Busting Down the Fourth Wall: VEEMEE’s Acorn Meadows Park
by Terra_Cide, HSM Editor-in-Chief
Change, and the uncertainty it brings, is perhaps the main thing that human society has frequently attempted to fight – aside from each other – throughout its history. Paradoxically, in the era we currently live in, it’s the acceptance of change that will bring us the most security in our lives. These same concepts are apparent in Home. With every update as far as I can recall, going all the way back to 1.3, there have always been people saying that each respective update would be the “downfall of Home.” The same can be said of spaces that have been added and removed.
The most notable of this was, of course, the arrival of the Hub and the removal/relocation/renovation of Central Plaza, the Bowling Alley, the Mall and the Theater, respectively. The removal of Central Plaza hit the community rather hard, being, as it was, the main staple of life in Home. When you logged onto Home for the first time, it was the place you went to after trying out the abilities of your avatar in Harbour Studio. For those of us who were in Home at the relatively early parts of its existence, Central Plaza was kind of like that nursery bed where young sea life lives, gradually growing to be able to withstand whatever the wide Home-ocean threw at us.
But even nursery beds have their sharks.
Be honest with yourself, if you are one of those who lamented Central Plaza’s removal – and still do – for every moment you’ve spent either in Home or on the forums wishing for it to come back, you likely spent at least one moment while it existed bemoaning the massive quantities of pervs and trolls that congregated there, turning what was once a pleasant wading pool into a scene out of Jaws. It was not always a pleasant and enjoyable place, especially towards the end.
So really, it was more of a “love the setting, hate the scene” affair. We loved the green, pleasant atmosphere of the Plaza, and it’s that which rose-tints our view of it, especially when you take into consideration the thematic style choices the Hub represents.
Glass and brushed metal, cool colors, ultra modern design lines – all ideas that sound like they would make perfect sense in a virtual world, but what wasn’t taken into consideration in the Hub’s design was just how much users project their real life humanity into Home. That just doesn’t pair well with the cold detachment an ultra modern setting portrays. It would be like decorating your log cabin space in a style reminiscent of British Colonial style and dropping in images of Piet Mondrian’s artwork – just no.
Nor do the other locations – Pier Park and Sportswalk, namely – quite fill the void Central Plaza left; they simply lack that non-quantifiable it factor.
This just fueled the wish for Central Plaza to come back, or at the very least, a respectable replacement to be made. Even before it was officially taken offline, there were people wishing for a stay of execution, or at the very least, the opportunity to purchase the Plaza as a personal space, a la SCEE’s Home Square.
Enter then VEEMEE’s Acorn Meadows Park, due to debut this Wednesday.
When I read the description of this public space, my first thought was, “Sweet mother of God. It’s like they read every Wishlist Saturday article mentioning a more interactive, Central Plaza-like space HSM has put out since we started the column last July and simply turned it into their ‘to do’ list. This is awesome!”
Talk about find a need, fill a need.
It’s as if they took the best parts of every well-known city park in the world and blended it into one idyllic – and most importantly, interactive – public space. The slight nod to the Swan Boats of Boston Public Garden is a particularly nice touch.
Let’s get back to that interactive piece though, because this is what really makes this space significant. These aren’t just minigames, with a set number of levels and objectives to fulfill until you max out, then sit on your thumbs until the next game comes out. With Acorn Meadows Park, VEEMEE figured out how to make a gaming-like experience that also appealed to that most crucial aspect of Home – it’s social scene.
What this picture means should have you going full caps-lock right now.
It’s the experience of taking those bike rides with your friends, the experience of riding the train around the park, the experience of having your avatar drink an grande mocha (a feature I can recall a friend jokingly wishing for way back in 2009) that makes the community potential for this space so extraordinary. The activities to be found in Acorn Meadows Park aren’t designed to be a means to an end in and of themselves – they’re more like that Lao Tzu quote about a good traveler is one that is not intent on arriving. Integrating these features with an in-Home currency – because let’s face it, in the real world, you certainly don’t get those coffees for free – and this may very well be the most immersive space in Home.
It’s funny how, at times, life can come to a full circle. Central Plaza was designed as a pleasant place for gamers to socialize, but without anything to do, it devolved into one of Home’s more infamous troll pits. The Hub came along and was designed to get people to go do and move, but do what, and go where, exactly? And now, thanks to VEEMEE, we have a space that looks as though it will have what users have been looking to do for some time – making this virtual reality called Home feel just that more real.
May 1st, 2013 by Terra_Cide | 10 comments
Terra _Cide is the former Community Manager for Lockwood Publishing and Editor Emeritus for HomeStation Magazine.
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Heh heh, Terra, I do like your anagrams…
I’m loving the look of this place! For the first time in DONKEYS, I’m actually rather excited to get into Home after today’s update is done. Veemee have obviously been watching and listening.
Can’t. Wait.
I love the look and feel of this space already and I haven’t even been there. With some of the new items that have come out in the recent updates, such as the portable picnic blanket, it is almost like the developers here were talking to each other and making products that fit into each others ideas. This will be a big hit for sure with many people.
Personal to-do list:
1) Take lion companion for a romp in the dog park
2) Fill the perimeter train with costumed Homelings
3) Play Cutthroats in the Swan Boats
Seriously, this looks like a totally epic space. I hadn’t thought of it as a Central Plaza replacement, but I think you’re onto something, Terra. This looks like the perfect hang-out-with-friends space.
Personally, I don’t really see this as a replacement for Central Plaza either, but gut instinct tells me many people will.
And a Homeling train *so* needs to happen.
zero for three so far:
1) dog park is actually limited to dogs
2) train is not yet accepting customers
3) neither are the swan boats
But despite that, I had a wonderful time in the park last night. Got up to Level 4, ate lots of fast food, ran lots of races, had a good laugh at the rows of Dr. Pepper machines sprouting up everywhere. The place is already developing a personality, and it’s very much like the old Central Plaza, with the addition of motorcycles. VEEMEE has a winner here.
This place is full of WIN!!!
I seem to have problem riding the swans or getting on the train atm. But more than willing to wait for this to be fixed.
Thats how you build a space. VEEMEE must have taken a lot of time working on this and all I can say is….BRAVO!! Great job you guys.
I spent a bunch of time there today and I loved the space. The best thing about it in my humble opinion is just how big it is. Kudos to VEEMEE for taking the time making something this big. There is room for a ton of stuff, and it was nice to see people breaking out the bikes,motorcycles, horses and just about every other ride and companion. It’s funny that I didn’t realize how badly Home needed a space like this until I saw it for myself. I hope we see more of this kind of space in Home. I plan on buying a skateboard and returning.
VEEMEE THANK YOU!!! What a fun filled packed space! Gave me the feeling of being at my real city park. Spent most of opening day there. Great article Terra
its beyond words there. …..i did tai chi and cried happily 8D
The Homeling Collective held their first semi-official invasion of the Park last night, after the Command Central meeting let out early. This is SUCH a great place for Dramatic Walks! The train was not accepting passengers, so we were not able to do a Dramatic Ride, but I’m sure that will come. I’m sure this was just the first of many glorious gatherings.