Spotlight On: the Welcoming Committee
by Kassadee Marie, HSM team writer
The first time I read about the Welcoming Committee — a community volunteer group — on the Sony forum last year, I thought, “This will never work.”
I believed that this was an idea with a lot of heart, but I could only imagine that a group of do-gooders like this would attract a mass of trolls like a swarm of bees to honey.
It happened to be a Saturday, around noon my time, when I read about this committee; so I decided to jump on Home and see if I could meet up with this group. I have a confession to make: the idea I had was that I might view enough to write an expose about these people and this idea — or, more probably, a diatribe on trollism.
When I jumped to the space where the committee was meeting at the time, there were about half a dozen people there, getting organized. I expressed an interest in joining the group and one of them sent me a friend request so I would be able to jump to the right instance of Central Plaza, where they were planning to greet newcomers. Admittedly, I thought of them as noobs, defaults, or possibly trolls at the time. And so, after a few instructions, off we went. Upon arrival we moved to and stood near the bottom of the stairs near the spawning point just outside of the Harbour apartment building. Here we greeted people with comments like, “Welcome to Home!” or “Newcomers Welcome!”
So what happened then, you may ask?
Simply this – some people asked us questions and we answered them. Then they often asked more questions.
Eventually they walked away with more of an idea of what Home was about and, I hope, a feeling of being truly welcomed. We were often thanked by these people and sometimes we heard comments from non-newcomers like, “I wish there had been a group like this when I started Home.” Some people ignored us and walked on by, intent perhaps with getting on with their experience, in the way that some gamers don’t read the instructions before they play.
Another thing happened, too. I realized that this committee was a very worthwhile investment of my time. Yes, there were instances of trolling, but no more than usual — and we, the committee, usually handle trolls or any other offenders by simply hitting ignore or reporting when absolutely necessary.
Very early on we started saying, “Questions about Home? We have answers!” I assumed that at least one of us could answer almost any question a newcomer would have about Home and it has always been true so far. Sometimes we answer questions for each other about new items, quests or spaces or we find out something about Home that we never knew before, so we can provide this information to others. Now we add a lot of other general comments for the newcomers such as, “Free items – spaces, furniture, clothes, companions. Ask us how!”
We offer advice about the games, quests and other activities and we give often directions about how to use the Menu/Navigation Pad. Occasionally, we have had to advise people how to report another person.
We also suggest people read the Sony forums, check for items at AlphaZone4.com, and I have even slipped in a plug or two for this magazine. We are often asked by people how to make friends. We advise them to go and explore Home first, then to listen to public conversations by a group and find someone who likes the same games or activities there or even offer to help another person with a quest.
Throughout the eight months or so that the committee members have been having these meet-and-greets, a few changes have been made. We now wear the PSN logo hoodies to help us stand out from a crowd. One of our members, Y2David, has become a Home Community Volunteer and offers tours of most spaces, especially the newer ones. Julie-love has added a bot for people to add and jump to called Welcome2Home. Also, we have greeted newcomers at other places, such as the Uncharted game or the mall, as well as the Hub, as Home spawns newcomers in different places.
We have been asked at times if we are guides or Sony officials. Of course we always say that we are not (except David, now that he is in fact an HCV). We describe ourselves as what we are – a group of friends who like to help out newcomers and other people who have questions about this virtual world we all share called Home.
I evaluate the time spent after each meet-and-greet and I find we seem to have three kinds of days now. I think of them as: social days, when so many friends stop by we have a rather large crowd and a lot of conversations happening all at once; troll days, when we seem to attract a larger or more persistent number of them to us; and good days. On good days we help a number of people who stop and ask us Home related questions or ask for help on a number of issues, such as the quests. I feel especially good on those days, and I can believe that I am helping to improve Home, one newcomer at a time.
The Welcoming committee was created by julie_love. Among the regulars there are Y2David, Joanna_Dark, RuskyDongmu and myself. A number of other people stop by to help out from time to time, including Keara22HI. If you’d like to join us or just visit, we’re at the Hub on any Saturday at noon (PDST) and Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM (PDST). Send a friend request to the bot, Welcome2Home, to arrive at the right instance.
March 17th, 2012 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.
A great concept! I applaud those who are working in it.
Great article Kassadee! I think this has been a great initiative. I know this committee has been doing this for a while and I too applaud their efforts. We were all a noob to Home once and just think back how great it would have been if such a committee existed when you 1st joined Home. I have attended some of these “Meet and Greet” events and they are fun and can last for a few hours. It is interesting to see the new users that show up. Personally, I think it is very rewarding to share your knowledge to help others in any capacity.
Even thought there are programs like the HCV program to assist users in the PS Home Community, I find efforts like these are great supplements. Again, great article and thanks to julie, joanna, david, and the rest of the “Welcoming Committee” for providing this creative and valuable service to the PS Home Community.
I try to get there anytime I can be in Home on Wednesdays and Saturdays. It is such an inspiring experience. Yes, there are a few trolls, but the newcomers are so glad to have people who will talk to them and help.
Wow! Didn’t know you were writing this. I’ll have to be good now at the Meet and Greets. I don’t know if Claire or Jill will! Ha!
:p
The meet and greets are really fun. It’s really like a party atmosphere for many of us. I look forward to them. There is one this afternoon at 3PM.
That’s 3:00 PM (EDST)
Ty guys and girls who have dedicated there time and effort to this your so special new and old members of home are thankful:)
I too have seen this group in action and I am glad someone took up the gauntlet and went forward with this idea. They wouldn’t give us a welcome center like I suggested a long while ago, but this is a user generated alternative that works for at least a few of the new people who come to Home each day.
Good job as always Kass, and kudos to Julie for keeping the torch lit on her project.
Thank you, everyone. Please join us any Saturday or Wednesday!
Really good, and original Idea and the Cheekster has been saying, just like many others that have been on home in it’s original incarnation ‘Why wasn’t this available in the first place? & ‘Officially’ ?
Great article, look forward to meeting this group sometime
Cheeky x
Very nicely written Kassadee! I think you captured the spirit of the Welcoming Committee well. I wasn’t sure what to expect when we started doing the Meet & Greets, and I’m still not sure what the best way is to meet people new to Home and help them get the most of out the Home experience, but what we do helps a few people at at time.
It’s nice to see this in HSM since the Meet & Greets were partly inspired by an article in HSM about making friends with strangers in Home.
I’m happy that the events have become a fun social experience for most and I’ve met some of the nicest people in Home at them. I find the Meet & Greets to be a great way to give something back to Home for all the fun I have there.
Very nice article Kassadee, its so nice seeing how many have come together on this since we first started, and how much help we’re doing to the Community, anyone is welcome to join.
I am so happy to hear this committee exists. I havent heard of them. It sounds like a great group to be with. I have helped many people enter Home and have made some dear friends through the experience. Recently in fact I helped a young gal who was in tears because or the trolls and the perverts. Through talking to her she found the one thing she desperately wanted: a friend that wasn’t going to become offensive or sexual in approach. Now her and I are friends. The thought that this group is around is really a testament to the very things I told this gal: there are good people here on Home, people who do care. It is really a wonderful feeling to help somebody enter this place and to give them any knowledge they are seeking. Makes one feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I give this group 3 thumbs up!
Great informative and uplifting article, Kassadee! Julie and the rest of the Committee really deserve a standing ovation for what they do -- it isn’t easy sometimes either.
I have been to a few of the meets and you can’t just show up and say, “Hi! Want some help?”. A lot of the time new-comers don’t even know what exactly they need help with, as they have no idea what all is possible in this new world!
You have to have the latest information about Home; be not just ultra-friendly, but have something interesting to say; and know the navigation menu like the back of your hand. Not to mention all the little things, like let new people know how they can even communicate within Home!
My hat is off to all of you that do this and a hearty pat on the back to the ones who are there regularly! This is the community spirit that keeps Home a nice place to be.