Sony is retooling and re-awesoming PlayStation Home, adding new content, features, and otherwise enticing PlayStation 3 owners. Version 1.3 of Home will hit your console this September. Below, in handy bullet-pointed form, are the major improvements:
- Universal game launching. Finally, you'll be able to kick off any game, any place in Home. Never again will you have to sign out of Home to play infamous. You just insert the disc of your choice while in Home and follow the on screen directions and bam: You're in the game. Some titles (Street Fighter IV, Resistance 2, MotorStorm, and Far Cry 2 so far) support advanced features, and avatars with those games in their drive will be indicated with special icons. So if you don't like some dude's shirt in Home, challenge him to fight in Street Fighter and kick his ass. Just like real life!
- In-store item previewing: When some dude beats you up because he doesn't like your shirt, you'll be able to preview a less offensive one with this feature. It's full 3D, and allows you to check out furniture, clothing and other items from any angle.
- Consumables: Certain items will be yours to consume and/or horde in Home. Sony gives the example of a shrinking potion to make your avatar tiny. Neat.
- Portable objects: To start, Sony will be giving everyone a free camera to snap pictures from either a 1st or 3rd person perspective. These photos will automatically be saved to the Photo section of the XMB, from which you can then upload to the picture frames you have hanging in your personal spaces. The other example given: A bubble machine. More object announcement will be coming, so don't sleep.
- Other improvements: new categories of clothing, optimized targeting system, new queuing system,various bug fixes, , and the option to determine your cache size (you can choose from 3, 5, 8, and 12 GB), to make Home run smoother.
So, what do you think? Is THIS enough for you to try out Home again? For me, there is no improvement I could think of to the experience to get me to go back. No offense meant to Sony, but I was seriously creeped out by Home. Chat-rooms and malls are my two least favorite places on earth, and Home reminds me of an unholy combination of both. Plus, I already have a real home I can decorate any way I want, and I can already shop for real clothes, and hang out with my real friends, and watch real movie previews of movies that don't necessarily come from the movie-making arm of Sony. Plus, I'm an anti-social person by nature -- that's why I like video games. What about you? Are you a Homer? Am I totally missing the point here?
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at0mict0ast
I just got a PS3 Slim, so currently Home has me sucked in, so now i'm all excited. Sad? Yes. Cheap Entertaining Gaming? HELL YES.
I'm sure the appeal will wear off soon enough, but currently I'm enjoying it. I just want a Brutal Legend Area already.
Notafanboythatiknow
I still don't get Home. Sony, please add more titles to the PSN and add Cross-Game chat.
river_tron
I really hope Home takes off, but it won't happen for a while. The idea is way ambitious and would need a ton of time to actually make it the experience they are promising. Perhaps tech needs to jump a couple levels before they can make it into the world we all would like to spend time in.
100percentgood
Xi 2, then i might log in again.
it was fun for like 30 seconds. after that, meh... cool in concept. its not that theres all that much wrong with home itself as far as implementation goes... but its just not that great of an idea in practice.
its the sims, watered down, with wicked creepy old dude, and wicked whiny tweens who cant spell. all the games are clogged up constantly, and theres very minimal content.
it looks absolutely gorgeous. it runs super smooth... but its really quite lame.
JingJang
Well i'm definitely excited about the universal game launching thing, though i wish they would put in a feature where i can actually use my mic to talk to people not my friends. Would it really be too hard to set up servers where that is possible? It would really enhance my experience.
tarbis
At last A CAMERA!! I've been wanting it for a long time. I want to take pictures of the big ass gundam in the Japanese Home.
aduecey
wow i've heard of social phobes before but a social phobe that can't even handle a chatroom? You might consider seeking some help friend.
Anyways about home. Sony can tack on all the frills they want it's still a boring experience. Never will I have the urge to make my avatar dance while a voice chat with a close friend or a total stranger. If I want to talk to a friend i'll get that done on the phone. I deffinetly have no interest in talking to strangers in home. I don't like listening to foulmouth little thirteen year olds in game so why would I want to listen to them in mall setting? It's just a weird world best suited for akward tweens looking to talk dirty to one another. I think the service excells at that and only that.
Gamethrasher738
I think that HOME sounds great and I can't wait to get a PS3 to try it out. I already have an XBOX, and LIVE is okey but if it's pay to play they at lease could have something, anything, to compete with HOME. Okey TWITER and FACEBOOK are coming soon but come on, what was the point in giving us avatars if they were not going to have them interact? Now don't get me wrong I'm not bashing XBOX it's just that they could do so much more with their avatars.
TwiztedR3DHead
Sony is about to Merk the competition
mexpex22
I don't know. i'm still burnt from home. it got me all worked up and excited just to throw me to the ground and make me squeal like a pig. i don't think this will be enough for me to go back. really, i just find home to be a place for the desperate and bored. the people who want to see naked pics of random people and talk dirty. it's gross and boring. gotta try harder sony, this multi million dollar project kinda flopped didn't it?
SeNO617
I will definitely be in HOME haha. I can't wait for #PS3Slim ... It's gonna be awesome haha
Vesipham
Nah, you're not totally missing the point. I'm a Homer and happily welcome these new features. However, I plan to challenge people to King of Iron Fist, not Street Fighter. Which is why I'm assembling a team of gamers to join me in our little Tekken 6 tournaments when the game finally comes out. Nice eh?
Godchild1124
If you have a Myspace or facebook account or any social networking page, then you have exactly what HOME is. HOME is just mainly designed for gamers and that's why we love it. I have a 360 in my car and one in the house next to my PS3 and PSP. I have all systems!! I 'm a TRUE GAMER!! you dont choose sides You play games!! you win , you lose..opinions are for people who can't afford to have both systems and love them both for what they are!! LOL I laugh at you all!! even you Stephen Johnson for the stupid NOT neccessary attack on HOME. You seem to forget the reason why you even have job. It is because Microsoft and Sony are both video gaming juggernauts.
theRealGamerTAG
I never got the whole Home thing myself. But, like the article said, I too am anti-social and that's why I like games. If I was inclined to interact with people I think I'd go find some real ones who are a little more tightly bound to the social contract than these anonymous people online who don't have to worry about the potential repercussions of being an a-hole.
cloverfeild
honestly, My old man and i really dont like home at all (yes my dad loves video games as much as i do) to tell everyone the truth it was like a sausage fest, and was really awkward, and why is sony gonna make you pay for furniture and clothes, its just really messed up. This program was supposed to be a world changing event, it was gonna "reinvent" the PS3 and make everyone want one, instead it just pulled a segway on us..... now if you will excuse me im gonna go play playstation hom.. i mean the sims.
bleahy
You know what else has universal game launching? The XMB.
ThataUFO
I just can't get into home. They kept saying it wouldn't be a Second Life clone, but it totally is. If you like it, more power to you, I just don't friggin get it.
djboogymonster
I think home has gotten better, I spend most of my time in Buzz world. I like trivia.
Seems to me the bowling alley should be bigger.
BallsofFURY
I like home every now and then, Its come along way since beta, Its fun to sit around the table and play poker and talk with friends or random people.
Secondtooth
Some guy tried to sell me drugs on there..true story.I've been on Home twice..it's kind of fun to go on there and troll
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