Renovating the Hollywood Hills
by Jin Lovelace, team writer and videographer
So much was announced at LOOT’s livestream – including the teaser-now-official Doctor Who IP — but what really intrigued me was the announcement they were revisiting of one of LOOT’s first personal spaces, the Hollywood Hills.
In my eyes, this developer has produced so many innovative updates to their existing products that enrich the experience they provide. I will never forget the lasting impression it made upon me in my first time to the place. It’s a great space, with a relaxing, life-of-luxury atmosphere and with each update, LOOT manages to make sure you’re receiving absolute quality for your buck.
Most notably, LOOT revealed they are bringing a nighttime option of this personal space. Granted, one of the things that I typed out during the stream was, “now THAT’S awesome,” but in my mind, the words, “about dang time!” echoed as I perked up a bit to see what was in store.
Now personally, this was something that I’ve always desired for in this space. The team explained on how the diurnal settings couldn’t be made as an option for the space due to the lighting and shadowing in the space, were to have everything in one space, we’d actually be doing you all a great disservice as the memory required would ruin the overall ambiance for both times of day. The daytime wouldn’t look as good as it presently does, and all of the lighting and the shadows for the evening wouldn’t look as nearly realistic (did you know it will even have the lights of planes flying into LAX as a part of the scene?), thus it made things a bit difficult for them to input. Though I did understand what they were stating in regards to this feature, it also explains as how personal spaces like the Glittering Sands Retreat (from Granzella) that feature this option, but do so without any true realism.
Whatever the case may be, the nighttime variant of Hollywood Hills features one of the most gorgeous skyline backdrops to ever be presented in PlayStation Home. The hues of the light from the pool are an enchanting spectacle that glows so beautifully in the water. Another feature that will be added to this space (both in the daytime and the nighttime) is the swimming animation for the pool, allowing you to swim around the crystal blue. Personally, I find walking around in the pool to be just fine. To simply replace it with a swimming animation washed away the sultry factor, though it would be great if having that as an option before you enter the drink could be considered. LOOT is also adding the swimming animation as an LMO, so now you can swim in any body of water, or in midair.
The most notable feature in the abode, however, is the inclusion of the radio panel mounted on the wall. Many have complained about the distance volume from their LOOT radios. Now thanks to this feature, you’ll be able to hear the content throughout your personal space. Whether this will be a future update for all of the radios available from LOOT is unknown, although this leaves some pretty good possibilities for them to develop.
The nighttime personal space is set to be bundled with the daytime variant, along with LOOT’s active camera, search lights, as well as new items, such as the fire pit, and tiki torches, for $19.99. For those who already own the day time Hollywood Hills estate can purchase the set at a discount for $14.99. It should be noted that the nighttime and daytime spaces will also be available as Clubhouse skins. The Home community will be able to view these spaces in an open house – soon.
The link provided below features the LOOT Team announcing these products with other cool upcoming items and features that are coming soon.
For now, get hyped that there is an update for the Hollywood Hills, coming SOON.
Yes, people… #Soon.
See the recording of the livestream here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/30127808
March 25th, 2013 by Jin Lovelace | 7 comments
Jin Lovelace is a machinimist and team writer for HomeStation Magazine, as well as the founder of Twilight Touch Inc. -- http://twilighttouchinc.com and http://youtube.com/twilighttouchinc. When not found in PlayStation Home, Jin studies graphic design and illustration (character design and fashion), gaming, and the culinary arts.
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ME WANTS! O_O I love how LOOT has updated their spaces over time instead of abandoning them for a new one when they have new tech to implement, they are the best value in Home for me because of this. I’m glad they will be doing other new types of content as well in the near future, they are one of the quieter Dev’s but always seem to bring really cool and innovative offerings. Very nice Jin.
I figured this would be coming. After all they updated the Sunset Yacht after it came out. It just makes sense, look how long the Hollywood Hills space has been a top seller, its awesome. YAY Loot! I can’t wait to see the night version. YAY Loot!
I grew up in the LA area, so I know and love that night city-scape. We used to drive up into the hills at night, just so we could look down on it. I always saw it as the contents of a giant’s treasure-chest, spilled out and glowing on a carpet of black velvet. I’m very much looking forward to seeing that again in Home.
Before I see yet another nonsensical freak out over prices, let’s do a MATHS!
For 19.99, you get:
A Day time Hollywood Hills personal space
sold separately: 4.99
A Nighttime Hollywood Hills personal space
presumed price if sold separately: 4.99
A Day time Hollywood Hills clubhouse skin
presumed price if sold separately (using mathematical mode of clubhouse prices): 4.99
presumed price if sold separately (using mathematical median of clubhouse prices): 5.87
A Nighttime Hollywood Hills clubhouse skin
presumed price if sold separately (using mathematical mode of clubhouse prices): 4.99
presumed price if sold separately (using mathematical median of clubhouse prices): 5.87
LOOT Active camera: $2.99
LOOT Searchlight: $2.99
New set of fire items
(Price if sold as standalones unknown; using the price of LOOT’s Actives Bundle as a benchmark): $3.49
Updated, built-in radio poolside, separate from the EOD
(No price, factored into the cost of the personal space and the clubhouse skin)
For a grand total of:
$29.43 (Using the mode clubhouse price)for a savings of $9.44
or
31.19 (Using the median clubhouse price) for a savings of $11.20
I won’t go into the math involving the $14.99 bundle, as I’m confident you are all smart enough to realize there isn’t that big of a difference between the above numbers after deducting the appropriate amounts on both sides (I’ll cut to the chase -- it’s a penny).
Well .43 and .19 is very unusual, it will pretty much be 29.99$
You misunderstand -- those prices, in bold, are what you would approximately spend on each individual item if you purchased them individually. The bundle prices are $19.99 and $14.99 for those who own the Hollywood Hills House already.
Unless, of course, you’re talking about Canadian money, which in that case, good luck.
this space is also coming to the EU as well as NA
i read it on alphazone4.com
(when this apartment is coming out im gonna get it anyone wanna add me and chill out in my hollywood house feel free to add me
CoolRichy008UK il add people next week due to having a break