What I Miss from Central Plaza
by Kassadee Marie, HSM team writer
My love affair with Central Plaza started early in my “Home life.”
The first time I left my Harbor apartment as a noob and went out the door of my apartment to arrive at the Plaza I was terrified. I didn’t know what to expect or what to do or how I would fit in. When someone spoke to me, I ran away and didn’t look back. (I think they asked where I was from, by the way). Then I saw this pond with colorful items floating all around over it and I went to see what in the world this was.
And so it all began.
The game was Saucer Pop – what I saw on my first visit to CP was a game and it was free and it was fun! I played for at least two hours that day and received several reward items of furniture. Those tables and chairs were the first non-default furniture items I ever had in Home and I loved their bright colors and modern design.
There were many other, temporary games, too. Do you recall the Turkey Chase or Scion car chase (another outfit reward) and other games, perhaps before my time? I’ll bet you liked some of those games. At times Central was remade into a different world. Dead Island was such fun and I have to admit it, I loved killing zombies. Scribble shooter was another fun remake and how I adored that sky! Killzone was one of these worlds, although not a personal favorite.
And when third party developers had new and exciting spaces, there were Teleport Stations. We have been able to teleport to many spaces and games from the Plaza, such as Sodium (Salt Shooter) or the Lockwood Showcase or the Little Big Planet game or the Playground or Santa’s place and many more.
And there were spaces available right from the Plaza to enjoy as well. Sure, you can go anywhere with your navigator. Yet I just think it added to the sense of realism to have “physical” entrances to the bowling alley, movie theater and harbor apartments there.
I love the outfit and sparkler we received for playing the game that was made for the Fourth of July last year. I wore it again this year and received many comments, compliments and questions. At Halloween time, we also could earn an outfit reward and that game was great fun, though hard. Who can forget the wonderful turkey costume we got at Thanksgiving time for chasing those turkeys!
Central Plaza was the only public space that I know of with weather – except for snow in SingStar for awhile, oddly enough. It has rained there several times and I love to wear my bright yellow raincoat when it does. Of course, all last winter it snowed in CP. I think I bought at least five or six new outfits so I would fit in with the weather scheme. I loved the “shiver and rub your hands“ action.
I saw my first glitch there in Central Plaza. When I saw those people standing on the bench instead of sitting, I wanted to be with them so much. In my mind, I knew they were the cool crowd and I wanted to be special, too. It was weeks before someone explained how to do the glitch and it took me so long to get it right. I’ve spent hours and hours standing on the bench since then, with friends or strangers, enjoying many conversations. Now I’ve explained the glitch to others more times than I can count, because we should all feel special once in a while.
I know there will be other places to talk now that CP is gone, but I think some of the conversational topics were very unusual there. Things like the seasonal or promotional scenery changes there – especially changes in the pond – the dance floor and music, and the glitch bench seem to produce unique topics. And, later the closeness of the largest bench to to the sales kiosk always invoked a conversation about shopping. While this may not be unusual, it sure was fun!
With the kiosk right there, CP was a wonderful place to see all of the new clothing items on Thursday mornings. People would rush out of the “store” and try on the new items right then and there. It was a veritable fashion parade! When companions were added, I was able to see almost every one right there before I decided to buy. Maybe this is why I have over twenty companion pets! I liked even to see the ads. Although I check what’s new every Thursday morning now, I like the reminders all around. And the ads for new games and special offers, too. It also added to the sense of “reality” there.
And then there was the dance stage. Music, dancing, lights, friends and conversation. What more could be needed? Well, besides better and more tunes, I’ll admit.
I would also venture to guess that I have met most of my friends either in Central Plaza or through other friends that I met there. Yes, that is due in part to spending a great deal of time there, but it also because the plaza provided a place for all of us to mingle, communicate and to play with each other, interactively.
I met my first “Hammie” there. When I saw his hamster head, I put on mine and he spoke to me and asked if I was a member of Hamster Freedom. After introductions, I joined this club and met many wonderful people with whom I am still friends.
These are my memories, and yours are probably very different. You may not even like Central Plaza and you are glad to see it’s gone. But for me, Central Plaza was central to my Home experience these last fifteen months and I will miss it with all my heart.
November 17th, 2011 by Kassadee Marie | 13 comments
Home is endlessly entertaining to this California girl. Kassadee has been in Home for about four years, and loves almost everything about it (with a few notable exceptions). She spends way too much money there, and perhaps too much time... Someday she will travel the world and write about the people she meets and the places she sees.
Even though I said before that I’d be glad to see CP go for good, I have to admit that I do miss it more than I thought I would. I have countless memories at that place, most of which are good. CP will go down in history as one of my favorite places on Home. I’m sure we’ll all make new memories at the Hub or any of the other new places available now and hate to see them go someday, if they ever do. Awesome work!
CP wasn’t nothing like where I live but at least it had sunshine. The Hub looks too fanscified for my tastes even thought I was a sci-fi fan. I guess I’ll get used to, at least I hope so.
The biggest difference that I can see, in terms of the “tone” of Central Plaza versus the Hub, is that CP encouraged people to stick around. The Hub, conversely, is designed to get people moving — so that new users, in particular, don’t hang around wondering what to do next.
As someone who uses Home for its social scene far more than its gaming, I do miss the relaxed environment that encouraged social interaction. On the flipside, though, the Hub should do wonders for new user retention, and there’s certainly no shortage of places to hang out and socialize (Pier Park and Sportswalk being two good examples).
Surprisingly enough, what I kinda miss is Saucer Pop. It was a wonderfully innocuous game to play whilst waiting for everything to download.
Perhaps what we need now to recapture that ambiance of ‘relaxation’ which the new spaces seem not to have is a park space -- grass, trees, shrubbery, a band-shell, some pathways, a gazebo or three, a lake, and a fountain (where the future iteration of Saucer Pop can be perma-parked for future generations). That would be the icing on the cake of the ‘new’ Home.
Nice article Kassadee. I agree with John on this one too, a nice park with places to sit on the grass, perhaps complete with picnic blankets and baskets, a band shell with a fake band playing music you can dance to, a fountain and maybe they could throw some icing on the icing and make it so that we could walk all of the dogs and cats we buy on a leash there, lol.
Gah! Leash laws even in Home, Burbie?
Thank you for allowing us to view Central Plaza through your eyes, Kassadee Marie. Unfortunately my own memories of CP aren’t that bright. I guess in my case, it’s one of the “drawbacks” of region hopping. Speaking for myself, after spending much time in other regions, and then returning to the NA Home, I always feel a certain sense of culture shock, and the trolling and harassment are just difficult to accept. If I spent all my time in the NA Home, I suppose eventually I might get used to it, or I might just give up on Home altogether. I don’t know.
I greatly miss Central Plaza with all my heart as much as you do, I cried the night I knew it was going to be gone for good at 3 AM. I’ve met so many wonderful there, and many of them changed my life. I’ve been friends with a certain one for a long time, and we met at Central Plaza. It’s been 4 years, and we’re still going strong. Constantly texting eachother, or on the phone. We’re great friends, and I will truly miss CP.
To be honest, I barely even go to The Hub .. It’s futuristic, and I’m not into that.. I will eventually get used to it, but I prefer Central Plaza..
Kassadee….I really liked CP too….I loved how it was outdoors and how it felt like it was a neighborhood…The HUB is okay too…It’s like being inside a HUGE MALL! I love the dancing stage….ONE THING I CANNOT FIGURE OUT IS THAT DUMB COGS GAME ARGH LOL…But I’m just reacquainting myself with Home…Having left after the GREAT HACKING and just before the welcome home stuff was released….I dunno …I always kinda treated Home as a “single player” experience and kept to myself…I’d meet ppl here and there but Never bonded with anybody…That’s what I want from this go round!…a connection with somebody..I even attended my first big event tonight…a Disco style dance party and had a blast :)…I guess it’s what you put into it like a stew or chili ya know?…flavourings and spices make it taste good…
My experience is similar to Aeternitas. Having been to the other regions, the JP CP and even the EU CP was much nicer than the NA CP. I did not go to the NA CP much and when I did I’ve had bad experiences. I do enjoy the outside instead of the modern inside look of the Hub. The EU hub is still outside and I would prefer something like the EU hub with buildings representing the different districts. The EU mall has remained unchanged and is outside as well.
I know Sony can’t please everyone all of the time, but I love the idea of a park with grass and trees, benches and a fountain or pond… oh, wait I want CP back!
my experiences on CP are really good actually because the first time i got home and seeing the plaza i was amazed how well done was everything. i met some really nice people on cp….for me CP is home without it its just not what i knew and love….dont say: give the hub a chance…because i didn need to give the plaza to love it! To be honest i hate the hub and i want the plaza back….some of my home friends dont even show up at all anymore because of this abomination called hub…i sincerely hope that the home team will listen to their users and do something about it because i no longer know where home is….