by Jin Lovelace, HSM team writer & filmmaker

Player Inspect.

The option was introduced with a recent core update, and it allows users to forego the most common inquiry any user (particularly a fashion-minded one) would receive: where did you get that top/dress/shorts/hairstyle?

I normally remember where my commodities comes from because, well, I bought them. For those whose wardrobes are significantly larger than the average user’s in Home, it’s like asking them ingredients for molasses; they wouldn’t know.

Inspect mode, from the beginning, has received a bit of flak from a minority of Home users who previously refused to tell anyone where they’d purchase their Weird Wear tops and that “awesome” Leather Spy Jacket from Costumes (that cat is officially out of the bag, ladies and gents) which so many would desire in order to present some virtual cleavage. Some felt it was a direct approach to invade their space and privacy (yes, secrets can and will be exposed through the option), oftentimes expressing the knee-jerk fear of being copied. 

In short, there’s no shortage of people who try to feel significant in the virtual world of Home, and anything that threatens that is immediately met with invective.

“Oh noes! Please don’t copy this commonly worn attire that I’ve worked so hard to put together!”

If that’s not enough, I double-dog dare you to blatantly walk up to a random avatar and use the option without their consent; you’ll swear they acted as though you were taking off their clothes in front of everyone.

The Inspect mode’s purpose is to save the trouble of asking where he/she found that top or sneakers that you’re interested in, and just view from a sub-menu all of the items worn on the avatar. You can also purchase them right from there, instead of taking a long journey to the virtual store to find a particular commodity. It’s convenient and it works.

But lets take this up a notch for a bit.

Lately, Home has found an interesting underground market where players take advantage of the option by introducing purchasable items that were either available from SCEE region, or items that are no longer available in retail stores. These goods are only obtainable through the Inspect mode — and knowing the person that has them. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some of the users that operate in this underground market, only to find that, somehow, you are on top of the popularity chain if  you own any of the goods.

Bear with me when I say that this article will guide your fashion senses about the inspection trend.

First off, I find most of the fashions available through this market not to my personal taste. The items available have been released at some point, but are no longer available through common means of purchase. If you believe you’re obtaining items that aren’t released, I’m afraid to burst this clouded bubble, but the items were introduced through illegitimate resourcing.

It gets worse: these items have been available in other regions as well. So the infamous Designer Dress that you thought was an unreleased item? It was first obtainable in SCEA Home region before being removed from Threads, but remained over in SCEJ and SCEE Home regions. A known website used this trick once, long before the Inspect option came to fruition, which leads to my second point:

What you’re contributing to is — literally — just filling wardrobes with items that are aesthetically questionable, just because you think it’s a trophy and a dose of exclusivity. The money goes to Sony, as all of the items were created by the brand. I’ll admit, some of the fashions grabbed my attention, but nothing screamed “amazing” to my senses whatsoever.  No favors are being done for the company, and to be honest the market is as aforementioned: very small.

TT Model, FormulaHT017, sporting a hairstyle obtained through the “Inspect Market”.

Third, while the items are just between $0.49-0.99, they are what you’ve paid for: cheap. There are developers that create some mesmerizing items that you must wear now, and some that pleases your taste enough to warrant a purchase and wear later. Sony’s Threads section is, seriously, an outdated store featuring older items that don’t stack up to designs of today, save for some that I’ve purchased, reviewed, and featured in my fashion videos.

Fourth (and this is something I’ve attempted): good luck compiling a wishlist of Home developers that would jump on this market bandwagon; no favors would be done for them either. I’ve mentioned twice that the market is rather minute in comparison to the lot flocking over to either the x7 preview section to purchase time-exclusive goods, setting off on their journeys to live the LKWD Life and obtain free clothing that meets to some quality standards, or to spend as little as $0.99 for GZ tickets and have someone gift you better fashion items.

You wish to be selfish a bit? Gift yourself various clothing from VEEMEE’s own 3D Printer.

This appeals to the mass audience more than trying to hunt down some mob that carries these unappealing items and spread them abroad. The core thing to realize is that this isn’t the same Home from five or six years ago; today this is a virtual world in which nearly every single market segment is super-saturated with too much content, running on architecture that creaks and groans under its own weight, served up on a last-gen console platform. No one gives a damn about your “unique” clothing ensemble.

For those who feel threatened by the Player Inspect feature, and those who use it to feel popular: get over yourselves. Home is an incredibly fun experience, but if you’re still engaged with Home for some mad quest for internet fame and exclusivity, that window of opportunity already ran out. Years ago. Can we all please simply enjoy this virtual world for what it is, and enjoy the new features which are being deployed?

This is one of the few items that caught my eye completely. Worn by FormulaHT017

Is there any good from this market, however? Well, you’re obtaining more fashion from Threads. Some are flattering, some are a total miss; others you’ll find in your wardrobe. While it’s cool to whip out your exclusive Diesel items that were available from Home earliest beginnings, they do carry a price tag. That means they can be purchased through normal means if someone is wearing them. If not, it’ll brand the big “NOT AVAILABLE/REWARD”  in bold print. Tough luck.

A top I’d purchased through Inspect that’s not available in NA Home at this time.

Overall, I wouldn’t rush into this trend right now. If you have fashions you wish to make available for others in Home, kudos to you. You’re doing good service in the fashion community. I would rather sell my entire outfit for those that want an elaborate design rather than parade a tasteless “rare” item just to get some sense of internet fame from a misguided sense of exclusivity and significance.

But fair warning, for those of you who find Player Inspect “exclusivity” enticing: it doesn’t power you up, it won’t get you into the x7 Club, Halle Berry will not finally find you attractive, that item isn’t exclusive, and it won’t gain you access to any secret information from government intelligence agencies.

What will it get you? Just another item added into your wardrobe for your own pleasure. Enjoy.

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