was referring to one of those creepy "Second Life" kind of things. Where people live vicariously through a virtual representation of what they wish they could be. It seems really sad to me. I'm not saying that in a condescending or morally superior way either. I really feel bad for the kind of people who get sucked up in that sort of thing.

Sony's "Home" seems to be venturing into this territory. Buying virtual clothes and furniture with real world money? Weird.

[XYXZYZ]

I sorta agree with heybtbm, when I think of all the time I would spend building up my virtual life, I just think of all the little projects and things I could be doing instead. I could be creating something real, and that's more satisfying to me.

But I wouldn't consider people who do spend all their time on a virtual life as being pathetic, because I'm really not very socially productive in my own life. And in the end, what's the difference, you know? They're floating their boat, I'm floating mine.

[mailman187666]

I personally think it is a great idea. I'm not into multiplayer gaming online all that much myself, I'd rather play a game with friends in the same room. With the awards feature and the downloadable arcade machines you could put in your home, those sound pretty cool. The advertisement thing within the "home" program is the reason why it is going to feature the free stuff it has to offer.

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/770/770998p1.html

ign has this article about it and it is even going to feature some PSP connectivity.

[Hep038]

I sorta agree with heybtbm, when I think of all the time I would spend building up my virtual life, I just think of all the little projects and things I could be doing instead. I could be creating something real, and that's more satisfying to me.

.


Well you can say the same thing about playing Mario Bros. You are spending time beat levels, but what are you really beating or "creating".

You guys can crap on it all you want but MMO is huge and this will appeal to a lot of people. I know how people on this board love to dismiss all the people who play sports games, but understand it or not those games sell a lot of copies.

[Anthony1]

When I get a PS3 in a few price cuts I'm def. picking it up (and it's likely sequel).


Cool. Add me to your friends list in 2010 when you get it. Lol.

[agbulls]

I know how people on this board love to dismiss all the people who play sports games, but understand it or not those games sell a lot of copies.

Yes, but that still doesn't mean they aren't crap :)

[Hep038]

Well you might think that, just like some of the people here think MMO's and RPG's are crap. But if it makes people buy PS3's it will server its purpose.

[Darren870]

I don't this would make anyone buy a ps3.

[Nintendo Gamer]

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[petewhitley]

What a stupid idea. I don't want to screw with some virtual world to play Rainbow Six 4: Osaka. They'd better have some super-easy solution to non-Home players to connect with Home players for online gaming. If I wanted that crap I'd spend my money on Second Life, as will anyone else who is serious about this kind of thing. No way this "Home" makes it past the current generation.

[jajaja]

What a stupid idea. I don't want to screw with some virtual world to play Rainbow Six 4: Osaka. They'd better have some super-easy solution to non-Home players to connect with Home players for online gaming. If I wanted that crap I'd spend my money on Second Life, as will anyone else who is serious about this kind of thing. No way this "Home" makes it past the current generation.

Second life and The Sims are very popular so dont be suprised if this is a huge hit. And its also optional, ergo, you dont have to use it to play online with other people. Its also free.

[meancode]

I am interested. It is something different from what Nintendo and Microsoft have right now, and to me, that is the most important thing.

I can't wait to try it out, I hope they let me into the beta :D

[Griking]

What a stupid idea. I don't want to screw with some virtual world to play Rainbow Six 4: Osaka. They'd better have some super-easy solution to non-Home players to connect with Home players for online gaming. If I wanted that crap I'd spend my money on Second Life, as will anyone else who is serious about this kind of thing. No way this "Home" makes it past the current generation.

I am absolutely stunned :eek 2:

A Petewhitley response that's critical to Sony

Someone pinch me :D

[RPG_Fanatic]

What a stupid idea. I don't want to screw with some virtual world to play Rainbow Six 4: Osaka. They'd better have some super-easy solution to non-Home players to connect with Home players for online gaming. If I wanted that crap I'd spend my money on Second Life, as will anyone else who is serious about this kind of thing. No way this "Home" makes it past the current generation.

You haven't even tried it yet. People say this sucks or it's stupid just like when they first saw the Wii, you never know you just might like it. Don't knock it until you have tried it.:-D

[Trebuken]

What if they held events in Home. Lets say 200 hundred people are standing around chatting and suddenly 100's of zombies burst in through the doors Dead Rising like). Or maybe hostages take over and you need to use your Rainbow 6 skills Guns in trophy case) to escape?

Now that would be cool...

[boatofcar]

Second life and The Sims are very popular so dont be suprised if this is a huge hit. And its also optional, ergo, you dont have to use it to play online with other people. Its also free.

How popular is Second Life and the Sims on consoles? Most people who bought those games didn't buy a computer just to play them. The hardware was already there. I really, really doubt anyone is going to buy a PS3 just because of the Home thing.

[jajaja]

How popular is Second Life and the Sims on consoles? Most people who bought those games didn't buy a computer just to play them. The hardware was already there. I really, really doubt anyone is going to buy a PS3 just because of the Home thing.

2nd Life is for PC only, about The Sims, you tell me :) Exactly, no one is buying a PC just to play 2nd Life or Sims. Same goes for PS3, no one is buying it just to use PS Home.

[boatofcar]

2nd Life is for PC only, about The Sims, you tell me :) Exactly, no one is buying a PC just to play 2nd Life or Sims. Same goes for PS3, no one is buying it just to use PS Home.

Umm...isn't that what I just said?

People are acting like this is going to be the killer app for Sony and do as much for gaming as The Sims. That ain't gonna happen as long as you've got to buy a new system for the privilege.

[jajaja]

Umm...isn't that what I just said?

People are acting like this is going to be the killer app for Sony and do as much for gaming as The Sims. That ain't gonna happen as long as you've got to buy a new system for the privilege.

You said that the hardware was already there for PC so people didnt have to buy something new to play 2nd Life or The Sims, but they have to buy a PS3 if they want to use PS Home. But the situation is exactly the same. ~2 million already own a PS3, the hardware is already there for the people who own it. If you sit with a PC from 2001 and want to play the newest game you must buy a new PC. If you sit with a PS2 and wants to play PS3 games you must buy a PS3. Nothing different from the PC and the PS3 in this situation, and no one will buy either just to play one specific game either, the situation is no different.

PS Home isnt exactly a game like The Sims. Its more comparable to Xbox Live, sorta, both is the online service, just with another twist. I wouldnt say that XBL is a killer app for both Xbox and 360, altho its very good.

[petewhitley]

Second life and The Sims are very popular so dont be suprised if this is a huge hit. And its also optional, ergo, you dont have to use it to play online with other people. Its also free.

Yeah, but pretty inarguably Second Life is popular with a far different audience than the console audience. The Sims isn't really comparable; what we're looking at is a persistant virtual world with user-generated content. It just doesn't translate that well (according to the current model) to the console experience. A good deal of the success of Xbox Live is that it's incredibly simple, and integrated into the existing menu's of the games themselves. You don't have to do ANYTHING (aside from buying the game) as an Xbox Live subscriber to play online. It's simply another option. This is WAY more than another option. And face it, even if Sony were going for the same audience as Second Life is (which is suspect, not to mention ill-advised), no one is going to beat Second Life at their game in 2007. They're gonna have to bring something very new to the table, and Playstation Home isn't it.

It might be free, and it might be opt-in, but I REALLY want to see how this isn't going to present some problems in terms of online gaming for those of us who would prefer to opt-out.

[petewhitley]

I am absolutely stunned :eek 2:

A Petewhitley response that's critical to Sony

Someone pinch me :D


Lol. I know it sounds crazy, but I honestly don't like any one company more than another. I enjoy all of the big-three fairly equally, and for different reasons.

Which on the Digital Press forums, makes me a huge-ass Sony fanboy.

[exit]

That virtual life thing is soooo 4 years ago. I remember a chat program that was similar to this and once the novelty wore out, it was just another chat room.

[SaturnFan]

That looks amazing. Anyone talking trash is just jealous.

[petewhitley]

That looks amazing. Anyone talking trash is just jealous.

Yeah, I'm jealous of the absolutely free download I'm gonna get in August. Makes sense ...

[scooterb23]

I'm jealous of an application that lets me run around a room that looks like a rejected set from Star Wars Episode II?

[Nintendo Gamer]

.....

[exit]

That looks amazing. Anyone talking trash is just jealous.

Jealous of what? The womens horrible accent, or a useless application in a console I've yet to gain any interest in.

[jajaja]

Yeah, but pretty inarguably Second Life is popular with a far different audience than the console audience. The Sims isn't really comparable; what we're looking at is a persistant virtual world with user-generated content. It just doesn't translate that well (according to the current model) to the console experience. A good deal of the success of Xbox Live is that it's incredibly simple, and integrated into the existing menu's of the games themselves. You don't have to do ANYTHING (aside from buying the game) as an Xbox Live subscriber to play online. It's simply another option. This is WAY more than another option. And face it, even if Sony were going for the same audience as Second Life is (which is suspect, not to mention ill-advised), no one is going to beat Second Life at their game in 2007. They're gonna have to bring something very new to the table, and Playstation Home isn't it.

It might be free, and it might be opt-in, but I REALLY want to see how this isn't going to present some problems in terms of online gaming for those of us who would prefer to opt-out.

Im pretty sure you dont have to use PS Home to be able to play online with people. If so, i doubt you have to run around there screaming "who wants to play with me?!" hehe ;) Im sure its easy to play online either way. What shall they bring instead thats something completely new? The concept is not new, but having something like this on a console is.



That virtual life thing is soooo 4 years ago. I remember a chat program that was similar to this and once the novelty wore out, it was just another chat room.

Its concept is much older actually. I remember reading/trying virtual chat worlds back in 98/99. But its not old as in worn out, nearly 4.5 millions have registered at 2nd Life.