Relaxing on Home: Public Spaces
by Estim20, HSM Editor
Stress is one of life’s little gifts wrapped inside a pain-scented cocoon of insanity. It is thanks to stress that we don’t over-exert ourselves to the breaking point, beyond all hope of return. Of course, it is also thanks to stress that we develop migraines and frustration, but we’re getting beside the point. Stress causes all sorts of symptoms, ranging from mild headaches to wanting to punch the nearest wall until we have a great view of the street outside.
As such, as a species, we find stress painful and distressing – for good reason, of course. It’s our bodies’ way of telling us we aren’t supposed to enjoy being overburdened with work, obnoxious little tarts or long shifts at the cubicle. Buser help you if you have all three. Regardless, if we actually luxuriated in such factors, we would seriously reconsider our tastes, if not take advantage of it in some fashion.
Too much stress takes its toll on the body, making us pine for 5:00 or the time our shift ends. It’s why we enjoy the opportunity to unwind the moment we enter the fabled period known as ‘free time.’ Our minds can’t exactly freak out over a stuporous headache or our cracking joints for too long. It starts feeling like we shouldn’t have them after a while, am I right?
PlayStation Home thus provides a fantastic service to anyone who desires nothing more than to unravel after a full day’s work (or a full day’s children). It’s fantastic largely due to it being free for PlayStation users, alongside the fact that we have a diverse selection in case we do need time to recuperate. If you’re back home and back Home, why not take the opportunity?
Of course, you may be wondering: how does Home help the downtrodden, the anxious, and the stressed-beyond-all-rational-thought? Well, consider this: Part of relaxation is discovering a place that puts your mind at ease. Being at home might in itself work, but sometimes you need that extra push to really consider relaxing, especially if the house is the very reason you’re stressed.
As such, Home offers panoply of exotic locales at your digital fingertips, ready for perusal. This article shall look at the public spaces one may consider relaxing, along with reasons why. These are not the only ones, of course, but they should ideally get your mind churning out possibilities in case you find yourself in a quandary.
Space #1: Indie Park
A world filled with whimsy and independent games. And gnomes.
Indie Park isn’t exactly a forgotten space, by any stretch of the imagination. You can access this memorial to independent games via Pier Park and with its free-to-play mini-games, people regularly visit to unwind and simply chat. Chances are someone will approach you, so if you aren’t in the mood for chatting with strangers, proceed with caution.
Either way, Indie Park is a perfect getaway if you’re in just the right mood to chat but aren’t in the mood to deal with the Hub’s regular traffic. Its traffic figures seem to pale in comparison to the Hub, so you won’t likely run into as many obstinately bothersome users, let alone the more salacious ones. Most people can be seen in the middle of games, so if you’re simply in the mood to chat, this serves as a good starting point.
Aesthetically, it’s rather cheerful and colorful, a great docile counterpoint to the grittier, darker scenes in such spaces as the Adventure District or (the former) Infamous Space. It’s like someone drawn up what they heard when listening to Mr. Blue Sky after a massive Mario bender. Basically: around you are translucent 1s and 0s, motherboard grafted onto trees and games that tempt you to play. All this brought to you by the letters C, P and U with a side order of a Mario color scheme.
It is rather difficult, as a result, to remain dismayed at such a bright environment. Plus, there are no loud, unpleasant songs or shrieking noises to bother anyone relaxing. Combine all this with the fact the space isn’t as traffic-heavy as the rest of the Core Spaces and you’re looking at perfect getaway from the stresses of daily life.
The best places to sit, from personal experience, are either of the semi-circle grass benches across from where you spawn. You get a good look of what’s around you without being too close to anyone or any of the games. Plus it helps you figure out if you’re in the mood for a little (mini-) gaming while you’re there without needing to stand around the chessboard or gnome curling arena. Also, most people gravitate towards the aforementioned games (whether they find the arcade cabinets or chess first is up to them, of course), so you won’t likely be swarmed by unwanted traffic.
If the benches aren’t your thing, you can find some great variety in scenery elsewhere. The igloo provides some cover and you can momentarily think you’re infiltrating a colony of penguins. The waterfall nearby also can be relaxing, if noticeably ‘8-bit’ in structure. Either way, you’ll likely to find some personal time.
Space #2: Pixel Junk Shooter Mother Ship Hangar
Ready for launch.
This space qualifies as a forgotten space in its own right, which is part of the reason it’s so effective. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
As the name implies, this space is tied to Pixel Junk, namely its aptly-named title Shooter. In the game, you (and another player if you so choose) control a ship as it descends into labyrinthine caverns. The goal: recover (re: save) scientists from utter peril. Save enough, and you progress to the next stage; if too many die, you’re out of luck and need to restart.
The public space is less that and more enjoying the serene view of a star while in the safety of the hangar.
This is one of the most zen-like spaces I’ve seen, if also minimalist. It lacks interactivity, which is a bit ironic for a space tied to a game, but its art design is top-notch. The transition to 3D is handled incredibly well and it gives you a great idea as to what to expect visually from the game. This is, of course, forgiving the fact the game is in two dimensions, rather than three.
It’s rather confined, especially compared to more recent spaces, but it doesn’t need much. You’re given a view of a massive star, shining brightly orange, as well as two of the ships used in-game. It has an atmospheric quality to it, especially with the droning fan hidden from view. You really get a feeling you’re in a hangar somewhere in deep space, hoping to launch Gundam-style into the unknown.
The main appeal here, for this article’s purposes, is its capacity in relaxing one’s mind. To that end, it works rather well. Its minimalist structure and quiet atmosphere make it feel uncluttered and helps keep one undistracted. Plus, it gets visitors almost as often as we get blue moons, so if you rather avoid the crowds, go here.
The main thing that may draw people away is whether they want music. There is no music to speak of, but for me personally that isn’t necessarily bad. Music can indeed be relaxing – some even being designed for that – but the Hangar’s lack of music makes it nicely serene. If you suffer from unusually high amounts of anxiety and find a lack of stimuli perfect for relaxation, this is quite a space to use.
Another drawback may be the view of space. Some individuals may find staring into the emptiness of space or the brightly-lit surface of a supernova disturbing, let alone unsafe on the eyes. Be mindful of this if that describes how you feel.
Spaces #3 and #4: Granzella Time! (Retreat and Edo)
Shark-free since 2012.
It’s no secret that Irem left North American Home some time ago. It’s also no secret its departure left a void, thanks to its immense popularity. Both its personal spaces and clothing line were among the most worn items on Home. In fact, they’re still fondly remembered even as the prospect of their return is nil.
Fortunately, Granzella filled the void with its own versions. While some items have yet to return, even in Granzella form (e.g. the punk items), Granzella has kept up its promises so far and provided its own footprint on Home. Its spaces are reminiscent of Irem, with unique touches that keep them from being simply rehashes of Irem’s catalog. This extends as far as its clothing line and personal spaces, keeping up the tradition founded by its predecessor.
There are two particular Granzella public spaces (and perhaps personal spaces, but that’s another story) that work great for taking time off. The first is the Beach Retreat, similar to Irem’s beach aesthetically. You can’t hunt for treasure, though that’s no loss since Granzella covered that with its Southern Island Retreat space (along with jet skis).
There are three major draws to Granzella’s beach. First, it’s a beach, which works tremendously in its favor. Ever since Irem, Diesel and Red Bull bit the proverbial dust, Home users wondered about the future of Home beaches. Realizing the opportunity it could seize, Granzella stepped in and provided one of its own to fill that particular gap in Home real estate. In particular, it relives Irem’s glory days, namely with the huts and sun, while simultaneously dealing with it in its own fashion.
The atmosphere of the beach is enticing for a reason, and Granzella didn’t miss the mark. You get the entire beach with none of the heat. It works beautifully and you get the bonus of reminiscing about Irem. It works great as an excuse to bring out your Irem wardrobe.
Secondly, the huts make their return. This may seem minor, but it does mean people can stay in the huts, in lieu of braving the beach. Both offer great opportunities to relax, naturally, but sometimes one just needs some time alone before heading to the beach itself. The huts provide the proper cover necessary for this while keeping in the public space and basking in the digital sun. Getting a tan would be an interesting addition.
Thirdly, Granzella added functionality not present in Irem’s outing. The treasure hunt was taken by Granzella’s Southern Island, so in lieu of that, it took a different approach. With swimming now a possibility, you may now drift gently in the ocean and perch on some rocks if you’re in the mood.
If you rather rest your avatar’s feet, there are chairs, towels and beds with new relaxing poses. You can change them to a sizeable handful of possible poses, rather than looking like you have something leaned up stiffly against your back. Naturally, it makes it so that you’re playing a ‘game’ but all the same; it makes the space seem more natural.
Hitch-hikers and spas never forget a towel.
As for the Edo space, there is one primary reason it is included in this list. Well, perhaps there are two reasons, if you include the Edo period design of the space. It is a time prior to cars, the Internet and other modern conveniences, digitally recreated for the modern gamer, which gives it a bit of irony, but nevertheless.
The decision to design the space to duplicate an earlier time period is cogent because sometimes all you need is to get away from what exactly causes the stress in the first place. Edo looks nothing like modern day and that works to its benefit. You don’t expect to be accosted by cubicles, paperwork or any such matters while rubbing elbows with samurai. Side note: if you do expect any of that, I would love to see your view of paperwork.
One area in particular (and the main reason this space is on this list, aesthetics aside) that works its magic is the onsen, located beyond blue curtains. Hot springs aren’t strangers to Japanese-themed spaces and works; it’s a trope in its own right. Seeing it here thus isn’t surprising, though it is one of many reasons this space has no Irem analog. It doesn’t even quite pair with the Bon Odori space, though it shares the most resemblances to it.
All the same, it makes it one of the best places to simply relax and take one’s mind off real world issues. Being in an enclosed space deliberately designed to mimic an older-style Tokyo does have its benefits, namely being away from prying eyes – for the most part – and away from anything resembling modern living. Plus it does give perfect photo opportunities.
The main issues for both spaces are tied to them being public spaces. Granzella’s public spaces are extremely popular, and you likely won’t find an instance without decent crowds. The beach retreat space becomes especially problematic when you consider that people glitch on the seats and may occupy the same one as another user. Edo mainly suffers from this if you want an onsen to yourself – long story short, don’t expect it to happen.
Edo may also discourage people if they find the music anything but relaxing. Granted, it does occasionally get old and the only way to turn it ‘off’ is to lower the sound or mute it altogether. Still, if you’re willing to put up with it and/or turn the sound down when necessary, it’s an overall great departure for your relaxing needs.
Finally, both do include one feature common throughout all Granzella public spaces: the sweeping camera pan that introduces the space each time you spawn into it. While it’s a minor nit-pick, if you rather have control the instant you load into a space, be mindful of this. In particular mind is in the beach retreat, where you have to deal with two camera pans before you wrestle control away from the space. Neither is horrible for this tactic, though one may get annoyed at times.
Conclusion
Relaxing is a fundamental part of being human. Most of us aren’t built to handle stress for too long. If we keep ourselves neck-deep in it, we risk our physical and mental health for it. As such, we need the option to relax and unwind, which is one of the reasons workdays don’t last longer half a day at the most (most of the time anyway).
Home provides a perfect getaway for when you’re in the mood to relax but rather not go out of your way to do it. The spaces mentioned above are far from the only spaces and each user has different expectations regarding relaxation. However, these spaces are examples to get users thinking about using Home to reduce stress and get one’s mind away from ordeals.
Take these as a foundation for exploring Home and finding what works for you. Sometimes brightly-lit environments work, other times you may prefer dimly-lit corridors. Home has you covered whatever appeals to you.
October 10th, 2012 by Estim20 | 2 comments
This is gonna sound weird… Probably. But I think my favorite beach is my Diesel personal now. Dont get me wrong, I love my Granzella space, but there’s something about the front end of the Diesel space that I find the most natural in form and aesthetic. When I’m down, or in the huff, you’ll likely find me sitting by its shore, listening to the ocean sound bite, watching the perpetual digital sun and it’s never ending decent into a sea of pixels.
When I want to relax in Home I usually get together with some friends and have a few laughs. There is nothing like laughter to ease your troubles or your attitude after a hard day. This can happen anywhere in Home, but if I would want to be alone I will pick one of my personal spaces and just go there. If I had to choose a public one I think it would be the older Granzella beach space because there are places you can go there in the back away from the madding crowd if you need to. But I rarely use public spaces as I have too many much quieter personal ones to use if I want to.
Nice read Estim.