Sony announced it just now... The flood gates will open. You're not missing much. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe - Virtual Press Office http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/10/scee-playstation-home-beta-launching-dec-11/
I hope they do something with it... It has soooo much potential. But in it's current state, it's SOOOOOOO boring.
I agree PS Home is very boring with the only fun I've had with it is listening to people fight. Sony really screwed up by letting Home lose so much steam but they seem happy with a distant 3rd place finish.
I'll give the beta a whirl tomorrow. Never really interested in the whole concept of Home but no harm in trying it out. It's free.
Pretty much the consensus is that the Home Open Beta is actually Home and they will just keep improving on it and eventually just call it Home. In other words Home launches tomorrow with add-ons soon to come.
Lots of things online stay in beta for a long period of time. Look at Google. Gmail still says beta and how long has that been around.
Probably but I never used GMail. Because when you think about it they are releasing the game to everyone tomorrow and what would the official Home be but upgrades to the Open Beta. Its all just a name game right now really.
There are rumors that Trophies could be used as home money (I'm guessing there's some sort of conversion factor or something). But if I remember correctly, the whole thing was supposed to use real money (using psn cards or credit cards like you do when you get a psn game) to get clothing, apartments, furniture, etc.
they should do something like the sims (or Yoville on facebook) where you can get a job and make money. Again, it boils down to having SOMETHING to do besides look at videos of video game commercials and going to the bowling alley to play minigames.
I logged in to play more last night. There is a new free home to buy and some clothes and furniture in the stores. Again, the whole things feels pointless. I bought everything I could... But I could not imagine spending real money on an in-game piece of clothing or furniture that's for nothing... Spend real money on a couch or shirt so someone in your friends list will come to your house and see it? I still haven't tried bowling. There's thousands online and there's 6 bowling lanes. Same goes for the Chess boards in the mall. There's 3 chess boards to share among everyone. I still feel like there needs to be something to do. It feels like the only thing to do is look at advertisements. Look at a Farcry 2 ad on the bigscreen... or look at the PSP ad in the bowling alley. Or if you really wanna get crazy, go watch the behind the scenes of Socom video. There's just nothing of interest unless you wanna wait in line for a game or be advertised to about stuff you probably already have if you're a PS3 owner. I did go 2 for 3 in pool. Not too bad. Some kind of job system or leveling system... or anything to achieve or progress in. I'm sure there's people that this is going to appeal to. People who want to just go hang out in this virtual home... But I think for the masses it's a little too ambitios with not enought depth to do anything. Also (was gonna stop but this just hit me) - They marketed it as the PS3's hub... Y'know, the place you go to see stuff, trophies, and prepare then launch games with your friends. Again, great in theory... When launching your PS3 you go directly into XMB (I think that's the acronym). From here you can quickly see friends and launch games. Or, I can launch Home. Wait for it to load. Wait for it to connect. Load into where ever I am. Do any updates it's had. Launch my handheld tool. THEN get into finding friends and launching games. It all seems like added unnecessary steps... too freaking ambitious. It is in Beta. Maybe there's some plan in the future for some big thing that's gonna revolutionize it... Until then, I think I'm running away from home (pun!).
Do you have to download it from the PS Store? I heard it would just pop up under the PSN network icon, but It wasnt there.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure you still need to download it from the store. The store updates at about 6 pm eastern time today. Edit: You were right, the thing will appear under the PSN tab. Select it and it will start the download. They seem to be having some technical difficulties so they haven't released it yet.
Yeah apparently they're having some major network issues... PlayStation Home launch hits some snags - Joystiq Also, Sony answers some questions about the service... MTV Multiplayer Sony Answers Some Key PlayStation Home Questions, Dodges Others
Well I have a few friends who have downloaded it, underneath the PS Store, however it doesn't show up on mine....
I have a feeling they rushed this thing and it's gonna be a total disaster... Coincidence that exactly one day after Microsoft announces all of those crazy numbers they've been having since they launched their NXE, Sony opens the Beta? Who does that? Who says (after years of delays and uncertainty) that they're gonna open up tomorrow? It just seems so random and so forced. What do you geeks think?
I think its all a coincidence that it is coming out a day after. The have said for a few months that the open beta was coming before years end. Also Sony said the Open beta was imminent days before the 360 announcement. I don't think the NXE can be compared to the Home Beta. They are different animals IMO.
Very different creatures for sure... But this came out a day after Microsoft announced how successful the NXE has been (with online members and sales)
one day after Microsoft announces this crap... Then Sony opens the Beta the next day? Who does that? Who doesn't give a leadup? Time to build hype and prepare? It was just so random feeling. A look at a few post-NXE Xbox LIVE stats - Xbox Live's Major Nelson
I was just there a couple of minutes ago and it was pretty packed, I'm guessing the servers are about to explode
Sony goofs up every big addition they do (update 2.40 anyone) and its getting a little sad on their part.
i signed on around 9pm and it was ok. but seriously, if you cant kick *** or get ***, it's pointless. i walked around and a bunch of nerds were dancing, or trying to hit on chick avatars and i got bored. eventually i kicked someone's *** in pool, and then in chess, but that's normal life. video games are all about fantasy for me, and that's why i prefer to play saints row rather than roam around in home.
The 2.40 update only effected a small amount of users. I had no problems with the update. Issues like that always get amplified especially when its Sony.
Yeah, the thing is this is not a video game. This is a social 3-D network, if you're not there to socialize then you're gonna get bored fast.