Massive Home Update: Midway 2, Holiday Goodness

If you haven't visited PlayStation Home in the last few months, you'll be quite surprised at the bevy of new stuff. If you haven't visited this year, you have no idea what you're missing. If you only logged in once during the early days back in late 2008 or early 2009...logging in will blow your freaking mind.

Home gets an absolutely massive update this week; you can check out all the details over at the PlayStation Blog: first and foremost, they're unveiling the Midway 2 game space. Annexed to the Midway complex, Midway 2 gives the Home explorers no less than 10 new games and 100 new prizes. Grab that Golden Ticket and try new games like Kitty Cannon (oh dear God), Half Cocked and Tee'd Off, and see if you can unlock all the prizes. They've also updated the Mall's LOOT store, which now features the Ameratsu Yacht space, and you can always take advantage of LOOT's Entertainment on Demand (EOD) system so you can sit and watch cool content with buddies. What, you think that's it? We haven't mentioned the Winter Wonderland event space; "a snowy location filled with games and rewards galore."

They go on to talk about the new space for Tron: Evolution, an "epic event" slated for December 10 (check it out!), more items in the Mall, and the Community Theater's debut of the new HomeCast Rewind series. In the premier episode, host HearItNow tells you how to get the most out of the 1.4 client update, and don't forget that more stuff is going on around the theater section. It's just endless. And finally, we may be speaking to Home boss Jack Buser again tomorrow; sort of a spur of the moment thing, so we can't really take reader questions. But maybe we can make him read the comments in this article. ;)

Tags: home, playstation home, home update, home psn

12/8/2010 9:06:59 PM Ben Dutka

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WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, December 08, 2010 @ 9:58:55 PM
Reply

The few times I go in Home there's like ten million updates to install and I get bored with it waiting to check out new areas. Mr Buser, are there any plans to put the Home downloads up for background download, not while my avatar runs around his apartment, but whilst I do regular gaming. Don't worry about my hard drive, it's 500 gigs :)

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CH1N00K
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 11:28:08 AM

Completely agree with you. I used to go on Home when it first came out just to see what it was all about...but when I discovered it was mostly a bunch of horny avatars running around in circles while downloading updates...I kind of wandered away..I'm scared to try to go into it now, I haven't been on in so long that I'd probably spend all night downloading updates.

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Highlander
Wednesday, December 08, 2010 @ 10:21:30 PM
Reply

One question I would love to hear an answer to is - When will I be able to play the music and video content on my own HD in my own HomeSpace?

Worlds, your question is a good one. It would be a godsend to be able to tell Home to update automatically overnight instead of having to cache everything when I open Home.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, December 08, 2010 @ 10:52:37 PM

YES! Why can't I play junk on my TV and have avatared friends over? That stuff in the theatre sure streams awful quick. And it's not like porn is an issue because once someone is in your place you are still free to hurl obscenities at them over the earpiece. And I don't wanna pay for posters on my wall.

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Killa Tequilla
Wednesday, December 08, 2010 @ 10:22:52 PM
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I just want to go to my friends space & he'll play a movie that somehow will stream to my TV, in full HD (Or whatever resolution it is). Also same for music. :(

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Killa Tequilla
Wednesday, December 08, 2010 @ 10:32:08 PM

Is this even possible? Or is this just a way of sony saying 'no we want you to spend $$ in the Ps store' ?

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Highlander
Wednesday, December 08, 2010 @ 11:20:56 PM

I'm not specifically defending Sony because I would like this capability as well. However I do know that copyright issues have generally prevented this because technically you are broadcasting the music or video. When you broadcast it in any way it is considered a public performance within the copyright law, which you are not allowed to do. Sony as a large corporation is a fat target for any copyright holder who thinks that they can somehow squeeze Sony for money because you and I watched a movie while at World's Home space.

What we need is for the MPAA and RIAA to come to an agreement with Sony that such localized playback within Home to a small group of friends in a user's private Home space is the same as a group of friends watching/listening at someone's actual home. To me and you, it's the same thing, but the law doesn't agree, and it would take a test case to set a precedent.

However, I'd even be content with being able to play my own music and video locally, it would be a step in the right direction. As would being able to launch a BluRay/DVD from within Home, or launch a game from an in-Home XMB. But, hey, perhaps I expect too much? Or perhaps not...

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Sol
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 6:28:55 AM

You know, that'd be nice. Maybe Netfix can fit in there too...

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alcrowley
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 8:15:36 AM

Why they don't broadcast some movies? Do something like a movie theater. Just take advantage of Netflix partnership and broadcast movies, TV shows, etc in a virtual theater, so people can watch and talk, without bothering everyone around of course.

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Killa Tequilla
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 9:54:40 AM

Thanks TheHighlander, makes sence now :)

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Imagi
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 2:42:06 PM

It is possible but is very unlikely to happen. I use to host some files and give BW for a someone who had a private club in Second Life. Given the type of content most people are after and how much BW is required I see Sony staying well away from such things.

Peer to peer connections could be a legal headache as home-made and copyrighted content would move between continents, on the basis that the Pirate Bay creators are now having to do time so could a Sony CEO!

That said the creators of Home did originally say such things were to come, Picture frames that grabbed photos and video files from your PS3 displaying them to anyone at your Home Space.

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Highlander
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 3:57:22 PM

@Imagi,

I believe that we have the picture frames now, but the video/music is still not happening.

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swapnilgyani
Wednesday, December 08, 2010 @ 11:21:12 PM
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I'm Home sick!

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Alienange
Wednesday, December 08, 2010 @ 11:32:16 PM
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Holy smokes I hardly understood a word! I can't keep up with all those trendy little names.

It's like you have to be a super-nerd to understand Home.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, December 08, 2010 @ 11:48:27 PM
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lol, those two female avatars in the pic are men.

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spiderboi
Wednesday, December 08, 2010 @ 11:56:36 PM
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With the ginormous amount of updates for Home, I may never visit it again until i get a new unit. My current one is quite prone to failure now and can't afford long playtimes (let alone keeping it for hours just for updates)

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Tim Speed24
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 7:20:55 AM
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I go to Home quite often, but lately it is just bogging and chugging along when trying to do anything. Not fun :(

Are the Quests things slowing down the servers or something?

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Highlander
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 12:58:02 PM

I think that with the 1.4 update and all the additional content, more people are hitting the service, and they need to increase the number of servers. But, I've also noticed that the Internet in general has been bogged down lately. Not sure if it's all the cyber-war crap aimed at wiki-leaks or the cyber-war crap wiki-leaks' friends are throwing at others. Whatever it is, I'm not happy with it.

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alcrowley
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 8:06:04 AM
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I'd like to see the response to the statement from a MS exec saying that Home is nothing more than a 'nice chat room'. Here: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-12-06-ms-playstation-home-a-nice-chat-room

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Highlander
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 1:17:00 PM

Dear Mr Stephen McGill@Microsoft UK,

So, you likt to talk about Home do you? Well, the thing is you wouldn't be talking about Home it it wasn't worth talking about. If you want to deride Home, that's fine. But, you wouldn't be deriding it if it wasn't relevant and wasn't significant enough to merit your disdain. I would hardly expect you to praise it, although if you did praise it, I would worry, because you praise competitors when they are making mistakes, not when they are doing something right. However since you're not praising Home, I can feel certain that it's doing just fine.

Now the thing is that Home represents something that you don't have, and can't have- a free place for gamers to meet and share their opinions and what not. Not to mention that you can start games from within Home. It's not a game matchmaking service, but it does allow friends from around the world to interact and play together - for free. I do have to wonder why you at Microsoft charge for your service when you don't offer anything remotely like Home. You'd think that all that XBL revenue would allow you to do *something* for your gamers.

However, be that as it may, Home continues to thrive, and grow. It's profitable, and many users visit it daily, it extends the gaming experience and virtual Home items awarded in-game contribute to extending the value of games that interact with Home. White Knight Chronicles for example includes several Home items that are awarded for various achievements in the game itself. If you Platinum the game, you get the usual trophy and a suit of armor (the White Knight) to wear in Home.

Perhaps you should give it a try, before dismissing it as nothing more than a glorified chatroom. I could easily point out the XBL is little more than an expensive, glorified chatroom. Even if Home is nothing more than a chatroom to some, it still brings added value to that experience allowing the people chatting to have a virtual presence with each other.

But, as I say, you wouldn't be talking about Home it it wasn't worth talking about...

Yours sincerely
TheHighlander

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Amazingskillz
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 8:53:09 AM
Reply

I go to Home practically every day. In fact my routine is: Go to home to play chess to sharpen my brain, then I go to Uncharted Multiplayer to shoot it out, then I play the Brain Challenge to resharpen my shot out brain again. Anyway. In my opinion Home is just outstanding! I've watched it evolve since the beginning. Sometimes theres nothing interesting but other times it can be downright fascinating! Furthermore, there are always a ton of people in Home. To dismiss it for load times and stuff is just foolish. In fact Christina Lee is enough for me to check in with daily.

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Highlander
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 1:02:40 PM

Yeha, I am in Home fairly regularly, and it's a fun diversion most of the time. I still play Sodium One - Salt Shooter, gotta get the Golden Vickie....

BTW, is it me, or does she wear some of the shortest skirts/dresses available in the western world? LOL!

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CH1N00K
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 11:30:10 AM
Reply

Kind of had a bit of a thought. Ben since the comments section on PSX is a bit of a social gathering in it's own, have you guys ever put any thought in maybe hosting a PSX HOME night sometime?

Be kind of neat for a bunch of us to get together and wreak some PSX havoc on HOME...Just a thought.

Last edited by CH1N00K on 12/9/2010 11:30:26 AM

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Snorge
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 11:41:13 AM

That would be AWESOME! I would be there in a heart beat! I think someone asked about that a few months ago too, but dont think anything came of it. That could bring the PSXExtreme community even closer (In a completely plutonic way LoL!)

We could do some game-launching from there and continue to wreak havok online in our favorite games!!! Im drooling already!

Last edited by Snorge on 12/9/2010 11:41:30 AM

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Fane1024
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 3:59:17 PM

Someone could create a PSXExtreme club.

Someone other than me, though; I'm too cheap. ;D

p.s. Snorge, it's "platonic" (as in the philosopher), not "plutonic" (as in the lord of the underworld or cartoon dog).

Last edited by Fane1024 on 12/9/2010 4:01:36 PM

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Snorge
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 11:38:04 AM
Reply

I think HOME is one of the more under-appreciated "apps" available for the Playstation platform. I do like how they brought back the chat even though its for groups and phone calls (understandable since you have these jerks who thinks its cool to throw obsenities at anything that moves and Sony wanting to keep if "Family friendly")

One thing that has really kinda bugged me, and I'm sure this goes with WorldEndsWithMe and TheHighlander but I wish the avatars around me loaded faster....tired of walking around for more than 5 minutes and not everyones avatar is loaded. I feel like I walked into a mall full of ghost!

Other than that, HOME has shaped up VERY nicely. I urge anyone to grab a friend and check it out (Its funner with friends to TALK to), especially if you havent been in a while!

Last edited by Snorge on 12/9/2010 11:42:20 AM

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Highlander
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 1:00:48 PM

Definitely! they really need to find a batter way to pre-cache everything to the HDD, so that when you enter a space, the only think the server needs to send you is the data for the appearance and dress of the other avatars. If you enter a space and haven't been in Home for a while, the system not only downloads all the data for the space you enter, but all the data for the appearance and clothing of all the avatars. if you don't already have those items downloaded, Home has to get each and every one before rendering the other avatars, so you could be downloading quite a lot of data just to see the other avatars. If that was all pre-cached or downloaded overnight automatically, Home would be *lots* faster.

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Imagi
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 2:21:09 PM

I question the way Home stores it's data, it even seems to need to re-download items which I know it just has grabbed (yes I have lots of space available for it) For example, in the Theatre, you arrive everything is loading, posters etc.. they load and you choose which of the cinemas to go into, when you come back out again, it is another wait while the same graphics are downloaded... wtf? The onbly example I could think of, not been in Home for a month or 2. They should update the Robot Chicken cinema more often!

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Highlander
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 3:59:37 PM

Completely agree, they really need someone to go through their underlying data retrieval/caching/storage architecture, it seems flawed.

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Fane1024
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 4:05:11 PM

Agreed. I chose the 12 GB option, because I have plenty of room on my 500 GB HDD, and that only seems to have made the caching process SLOWER. WTF?

It used to take me 5 minutes to get past the black screen at login, though that loads much faster since 1.3 (?).

Use that HDD space, Sony; that's why I allocated it.

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Amazingskillz
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 1:31:42 PM
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LOL @ the Highlander - Yes she wears some short skirts. She also wears those over the knee boots! Which are hot. She seems like such a nice young lady. Anyway, as you stated it is an excellent diversion from the stresses and pressure of my job. I do financial analysis all day. I enjoy playing chess and theres some real good people in there so its fun. I too also hate waiting for the ghosts to manifest too. The salt shooter game was sweeeeet! I wish they would go beyond level 50 and add some new stuff.

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Highlander
Friday, December 10, 2010 @ 2:55:55 PM

Indeed, she is very easy on the eyes.

I've been waiting for Lockwood to do more with Salt Shooter. they're supposedly working on Sodium 2, but I agree with you more levels for salt shooter would be a plus. Definitely would like to see Sodium 2 soon though.

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Imagi
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 2:10:52 PM
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Home has come along a long way and gets an undue bashing on the most part, but Sony have only themselves to blame now, their is so, so much that this could do. It is an unused and utterly wasted resource in the Playstation 3's arsenal.

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Highlander
Thursday, December 09, 2010 @ 3:58:42 PM

I think it's morphing a bit now. there are more game spaces opening, in the last year I think we've seen something like 6 paid gaming spaces open in Home, which is 6 more than there were before. People are gradually getting to grips with it.

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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, December 10, 2010 @ 12:34:28 PM

You should show up...you can't believe what's in there now.

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Highlander
Friday, December 10, 2010 @ 2:53:22 PM
Reply

I found this comment on another site where users were posting about this same report about the Microsoft guy calling Home a glorified chatroom.

"no guns and you can't shoot people in the head, of course ms want nothing to do with it. "

ROTFL! So very true.

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