Microsoft has been quite mum about what they think about Sony's announcement of the PS3 Home service. Does Microsoft think it's a ripoff of their achievement system or is it just Mii clone? Today, CVG is reporting that Microsoft's Chris Satchell finally broke the silence calling the Home service "not a very game-centric approach". He goes on to say that "it's a cool world but it's like a little game by itself. Our approach is the other way around; it's that games are the center and that's the star of the show, that's what people buy the console for". And as the service compares to the 360's achievement system, Satchell says that "they've definitely taken some concepts that we originated like achievements, but I think they're pushing in a different direction and we've sort of fundamentally got two different approaches going on here". So, Microsoft is playing it cool and tainting Sony's announcement by saying it isn't as integrated as the 360's system and it seems to be more of a stand alone game. What's your opinion of the PS3's Home service? Would you like to see this functionality built into the Xbox 360 or does it feel like an added game that's aimed more at the real-life sim fans?
Microsoft responds to Sony's Home
Microsoft has been quite mum about what they think about Sony's announcement of the PS3 Home service. Does Microsoft think it's a ripoff of their achievement system or is it just Mii clone? Today, CVG is reporting that Microsoft's Chris Satchell finally broke the silence calling the Home service "not a very game-centric approach". He goes on to say that "it's a cool world but it's like a little game by itself. Our approach is the other way around; it's that games are the center and that's the star of the show, that's what people buy the console for". And as the service compares to the 360's achievement system, Satchell says that "they've definitely taken some concepts that we originated like achievements, but I think they're pushing in a different direction and we've sort of fundamentally got two different approaches going on here". So, Microsoft is playing it cool and tainting Sony's announcement by saying it isn't as integrated as the 360's system and it seems to be more of a stand alone game. What's your opinion of the PS3's Home service? Would you like to see this functionality built into the Xbox 360 or does it feel like an added game that's aimed more at the real-life sim fans?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
3-09-2007 @ 2:34PM
Matthew said...
I wouldn't want it in the 360 I love the interface and I think that this "little world" they have created for Sony Home just makes the interface BLOATED and confusing
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3-09-2007 @ 2:36PM
jsn said...
The system is a copy of achievements (as well as mii's), albeit a much more cumbersome version. I have my doubts that anyone will use it much and I suspect it will be used more for virtual masterbation sessions than anything else.
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3-09-2007 @ 2:40PM
Daryl said...
I agree with "not a very game-centric approach" completely.
I'm not interested in a service like this, and wouldn't use it at all. Why would I invite people into my private area? Look at my trophies and listen to my music. LAME!
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3-09-2007 @ 2:42PM
Joe said...
I wouldnt mind seeing something like this integrated as a Live Arcade game, but only if it used webcams. The only way to meet new friends with webcams is to play Uno and that's getting way old.
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3-09-2007 @ 2:43PM
drunkenshaolin said...
all i want is a bigger group chat...thats all. if they could do it on old xbox they can do it on this....
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3-09-2007 @ 2:43PM
Toph said...
I promise not to flood Fanboy with my 13 posts like I did at majornelson.com about this, but I definetely have stuff to say that I feel is worth saying.
'Home' seems to suck. I LOVE that Microsoft agrees with my views that it's not 'game centric'... I mean, how are you supposed to simply turn your system on, find a friend, check a quick message then plunk yourself down for a quick game? There's way too much to wade through in Home to really get gamers to the, well, game.
I fear this is the first sign that Sony is pulling another 'PSP'..where they didn't release near as many games as they did UMDs, dispite the general consumer dislike of them, the price, and the substance. As a portable Playstation, was I wrong to want..games??
Sony LOVES to market products the way they want to, for no apparent target audience, and to the ground. I can see this free 'Home' service innundating the hell out of all gamers with banners and ads everywhere. Sony's 'Home' will just be confusing, convoluted company controlled Barbie doll Sim world that's populated with marketing the way Sony wants it, and it'll turn REAL gamers, hardcore or not, away from the system.
In time, the PS3 will be marketed for everything but games.
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3-09-2007 @ 2:50PM
Geoff Gibson said...
I agree.
Sony's home system is almost an exact ripoff of Second Life, which I don't like as it is. I find the entire "game" to be dismally boring. If I was to create my own custom avatar, I'll create a Mii. If I want to interact with other people online I'll play Xbox Live.
I have no use for, and no desire to use Playstation Home, however, that being said if I were a PS3 owner (like I have $600 floating around) I'd probably LOVE the idea simply because they have nothing else going for em right now. The system is seriously lacking in any sort of "fun factor".
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3-09-2007 @ 2:51PM
DjDATZ said...
"all i want is a bigger group chat...thats all. if they could do it on old xbox they can do it on this...."
i would not complain. i want this too...
"In time, the PS3 will be marketed for everything but games."
it already is...blu-ray anyone?
im not familiar with sony's home system but if thats a screenshot then i dont want any part of it. i LOVE my xbox live. :D
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3-09-2007 @ 2:51PM
Modeps said...
Honestly, it is the first thing I saw from Sony that made me interested in the PS3. Does that mean I'll rush out and buy? No, but it's a neat concept even if it is not game centric. Social networking is huge and Home will be its own social network.
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3-09-2007 @ 2:55PM
AL7AIR said...
@ Toph
"I mean, how are you supposed to simply turn your system on, find a friend, check a quick message then plunk yourself down for a quick game?"
You do realize that Home is only an alternate way to do things? The XMB is still there to do all the stuff within a few steps.
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3-09-2007 @ 3:00PM
Virtua Fanboy said...
I think MS should follow suit w/making Live a little, JUST a little bit more MySpaceyish. Give us a few more character spaces for our motto's, maybe a few of our interests, ect...
I agree, the Sony Home concept is pretty lame. Lets wait for the $ony hypocrites to say "trophies" are cool when they bashed achievments in the past.
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3-09-2007 @ 3:01PM
zenprism said...
If I wanted to play Second Life, I'd buy a computer that could run Second Life. The world Sony created doesn't even look distinctive. It's boring. At least Mii's have personality.
Plus, I don't like the idea of having to trek across a virtual town just to play some multiplayer against a friend in his "apartment."
This is just another reason why I don't need or want a PS3.
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3-09-2007 @ 3:04PM
Clinton said...
Leave it to PR folk to deliver a respectful, backhanded slap to the competition. Satchell brings up salient points about Home... is it an interface, a community or a game? Focusing on the games angle was smart, referring to Home as "a little game by itself", again emphasizing that the 360 is all about the games and the PS3 is..well, sort of?
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3-09-2007 @ 3:12PM
Toph said...
Sonething else worth asking; the trophies. So okay, let's say I have 3100 Gamerscore points and the next guy has 7000; it's easy to see which of us has 'accomplished' more.
How will the trophies work? Let's say one guy has 5, the other player has 3. What if those 3 are worth more? I can see it being a little confusing compared to XBL Achievements.
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3-09-2007 @ 3:17PM
Hoffer said...
I have played The Sims once and hated it. I also have no interest in Second Life. This is really all this Home thing is. A Second Life interface slapped on to Xbox Live. Personally, I love to compare achievements with friends or just look at my achievements. I don't want to have to do that with a slow, 3D interface. Hopefully, they also provide a quicker, text based system.
To be honest though, it's good to see Sony trying something different. If they had copied Xbox Live and achievements exactly, they would have got crap for that. At least this is different. I've got a PS3 and will try and get into the beta next month.
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3-09-2007 @ 3:24PM
Assbestos said...
Over at PA, TB was saying that he was relieved to see they had a direction.
Wha?
This seems like a throw together of a bunch of everybody else's good ideas. No original thought here. Wish MS had just outright called them on it SecondLiveMii? MiiLiveLife? Something like that.
Not to mention it won't be out for another year. Sounds like they just sold you on ANOTHER piece of vapor-ware. Does an idea and some screen-shots make someone feel better about getting fleeced for a system without games? A system that you're about to buy rumble enabled controllers for to replace the ones you bought 3 months ago?
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3-09-2007 @ 3:29PM
dutchb0y said...
I think that lots of people will like it, but as a launching point for games at large, I think it won't be such a useful space.
I think that the "hardcore" or even more than casual gamer won't spend much time in the space compared to people that like but are intimidated by SecondLife or love the Sims.
I would hate all that space wasted when all I want to do is game with people. It's not really neccessary or all that useful to have animated 3d trophies anyway.. considering you get the achievement.. and well, that's the point... I don't lovingly look at the icons that are associated. I don't think a 3D trophy would change that...
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3-09-2007 @ 3:38PM
Josh said...
I about fell out of my chair laughing when I read about this yesterday. Who would rather sit in a "virtual apartment" showing off your virtual furniture instead of owning your friends in a game of GoW? Not me. Sony, you're competing in a gaming market...not a social club. Just when I thought Sony couldn't screw up any worse they pull this...what a waste of development time and money.
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3-09-2007 @ 4:02PM
x silence x said...
Ok, as an original XBL member I must bring up the golden point here. I think MS is now using the smoke and mirrors. Home is an option folks. I will be anything that if you want to use matchmaking in game that will be supported as well. I played PS3 online and I have to admit that there was no lag at all. The question I am now raising is XBL worth paying for when other consoles are now showing it could be done for free. This is a valid question as a CONSUMER and not a fanboy. We won't know until this holiday but if everything works for Sony then I will question the amount of premium services that are being offered as a Gold member. Once again, it is your responsibility as a consumer to question even the company that has brought the best Online to date! I love my 360 but I ain't a fool!
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3-09-2007 @ 4:13PM
Pinhead said...
Sounds like a really tedious system. I can't say I envy PS3-owners at all. I'm more than happy with a fast and simple GUI.
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