Comments on: Reflections on Content Retirement in Home

By: HearItWow

HearItWow — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:08:08 +0000

I’m always sad to see a space go, particularly one that had the promise of Conspiracy. That was a great game that deserved further expansion, and it’s a shame that its technical issues couldn’t be resolved.

I’m more ambivalent about the loss of spaces like SOCOM and InFamous that are tied to a particular franchise or game. Ultimately, those spaces are only relevant as long as the games they support are relevant, even though we may dearly love the spaces themselves. After a while, only the die-hard fans of those spaces visit them, or people looking for a quiet spot for a group gathering.

I think third-party developers would be better served by building spaces dedicated to their brand or their studios, with sections that can be updated to promote new titles, much like the Hub and Pier Park can be updated. The Lockwood Publishing Showcase generally has a good amount of people in it, because it’s constantly changing and offering new features. It’s a space that could only get stale if the publisher decided to abandon it.

I’d love to see a Sega museum in Home, promoting all the games they have in the PlayStation Store, or an Atari space with arcade cabinets of their classic games. I don’t know why more publishers don’t follow this formula, as its proven successful.

By: Bayern_1867

Bayern_1867 — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:49:17 +0000

Drake’s Nepalese village…add it to the list. I like beautiful places & would return to Irem Square, Seaside of Memories (aka Irem beach) & the Village long after I had all the rewards, just as I still go to Muimui ship, even tho I have all I want. There are also some really beautiful & beautifully done newer spaces helping create memories.

Thanks for the article. Well done!

By: backarch

backarch — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:21:27 +0000

well said. im just curious if only the name or game or even company is linked to that space. for instance, could they remake or reuse the infamous space by removing all advertising and bettering it, expanding. not that space in particular, but you know what i mean? and rename it. maybe even a parody, if the creators still hold the rights to the design itself. a parody would be funny as hell!! i mean we all would know what its supposed to be, unless this treads on toes, then drop the parody part. but still, if the design is liked….

By: Burbie52

Burbie52 — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:18:18 +0000

The art you and the others made on the graffiti wall was amazing! It is always sad to see spaces go away, but we can only hope they are making room for something even better.
Great read MJG!

By: Gideon

Gideon — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:06:04 +0000

Great read MJG. I can’t believe those were all created in Home! I always feel like we, the readers as well as the writers, get a special treat when you have the time to put finger to key.

I have actually mulled over the sale of past public spaces quite a bit. It’s just one of the many idea outlines that are nestled away on a document on my thumb drive. I think this is a concept that should be explored further and given its own article.

Would we want them to be personal spaces or clubs? Would we trade the ability to invite 59 friends over to a PERSONAL Central Plaza for the ability to be able to put a sofa in Listen at Home? COULD this be done with some of the spaces that are gone such as IREM beach?

Some of these questions I don’t know the answer to… All I really know is I want central back!!

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:11:42 +0000

All of those spaces listed I never used. Only SOCOM and that was because when I was in a fam we posted up there. I still miss central plaza I will admit. EA left and I was crushed, but I moved on..Great read Mike !!

By: deuce_for2

deuce_for2 — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:48:53 +0000

I should have said “a higher perceived chance of success.”

By: deuce_for2

deuce_for2 — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:46:10 +0000

There are issues of licensing that go along with the spaces. For this reason, the decision is not in the hands of one person or a group of people. Even if the game team (as in InFAMOUS) wanted to open it up for a week, then there are a lot of support issues dealing with servers and such. It is not like just opening the door to the attic so people can go inside.

These are great ideas, but the devil is in the details. Anytime lawyers and/or money get involved, there is a huge chance of failure. Most people avoid these and create something new with a higher chance of success.

By: backarch

backarch — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:22:49 +0000

wonderful read, hun. interesting the last little comment on recycling a space. the best example is the central plaza; probably one of the most missed spaces in home. but it can be revisited in a couple of ways. one is the destroyed version in the killzone space, another is the blood soaked version at the dead island space. you can even hide the fact its the same space. look at the new yeti/hunter space. for those not paying attention, its the central plaza. just the buildings are gone. funny, if you stand where the bowling alley used to be, you can still hear it. same as the aurora space. if you stand just right at the los penguini bros. space, you can hear the feed back from the speakers of the old musicality space. maybe they can have a guest apperance of old spaces, once a month for a week. with an announcement of whats next week. make it enjoyable to go to by adding a reward for showing. i think they would be pleasently surprised at the amount of people that would show up to these old dead spaces. i for one miss the beach and the square (most of you know what im talking about). i’d love to go to a ‘space of the month’! WOO HOO!!