In one corner you have the XMB (cross media bar for those who like things spelled out) looking to provide features that many PS3 owners have been calling for since the launch of the console. In the opposite corner you have the highly touted HOME which is a free virtual world that is going to provide some of the same features as the XMB once it’s integrated into games. So the real question is; are they both needed?
Tale of the Tape:
HOME according to the official press release:
“Home is a real-time online 3D, networked community available on the PLAYSTATION®Network. It allows PS3 users to interact, communicate, join online games, shop, share private content and even build and show off their own personal spaces to others in real time. Home will be available as a free download from the PLAYSTATION®Store and will launch directly from XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) on PS3.
With an avatar uniquely customized according to each user’s preference, users can explore the 3D community that is Home – a sleek, modern environment featuring spacious common areas; custom spaces dedicated to specific games; and personal apartments. Each user is assigned an apartment in Home where they can invite others to join them as they show off their own style in an area they can personalize themselves with furniture, art and other items – even a different view from their windows. They can also show their personal video, pictures and other digital media content found on their PS3 hard drives in their apartments. Very rich interactive communication with others is achieved through built in text, audio and video chat, along with sophisticated emotional animations for each character.
Sharing continues in the “Hall of Fame,” where users can display new 3D trophies that will be unlocked through in-game achievements, as well as real time score rankings in PS3 games”
In-Game XMB:
Probably the most requested feature from many PS3 owners is In-Game XMB. It will more then become a condensed version of the XrossMediaBar; making it accessible from any game, video or whatever you’re doing on the PS3. Giving you access to music, friends lists, message box, and any other feature Sony wants to pull out their hat to help gamers trick out their PS3 experience.
The Bout:
Now while both services are vastly different, where one is a virtual 3d world and the other a static interface, they both are going to offer some similar services. The biggest one from them both is the friends list and how that feature is implemented into how you play the game. Both services should bring about being able to access the main friends list from the PS3. While HOME is still very much a mystery and going through a closed beta testing; Sony ensures that while in HOME you’ll be able to connect with friends anywhere in the virtual world. Also you’ll be able to invite them back to your apartment to share videos and pictures, but more importantly it will also act as a lobby system to launch multiplayer games from. In-Game XMB is taking its cue from the 360 guide button. Part of the XMB will be accessible while playing a single player game as well as during intense multiplayer matches. This will give owners the freedom to view their main friends list while playing; as well as send/receive friend and game invites, also granting the ability to check messages. It’s also possible that one day Sony could offer custom sound tracks if they can get around a patent that Microsoft owns.
BG21’s Take:
While these two services are primed to boost the PS3 range of services to the bar that Microsoft has set, but if implemented right it could set Sony on a whole new path completely. That’s playing to the beat of your own drum. However one can’t help but wonder if In-Game XMB comes out first will the need for HOME to be used as a launch pad to connect gamers together to play games be needed? Granted you still get the value of the online social community in a very pretty 3D interface, but to hang out in a virtual world waiting for your buddy to come on and play games with is a mute point once you’ll be able to see him on and invite him to the game you’re actually playing thanks to In-Game XMB. All the cool aspects and functionality of home will kind of become the punching bag of In-Game XMB once it comes into fruition. HOME will have all the flash of a persistent virtual world that you can run around in play mini pool games, wait in line at the arcade for your turn to play, build up your swanky bachelor/bachelorette pad, and kick it with your homies in your crib. Drop in a free couch or two or maybe even use real money to trick out your spot in leather furniture; the sky’s the limit. Those are some hard drop kicks that HOME is putting up on In-Game XMB. But, with games like GTA IV, MGS4, LittleBigPlanet, Killzone 2, Resistance 2, and other stellar titles on the horizon for the PS3; the less flashy In-Game XMB will get you connected to friends and in these games quick.
The Outcome:
This seems like it’s going to be the classic case of “The Chicken and The Egg”. Basically which one will come first? If In-Game XMB comes out first and gives all the functionality of HOME without the 3D environment, then HOME just becomes a place to hang out and share some pics and videos (I hope this is policed. I don’t need to see home videos of someone’s amateur porn career). If HOME is the first to drop and allure PS3 fans by the thousands, then it’s possible that it will build a following strong enough to fend off In-Game XMB ease of use and streamlined access. Many critics from various shows wonder about the longevity of HOME once In-Game XMB launches; while others even question while HOME even see the light of day. Some has gone so far as to suggest maybe HOME should just stay put and Sony’s efforts should be concentrating on In-Game XMB and make life easier for everyone. So for now In-Game XMB is the people’s champ, but be careful cause HOME could deliver a knockout blow then later on down the road; tattoo its face and bite your ear off simultaneously.
Posted by Kid Sidious, Apr 09, 2008 06:00 PM
callum wrote on Apr 10, 07:13 am
quick thing, Microsoft does not own a patent for custom soundtracks or anything like that, you cant patent something like that, microsoft has patented their method so sony just has to find another way of doing it.
Almeida wrote on Apr 10, 07:35 am
LOL @ mute point
Jessewb wrote on Apr 10, 08:12 am
@allum.....your totally right... It is only the method.....using xmb instead of dashboard is enough of a difference....so microsoft cannot sue sony for that.
Andy4ita wrote on Apr 10, 09:54 am
Pointless, they started developing home more than two years ago, they know better than find casual issues that could put on test the compatibility between Home and the in game XMB, this is just ridculous
Broaf wrote on Apr 10, 10:02 am
Didn't your teacher ever tell you to read through your work?
StareClips.com wrote on Apr 10, 10:22 am
I don't understand why the two are being compared at all. The point of in-game XMB isn't so that you can gather your friends together to join the same game... otherwise, it just means that whomever ends up playing a game first decides the game to play, which isn't really fair. The point of in-game XMB is because you get notification windows in the corner letting you know when your friends are online and you can also receive messages from them, currently, in-game. However, you can't message them... you can't respond back... you have to quit your game (possibly trying to get to a save point first)... go to the XMB... type out a message... and wait... maybe just to say something like "hang on a sec" or "gimme 10 mins". The point of HOME is to provide an alternative universe for a different style of gaming. Games that not a whole lot of people would bother playing if provided separately (chess, checkers, etc) are all available in one area. This will be an area for the casual gamer to wander about, looking for something interesting to do. Eventually, it will be the spot to find new things to download, new movies to watch, etc... A large number of people will likely start their gaming session in HOME to see what's going on... to meet up with any friends that are online... to make new friends... maybe to play some casual games with strangers if none of their friends are online. Then, they'll either kick off a single player game from there... or will start a game with some friends (or new friends). Once in a game, then in-game XMB takes over. If anyone tries to communicate with you at that point, while you are in your game (and when they are not already in the same game,) you won't need to leave your game... you won't need to hop into HOME... you'll just be able to communicate quickly and get right back into your game. So, comparing these two features is like comparing the picture-in-picture feature on a television to a TiVo. They serve two different purposes for two different types of situations. So, of course they will coexist peacefully.
Kris wrote on Apr 10, 10:25 am
You mentioned a patent that Microsoft owns, something that doesn't apply to the Playstation 3. This patent is for the "method", which is programming jargon. A method is a snippet of code which completes a particular task. i.e. launch custom soundtracks. This method is exclusive to the programming language used on the 360. So this patent makes perfect sense, they own the patent for game launching on that system as well. The author of the original article is lacking in programming/legal knowledge and shouldn't have written this article. All that came out of it are fanboys and uninformed public spouting out rumours about how M$ can charge Sony and restrict them from making in-game soundtracks public. You CANNOT patent anything as vague as in-game soundtracks on any console. As Microsoft has never programmed for the PS3 and cannot patent something that has not even been created yet.
Kris wrote on Apr 10, 10:27 am
To clarify, I was suggesting that the author of the original article which was linked to should not have written it, as I mentioned. Referencing it is a mistake most folks make, especially considering "patent law 101" isn't normally required learning in today's high schools ;)
headshot24/7 wrote on Apr 10, 10:53 am
@ Starclips.com "A large number of people will likely start their gaming session in HOME to see what's going on... to meet up with any friends that are online... to make new friends... maybe to play some casual games with strangers if none of their friends are online. Then, they'll either kick off a single player game from there... or will start a game with some friends (or new friends). Once in a game, then in-game XMB takes over. If anyone tries to communicate with you at that point, while you are in your game (and when they are not already in the same game,) you won't need to leave your game... you won't need to hop into HOME... you'll just be able to communicate quickly and get right back into your game." so then tell me how can you not make comparisons here you can launch a single and multiplayer game from home and last time i checked my PS3 you can do the same thing without home so I ask you when in-game xmb comes why would i need to go through home to find you in a game when i should be able to see and contact you easily enough from the xmb with you being able to access that while in the game there's some good points here but some of the features of home will be lessened when in-game xmb comes out oh superbowl party at my crib somebody else needs to bring the 3d food though
Dar wrote on Apr 10, 12:32 pm
I reckon both will be necessary Home - Will be the 1st thing I log on to when I turn on the PS3, I will go and try and round up some random people for a Game on COD4, you can't really make friends that well on COD4 and the Likes as you would do on Home, So yeah I'm hanging around in home seeing what would intrigue me, someone says hey wanna play Little big planet and ill zoom in to that, this is were the In- game XMB comes in. So I am in LBP and my friend comes online, Send him a Message and ask him if he wants to play. Or say I go another round of the Single Player COD4 and a friends say Hey, you coming to play COD4 online, I can message back quickly and say, yeh give me a chance to save and ill come online. I can also switch my music on in a game, or if I'm stuck at a part in oblivion then no worries I have a Walkthrough in the background PS3 IE, which saves me coming out. Were as in Home its more of a central meeting place with cool features, I might just message my friend and wanna play Pool or a game of Chess, or heck show him a Clan Battle Video saved on My HDD, I can also let him hear this song I think he'll like. Whilst both in game XMB and Home offer some basic same things, They really will make the experience more Flexible. I want both of them. Heck I can even show of my awards something I can do in Home not in XMB, in XMB I can listen to my music whilst wooping YOU at COD4
headshot24/7 wrote on Apr 10, 12:53 pm
@ Dar while i think home is going to be a good look an all, I don't think i'll stop playing MGS4 to play some checkers or shoot some pool you're bugging out on that one that's like leaving the steak to eat some spam lol
rothbart wrote on Apr 10, 03:36 pm
I think you're misinterpreting Home's use... sure it _can_ be used to launch into multiplayer gaming, avoiding the current lack of in-game invites and the ability to check them, but that's very shortsighted. Home gives you the ability to chat and interact in large groups before launching into multiplayer gaming... and that's just one tiny aspect of Home. Treating Home like it's a stop-gap measure to address missing features from the XMB is short-sighted to say the least. Look at the game-themed aresa companies can (and will) produce for their higher profile games... those currently have _no_ counter on _any_ system and are only most closely approached by web pages. IMO, that's the #1 thing people should be anticipating from Home... the ability to experience gaming themed areas and to be presented gaming news/media/etc. in a new and exciting "next-generation" way. Back to the "launching multiplayer games" aspect though, it also promised to potentially help move the gaming community "off the web" and "into the console". If you could meet your friends online in your "apartment" or whatever to launch off into various online gaming sessions, that could work out as a compelling advantage with no existing counter yet either. It's a bit misguided to be pitting Home and in-game XMB _against_ each other I think. I also think in-game XMB (if done right) will have an immediate positive response from the community while Home has an uphill battle ahead of it regardless of HOW phenomenal of a job they manage to pull off.
random_task wrote on Apr 10, 09:46 pm
Is it just me or does this article seem like it's trying to steal HOME's thunder? "While others question will HOME even see the light of day." Really? Give me a break. I read an article called (and this isn't a direct quote or the exact name) "10 things HOME is and 10 things HOME isn't". I can't find a link but it had some VERY nice info in there. A beta user wrote it and from the sounds of it HOME will be a VERY nice feature to have. I cannot wait.