Kaz Hirai isn't rushing Home

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 24th 2008 at 12:15PM }

Kaz Hirai, Sony Computer Entertainment's "Big Boss," tells MCV that the company is taking its sweet time to make Home. Hirai explains that if Home is good, it won't matter when it launches, "so long as it's in a reasonable time frame." By our estimates, "reasonable time frame" left a while ago on a trip around the world and, if we think in a circular fashion, should bang back around sometime soon.

Hirai goes on to say that if the competitors decide to follow what the company is doing with Home, it would be their prerogative -- we're sure Linden Labs is thinking the same thing about Home. Anyway, Hirai is "confident" that the Home open beat is something that'll "resonate" with consumers.

Tags: beta, home, home-beta, kaz, kaz-hirai, sony

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

ChuckJ @ Jul 24th 2008 12:20PM

Who cares about Home and why? And yes that is a very serious question that Id like answered?

Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Jul 24th 2008 12:30PM

Duh. It's a virtual courtyard where people stand around and look at advertisements, just look at the picture.

Maybe since the PS3 will have a 10 year life cycle this means they'll have it in year 5 or 6? Ziiiiiiiing! Sorry, couldn't resist the cheap potshot.

juju187 @ Jul 24th 2008 1:13PM

ppl are waiting for there free virtual apartment so they can see there trophys to bad that none of these ideas are actually coming together...

BananaBoat @ Jul 24th 2008 1:14PM

Home will come out after the announcement of the PS4, and the second generation version of home (scheduled to release alongside the PS5)

Korova of the highlands @ Jul 24th 2008 1:38PM

Because otherwise all those PS3 owners would be homeless. Sony is just trying to shelter, feed and clothes its peoples.

Kodros @ Jul 24th 2008 2:08PM

Here's why I care about and like the idea of Home. You log in, find a group of players standing around. It seems that they are looking for more people to play Warhawk. So you join them. You start up a game of Warhawk directly from Home which in turn creates a server just for you and the people in your party.

You play a few rounds, have some fun. But now a few of the people in the party don't feel like playing Warhawk anymore, so you all exit back to Home. You then chat about what game we should play next. They decide on Motorstorm. So, they start the game right from Home which will drop you in your own Motorstorm server that just has the people in your party.

BananaBoat @ Jul 24th 2008 2:29PM

I don't see how that's different than loading warhawk, refreshing the server list, and joining the fullest room with the lowest ping. After that's over, you load Motorstorm, and play that. It's not as if all the people you meet in Home are magically going to own every single PS3 game that you do, and be willing to switch between games whenever you feel like it.

In that respect, home is a very poor substitute for making real, living friends that own PS3's, that will play games with you. If I'm going to play with strangers, I could care less if I meet those strangers in avatar form, or in-game.

Boostjunkie @ Jul 24th 2008 2:35PM

Yea, what he is describing is called Xbox Live, except you don't have to use a stupid Avatar, well you will soon I guess.

Autopsy15 @ Jul 24th 2008 3:23PM

Because it will change your whole perception on reality.

Jfk Aok @ Jul 24th 2008 3:25PM

Because I'm cold....and there's wolves after me. (distant howl)

Kodros @ Jul 24th 2008 3:52PM

"It's not as if all the people you meet in Home are magically going to own every single PS3 game that you do"

You're absolutely right. But it's a hell of a lot easier to meet people that you like and have the same taste in games using Home then the current method of making friends online.

required @ Jul 24th 2008 4:08PM

Your question is silly, do you ask the same of Menu?

Think of Home like a game, it's as valid as a home in GTA. It's something to play with and something to play in.

Think Menu to the Nth degree.

Dirty @ Jul 24th 2008 12:23PM

I think they just let the cat out of the bag too soon. This should have been kept behind closed doors for much longer.

Its probably because they didn't have much else to talk about for the system back then.

j.howlett @ Jul 24th 2008 12:40PM

kotaku let the cat out the bag too soon, if i remember correctly

Jfk Aok @ Jul 24th 2008 3:27PM

So what you're saying is that Sony (like Tom Cruise) shouldn't come out of the closet?

horngreen @ Jul 24th 2008 12:23PM

Since their games are taking as long as home or longer I guess they want more things for people to care about since not enough care about Blu Ray. Actually releasing some more games would help.

rom @ Jul 24th 2008 12:24PM

My guess is hes thinking --"Why bother releasing it when you can milk it at another E3 or two?"

Ugh...I'm really starting to hate this waiting game.

Prince King @ Jul 24th 2008 12:52PM

i hate playing it too but i cant help myself. the worst part is THERE ARE NO TROPHIES!!! i just finished level 37. what about you?

John Z @ Jul 24th 2008 12:25PM

Good luck with that.

I mean it. Home is an interesting concept, even though I riff on it once in a while, and I'm interested to see how it turns out. I certainly am not silly enough to declare it a reason to have a PS3, but neither am I willing to say its delay is a reason NOT to have it. And neither do I expect to sink hours upon hours into it. It's just, well, there. (Well, not yet. I could make the inevitable "are we there yet?" gag but I don't want to piss off any more people than I already am.)

Jfk Aok @ Jul 24th 2008 3:35PM

If you've ever played an MMO that is attractive to kids, you'll realize why Home may end up a good reason not to own a ps3.
You can say the same for people that play xbox live. If someone said to me "Hey, i want a xbox 360 but i don't want to deal with the idiots online." I would partially agree (only partially because you can ignore people that aren't friends...but that sucks and shouldn't be necessary.)
One day people are going to say "I want a PS3 but god, i don't want to deal with the idiots on Home," and I'll nod my head and agree.

Kodros @ Jul 24th 2008 6:11PM

"you'll realize why Home may end up a good reason not to own a ps3. "

Yeah, that makes sense...not buy a console because of its optional software that won't affect your gaming experience if you choose not to use it. I guess Folding@Home is another good reason to not own a PS3 also right?

Killjebus @ Jul 24th 2008 12:31PM

Not rushing Home? Wow...what a statement of the BLATANTLY obvious Ken.

I still am excited for Home and the fall open beta. When they revealed Home, they thought they knew what they were doing...having no idea how MASSIVE a project this really is. I still do believe that Home will be a Huge success and that every console next generation will have a ripoff of Home.

Community is the future of online gaming.

Now Sony....git er dun.

Killjebus @ Jul 24th 2008 12:34PM

err, Kaz

Duke @ Jul 24th 2008 1:01PM

Personally, I don't think that it will have that big of an impact on consoles as a whole. From what I have seen, it will be a diversion for some people, but not likely something that they will spend a lot of time using. That being said, they did say they wanted to place some nice features in it (like the trophies and war rooms), which should add some reason for people to give it a go.

Snowblind @ Jul 24th 2008 1:28PM

I personally don't see this as being all that big. Community is one thing, but as the above poster said, this feels like more of a diversion. Xbox Live allows you to easily chat with other members, either text or voice based, and you can even use Windows Live Messenger (MSN). And you can do all that WHILE playing games. In my opinion, that's more than enough, I don't really see the need to do that in a 3D environment, it seems like it will be there as a distraction, rather than providing any sort of useful features. I'd rather be able to do things like chat, and check my email quickly, rather than going through this whole virtual environment.

I'll no doubt use it a couple of times.. but I imagine the novelty will wear off very quick. This is basically just Second Life, or Habbo Hotel. I wouldn't call it anything new, or revolutionary, and I very much doubt we'll see Microsoft copying it anytime soon. Their current system works fine, and with the avatars it makes it at least a little more personal, instead of just talking to a generic picture. And I certainly don't see Nintendo going for something like this.

Duke @ Jul 24th 2008 2:20PM

My names Duke.

Tim The Enchanter @ Jul 25th 2008 9:52AM

I have no problem with people innovating and trying to find new ways to bring a gaming community together. I just haven't seen anything about Home that will help much in that regard. It's neat, it's a novel concept, but only time and effort will tell if it has any wings.

Hey Duke, just wonderin', didn't you used to be NATO_Duke? Why the change?

Duke @ Jul 25th 2008 9:58AM

I got sick of people calling me NATO. Seems the idea of a tag was not something everyone understood.

konajinx @ Jul 26th 2008 8:12PM

I seriously wish I could have voted you all the way down for continuing touse that stupid Larry the Cable Guy catchphrase that was never funny to begin with.

Seishino @ Jul 24th 2008 12:36PM

Home could have been system-selling two years ago. Last year it would have been highly relevant. Beta this year? Interesting.

Basically, Home was Sony's answer to integrated and polished Xbox live. It kind of looks like Microsoft's answer to Home might ship before Home does.

deaftly @ Jul 24th 2008 1:25PM

Yeah Im def more excited to play around with the new xbox dash then this third life shit.

naxe @ Jul 24th 2008 3:33PM

@deaftly
who are you kidding; you more excited about bashing sony.

With HOME sony is trying to bring the sims element into the PS3.

also for those that dont know... MS Charges you for live; SONY DOES NoT. How can you expect something that is basically free to have the same standards as something that cost your parents 50 bones?!? in 4 years thats $200 on top of your parents ISP.

dwhite @ Jul 24th 2008 4:01PM

@ naxe

I doubt any of this will be very relevant in four years and that was a bit of a stretch with the $200 over 4 years example. (7.3 cents a day) If you don't want to pay for XBL or prefer Home, that's totally cool. Just keep in mind that the odds are that it will be more of an interactive commercial and product placement vehicle than anything else. I seriously doubt Sony is investing all the time and assets for "free."

Duke @ Jul 24th 2008 5:03PM

"also for those that dont know... MS Charges you for live; SONY DOES NoT. How can you expect something that is basically free to have the same standards as something that cost your parents 50 bones?!? in 4 years thats $200 on top of your parents ISP."

You know, its cute how you need to say parents mutiple times to belittle people. Yes, we are all little children. Thanks for babysitting us.

Btw, you posted this in a previous thread and I never got a chance to respond:

"hey Nato_Duke you know as well as i do that ms is all about money and bullying smaller companies. Shit thats how they were concieved; Throwing bags of money to devs. for exclusive this and DLC that. ive yet to see what makes your GTAIV so much better than mine. but thats old news. I dont have a problem with FF screwing over its loyal fans but i do have a problem with people pointing the finger at sony. how is this sony's fault? how did they drop the ball? Its called bribery.

Like it's been said before MONEY TALKS and BS WALKS. i dont see how this one game can be the death of sony but if it makes you feel better to say it then go ahead. Most of you are full of &hit anyway, "now i have no reason to buy a ps3" like MGS4 doesnt have more appeal than FF. GET the ^uck out of here. RPG's are a japanese thing. FFXIII isnt a FPS you guys do know that right? "

Here is my response: You're a moron.

I never said one version of GTA was better than another. Lie much?

I also never said I didn't have a reason to buy a PS3 now, I already have one you tool! Using quotes for something I didn't say - that takes being a real prick! Also, what is with you talking about fault with Sony? Who cares if it is or isn't their fault, it husts them to lose an exclusive - no matter what one lame fanboy like you says. Money lost hurts companies.

As always, you talk down to us like you have a damn clue who the hell we are. Shove it. I know wtf FF is, and have played them for a long time now, so save the holier than thou shit for someone else. Crawl back into your hole and continue typing M$ for giggles and saying the 360 is only for FPS like the twit you are.

343 Guilty Fart @ Jul 24th 2008 12:36PM

But does Kaz have russian fingers?? Hmmmm?

Jake11 @ Jul 24th 2008 12:36PM

Sony should really concentrate on bringing the PSN up to live standards rather than working on Home, it seems like something that most people will barely use, yet they're putting alot of time into it.

Limezor @ Jul 24th 2008 12:37PM

Oh yay a 3D version of Habbo Hotel with less people and more advertisements.

Zootittles @ Jul 24th 2008 12:52PM

Pool's closed.

riggs @ Jul 24th 2008 1:47PM

lulz

Whoppy @ Jul 24th 2008 12:37PM

I'm sure like the majority of users I will download it and have a gander. If it's good and useful then I will use it, if not then I will just leave it be and assume it will become useful at some point.

It's free, there's no shortage of HDD space and so it's no skin off my nose if it sinks or swims.

Kevin Balko @ Jul 24th 2008 12:45PM

maybe it will make it into ps4...lol doesn't home look exactly like second life

Joe @ Jul 24th 2008 12:51PM

I am so glad that Sony is taking there time with Home. Because let me say I am in the Beta and well there is nothing to do in it. All it feels like is a hub with no thing to do you have the theater which no one uses because there are big tvs out side that show the same trailers. I still have not felt a reason to make my Home. I have nothing in it. Because I just do not feel like I need to do it.

So to me this is good news. Because if Sony was to launch it today so many people would be like why waste on Home at all. But I will say there are some really cool things Sony is working on for Home but I can't say because of an NDA. But I will say this if Sony can add them in without making it feel rushed thoughs features will be great.

Drew @ Jul 24th 2008 12:52PM

Home is starting to sound like the next Duke Nukem Forever.

nick @ Jul 24th 2008 1:02PM

This is why you don't pre-announce something that isn't anywhere near ready. You create an unrealistic expectation that it's coming soon, and when it doesn't arrive you become vaporware fodder.

BIGFAT @ Jul 24th 2008 5:46PM

You say that, but then Sony takes a Nintendo approach and don't announce nothing until its damn near done, and you get a E3 like Nintendo where fans have no gameS to look forward to.

I like Microsofts approach the best: announce game, show demo in following months

eugene @ Jul 24th 2008 1:04PM

What's the fascination with 2nd life... errr.. Home, anyways?

Jonah Falcon @ Jul 24th 2008 1:09PM

An ex-Sony creative designer wrote an article for us on this:

http://www.gamestooge.com/2008/07/15/microsoft-on-the-move-while-sony-continues-to-flounder/

From the article:

"Having worked at Sony as a Creative Designer two years ago, it doesn’t surprise me that they have still yet to release Home. While there, I was working on their Station Launcher application which was supposed to be released in late 2006. However, the Launcher app is still only in Beta to this day. The problem for Sony is that they simply aren’t a very good software company and in today’s world of software driven products, they are getting their clocks cleaned by Microsoft."