PlayStation Home

[Vector]

The Open Beta finally launched today. Everyone is in. While it's titled "Open Beta", this is basically the final product. You can purchase things now, and EVERYONE is allowed in. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone with a PS3. If you don't see it in your XMB under the PlayStation Network section, restart your PS3 a couple times...it will show up.

I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised with Home.

The customization options for the face are pretty good. There aren't many outfits...and new shirts and pants and stuff are priced anywhere from $0.49 to $0.99(Home is a free service, yes...but they need to make money somehow). I made my 'avatar' look very much like me...and I feel bad calling it an 'avatar.' Home's 'avatars' are lifelike, unlike Miis and NXE's avatars.

Once I created myself, I appeared in my Homespace...a Harbor Studio. It's the default Homespace everyone gets. Again, you can purchase new Homespaces and new furniture...but I'll wait before Home expands with lots more options until I decide what I want to buy. The Homespace was pretty bare, so after messing around with my options, I headed out into the Main Plaza...

...and, well, I don't wanna keep dragging this on...so I'll just say that I spent a good four hours on my first go-through on Home, and I made 3 new friends...and that's what it's all about, isn't it?

Oh! Game Spaces: right now, there are only 3 different gamespaces. Two from Far Cry 2, and one from Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. Basically, you're put into settings from the game...or inspired by the game. Far Cry 2's gamespaces are a trainstation, and someone's office. Uncharted's game space is "Sully's Bar." It's very cool...something new for developers to look into. Apparently, RE5 will be getting a game space as well...that should be sick.

Meeting people, playing pool, playing chess, bowling, shopping, dancing, or just sitting down and talking...

Home is a lot more fun than I imagined.


What's everyone else's thoughts?

[Biohazard EX]

Yeah, I was one of the people pre-approved to try out the Beta earlier. It was pretty cool. Kinda difficult to interact without a keyboard though, so I'm not in a hurry to jump into it. But it could be very much fun. Playing Pool and Bowling was cool.

There should really be a MGS4 gamespace.

[CODE_umb87]

I like it for the most part, the only thing that bothered me was the small variety of clothing to choose from. I'll like it more when it expands with more options to choose from.

[Biohazard EX]

I think they should implement a system where you could put your own design on your clothing. Kinda like the stamp mode in LBP.

[Mr. Spencer]

I was surprised too. My avatar looks like Biff Tannen with a moustache, or some kind of Vietnam veteran, or Jameson from Spider-Man.

[Borman]

Having been in the beta for a year and a half, Im just not impressed at this point

[Mr. Spencer]

Ah, that went down well. I strolled down the central plaza singing 'Moonlight Shadow' by Mike Oldfield, which looked hilarious with my avatar's appearance.

It went a little bit like this.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=K5X01o7SsUU

[Bertha]

I had closed beta for a month...and I really got tired of it. Every single time I was on I had guys harassing me. I may check it out again but...I dunno.

[Rock it.]

Meeting people, playing pool, playing chess, bowling, shopping, dancing, or just sitting down and talking...

And gaming has just taken another step in the great highway to hell. Seriously now folks, this is why more and more people see video games as some life-stealing wraith. Here's one wishing they'd bring back the creative ideas to the gaming table.

[Mr. Spencer]

If you can even log in to HOME. It's riddled with network errors.

[Helegad]

Lol, server overloads or PS3s crashing because of the sheer amount of users? Probably both.

[P Anderson DIE]

Cool I got it now didnt have it last night, bout to give it a play hope its what they made it out to be.

[Mr. Spencer]

Someone on HOME just called me a fascist.

[The_15th]

QUestions!!

Do characters get different walk cycles?
Can you run?
What are the animations? What movement can you do?

[Mr. Spencer]

Nope, all the animations are the same more or less.

By the way, if you're thinking of creating an avatar that bears any military semblance, be prepared to endure the wrath of hot-headed kids. I've been called a fascist, had some Australian kid yell at me down his mic. He just came up out of nowhere, called me a "fucking fascist pig" on his mic and then ran off. Naturally, I gave chase and proceeded to sing the lyrics of Mike Oldfield's 'Moonlight Shadow' at my microphone. This only aggravated the kid, who flew into a hateful tirade against me. It was epic lulz.

Unfortunately, I think he logged out. Someone else came up to me and started picking a fight with me, but when I explained that I did not look like Kurt Russell, he soon backed down and buggered off. Seems like you can't look like a South American dictator these days without people going apeshit at you. I'm afraid to go back to my personal apartment now, there will be chairs upturned, graffit adorning the walls and piss over everything. I'm living in fear on a virtual world.