Home Gaming Sony fails to convince with Home

Sony fails to convince with Home

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image All in all Sony has disappointed us at this year’s GDC. Last year we got to see Killzone 2, Little Big Planet and Home.

This year we got to see Home and very little has changed since a year ago. Granted this is a developers conference and Sony are more than likely holding their hand until a more appropriate time but it does feel like we have been left at the alter really.

However something interesting did come out of the last Home presentation. After rambling on for an hour about how great it would be to create object for home like trophies and bubble machines, James Cox a senior producer for Sony was asked

Why should I develop for Home? (By a senior EA developer)

Instead of wowing everyone with the possibilities and reasons for doing it James just stood there with a mouth full of teeth. The EA guy then tried to clarify his question (what needed to be clarified?) and asked. What the draw was for third parties with no clear revenue models assigned…

Again the Sony presenter couldn’t answer the question and honestly told the guy to phone Sony head office if he wants more information.

So was this guy just a stooge or is Sony honestly expecting all these developers to create magical things for Home just because it exists?

MTV Multiplayer » Sony Reveals ‘Home’ Trophies and Electronic Arts Wonders Why They Should Care (GDC 2008)

Last Updated: February 25, 2008

14 Comments

  1. Evilredzombie

    February 25, 2008 at 06:31

    I expected to see the in game access to XMB, accomplishments and a early release date for home.

    Evilredzombie’s last blog post..Asta La Vista 3rd party

    Reply

  2. Banana hammock

    February 25, 2008 at 08:07

    Sony said before the event that they would not be giving a presentation, which basically means they had nothing to say about anything.

    As for Home, i’m half and half on this one. I don’t care much for all this Second Life, The Sims crap. I have no interest in my little virtual guy in his little virtual world. But it if helps me launch multiplayer games and share content then i’ll use it for that.

    I’m sure it will be a success as there are millions out there who love this sort of thing, but i think there will also be a lot of people who will only use the functional aspects of Home.

    Reply

  3. LazySAGamer

    February 25, 2008 at 08:16

    @BananaHammock, I have to agree with you on the multiplayer launcher being the single best part of Home.

    I would love to be able to hang around and play mini games while waiting for the rest of the people to arrive.

    Reply

  4. Evilredzombie

    February 25, 2008 at 08:26

    Jip agree with both…

    Evilredzombie’s last blog post..Asta La Vista 3rd party

    Reply

  5. JimBob

    February 25, 2008 at 08:32

    I dunno, my big hope is that Home doesn’t become a way of nickle and diming us, the way Microsoft and its partners milk us even for themes and gamercard pics.

    If EA can’t understand why their customers might enjoy winning a Madden T-shirt that their avatar wears, promoting EA’s product, then they just lack vision. Penny-pinching schmucks.

    Reply

  6. Banana hammock

    February 25, 2008 at 09:00

    The EA guy is a moron, but then the Sony guy was an even bigger moron. I mean, you dev for home so you can get trophies to display. Then others come to your home and see the trophies. Bam, free advertising to your exact target market.

    Plus, what JimBob says is also 100%, in-game unlockables that you can use in Home for others to see as well.

    As for advertising, i don’t care if every wall of every space is plastered with advertising in Home, as long as it helps keep the service free i’ll be happy to endure it.

    Reply

  7. JimBob

    February 25, 2008 at 09:04

    It’s unclear at the moment, but as far as I can understand, trophies will be part of the certificaiton process i.e for Sony to pass a game for release, it will have to feature trophies, just like every single retail and arcade Xbox 360 game MUST have achievements (the only which didn’t initially was Final Fantasy XI, because it was an MMORPG).

    Reply

  8. Fox1

    February 25, 2008 at 10:15

    EA is the biggest 3rd party developer. Those comments made by the Sony blabber mouth will just add to the bad relationship that Sony has with 3rd party developers. If the guy that did the Home demo thing cannot answer questions about Home, what will Sony’s head office know???

    Sony should have just let head office do the presentation! LOL!

    Reply

  9. evilredzombie

    February 25, 2008 at 11:28

    man @fox.. u are angry… say after me…hoosa!.. again…hoosa!
    Jip..as with most things we can debate but cant pass judgemnt till hoem is here… i just hope it doesnt disapoint.. the most brilliant thing MS did was achievments… and sony needs it, so i am just holding breath for ” PS3 medals ” or whatever they will call them

    evilredzombie’s last blog post..Asta La Vista 3rd party

    Reply

  10. abe

    February 25, 2008 at 12:37

    Lets just hope that the “medals” arnt tied exclusively to home! Home seems like a crap idea to me, from day one its looked sh*t and seemed like a stupid idea!

    Reply

  11. SlippyMadFrog

    February 25, 2008 at 12:39

    Home sounds quite nice, I must admit. It seems like an aweful big project to give away for free, was there any official confirmation that it will be free?

    Reply

  12. evilredzombie

    February 25, 2008 at 12:41

    jip should be free…any onbe have confirmation ?
    I know they will charge for extra content like apartments. but last I checked home is free

    evilredzombie’s last blog post..Asta La Vista 3rd party

    Reply

  13. doobiwan

    February 25, 2008 at 18:49

    I think it’s so core to the whole PS3 offering at least some part of it has to be free.

    Reply

  14. abe

    February 25, 2008 at 19:32

    Nothing is free in SA thanks to helkom!

    Reply

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