Well, just today I tried going into HOME and man, I'm still impressed. I don't have much friends on PSN but if I did HOME would be so much more fun! A sorta downtime in between games! You've played R2, met someone cool, 'Hey, let's go over to HOME and waste time on pool or bowling or whatever and just chat, while my other friend comes online.' It's just too much! Sure the ads are lame -they're just placed in really stupid spots- and there isn't much filling the environment, the idea of it though, can really be exciting. The creation of more rooms, maps, locales, ways to show new media -psn arrivals- is pretty neat. I do think there will be harassing problems to arise, people were swearing left and right sometimes, and boy avatars would just follow and be 'stupid' to girl avatars -yeah, it's all in fun, but underneath it shows serious ill behavior. In all, I'm excited and I posted the following thread in the ps 3 section. Here's to hoping they don't lock it. I really want to see what other people have to say.

nov 25, 3:28pm

Only one week into it and I definitely feel it puts NXE to shame! and this coming from someone a year ago was totally blasting the ps 3 for not being broad enough...Now? I think Sony is trying to create its own PC. Really. A web browser, media player of all sorts, blue ray player, and now virtual environments! too much. I'm in on the beta and it has much potential - bad as good. Already the vulgarity level is showing its face, and so too all the lame ads. This wouldn't be so bad if they changed the ads every day and put them in different places, but we'll see. It seems to have a venue for new trailers (maybe even movies with friends party option), exclusive videos to the PS3(I hope), preview music (a music kiosk of sorts is there), the thing I'm thinking though is that the environment might be too small! Yes there isn't that much to do, most people would run from one place to another but that was exploration. After the first run through, what will have people to come back? There needs to be a changing environment a la Little Big Planet. People need to feel more interactive than just lame body gestures and text bubbles. Chat is good and just walking by lets you in on their rants -man, someone is going to just stand there and preach a la corner loon, you just watch! You can change clothes, appearance, sex, any time you want and connect to friends seamlessly. You can make parties/clubs, start games from inside (as long as that game is in the drive), and jump from map to map (mall, theatre, bowling alley, room). But then what? It'd be nice if the player could furnish their 'room' like in Saints Row 2 and then have other people come into it. Sorta like house parties in HOME! It's a stretch but how cool would that be.

I do see problems, like when you quit a game and try to go back to HOME (it asks you in the XMB!) it did give me an error (87 I think it was), but overall if the content comes, then yeah, HOME will definetely make '09 Sony's year. Move over xbox (I now only care for it because of Gears, and don't want to do that because of all the problems NXE had; yeah, I'm scared, so what?). Of course, there will be bigger problems, age restictions aren't enforced and that might be its downfall -idiots are out there and this might be a way to vent their foolishness; it can get ugly. But yeah, it definitely has hurdles to meet and come across, but so far, I'm very impressed. The graphics are as good as Mirrors Edge, and hopefully they'll take that a step forward and actually create rooms, environments similar to big Ps3 games! MGS 4! Killzone 2! how awesome would that be? Also, I do hope they change the trophy screen/profile box. It says nothing about the person nor relevance to the type of gamer they are or player. A simple personal text area would be nice. Anyway, start the thread. HOME beta users and non, please. This can really be the beginning to a great PS 3 adventure!