by Susan, HSM team writer and videographer

The day has arrived that many of us have been waiting for a couple of months now. A day that brings the latest update.

Unless your PS3 has been “bricked,” you’re just too zombied-out from killing zombies, or you have been recently banned from all forms of communication humanly possible, you must now be aware of the newest evolutionary step we, the Nation of Avatars, are about to embark upon.

With the closing of Central Plaza, we now are being directed to a new community gathering place on Home. It’s called The Hub. Rightfully so, I might add.

Upon arrival to The Hub, I looked around and took it all in. I was very impressed with how the store fronts were decorated and merchandised, and it was more three-dimensional in appearance. It seemed to be more realistic. I actually envisioned myself walking past one of these entrances like I had been walking into a Macy’s or Neiman Marcus store, minus the cold blast of air-conditioning; it just had that level of class and sophistication about it.

The Activity Board is an incredible upgrade.

The Cogs game looked like something I will have to try, but later.

For now, I was on a mission: to play poker. I knew that was at the Sportswalk, but I was also dying to check out the ferris wheel. I jumped on the teleporter and was pixelated to another segment of The Hub called the Pier Park.

As soon as you arrive you are greeted to a tall – sorry – HUGE Ferris wheel that I would go all in on a bet that it was at least 100 feet tall. Over my left shoulder was a massive video screen that I started to hope that someday they would stream live video feeds and not primarily just for advertising. I could definitely see this area as being a place to hold parties and gatherings if that came to fruition.

Just a little further and you come to the R/C mini game. This was a cute and a very replayable game for me. It will, however, not make me shut down my rocket engines from the AvatardsRacingConsortium Sodium 2 solo-racer machine.

The real thing, for comparison

I can say with certainty I shall be playing much more of it down the road — after poker. How can I not enjoy an R/C truck that always seems to flip over for me? This game was reminiscent of Dirt but without your friends putting you into a rail or an incoming wall. This would really be fun as a multi-player on here, which, as of this writing, it does not have.

The wood deck is a great design idea as it gives it the authentic “Boardwalk” ambience. What at first I could not put my finger on at this point just clicked – vendors. This is exactly where the Midway should be located at.

That is what the boardwalk scene was about for me growing up – Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Atlantic City, and so on. A long wooden pier/walk that as a kid it would have stretched forever and always served four of the worlds best carnival food groups: pizza, hot dogs, funnel cakes and cherry cola. I have since amended that list to include fried bacon and fried Twinkies. Call it a woman’s prerogative. And this virtual simulation of those childhood memories is close – but not quite – an exact replica. More on that later.

I continue on walking along and passed what must be the back entrance to the bowling alley. This could not have been any more inconspicuous looking. Maybe this is where they move all the Home “big-wigs” thru when they want to bowl. That might explain why there is a yacht moored in here at the moment. Only when I back away and look at the building in its entirety do I now then see how remarkable it is in its detail. It looks like it is fronting a huge auditorium or library. Nicely done, Sony.

Further on down I come to an access point to the Community Theater and I hear music. No, no chain swinging music was playing. I look around and see what appears to be a large karaoke booth. As soon as I thought that, a guy comes from behind the wall and into the booth! However, he left before I could load the camera up but talk about timing. The Cinema does have a sign so you do have an idea what is in front of you, but would a billboard or two hurt? I could be strolling along the pier, watching the sun that does not set, thinking of what to do next and stumble upon the Cinema and see a poster showing a release of the new episode of HomeCast Rewind or the latest PSTalent video and think, “date night.”

I stroll on over to the yacht and am not allowed to go onto it, which is mildly annoying (it’s there – why can’t I get on it?) and intriguing (what do they have up their sleeve?) at the same time.

I walk up to this massive Ferris wheel and actually feel giddy. I love Ferris wheels. I actually like it when it stops at the top. This is what truly makes it for me as far as getting that full “Boardwalk” experience goes. I also like to ride in the front car of a roller coaster.

For those who are not aware, the term Ferris wheel is a nomenclature that started shortly after George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. designed and constructed such a device for the 1893 World’s Columbian Expedition in Chicago. The tallest wheel to date is the Singapore Flyer, which opened in March of 2008.

Getting into this one is very disappointing to say the least. They give you a bunch of guides for the Ford space, why can’t we get someone here to at least stop and start the wheel and close the safety latch? I mean, really? The actual ride is lacking in a je ne sais quoi and if you really want a feature to pop, it’s these little, almost innocuous details that make the difference. If you want to simulate a theme park feel, then simulate a theme park experience.

Sitting in the Gondola was like almost sitting at the poker tables, unable to look around, let alone let a lugie loose on the unsuspecting crowd below.  

Overall, I think the Sony people did an amazing job with the aesthetics of the space. The architecture was very pronounced as was the attention to the details on such things like the brickwork on the buildings or the small waves that lapped into the pier. I would like to see a day/night cylcle and even some nightly fireworks. What is a carnival atmosphere without them?

This space gives way to a lot of upgrades that possibly may be forth coming. Access to some of the main spaces in Home is convenient and within a quick stroll. I can see this space being used for a lot of group parties and gatherings and look forward to the potential it has.

Oh, and the poker? Oh yes. It is back with a vengeance. All your chips are belong to Sue.

Share

8 Responses to “Home’s Pier Park and Sportswalk: It Ain’t No Coney Island”

1. Burbie52 says:

   November 4, 2011 at 2:53 am

   Good job Sue! I too loved the Pier, and though I am not an avid poker player, I am sure I will enjoy it a bit in the future when the fervor dies down. I like the RC cars, those are fun and I hope they will update the tracks and such occasionally as time goes on to help keep it fresh.

   Reply
   • Susan says:

     November 6, 2011 at 7:40 pm

     Thanks Burbie. I still haven’t been able to see the new HUB after the Beta was done.

     Reply
2. Olivia_Allin says:

   November 4, 2011 at 4:07 am

   Awesome job Sue! This new Home still has that new home smell and I like it. I will miss CP but couldnt ask for a better replacement!

   Reply
   • Susan says:

     November 6, 2011 at 7:41 pm

     I miss CP to but the smell of fresh poker chips is a something that makes me forget all the troll encounters..

     Reply
3. GoodBytes says:

   November 4, 2011 at 11:34 am

   @Susan
   I recall Jack Busar saying that the yacht is a point of interest which dosen’t do anything, but maybe one day it will come alive. Do we just have to wait for that day.

   Reply
   • GoodBytes says:

     November 4, 2011 at 11:36 am

     “So we just have to wait for that day.”

     Reply
   • Susan says:

     November 6, 2011 at 7:43 pm

     Funny thing to me is it just barely resembles the Santori yacht..

     Reply