More and more people heading back Home

by Majed Athab { May 27th 2009 at 11:30PM }

In an interview given to The Escapist, Home game director Peter Edward asserts user population for Sony's PS3 virtual world is on the upside. "We're at the point now where we're starting to see our active user-base go up and we're getting more people coming back than are leaving," said Edward. "So, we're at the tipping point of where the platform starts to gain momentum."

Edward, unfortunately, was shy of detailing specific numbers. Are there more people now than when the service first appeared? Is the overall increase in PS3 owners a factor? Region? And did the recent development of ARG Xi play into this somehow? We still have so many questions. Do you find yourself coming back Home?

Tags: home, peter-edward, playstation-home, psn

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Scuba Steve @ May 27th 2009 11:45PM

I cant say Im coming back to HOME as such I was always on it, but I can say Im enjoying it much more recently with things like XI for a challenge something to do & EA's poker tables (tho they could do with more of them).

NineT9 @ May 28th 2009 6:01PM

haha ya the Poker Tables is actually the only thing that gets me back on Home

Love playing poker there (Godfathers Poker Tables are pretty cool too)

Once I get on home to play Poker, I find myself going and playing that racecar game, then cruising the mall, play a bit of Bowling, then by that time I have already met a few people and next thing you know its 3+ hours later :(

Home's an awesome idea, I just wish they would expand on it more

InFaMoUs1- @ May 28th 2009 12:16AM

maybe once or twice a week at most but that's about it.. Home is a snooze fest if your there for more than an hour... you get tired of watching people dry hump each other at the crappy music area

Styar @ May 28th 2009 12:17AM

god PS home SUX

InFaMoUs1- @ May 28th 2009 12:17AM

maybe once or twice a week at most but that's about it.. Home is a snooze fest if your there for more than an hour... you get tired of watching people dry hump each other at the crappy music area

maxpontiac @ May 28th 2009 12:17AM

I never left. I will continue to go there when new content drops, or to meet folks online.

However, I am not surprised by the increase in population, and neither should anyone else for that matter. More and more spaces are there, with more on the way. I believe the increase in traffic is due to these very reasons.

I feel once Home becomes a place that isn't like Disneyland (lines to stand in), it will really take off.

Popfrogs @ May 28th 2009 12:20AM

What a surprise, you give people something to do by supplying content...and they stick around.

Before it was like a big empty hamster cage and now it has tunnels and some running wheels.

j.howlett @ May 28th 2009 12:37AM

i find alot more people asking me questions on home. i watched that sucker punch thing today in the home theater but it was other places

linebeginstoblur @ May 28th 2009 12:38AM

I don't think Home is for me. I tried it during a beta and haven't touched it since, so I don't know if the changes have done anything, but I don't think it will be effective for me, because it looks like the core is the same. The social aspect just didn't seem that great, it was only every avatar for him-/herself, I noticed no one meeting up. Hell, I don't use a Bluetooth headset when playing games anymore. It's too awkward, and that's if you can even find someone who uses one, especially one taking it seriously.

jarhead906 @ May 28th 2009 4:00AM

And therein lies the problem with Home:

It's still in 'Beta'.

InFaMoUs1- @ May 28th 2009 12:39AM

I miss Paramore in the Home theater =(

Haohmaru (PSN - DimmuBurgerKing XBL - A Real Puppet ) @ May 28th 2009 7:25AM

I pop in occasionally to view any new content, but other than that it seems to me a waste of time. I have better things to do than the kinds of things I've seen most users doing inside Home, which include doing the cabbage patch with passers-by OR hitting on/harassing girl avatars who:

a.) might not even really be female in the first place

b.) live x miles away from you anyway

c.) probably, like me, are just checking out new content and want to be left the hell alone

As you can tell, I'm completely not a fan. The best thing about Home is that train-themed puzzle game at the arcade. That and other sub-games like poker and the air race are a good start, but we need more things like that available for those of us who aren't content with just "socializing" with random goofballs.

KingOfHearts @ May 28th 2009 7:29AM

I hardly go on Home anymore.. i do everyso often for Xi, or to rearrange my space (the items you get from re5/sf4 dont hurt either=) or to play saucer pop.. ive met a few people in Home... But not enough to view it as a full on facebook-esqe service.. if i had more real life friends who had ps3's, i might use this more..(or just text chat-_- )

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ May 28th 2009 7:54AM

I visit Home a few times a week, Xi was part of the reason why I was going Daily tho. Now that they are adding Numerous spaces a month of COURSE more people are goin to go to check them out...just imagine what will happen when they add the Trophy room, and Music store...

as for the Number, we should already know they will tout those at E3....thats what they LOVE to do is tout numbers...

Nguyen @ May 28th 2009 9:54AM

You know what, there need to be less friggin' people on Home so I can finally play Ward of Despair! GRRRAAAHHHH!

Fane @ May 28th 2009 6:56PM

Seriously. Is there only one instance of that environment or what?

I've tried three times (c. 20 minutes total) and have only managed to get lock-on to the game portal once and only seen three or four fleeting instances where I had the opportunity to join. Oh, too slow.

Plus, some douche always seems to put a bubble machine right in front of the window, so you can't get lock-on. Thanks alot, buddy.

Nguyen @ May 29th 2009 10:25AM

I've never had a problem locking on, but it's the "Oh, too slow" part that irks me. I've gotten in the game several times, but it's hard to get all the outfits. So it's already a pain to keep replaying it without all the damn people holding up the game.

FYI, when you first enter the room, run straight up to the window and your avatar will appear to push people out of the way, when you're right next to the window there's a good chance you'll lock onto the game right away. If not, just keep pressing left or right on the D-pad until you get to it. And if you're locking onto the video screens, then the game is very near them, just keep pressing right on the D-pad. The bubble machines shouldn't be a big problem if you use this method.

Eric E @ May 28th 2009 10:29AM

I went back once recently for the free home space download.
I still plan to try out Redbull air space and now that some family has moved far away and they have a ps3, i plan on setting up a meet in there sometime.

Jerses @ May 28th 2009 10:44AM

i Like the idea of home but im still dissapointed that theres a limit to the people on screen... i mean it makes sense when the audio chat was available...but now that it is gone... they need to add more people to the open plaza and use that server thing on small places so that everyone can play the minigames... lol why am i saying this... sonys not watching

Jon Acheson @ May 28th 2009 11:28AM

I was home sick with the flu last week, and turned on Home just because it was there.

It was like a ghost town designed by J. Crew.

I have since deleted it entirely (icon is still there, but it is no longer using up valuable space on my hard drive).

Dice @ May 28th 2009 2:53PM

Valuable Space? Upgrade already buddy im on a 320g over here

stormtrooper190 PSN= (im not telling you that) @ May 28th 2009 3:37PM

home takes like 50 KB´s on your hard drive which is like 1/50 of a mega bite

Fane @ May 28th 2009 6:57PM

Actually, it reserves around 4 Gb of space; you're thinking of the game save.

Slaytan @ May 28th 2009 11:36AM

I've been logging in a lot more recently. I've "met" a lot of interesting people and had a blast talking about random things. I wish there was more you could do with your homespaces, but until then, I'll keep running around in the different spaces and meeting new people.

Yingerman @ May 28th 2009 11:41AM

I go on whenever there is a new update, added place, etc.. Just yesterday I went on to check out the game launching for Crash Commando, and got sidetracked into a long inFAMOUS discusion (my first "discusion" about anything in Home:)).

Sadly, the CC game launch wasnt available yet. Can anyone tell me when it is?

Ashitaka @ May 28th 2009 12:38PM

Honestly, before EA space I didn't go to Home at all. But now... Damn, if I'm not a poker addict xD

vincent li @ May 28th 2009 1:47PM

i think it has to do with the alpha zone hidden portal. it gives ppl alot to do at ps home. I think a lot of ppl dont know about this place yet and would love to experience it. I found out about it just days ago. Also, the use of keyboard usb makes chatting a lot easier. Or a headset can work. LIttle things like that make the experience a whole lot easier. Once ppl adapt, build more friends, and learn everything there is to home, the experience is great. I would say even better than some games and more rewarding than unlocking some trophies

vince @ May 28th 2009 1:50PM

the hidden portal or the xi your mentioned definitely attracts and keeps ppl coming back to home. its a great addition. and it takes time for ppl to get a larger friend list and a keyboard or headset to make the experience a whole lot better.

Doghunt00 @ May 28th 2009 2:45PM

id have better things to say if everythiing didnt cost you real cash like how bout in game cash or how bout letting every one play what they want when they want to in home

stormtrooper190 PSN= (im not telling you that) @ May 28th 2009 3:49PM

i got like 50 shirts, 10 pants, 7 hats, 10 furniture and 4 arcade cabinets FREE just by going in the store and finding the free stuff and taking part in events and making a hong kong account and downloaded the namco beta.

Fane @ May 28th 2009 7:01PM

I've got to say Home is making strides. Still a long way to go, though.

I've been playing Xi lately and it's good if you like old school adventure games, which I do. I'll be interested to see what they do with those spaces when (if) Xi ends.

I was actually (gasp) sad that I couldn't get on Home last night due to maintenance.

Played BioShock instead.