Doomsday For Home?
by Burbie52, HSM team writer
“The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” Chicken Little
With the announcement of Japan and Asia Home communities cessation of new goods being sold, I have been perusing the forums to see what the reaction would be. Most are saddened by the news of course. I’m sad too – for those who have supported Japan Home for many years with their hard-earned dollars. But I don’t believe this should be a big surprise, really.
Japan Home and Asia Home communities are very small and close knit when compared to the ones in Europe and especially North America. The lack of public interest there has always been a problem for the developers and Sony in terms of profitability, and if you’re like me and could see the difference, it’s no shock to see this happen. I believe it would have occurred, even without the announcement of the PS4 this year.
Not going anywhere. Not going to change.
Developers that are Japan based, like Peakvox and Granzella, will not be stopping their production for any of the other Home communities though. In fact, I think they began releasing here and in Europe just because of the lack of support they received in their native regions. They knew this was coming (probably just by looking at their own balance sheets per region) long before we did, and were likely prepared for this eventuality. If anything, we will see a larger influx of more products from these developers here and in Europe in the near future, as they have no choice but to shift their focus to us now if they wish to remain in Home.
Some people are wondering if this will mean that they will also change the types of events and products they produce to be more oriented to our culture now. Personally, I doubt it. They are Japanese companies, so I’ll bet their content will remain largely the same; this is as it should be, because it adds a great new culture and flavor to the Home communities here.
There is a lot of speculation in the forums about what is about to happen. It runs from being cautiously optimistic to outright indignation and outrage, to a really depressing doomsday for Home scenario. I tend to disagree with many of these views about Homes future ,and this is why.
Don’t worry, be happy!
First off, I don’t think that new companies and large, world-renowned IP’s like Pottermore and Dr. Who would attach themselves to a dead horse. What would be the point of spending a great deal of money to create such fantastic products, only to have it all disappear within a year’s time? The fact that developers that have been here for a long time, like LOOT and Lockwood for example, have diverted a portion of their business focus to other products outside of Home is not a sign of a doomsday scenario, either. It’s just smart business.
Second, it states in the announcement very clearly that both of the SCEA and SCEE Home communities will continue to be supported and produced for. This will be continuing for quite a while, given the statements from the developers today, we can be sure of that fact. People should be very careful when they start to say things like, “I won’t be buying any more Home content now.” That is the wrong attitude to take here if you want to have the Home we have here to continue, unless of course, what you’re actually trying to say is that you’d rather Home be gone sooner rather than later. I think it will be around, and still be getting product for another two to possibly even five years.
Exclusive Japan content
We need to start thinking about Home a different way than some people do. For me, Home is a community of friends I would have never met otherwise. What we decide to buy here is for our enjoyment as long as it lasts. There has never been a guaranteed lifelong commitment from Sony for any of us; where does it say that in the contracts we click “I Agree” on? Home has always had a shelf life, though we may not like to think of it ending. Think of Home as entertainment that is given us for a short time, like a movie or a concert. It is here now so enjoy it as long as you can.
Japan Home had a good run, It still will continue to be there, but nothing new will be sold. Japan has a lot of unique content that hasn’t been brought to SCEE or SCEA yet, and now it may never be here. That is the one things I wish would happen from all of this. Perhaps it will give the developers there some incentive to bring their wonderful content here.
Life is always full of things we don’t expect and none of us are guaranteed tomorrow, ever. That is true for Home as well. But I think that the developers who have responded in the forums have made it quite clear that they aren’t going to quit producing for Home for a long time to come. Have a little faith, people! We have been here on this wild ride we call Home for a long time; just hang on to your seat and continue to support what Home is and has meant to you and everything will be just fine.
August 31st, 2013 by Burbie52 | 2 comments
Burbie52 is a 62 year-old published author and founder of the Grey Gamers group within Home. Born and raised in Michigan, she has lived there her entire life, with the exception of a twelve-year residency on the Big Island of Hawaii. She enjoys reading and writing, as well as video games, especially RPG's. She has one son in his twenties.
Share
| Tweet |
Core Home users are generally just afraid I think. There’s been no official word from Sony about its existence on PS4 which unsettled a few; then the halt of content being produced for Asia/Japan regions is announced and some take that as confirmation of their fears. As has been said before, even when the NA/EU region’s content comes to a stop that won’t mean the servers will too.
Sony said they wanted a ten-year run out of the PS3 and they’re nearly there -- from a financial view. But again, that won’t mean in a few years time the PS3 will just be ignored. If the PS1 & 2 are anything to go by (and I’d say very good examples) then PS3 will have another 8 to 10 years left to run its final marathon stretch. Which means Home too, will accompany this stride.
The harbingers of doom are always waiting for a chance to wave that scrawled sign, or flap that sandwich board; but those of us able to look at things without freaking out like a toddler can see the patterns and movements in the industry and can then project a ppossible next move as to where things might go.
Heh, kinda ironic that even as a company Sony play “games” with us in a way.
Thank for the reassurance Burbie, now I can finally get some sleep eh! LOL!
@Krazyface id agree the lack of information about home on ps4 and the release of this information is going to start having an effect on how users use home. 35% of Granzellas takings were in Japan home that has to have an effect on how content from these developers is produced particularly when the EU region only makes up 15% of they current takings. The updates are the lifeblood of home take them away and nothing positive can come of it.