Home now is a bit like Google Labs for the next generation of social gaming platforms. Sony and its developers are testing everything from game genres to payment models to customer service, and everyone’s trying to figure out what works. This is completely uncharted territory for companies that are used to reviewing massive amounts of data before they make a decision. It’s exciting to see, but at the same time it’s a 50/50 proposition as to whether or not they’ll get something right, whether it’s the price of a T-shirt or the number of levels on a game.

It’s easy for people to Monday-morning quarterback those mistakes, usually with the refrain of, “Why not do it like it’s been done before?” or “Why not do it like everyone else does?” Certainly I’ve been as guilty of that as anyone, mainly because I believe you don’t throw out good business rules just because you’re on a new platform. At the same time, however, I understand and appreciate that these devs and Sony are taking the risks. They do it because they can, and some amazing things have happened along the way.

The only comparison anyone in this space can make right now is Zynga, and we’ve all seen how that turned out. Home’s developers are trying a lot of very non-Zynga things to find a business model that works, and some have been good. As time goes by, we’ll see more good and, inevitably, more bad that makes us howl.

Home may not be an internal priority on the same level as the PS4, generating first-party titles that sell millions of copies or keeping the PlayStation Store up to date, but that doesn’t mean its not important. Home is part of the future of online gaming, and something that Digital Platforms may someday expand to other devices. It may go through another evolution or two before that point, or it may just contribute some elements to whatever cross-device gaming platform emerges, but it will certainly be a fun ride.

As Home users, we’re all early adopters on the bleeding edge of new gaming ideas and business models. Every compliment and criticism helps to shape what the future will look like, as do our purchases. Despite the inevitable flaws, we should enjoy this while it lasts, because we’re in the labs with new ideas that we’ll see a lot more of somewhere down the road.

Part of the problem in my opinion, is they see Home like you do. Just another game. Thing is you don’t manage a community (or MMO) the same way you will do for other kinds of “faceless” products. The more time I’ve spent on Home the more I’ve felt like in a near future/apocalyptic movies where the state/city is own by private company. Now, I understand it is a “private world”. But when I feel it, theres a problem.

I can live with low priority. I can live with being use as paying playtester. I cannot support absence of customer services. Wich is the business model Home is base on.

I never really thought from this perspective a bit on how the developers have made promises. Like, I KNEW the company made some unsung promises, but I was one of those who morally accepted what Home was.

However, I believe that Sony were ahead of themselves in some aspects that they didn’t realize what they were saying until it was too late. I’m not too sure on my statement here because I just don’t speak on their behalf, aside from the research and what’s surmised from the author of this article.

I believe there needs to be a line of communication with the customers and Home. Just because that one guy stated that “Home is a game” doesn’t make it a game.

My eyes just been open a bit more on this and I realize that I have to consolidate my approach. It doesn’t mean I dislike Sony; they fulfilled MANY many promises on their console.

But Home needs to be taken a bit serious and not just some cash cow, as everyone seem to put it.

For the most part to me it’s a success. Oh sure, we have to wait forever for things to be fixed sometimes (or so it seems). And some things that bother me such as the non-functioning scoreboard at Gnome Curling and the 50 mission mess at F.U.B.A.R (appropriately named?) are downright disheartening. It makes me wonder at times how many of the devs really care. Some do, there’s no doubt in my mind about that. Probably most of them. However, it seems like some take the money and run or perhaps move on to bigger and better things.

As to hacking, every few days it seems there’s a news article about hackers going into government, corporate and private sites so whatever happens as to hacking with SONY’s Home doesn’t surprise me at all. And it’s something they can learn from.

I have no problem with SONY not making Home the priority. They have other things of more importance financially. Considering their monetary problems, I think they do what they can. If they let go more people or sell more buildings then Home might be put on the chopping block.

We’ll be around for quite some time in my opinion. I just wish they would prioritize their broken games, that’s what I wish. Prioritize what’s broke before they’re fouled up beyond all repair. I’m tired of complaining and waiting.

As I was saying before, as an EU customer I just got bored of waiting for EU Home to get to the point where I could use Home as a way of displaying some of my art by utilizing the picture frames,or just listen to music in some fashion and even chill with some friends while watchin’ stuff on the box. EU Home is still so far behind the curve in this regard it’s not even funny anymore. EOD over there is shonky at best, and has about half the content of its US counterpart. I’m not blaming Sony for this, or even LOOT themselves, the problem lies with the fact EU Home is such a weird ball of countries (some that are not even IN the EU) that the laws halt Home’s progress in this regard entirely.

The idea of feeling “uncared for” as a customer of Sony and a user of Home is there, for sure, but I’m not naive enough to think it’s just because they really don’t care. I know, again, that the real problem comes from Home’s fractured state as part of Sony. There is no dedicated Home customer care line, because all we “buy” is really only a rent. And all we see in Home is largely made by people who’s closest relationship with Sony is having to pay them lip-service for being in Home in the first place. Home it seems, has no owner, and because of this there is no one to turn to when we the customer have a problem with something within its walls. People like Digital Leisure are changing that ideal, by simply having a presence in official forums and by responding to emails which is commendable, but I think what we need is a dedicated Home office where the customer can voice concerns, ask for refunds and get general information as need be.

Anyways, I’m gonna stop now coz you’ve opened a massive floodgate here Pheonix -- a true indication of a well-made article. Well done!

Like Dutch above me here, I too moved to US Home when it became apparent that law restriction of amalgamated countries and general lack of trying from SCEE would mean our Home (my EU Home) would never get to reach the technical possibilities of the US. I’m talking about music, film and visual media.

Damn, is that the time!? In the words of that robot dude with muscles: I’ll BE BACK….