Home's Warhawk space: present and future
by Randy Nelson 
{ Feb 26th 2009 at 8:00AM }
click to enlarge
PlayStation Home's new Warhawk Game Space goes live today -- but is it really everything a dedicated fan of the game could ask for? The answer is, "No, not yet."
Beyond its unique aesthetics, the space is functionally similar to those for Uncharted and Far Cry 2, with one notable exception: the Warkhawk Sand Table. This piece of interactive furniture is something we've seen in various stages of development and, on paper, is a pretty cool concept. It's a place to plan in-game strategies using "VR" set-pieces -- vehicles, maneuver icons, etc. -- which can be moved around on 2D versions of any of the game's maps (and their variants).
The first person to access the table is in control. Here's where one of the problems arises: anyone can walk up and watch as you plan your "secret" strategy. Furthermore, there's no way to share or use the finished battle plan within the game. It's all up to each player's memory (or notepad).
Beyond its unique aesthetics, the space is functionally similar to those for Uncharted and Far Cry 2, with one notable exception: the Warkhawk Sand Table. This piece of interactive furniture is something we've seen in various stages of development and, on paper, is a pretty cool concept. It's a place to plan in-game strategies using "VR" set-pieces -- vehicles, maneuver icons, etc. -- which can be moved around on 2D versions of any of the game's maps (and their variants).
The first person to access the table is in control. Here's where one of the problems arises: anyone can walk up and watch as you plan your "secret" strategy. Furthermore, there's no way to share or use the finished battle plan within the game. It's all up to each player's memory (or notepad).
Gallery: Warhawk Game Space (Home)
Incognito studio director, Dylan Jobe, says there is a specific paid Warhawk clubhouse in the works for Home, which will bring both privacy and voice chat to the, er, table, but there's no time ... table for its arrival. Jobe also told us it's technically possible to send the Sand Table data into Warhawk, and the developer is looking at ways to use it in-game. There are plans to send data the other direction to create live scoreboards within the Game Space, but again, no word on when to expect this.
As it stands, the Sand Table is a nice idea that hasn't quite come together in its execution. We're interested to see how it evolves -- and is potentially implemented by other Game Spaces. If you are a diehard Warkhawk player, we'd love to hear what you have to say about the new space and the Sand Table in comments.
As it stands, the Sand Table is a nice idea that hasn't quite come together in its execution. We're interested to see how it evolves -- and is potentially implemented by other Game Spaces. If you are a diehard Warkhawk player, we'd love to hear what you have to say about the new space and the Sand Table in comments.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MatthewJ @ Feb 26th 2009 8:31AM
So its not the actual "sand" table that we saw way back at E3 then? I figured that might happen, hopefully they'll add it eventually.
transclowing @ Feb 26th 2009 8:33AM
That can only be done thanx to Incognito... warhawk is the best game... BTW watch out for my land mines. Dylan when is the next WARHAWK, before the PS4 (hope you don't mind me calling you Dylan ....M. Jobe).
Fausk @ Feb 26th 2009 8:36AM
I messed around with it for a few minutes. That orange is really awful on the eyes, there's no depth to the map, so unless you know by heart where the hills are and stuff you might be positioning stuff where it can't go. The pieces are kinda vague and hard to tell what they are.
The rest of the space is cool, I like the holograms of the separate flying vehicles, and the hissing steam coming out of some of the pipes. I'd be more interested in just hanging out there, rather than using it for Warhawk.
Here's hoping for a Killzone 2 space though.
Jack Tretton @ Feb 26th 2009 8:50AM
"Okay, does everybody remember the strategy we've planned on the Sand Table for the last ten minutes?"
"No."
"No."
"Nope."
""
"Excellent. So let's fall back to our usual plan of running around like over-caffeinated chimps with rabies, never listening to one another, and doing what it takes to pad our stats. Go Team!"
deathxrebirth @ Feb 26th 2009 10:09AM
Oh, Jack Tretton. You so funny, hehe.
drdre74 @ Feb 26th 2009 8:55AM
waste of time and money. I don't even know anyone that shit has this game. I played it for about a week and traded it. DIdn't enjoy it. I'm surprised people are still playing this game.
Dartmerc @ Feb 26th 2009 6:18PM
You heard it here folks, if drdre doesn't like/can't play a game it means it's shit!
Maybe you should play something with bots, so you don't get owned continually.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Feb 26th 2009 8:58AM
Well damn. I thought it was going to be a private room for clans or groups of friends that was attached to our houses or something. this is ok for now but shit, they gotta do better within the next few months
JayArr @ Feb 26th 2009 9:01AM
Makes sense that it wouldn't be very good really. Warhawk - disappointing. Home - majorly disappointing. Why would a Warhawk space in Home be any good?
Dan Rabot @ Feb 26th 2009 9:09AM
I rarely play Warhawk, actually deleted it. It was good, just not my thing.
...Still, I think I'll check out this new space, looks pretty cool.
Now we just need the TV's and picture frames! Come on, there must be a way!
transclowing @ Feb 26th 2009 9:15AM
JayArr... it's for the warhawk fans, Like a fan cluuuuuuuuuuuub for warrrrrrhawk, do you get it, a place where warhawk fans can meet, and share the same interest that would be warhawk. Anybody having troubles understanding this warhawk space. So I guess you will not get the paid warhawk clubhouse that's in the works. It's like a bar without the beer (OMG that's horrible)
IREWolfman @ Feb 26th 2009 9:29AM
Not available to the EU Only the Redbull and FC2 spaces
transclowing @ Feb 26th 2009 9:40AM
not what, no warhawk in the EU home edition?
IREWolfman @ Feb 26th 2009 9:47AM
yeah sorry using ps3 browser
transclowing @ Feb 26th 2009 9:53AM
Ok I'm EU, I have friends in North america, and I was able to meet with them, I just hope you're wrong... if not I'm a fool thinking being able to get in WH home after work...
IREWolfman @ Feb 26th 2009 10:38AM
We did get free WATCHMEN Costumes though and the theatre is broken
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Feb 26th 2009 9:14AM
sucks that they dont have the "War Room" attached to our houses.....
j.howlett @ Feb 26th 2009 11:03AM
i ran into you in the warhawk space. maybe they could sell the sand table for 49 cent to put in the apt.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Feb 26th 2009 11:04AM
yea I seen ya, lol.
.49 is kinda cheap for a table like that. something tells me that it would cost SO much more than that
j.howlett @ Feb 26th 2009 12:17PM
i heard something about a warhawk clubhouse for $4.99
n1n9tean @ Feb 26th 2009 9:26AM
For ultimate fun, replace the words "the sand table" with "Home" in the last paragraph as they occur.
transclowing @ Feb 26th 2009 9:28AM
Here is Dylan with his video for warhawk home... please thank me:http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/02/26/warhawk-playstation-home-space-walkthrough/
Orex @ Feb 26th 2009 9:39AM
They need a bluddy killzone space -.- but knoing the home devs they will bring the killzone2 space in 3 years when everyone is waiting for killzone 3 -.-
willxcore @ Feb 26th 2009 9:45AM
Warhawk is probably the best game of this generation. Glad to see the developers working so closely with Sony to incorporate new features. Even if I don't ever actually use Home anymore. I might have to reinstall it just for this and what might come of it in the future. Even though there already is Warhawk game-launching, I think the game space would be cool to check out at least once or twice. It would also be cool for people to be like "where are the land mines on ____ map?", someone could point it out on the sand map.
My clan and I sometimes have a hard time getting onto the same server due to Warhawk not updating where a player is in the menu list (whether under buddies or clan members) so game launching might actually prove useful.
transclowing @ Feb 26th 2009 9:59AM
Go on the buddy list not clan member list (buddy list refreshes more often).
Vincent @ Feb 26th 2009 9:46AM
"As it stands, the Sand Table is a nice idea that hasn't quite come together in its execution" -- Much like Home itself?
Hashbrown Hunter @ Feb 26th 2009 10:48AM
I am a diehard Wark-Hawk fan!
(Remember, always use spell check!)
debaser @ Feb 26th 2009 11:20AM
Funny my infantile mind read it as War-khawk
and yes I'm easily amused.
NoobianGod @ Feb 26th 2009 1:28PM
We should be able to purchase the table for our homes! Dang they keep missing the simple stuff. Come on!
FeaturePreacher @ Feb 26th 2009 1:37PM
Oh Randy, you're missing the real point to the sand tables, to write dirty, obscene messages without getting filtered by moderators. Kind of like a public bathroom stall wall.
Dehshizknight @ Feb 26th 2009 4:26PM
That's pretty fly. I'd like to go there just to screw around. :p
Kenneth H. @ Feb 26th 2009 6:21PM
Warhawk IZ DA SH**....and anyone that says otherwise is an idiot. **just my opinion folks**...this game has been out for 1.5+ years now and I bought it the November after it came out. After initially picking it up and hating it and considering taking it back...this game has become my favorite game on PS3 still. Maybe I don't know any better but Warhawk continues to get me coming back daily and its just as fun...even more fun than the day I bought it. One day they will take the servers down and Warhawk as we know it will be no more (a very sad day)....if you haven't yet experienced the pure chaos and mayhem that is Warhawk you are truly missing out on one of the single best reasons to own a ps3...hurry up cuz it won't last forever....TRUE STORY!!!
Warhawk fans add me: bmore2bstuy
handle1012 @ Mar 5th 2009 9:24PM
yoo watup bmore i kno u alreaddy im brooklynoob1012(add me if u want ppl) and this is one of my fav games on ps3. thooo i wonder if anyone is actually going to use this for actuall strategizing. people will probablly just go by themselves and f up the map for absolutly no reason or better yet they will actually use it then just forget while they are waiting for game launching.... dint chorect my spielign unli lusssers dhu dat
mairondil @ Feb 27th 2009 12:59PM
I tried the sand tables last night. Usually the one controlling them was someone who had never heard of Warhawk, moved 60 APC's from the center of the map to a couple of the other zones and asked "So do I win now?"
Met some other Warhawk players in there through, and got invited to a game, but when launching the game, it said could not connect then froze my PS.
Has anyone successfully launched or joined a game from within Home?