The Newcomer’s Handbook: A How-To and How-Not-To
Introduction: Why do they keep calling you a noob?
The word is actually just a shortened (and misspelled) version of “newbie”, as in you’re new to Home and don’t know your way around yet. “Newb” or “nub” are other, rarer versions. It’s similar to the way some people are called “probie” when they’re new to a job and in their probationary period. We all start off wearing the default clothing provided by Sony and therefore look as new as we are at that time. Some people have been called by this slang term, for wearing this type of clothing, long after they stopped being a newcomer. No matter how long a person has been there, to some individuals this apparel equates to someone just starting their adventures on Home. Some people – perhaps most – also use the word as an insult. Just remember they were new to Home once too and these are probably not the kind of people you want on your friends list any way.
Chapter 1: Be prepared
There’s a lot going on there and you will have questions. First, remember the terms of service (TOS)? You agreed to them when you signed up for the Sony Entertainment Network (SEN) and you can be reported and banned for breaking these rules. A simplified versions can be found on a poster in the Hub. But the use of common sense can keep you from breaking most of the terms. Don’t use bad language, don’t impersonate an official, don’t interfere with games… you get the idea. Second, there are many resources available to you. There is a information section right there in your navigator. Hit start to begin, then go to options and then scroll down to “?Help”. You will find a lot of information there. There are groups on Home such as the Guides (Home Community Volunteers) and the Welcoming Committee that are there on Home to help you. Also, in addition to this magazine, you can find lots of information at AlphaZone4.com and in the Playstation forums, such as list of the Guides names. However, on the forums, beware of people who state their opinions, guesses and comments as if they were facts.
Chapter 2: Goals and Friends
Do you want to go to Home to play games? There are hundreds of games to play there, including quests, from golf to racing and from pool to shoot-outs. Many of these games and quests provide rewards. These reward items can vary from clothes for your avi such as t-shirts to personal spaces and companions. Another activity for many is reward collecting. These items can be fun to collect. Some can be won and some are received just for entering a space such as SingStar or watching a video in the theater. There are those who call Home itself a game and those who consider it a social network with avatars. Either way, you’re going to want to have friends. You can meet friends while playing social games such as bowling, while completing quests and in public spaces where groups are having general conversations, often about gaming. Another way to make friends is to join a club. Look for people with common interests in the club list, but avoid families (also know as “fams”) while you’re new, as many (not all) of this type of club are at war with other clubs.
Chapter 3: Techniques and Communication
There are choices to be made. Keyboard or keypad? It’s recommended that you use a keyboard – any USB keyboard will work with your PS3 – when trying to communicate on Home. Even a poor typist will be faster in most cases than a person hitting the triangle button and then using the built in on-screen keypad. There are people who won’t wait very long for another person to respond to them. It’s recommended that you don’t use the default comments to communicate with others as this is seen more often as a joke or communications fail than a true effort to connect with someone. Also, as with any on-line situation, don’t give out personal information and don’t ask for any. Don’t call females babe, baby, sexy, shawty, or any such name, by the way. Finally you will look more intelligent and usually be considered more interesting, if you don’t use a lot of text speak. If you have a headset you may be asked to join another person or group in a conversation. Do so at your own risk. Occasionally you may see people who are breaking the TOS. You have the option to ignore these people and no longer see their text bubbles or comments on your scroll, as well as the option to report them.
Chapter 4: Why are those guys dressed like girls?
What you see on Home is NOT always what you get. It’s estimated that 85% of the users on SEN (and Home) are male. While you’re there in a public space like the Hub, look around you. If half the avatars you see are female, then approximately 35% of them are basically lying. So, why are these guys dressing like females? There are various reasons, such as they prefer looking at female avi’s on their screens or they prefer the females’ costumes or styles. However, there are those who have less savory reasons, which I’m sure you can figure out on your own. Home is not a place to look for romance, although it happens. There are those who unfortunately will take advantage of people who think to find it there.
Chapter 5: To shop or not?
Home is a free service provided by the Sony Entertainment Network for PS3 owners and you never have to spend a cent there. You can obtain personal spaces, furniture, decorations (ornaments), companions (pets) and clothes all without opening your wallet. If you decide it would increase your enjoyment of Home to purchase items, shop wisely. There are bargains to be found in the Sony Playstation Store as well as the Home stores by way of bundles and other sale items. There are no refunds after purchases or even after money is put into your virtual wallet.
Chapter 6: A final thought
Home is what you make it. If you want to socialize, there are friends to be made there. If you want a place to play games, you’ll find a lot of them there. If you want to collect, there are tons of rewards. If you want to decorate your space(s) or your avatar there are oodles of personal estates, bundles of furniture and fashions, fashions, fashions. Home is a game… and it’s more. It’s also a social network of amazing people from many countries with a multitude of different backgrounds and gamut of different beliefs. Remember your opinion is just that, show some tolerance for others, and let’s all have fun!
March 31st, 2012 by Kassadee Marie | 8 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.
Great article Kassadee! Can you make this a Tome on PS Forum? I think this is a really solid start fora ‘Home User Guide’. Creds to HSM of course.
Thanks, Julie. I’m a “lurker” on the forums because the people there scare me. I don’t know how to use the forum really and I’m not sure how to start a thread or tome.
Permission to post this on a forum?
I asked Norse to respond to you.
Nevermind. I think it’s not necessary to put it up in a forum. Asia will be fine.
As long as citation is given to the author, with a link back to HSM, I have no issue with it. Recommended verbiage: “This article was originally published in HomeStation Magazine. Please visit http://www.hsmagazine.net for more.”
EPIC artice
5 thums up , lol, want i only have 2, where did these thums come from, O.o
Good job Kass. It is also good to know that they can find a listing for all of the freebies in Home at Alphazone4.com under their database heading. If they do that and do a few other things they can furnish their spaces and themselves very well for free.