Home brings in $1m in virtual goods, user-generated content the 'goal'

by Christopher Grant { Jan 9th 2009 at 12:03PM }

Not content with spending your real Earth bucks on a virtual tankini for your Quincy? Considering Sony has reportedly sold "one million dollars worth of virtual goods" through the still-in-beta PlayStation Home service, that would seemingly put you in the (more frugal, smarter) minority, but perhaps you could take out some virtual needle and thread and make your own, according to Develop Magazine.

Revealed in a two-part interview with Home's lead programmer, Mitch Goodwin, news of user-generated content – while far from a revelation – sends the fledgling service even further into Second Life territory. But what about keeping Home a safe place for the family to wait in a line to virtually bowl? Goodwin concedes, "Obviously we're not naive, and we know that with an online service you have to have strict moderation – we don't want the user to be exposed to rubbish." Of course, by "rubbish" he means "flying penises." Also, speaking of being "not naive" – we wouldn't expect user-generated content to be free ... to purchase, or to make.

Source – User-generated content is the 'ultimate goal', says Home team
Source – PS3 and PSP Userbase Climbs Over 61m

Tags: Home, UGC

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

baef @ Jan 9th 2009 12:07PM

People actually spent money in home? I don't believe it.

Tiptup300 @ Jan 9th 2009 1:24PM

I saw one guy in the santa suit while "playing" the "game" for a few hours. I'm sorry sony, I believe 1m might be an "inexact" number.

Wonderflex @ Jan 9th 2009 2:42PM

You have to remember that just because YOU only saw one person that time you were playing doesn't mean that there isn't other people who have bought things.

Not all of the clothing stands out. You wouldn't see anything stored in a person's closet - nor any furniture they purchased. And most of all, you prolly haven't played on any of the Asian versions. In the Chinese verion there are loads of people with purchased items, and not as many, but quite a few, in the Japanese version.

In all of this you seem to forget that people really will lay down money for digital items. Look at Second Life and it's millions of dollars on sales of land. It's crazy - but it's real.

KarlW @ Jan 9th 2009 5:11PM

Neither do I. That said, I'm surprised EA didn't make something like this as a console version of The Sims. Doing up the houses was always the best bit of the sims (at least for me. Maybe I'm just effeminate?).

People are bound to buy junk on there, just like they bought iFart mobile on the iPhone, and like people buy paperclips and cat vomit on eBay. I think this will make Sony a lot of money - so much so that EA's going to be gutted they didn't think of this as a Sims game earlier.

Esat Dedezade @ Jan 9th 2009 12:07PM

I truly weep for the future of our civilization.

*A single tear rolls down my cheek, ebbing away, carving a graceful path as it falls through the air, taking away with it hope as it ploughs into a pit of despair and idiocy..."

Maverick Saturn @ Jan 9th 2009 1:50PM

What now? You're a bit late, I was doing that back when people were paying thier life away to play WoW, lmao, in comparison, Home is nothing.

Maverick Saturn @ Jan 9th 2009 2:42PM

I've always wondered how the credit crunch was effecting WoW players, based on the increased numbers of players, I'm assuming people would rather sell thier home and car then part with thier PCs and WoW :D

JoeTheBlow @ Jan 9th 2009 6:35PM

Yet every day, hundreds of millions of people spent far more on smokes, booze, and McDonalds shit.
Yeah, you have no problem with people killing themselves with expertly marketed poisons.....
...but a few people like to buy a DLC costume. OH FUCK, WE MUST STOP THEM SOMEHOW, MY LIFE SUCKS, SONY SUCKS, WAAAAAAHHH!

Zertoss @ Jan 9th 2009 12:10PM

http://www.castle-vidcons.com/comics/2009/01/cv0076.jpg

Aaron @ Jan 10th 2009 10:35PM

deaftly @ Jan 9th 2009 12:11PM

Ugh.

el serpiente @ Jan 9th 2009 3:34PM

You just rub one out?

deaftly @ Jan 10th 2009 3:15PM

nah, when i do it goes like this

OHHHHHH YEEEAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

PSN: Erdie @ Jan 9th 2009 12:11PM

I tested out Home and was surprised at how many people are wearing premium stuff. I can't see the value in that. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

JoeTheBlow @ Jan 9th 2009 6:38PM

What, you mean kind of like how people spend shitloads of cash to buy a t-shirt that looks different to what everyone else wears in the real world?

Sony struck gold by making the avatars so realistic, you can't have your digital self walking around in shitty hobo combat pants for long.

PSN: Erdie @ Jan 9th 2009 9:35PM

Hey! Those are high quality hobo combat pants! And my blue Home shirt? Only the finest Egyptian e-cotton.

RoboChamp @ Jan 9th 2009 12:12PM

What.

Wiinterfang @ Jan 9th 2009 7:17PM

Over 9000! that's why.

Courtney @ Jan 9th 2009 12:13PM

Oh dear god, now Sony is going to think Home was a good idea if it can generate a million bucks during beta.

Zertoss @ Jan 9th 2009 12:16PM

And they're buying these things to make their female avatars more attractive and their man-atee Quinceys even more grotesque.

And we know who we have to blame for this.

PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 9th 2009 12:23PM

if its ALREADY done a Million........

I'd be willing to say that before its out of Beta it will do over $10 million.......and thats just if the beta goes for another year........

and I got those numbers due to it being out for less than a month and doing a million.......

Dirty @ Jan 9th 2009 1:21PM

Zertoss is right, first EGM now this. Joystiq is the harbinger of the gaming apocalypse. I was blaming the wii all this time... I was so wrong.

Courtney @ Jan 9th 2009 1:26PM

So is it time to give up "Fire Justin McElroy" and switch over to "Fire Griffin McElroy"? You know, for the good of the industry.

Tez @ Jan 9th 2009 3:52PM

If it's actually making them money and there are people willing to pay for it, how is it not a good idea for Sony?

uh-oh polio @ Jan 9th 2009 12:20PM

sooo reading everyones comment

$1,000,000 = Bad?

Archon @ Jan 9th 2009 12:24PM

Yeah. I don't get that...
Not making money = bad.
Making money = bad.
Duh...

Esat Dedezade @ Jan 9th 2009 12:24PM

Not for Sony it's not. Its the fact that people are actually, willingly parting with legal tender in exchange for pixels with which to adorn their avatar (calso composed of pixels).

This mean they will continue to charge and...

Well I'm so surprised that people actuall parted with money for it in th efirst place is the point that I'm trying to make...

PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 9th 2009 12:28PM

it does if its not M$, and it is made buying thing you cant use in real life........you know like any game in general.......as after its all said and done.....all you did is relieve a little stress, tension, had some fun, etc........you can get all that from fuckin.....and it wont cost you a dime......

baby sea tuna @ Jan 9th 2009 12:34PM

I would like to petition the owners of this site to enact a blanket ban on the use of the terms "M dollar-sign" and "Dollar-sign ONY"

I know you guys moderate these threads! Little help here?
EDITED: Done. You're absolutely right.

Shmil @ Jan 9th 2009 1:02PM

You keep using ........ . I do no think it means what you think it means.

J @ Jan 9th 2009 1:36PM

Hey aggie, I used to be addicted to using "..." too

I understand that you're trying to apply a certain tone to your text, but really, periods are just as effective. I also understand that you don't want your text to look cluttered, but that's also what paragraphs are for.

Here's an easier rule of thumb, when you get to the part where you can easily substitute a "..." with a comma or a period, then use the comma or period instead.

To some, always seeing "..." a lot is like reading txtspk or a lot of f-bombs. It takes attention away from the point you're trying to make.

The real use of "..." is when you're intentionally ommitting words. Since you're not quoting anything, it's a little weird to use it on yourself. It's like you're having memory lapses.

sk8monroe81 @ Jan 9th 2009 1:43PM

well considering sony spent much more than $ 1 million making and pioneering HOME they havent yet made any money so to speak.

anybody have a guess as to how much money HOME has cost sony over the past 4 years?
10 million? 100 million?

uh-oh polio @ Jan 9th 2009 1:49PM

welcome to the world of dlc people. If people wanna buy stuff, let them. Noones forcing you to do anything or even asking your opinion.

Maverick Saturn @ Jan 9th 2009 1:54PM

How is this any different from the geeks who run out to buy games first day or consoles first day and get slapped with extreme prices they are willing to pay, lol

Games bring out the stupidity in people :D I am the same, so I'm not excluded, I'd gladly put my cash on the table for a few more pixalated moments of GTA4 though DLC :D

PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 9th 2009 2:05PM

@J: like I said b4....its the internet....I dont care......

xFenixKnightx (In Memory of Ben Carmin RIP) @ Jan 9th 2009 2:26PM

Aggie...+1

I agree...100...%. :P

Seriously though, it is teh internetz and people need to lighten up in here sometimes.

J @ Jan 9th 2009 2:42PM

That fines, aggie.

I'm just saying, since you take the time to share your thoughts with others here, it's good to now what encourages their attention.

"..." does not.

I usually agree with your posts, so I meant it as a friendly suggestion.

Fenix, stop being such a bandwagoner. You can be the ox pulling the wagon that I whip, if you'd like.

J @ Jan 9th 2009 2:43PM

oh darn.
it's good to *know*

Ordeith @ Jan 9th 2009 2:47PM

@Tuna.

I agree, Sony is a Japanese company.

It should be SON¥

gameplayFanBoy @ Jan 9th 2009 5:14PM

@Shmil: Inconceivable!

Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Jan 9th 2009 8:49PM

I really can't follow why J got voted up to 3 hearts. It's 3 goddamned periods, who gives a shit you uppity twats.

J @ Jan 9th 2009 11:12PM

It's cause i was looking out for my friends! Something you could never understand having none.

Oh, that sounded awful. I'm sorry...

No really, though. I agree with aggie often, and I dislike how people ignore him because of his abuse of ellipses (plural).