“Where’s My Cup Holder?”
by Olivia_Allin, HSM team writer and photographer
Even if you love Home, there are still probably things that you would like to change or don’t like about Home. I completely understand.
As a Home-aholic, I find myself defending Home for the most part. Yet I to see and experience things that I would like to change or eliminate. But, the purpose of this article is not to list my opinions on how to improve Home; it is more aimed towards the way we go about expressing said opinions.
We are beta testers! That makes us somewhat like test pilots. The key word in that sentence is somewhat. As beta test pilots our job is to test and review and convey our findings. That is not to say that if we find something that we dislike we cannot complain. Is the nature, context and diplomacy in which the complaint is given that is an issue.
Let’s examine an example. After recent update a change was made so that when logging on we would spawn at the location we were at when we last logged off. To many of us this was an unexpected change. Some people liked it, some people didn’t, some people didn’t care. That’s
true with every change that is made on Home. It does seem that the voice of the unhappy is much louder and more prevalent that of the
happy or undeclared. That too is normal.
We seem to be experiencing more and more changes, more experiments, more testing the waters. That can be both a good and bad thing. But most of all it is a necessity. This is how Home evolves. There’d be just as many people complaining if Home remained stagnant — probably even more.
We have the right to complain. And as beta testers, we have the duty. But the tactful way in which we do it is also our obligation. I do not work for Sony, nor am I a developer; but there is an old saying that says you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar (to which I say only hillbillies sit around trying to figure out the best way to catch flies). If you are abrasive, brash, harsh or confrontational, you will tend to be met with resistance.
Let’s expand on my original analogy of a test pilot. If, after a shakedown flight of a new aircraft, the test pilot climbed from the cockpit, and — before reporting on the handling characteristics, engine performance, aerodynamics, intuitive instrumentation and so on, the first thing out of the pilots mouth was, “The damn thing needs a cupholder.”
The perspective of the priorities of the test would be out of whack.
Let’s change our analogy to better suit our situation as Home beta testers…
Let’s say an automobile manufacturer gives us a base model of their new car to test. Now let’s say that we have the option to purchase
different packages, options and accessories. We had a stereo, sunroof, cruise control, leather interior, paint scheme, ejection seat and
oversized wheels and tires. 
Off we go to cruise around in our new ride. The first thing we notice is that the car rides smooth and handles great. The paint finish is flawless. The sunroof opens and closes as it should. The wheels and tires add to the responsiveness of the handling. But, the cruise control is intermittent. The stereo doesn’t go to 11. The sunroof does not open automatically when ejection seat is engaged, which as you can imagine is a must. The leather seats make your back sweat. And the car does not float on water or hover in the air and there is no room in the trunk for your trophies. So you returned to the manufacturer with your list of complaints.
You could storm into the service manager’s office and slam your list down on his desk and yell until you’re red in the face. Or, you could go line by line and explain in a calm tone your feelings on what you see as shortcomings or failures. Which process do you believe would be better received and help to expedite repairs and modifications?
You have a right to complain and expect that options that you paid for out-of-pocket to work properly as long as your expectations are
realistic. The cruise control should work consistently, the sunroof should open fully before ejection seats can deploy. This is common
sense that can and should be conveyed with tact. The fact that the stereo does not go to 11 was a mistaken assumption you made. Anyone
with a leather interior should know that on a hot day the area that comes in contact with it is likely to sweat. Not much can be done about that. As for the car’s ability to float on water or hover, it was never designed to do that nor was it advertised to be able to.
The point that I’m trying to get across here is that you have the right to complain. You have the right to want changes. You even have the right to state your complaints and wishes anyway you see fit. But keep in mind that the way your voice is received often depends greatly on the way it is presented.
We are beta testers. We are investing time and many of us are investing money. We have a common goal to make Home the best it can be. We have opinions. We have concerns. We have ideas. We get excited. We get frustrated. We have a voice both as a group and individuals. We have an opportunity! Let’s make the best of it by using our voices constructively for the betterment of Home.
We are beta testers. TEST!
May 5th, 2012 by Olivia_Allin | 4 comments
Olivia_Allin is a team writer, photographer, model, curator, graphic artist, researcher and comic relief for HomeStation Magazine; she lives in Texas with her boyfriend, and Home is more than just a game to her. Years ago she discovered the meaning of life but forgot to write it down. On weekends, to let off steam, she participate in full-contact origami. She saw a Bigfoot once, made a sound you never want to hear twice, and was so proud of her Special Olympics gold medal that she had it bronzed. She is, in her own words, adorkable.
…..im still looking for the damn cupholder….
Great article Olivia and something that needs to be emphasized more and more. Constructive criticism always works much better than just whining about things. If you think your opinions are good enough to be heard, then you should have an opinion about how to fix things too.
1st things 1st, putting in a picture of Herbie the Love Bug…EPIC! I whole heartedly agree. How you present determines how you will be recieved. We have every right to voice satisfaction and disatisfaction, and if I may take this a step further, we have to also accept that though we voice objection, we may never see something change. It’s a certainty that Sony gets a truck load of comments on the good and bad and it is impossible to make a car that goes fast and slow at the same time. it has to be one or the other, so Sony has to pick a direction , presumably based on how many people want one or the other, and give us that change. Yes , if you want a thing, kindly voice it, though it may never change it’s all we can do as the user. Great article.
P.S. I love the term “Home-alohic”, I too am a “Home-aholic” and have actually put that in my XMB gamer tag.