Massively Speaking http://massively.joystiq.com This is the Massively podcast http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Massively SpeakingJoystiqMassively Speaking<![CDATA[PlayStation Home no longer a priority for Sony?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/playstation-home-no-longer-a-priority-for-sony/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/playstation-home-no-longer-a-priority-for-sony/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/playstation-home-no-longer-a-priority-for-sony/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Opinions on PlayStation Home seem to differ -- it doesn't have the kind of flexibility and user created content that's made Second Life successful, but it does provide social spaces and content linked to the games and other media we enjoy. For others, like writers at our parent site Joystiq, it's a brave new virtual world where the fine art of Quincying can thrive.

Now that PlayStation Home has gained some traction with its install base and users are making microtransaction purchases, does Sony intend to develop the marketplace further? Not immediately, according to PlayStation Home's Pete Edwards. Edge Online quotes Edwards, speaking at the London Games Conference this week: "It's been a long road. We've proved there is a market out there and we've got a lot of people that spend a lot of time in [Home]. It's not a priority right now but there is a business model there."

[Via G4tv's The Feed]

MassivelyPlayStation Home no longer a priority for Sony? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelsedge-onlinehomelondon-games-conferencemicrotransactionsmmo-industrypete-edwardsplaystation-homevirtual-worldsFri, 30 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Watchmen gear and upcoming interactive spaces for PlayStation Home]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/03/new-watchmen-gear-and-upcoming-interactive-spaces-for-playstaion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/03/new-watchmen-gear-and-upcoming-interactive-spaces-for-playstaion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/03/new-watchmen-gear-and-upcoming-interactive-spaces-for-playstaion/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Still wondering where those interactive spaces are for Warhawk and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune? Don't worry, we are too, but apparently there's a bright light on the horizon.

TedTheDog, the community manager of PlayStation Home, has shed some light on the upcoming additions to Sony's online virtual space in his recent news update. What has officially been added are some brand new clothing in the Threads store, including a few free outfits and t-shirts featuring the Watchmen.

Past those additions, Ted has added more news regarding the eagerly awaited interactive spaces, including information about the SOCOM 2 space, Uncharted space, Warhawk space, Resident Evil 5 space, and Siren: Blood Curse space. It appears that all of these spaces are being worked on and will be delivered shortly, the first ones being Warhawk and Uncharted space.

The bad news to all of this is that no dates are given on any of it. Looks like we'll still be waiting, but perhaps not as long this time.

[Via Eurogamer]

MassivelyNew Watchmen gear and upcoming interactive spaces for PlayStation Home originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clothinghomeinteractive-spaceplaystation-homeplaystation3ps3resident-evil-5siren-blood-cursesocom-2unchartedupdatewarhawkwatchmenTue, 03 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: See the griefing, taste the griefing pt. 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/anti-aliased-see-the-griefing-taste-the-griefing-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/anti-aliased-see-the-griefing-taste-the-griefing-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/anti-aliased-see-the-griefing-taste-the-griefing-pt-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Problem number two is Sony's lack of action. Moderators are few and far between, the automated system in place doesn't work too well, and people feel that they can get away with whatever they want. There's no sense of authority or control in Home, and that's a detriment. Now, I'm not pushing for everyone to be horribly oppressed, but there needs to be some sense of order and control that's apparent to the players. When word spreads that you can't get away with certain behaviors, the behavior begins to diminish over time.

And, finally, problem number three -- there are avatars involved. Even if your turn off their voice chat and visual text chat, you still have a crazy annoying avatar chasing after you, clipping your torso when you go to bowl that next frame. The answer to this problem is to simply ignore him, as he will probably go away, but this phenomenon is still annoying and not fun for any user. You just want to play your game sans problems, right?

Xbox Live seems to have have found the solution to these problems by sheer accident. Then answer is simply to avoid these problems by not doing them. It doesn't over-promise content, it does provide control for the users, and it avoids visual avatars in most games. (Except in the case of the Xbox Live vision camera; we're just going to temporarily forget about that. Especially as it only works with a few games.)

The success comes from the fact that if you mute someone and report them for harassment, Xbox Live makes sure you avoid that player in your online play. If the automatic matchmaking has a choice between game A and game B, and game A has a person you hate in it, you'll be placed in game B without noticing it. Home does not have that luxury because the entire world is linked together. You mute someone and there's no guarantee that you'll never see him again.

So what can Home do? I say introduce the ultimate ban -- avatar removal. You mute someone and it removes their avatar from on screen for you. You don't see them, you don't hear them, you don't worry about them. Sure, you might end up banning half of the Home community, but now you have control over what you see and do in Home.

In the end, that's what it all comes down to -- user control. Let the user determine their own experience; don't force it on them.
Colin Brennan is the weekly writer of Anti-Aliased who really likes all of the controls that Xbox Live provides, even if he can't buy a virtual couch for his Xbox Dashboard. When he's not writing here for Massively, he's over running Epic Loot For All! with his insane friends. If you want to message him, send him an e-mail at colin.brennan AT weblogsinc DOT com.

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: See the griefing, taste the griefing pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avatarsbanscensorshipmatchmakingmoderatorsplaystation-homeplaystation3user-controlsvirtual-worldsxbox-liveWed, 14 Jan 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Anti-Aliased: See the griefing, taste the griefing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/anti-aliased-see-the-griefing-taste-the-griefing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/anti-aliased-see-the-griefing-taste-the-griefing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/anti-aliased-see-the-griefing-taste-the-griefing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


If home is where the heart is, then PlayStation 3 users have some pretty cold, racist, and sexually demeaning hearts. Hearts that make Halo 3 players look like cute puppies in comparison. Now I'm not saying that PlayStation Home is not a great idea -- in theory it's a brilliant idea. Play in a world like Second Life, meet other users, play mini games, launch into full PS3 games, what's not to love about any of that?

Well, it seems Sony forgot about the precedents of other virtual worlds. Second Life, while nice, can have the uncanny ability to resemble slums in certain areas thanks to the scary nature of some of the creators. Xbox Live sports some of the most offensive users (NSFW) around. So how exactly was Home suppose to avoid the travesties that affect other worlds?

Sony has already stated that "user behavior and feedback" will shape where they go with the Home beta. If that's the case, where are they going to go? Totalitarian state, anyone?

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: See the griefing, taste the griefing

MassivelyAnti-Aliased: See the griefing, taste the griefing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anti-aliasedbanningscensorshipchat-filteringcommunitycontentfeaturedhomejoystiqfeaturesplaystation-homeplaystation3quincyracistsecond-lifesexistvirtual-worldxbox-livexbox360Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Are you online with PlayStation Home?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/the-daily-grind-are-you-online-with-playstation-home/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/the-daily-grind-are-you-online-with-playstation-home/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/11/the-daily-grind-are-you-online-with-playstation-home/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


PlayStation Home. Never will you find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.

Well, that's what we're told, anyway. Especially when other parts of our blog network are running around and causing havoc themselves. But this isn't a story about the other parts of our blog network, it's a story about you. Today's grind wishes to ask you if you're enjoying the virtual world of PlayStation Home. Or, perhaps not enjoying it, as the case could be.

We want to hear your experiences with the software -- good, bad, and even the ugly Quincys. Is the world living up to all of the hype that surrounded it, or was it indeed released too early and in need of more work in order to live up to its potential? Let the comment box ring with your opinions!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are you online with PlayStation Home? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betahomejoystiqopinionplaystation-homequincyreleasethe-daily-grindvirtual-worldsSun, 11 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kotaku outlines differences between PlayStation Home and Second Life]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/03/kotaku-outlines-differences-between-playstation-home-and-second/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/03/kotaku-outlines-differences-between-playstation-home-and-second/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/03/kotaku-outlines-differences-between-playstation-home-and-second/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


There has been plenty of speculation on PlayStation Home and how it compares and contrasts with Second Life as a virtual world. Heck, the creative director spoke about it months ago stating that Second Life players would probably not find much of interest in PS Home. Well, Kotaku has stepped in to explore just that subject.

For those not wanting to get too down and dirty with the full tale, Second Life has much more personal customization. Everything from outfits to dance moves to land masses can be user-generated and added to the world. On the other hand, PlayStation Home allows for minimal add-ons, focusing on creating rich, stable environments - even if that means sacrificing little things like avatar diversity. But with much more content promised, PS Home may well become a better contender for virtual world time.

MassivelyKotaku outlines differences between PlayStation Home and Second Life originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avataravatarscomparisonkotakuplaystation-homeps-homesecond-lifevirtual-worldvirtual-worldsSat, 03 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kingdon feels the fear]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/kingdon-feels-the-fear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/kingdon-feels-the-fear/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/kingdon-feels-the-fear/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Linden Lab's newly-minted CEO, Mark Kingdon, has posted another communique to Second Life users, and it isn't hard to see a certain fear in the phrasing and timing.

'The possibilities of Virtual Worlds have attracted a slew of entrepreneurs and even some Internet giants,' writes Kingdon in his second paragraph, 'Some are offering a simple, visually appealing chat solution. Others are more ambitious. Second Life offers something no ones else does - an astoundingly rich array of user-created content and a large, diverse and ever-expanding virtual economy.'

And it isn't hard to see which Internet giant and what visually appealing chat solution he might be referring to, especially considering the timing of the statement.

Continue reading Kingdon feels the fear

MassivelyKingdon feels the fear originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>googlelinden-lablivelym-lindenmark-kingdonopinionplaystation-homesecond-lifeWed, 09 Jul 2008 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The war of words for Sony's PlayStation Home and Second Life users begins]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/the-war-of-words-for-sonys-home-and-second-life-users-begins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/the-war-of-words-for-sonys-home-and-second-life-users-begins/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/the-war-of-words-for-sonys-home-and-second-life-users-begins/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Ron FestejoRon Festejo is hardly an unbiased observer, being the creative director of the Sony project that is bringing PlayStation Home out next week, but in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz he explains that, in his opinion Home is the best looking and most user-friendly multiplayer experience he's seen so far.

Apparently Second Life is "too garish" and the rest of the MMOs are "too hardcore." Second Life users (we're not players after all) are also too geeky, and Mr. Festejo doesn't think there will be much to interest Second Lifers. Of course I'm happy to be called a geek, and not owning a playstation I won't be checking out PlayStation Home, but what do you think? Do you need to be a geek to cope with Second Life, or is he just aiming at a "cool kids" market? He probably does need to go and read the minimum specs for Second Life page mind: whilst Second Life runs on a much greater range of engines than just PlayStations, he is exaggerating saying it has to support people on Pentium II's.

MassivelyThe war of words for Sony's PlayStation Home and Second Life users begins originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gamesindustry.bizHomeplaystationplaystation-homePS3Ron-FestejoSecond-LifeSonysony-homeFri, 22 Feb 2008 22:00:00 EST