Home Beta

[Starscream]

Alright, so I finally got into the Home beta after months of trying. Did anyone else?

First impressions are it's pretty damned awesome. I hung out in the bowling alley for a while, sucked at bowling, played some arcade games, then left before I remembered to play some pool. I did the running man and a little disco for everyone, but nobody cared. Strangely, it was kinda like really being at a bowling alley. I'll mess around more tomorrow. Being I only have pimpdaddy and moycon on my friends list, did either of you get the beta?

[moycon]

Crap, I'm going to look online and try to get it.

My initial thought was HOME was just a lobby to meet up with other PS3 members. (Think Guild Wars or WoW online lobby)

I didn't know there were games involved.

[cimerians]

How do you get it?

[Starscream]

I have that Playstation Underground thing and I have signed up at the Sony site a few times, various other sites that would have a certain amount to give away. Yesterday, they let in 100,000 to load test. Don't worry if you don't get in yet, the open beta starts soon.

[Mendon]

I got the Beta invite and downloaded it last night. I went to the "Celebration" and explored some.

 

I didn't get to try out any of the arcade games or play pool as there was always a LOT people playing them and waiting for them. Got to bowl and it was sorta cool. Was neat watching the video's around the plaza and dancing to the music...LOL.

 

Someone formed a "dance" line and there had to be several hundred people winding their way around the plaza, dancing - clapping and more. I looked around for a cafe or area that had the "theme's" (Uncharted, Warhawk, etc) implemented but didn't find any... maybe they are not up and running in the Beta.

 

Home has potential from what I saw last night but time will tell. Not sure how much I'll use it as I have my PS3 for playing games, but we'll see.

 

 

Mendon

[pmpddytim]

I had the invite when I checked my e-mail this morning. I've downloaded it and created my avatar but I haven't had a chance to really play with it yet.

 

I'll report back when I have more time.

 

-T

[cimerians]

I have that Playstation Underground thing and I have signed up at the Sony site a few times, various other sites that would have a certain amount to give away. Yesterday, they let in 100,000 to load test. Don't worry if you don't get in yet, the open beta starts soon.

 

Ok I see...I'm signed with the underground but I probably ignored the beta invites, but after what you said it sounds pretty cool.

[Giltygear]

i got my invite to load test but haven't been home yet to get it...

 

my psn name is, oddly enough, Giltygear in case anyone's interested...

 

and i have no headset

[moycon]

Ok, I have my code and will try this out later today.

I actually had it since last week and overlooked the email.

[CPUWIZ]

I actually had it since last week and overlooked the email.

 

Same here.

[Reaperman]

any news on when this will actually be released?

 

I hope to god it's not one of those things where the beta is so open that more people are in it than aren't. Which is exactly what I'm seeing.

It tends to turn reasonable people into middle-schoolers, which is bad for anything that involves social interaction.

Edited November 25, 2008 by Reaperman

[moycon]

Ok I'm confused. So depending on how many people are trying out a beta, determines how they will act if the beta involves going online and talking to each other? Can't says I've ever heard that one before. I'll keep an ear open and let you know if CPUWIZ starts belching into his headset.

[pmpddytim]

OK its pretty cool but it needs more content. Hopefully when it hits release there will be more to do.

 

-Tim

[EricDeLee]

It seems okay. I had the invite sitting in my email for almost a week before I tried it out. I got home at 6am or so on black friday after grabbing an extra LCD for my room and gave it a try. I sat down and talked to a chick for a while. Kinda cool. A bunch of guys were on there saying nasty, vulgar stuff: All of which makes me feel better about banning our children from playing against anyone online (with any of these systems).

 

To me... it kind of seems like an elaborate Yahoo Chatroom. A/S/L please.... LOL

 

I only spent about an hour or so with it. I know there is more to do, so I'll check it all out again soon.

[Bilnick]

Was this released to all PS3 owners?

 

I was able to download and play around with it yesterday (I signed up for nothing).

 

My impressions......

 

- No way am I going to pay 50 cents for a pair of virtual pants or shoes. A dollar for a couch? No thanks. MAYBE if I got 50 shirts for 50 cents I might consider it, but to be honest dressing up avatars is not my thing. I saw alot of white T shirt and blue jeans toons walking around.

 

- The bowling alley should have 50 lanes. They were always occupied everytime I tried to join in the hour or so I messed around. Same with the billiards tables, all occupied. I did try a Breakout type arcade game though, it was ok, but I would rather see well known titles like Pac Man, Defender, etc.

 

-more to do would be nice.

 

As it is right now, it would be something I play around with every once in a while, rather than an "everytime I turn on the PS3".

[Gabriel]

Tried this today.

 

Not impressed. Especially after they took two damn years on the thing.

[Reaperman]

well now that it's a real open beta and the 'nya-nya I'm one of the thousands in the beta' crap is over, looks like there's nothing in there worth much

 

I wandered around, bought some slightly less ugly shoes, watched people dance, listened to 10 year olds curse loudly--that's about it. Got stuck a few times...

how long does it take to design a stupid shirt in the game?--because there seems to be a lack of clothing a skateboarder wouldn't wear. why do all the character models have to look/dress 18-25? Why can't I wear women's clothing? Let's make a game entirely based on avatars and social interaction and strictly limit most forms of expression--but make sure to leave the voice chat in, so people can be annoying.

 

oh and when I tried to join a local gamer club in there, the first thing they asked me was my race. Looking back at the group title, I strongly suspect that I'm not the correct one, but what a mean thing to ask somebody you don't know.

 

whole thing left a bad feeling on me. Mostly because I generally don't like people--and the larger the group the greater the odds that somebody will make sure that I'll have a lousy time. And they've given people so *very little* to actually do, the only entertainment left is to be annoying. Maybe if the arcade/pool table/bowling alley/mancala/whatever weren't occupied 100% of the time, things would be a bit more peaceful in there and I could get back to bitching about what an inefficient menu system it is.

Edited December 14, 2008 by Reaperman

[Giltygear]

well now that it's a real open beta and the 'nya-nya I'm one of the thousands in the beta' crap is over, looks like there's nothing in there worth much

 

I wandered around, bought some slightly less ugly shoes, watched people dance, listened to 10 year olds curse loudly--that's about it. Got stuck a few times...

how long does it take to design a stupid shirt in the game?--because there seems to be a lack of clothing a skateboarder wouldn't wear. why do all the character models have to look/dress 18-25? Why can't I wear women's clothing? Let's make a game entirely based on avatars and social interaction and strictly limit most forms of expression--but make sure to leave the voice chat in, so people can be annoying.

 

oh and when I tried to join a local gamer club in there, the first thing they asked me was my race. Looking back at the group title, I strongly suspect that I'm not the correct one, but what a mean thing to ask somebody you don't know.

 

whole thing left a bad feeling on me. Mostly because I generally don't like people--and the larger the group the greater the odds that somebody will make sure that I'll have a lousy time. And they've given people so *very little* to actually do, the only entertainment left is to be annoying. Maybe if the arcade/pool table/bowling alley/mancala/whatever weren't occupied 100% of the time, things would be a bit more peaceful in there and I could get back to bitching about what an inefficient menu system it is.

 

 

Well said. Avoid

[Atariboy]

It downloaded fine but I keep keeping a error message after approving a disclaimer when I try to log in? Is the server just overloaded right now?

[Shannon]

Wow. Totally forgot about Home. Maybe I can find a use for my PS3 afterall.

[moycon]

I have to agree, Sony strikes out again.

After all the hype and set backs for this interactive world on the worlds most "advanced system. The results are underwelming. This is a common occurance on the PS3. I don't get it. The graphics on the PS3 kick ass. The system is built solid and reliable. I have to say this though. It's not a fun system. I rarely play it and I rarely get excited when i hear a game is exclusive to it.

 

They made two huge mistakes this generation.

One was trying to push Blu-Ray of folks that just care mostly about gaming.

We all had to pay extra for something we didn't really want. Many chose not to. More power to them.

The second was not charging for online. Yeah it sounds stupid, why would I as a consumer want Sony to charge me for online? It's because they would have the damn resources to support gamers if this was the case. Intead of seeing the games 100% full....you'd be able to walkup and play. Imagine that. The Super advanced system we were all promised was mostly hype I'm afraid.

[Gabriel]

I have been saying this low key for a while now. Sony is sabotaging themselves. It very much seems the company WANTS and is doing everything in their power to make the PS3 fail.

 

It's not just me. Even the professional news media has picked up on it. I saw the same sentiment in a CNN article recently.

 

Why would they do that? I have not the faintest idea. It could be the natural schizophrenia of a vast corporatation. It definitely seems to be destruction fueled by something akin to interdepartmental rivalry. Maybe it's just total stupidity. We won't know until 10 or 20 years from now when the people currently involved feel free to talk about the matter.

 

They've pretty much systematically done everything possible to make both the PSP and PS3 fail, short of just pulling them off the market. It's just mind boggling.

[Atarifever]

I have been saying this low key for a while now. Sony is sabotaging themselves. It very much seems the company WANTS and is doing everything in their power to make the PS3 fail.

 

It's not just me. Even the professional news media has picked up on it. I saw the same sentiment in a CNN article recently.

 

Why would they do that? I have not the faintest idea. It could be the natural schizophrenia of a vast corporatation. It definitely seems to be destruction fueled by something akin to interdepartmental rivalry. Maybe it's just total stupidity. We won't know until 10 or 20 years from now when the people currently involved feel free to talk about the matter.

 

They've pretty much systematically done everything possible to make both the PSP and PS3 fail, short of just pulling them off the market. It's just mind boggling.

And I mean this without any sarcasm (seriously): The day Gabriel says this, the PS3 can officially be considered a failure. The PSP, somehow in spite of Sony, has managed to stay reasonably successful, though in a smaller niche than Sony had wanted. But they seem to have totally crapped the bed on every possible level for the PS3.

 

I have to believe it's the competing interests of the different divisions of the company, combined with Nintendo's new market focus and stiff competition from Microsoft's deep pockets. Sony (the company as a whole) seems to have thought the Playstation brand would sell no matter what, after years of it doing just that. Thus, I think they allowed themselves to believe it could push Blu-Ray no matter what, and that that would then make more money for the company. Blu-Ray did win (though mainstream acceptance still seems long off to me, given the recession), so perhaps that part of the company got it's wish. However, that took focus off of Sony's previous strong points in ease of development and price point. Without those advantages, the market didn't develop quick enough to lead to the strong third party support that had made them a successful game company.

 

Combine that with Nintendo's hugely successful move, and Microsoft's calm determination (backed with a ton of marketing money) and they're really in trouble. Now, in third place, where they haven't really been before, Sony is making mistake after mistake trying to dig out of unfamiliar territory. I don't think they know how to be third place, and all their moves seem to underline that point.

[Starscream]

So messing around more with Home and I can really say, I like bowling. That's about it. I am going to have to mostly agree with what Moycon and Gabriel have already said. I was huge supporter of the PS3 before it was released and after I got one, I don't support it much at all It's got the makings of something great, has some awesome ideas that could be great but just never comes through.

 

The total kicker is the Sony online experience is the most absolute piece of crap that totally destroys anything that could be redeeming about the system. Trying to play some LBP online with Moycon and pimpdady was a disaster. I mean, here's a game that screams community, is advertised for community, and ya can't fricking connect to the servers half the time, and if by some mistake you do, good luck getting in with friends. During the Home beta, 10% of the time I could connect, out of that 10%, 5% I would stay connected for more than 10 minutes before getting kicked.

 

Not a mistake in purchasing it, but it will never ever see the amount of play time or support from me that the 360 gets. The 360 can break down every other day for all I care, it's still much better in every aspect.

[HammR25]

Sony made PSN free to differentiate themselves from Microsoft and boy have they...........................

 

I made the mistake of trying Home tonight out of curiosity. I think I'd rather just use the Xbox Live party channel than walk around that stupid Home environment. I get Xbox Live Gold for $3.25 a month. Even if I just had a silver account the Xbox Live store is still 1000 times better.

 

Now my decisions are........do I buy the game for my 360 and then watch the console die or do I buy it for the PS3 and be stuck with the constant "updates" and what not?