There's No Place Like Home

Sony's Pete Edward tells us why the new Home service for PS3 won't just be about game networking, but social networking, like never before.

So, how far has the Home concept come along since the baldy-kept secret that was its announcement back at GDC? Well, the Beta trial is running internally, and, if our impressions of it and revelations made to us by Pete Edward from Sony's London Studio are anything to go by, there's a lot more to Home than initially thought - and when it launches, it will be just the beginning. Time for some housewarming...

[TheExecutive]

Sounds interesting. The mix between social networking and gaming could be huge. However, i have worries about how far sony will follow this online service. I wonder how often they will actually update it. Also, I have concerns about internet fraud, pornography, and other stuff. Is this service limited to those over 18?

Anyway, there are risks involved in every online service. I think the sky is the limits for Home. It really has the ability to do everything that one could want to do on a console, it will have everything xbox live has and its free,

Oh and for trolls... this is an optional service, everything will be available from the xmb. That means that you dont have to walk around if you dont want to.

[drtysouf21]

can not wait for this to be released or hopefully i'll get into the next beta invites.

[Strange]

But most of us are still homeless lol

Anyway, I am very looking forward to getting into Home.
I understand that a lot of it is hype, but I do see a lot of business potential in it.

[Kyur4ThePain]

I almost see more potential for companies than regular users.
Imagine if you will Nike sponsoring a one-on-one basketball tournament, with the winner getting an autographed ball (a real one, of course) or something like that. The marketing potential is huge. Of course us users will benefit from all that too.

[TheExecutive]

The companies are what will make this free, they will make it diverse, and they will make it interesting. This is where I see the potential coming from. If companies think they can make money in Home, it will be huge. If not, then it will be a good place to meet your buds and go into a game. Either way, I think we gamers win.

[macalatus]

It looks like its going to be awesome. How about this for a future South Park satire of PS3 Home: Jihadists, Green Peace, neo-Nazis, and other fringe groups have their own "Home compounds" complete with recruitment booth and terrorist training...with Cartman trying to stop them with his "Authorit-a!!"

[THE TRUTH]

This service coupled with Little Big Planet has the potential to really change peoples persepctive of what the PS3 is and will be. If both LBP and Home really take off then sky is the limit for Sony this generation.

[specialguest]

It would be a pretty cool if they added face mapping features in the future. This should not be a hard feature to add on.

[THE TRUTH]

I'm not worried about the negative aspects of Home because those actions reflect the individual and not Sony or the Home service. We can't stop these people from expression, they exisit in almost every facet of life. Learn to deal with it and game on. Don't let the actions of others stop you from enjoying the experience.

[TheExecutive]

oh agree with you 100% but there are those who are a little more innocent than I am... im more worried for them, but like you said, there isnt much you can do about it except report people. I also agree with your other comment. Home and its games like LBP have the possibility to really push the ps3 into the forerunner position.

Indeed, both could change gaming as we know it. Everyone knows that Home has the ability to be revolutionary, but whether it will be is the question.

To tell you the truth I will remain optimistic about Home because no matter what people say, sony in the end, has came through with flying colors. The ps1, and ps2 were great. Home and games like LBP, MGS4, Uncharted, and HS have the potential to make the ps3 great, but only time will tell.

[Robotz Rule]

I can't wait for Home and LBP!

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Oh well back to somthing that works.

[Xi]

After the first couple of weeks I don't see home able to keep people interested. In the end people have a system to play games, and they wont want to walk around a virtual world so they can get to play a game, they'd rather get straight to it.

[Maddens Raiders]

-- "I wonder how often they will actually update it. Also, I have concerns about internet fraud, pornography, and other stuff." --

They update the PS3 firmware quite frequently, and the service is sharp and crisp. As far as how often -- I'm sure it will be heavy at first and then touch ups, DLC, and security patches further down the road.

I have this strange feeling that HOME will be another "trend setter" for this company much like Gran Turismo was on the PSOne. Imitated, but not quite duplicated. I can see this being a big - no, a HUGE selling factor for the system, especially for all the single progressives out there. Oh, and porn rocks. =]

Cheers

[TheExecutive]

lol... yeah its not too bad!! Im talking about kiddies though. Thats why I asked if you needed to be 18 to use it. The more I think about it I think you are right, they will update it quite a bit because they are staking a lot on it.

[WilliamRLBaker]

It sounds interesting I just hope sony can deliver they dont have a good track record of delivering online functionality, And I hope to god they support this when it comes to banning and Terms of use, Cause damn I'd have to see some guys home or whatever it is in the game plastered with porno's...ect

[Maddens Raiders]

you said in 7.1 -- "Thats why I asked if you needed to be 18 to use it." --

That's a great question and is one area where they [sne] are going to have to be on their P's and Q's. If they are smart they will make it a credit card verification or a pay-as-you go IP based system. I don't know, but ultimately this comes down to parents being real and locking in parental controls and just being open with their kids. If kids want to watch porn their gonna do it anywhere @ anytime -- I think we all know that.

The problem for SNE would be some "kid" getting on and ending up down at Uncle Bandicoot's "HOME" for a little, Big planet with the Heavenly Sword if you know what I mean :P That would be terrible and potentially restrict the site akin to what we see with the Feds and My Space. But, if it keeps a child predator off the site, then rock and roll. Ultimately it's up to these parents to see what they're kids are doing. If you're going to invest in a laptop, you'd make sure the parental controls are set properly. If you're buying a PS3 / other console why treat it any differently? People need to pay more attention to their kids. I wonder if that wingnut Jack Thompson will picket Sony the week preceding launch? He'll have a field day, f*n wierdo.

a/w...Just don't come to my house without broads, drinks and purple pillz. Drink up.

Cheers

[GuCCi512]

I cant wait

[Saint Sony]

This will turn out to be the virtual kindergarten with males only. At least if we check all the videos so far. Maybe girls will be downloadable?