Home + PSU Dead + Mandatory Trophies = Better PSN experience
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Something is definitely afoot in the land of the PlayStation network. A series of recent news items announced this week are culminating in what can only be described as a seachange in terms of how you, the user, will be interacting with the PSN from now on.
First up came the news that Home 1.0 was released to the closed beta community with “over a hundred thousand invitations [...] sent across the SCEE region and next Thursday the 27th [...] another larger batch of invitations will be sent.”
As some of us here at PS3 Attitude are part of this beta we decided not to hark on about it until an official announcement was made. Well, that declaration has now been decreed so we’re more than happy to finally discuss some of the more monumental of enhancements.
So, what’s in Home 1.0? Well, a lot actually but the highlights include: the vPSP has been dropped in favour for a more ergonomic menu structure allowing for the XMB to be now fully accessible from inside Home – a gripe that bugged the hell out of us in the past. More important additions also include the advent of Clubhouses where 32 people can form a cadre of like minded individuals and hang out.
It’s not all good news however. There’s been a lot of rumour in the past about “virtual border control” in Home; the concept that Homers with friends in different regions will not be able to interact in community spaces. Though it appears this topic is constantly in flux (with the possibility of complete freedom of travel still on the agenda for the future) interaction between users from different geographical regions will be confined to personal spaces (apartments) and Clubhouses when Home launches en masse.
And when is this momentous debut? Home’s final Open Beta release date is still a complete mystery but you might remember our previous article regarding when we suspected the collective doors would be thrown open to the public. As is the privilege of all sages and seers we reserve the right to update our predictions at any time so we’re going to do just that and make a revision.
There’s some betting going on behind closed doors here at PS3 Attitude but, for what it’s worth, Home could be with us all as early as December 4th. Take this with a giant tangy grain of salt.
Apart from Home however there have been other movements in the online arena this week. News reached us on Wednesday that the PlayStation Underground movement was being disbanded in favour of merging users’ PSN IDs with their online presence.
It’s no secret that when it comes to features, usability and functionality the XBL experience supersedes our humble PSN on a number of fronts. Not the cost front of course but things like online account management are areas where, traditionally, Sony have fallen down. This recent change which will see us all interact across websites using our PSN details which should narrow the gap between the two rivalry online services even further. This enhancement is well over due in our opinion and we’re looking forward to the plethora of new abilities the merging of online identities will bring.
Finally, VideoGamer exclusively revealed yesterday that, from January onwards, Trophies will be mandatory for all PS3 games. This decision will definitely enhance all our gaming experiences and how we compete and play online.
While this might seem like common sense, some people might be questioning why it has taken so long for Sony to instruct developers that this feature is now compulsory. Don’t forget that it costs money to implement the Trophy system into games, and while studios such as Naughty Dog have come out stating how easy it is to incorporate, it should be noted that Uncharted: Drakes Fortune for instance was designed with Trophies in mind as its Rewards system literally matches the Trophy haul perfectly.
Other developers would have been knee-deep in code when this feature was introduced by Sony and its implementation would have delayed certain games’ development. Considering some of these games would be multi-platform, it would have been commercial suicide to delay the PS3 release of a game just to release with Trophies as a Day One feature. The grace period has now ended however and it appears Sony have given all studios a period of six months to factor Trophies into their games. The “But we’re still in development!” complaint will no longer wash. Gone will be the days of multi-platform games requiring a a trophy patch or any PS3 game* for that matter not offering a Trophy fix.
With this new Trophy commitment, new features becoming available with PSN IDs soon to be a user’s ubiquitous online identifer and Home literally less than a month away (we hope) the PSN looks to finally bridge the difference between itself and its nearest competitor.
Do all these recent online gaming enhancements get you excited to part of the PlayStation community? Or is it too little, too late?
Let us know in the comments.
* We’re not sure if this new rule extends to PSN games but we’ve contacted SCEE and will update this post as soon as they confirm.
Well at least nobody can say that sony isn’t trying hard to win the public.
I wouldn’t say that it’s too little, too late. I’m thinking of something more like “Finally!” or “It’s about time!” Now only if they would expand on the gamer profile section. (Add trophy level, games played/owned, expand the about me section, etc)
“Well at least nobody can say that sony isn’t trying hard to win the public.”
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“It’s no secret that when it comes to features, usability and functionality the XBL experience supersedes our humble PSN on a number of fronts.”
Xbox online??? 60 dollars a year for laggy P2P networking with a laughable Nintendo Mii ripoff!
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I’m sure the 140 million PS2 owners out there are just salivating to have an online system of that quality!
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Oh yeah, Home 1.0 rocks suckers who haven’t gotten your invites yet.
[NOTE: This is your final warning NathanV. By all means have an opinion, but cease using derogatory or offensive language or you will be banned]
Does anyone else think it might not be a big coincidence that the official headset and keyboard are both out at the end of November (28th)?
Could this be a sign that Home is out at the start of December as they’re pretty much necessary to enjoy the experience…
fingers crossed!
NathanV
You’ve posted just twice on this site and you’ve already been heavily edited by the site owner for your poor choice of words.
The fact is: XBL still has features that the PSN are still behind on. You don’t think this is true? Fine. That’s your opinion and you’re entitled to it. It sounds like you don’t even own a 360 but if that’s how you see things I’m not going to try and change your mind. Other commentators out there who have both systems have said the same thing: XBL is better than PSN ON SOME FRONTS. Note: I DIDN’T say XBL is better that the PSN.
Remember: we’re PS3 through and through on this site but that doesn’t stop us from reporting the news and commenting our views on it – even if it does mean we think a certain aspect on a rival system is better. In this case, I was referring to the online account management aspect available on XBL along with trophy/achievement comparison etc. which you would have understood if you had actually read the article and not jumped on your high horse.
You’ll also notice that I did mention the fact that the PSN is not beaten when it comes to price so your little tirade about “$60 for laggy P2P” is irrelevant.
Our membership and hits are way up and a lot of people are really liking what we’re doing. If you don’t like the quality of journalism or the views on this site then that’s fine. Don’t read it.
We want people to express their views and we have no problem if these views contrast with our own. Make your argument, convince us why we’re wrong but use effective language, not offensive language. Considering all the writers here at PS3Attitude are donating their time and effort for a charitable cause, is a perfect way to get yourself banned.
Brodiesan said what I wanted just fine. If you don’t like my opinion express it in a polite way. I respect opinions and wouldn’t call you an idiot or anything else.
Hey Beancain,
I didn’t make that connection but thanks for reminding me. Yes, it does seem that all the pieces are falling into place and that prophetic December 4th prediction is looking more and more likely.
Also, check out the new PS3 ads in the US where people are walking around with footage of Home playing on their shirts.
There’s no way Sony would include Home so prominently in their Holiday Season promotions if it wasn’t going to hit soon.
“There’s no way Sony would include Home so prominently in their Holiday Season promotions if it wasn’t going to hit soon”
Not sure about that Brodiesan, i want Home to be released as much as the next person but remember how heavily they advertised Home when the PS3 was launched?
I showed my mrs the trailer day after launch when i had it up and running and she was like cool, let’s make a person! Unfortunately had to inform her it was just a trailer and Home wasn’t out yet!
Hopefully Sony will have learnt it’s lesson but who knows?
[...] sooner trophies are rolled out across all games the better. By the looks of it we will be seeing trophies in all games after January. Above all, it would mean that people could buy any game and know that there would be [...]
[...] had previously mentioned all the changes that were going on, and it seems like this is the latest in a string of possibly related events [...]
[...] it’s a 2009 title, Trophies are mandatory [...]
nice