Project Origin Eyes-on
US PSN update; July 24
Video tour of PlayStation's booth at Comic-Con 2008For those of you who've been living under a rock for the past year or so, there's this new online service called Home that's coming to PS3's around the world early next year.
With all its fancy graphics and mountains of features, you'd expect Home to cost you a pretty penny. On the contrary, when Phil Harrison first announced it back in March at the 2007 Game Developers Conference, he informed the masses it would be absolutely free of charge.
How can Sony afford such a thing? Small micro-transactions were always cited as a way to counter development and upkeep costs of the online universe, but we were skeptical as to whether they could fully support Home. However, it appears in-game advertising will have a far greater impact (and therefore greater presence). In fact, in-game advertising is what is keeping Home free.
Darlene Kindler was recently appointed SCEA's head of in-game advertising strategies. She'll work in conjunction with Nielsen Media Research on the type of ads we'll be seeing in Home (and possibly future online PSN fare).
Don't worry, the ads won't be ludicrous and out of place - no coca-cola ads engraved in trees in the Fairy Realm of one of Home's online game rooms. We'll be seeing ads that are both "dynamic, [and] relevant."
What's your take on all of this? Would you rather pay for Home, or have to walk past a GAP billboard on the way to and from your Home Space?
Let us know in the comments section. As always, we'll keep you updated on all things PlayStation Home.
Source: PS3fanboy
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1st Comment:
Knew this was gonna happen, and I'm ok w/ it, hopefully we'll get to view game trailers and developers will have their own little rooms w/ all their games. like an ongoing E3 convention : )
Free is great as long as they keep to their word and have adverts that are "dynamic, [and] relevant."
I don't mind the ads. Adds to the experience really seeing as they're going to try and keep them relevant to the area you're in. I mean, isn't their 'Dress' aspect going to be promoting actual clothing lines?
its a great idea, thats how tv has worked since the first broadcast and so much money is being pumped into it. i hope alot of marketers buy into this that way home can keep evolving into something greater.
Well Home isn't entirely free... You will still have to pay for some services but I have no prob with ads in it. Everywhere you look or listen in this world there is ads anyways!
It almost makes sense to have in 'game' adverts for Home. Home is supposed to be a virtual world, or your virtual Home, and we all know that you can't drive 1 mile (in the city) without seeing some type of advertisements around. As long as they don't completely dominate the experience, it should make it more realistic.
Brandon
Sony can't afford to keep customer services up and running without some sort of financial assistance. Yes it is core to their offering but they don't exactly have money in the bank like Nintendo & Microsoft does.
Sony has to borrow money to keep alive now and users in the PS3 camp have to be a bit more understanding that Sony has no option but find alternate ways to pay the bills. In game advertising is probably the best avenue for them. They could also consider selling merchandise, T-Shirts, mugs and hats etc...
like billboards when u go outside, that would be cool, i cant w8 to get a ps3 to go with my X360, Wii and DS
As the rest are saying, Adverts make the world more realistic and if they could link in possible ways to get to the web site for the advertisment from the PS3 browser it could make it more of a financial benefit to both the advertiser and Sony.
Look I'd feel uneasy if Sony came out and started asking for donations. I guess pimping the customer base can bring in some money whilst they find something left over to sell. Does anyone know if the chip business sale whent through ok? I know the memory business sale happened.
Truth is and we all realise it - PS3 users dont have the luxury right now to be proud - Help out guys buy a few extra games this Christmas. And who care about advertisements - just try and ignore them.
As long as they keep the condom ads in a seperate section i'm happy.
As long as the ads make sense, I'm fine with it.
Im okay with it I think it will be pretty cool just like it is in the real world I walk down my street and advertising is everywere so it would be cool to see that in home as well
adds are fine as long as they don't get out of control. i hope they dont play adds before every video like a lot of sites do. that's seriously annoying
Fine with me.What I'd really like to see is a yearly charge for online gaming.EA servers are a joke and this is next gen?Gimmi a break.
It doesn't annoy me to be honest, as long as they arent pop ups or things like that, its fine.
Once Sony keep their word about Home being free, I'm all in.
@1
Thats what i would like to see. I'm hoping that all devs can be part of HOME and they keep their sections interesting and up to date. I think game devs and publishers are an essential part of HOME.
@4
BBC had the first broadcast 1992 charging £0.50 for the licence. Not trying to make out your wrong just giving out some trivia. A few months later they had a daily weather forcast.
@7
Surely your not suggesting that if Nintendo and Microsoft had similar services, because they have the money they would finance it themselves without need of any returns? Yeah right. Ever heard of xbox live and their market place? Microsoft have all the money in the world and they still have to rip you off with online gaming, and their XBLA games are over priced.
Nintendo are all about making profit any way they can from gimmick peripherals to cheap asss last gen consoles. The only money Nintendo spend on the Wii is for duck-tape to wrap around two game cubes and then sell for huge amounts of profit.
Hey i dont care.. if theres a coke machine in the corner, or a marquee above the threatre or posters in the bowling alley.. doesnt worry me, i think its a good idea actually.
Adds like GAP billboard as long as it doesnt get to intensiv so it ruin the experience! (| PSN id Ferre-Z |)