December 13
SCEE working on Home server problems
If you live in the PAL region and tried to access Home the past two days, you might have noticed an error code named C-931. The definition: Very High Traffic on the (login) server. TedTheDog let know in a forum post that the technicians are working on it, but we have a feeling they’ll see out the weekend and collect data on how to counter it, rather then fix is straight away.
Strange thing is, neither the Asian or North American servers are having this issue (or atleast as big) as the servers under SCEE’s care. TedTheDog had this to say
We’re working up a list of the errors and should have them early next week. However, I thought I’d find out about C-931 now as that’s the one being reported the most currently and this is the error you’ll receive when you can not connect and is related to very high levels of traffic.
On other things, there is less content now then there was in the Closed Beta (not the Extended). People are waiting on the Trophy Room and ability to listen to music in their own pad or watch a movie/tv show. But all that isn’t in it, but it will be or at least we hope (soon). And that will cost us, which is a issue for most people too and we agree.
The reviewers are pouring their guts out. If you read IGN’s Impression 3/4 of the editors hated it. All making their point and bringing fact forwards, but like the last reviewer said,
Home isn’t for everyone. If you need a gaming experience that has a specific, preset purpose, this isn’t for you. But if you like social networking programs and free stuff, Home is already looking like a great addition to Sony’s online services.
Just don’t read the comments as what you see there is about the same level of behaviour you can find in Home at the moment.
We hope to SCEE solve these problems quick so they can add the rest of the stuff that was suppose to be added when the Open Beta started. And don’t forget to keep posting on the forums with suggestions or feedback, even if it feels like they won’t do anything with it.
December 12
Watch out, your Home isn’t safeOn the StreetskaterFU blog, the author claims that he was able to get into the server (back door) of Home v1.3. SKFU is the same guy who posted a fully unpacked and unencrypted version of Home 0.86
HOME is the most buggy game I ever saw and they really fucked up so much. Ok, the delays gone about 2 years but after this years of waiting as user I expect a little bit more. “It feels like 2005 tech in 2008. I’m not sure that’s what people want.”, I can only agree with this comment of Microsoft.
In programming language Home is not properly done by SCEE according to SKFU. Seems there are two server structure listenings.
Some uninteresting files like the model files are missing, in generall the most interesting files are included. JSP files are NEVER sources, they are the response of the server. They are responded for german area.
He was able to download any file of the content server of Home, but it’s biggest vulnerability is the ability to “upload any file so the server”.
His conclusion is
SONY fucked it really up! First they delay HOME for more than a year, then they delay it a few times again and again till finally we have a HOME beta on a technical standard from 2005 with crappy graphics, a few boring areas and many many many many many many many many bugs. After this whole bullshitting we finally get our beta on 11.12.2008 with another delay of about 5 hours because SONY is unable to test their servers before. Congratz, to SONY for this fantastic product. THANKS!
We don’t know if this is 100% true, but this definitely breaks another glass in Sony’s House after the delay of yesterday (and months prior to that). Aaron Greenberg will be the first to jump into our faces and say “I told you so“, or did he know more?
(Despite that we feel it is wrong in some way to post it, we still do as it’s still the source of this information we gathered for you) Source
December 10
More news on tomorrows big dayTedTheDog posted some info about tomorrows release of Home Open Beta on the Official EU Playstation forum.
Home will be offline for a while so don’t try to hammer it. Once its back online we will be running version 1.03 and all those with the current version will be offered a patch. The patch simply supports the server changes being made to support Open Beta.
The age limit will be lowered from 18+ to 16+ (Sigh)
You will be able to download Home off the Playstation Store after you have opted to install it, you will find it under PlayStation®Network on the XMB.
Only one sad thing the Red Bull Air Race will not be included tomorrow, but will arrive a few days later.
And some last words from Ted
Please remember, this really is a Beta
November 20
Finally we can go HomeIt took a while, but finally after years of development and testing, Sony has taken the second last step to releasing Home to the public.
As you might have read last week, SCEE announced that they would release the patch notes of Home 1.0 to the current Closed beta testers, this would start the final run towards the Open Beta of Home. Continuing in this process is sending out the invites in two or three batches to increase the amount of testers. Followed a few weeks after this would be the Open beta where everybody can download it (presumable from the Playstation Store).
But there is more. On the official Closed Beta Test Website they announced some major changes in the 1.0 version. These include the relocation of the Home logo on the XMB, it will fall under the Playstation Network category from now on.
Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore will be using once space (read server) instead of seperate ‘worlds’. A Home Café will open up and Sony already has some events planned.
The most important change is the disappearance of the virtual PSP which was used to handle your settings to arranging matches. This will be replaced by a Menu Pad.
Check after the break for the remaining changes
(more…)
November 14
SCEE announce Home release schedule TedTheDog , Home Community Manger on the official EU Playstation forums, let the community know that in the coming weeks Home version 1.0 (Normally the version format that gets released to the public) will be released on the the Closed Beta community to further test it.
The Patch Notes of 1.0 will be published in the Closed beta forum section so the tester know what they can expect and help plan testing.
After Home 1.0 has been released onto the Closed Beta community, a few days after that invites will be send out to expand the user base in the Closed Beta. The invites won’t go out in one full blow but will be gradually send out over a period of time. And for the first time they will invite non-English speaking tester. Those are English, French, Italian, German and Spanish.
Once the invites have been send out the SCEE Home forums will become the Home beta test forums. A date for the Open Beta of Home will then be announced after that. And like Open Beta says, it’s available to everybody (on a PS3) form that day.
One important thing TedTheDog said was
Home Beta is a service that will grow from the foundation of v1.0 over the coming months and years so thinking of it as a start rather than a finish will help you understand where its going and what its all about.
So like Gmail, HOME will continue to evolve.
October 13
LittleBigBeta over
What horrible quality
We’re sad to announce the closing of the LittleBigPlanet beta. After almost 3 weeks of open beta testing the time to close this chapter of the game has come.
For some it has brought joy as they were able to enter the beta, maybe even prior to the open beta. Other were saddened that they missed out on a beta yet again.
But no worries in about a week (and a few days extra for Europe ) the game will hit retail. And you can finally go all out creating levels, goof around with your friends or even mock other consoles.
But be careful with what you and say as the police will be around the corner watching.
P.S I think Media Molecule found it hard to turn off the switch as well as some reported that they could continue to play even after the deadline that was set. Don’t worry guys, we’ll be back next week with more friends.
Post @ Media Molecule
October 10
Clash of the socialsSo 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.)