Is Sony on the right track with PlayStation Home?

[saud264]

Good discussion about Sony HOME network from http://arstechnica.com/index.ars

After a one-week hiatus due to the Ars Technica redesign, the Saturday Showdown continues. Each week we'll pick a topic, flip a coin to see which OT writer gets which side to debate, and then we present it to you. This week? Whether or not Sony is on the right track with their current online plan.

FrankFrank: We've all seen PlayStation Home by now: the unified, Second Life-esque online environment that is poised to become the face of Sony's online strategy. I, for one, was caught completely and utterly by surprise with this announcement. For the first time in a long time, I actually looked at one of Sony's proprietary ideas and felt a strong desire to indulge myself in its vision. PlayStation Home is a great idea; one of the best that the company has had in a long, long time. It combines so much of what is currently out there—the functionality of the Xbox Live interface, the personality of the Wii's Mii system, and the immersion and community of MMOGs that are so popular today—in a way that really hasn't been done before (at least as far as consoles are concerned).

The creation of an online space and an online identity transcends the simple necessity for an online interface: it becomes a game unto itself, and one that I can't wait to delve into. Just imagining heading over to the Sony music store inside the world, listening to some songs and then heading over to the theater to watch the latest Sony Pictures release before returning home to play some LittleBigWorld with my friends is awe-inspiring: it's fresh, it's different and it's interesting. It's the perfect mask to put on top of the underlying functionality of conversing with your friends and playing games online. Really, it offers the same tools as the current Xbox Live dashboard, yet does it all in such a more interesting and immersive way. This new direction in their online initiative will not only separate Sony from the pack but also possibly even put them ahead.

BenBen: I was roundly criticized for coming down on Home yesterday, but I think many readers missed what I was trying to say. I think Home looks good, and I definitely think it's going to be a hit for Sony. I can't argue with free, and I'm looking forward to playing with it. The problem is I'm not sure what they're going to do in the meantime, or what Sony is going to offer gamers who don't want to log into this whole separate interface. For instance, I was playing Motorstorm online last night, and the game is great with human players. The problem is I can't invite friends into the game, I can't start a friends-only game, and I can't even message my friends once I'm in a game. Setting up a game with people on your friends list involves too much work, and I finally gave up and started calling people on the phone to tell them to join my game.

What I want is something that works with every game and lets me message people not yet in the lobbies to tell them to join. Either that, or give them a link directly into the game. Will I have to log into Home to use these features? Will Home even offer these features? A Second Life-like game on the PS3 may be exciting for people who like MMOs and trading virtual objects, but I'm interested in Sony polishing up their online fundamentals and usability before I get excited about it.

FrankFrank: A lot of your worries, Ben, stem from the unanswered questions that remain about the service. Naturally, something as complex as Playstation Home is going to need a lot of explanation. My basic assumption is that PlayStation Home isn't meant to completely replace the standard friends list and functionality that the PS3 currently uses. Home is more like a shell that is dropped on top: it's there if you want to use it, but I doubt you'll ever have to if you don't want to. As the PS3's online features begin to mature, I'm sure the aforementioned problems with Motorstorm will disappear. The initial philosophy that Sony had with regards to letting developers do whatever they want was a bad one: they should have followed Microsoft's time-tested example of a unified service. I think they've realized that mistake, and PlayStation Home is really the beginning of what is to become Sony's own unified service: and that's why I'm confident that Sony is on the right track.

BenBen: The problem is there isn't a working friends list yet. The friends list as it exists now only works on the XMB; in games it may as well not be there at all. In games like Motorstorm I have no way to look at my friends list. Saying the same functionality will be there when Home launches doesn't help me, because there is very little functionality to begin with. I haven't heard Sony even hint at making their online play more usable and friendly other than Home. Like the Penny Arcade strip so aptly points out, Sony seems to like adding as many steps to every process as possible.

What I want out of online play for my console is to be able to put a game in, look at my friends list via that game, and then set up a game with these people. No amount of Sims-like game play is going to make me happy until I get these basic online features without extra bells and whistles . Look at it this way, I come home and I want to play an online game with friends. That's my goal. I don't want to play House Home. I want to play this specific game with these specific people. Unless Home is optional and Sony creates a unified structure outside of it , which I haven't heard yet, they've added many, many more hoops for me to jump through so that I can do what I want to do. If the only way I'm able to use my friends list across games is via Home? It's just another step between me and the game.

So what do you think? Is PlayStation Home destined to become a must have feature? Or is it just a gimmick from a company that's running out of ideas?

[Steemo]

I love the fuddy last line...

I already see this taking off amongst my friends. They fed into all the anti-Sony FUD late last year and early this, they told me to not waste my money on a $600 paperweight, they told me over and over how I made a mistake in buying PS3. And now they see Home and WHAM!! "Hey Steve, wanna trade my Wii for your PS3?"

This is MAJOR stuff, definitely the most brilliant strategy Sony could have employed. I think PS3 will see incredible sales this year.

[Rip3001]

The XMB will eventually be accessible within games...along with that comes the XMB Friends List.

HOME is just the icing on the cake...and the strawberries...and those little french chocolate-cookie twirls...

The truth is, no matter how people want to downplay it...HOME has the potential to change everything...yes...even THAT!

[Sephiroth_VII]

It has already been confirmed that you'll be able to meet up with your friends in Home, and then jump directly in to a game of Motorstorm together. Read the official FAQ, for crying out loud!

[LaLiLuLeLo]

just never good enough, is it?

[julps31]

While were on the subject I got a good laugh outta the fanboys negative reactions about home (ripped from the gametrailers forums lol). I know this fud isn't contributing to the forums (delete if you must) but I just find it funny how Sony can't do anything right in some peoples eyes.

"I still say home awards were a total rip-off of achievements."

"home is goion to suck just wait and watch." (and of course that typos in the origanal post lol)

"Go play Second life. It's the same crap. All people do is have sex, lol. Go visit "Furry Island" That's what Future online communties are! Full of freaking and weirdos."

"Home is like a crappy myspace for the ps3"

:tardbang:

[IEatFriedPikmin]

i think its a hit or miss thing... although as of now, i think i would prefer the achievement point system with Live more. Sony should be focusing on a better online setup altogether... but i am assuming this is part of that plan.

[Viano]

Home is a must have, and many idiots out there are either don't have a working brain or just got a dirty mouth spreading fud

[LaLiLuLeLo]

meh. haters will be haters. ps2 was the undisputed champion of the past generation and plenty of people still firmly believe it sucks. watcha gonna do?

[GaiusBaltar]

The xbots will hate on no matter what without trying it. Me, I'll have to try it first but so far it looks awesome

[Kabbage]

This Just In ... Microsoft announces Xbox World... a 3d Virtual world that allows users to create their own character and meet other virtual characters (That are other Xbox world subscribers) , listen to music, watch videos and meet at their own private "Tricked out Pads".

For a monthly fee of 9.99 a month. Does not include online gameplay subscription fee.


Xbox Trolls: Home Has been Owned!!! It is better because it isnt a shitty free service.

Kotaku: Microsoft 1-ups Sony yet again with teh pay service...Sony sux

[LiquidEagle]

meh. haters will be haters. ps2 was the undisputed champion of the past generation and plenty of people still firmly believe it sucks. watcha gonna do?

QFT. Discussion over. :)

[EvilTaru]

It has already been confirmed that you'll be able to meet up with your friends in Home, and then jump directly in to a game of Motorstorm together. Read the official FAQ, for crying out loud!

Isn't that just people's guess work on something Phil said? People making up faq isn't going to do it. They need to have official confirmation that the whole lack of in-game PSN chat is going to be fixed. THIS IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE THAT IS HOLDING PSN BACK. I'm not saying that it won't be but I hate the current "I expect the march update will fix this so I'm not going to press Sony on the issue but instead I'll ask them about completely irrelevant things like 1080p and AF" mentality.

[Garfunkel]

Look, i firmly believe in Home, great idea. If ms had the idea and not sony (by their record of innovation that would never happen) i am sure TXB would be alive with applause.

[curryking1]

Sooo..... I'm just wondering. Does this have to do with SOE's super duper online talents, or was this mainly a production by SCE itself?

I'm wondering who we should be crediting this most to, not that Sony's parties involved in gaming don't all deserve a pat at this point.

[LiquidEagle]

Maybe it was the xfire integration?? :-p

[Generosity of God]

i like Home. and i can see it being more popular than not as it looks to borrow aspects from a really popular franchise called the Sims.

i dont like the avatars for some reason. if they were more cartoony then i'd like them but trying to make avatars look realistic doesnt seem right IMO.

it is a step in the right direction as it will really help Sony's online network combat Xbox Live.

[curryking1]

Alright.. I know this comparison is kind of stupid and unfair.

But that doesn't stop it from being really funny. It 'compares,' and I use the term extremely loosely, XBL to Home.

Now mind you, this is just looking at appearance over appearance, but it's kind of funny to see how much more 'alive' a 3D world looks than a menu.

Again, really not a comparison, just a funny video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgVndZg7-aM

Through pure aesthetics, it easy to figure out why Home blows live out of the water. It's a 3D realised world you walk around in, it's clarity and cleanliness and style is thru the roof, and it's just freaking cool.

[Garfunkel]

home is awesome period. If you think they "stole" something then you are an idiot, what about all the thngs live "stole"? It seems to be the number one complaint, that they "stole" achievements.

[OmniCloud]

As long as Sony implements access to the XMB in-game before this launches, all is well...

[Z]

about the views, the guy with the complaints is right, although he isn't even talking about Home to begin with. we need friends lists integrated into games. why even have friends lists if they won't appear online? I didn't even know there was a PSi clan in Resistance till Leftovers told me while we were playing.
we have to add each other manually, even though we are already included in each others' friends lists.

and as Phill mentioned, this will be resolved in Home, and presumably, will be resolved for those who don't want to use Home as well since it should be included in the same major firmware update to accommodate the new changes.


Isn't that just people's guess work on something Phil said? People making up faq isn't going to do it. They need to have official confirmation that the whole lack of in-game PSN chat is going to be fixed. THIS IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE THAT IS HOLDING PSN BACK. .

no, in an interview with 1UP after the show, they specifically asked him if a player could jump from home immediately into an online game then jump back to his Home after playing with the same group of friends jumping with him to the game and back again. Phill said "yes, that's the idea". :splitspin

I'm not saying that it won't be but I hate the current "I expect the march update will fix this so I'm not going to press Sony on the issue but instead I'll ask them about completely irrelevant things like 1080p and AF" mentality
yeah, I hate that mentality as well.

Sooo..... I'm just wondering. Does this have to do with SOE's super duper online talents, or was this mainly a production by SCE itself?

I'm wondering who we should be crediting this most to, not that Sony's parties involved in gaming don't all deserve a pat at this point.
good question. of course, Sony is Sony, but I too would like to know what team is responsible for the core tech- as there are many aspects done by other teams, I am sure. could the infamous ICE team behind it?
more and more the ICE team is sounding like the Patriots...and I'm loving it!:queer:

i like Home. and i can see it being more popular than not as it looks to borrow aspects from a really popular franchise called the Sims.

i dont like the avatars for some reason. if they were more cartoony then i'd like them but trying to make avatars look realistic doesnt seem right IMO.

it is a step in the right direction as it will really help Sony's online network combat Xbox Live.
the WoW crowed agrees with you.

[Garfunkel]

As long as Sony implements access to the XMB in-game before this launches, all is well...

they've already confirmed that haven't they? It would be stupid if they didn't allow it.

[gibmonster]

In my opinion I think Sony is on the right track. I think the people who are complaining...or bitching, are taking online way too seriously. Or think that sony is completely incapable of pulling this off...yeah I suppose that's why there are people working there with three degrees under their belts. While most of these whingers probably don't even have one.

I don't think the PS2 outsold the competition because of it's online service.

Whatever people's issues are, I'm sure they have already been looked at.

No need to panic :)

As for arstechnica....my brother tells me they're a pretty crappy site for many reasons, not just for consoles.

[Garfunkel]

As for arstechnica....my brother tells me they're a pretty crappy site for many reasons, not just for consoles.

??? ArsTechnica is one of the best and most credible tech sites. It's like the new Toms Hardware, after it went crap. I don't know where your bro got that from.

[Applefiend]

Well ArsTechnia tend to be very PC centric, that's the one thing wrong with them, and mostly are in the business of providing fuel for fan boy debates, they're not in the business for providing fuel for game developers, amateur or otherwise.

[gibmonster]

Well ArsTechnia tend to be very PC centric, that's the one thing wrong with them, and mostly are in the business of providing fuel for fan boy debates, they're not in the business for providing fuel for game developers, amateur or otherwise.

I believe this is the problem my brother had with them.

[Garfunkel]

they are not great with consoles, that's their weakness, but for everything else they are really really good IMO

[woundingchaney]

I think some good issues were brought up. I dont think that "home" is going to remove every problem that anyone has with PSN and I dont believe it is intended to. From the just of things I think Sony is still in the process of determining how home will be used in their online scenario. I also think it is a bit premature for everyone to be asking all these questions regarding aspects of home as it was just announced.

With only the sheer amount of positive reaction I think that at this point despite what potential problems anyone may have with home it was definetely a good move for Sony.

[Sephiroth_VII]

Isn't that just people's guess work on something Phil said? People making up faq isn't going to do it. They need to have official confirmation that the whole lack of in-game PSN chat is going to be fixed. THIS IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE THAT IS HOLDING PSN BACK. I'm not saying that it won't be but I hate the current "I expect the march update will fix this so I'm not going to press Sony on the issue but instead I'll ask them about completely irrelevant things like 1080p and AF" mentality.

No, there is an official FAQ from Sony. Search the forum for the link.

[Domination]

Good discussion about Sony HOME network from http://arstechnica.com/index.ars

Home is a completely different community than the buddy list, and what Ben doesn't take into consideration is that fact the the XMB runs in the background. As it stands today, the XMB can already do some multi-functioning during other tasks. Therefore, I see no reason why something as basic as accessing the XMB during gameplay would be impossible. Actually, Phil demonstrated this at last year's press conference on early dev tools.

[EvilTaru]

about the views, the guy with the complaints is right, although he isn't even talking about Home to begin with. we need friends lists integrated into games. why even have friends lists if they won't appear online? I didn't even know there was a PSi clan in Resistance till Leftovers told me while we were playing.
we have to add each other manually, even though we are already included in each others' friends lists.

and as Phill mentioned, this will be resolved in Home, and presumably, will be resolved for those who don't want to use Home as well since it should be included in the same major firmware update to accommodate the new changes.

no, in an interview with 1UP after the show, they specifically asked him if a player could jump from home immediately into an online game then jump back to his Home after playing with the same group of friends jumping with him to the game and back again. Phill said "yes, that's the idea". :splitspin




That still doesn't answer the question of whether someone can respond to a PSN chat message while in a game, and that's the biggest problem right now. It's great that one can go from Home to an online game, I need to be able to reach someone who's not in the xmb menu and pull him from whatever game he's playing, the point isn't grabbing people already in a party into a game, but being able to invite someone who's not already in a party playing some other game, into the party, once someone is playing a game, he's unable to answer chat messages, that has remained to be fixed. The problem is whatever these "game journalists" are, they can't seem to ask concise questions that yield more definitive answers.

[EvilTaru]

No, there is an official FAQ from Sony. Search the forum for the link.

It doesn't answer my question at all whatsoever.

[EvilTaru]

In my opinion I think Sony is on the right track. I think the people who are complaining...or bitching, are taking online way too seriously. Or think that sony is completely incapable of pulling this off...yeah I suppose that's why there are people working there with three degrees under their belts. While most of these whingers probably don't even have one.

I don't think the PS2 outsold the competition because of it's online service.

Whatever people's issues are, I'm sure they have already been looked at.

No need to panic :)

As for arstechnica....my brother tells me they're a pretty crappy site for many reasons, not just for consoles.

Online is serious business, the sense of community is what Sony needs to work on, and they're slowly improving, but not being able to send chat messages while you're in a game is a significant road block. Someone asks you to be in a game, you can't even read the full message, so you won't know until you're finished with whatever you're doing and by then your friend might be tired of waiting or offline, or stuck playing some other game in which case he can't respond to your invite, and if you want to refuse the invite, you can't even do that because you can't reply to the chat message, this stuff needs to be fixed. They have the resources to fix this, but clearly game journalists have not been pressing on the issue, and Sony needs feedback to realize this is the number one issue plaguing online right now, and asking ambiguous questions yielding answers that lead to more guesswork isn't the best way to go.

[Domination]

Sooo..... I'm just wondering. Does this have to do with SOE's super duper online talents, or was this mainly a production by SCE itself?

I'm wondering who we should be crediting this most to, not that Sony's parties involved in gaming don't all deserve a pat at this point.

It was SOE, SCEJ, and SCEE. This was mentioned when Phil first started talking about PSN awhile back. ;)

[EvilTaru]

they've already confirmed that haven't they? It would be stupid if they didn't allow it.

No they haven't, the whole problem I have right now is it seems like people are simply assuming that is the case. I would LOVE that to be true, but there has not been any confirmation on whether in-game PSN text-messaging would be enabled through the march update.

[Jay Gee]

just never good enough, is it?
Indeed. Now everybody's just going into denial over the fact that Sony isn't doing anything that the media can spin into negative press. So now these douchebags have to say that Sony is running out of ideas or that HOME is too ambitious for not just casual gamers, but gamers in general, making the feature useless in their eyes and giving them the comfort they need because in the back of their STUPID minds, the reality that HOME is the shit lingers still. I hope it eats at them until they develop some sort of mental condition. Well, some new mental condition to add to the ones they already have.

[jaxmkii]

... lol that vid is now on Myspace

[Domination]

http://static.flickr.com/35/117465113_24b5bd80bc_o.jpg


Some of these things we haven't received yet, while some of them we have. This is why I believe the XMB will be accessible iin due time.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

people are afraid, or embarassed to be impressed. which is ridiculous.

[Jay Gee]

Basically. And those are the morons that I don't want to see anywhere near Home. That is unless they repent for their idiocy.

[Red_Eyes]

Sony is on the right track with Home. And clearly, sites like this just want to spread more FUD.

[jaxmkii]

teh r f34r

[The Dude]

I have my doubts about anything "free". I'll wait for it to actually come out before passing judgment.

[Z]

Online is serious business, the sense of community is what Sony needs to work on, and they're slowly improving, but not being able to send chat messages while you're in a game is a significant road block. Someone asks you to be in a game, you can't even read the full message, so you won't know until you're finished with whatever you're doing and by then your friend might be tired of waiting or offline, or stuck playing some other game in which case he can't respond to your invite, and if you want to refuse the invite, you can't even do that because you can't reply to the chat message, this stuff needs to be fixed. They have the resources to fix this, but clearly game journalists have not been pressing on the issue, and Sony needs feedback to realize this is the number one issue plaguing online right now, and asking ambiguous questions yielding answers that lead to more guesswork isn't the best way to go.
yes, I totally agree. that is what the guy was complaining about; the current PSN situation and not Home. but:
http://static.flickr.com/35/117465113_24b5bd80bc_o.jpg


Some of these things we haven't received yet, while some of them we have. This is why I believe the XMB will be accessible in due time.
this is the first time I've seen that pic, and you know what? it delivers what EvilTaru, I and the rest want from PSN. that is the F1 game playing. he received a message and can reply to it from people that aren't logged into the same game- or no game at all for that matter.

that is what we are talking about. even though that might be an old pic (looking at the PS3 colors) it is at least good to know that is in the works. so not all is lost.

[VG Aficionado]

that is what we are talking about. even though that might be an old pic (looking at the PS3 colors) it is at least good to know that is in the works. so not all is lost.That's a year old picture from the previous GDC keynote.

[OmniCloud]

We still need a freakin' confirmation, but honestly, I'm not all that bothered by PSN lack of cohesiveness. Through the forums I was able to get in some online matches with MotorStorm and it was simply awesome! That's really what it's all about right? So it's not as nice and up-to-date as Xbox live right now, I don't think it's that big of a deal, especially if they're intent on fixing it in future updates. Let's see what the March updates brings, and just go from there.

From a software standpoint, looking at what just came out in the last month and all the games that's been announced and covered for 07' releases, I can certainly overlook PSN's flaws a bit, the software is looking quite promising.

[cliffbo]

This time, we put questions to Sony on presence, navigation, features and moderation within Home…

What’s the function of the lobby and what is the maximum number of users that can be in a lobby?

“The lobby is the central meeting place where you can meet new friends or arrange to meet old friends, before transferring to a private meeting place. The current maximum of concurrent users in a lobby is 64.”

So how do you make sure friends are present in the same space?

“You can invite them via your friends list or invite them to your personal Home space.”

How will we all go about finding people within the Home world?

“We will have search functions for finding people online and offline, and for finding lobbies.”

Will you create lobbies by countries/regions?

“Yes, although users can choose where they want to go.”

How many avatars can I have?

“The current plan is for each Network account to be able to build one avatar, although you can have as many accounts as you like, giving you endless avatar options. Home is the human face of PlayStation Network, and your avatar is how you represent yourself. However, it will be possible to change your appearance, through customising your character and adding accessories, so you’ll be able to constantly re-invent yourself should you so desire.”

And I’ll be able to customise my avatar?

“Avatars are fully customisable with different facial features, height, weight, sex, hair styles, clothing, accessories, etc.”

What about using game characters as my avatar? Or can I use photo data to personalise my avatar (such as using photo data as the skin for my avatar’s face)?

“Not initially - however, we will extend the variety and selection of characters over time, including game characters and pets. Photo data is not supported at this time - however, the face customisation is very detailed and allows an almost infinite variety of faces to be created.”

Can you enter a game like MotorStorm quickly through Home without having to travel to the specific MotorStorm lobby?

“Currently, users can find each other in Home, and then arrange to go off and play MotorStorm at the same time. Eventually, users will be able to meet in Home and seamlessly launch into a game of MotorStorm. Similarly, users will be able to exit to Home directly from the game.”

What about the Hall Of Fame rewards - how are they going to work?

“Users receive points for in-game achievements. More details regarding this will be made available closer to launch.”

What is the policy on acceptable behaviour?

“Within our public spaces, Home follows the same rules and guidelines as the Network with regard to age stipulations and acceptable behaviour. Home uses all the same age controls as the PS3 system software. Private spaces will not be monitored unless abuses or violations to our policies are reported by a user.”

Will we be able to make complaints about other users?

“Of course. We will operate a system of logging complaints with our moderators, which will then be investigated. If necessary we are able to take away a user’s login rights and ban them from the service.”

How much freedom will people have in their private spaces?

“Our policy is not to actively police private areas, and a user cannot be invited to another user’s private space until they have accepted an invitation to be on their buddy list. However, the complaints process will still operate in these private spaces, so if people feel that they have been subjected to inappropriate behaviour while in someone’s private space, they will be able to lodge a complaint by the usual process.”

What means of moderation will be in place for abusive language?

“We will have a basic text profanity filter, though, as noted above, text and voice will be turned off for users not of age.”


http://threespeech.com/blog/?p=325