Sony's Home Away from Home
Sony are proposing to create an online community called, funny enough, "home". Obviously the trendiest thing about gaming, the bandwagon we should all jump on, the mecca of financial reward for all capitalistic game developers, is the MMO or related online communities. So, just to show you that they too can jump on the bandwagon are creating their own personalized online community around the PS3.
"With an avatar uniquely customized according to each user's preference, users can explore the 3D community that is Home - a sleek modern environment featuring spacious common areas; custom spaces dedicated to specific games; and personal apartments. Each user is assigned an apartment in Home where they can invite others to join them as they show off their own style in an area they can personalize themselves with furniture, art and other items," Sony's press release reads. "The service, known as 'Home,' will enable users to create their own avatar and explore a real-time virtual community, as if they are playing a detailed 3D game for PS3."
I must admit that many other times people have attempted to create these online environments they haven't been overly successful. It is interesting to note that many times in the press release users are, in fact, referred to as consumers and the environment will be a place of commerce and trade. So, now we get down to the nugget of Home. Izumi Kawanishi (Corporate Executive and CTO Software, SCEI) says, "I feel strongly that this unique blend of community, user-generated content, collaboration and commerce will expand the future of computer entertainment." Sony were extremely reluctant to have users (consumers) profit from the time they spent online playing the original Everquest. In fact, most software developers get extremely unhappy when users (consumers) profit from the time (their own time and not the software developers) they spend online. Sony, eventually, succumbed to the need to have some control and, more importantly, to make some money out of Everquest 2 and, as a result, set up a system in which to control it.
Home goes in to closed Beta very soon and they hope to launch it later in the year.
"With an avatar uniquely customized according to each user's preference, users can explore the 3D community that is Home - a sleek modern environment featuring spacious common areas; custom spaces dedicated to specific games; and personal apartments. Each user is assigned an apartment in Home where they can invite others to join them as they show off their own style in an area they can personalize themselves with furniture, art and other items," Sony's press release reads. "The service, known as 'Home,' will enable users to create their own avatar and explore a real-time virtual community, as if they are playing a detailed 3D game for PS3."
I must admit that many other times people have attempted to create these online environments they haven't been overly successful. It is interesting to note that many times in the press release users are, in fact, referred to as consumers and the environment will be a place of commerce and trade. So, now we get down to the nugget of Home. Izumi Kawanishi (Corporate Executive and CTO Software, SCEI) says, "I feel strongly that this unique blend of community, user-generated content, collaboration and commerce will expand the future of computer entertainment." Sony were extremely reluctant to have users (consumers) profit from the time they spent online playing the original Everquest. In fact, most software developers get extremely unhappy when users (consumers) profit from the time (their own time and not the software developers) they spend online. Sony, eventually, succumbed to the need to have some control and, more importantly, to make some money out of Everquest 2 and, as a result, set up a system in which to control it.
Home goes in to closed Beta very soon and they hope to launch it later in the year.
posted by thecynicalgamer @ 11:27 am
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