PlayStation Home footage is beta-than Second Life
by Kevin Kelly 
{ May 11th 2007 at 10:00PM }
If we weren't excited enough about PlayStation Home before, we certainly are now. It's a week of leaked beta footage, and although you might not think it was possible ... this is even cooler looking than Bungie's baby (please don't kill us).
The graphics in this look pretty sweet, and make us believe that something like Snow Crash might actually be possible one day. The in-game PSP interface is pretty swanky as well, and we were able to glean a few things off of the tiny text, which required much squinting and gave us some Dead Rising flashbacks.
Besides the Evac arcade game seen being played in this footage (which looks new ... and reminiscent of Choplifter), we also noticed the following pieces of information on the in-game PSP:
- In-game phone calls will be featured
- Open Beta: July 2007
- Launch: October 2007
- There is possibly a chess game coming, if we're reading some of the text right
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
tituspullo @ May 11th 2007 10:08PM
:(
Auron @ May 11th 2007 10:15PM
I...cant...wait...much...longer
THE WIDEGUY @ May 11th 2007 10:22PM
You just said Home was cooler then Halo 3, wow are PS3 owners that desperate for something to play that they think Home is that cool, oh wait I own a PS3, well at least I have a 360 to.
XxThE-HeReTiCxX @ May 11th 2007 11:00PM
Hahaha home is better than HALO 3!!???
I think my common sense just exploded with an overload of stupidity.
ps3 the only paperweight were you can wander around aimlessley and pretend to have fun doing it, yay.
James @ May 11th 2007 10:31PM
Halo 3 looks to be a good video game. Home is integrating video games and virtual worlds to create a whole new entity. It builds on things like Second life and Animal crossing, obviously, but there is more "new" in Home than Halo 3 which (let's be honest) is just another shooter (although a good one). Home has implications in terms of communication, user interfaces, content acquisition, blah blah blah. They really seem to be taking the "virtual life" aspect of things very seriously and making it very mainstream.
I think all Joystiq are saying is that Home is looking a bit more "exciting" in terms of the potential. Halo 3 will be slightly better-looking-better-playing Halo 2, which is good, but it doesn't have the potential implications of Home. See ease up, Xbots.
THE WIDEGUY @ May 11th 2007 10:34PM
@James - Ok fist and foremost remove Sony's dick from your mouth then try again, you really think Home is going to change anything. Have you played online on the PS3, its a dead community and the ones that are there are mostly children.
Home will be a cool little feature but it is far from revolutionary!
Evan @ May 11th 2007 10:37PM
Watching video trailers on a virtual screen within the real screen... that's the equivalent to watching a poorly camcorded movie. And using a virtual PSP... it's like that "Third Life" parody except this is not intended as a joke. Why not just show the interface directly on my tv? I just don't understand why we are expected to do these things with an avatar within a virtual environment instead of directly on screen with normal full-screen video and menus.
rom @ May 11th 2007 10:39PM
Did he walk everywhere on purpose? I hope the final version allows you to run.
RoroCo @ May 11th 2007 10:40PM
I can honestly say that the novelty of Home has already worn off for me and I have no interest in this "feature". I hate games, like Second Life, and I hate overly fluffy menu systems.
Home is pretty much everything I hate about gaming...
jason @ May 11th 2007 10:46PM
This plain and blaw. Atleast 360's interface /blades system you don't have to relocate and walk very slow. Sony just fails at the online community part and xbox 360 prevails at it.
cc123 @ May 11th 2007 10:50PM
It's almost like you can smell the fear coming off the x360 fanboys.
MaX PL and the 360 r4pe Tr4iN @ May 11th 2007 10:53PM
my xbox 360 fanboyism aside, that looks Fn' stupid.
i dont get why anyone would wanna walk a virtual person to play a virtual arcade game or a virtual bowling game. the game trailers as well, you should be able to walk up to it, hit start and watch it in full glory, not a stupid banner.
too much "free" sony server bandwidth i guess.
Hello @ May 11th 2007 10:55PM
>It's almost like you can smell the fear coming off the x360 fanboys.
Yes, this boring virtual world thing is the scariest thing I've ever seen. I'm much too scared to have fun playing the Halo 3 beta in 5 days.
jason @ May 11th 2007 11:02PM
@10
oh i am so scared not. Just cause sony steals the wii's/second life idea of making a character and play it in mini games and then xbox 360's achievments with trophies and ads doesn't mean it will be good, and from this video it looks stupid and annoying.On xbox 360 atleast the online is fun and easy to use and bowling on the wii is going to be more fun than bowling on the ps3.
3cubedminus3squared @ May 11th 2007 11:05PM
The funny thing is that they are basically making you do things twice. You already walked over to your PS3 to play/look at stats and what not. Now when you turn it on you have to walk all over again, in a virtual world. This isn't really much more than a 3D chat room IMO
Ian Von Porter @ May 11th 2007 11:05PM
The only way xBots will be happy with Home is if they turned it into a generic FPS like haylow-three.
(although, i would be interested in that as well)
Car2oon @ May 11th 2007 11:08PM
Hm, maybe its just me, but.... you guys are getting quite a bit defensive over something so "dull"...
Dakins @ May 11th 2007 11:08PM
It's only a matter of time before they introduce furry avatars.
Jeff @ May 11th 2007 11:23PM
Home needs the xbox kit for people to like it.
+gun
+crosshair
+respawn points
Rabid @ May 11th 2007 11:10PM
Its great that a little thing like this will be skewered by the masses.
I am excited about this, thats about all I will say
Sean D. @ May 11th 2007 11:10PM
imvu, the "world's greatest 3D chat" is about to get pwnd.
As for interacting with your online playmates, while this looks cool, it also looks frustratingly inefficient. I'd prefer a list of options. The virtual PSP in the virtual world is just stupid. They can't imagine up anything more advanced than that? Why do we need an analog of the real world when anything is possible? That's the main problem that I have with most animation and videogames these days...
Scumdog @ May 11th 2007 11:13PM
That would probably be fun if you are a total loser and are afraid to interact in the real world.
Otherwise it looks really annoying.
Carlto @ May 11th 2007 11:24PM
This looks cool to fool around with.
But who has time to live a virtual life?
I'm sucking at one life already.
I think it's a waste of time, they should save that money for making games. It will suck if you have to pay for everything with real money.
cc123 @ May 11th 2007 11:25PM
*sniff* *sniff*
fear and doritos
Night Elve @ May 11th 2007 11:29PM
@ THE WIDEGUY.
Ok first and foremost wash your mouth kid, James in any moment was insulting someone.
If you don't like the people that likes other consoles that the ones of your choice, then you have a problem there.
Aberu @ May 11th 2007 11:33PM
I'm gonna quote all the x-box fanboys in articles like this.
"/popcorn"
I mean seriously.
Martin @ May 11th 2007 11:37PM
Did you just compare PS3rd Life to Halo 3? I think you must be new to video games. Let's see how many consoles Home sells versus Halo 3... I'd be inclined to look at a poll as to how many people know about or are interested in it. To be completely honest, this is the first thing I've heard about it since it was announced (sorta). Anyways, point is, I think YOU (the blogger) are the only one who cares about this. And if not the only one, then certainly in the minority. The fun factor in Halo 3 clearly beats PS3rd life hands down. I mean, 4 mil Halo 3 pre-orders? That's more copies of Halo 3 sold than PS3s sold (last time I checked). And saying something is better than Second Life isn't much of a complement. Why don't you just find another line of work...
thatpspkid @ May 11th 2007 11:38PM
Don't all you 360 fanboys have something better to do like play the forza demo or something.
Is so stupid how they get so worked up over shit like this. just because you refuse to buy a PS3 and really hope that Home crashes and burn so that you can keep saying that live is better don't mean you have to come here and post so much bull crap.
example:
post 4 tries to state something reasonable.
post 5 tells him to take sony's dick out of his mouth when he is the one sticking his 360 up his ass so far that he can't even come up with a reasonable comment.
Stupid fanboys!!!
jason @ May 11th 2007 11:55PM
@28
don't you have a ps3 game to play oh wait there really aren't any worth playing.
ps3 fanboys start saying shit when 360 last update came out so why can't we talk shit about home. Also post 4 said this has better potential then halo 3 the last time i checked there will be 3-5 million people waiting at midnight to buy halo 3 and i don't think 3-5 million people are going to buy a ps3 cuz of home and i know its not a game.
poo @ May 12th 2007 12:00AM
It's so... small...
(That's what she said! SNAP!)
Really, thats like 500 sq. feet? So cramped!
Malleus @ May 12th 2007 12:01AM
Honestly, I think this blogger needs a reality check.
Why not say folding@home is more fun than Halo...cause that is about as ridiculous.
Home is a novelty, nothing more. Maybe one day Sony will figure out that what they really need to sell the PS3 are the good games that seem to get cancelled all the time while stuff like this is green lit.
Plenty of potential in the PS3, very little of which is actually in use anytime soon it would appear.
thatpspkid @ May 12th 2007 12:07AM
Nice comeback Jason...
Really that was quite something.
I hope you have fun PLAYING Halo 3. I know I will.
Only difference is that I will also get to do all those fun stuff in Home too.
Snukadaman @ May 12th 2007 12:08AM
who wants home too crash and burn..it will no matter how much hate xbox 360 fans give the thing...lets be serious here...walking around looking at videos peoples trophys..bowling..chess...martin makes a great point...home wont sell systems...games like ff and metal gear will...since this is a game console we are talking about right....
jason @ May 12th 2007 12:09AM
pspkid
what fun stuff would that be i would like to know
jason @ May 12th 2007 12:09AM
pspkid
what fun stuff would that be i would like to know
Jon @ May 12th 2007 12:15AM
As someone who is thinking of buying a ps3 (only because you can get one for cheap on ebay) can you please explain to me what looks fun about this? i don't want to have to walk around to play games. This looks terrible. Please tell me its optional.
soccerdrew17 @ May 12th 2007 12:16AM
i would say that this is the single most ambitious project for the video game industry bar none. It does so much stuff that connects people and makes a real community.
tell me how much will halo 3 innovate? almost none. How much is home innovating? a lot. it starts its foundation from second life and moves in a completely different direction from there.
There are social places where you can talk with a bunch of friends and play a simple game, if you dont want much challenge. In ms you can chat and play nothing, or compete. What if someone doesnt want to really compete, just talk and they have friends that they havent even met in person?
"oh it is just walking around and looking at stuff" Um what is live? looking at stuff and downloading it? Do people not like to look at stuff, show friends cool stuff? I dont care how much a fanboy you are on either side, this is a great concept. it takes community to another level.
jason @ May 12th 2007 12:17AM
36
yes its optional
oldschoolgamer @ May 12th 2007 12:20AM
I think that this is too much work. Why would I want to go to all this trouble just to walk around and interact with stuff in a game that I can do with real people in a real world. Games are kinda like movies. People like them because for a short amount of time you are able to escape reality. (Grindhouse and World of Warcraft being exceptions)
jordan @ May 12th 2007 12:24AM
@soccerdrew17, "i would say that this is the single most ambitious project for the video game industry bar none. It does so much stuff that connects people and makes a real community" WOW, simply WOW, please, that's the biggest overstatement i've ever seen, it's a freakin' 3D advertisement for SONY, that's it! add a couple games you can play on your cell phone in there, and where's the functionality in this??? besides randomly walking up to people and a place for myspace pervs to try and fulfill their pedophile fantasies in a 3D environment, please.....
Sesur @ May 12th 2007 12:47AM
@soccerdrew17
So, innovation is walking, talking and looking. Home focuses almost entirely on that with very little gameplay... where as Live people interact through GAMING. All other aspects are minimal, but very functional. Crazy idea I know; gaming on a console.
PS
Fuck innovation, Halo will be fun and intense. Home looks about as exciting as a museum.
Gamble20 @ May 12th 2007 12:54AM
HOME and Halo 3 shouldnt have been compared but Halo really istn that great. fun but not TOTALLY AWESOME like everyone says it is...
its like "the cool thing" to like Halo or something
Sidepocket @ May 12th 2007 12:55AM
You know there is a reason why people still use the old text based internet more than SecondLife...its because its faster and simpler than virtually walking everywhere to get the things you want.
Blaster Master @ May 12th 2007 1:27AM
That SUXASSIX.
Iridium @ May 12th 2007 1:28AM
Ok so you go in a game and click "refresh server list" you get a long list of current games, you click on a game and you get another list of names of people playing the game. Maybe that person has a headset that they are using, you click on their name and bring up chat. Maybe you talk some smack before you go in the game, being the immature garbage that passes for in game communication in most online matches. In a little bit you see a countdown timer, Game starts in 5,4,3,2,1 then loading screen. You play the match then go back to the text list. You never see the people you are playing with.
That’s online gaming as it is right now. It’s old a boring, really its not even fun anymore. 10 years ago it was new and I had a blast with Quake 3 and Counter Strike. Since then online gaming has barely evolved. The only real innovation was creating a virtual world. Why is World of Warcraft so popular? Is it because you can wander aimlessly and click on a creature a few times to kill it, no. Its popular because it allows like minded individuals to socially interact without being in close proximity. Only it doesn't really hold any interest for people that don't care about fantasy based MMO's.
Really what’s so great about multiplayer Halo. It holds some sort of power over hyperactive, immature, morons that think getting a headshot and a top spot on the leaderboard is their greatest accomplishment in life. SO what if Halo 3 has 4 million preorders, its half the installed base of the 360. The game will sell 10 million copies max and won't move a lot of systems. The majority of people that will buy Halo 3 already have a 360. There's nothing new and nothing revolutionary. Halo multiplayer can't hold a candle to the playability and depth of PC games from 5-10 years ago. Its been done better before and just a rehash of the same. Is it fun, yes. Should be the end all existence of your life like so many fanboys base it, hell no.
Home is an attempt to bring a social interaction to the online experience beyond a server list and a name like (ECW)UberPwnge85_hrdcoreBBQ. It may fail but at least it is an attempt to do something different, and its free. Maybe it goes over the head of the adolescent brainless bot living in a basement, but thats a good thing. You'll know that you won't run into as many of them. They'll be too busy yelling "Boom Headshot, sucker" through XBOX Live.
sheppy @ May 12th 2007 1:28AM
"ps3 fanboys start saying shit when 360 last update came out so why can't we talk shit about home."
*looks around*
*doesn't see the PS3 fanboys that ruined the update thread*
*is confused*
Look, jason, I understand you're young and inexperienced in the world. Likewise, it can be painful when you spent two full summers mowing lawns to afford your 360 and "peeps gotta be dissing on it, yo" but just think. Five more years and you'll be old enough for your first job and suddenly majority of this stuff will seem small and petty.
Some PS3 fanboys shat on the 360 update thread... and? Somehow it's justified to prove yourself everybit the absolutely brainless loser those people were? This is a bright idea? And, incidently, tone it down, a little maybe?
Tell you what, here is what the article and writer meant. I know it will be hard to follow since I'll use big words and you're just now being introduced to fractions in school, but it's fairly easy if you're willing to learn.
The Halo 3 beta leaks have primarily consisted of.. well, dick all worth of new information aside from the guns. Great, grand, wonderful. All we know of Halo 3 via the beta leaks is what some of the weapons are, how the shield functions, and basically a slew of new, yet highly limited information. This is not exactly groundbreaking stuff. This is roughly the equivelant of when Tekken 6 unveiled their two new characters.
Home? It's a mystery, wrapped inside a puzzle, wrapped inside an enigma. It's one beguiling burrito (The Tick: Looney Bin issue 2), chum. We've heard rumors on how it was supposed to function and how everything is handled. But this? This is information those of us who couldn't get in the Home Beta are salavating for and people inside are forbidden to talk about due to NDAs. Any news on how it works is definately more intriguing to lots of people than "this new Lolzer PWNS you, nOOb."
After all, this is a community based system that has been largely under wraps and Halo is... well, a shooter. We've seen how those work since Catacombs 3D. I mean, I'm psyched for the Halo 3 Beta, no doubt. But I know what I'll be doing there. I'll be running around a map, grabbing weapons, and likely dying often. What will I be doing in Home?
Well, according to Sony, I'll be able to organize my gaming clan and have a virtual space to meet up. We'll be able to create our own clubhouse, decorate it with clan banners and shit, and organize tournaments between rival clans. I'll be able to wander into social areas and meet other likeminded gamers. I'll be able to attend virtual concerts, see the latest trailers to upcoming movies, and hell, even play a few rounds of Pool (the kind of game I'll play if it's free but I won't pay for it). In essence, it's a social networking thing, nothing more, nothing less. And you can claim Live is the bestest community ever and for competitive gaming, you're right. But not EVERYONE wants their sole purpose in life to be within the top 100 players in the world. I love to explore virtual spaces.
Plus, you're forgetting one last and final thing. Home isn't enforced. While you can access all XMB functions from inside Home, you still have to launch it from the XMB. You can play your PS3 all you want without ever having to log into Home. It's a nifty extra but it's still just an extra.
E8 Foe @ May 12th 2007 1:29AM
Huge 360 fan here, honestly. Love Live, all that. Still, this looks really cool! I mean, aren't we all video game fans, not mega-conglomo-corp fans? Is Sony really that much more evil than Microsoft or Nintendo, or vice-vice-versa? Seriously, cheer for the industry, and the brilliant minds that make possible our future gaming/virtual world experiences. This looks like a nice step forward, AS DOES XBOX Live, and Wii's Miis and controller. Some of you act like gaming is so entrenched in the mainstream that we can afford to have pissy arguments like Home > Live or whatever. Me? I want fun games and forward progress. Let's not look like a segmented population any more than we already do.
Platinum_Skeet @ May 12th 2007 1:54AM
#45
What has Halo did the PC gaming and no other platform can get right. Having a good functioning matchmaking system. When a PC game gets one worth talking about get at me until then STFU...
Dan peters @ May 12th 2007 2:10AM
Give me a break, it's second life with better graphics, crippled customability, and extremely limited population. Oooh, exciting. I own a PS3 and I could care less.
jason @ May 12th 2007 2:30AM
SHEPPY
WTF you think i am 11 years old and i am old enough to get a job and have been old enough to get a job for awhile and have had a job. If you don't know this already there aren't leaks anymore of Halo 3 beta they actually let the press release videos of the beta maps today and it looks great. Also my point was home you can't compare to Halo 3 cuz its a game and its a system seller with over 4 million preordered already just at gamestop alone.
My thing with me not liking home is that you have to relocate, load it up, have a virtual psp to navigate stuff, its slow looking, and just seems alot harder to get people together in a clan match. The virtual room sounds really geeky, really how much time are you going to spend in there and what will you do and you probably have to buy stuff for it. With the Xbox 360 you can watch movie trailers, rent movies, buy tv episodes, watch game trailers, make a clan match by just sending a game invite, people look at your achievments by gamerscore and not have to go in a virtual room, and you can do this all without loading a home up or relocating or having to load up the playstation store.
I know its an extra cuz i obviously posted that above and this is sony's answer to xbox live and it just doesn't seem better. Also xbox live is the best online service every gaming website has believes this too.
That thing you said about playing pool i can do that in xbox live arcade. Xbox live is community based you can have a private chat, video chat, instant message, send voice messages(ps3 i think you have to go to the xmb thing to listen to ur messages). Wait are you ready for this one you can do most of this with the xbox 360 guide button during a game, movie, trailer, demo, and more except video chat which you have to go back in the blade system which is very quick and alot easier to use then xmb or home.
I feel sorry for you typing all that stuff for me being yound and all.