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theBishop · Sep 13, 2007

Someone on the Console-Exploits message board has posted information on a recent Home beta update along with some sweet-looking pics. I'm at work now, so I won't be able to test it until this evening (ugh...). This is unconfirmed, but I imagine someone (Wollan?) will be able to confirm/deny quickly.

It seems the HOME beta has been updated and ready for download by current testers. With this update the HOME Square that was shown at E3 has finally been made available to testers. From what I understand many changes have been made to the HOME beta and they're very well received by beta participants. One of the changes I was informed of is that they've broken locations down to optional downloads. For example if you didn't desire to visit the theater you didn't have to download it. It make for a much smaller core download and allows users to define their own experiences. Anyhow less talk and more screenshots, enjoy!

SOURCE.

My reaction is the new areas look incredible(!), but separating each area as individual downloads seems like a big mistake to me. And that Divx logo is tantalizing :lol

UPDATE:

GamesIndustry.biz caught up with SCEE's Jamie MacDonald for an interview on Home:

On user-safety:

It's not going to be the like the Wild West in internet terms. I'm a great supporter and believer in having a Wild West aspect to the Web, but Home isn't that. It's a challenge to make sure we create an environment that's safe for users and safe commercially for our publisher partners.

On tying Home to the PS3:

I would like to think that it might be one of a number of reasons why a consumers might buy a PlayStation 3 in the first place. But the most important thing is that once a consumer has bought a PS3, an always on and connected right out of the box machine, Home becomes part of that good consumer experience.

On releasing Home to the public:

It's already out there in a closed beta and we're going to an open beta in the next couple of months and then it will be available on the Cross Media Bar soon after. But it's a constantly evolving thing. Week by week and month by month it evolves. There isn't going to be this big bang launch. That's how you do it in the Web 2.0 world, if you're familiar with the launch of Gmail or something like that.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=28598

Double D · Sep 13, 2007

Looks like I have a buttload of updates to download.

msdstc · Sep 13, 2007

cannot wait to get my hands on this, I remember people were pleased with it in early stages it's come SO far now. Hopefully they can keep adding more and more great things.

sprocket · Sep 13, 2007

We want it now!

gregor7777 · Sep 13, 2007

Looking good...are the games like Checkers and such playable (and free) at this point in the Beta...is there chat while you're playing? Is it easy to initiate?

Splatt · Sep 13, 2007

theBishop said:
My reaction is the new areas look incredible(!), but separating each area as individual downloads seems like a big mistake to me. And that Divx logo is tantalizing :lol

It's all about the choice.

The Elite · Sep 13, 2007

SWEET. Going to download!

Steroyd · Sep 13, 2007

hmm.... there's a Home update, I need to check this out.

Metalmurphy · Sep 13, 2007

WOW @ the Divx logo

Do I smell 2.0? :lol

Really love this pic:

belvedere · Sep 13, 2007

I'll be testing this tonight.

Nice.

McBradders · Sep 13, 2007

:lol they finally put Chess back in

kylej · Sep 13, 2007

Whoo, I'm glad I got into that July Open Beta to check this out :/

Gattsu25 · Sep 13, 2007

It worked out pretty well in Guild Wars IMO (the only fucking thing that piece of shit did right) so optional area downloads sounds like a great idea IMO

and Divx logo?

Steroyd · Sep 13, 2007

Oh sweet it's updating.

elseanio · Sep 13, 2007

awesome

theBishop · Sep 13, 2007

Splatt said:
It's all about the choice.

Well, even if its not part of the initial download, I don't think it should ask you. Walking into the area is making the choice. If you're downloading an area for the first time, it should say "Downloading New Area" along with a progress bar and a message saying this will only happen the first time you enter an area.

Wollan · Sep 13, 2007

Eventually there will be hundreds, nay, thousands of spaces with time so it's only natural that you download them as you visit them. All of them stored in a cache with the least visited/oldest spaces getting deleted as you visit new ones (if you have reached the cache maximum). Same goes for the video ads..etc. I can't say anything about a update but I guess you can imagine.

Vashu · Sep 13, 2007

It's updating indeed! Finally!

Also Wollan, what's your PSN tag? Just Wollan?

Steroyd · Sep 13, 2007

Oh no it's uuuuuuuuupdating.

AstroLad · Sep 13, 2007

So if you pay for a "nicer" place, are there any advantages beyond it looking "nicer"? Should add that I've kind of been following this Home thing from afar, only aware of a few general specifics about it.

gofreak · Sep 13, 2007

Since new spaces will be added over time, there has to be infrastructure for downloading them when you want to go to them..the initial Home install can't include every space that's ever going to be

According to Wollan they're cached to your HDD.

bryehn · Sep 13, 2007

Looks great, love the PSP integration, and that DivX logo's making me drool.

Zombie James · Sep 13, 2007

Wow, looking great.

Panajev2001a · Sep 13, 2007

theBishop said:
Well, even if its not part of the initial download, I don't think it should ask you. Walking into the area is making the choice. If you're downloading an area for the first time, it should say "Downloading New Area" along with a progress bar and a message saying this will only happen the first time you enter an area.

I am sure they will find a good way to implement this mechanism

.

derder · Sep 13, 2007

For those of you who got into the HOME beta, what did you put for your favorite genre of games in the GAP thing?

deejay8595 · Sep 13, 2007

good stuff........

McBradders · Sep 13, 2007

gregor7777 said:
Looking good...are the games like Checkers and such playable (and free) at this point in the Beta...is there chat while you're playing? Is it easy to initiate?

The intention was that most Home activities out in the wild would be free unless you wanted a version to take back to your personal apartment. Of course this my well have changed and yes chat should work while you're playing.

gofreak · Sep 13, 2007

Asides from Home Square, it'd be interesting to here if there's been any functionality updates (e.g. media sharing), or if any stuff has changed in apartments, any new furniture, whatever..

Captain N · Sep 13, 2007

f I'm not mistaken we aren't allowed to talk about the Beta

fatigues_gasolini · Sep 13, 2007

They always have to do these updates when I wont be home until late. Now im gonna be up late getting this stuff.

Also, my psn is gamerecks, if anybody wants to play some games tonight.

CoG · Sep 13, 2007

I noticed that the videos at the Sony research site were all in Divx which seemed a little hypocritical to me being the PS3 can't play the format. This might be nothing, but I hope they're embracing the format.

http://research.scea.com/pscrowd/

Goldrusher · Sep 13, 2007

!!!

Everything else is looking good. Has a bit of a Miami, or even Gold Coast (Australia) feel to it. And gotta love the fifties styled bowling alley, the cinema, etc.

Beer Monkey · Sep 13, 2007

I like the optional downloads. I want my Home experience to be as small as possible; just give me actual gaming lobby and invite features and keep the bloat out.

consoul · Sep 13, 2007

gregor7777 said:
Looking good...are the games like Checkers and such playable (and free) at this point in the Beta...is there chat while you're playing? Is it easy to initiate?

Yes. Yes. And Yes.

Home Square much improved.
Home Theatre sucks now. (Where's the content gone?)
Apartment invites working well.

Lord Error · Sep 13, 2007

I'll test this baby tonight. Pictures look great.

BenjaminBirdie · Sep 13, 2007

Metalmurphy said:
Really love this pic:

"People say it was impossible to put HOME on PSN. I say it was impossible to put it anywhere else..."

The Elite · Sep 13, 2007

Has everyone gotten to the point that they are breaking NDA and talking about the Beta?

Wollan · Sep 13, 2007

Is that.. plasmid ads?

not really

gregor7777 · Sep 13, 2007

Wollan said:
Is that.. plasmid ads?

not really

9 out of 10 women prefer the athletic man

chubigans · Sep 13, 2007

FREAKING AWESOME! I'm off to download! WOOOOO!

krypt0nian · Sep 13, 2007

YESSSSSS!

Steroyd · Sep 13, 2007

DoctorWho said:
Has everyone gotten to the point that they are breaking NDA and talking about the Beta?

No.

We can say wow totally awesome wish you were here that's not breaking the NDA.

Ooo ooo fellow homii's add me, the Home BETA's a little dull when your on your own my PSN ID is Steroyd.

Vashu what's your ID?

gofreak · Sep 13, 2007

Should have taken a picture of the full list of changes in the Latest Update section! I'm as curious about any functionality changes as much as the home square, if there are any.

haunts · Sep 13, 2007

Is HOME going to eventually replace the Playstation Store?

chubigans · Sep 13, 2007

haunts said:
Is HOME going to eventually replace the Playstation Store?

No, the PS Store will always be there.

theBishop · Sep 13, 2007

haunts said:
Is HOME going to eventually replace the Playstation Store?

HOME doesn't replace anything on the Playstation Network. HOME relies on the underlying infrastructure (store, wallet, buddy lists, blocking, etc) of the Playstation Network.

BobTheFork · Sep 13, 2007

Thank God we get open Beta at the end of July, I still really want to try this for the first time.

Sirolf · Sep 13, 2007

Sweet!!Can't wait to go home to update this puppy !

Aleman · Sep 13, 2007

Home is such an awesome idea, can't wait for it to come out. I hope they do a virtual E3 in it

AndyD · Sep 13, 2007

I wonder if the idea with the split downloads is to make the initial area so small as to auto include it into a future firmware update so that everyone can get on out of the box without having to wait and download.

That way you get the initial experience trouble free...

That said, it looks beautiful. And the split downloads make sense since I expect more and more areas to appear in the future, growing like an organic city.

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