The Welcome Home Video that Almost Was
by HearItWow, HomeCast Editor
Sometimes the best laid plans of Home media partners and managers go astray. That’s the story behind this video, which was originally produced in the second half of 2011 at the request of GlassWalls.
Conceptually, this was to be a short, well-paced video that would introduce new users to Home. Simple enough, once you get past the challenge of condensing everything that is Home into less than ten minutes. Not everything will fit into that amount of time, but it was enough to cover the essentials.
Production was completed. The Hub launched. A few things had to be reshot. Then the question of where this would actually live in Home came up. It had a brief run in the Community Theater, and the conversation turned to making some changes to make it more effective.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned while producing HomeCast for the past year, it’s that nothing else gets done. If inspiration strikes and I think I can drill something out in a matter of hours, or if there’s something really cool happening in the community, I can get a video finished. If the timeline is vague, it gets moved to the back burner, and there it stays.
Such was the fate of this video. Core update 1.65 and the removal of the Gamers Lounge from the Navigator now mean that it’s hopelessly out of date, although much of it was shot on a green screen, so it could always be updated. I still think there’s a need for a video like this in Home, to welcome new users and give them some basic advice on getting around, so this will probably get made again at some point. If it did, what would you want to see in it?
May 31st, 2012 by HearItWow | 11 comments
HearItWow is the former producer of HomeCast, which may have entertained some people as recently as 2012. He is currently attempting to reinvent talk radio and occasionally pokes his head up to write about really cool things happening in PlayStation Home. His weekly radio show can be heard live on wmfo.org from 7 to 9 PM Eastern on Wednesday nights.
I liked the video very much HW. I think you covered the basics quite well. As you said it is a bit outdated but there was only a little that would need to be redone I think it is something that should be played in a kiosk area of the Hub near where people spawn. Then when you get a new person asking questions they can easily be directed there to watch it. You might want to elaborate a little on what kind of trouble (banning) they can get into when they violate the Code of Conduct and add a bit about how to change appearance. All in all though I would say you covered it quite well and this should be something that the user is directed to when they first spawn into Home.
Just watched the video, thought it was great. It would be helpful to a new person, wish it was around when I first started!!!
I must say, spot on hearitwow. Wish this was available in ’08, but since we can’t change the past let’s help the future. HIW you have a nice pleasant voice which is very welcoming & this should be an interactive video tutorial ASAP in Home. Maybe make it an audio quest perhaps.
Wow. Is this magnus too…? I love that voice.
Very informative video though, yes a little outdated.. But still current!
Only thing i think really needs changing is the new navi menu layout. How to reach alerts from the chat log as well as other chat. Alerts are instant now so once that mssg disappears.. you have to figure it out. the imposing items limit. Active item count. Noticed that old limit was still mentioned. How to store items. And yes even on how your avatar can be unique on home should be mentioned.
Kind of weird using a female avatar.
The video pretty well covered everything, including proper behavior. One way to get the video out to the public is:
a) resurect the rule board in what was once Central Plaza (name it what you like of course)
b) resurect the large video screen that was once there to the left of the bowling alley (thats the place to show the vid)
c) create fair weather there and presto…you’ll have begun getting the video out to the public.. oh, and put music near the benches… 8)
Awesome video! Few suggestions:
1. update the gamers lounge section, that is all gone bye bye and we don’t want new users looking for it.
2. update the menus so they look like the new ones, especially the report menu.
3. the info about adding funds to your wallet is incorrect. you can do this while in the store (without signing out of home) if using a psn card. just go to add funds at the top of the check out screen, select psn card and enter the code. you can also add funds using a pre entered credit card info this way. the funds are then added to your wallet and you can check out.
4. update info about new content, its on wednesday now
5. add something about how to find guides through the forums, or how to recognize them on home
6. add something about how to accept and send invites as well as how to send and read msgs through the xmb.
7. you might want to add something about accessing companions. i have run into many new users who purchased them but were unable to locate them in their because they looked in the wardrobe and furniture menus for them.
8. i also didnt see anything about using headsets, might want to consider that info for the less than speedy typist, or hard core gamers who like to use them as much as possible
in all honesty, the best way to get this to new users is to force them to watch it during their first log in. if this isnt possible, by all means put it in the hub! this is the first public area they see and should contain a kiosk with a big question mark above it so its obvious that it is a help center.
over all, its a great idea and should have been implemented a long time ago.. way to go!
The video was top notch for it’s time. HIW did a great job and it was a fun shoot.
holy moly, that was excellent. and as no one seemed to notice you saying, yes, some spaces or features are gone or changed, but other than that, that is absolutely perfect. i just looked at it as an newbie and kept in mind what i already know, and it was dead on. as to WHERE to show this, that one suggestion of a new avatar kiosk is great, if it would somehow let you access a video. the only other odd ball thought, if feasble, is 1: it plays first even before you can do anything with your avatar. i think the only people that would complain are ones that arent really interested in the first place, which would be good for them and the die hard fans. also, it gives out the information sony wants out (about behaviour on home)without someone having to plow threw the daunting agreement to fully understand the basics. if they have to watch it even bofore they make a character gives sony a proper reason to say “you knew that before you got on home’. the only other suggestion i can think of is a permanent space on home. just one theater. even dig up the old theater (which i dearly miss)and make it play there permanently. THE NEW USERS LOUNGE. a much simpler idea, just direct them there if new. the space is already designed. it has that old rustic look to it. from there POP! their off to everything new. but i did soooo love your video HIW…..ok, and your voice is perfect…if not a bit dreamy… HOOT HOOT!!
Great video, HW. If it’s ever updated, let us know and we’ll post it in the LOOT EOD theater.
Best,
The LOOT Team
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