Xi Comes Home

A strange thing happened yesterday... I entered Home on the PS3 and spent maybe 20 minutes actually enjoying what I was doing. I know, hard to believe isn't it? I've never been Homes biggest fan yet I've poked my nose in when updates have become available just to see if it's improving. The Red Bull flying game wasn't bad but was short lived. Then I looked at the Far Cry 2 and more recently the Capcom Resident Evil spaces. Both were disappointing and left me feeling like I was wondering around a small part of the gaming world except with all the fun gaming bits removed. So what happened yesterday?

Xi that's what. Accessed from the main square by walking up to some graffiti on a wall you'll be teleported to a new area called the hub. Once there a voice directs you to do certain things like find three pieces of a torn photo. Once you've done this you're given further instructions to access and complete a puzzle on an online gateway upstairs, perform a certain action in a specific place or research some information on a website, all the while picking up clues to enter words into your holoPAD. Doing this adds either a portion of a picture or for some reason unknown to me, a butterfly to your collection. I'm assuming these activities will be released every few days or so as there are quite a few pieces to collect.

What also makes this new area more welcoming is that it actually has a bit of character sadly lacking elsewhere. A slightly deranged robot called Stapler who gives you additional tasks to perform and even the fact that some of the panels in the corner of the room aren't properly fixed and sit leaning against the wall. It may not be much but it gives the area some personality. For once not everything is perfect.

Whilst very simple it works and finally gives people a reason to come back. So Home is getting interesting... well I'll be damned.

If you really want to feel at home check out the GAMEOV3R Forum

Calling TIME Out On Playstation Home

I've been reading today that TIME magazine has included Playstation Home at number 10 in it's top 10 gadgets for 2008. Their write up reads as follows:

After a number of launch delays, Sony's virtual world, "Home" gives folks one more reason to buy its pricey PS3 video game console. Users create their own human-looking avatar and get a virtual apartment near the "town square," a base of operations from which to socialize, play games and purchase an endless variety of Sony goods and services (think games, movies, music and more.) A cross between Second Life and the Sims, the service shows the promise of a commercial Metaverse. Price: free

What do they mean after a number of launch delays? It's still in a closed beta as of today and that's ignoring the fact it isn't really a gadget at all is it? Picking it apart even more, the shops were empty until a few days ago and the items available now are far from endless. Thinking about 'games, movies and music' is about all you'll be doing as none of these things are for sale. So what fits into the 'more' category then? A few items of clothing and furniture.

I've not been in the beta for all that long and in that time I've loaded it up twice and already I wonder why I would go back. The only part that held my attention for any length of time was the gaming area where I enjoyed a game of bowling and pool, but they're hardly games you'll keep going back to. I've already experienced racist comments and watched as immature guys try to chat up girls with all the subtlety of a brick to the face. Not everyone will abuse it I'm sure and I'm fully aware this is a beta release but Sony had better be holding a lot back as I can already feel the anti climax approaching. The sun is out and people are at home yet to me it feels very cold, sterile and empty.

I know I sound pretty negative but I'm failing to see the innovation here so until Sony release the full thing and change it, my opinion is what it is.

So how much did Sony pay you for the top 10 advert TIME magazine? You haven't even 'played' it have you?

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