Firsts
by FEMAELSTROM, HSM team writer
I was looking through my catalogue of virtual Home goods the other day, sorting through the mountain of companions, estates and clothes I’ve amassed through the years here, and I began to wonder: what were my “firsts” here in Home?
Sure, this may be an exercise in some self indulgence, but in the end, it is a question we can all answer, no matter if you have been online for five years or five minutes. Anyone can play along.
Just for reference: I came on right after the “big hack” was corrected and Sony was welcoming people into Home with very open arms. So open, in fact, that they offered 100 free items to people just for coming or returning to Home. I remember it well: it was a special kiosk in the Central Plaza that housed the 100 items and it took me many times to enter and get the 100 items, but I endured and eventually got them all.
Today, though, I want to walk down memory lane. Let us reflect on our firsts.
Amigos
Who was your first friend? You don’t have to list their name; I tend to list elements of peoples’ names. For instance, if it were NorseGamer, I would simply call him Norse. My first friend was Killer: she was a gal that I met as she sat on a bench in the Central Plaza, hiding under a wide-brimmed, elegant hat and a fancy evening gown. She spoke to me because she could see that I was fresh off the farm, down to the dirt under my nails, all dressed up in the free clothes handed out in the avatar dressing room that I had just left. She was very nice to me and took me under her wing, instructing me in the basics of Home. She was very open and kind to answer any and all questions, but as I learned the ropes here, we drifted apart, and
Though my first companion was an Axe angel, my first purchase was DataBot jr. here
eventually the link between us was broken. She was a good person, and she was very special to me (there was no romance there) simply because she was a nice and helpful person I met that greeted me and helped me in a realm I now have come to love so dearly.
Nowadays, my oldest friend is a guy named Zona. He was probably the fourth friend I made, which is still cool to have one of my first ten around, and I do believe of the first ten friends I made here, he is the last man standing.
Real Estate
What was your first Home estate you paid for?
Sure, we all get the Harbour Studio, and yes, there are places you get for free — take the Digital Leisure Casino Apartment, or Darla’s Den — but the question here is simple: what place caught your eye and tickled your fancy enough that you actually got a PSN card and spent real money on it?
For me it was the Novus Prime Officer’s Quarters. I was drawn by the overt sci-fi look of it. I’ve decorated that place a million times in a million different configurations with the Harbour Studio furniture. Funny, now that I think on it; I haven’t been there in a while, but my memories of it are definitely very fond. I’ve revisited it many times over my stay here in Home and am always glad I bought it, as to this day it brings me great nostalgia just to stand there.
Really Hot Couture
What was your first clothing you bought?
There’s a handful of default clothing that Sony gives you upon entering Home — which can be expanded upon with other free reward offerings from certain places — but what was that one piece of clothing that was so special that you actually spent your PSN money to possess it?
For me, the first clothing I bought was the Rahm Kota outfit from Star Wars. This one is very special to me, and many people that know (or knew) me know that it is almost an iconic outfit for me. In fact, to date, it is still in the first save slot of my costumes. For some unknown reason, people responded really well to my demeanor and that outfit. It helped me get a lot of friends.
Right By Your Side
What was your first companion or LMO?
I was going to say just companions, but then thought that there may be readers who came along later, in the time where both were available. As for me, I came into Home when all we had was companions. The first companion I got was a freebie; it was an angel from a game in the Central Plaza for AXE Deodorant. Angels were falling from the sky, and I had to rescue ten of them by running around with a pillow in hand to cushion the fall. Ten saved and I got an angel.
(Good lord, remember when we used to grow excited by the thought of getting more stuff in our inventories?)
Hellfire Games’ Novus Prime Officer’s Quarters was the first place I bought. Never regretted it.
The first one that I paid for was the robot assistant that serves those playing Novus Prime: Databot Jr. The robot assistant was made as a companion, and that was the first one I bought. There have been many since, but that one has the distinction of being the first. I used to tell people that he was my wingman as I casually made my way through Home. He had a few motions, like wave and hover around. This was par for the course in terms of what companions did back then, but I did like ol’ Jr.
Sometimes You Want To Go…
There are certainly other firsts. What was the first place that you congregated at on a regular basis? The Creature Cantina from Star Wars was the place I fancied most for quite a while. Made many friends there, and I am glad it is still around. There was a time that place was really jumping — and with good (non-troll) people, to boot. There was a band of sci-fi fans and advocates that loved the idea of just standing at the iconic bar from Star Wars, and having a good old fun time, with the occasional lightsaber attack of somebody that was wanted in twelve systems.
What was the first club (aside from your own) that you joined? For me, that was a Dragon club. Don’t ask. An old friend had started the club and invited me to join; I did, and it was fun. I later went on to start my own club, and join others, but that was in fact my first.
Shock and Awe
What was your first impression when you stepped outside of Harbour Studio for the first time? That answer, for me, was simply amazement. I hope that that feeling stays till the day Home closes (whenever that is).
Home has meant so much to me — and to others. The nostalgia of thinking back on the firsts can be fun.
May 3rd, 2014 by FEMAELSTROM | 2 comments
FEMAELSTROM came to Home in June 2011 and never wanted to leave, even at weekly maintenance when he usually gets booted. The sand box environment appeals to the explorer in him and often is out and about as he ‘geeks’ out dressed like some sort of sci-fi character, while he people watches in popular public spaces. An artist and writer, FEMAELSTROM loves making friends and meeting people. He loves sci-fi and decorating Home estates and loves to respond “here” when people ask “where are you from?” in public places.
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First friend was hero, first space I got free was summer house it was first space to be released in EU but as a test it was free I believe. first companion was zombie rabbit thing I forget it’s name. First clothes were far cry t shirt, singstar jacket and a pair of jeans or an Arsenal soccer shirt. I’ve been on home since open beta started but left after my initial experience was a bit boring. Then came back strong after the public spaces started to arrive regularly until the end of last year. Still frequent home but no where near as much now.
Ohhh! Thats how the 100 free items worked!
I hooked my PS3 to the net 48hrs into the blackout following the hack. I still remember the first time I left my studio for the Plaza. The feeling I had was one of reality. All these other users doing their business. The bowling alley on the other side. The “rules of conduct” board. It had a true feeling of being a … central plaza. Something the HUB could never acheive.
I never was much of a CP guy. So thats probably why I don’t remember that special kiosk. Remember, when I first got there. All stores were closed. Back then virtual reality and buying virtual content were alien to me to say the least.
… And then I found Novus-Prime. If it wasn’t from that old school 2D space shooter my stay on home would probably had been nothing more that a short peek. Thats where I added the first name on my friendlist. Never really saw him afterward. Met my first friend, Thor. Whom will never be back on my list and introduced me to my first Home drama after a true friendship.
From the 10 first I probably have only one left, Willows. Maybe two. The next ten are probably all still on it.
Of course my first appartement was the Officer Quarter too. First clothing would be the items comming with the Novus-Prime perks but I didn’t bought them for clothing. I wore my Captain jacket and the Irem white free shirt for a long time. I don’t spend much on clothing in the physical world so spending money on virtual ones sounded like a waste. Boy, did that changed!