LOOT EOD Saves the Harbour Studio
by BONZO, HSM team writer & artist
The Harbor Studio: the very first space we all have, because it is by default the only space we have, and granted to us as the standard space. This free gifted apartment has been given a bad reputation, a bad association as “the noob space.” There is nothing special about it because it is free — but is that true?
When I first entered Home, I was actually rather impressed by the space, and loved the minimalism of it and even more the view. It reminded me a lot of Southern California, and thus felt immediately like home for me. It seems though that I am not alone in this.
I interviewed rosswell_brat, a friend from an unofficial group in Home. I knew several friends were getting the EOD screens, and was very curious how and where they would be used. From all the responses I got, this one struck me the most because it was so unexpected.
Did you buy one screen or the screen bundle, and where did you place it?
I bought the bundle; I’m a sucker for huge screens, but I did want wall-mounted and I wanted the options. I placed the stand alone 140″ flatscreen in the Harbor Studio
Is that the only space you own?
No, I have twelve spaces. Most of them have been free but I have purchased four of them.
Which spaces have you bought?
The Tycoon Penthouse space, the Summer House, the Silicon Lounge, and the Waterfall Terrace
Have you placed the EOD in any of those spaces?
Not yet, but I might.
Why only in the Harbor Studio, then?
It’s my favorite space, really; the other spaces are cool but they don’t have the same charm, I guess. Tycoon is not really my style; it’s a nice space, don’t get me wrong, but a high-rise in a desert city…it’s just a little too spread out and frou frou for me. I don’t really know why I bought it; very much an impulse buy.
The Waterfall Terrace is relaxing, and I like the fishing game. The Silicon Lounge is where I plan to put the music-only EOD when that comes out. That’s my party space. Summer House was the first space I bought, and it’s nice, but I’m over that space. Harbor Studio is just my favorite, but when I hang out there with friends they always want to go somewhere else.
Why is that space your favorite when you have some other cool spaces?
It’s not overwhelming. It’s simple: it’s just a big studio apartment, and it reminds me of San Pedro in Southern California. I used to live there as a kid. I was a military brat. My dad was stationed at Fort McArthur for a long time, before he was transferred to Walker in New Mexico. There weren’t any apartments in the Ports O Call area at the time, but we would spend a lot of time in Cabrillo Beach and at Ports O Call Village, and from there you’d have a view of the Palos Verdes hill; those are fond memories for me, and when I am in that space it’s nostalgic. I miss it. I’m over the desert and the heat.
My grandmother still lives out there — actually in Palos Verdes — but when we visit her I go down to the harbor, and last time I was there, we toured some of the high-rise buildings they’ve put up. That area is seeing a revitalization, and it’s about time; for a long time, it was project housing, and looks like that’s changing, but when I checked it out it was very much a flashback of Home’s Harbour Studio.
I would love to live there, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. For now though, Home is my best bet.
How has EOD benefited that space, though? Doesn’t it detract from the view you are fond of?
Not really. That’s why I placed the second-largest screen; I didn’t want to overwhelm the view with the biggest one, and I placed it facing in kitty-corner to the balcony so I could see the ocean view and the screen. I put it there though because when I meet with my groups, I always want to hold the meeting there, and every time I do the members always want to go somewhere else. They don’t like the Harbour Studio, and I don’t understand why. They always ask me, why are we meeting in the noob space? I figured at least this way, they can shut up and watch TV and forget they are there.
It’s a great place, it has a great design, and a killer view, but it sucks to hang out there by yourself. I like having my friends over there, and if I can give them a reason to be there and forget they are in a space they don’t think is that special, then it gets the job done.
****
The answers surprised me, to say the least. The Harbour Studio, a free space that is overshadowed by the expanding library of spaces that have been introduced, may just have some vitality even to the long-term core user. It is gifted to you as a default space, and so it carries a negative stigma because you don’t buy it, but does that mean it has no value?
I found myself agreeing with many of the points rosswell_brat brought up, and while I haven’t visited the Harbor Studio unless I’ve been kicked off automatically when a host leaves the personal space I am visiting, I may just visit this space a little more often and perhaps redecorate it with a new purpose as an entertainment hub with LOOT’s EOD.
September 2nd, 2012 by BONZO | 6 comments
BONZO is an editor and artist for HomeStation Magazine.
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I love my Harbor Apartment. I like the the view and simplicity there. I re-decorate it about once a month and changing the wall paper is my favorite thing. There’s a color or wallpaper type for almost every style or season. Next month I’ll be using the orange wallpaper called “Retro” for Halloween and in December I’ll use the white and red wall paper called “Fronds” for Christmas. I like “Forest” in the spring time and I even used the “60’s” wallpaper for awhile when I had a sixties-themed apartment.
I agree with you Bonzo, I love this space, and the minimalism of it. I think a ton of us had the same idea at the same time regarding the LOOT EOD TV. It was the first place I thought of putting it.
i love harbour studio. i own 38 appartments,yet i always go back to harbour,and i decorate that space more than any other. i have the EOD tv bundle,and i placed the 140″ on the wall opposit the balcony and made a home cinema. it looks awsome. check out my picture on twitter, john_acer.
I also agree with this; the function of Harbor was oncea mile away from every other apartments functionality. I know people who’ve been using Home for a year or more and only JUST discovered they can turn the lights on an off! No foolin’!
For me, it’s not just the changeable wallpaper or its fitting size, but the little pier outside reminds me of one of my beach spots in my home town. It’s not often as sunny as the Studio where I am, but it’s the closest I’ve seen so far.
I’d like to suggest that we flood Sony’s inbox with requests to add time-of-day controls to Harbor Studio.
Good suggestion! Show me the way to their inbox.