PS3 Home Integration details emerging

[galperi1]

I have to say I have been pretty meh about Home, but these new details about how Sony is planning to integrate HOME and Resistance, Warhawk and Uncharted has definitely gotten my attention

Warhawk Integration
Uncharted Integration
Resistance Integration

 

[Gunslinger08]

Looks pretty cool. Seems like a good way to entice people into buying games instead of just renting, if you have to have the game disk in.

 

[destrekor]

OMG
interactive sand-table for Warhawk, complete with army-men avatars to be placed on it?! HOLY SHIT that is kickass
that, coupled with the APC to be released soon, and the drop-ship already available.... OMG

as Home approaches, and more and more developers discuss their plans... the more it is beginning to look like Home is going to set a new standard and just completely change the face of the console connectivity and content delivery.
hopefully friends and messaging releases before or at the same time as Home, and hopefully in-game music can be offered universally. And if all that kind of interactivity can be accessed from within home through the virtual PSP as well... well then it's gonna kick ass.
I don't know how often I'll just stroll around in home.... the Second Life aspect isn't my thing... but the things offered within the virtual world will be pretty stellar. Especially if the whole voice chat based on proximity thing is included (SOE talked about this).


hands-free voice chat (no push button) with a squad's worth of players around a sand-table... that will just make 8v8 games for Warhawk absolutely insane, especially if people allow others to naturally take the lead. Because damn straight bitches, you're following my orders.
good virtual practice for future ground operations, albeit on a scale much smaller than I'll ever get to work with. Unless I get to replace those people with all tanks.

 

[Ackmed]

Heh, sand table strategies. We've drawn them up countless times. Taking little pieces of sticks, trash, even MRE parts to make our strategy on the next assault. Would be neat to do that in a game for a change.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

the warhawk thing looks awesome...hope its easy to use. it will be great for clans.

 

[blurredvision]

The Warhawk bit is fucking original as hell. Not many people will use it, but to those clans out there, what a valuable tool the likes of which gaming has never seen.

I'm kinda worried about home, because there is so much they need to accomplish for when it launches. They're trying to do too much with one product, and either they'll fall flat on their face, or it'll be the best thing since sliced bread. It's just that Sony seems to be trying to run before they've even walked...let's hope it works out for them.

I don't see myself using Home that much, but it definitely has potential.

 

[randay]

are they going to charge for home? the potential for added value is limitless, but will we have to pay a lot for it?

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: Ackmed
Heh, sand table strategies. We've drawn them up countless times. Taking little pieces of sticks, trash, even MRE parts to make our strategy on the next assault. Would be neat to do that in a game for a change.

that's exactly what I'm imagining with sand tables. terrain model kits, woodland debris, heh. to apply it to a game where you can virtually test out your applications against other humans who actually want to 'kill' you, and also have NO idea of your plans other than the fact that you are on the same piece of land as them... I love it. It truly becomes a harmless virtual battlefield.
Now, hopefully this idea inspires other games to use something similar, because warhawk isn't quite.... realistic. heh

what needs to happen (because people get used to maps all the time and just learn exactly where they enemy will most likely go) is the inclusion of a sand table with user-created maps. The map is shown in the war room and they can actually come up with a plan to something they've never seen before. Now THAT is what I want in a game. Now I wouldn't want to use it every time, because then it might take away the fun of the game, but it'd definitely be a sweet thing to have as an option.

 

[Ackmed]

Yeah, Im really excited about that aspect. I really dig the planning of an assault, talking with my guys, making up what will and wont work. Then going and doing it. We're going out in the field for 12 days this Friday at Quantico to do just that. Sadly, I leave in May, and probably wont get a chance to try it. Get back June 09', and maybe nobody playing by then. Maybe a Warhawk 2 though, who knows.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Ackmed
Yeah, Im really excited about that aspect. I really dig the planning of an assault, talking with my guys, making up what will and wont work. Then going and doing it. We're going out in the field for 12 days this Friday at Quantico to do just that. Sadly, I leave in May, and probably wont get a chance to try it. Get back June 09', and maybe nobody playing by then. Maybe a Warhawk 2 though, who knows.

They have a multiplayer-only SOCOM coming out late this year, and I think another full SOCOM coming out after that... that'll probably be big when you come back.

 

[mlm]

Originally posted by: randay
are they going to charge for home? the potential for added value is limitless, but will we have to pay a lot for it?

It will be sustained by microtransactions (clothing and furniture) and advertising.

 

[Modeps]

My take -
Warhawk integration: Sounds really neat, but unless it has some sort of effect on the game itself, it probably will not be used except by the hardest of hardcore. Its nice to have a plan of attack, but I've been getting by fine with simple voice chat in-game.
Uncharted integration: A side-scroller sounds neat also, but how good it is will determine if this is anything worthwhile.
Resistance integration: Meh.

With features like these, it almost feels like Home is trying to take you out of the game instead of put you into it. I want to spend my time IN GAME, not in some pretty, yet ultimately useless lobby.

 

[erwos]

I saw those articles. Looks neat, especially the Warhawk stuff.

The problem is that those are first-party titles. While I have nothing against Sony's first party games, Sony also has a much larger vested interest in making Home look oh so awesome, and isn't approaching this from the standard "will this sell more games?" perspective. The test of Home's usefulness and staying power is going to come when third-party devs and publishes discover how useful a phenomenal Home presence is or isn't in selling their games and/or DLC.

FWIW, I would really like for Home to succeed, because I think Sony is really showing something cool with their first-party games. The entire concept has a lot of potential.

 

[oznerol]

Originally posted by: Modeps
My take -
Warhawk integration: Sounds really neat, but unless it has some sort of effect on the game itself, it probably will not be used except by the hardest of hardcore. Its nice to have a plan of attack, but I've been getting by fine with simple voice chat in-game.
Uncharted integration: A side-scroller sounds neat also, but how good it is will determine if this is anything worthwhile.
Resistance integration: Meh.

With features like these, it almost feels like Home is trying to take you out of the game instead of put you into it. I want to spend my time IN GAME, not in some pretty, yet ultimately useless lobby.

That is basically exactly what I was thinking.

These things are interesting in concept and design, but in practice, I'm not so sure.

But I'm also a bit confused as what Sony is trying to achieve with this. From a gaming standpoint, all I really want/need from them is a universal friends list which is always accessible, some sort of achievement/reward system, and lag-free online play.

Everything else should be left to the individual game developers to put into their games. And as erwos said - these details are for Sony 1st-party games - I don't see much motivation for a multi-platform 3rd party developer to add the effort for a single console.

Maybe I just don't understand what Home is exactly, or what the actual point of it is. Why can these features not just be in the games themselves? Why do they need the Home system?

 

[Thraxen]

Originally posted by: ducci
Maybe I just don't understand what Home is exactly, or what the actual point of it is. Why can these features not just be in the games themselves? Why do they need the Home system?

It does seem like these feature could be added to the game themselves... though I don't know any technical specifics on howhome works.

As for Home itself, I think it's basically just going to wind up as a way to meet people. As of right now, even on the 360, you either have to meet people outside of Live on a forum like this or during a game. I don't know how successful Home will prove to be, but I'm looking forward to trying it out.

 

[Randum]

ill beleive it when its running on my tv...

home is well overdue....and when it launches, i am really worried its too late...
is there a timeline anymore? because i know they had this beta to open beta sched that was suppose to happen last year and never did

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

That is pretty cool. So if you can do that warhawk stuff and see your friends trophies, have xgame invites and stuff without having to walk around like a dummy 2nd life nerd then Home could be cool.

 

[purbeast0]

even after reading that stuff i just am not excited about home in general. the whole idea seems pretty lame to me, but again, just a personal opinion.

my opinion may change big time when i get it and play around with it however.

but these screenshots here just make me not give a crap about home.

http://www.gamersyde.com/news_6043_en.html

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: erwos
I saw those articles. Looks neat, especially the Warhawk stuff.

The problem is that those are first-party titles. While I have nothing against Sony's first party games, Sony also has a much larger vested interest in making Home look oh so awesome, and isn't approaching this from the standard "will this sell more games?" perspective. The test of Home's usefulness and staying power is going to come when third-party devs and publishes discover how useful a phenomenal Home presence is or isn't in selling their games and/or DLC.

FWIW, I would really like for Home to succeed, because I think Sony is really showing something cool with their first-party games. The entire concept has a lot of potential.

I think what is going on is Sony needs to prove the worth of this system... and if it is deemed worthy, 3rd party developers will get in on the act.
What Sony needs to do it make the Accomplishment system universal and required, and have required integration with Home with in-game access too.

I'm wondering if this could be used as an added layer where gamers could be in game itself, well, on the menu or in a game lobby, and access this if they want to.

 

[mlm]

Originally posted by: Randum
home is well overdue....and when it launches, i am really worried its too late...
is there a timeline anymore? because i know they had this beta to open beta sched that was suppose to happen last year and never did

Latest rumor is Japan will get an open beta starting on the 24th. And apparently the closed beta got a pretty substantial update the other day.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: destrekor
I think what is going on is Sony needs to prove the worth of this system... and if it is deemed worthy, 3rd party developers will get in on the act.

They need to prove it will sell enough games to make it worth developing for. The cost-benefit equation is really what's going to be important. That said, they could make it worthwhile without the game integration. I'm very excited to see how it goes.

If they release Home and patch Warhawk to use it, and then Warhawk sales suddenly jump, that's going to be convincing. If they don't... well, that's also convincing. Just not in the direction that Sony would like.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: randay
are they going to charge for home? the potential for added value is limitless, but will we have to pay a lot for it?

well you're saving a lot of money cause there are no games to spend it on lol

 

[tatteredpotato]

Originally posted by: ducci

Originally posted by: Modeps
My take -
Warhawk integration: Sounds really neat, but unless it has some sort of effect on the game itself, it probably will not be used except by the hardest of hardcore. Its nice to have a plan of attack, but I've been getting by fine with simple voice chat in-game.
Uncharted integration: A side-scroller sounds neat also, but how good it is will determine if this is anything worthwhile.
Resistance integration: Meh.

With features like these, it almost feels like Home is trying to take you out of the game instead of put you into it. I want to spend my time IN GAME, not in some pretty, yet ultimately useless lobby.

That is basically exactly what I was thinking.

These things are interesting in concept and design, but in practice, I'm not so sure.

But I'm also a bit confused as what Sony is trying to achieve with this. From a gaming standpoint, all I really want/need from them is a universal friends list which is always accessible, some sort of achievement/reward system, and lag-free online play.

Everything else should be left to the individual game developers to put into their games. And as erwos said - these details are for Sony 1st-party games - I don't see much motivation for a multi-platform 3rd party developer to add the effort for a single console.

Maybe I just don't understand what Home is exactly, or what the actual point of it is. Why can these features not just be in the games themselves? Why do they need the Home system?

I agree as well, I really don't have a good idea in my mind as to what Home is supposed to be. Things like the war room could be cool if it's what you're at before the game launches, but I really don't see why any of these features can't be built right into the game. Things Home really needs to do is allow for universal friends lists and voice chat, but once again Home will be too bloated to run in game. I guess I'll just have to wait and see exactly what they're going for.

 

[Dari]

What is Home?

 

[mlm]

Originally posted by: ObscureCaucasian
Things Home really needs to do is allow for universal friends lists and voice chat, but once again Home will be too bloated to run in game. I guess I'll just have to wait and see exactly what they're going for.

XMB-like functions will exist outside of Home. All Home does with those is provide a graphical interface to play around with.