Some quick first thoughts on PlayStation Home, almost completely in boring text:
- I was prepared to hate it, but it's not bad. Not great, but it has some potential.
- Load times aren't as bad as I was led to believe.
- The character creator suffers from Sims-itis, which causes any character you create to vaguely resemble Peter Weller.
- TTHI (Time To Homophobic Insult): 20 seconds. By some kid with a user name based on Red Bull. I'm so glad BrAwNdo0869 didn't weigh in on my sexuality.
- They're going to have to figure out how to allow voice communication with friends only. Right now you can "call" your friends, but I essentially want everyone muted who I don't know. Sounds like a community of people moaning through damp paper towel tubes.
- Why are games unplayable when occupied by someone else in the arcade and bowling alley? That's just stupid. Online should be better than real life when it comes to waiting in line.
- On that note, just as in real life, don't talk to me when I'm playing a rousing game of Breakout on a virtual arcade machine. You shouldn't see text bubbles pop up when you are doing something in fullscreen mode, like playing a game or watching a movie.
Verdict:
B
A promising start, with no clear reason to spend much time on it now beyond the novelty aspect, but with intriguing possibilities.
And remember: It wouldn't be the internet if we didn't start chiming in with ways to improve software that's 90 minutes old.
I think you were lenient on the grading, too. I'm not impressed by Home thus far, but we'll see whether sony has the ability to make it live up to its potential.
They will have to pony up some more stuff, like mentioned, where you can just have your friends around - having the world in a fantastic audio/visual mute. After hearing 10 people yell about codes on the doors in the Uncharted room I sighed and returned to my "flat" - to listen to the sealgulls and the pretty water.
Haven't messed with it yet, don't plan to until I have a reason to use my PS3 again. This would be considered that reason by most people, but it's not really something that interests me.
On a side note, nice to see you in the cblogs.
I just like sexually harassing people in my Echochrome outfit. Also, for the Uncharted rooms to have codes you think they would be awesome but they're so empty. I was expecting an Uncharted 2 trailer or something.
I will be trying it out when I get home as what you said pretty much applies to the old beta I was in.
I was kicked out of "HOME"... I was on PSN, DL'ed the Echochrome & Blast Factor Trophies... Went on the PS Store... Looked at my friend's List... Everyone was in HOME @ the time... Nothing shows up underneath the PSNetwork Symbol in my XMB... L-O-L! I was kicked from HOME because of my Username... I believe anyways?
I'm Dead Serious.
@Benefactor: I thought about giving a B-, but I had such low expectations that I was mildly pleasantly surprised.
@cup of cocoa: I've never thought about muting video before. My mind hurts.
@EDS: I hope you didn't miss your obscure shout-out.
@MrSadistic: I was promised a solid gold nude Elena statue in that room. But it was a solid gold nude Sully.
@MaxVest: Responding to everybody makes you a tool.
Get any A/S/L's yet?
I've been having connection problems and haven't even gotten in yet. Oh well, I'm sure Sony will get it working eventually.
@BS3Owner, no it's been slammed and people have been getting kicked all day. They don't give a shit what you name your guy.
That last sentence is the greatest truth I will read today.
MxxVest: Let's call it "filtering out people who fill the screen with fail". Which does eliminate the point of HOME but whatever. You are just messing with me!
I knew there was a reason I kept saying in HOME:
"Dead or Alive, you're coming with me."
Here's the thing with Home:
It should be the new "main menu", so to speak. I feel absolutely no need to go into Home to do anything, whereas if it was the opening "menu" for the PS3, I would be more prone to do things and actually use the program. Then you could make the XMB on a PSP that you carry around or something.
That would be awesome.
Totally agree with the Sims-itis.
@Magesx: I agree that there's nothing I can do through XMB that is easier to do through Home. But it would be neat, for example, to meet up with some online friends in Home (playing pool/arcade games while you wait for everyone to show up) and then go in a theater and have one person rent a movie that you can all watch at the same time and mock, MST3K style.
It would be really fun if you could kill people in it.
that's what real life is for, duh