+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted February 3, 2008 Subscriber² Share Posted February 3, 2008 MONTE CARLO — Tired of Second Life – or want a better online 3D world experience?Sony may offer that alternative world later this spring with its “Home” destination for PlayStation 3. “Home is a cross between private chat rooms, MySpace, YouTube and online gaming,” explained Ron Festejo, creative director, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, in an interview. “If you’ve ever tried Second Life, you can immediately see how much richer this world is and how accessible it is.” The Sony Europe group has been spearheading the software behind Home, a free PlayStation 3 virtual community that will launch this spring as a download. The creators of this new 3D universe were on hand at the Imagina conference last week to give attendees a sneak peak at the brand new, modified hub running online with thousands of Beta testers inhabiting the world. Microsoft has accrued 10 million online subscribers for its Xbox Live service, which comes free as a basic service with every Xbox 360 but requires a $50 annual subscription to play online games. Sony, however, is going in a different direction with PS3. Anyone who has used Xbox Live knows that the service is a great way to jump into an online game, but the 2D interface is not built for stickiness in the generic lobbies. In contrast, Sony has constructed a living, breathing world that gamers will enter before connecting with others online to play games. In addition to being able to play six-player bowling in the bowling alley and classic games in the arcade, there will also be offerings like billiards, chess and checkers for gamers to socialize over. A movie theater that features 10 screens to watch movie trailers and game previews also will be available at launch. Soon after the rollout, Sony is expected to offer a video store where gamers will be able to rent full-length features that can be downloaded to their hard drives. Sony is also expected to offer music and TV programming through Home. New Home Shows Evolution from Early Roots The Home world that was shown in Monte Carlo is completely different than the one first shown at the Game Developer’s Conference last year. Gone are the claustrophobic indoor spaces and the doors that lead to badly marked areas like the arcade. Now players are transported to a vibrant outdoor town square with huge buildings that clearly illustrate what there is to do. The movie theater has two floors for further expansion beyond the initial 10 screens. The bowling alley offers the virtual bowling and arcade. Within the town square, underneath some trees, are the chess and checkers tables. The games will be a great way for players to break the ice when meeting new friends in Home, according to Festejo. “When building this new town square, we were heavily influenced by cities like Las Vegas, the Sony Center in Berlin and New York City’s Times Square,” said Festejo. “This world is friendly and open and encourages players to mingle.” Upon entering Home, players will use a virtual PSP avatar for everything inside the world. Customizing one’s avatar and apartment will be as easy as clicking through the PSP option menu. While Sony is offering Home for free, it will have several business models built into it. Players will be able to decorate their own apartment with furniture and an assortment of technology, including Sony Bravia TVs. Many of these items will be purchased with real credit cards through micro-transactions. Players will be able to create their personalized avatar to the point where it will look just like them from face to body type, or what they wish they looked like, depending on the person. Avatars will be able to emote feelings, as well. Festejo said clothes will be available for purchase and Sony is talking to real apparel lines about bringing their own virtual stores into the game for avatars to shop in. In addition, players will be able to upgrade their apartment to one of nine homes at launch. The demo showed a rustic Norwegian Lodge that was decorated to the hilt with cool technology and themed furniture. More homes will follow, Festejo said, adding that the first version is Home 1.0 and will constantly be evolving. More Businesses, Tools Are Coming Another business model that will unfold as Home evolves is the aforementioned movies, music and TV show offerings, which are expected to offer rental and purchase models. Microsoft already has most of the Hollywood studios (sans Sony, of course) offering TV shows for purchased in HD or standard definition and HD or standard movies for rental. Sony is expected to follow suit and Sony Online Entertainment has been building the technology to bring this aspect of Home to life. Sony has also sent out Home Developer Kits for partners to build assets and lobbies, this means both traditional game developers and mainstream brands will become part of the Home world over time, Festijo added. The newly renovated version shows that Sony seems to be taking the time to get the virtual world right. Currently more than 10,000 beta users are exploring Home and the floodgates will open up to everyone with a PS3 this spring. “Home will offer the chance for gamers to get together with old friends and make new ones,” said Festejo, who added that players will be able to text or talk to one another, as well as share assets. “It will offer endless entertainment, including gaming. We’ve certainly raised the bar with what people have seen in virtual worlds to date.” Source: http://www.wral.com/business/local_tech_wi.../story/2389864/ Good to hear developers have the tools, and as for video content, I really believe something similar to that "ticket" idea posted on the official forums coming true. To sum it up it basically said the cinemas/theatres in Home will show movies which you pay $2-4 to watch like a rental system with potentially the possibility for downloading at a slightly higher cost. As for the poll, I believe Home will be successful, mainly because of the popularity of social networking. In return popularity will equal more money for Sony/Developers/Advertisers within Home and to me that equals a successful business venture for Sony. As for popularity throughout the gaming community, it may well be a shared situation, but I believe most people who own a PS3 will use Home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Lyle Global Moderator Posted February 3, 2008 Global Moderator Share Posted February 3, 2008 we'll I think it's going to be a miss, and it's an attempt to copy Nintendo's Mii's. Social networking has just taken a bit hit in popularity, and this couldn't of launched at a worse time. And theres an even smaller portion of social networking that has a PS3. I dont know why people state this will "save" sony, only thing that will save them is there games. They are in the right price bracket, and have a target audience out there.... stop making corny stuff like this, and make some really good games. Home will be a bust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamhook Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Just give us the damn thing already! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HideAndGoatse Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 I'll go with yes, but not world wide success. It will be cool and people will use it, but I don't think EVERYONE will start using it and it will go crazy. It looks pretty sweet, and is a sweet concept, I like that everyone has a house and you can "go over to your friend's house" and play a ps3 and the game you were going to play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CloudEngineer Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 i'm only interested in gaming related features that home has to offer, not interested in buying virtual clothes or tv's, thanks. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spenser.d Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 I voted no, but that's only because there wasn't a "not right away" choice. And you have to define success. I don't think it's going to be this 'myspace popular' thing that's going to make people flock to get PS3's. I think quite a few people who have PS3's already will use Home right away, and some will be turned away and some will like it and as time goes on other people will start using it and it'll build up. I don't think it'll fail by any means of the word, and if there's no middle ground I guess that means I think it'll be a success, but not a hugely popular one. I guess we'll have to wait and see though. -Spenser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venomous Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Unsure.... haven't heard much not cared Much bring me the Games thats it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
American Ninja Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 It will be a instant success worldwide (Y) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spenser.d Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 It will be a instant success worldwide (Y) That's a pretty ballsy statement, IMO. The only things that are instant worldwide successes are pop fads, and for Sony's sake, we won't wanting it to be a fad. -Spenser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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