What's the deal with Home?

[skywalkr2]

Anyone have the scoop? Why is Sony taking forever to get this released?

They should follow the WOW method of releasing it then adding more via patch as things are available. I just don't understand why the long wait.

[nm156]

Probably infrastructure security related. They need to be absolutely sure that they don't get an egg on their faces at launch.

Imagine someone hacking in and uploading code that allowed them to modify avatars (like in the Sims). They'd have a HUGE mess on their hands.

[deth crimsonx]

home is coming out...on ps4.

[hstewarth]

From the looks on SonyRumers Home might be in 2.4 update Now till June 18th.

http://sonyrumors.net/2008/06/02/fir...en-june-10-18/

Looks like Home to me - maybe I am wrong.

[LastSonOfKrypton]

Sony needs to get this up and running.

[nickoakdl]

Originally Posted by hstewarth

From the looks on SonyRumers Home might be in 2.4 update Now till June 18th.

http://sonyrumors.net/2008/06/02/fir...en-june-10-18/

Looks like Home to me - maybe I am wrong.

From sonyrumors.net

many also speculate that custom Soundtracks while also come witch means that instead of the game music, you will be able to bring up the XMB, go to your music section and select any song you wish, instead of the game soundtrack.

I've never heard of SonyRumors.net but any website that doesn't know the difference between "which" vs "witch" and "while" vs "will" loses all credibilty. Hopefully I will be eating my words come the 18th.

[Shoeless]

Home will not be coming with patch 2.40 unless patch 2.40 itself isn't coming until September or October. There's a rumor that patch 2.40 itself is slated for June 18th, though we'll see how that pans out.

As for why Home is taking so long, that's basically down to one thing; changing minds at the last minute.

In the beginning Home was initially conceived as more Second Life-y, a social space, with plans for advertising, micro-transactions for new clothing and furniture, and an emphasis on the program as "social-ware." Things have changed since then. I can only speculate that it might be because Phil Harrison is not at the fore any longer, but the concept for Home has been changed, and Kaz Hirai is now aiming for thing Home into more gamer-centric concerns as opposed to be a separate entity unto itself for people play Second Life in with little to no connection to the XMB or PSN. Hirai has stated repeatedly in interviews that Home has been held back whenever he looks at current builds and still finds them unsatisfactory to what he has envisioned for the service.

So essentially, Home started out as one thing, and then when the Powers That Be at Sony decided that was a bad idea, it got held back until they can fix it.

The micro-transactions and advertising may still be there, but the emphasis has been taken off being strictly socialware and now having more relevance to the PSN itself. At the moment Home is still slated to undergo a Gmail-like Beta that opens in Q3 of 2008, and gradually ramps up until its a fully open public beta, before finally transitioning into full operation with Home 1.00.

[holsty101]

Isn't there already a closed beta underway?

[knor]

Originally Posted by holsty101

Isn't there already a closed beta underway?

there is but what shoeless is talking about it an open beta for everyone to try out, as opposed to the closed beta that Home is currently in

[holsty101]

Ahhh ... so that's what he ment my the gmail style beta.

Okaley-Dokaley, thanks for clearing that up.