Talk Playstation 3 News

So Microsoft set a date for their social network update named New Xbox Experience. Sony still has the Tokyo Game Show to do the same with Playstation Home. The only word we have is that Japan can expect an unofficial opening/release at the end of the month.

A reason why I think it’s better to release the Home open beta before the Xbox Avatars show up is that we know it’s in people’s nature to compare what they have to something else. By doing this with Home it can have sort of an advantage. People will compare the ability to meet up in a game room where you can see and actively interact together rather then a chat channel where you can only talk/chat to each other and hardly roam around. Or wait in a room chatting to people who will minutes later shoot you down like a fly being splattered and then bow before this person as respect for that.

If Microsoft releases the New Xbox Experience first, people will look at its features and what Home doesn’t have and say (Home) is weak.

There are still some things that need to be fixed to ensure it will not become a debacle. It is also not certain with how much content Home will have available when it gets its ‘open beta’ tag. With content we mean, the choice in clothing, furniture and 3rd party developer input. Also loading times are an issue with some. The first time you enter an area will take some major loading time after that the load time will be less but still present when entering/exiting certain area in Home.

Despite not having all the features as we were told when home was first introduced, the ‘basic package’ can still offer enough challenge in this enhanced socializing competition.

Is there more then just wandering around an area socializing to expand your friends list which will hopefully not hamper your WipeOut experience. Or play the 2nd fastest selling game on the Playstation 3 to build up team spirit/-work for the clan.
There is at least that is my opinion.
With Web 2.0 and the rise of social networking sites, an addition like this is a step in the same direction. Of course it can get dull but it’s about interacting and since online battles have increased it is simple to add such a feature to ensure that the people stay behind the console. They are doing this with the Playstation Video Store and PlayTV.

Though Home and the New Xbox Experience add something new, not everybody sees the use of these additions as useful, but more as a gimmick. And that is the group that both Sony and Microsoft must face and convince if they want their social product to be a hit. How do you convince people that such features will enhance your multimedia experience, increase your (online) social contact and bring an extra addition to your console. That question will probably be answered in the upcoming months as the consoles battle for our attention.

(This story is not the opinion of Talkplaystation itself and/or its other writers.)