Home: The Inside Preview

The Soon To Come, Home Experience!
Home has been on many if not most of the Playstation Nations minds at one point in time but we are still months from the full release. However, the guys at Sony have been allowing lucky members to try there new Sims like simulation of there free application in the beta of Home.

Now I was one of the lucky few that have it and lets just say, it has evolved so much from when I got it (July 7th of last year). So many changes yet so much content being squeezed into this game. In fact, there is so much stuff that I really don’t know where to begin or end, however, I will give you everything I know.

The Beginning Home:
So let me break it down from my first encounters to the current updated beta. When I downloaded Home at first, the app was separated into 4 parts. Home Square, Arcade, Theater, Your Home. All was easy accessible from portals in the room or vie pressing “Start” to pull up your characters PSP and allowing you to quick jump to any other locations.

The Avatar, or Characters that portal you, at the time were in the early stages but there was so much to do! Face manipulation to styles of clothing could easily be changed in “Your Home”. With the beta and suggestions from the testers, those choices have nearly tripled and no two avatars are alike.

Also with that first beta was the theater which streamed movies onto the screens, you walk closer to the movie and the sound got louder and panned when you turned left or right. Along with that was the Arcade which allowed for bowling, pool, and arcade games. And last was the Home Square which was small but not used.

The Newest Beta Update:
This is where things got fun! sense these months, Sony has listened to the testers and made vast improvements. Here are many that I could pick out that was something to look forward to.

Game Setup:
Now each location is set up where you must download it. Even though you have the game, you must download each location individually. This is ok but each location is about 30 MB and it takes about 10 mins to download and install.

PSP Menu:
This is the coolest menu I have ever seen in a game. It works just like a PSP does but it gives you the ability to jump to your locations, go to your wardrobe, change your settings, telephone a friend, send a message to anyone in your PSN friends list and much more.

Chat Ability:
You have the ability to talk via Mic throughout the world, also you are giving quick messages that you can press to ask questions or to respond. Along with that, there is the fun in dances that your avatar can start doing like it World of Warcraft.

Start Games In Home:
Though this is still a work in progress, the Sony team is working on the ability to allow you to get a group of people and then launch straight into a game! Currently Warhawk supports it and is very fun to be able to jump into the plane from Home. Though is still doesn’t work with all games and is a little buggy right now.

The Wardrobe:
This is a updated feature that offers a Wii feel of customizing the Avatar. You can use the preset avatars or go all out and change every little detail in the face and hair. Clothing can be changed here too but they are starting to work into the new Location where you may have to buy clothing and furniture for you home and avatar.

The Market Place:
Just as I stated before, the Wardrobe only has a hand full of clothing options but there is a new location called the Market Place where you can go get new clothing and furniture. Currently in the beta, everything is marked free but I can see this turning into a points driving system similar to Xbox live that requires Points to buy additional content. Points probably able to be acquired via credit card or unlocking achievements that Sony is talking about. I don’t know for sure so I only speculate.

Home Square – This small and empty room was completely ditched for a new style. Now, Home Square will be an outside park in a sense. In the middle of this park are Chess and Checker boards for anyone who is just lounging around. All around this park style Square is your 3 other main buildings. Your Home, Theater, and Arcade. Between them are large screens that stream videos of upcoming games and ads.

Your Home Space:
There is only one option here however there is word that more will come and can be purchased but that is the Home Spaces or Your Home. This apartment style space is to be your own little space where you can decorate with furniture and wallpaper then invite friends or groups over to chat it up or plan battles for clans. It is your own home and can only be accessed by you unless you invite a hot lady in, hehe.

Theater:
Though it isn’t much now and isn’t updated enough, this could easily be the greatest way to market the new trailers and movies that Sony makes but the trouble also is that it takes forever to load a movie…So otherwise you just stand there watching a ” Downloading Movie” black screen. O well, I know that this will be improved on.

Arcade:
This fun space is where you can challenge your friends into a game of Pool or Bowling. Pool allows for 2 players and bowling allows for 4 players. There are also arcade game machines spread around in here too.

Conclusion:
Overall, the wait may be killing everyone that knows about Home and what its plans are. Even the few people that are just not understanding its purpose. I think that the wait is well worth it being that Sony is making one very Killer App. So be ready for Homes Release sometime around Fall of ‘08 (This year).