According to Sony, PlayStation Home, the PS3 virtual world/lobby, has been a big success.
Speaking to Gamasutra, PlayStation Home director Jack Buser said, "The proof is in the pudding...With numbers like we have, it goes without saying that Home has been a huge success for our company, something that we have been very proud of."
The numbers in question aren't really the profit numbers for that division of Sony -- those numbers are not public. Instead, Buser talked avatar items. "We've released over 5,000 virtual items on the platform, and we know that once those items reach maturity, they are profitable," he said. "So you see us creating a tremendous amount of virtual items, because it is such a high margin business for us to be in."
I would say that it is a very good business model for PlayStation, and quite profitable, I might add," Buser said of the micro-transaction model that powers Home. "I like to say it's one of the highest-margin businesses in the games industry."
"[gamers are] understanding that through micropayments, they can gain social context and social capital, or they can through gameplay context, upgrade their gameplay experience through microtransactions. And that's just becoming part of gaming."
So, you guys are gamers... are you interested in gaining social capital through buying new hats for your fake, video game self? Or are you more like me, and see the whole thing as sort of silly?
Source: Gamasutra
Comments
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RogPD
to each there own but, i wouldnt mind pimping myself out especially if i have friends that get on home every now and then.
xRaymond9250
wait.. home is still active?
wheels85
I joined Home when it first was introduced, and go back every once in a while, but all the stuff you can purchase for your avatar and all the other stuff you pay for that make Home worth being in, I can't afford.
Phategod
I've had my PS3 since Christmas and I've logged into it 3 times the only fun thing is pretending to be a girl and watching D's gather around.
Lord_Ruinous
Home. If you don't like it stay out. Its that simple.
goombah420
this is silly i admit .but its no different than buyin clothes for your avatar on xboxlive which alot of people do. why even write an article like this unless your trying 2 start a flame war. i love this sight for news g4 but somtimes i wonder what your true intentions are with these articles you post somtimes? its almost like your just trying to get the fanbots feathers in a ruffle somtimes, its childish shame on you g4
goombah420
this is silly i admit .but its no different than buyin clothes for your avatar on xboxlive which alot of people do. why even write an article like this unless your trying 2 start a flame war. i love this sight for news g4 but somtimes i wonder what your true intentions are with these articles you post somtimes? its almost like your just trying to get the fanbots feathers in a ruffle somtimes, its childish shame on you g4
ThaSaltShaker
I wanna taste this pudding they speak of.
Omoi2
dont you people ever feel like chillin after an intense game of Killzone 2? i go there once in a while to play pool, bowling, or poker with people. In the beginning I bought some gear to look good but thats it. by the ways if they start selling the pool table they would make tons of money. For people that didn't have the chance to go to E3, using home to check out the PlayStation area was really cool!
ThavionHawk
When are they going to make the 'You will be able to show Videos via TV's in your space with others' a reality? Then I'll be interested.
rsk8able
Playstation Home sucked in MY opinion. The items that they sold on the mall were over priced, and I couldn't figure out how to join the lobby my friend was in. Side note if anyone knows how to do that, tell me.
Uncle_Daniel
I wouldn't call it silly...though someone who spends too much (i.e. buying an Estate on Home) could be considered that. I really don't buy things in Home because I don't spend enough time there to really care about my appearance that much, but I still do spend a decent amount roaming around Home. It's not a bad virtual world at all! There are plenty of mini-games in which you get rewarded free (mediocre) clothing or house decorations. This is more than I can say for the avatars of the 360 who...do the wave in party chat? I don't think so. I find barraging a "woman" verbally on Home (woman in parentheses because in Home, a sex change is just a click away!) to be more entertaining than watching my 360 avatar...umm...play w/ a UAV for 5 seconds?
EchoEpsilon
Social capital? What does this word "social" mean?
BENonG4
The best thing to do in PS home is pretend to be a girl then invite some creepy dude to your apartment and then turn back into a dude and be like, "HAHA you just jerked off to a guy!" and see how they react. Its hilarious!
ManOfTeal
Someone please eExplain to me what it means when a virtual item reaches maturity?
Kaeolani
I thought that Home in general was silly until E3. I went to check out Home to see sony's booth and found a ton of other content that was fun. The Red Bull Air Race is really cool and addictive. The other day as I was waiting for a game to start, I talked to some people from japan whilst body poppin and that's fun too. However, There are too many cyber-horny kids that think they're going to hook up with someone over home. Lame a$$es.
As for the pay for virtual items, I say no. There are way too many free clothes that you can get from completing games. The starwars stuff was really tempting but ultimately not worth it.
g4tvroxdahouse
Boy, Sony is spinning this faster than a tornado.
I call BS on this. Just like the rest of the 99.99995% of you I have visited home on the PS3 but only once or twice for and was not impressed.
A virtual store and advertisement platform at best. I think maybe that's the reason for the spin. Need more advertising dollars.
hailme786
The last word you said is the best way to describe this. "Silly"
JohnnyBuku
Too bad those Home resources were not put to better use. But if there are really people out there that really enjoy Home than I guess its not a total waste. I just don't know any...
T_Rexx
No!! We are not like you Stephen, some of us do buy new hats for our fake, video game selves.
Home is a great place to socialize and have fun, when needed a break from gaming or otherwise... my last visit to home was last night after playing some Uncharted 2 death-match.
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