Your Dream Space in Home
by Burbie52, HSM team writer
If you could have Sony or a third-party developer put together your own dream space — be it private or public — what would it be?
A castle? A moon base?
Think about this before you answer, because in Home the possibilities are endless. There have been some new spaces proposed in this magazine lately: a new poker venue for one in Keara’s wonderful article, “Lightning in a Bottle,” and also a fighting arena. Since we know that developers and Sony alike read this magazine and love feedback, I thought I would throw this out there and see what you – as their clientele – would like to see in Home.
(I, for one, would like for them to complete the Steampunk space they have been talking about forever. Though I myself am not a steampunker, the whole concept makes me excited because they mentioned an interactive game that would be available there.)
But if it came to making a personal space that would make me buy a new one, it would have to be a real castle — not like the Wizard’s Den, but something considerably larger. It could even be an expandable like the mansion was — but hopefully without all the gold trinketry. It could have the furniture built in and I would still buy it, even though I haven’t bought the mansion because of that fact. There could be new furniture pieces made available for this, and ornaments too; as well as costumes like knights and ladies, and there could be a garden area, a kitchen and I could go on and on. There could be a mini-game with an “attack the castle” type of theme to it. A virtual gold mine for anyone; I think it would be a big hit.
I asked all of my friends this question and I got some interesting answers back. It is a good way to get a handle on where their interests actually lay; I learned a bit about them just from the answers I got. I have gotten some very good ideas from people, which I will share with you now.
There were a few people who wanted the same types of spaces. Many of these were based on either a movie, TV franchise or on video games they enjoyed. Red Dead Redemption was popular, for both a personal farm type of space where you could feed animals and fish in a stream as mini-games, and also as a large public space, based on Armadillo where you could perhaps have a gunfight with other people as a game, even poker or a drinking game similar to Sodium in the saloon. The farm space would also work without a RDR theme to it. I believe Cubehouse, in his HSM interview, talked about having a farm for a personal estate.
A White Knight Chronicles space was suggested as well. (Copy editor’s note: over in the EU Home, their events space was done in a WKC theme when Home reopened) I would leave it up to the developers what they would want to do with that; these are just suggestions.
Another request was Star Trek. A few people asked for a bridge personal space complete with uniforms to buy, and perhaps a larger scale public space with a Starship Enterprise theme. There was also a mention of an Indiana Jones public space of some sort, as well as Pirates of the Caribbean or Back to the Future. These were also put forth as possible personal space ideas — perhaps Doc Brown’s house with a DeLorean, or the Black Pearl ship. Also, a Harry Potter space with a public Hogwarts and private dormitory spaces. I don’t know if these are possibilities because of licensing and legal issues, but these are dream spaces. Indulge us.
(Editor’s note: You know, a “starship bridge” personal space could work. If there was a different mini-game at each console — one for tactical, one for navigation, one for science, one for ship operations, etc. — and it was just different or generic enough to avoid any licensing issues from Paramount or other parties, it could be a hit. Just a thought.)
A couple of my friends want campsite-type areas, with a cabin, a lake, and a fire pit as well. Possibly a fishing game and a boat that works on lake could be bought separately like the mansion pieces, or hiking trails. On the same theme, a few wanted a chalet or house with a snow area where you could ski and see wildlife perhaps, kind of like the free one you can get in the EU region with a skiing game. A tennis area was also suggested either as a personal space with a court or a public one with several. We have golf and basketball; why not tennis?
On a recent episode of The Upload, there was also another personal space concept suggested by HearItWow that I think many people would love: an arcade space with a personal two-lane bowling alley included, using the same format as the one in the public bowling alley. They could have a snack bar and an arcade area where people could have a few games already built in and add a few of their own.
On this same line, another suggested idea was an amusement park public space with rides and a funhouse, or a haunted house, or both.
Many of my friends want a music-based personal space. Yes, nDreams offers the Musicality Apartment, and I know that streaming music is a hard nut to crack due to licensing reasons, but why not have a Qriocity personal space to be able to listen to a service you have already paid for with your friends?
Along similar lines, someone else suggested a Netflix-themed space. Anyone who also has Netflix could come watch a movie together with their friends there, and chat or text back and forth. Since they will have already paid for it, I don’t see why it couldn’t be a possibility. Probably some licensing issue or technological limitation, most likely.
There are a few others concepts I’ve heard about, like a house in the sky or an ultra-modern house with movable curtains, lights and doors that actually work. A go-kart game area, a casino with all the games related to it…the list goes on. There are many different ideas out there, and these are but a few; I am sure you can all come up with one of your own. What’s your ideal public or private space?
June 9th, 2011 by Burbie52 | 30 comments
Burbie52 is a 62 year-old published author and founder of the Grey Gamers group within Home. Born and raised in Michigan, she has lived there her entire life, with the exception of a twelve-year residency on the Big Island of Hawaii. She enjoys reading and writing, as well as video games, especially RPG's. She has one son in his twenties.
that would be nice to have a red dead theme or even have a rodeo would be awesome to have in PlayStation home but i like the idea for red dead redemption theme but a rodeo with bull riding or bronc riding something like this would be awesome
A baseball field. I don’t care what they do with it. Sit in the stands and watch a baseball game perhaps with users who are allocated points and train to gain more something like the Dolphy ring games?
Or an athletic track field with running events, pole vault etc run on a somewhat similar principle as the Dolphy system.
Sit and watch too boring? OK, forget it.
Cost too much? OK, forget it.
Then back to the baseball field. I don’t care what they do with it. Sit in the stands and watch a baseball game perhaps with users who are allocated points and train to gain more something like the Dolphy ring games?
Reading your comment gave me a rather ambitious idea:
The Summer Olympics are coming to London next year. Why not -- for those two weeks -- have a re-creation of the Olympic stadium -- maybe even some of the other major venues, like baseball and gymnastics -- and make it an international server, ala E3/FIFA? They can have minigames, like baseball, track and field events, and the like. I wonder how much effort (development, licensing, etc) it would take?
In the long run, it could possibly be a useful tool to gather information for future private/public spaces that would involve something like a baseball field.
That is a brilliant idea Terra, they could do it very much on the Feva concept (they might even be able to use the old stadium) with the actual games showing on the screen above or some of the scores of the various countries involved. There could be many associated minigames too. How about simple ones like shot-put or javelin throw, these would be easier to work than running or swimming I think, pole vaulting, any of those types of games would probably work. I hope someone is reading this who thinks about this one for sure.
A baseball field?
If they build it, we will come.
A personal estate in Home, ideally, should be an experience unto itself. It should be aesthetically pleasing, yes, but it should have experiences worth repeating.
Let’s use the concept of a farm, for instance, and employ the same business model as the Mansion. The Farm core space should have unlockables (much like the Loco Roco Island personal estate) based on the purchase of add-on farm spaces (a barn, a crop field, a windmill, etc.) as well as the completion of objectives within those spaces. The Farm, if developed correctly, could be a huge hit.
Personally, I’d love to see a knock-off of Myst Island as a personal estate, complete with puzzles to solve. Heck, I’d even like to see Home deploy a new ARG (like Xi) based on a Mysterious Island public space, with puzzles unlocking other spaces (such as Myst’s Channelwood Age or Selenitic Age) to explore. It’d be amazing.
One public space I’d like to see would be a cruise ship. Imagine a core public space with community swimming pool and waterslide, stage for entertainment, shuffleboard areas, and even a casino. You don’t think that would be awesome? Cue the Love Boat theme and let’s get to work.
Burbie’s idea of a castle, or keep, is an interesting one for a personal estate. There would be numerous opportunities for add-on expansions and various types of mini-games. And besides, who doesn’t want to feel like Errol Flynn rescuing Olivia de Havilland?
Love the cruise ship idea Norse. That would be an excellent public space, and you could have many different games attached to it like you said, great idea!
But if they did do one with a pool they should at least make it so the avatars actually swim, that seems to be a big wish for quite a few people I have spoken to actually. What is the point of having a pool or the ocean for that matter if all you do is walk around in it.
Novus Prime made us float weightlessly. Similar programming could be used for swimming.
For the castle a nice add-on would be a Ballroom with an orchestra and a higher limit for guests so you could have big parties.If there was a way to pick winners for items/prizes/points/whatever then sitting through the track sports that Kid Fleetwood suggested would be a breeze.My idea for a personal space would be a “Pinky and the Brain” themed space that would have the two of them walking around and talking about the new plan to take over the world then the personal space would change to a theme that matched the days plan to rule the world.Another words a space thats always changing,repeats are allowed,to match the discussion between the 2 characters.1 day might be a water-themed space the next day one related to fire etc.I realize it has 0% chance of ever being made but this is a wish list.
My dreamspace for home would be a type of alcatraz prison island where all banned people have to log into for set amount of hours before they can re-enter Playstation home..The offenders would have all speech disabled and would only be able to use one emotion hold onto bars..In the front doors would be a prison store where you could buy various items to tease the offenders ..sort of like the slap happy items..Not only do i think it would be a fun space but a way for people who have conformed to the rules and have been harassed by others to release a bit of the same treatment that they might have endured..lol..in a fun way of course..I think that if a person has to keep their playstation logged into home for set amount of hours to be able to gain entrance back into home..that if they did complete the time they would be better citizens of home..The ones that chose not to do the time are the ones that were there just to harass people in the first place and don’t care about being in home anyway..I think this space would be more effective then just taking away internet ..let em play their games but make them wait to walk and talk free in home…..Heck you might as well have a little courthouse room of on the side where people can vote if you think someone has been wrongfully imprisoned…
ROFL Itchy!! That is an interesting take on this discussion, not what I would have thought about that’s for sure.
That’s got my vote, itchy!
Then we can start jury pools in Home, and have mini games to get out of jury duty :>
A HomeStation Magazine space, naturally.
Kid Fleetfoot! At the E3 presentation, all Tretton would talk about was the Move controller and 3D. That’s what Sony is pushing like crazy. So: how about a baseball space you play with your Move controller -- maybe a batting cage? And do it in 3D -- imagine those pitches coming at you in 3D (wow!). I think an interactive space like that -- either as a new game space or on a smaller scale as a personal space would be a winner. (plus hot dogs and cold beer, of course).
Which reminds me: Sony stands to make a lot of money selling those 3D glasses for $69.99 and the Move controller (I forget how much that is). So, I think our best best for suggesting new spaces to Sony is to incorporate those two features into them.
We should also be pushing to get Home access into the new PS Vita. That thing is going to sell like crazy.
Here’s a space idea I’d like to see:
An apartment with 1930’s & 40’s style flair. A city dwelling with a view of the street (with correct era cars when one look down at the street) and the sky (with the appropriate planes or zeppelins flying by every now and again). A ton of items can be created for such a place including: a line of kitchen appliances, furniture, an active item radio which plays old radio shows and period music, and clothing.
But…and here’s the kicker…the owner of the space has the option to switch the view (much like Ameratsu, or however you spell it)between color, black and white, and movie grain black and white (with all the little squiggles and pocks one would see in an old film.
THAT would quickly become my favorite space.
very cool idea John
I’m with Burbie, why not a place designed around the Game of the year. Armadillo would be awesome.
Let’s have poker, liars dice and a saloon. Wouldn’t it be cool to even have the general store to go shopping at? John Marston’s house would be the perfect personal space. I would have paid twice the amount for a Marston house than what we received from the mansion. Just think to have a stall with horses. Wonder if we cared for the horses enough we could even race them like we do the dolphins. Rewards of racing could be different colors of horses until we worked up to the unicorn blowing stars out its butt. LOL
I can see RDR personal spaces would be endless, generating PSH revenue to no bounds RDR soundtrack available in the personal spaces as well as in the saloon would be awesome. RDR is one game that is going to be around for a very long time. The only time I leave RDR is to come to home and take a bath and get all the grim and dirt off of me after riding all day. Why not get with Rockstar and after a long day riding with the posses come in clean up and play some poker have a drink and tend to the horse.
I would even enjoy just sitting out on my porch and watching all the wild animals. Especially watching my horse that I am trying to condition for an upcoming race. I would love to put on my fancy swag and take to town and kick some butt with some poker have a drink and dance with a couple of real dudes.
If a gun fight broke out …………..well that’s a whole other story.
Well I am thinking that Sony must already have some sort of relationship with Rockstar games because they had that contest that was between the PS3 and the Xbox awhile back to win outfits for your avatars in Home, which we won of course. So we already have some period piece outfits based on RDR they just need to take the relationship to the next level and anything is possible. I think the McFarlane’s Ranch would also be an excellent choice for a personal space as you would have the farming element that many want as well.
Indeed, and RDR space would be sweet. Hands down, it’s my favorite game for the PS3; I probably spent more time just riding around the world than I did actually pursuing missions. Unfortunately, I doubt we’ll see that kind of support as the game is already ‘old news’.
But, that doesn’t mean that and old west or farm style space could not be made by a third party dev house. I really like what n’Dreams did with Aurora – having a personal space which tied into their public space, even to the point of allowing you to earn exp in the public or private spaces for the game. That idea would lend itself well to a Wild West theme (the public space being a small frontier town set-up with the personal space being a ranch) or even a farming theme (a botanical garden, perhaps, with a tie in to a farming space).
And, with the potential for a huge amount of items up for grabs in micro-transactions (everything from period clothes and animated steers for the western space, and gardening clothes and Farmville type upgrades for the farming space) the spaces could make a profit which might lead to upgrades as time went on (something which is sorely needed outside of Sodium and the promises of n’Dreams).
Perhaps a bunch of us should chip in for a dev kit and show ‘em how its done :>
Perhaps this bunch of us should bring this up as a suggestion when we meet with John on Sunday. After all, he was the one who created the Mansion and a whole bunch of other personal spaces in Home. Ask for a show of hands -- “How many people here really LOVE this idea?”
Which idea, Keara? The wild west one, the farm one, or that we should chip in for a dev kit?
why not all three? a wild west farm/ranch (like RDR) and we should do it if they won’t
Ok…count me in! So…who here knows how to program in the dev kit? Anyone? Anyone? Bueler?
you know there was a cool idea on the forums for a space based on “the tester” apartment. I think that would be a cool space to have as it would have built in furniture and an EOD. My 2 cent’s was that it should have game cabinets and maybe game trials of new and upcoming titles, and it should be free for watching all the episodes!
That is a fantastic idea, stevev! I love the idea of game trials and being able to watch episodes in there.
Baron-Hellmuttt had the idea, I just resurrected it on the forums.
http://community.us.playstation.com/thread/3408573?tstart=0
fingers crossed!
I’m surprised no one has mentioned this but I think a Fashion Runway public space would go over well. People are probably going to laugh at me for saying this but Webkinz has one and it works well. A fashion show could be run every 30 minutes, people wanting to walk the runway would sign up at a table, and people watching the show could sign into devices around the runway. When its time each model would have a chance to walk the runway and pose as they want within a certain time. After all the models are finished the spectators could vote for their favorite and the winner could win points that they can trade for prizes. Showing off their fashion sense is something a lot of people seem to enjoy at home anyway so why not win prizes for it? Especially since people have spent real money on a lot of their clothes.
Starship Enterprise space?
A possible example will be the IREM’s R-Type battleship lounge.