+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted April 10, 2008 Subscriber² Share Posted April 10, 2008 In one corner you have the XMB (cross media bar for those who like things spelled out) looking to provide features that many PS3 owners have been calling for since the launch of the console. In the opposite corner you have the highly touted HOME which is a free virtual world that is going to provide some of the same features as the XMB once it?s integrated into games. So the real question is; are they both needed?[quotTale of the Tape:b> HOME according to the official press release: ?Home is a real-time online 3D, networked community available on the PLAYSTATION?Network. It allows PS3 users to interact, communicate, join online games, shop, share private content and even build and show off their own personal spaces to others in real time. Home will be available as a free download from the PLAYSTATION?Store and will launch directly from XMB? (XrossMediaBar) on PS3. With an avatar uniquely customized according to each user?s preference, users can explore the 3D community that is Home ? a sleek, modern environment featuring spacious common areas; custom spaces dedicated to specific games; and personal apartments. Each user is assigned an apartment in Home where they can invite others to join them as they show off their own style in an area they can personalize themselves with furniture, art and other items ? even a different view from their windows. They can also show their personal video, pictures and other digital media content found on their PS3 hard drives in their apartments. Very rich interactive communication with others is achieved through built in text, audio and video chat, along with sophisticated emotional animations for each character. Sharing continues in the ?Hall of Fame,? where users can display new 3D trophies that will be unlocked through in-game achievements, as well as real time score rankings in PS3 games? In-Game XMB: Probably the most requested feature from many PS3 owners is In-Game XMB. It will more then become a condensed version of the XrossMediaBar; making it accessible from any game, video or whatever you?re doing on the PS3. Giving you access to music, friends lists, message box, and any other feature Sony wants to pull out their hat to help gamers trick out their PS3The Bout:ote] The Bout: Now while both services are vastly different, where one is a virtual 3d world and the other a static interface, they both are going to offer some similar services. The biggest one from them both is the friends list and how that feature is implemented into how you play the game. Both services should bring about being able to access the main friends list from the PS3. While HOME is still very much a mystery and going through a closed beta testing; Sony ensures that while in HOME you?ll be able to connect with friends anywhere in the virtual world. Also you?ll be able to invite them back to your apartment to share videos and pictures, but more importantly it will also act as a lobby system to launch multiplayer games from. In-Game XMB is taking its cue from the 360 guide button. Part of the XMB will be accessible while playing a single player game as well as during intense multiplayer matches. This will give owners the freedom to view their main friends list while playing; as well as send/receive friend and game invites, also granting the ability to check messages. It?s also possible that one day Sony could offer custom sound tracks if they can get around a pBG21?s Take:t owns. BG21?s Take: While these two services are primed to boost the PS3 range of services to the bar that Microsoft has set, but if implemented right it could set Sony on a whole new path completely. That?s playing to the beat of your own drum. However one can?t help but wonder if In-Game XMB comes out first will the need for HOME to be used as a launch pad to connect gamers together to play games be needed? Granted you still get the value of the online social community in a very pretty 3D interface, but to hang out in a virtual world waiting for your buddy to come on and play games with is a mute point once you?ll be able to see him on and invite him to the game you?re actually playing thanks to In-Game XMB. All the cool aspects and functionality of home will kind of become the punching bag of In-Game XMB once it comes into fruition. HOME will have all the flash of a persistent virtual world that you can run around in play mini pool games, wait in line at the arcade for your turn to play, build up your swanky bachelor/bachelorette pad, and kick it with your homies in your crib. Drop in a free couch or two or maybe even use real money to trick out your spot in leather furniture; the sky?s the limit. Those are some hard drop kicks that HOME is putting up on In-Game XMB. But, with games like GTA IV, MGS4, LittleBigPlanet, Killzone 2, Resistance 2, and other stellar titles on the horizon for the PS3; the less flashy In-Game XMB will get you connecThe Outcome:in these games quick. The Outcome: This seems like it?s going to be the classic case of ?The Chicken and The Egg?. Basically which one will come first? If In-Game XMB comes out first and gives all the functionality of HOME without the 3D environment, then HOME just becomes a place to hang out and share some pics and videos (I hope this is policed. I don?t need to see home videos of someone?s amateur porn career). If HOME is the first to drop and allure PS3 fans by the thousands, then it?s possible that it will build a following strong enough to fend off In-Game XMB ease of use and streamlined access. Many critics from various shows wonder about the longevity of HOME once In-Game XMB launches; while others even question while HOME even see the light of day. Some has gone so far as to suggest maybe HOME should just stay put and Sony?s efforts should be concentrating on In-Game XMB and make life easier for everyone. So for now In-Game XMB is the people?s champ, but be careful cause HOME could deliver a knockout blow then later on down the road; tattoo its face and bite your ear off simultaneously. Source: http://bg21gamers.podcastpeople.com/posts/22396 I'll use both. As for the article, I actually think both In Game XMB and an open beta of Home will come at the same time in firmware 2.4. I don't think Home will be in it's "final" state for release, but I believe we'll all get to use it, and in-game launching will be working. My prediction of that is strengthened by the latest uncovering that version 1.0 of Home is seemingly built! Also that games coming out in the near future are fully embracing Home (GTA4/MGS), ect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antaris Veteran Posted April 10, 2008 Veteran Share Posted April 10, 2008 Do you not think that although they will have some of the same features, they will in fact be shared features, which means it doesn't matter whether you are using the IG-XMB or Home, it will have the same effect. Looking forward to Home, but IG-XMB will arrive first I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted April 10, 2008 Author Subscriber² Share Posted April 10, 2008 Do you not think that although they will have some of the same features, they will in fact be shared features, which means it doesn't matter whether you are using the IG-XMB or Home, it will have the same effect.Looking forward to Home, but IG-XMB will arrive first I think. Yeah I think so. As you will get people who will downright refuse to use Home, therefore Sony need to cater for them with the 2D/XMB approach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antaris Veteran Posted April 10, 2008 Veteran Share Posted April 10, 2008 I like the idea of Home, I like the idea of a virtual showroom and avatar, but for speed it's gotta be the XMB that is probably going to have more immediate feature usage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dc'1 Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I think Home will be great, I just want an ingame XMB more... It REALLY annoys me having to exit a game to reply to a message which ends up being "ok"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troist Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I'm not really going to use Home much. I might occasionally go into it do something, but I don't want to have to load up Home and then walk into my lounge or something to watch a movie. I'd much rather just use the simple XMB menu. 3D is good for games, but for menus? Not really... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamhook Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I voted: Both / In Game XMB / Both at the same time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfista Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 in game XMB is way too late in my opinion. such feature should have released perhaps in the first few months of PS3. So i am kinda dissapointed in it. I hate to check a message from a friend that says HI and have to terminate my game for it... About Home. Some of us refuse it some of us anticipate it highly. I bet once it comes out people who hate the idea will love home and people whom anticipated it for ages will use it for a while and abondon :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Gil Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 BG21?s Take:b> HOME will have all the flash of a persistent virtual world that you can run around in play mini pool gameswait in line at the arcade for your turn to playb>, build up your swanky bachelor/bachelorette pad, and kick it with your homies in your crib. Drop in a free couch or two or maybe even use real money to trick out your spot in leather furniture; the sky?s the limit. Those are some hard drop kicks that HOME is putting up on In-Game XMB. Exactly what I want to do, wait to play with my own console... I thought this VR fad was gone in the 90's, apparently not. Just give me in-game xmb, please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poolie07 Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I doubt I will use Home all the time but I will be a regular user of the in-game XMB to quickly reply to messages. But, orless im mistaken, wouldnt you need the XMB to open HOME anyway? So wouldnt you need the in game XMB to launch HOME if you had started a game already if you get what im saying. Although I dont know to much about HOME. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted April 10, 2008 Author Subscriber² Share Posted April 10, 2008 Exactly what I want to do, wait to play with my own console...I thought this VR fad was gone in the 90's, apparently not. Just give me in-game xmb, please. You can put arcade machines in your apartment = NO WAITING :woot: :laugh: VR/Social Networking dead in the 90's? Where have you been? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhav Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Microsoft owns a patent for custom soundtracks?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawkMan Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 at the VRML funeral sometime in the late 90's VR is so out some program here just did a search to find one of the old VR arcade machines (with the headgear the big circle you stood in and the puck you used for control) and was unable to find even a non working one anywhere. Home isn't so much VR in that sense though. it's just SL with better graphics and rules. I feel that the majority of users for this are allready playing WoW and would rather have a virtual world where they can actually chop down evil monsters though :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted April 10, 2008 Author Subscriber² Share Posted April 10, 2008 Home isn't so much VR in that sense though. it's just SL with better graphics and rules. I feel that the majority of users for this are allready playing WoW and would rather have a virtual world where they can actually chop down evil monsters though :) Home isn't a game, WoW is :p You can argue that you can play games in Home, but that is not its primary purpose. Whereas the primary purpose of WoW is, well, to be a game :laugh: More people will use Home, than people playing WoW. What is WoW at? 8 or 9 million? That will be easily surpassed by Home once the PS3 install base rockets up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Gil Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 You can put arcade machines in your apartment = NO WAITING :woot: :laugh:VR/Social Networking dead in the 90's? Where have you been? I said VR, not social networking. I remember this craze on the internet about VR in the 90's (with VRML as HawkMan remembers also). It was going to be the future, virtual interaction with objects and other users, really cool stuff. Few remember it now... Second Life is like v2.0 of the concept, but has already peaked imo. Home does have some neat things, but at the end of the day I just want to grab my controller and do some real gaming. But hey, that's just me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted April 10, 2008 Author Subscriber² Share Posted April 10, 2008 I said VR, not social networking. I remember this craze on the internet about VR in the 90's (with VRML as HawkMan remembers also). It was going to be the future, virtual interaction with objects and other users, really cool stuff. Few remember it now... Second Life is like v2.0 of the concept, but has already peaked imo. Home does have some neat things, but at the end of the day I just want to grab my controller and do some real gaming. But hey, that's just me. I link virtual reality and social networking pretty tightly. Especially in things like Second Life/The Sims and anything where you take an avatar and "live/communicate" with that avatar. I don't see how actual VR with gloves and goggles and stuff is appropriate here? I won't be wearing a Nintendo Power Glove whilst on Home :p Yeah fair enough if you don't want it, but it's going to be pretty damn popular if it delivers everything Sony are claiming and more. Especially with the graphics it has, that will be a major turn on for all these Sims/Second Life/Hotel Habbo "######" :rofl: Luckily for you in-game XMB will do the 2d/basic side of things (Y) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Gil Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I don't see how actual VR with gloves and goggles and stuff is appropriate here? I won't be wearing a Nintendo Power Glove whilst on Home :p Neither does anyone, you brought it up just now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted April 10, 2008 Author Subscriber² Share Posted April 10, 2008 Neither does anyone, you brought it up just now... Actually Hawkman mentioned VR hardware first hence why I referenced the Nintendo Glove as a joke. I don't see what VR hardware has to do with Home! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cormier6083 Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 I'm worried about In-Game XMB the most. I can wait for home if In Game XMB is still being developed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Gil Posted April 11, 2008 Share Posted April 11, 2008 Actually Hawkman mentioned VR hardware first hence why I referenced the Nintendo Glove as a joke.I don't see what VR hardware has to do with Home! Yes he did indeed, by bad. Damn those pills! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy0 Posted April 13, 2008 Share Posted April 13, 2008 I can see myself using the in-game XMB more than Home because it will be much quicker to get things done. Also I reckon they will both hit together in a firmware update. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts