Sony at 2007 Game Developers Conference

Easily the biggest news to come out of San Francisco's Game Developers Conference 07 (GDC) this week was that of Home. The new social network and avatar creation system for the PS3 got kudos from journalists and developers alike. But Nintendo calls it Sony's "Mii too" approach and Microsoft's Chris Satchell declares it's "not a very game-centric approach." Read on for the full details...

On Wednesday's GDC keynote, Sony's Phil Harrison unveiled Home for PlayStation 3. This free service will allow users to create their own realistic avatars and furnish their own private spaces. Much like a giant social network, it allows players to chat and hang out in virtual spaces and even return to respective spaces to listen to music or watch video. There will also be various channels for particular companies and a Hall of Fame where players can collect 3D trophies for their efforts in various PS3 games. They also unveiled LittleBigPlanet, community-driven game with user created content and a lot of freedom.

Similar to the popular PC game Second Life, players will be able to talk to one another, explore different areas of the environment, and even play multiplayer games together. Each PS3 user will make an avatar, similar to Nintendo Wii's Mii feature, but much more realistic. Each avatar will be given a room, which you can adorn with all the accomplishments you receive when succeeding in various PS3 games, plus clothe your avatar in various garb. Any personal videos, photos or files stored on your PS3 will be transferable to any online friends you meet, however MP3s have not been discussed as yet.

The reaction from the rest of the industry has been generally positive, and while the fundamental idea of Home can be seen in other web programs like Habbo and Second Life, its scope has never really been explored before in the console space. Nintendo, however, is both unamused and unfazed by Home. "This is an example of Sony's 'Mii-too' approach," said a Nintendo spokesperson to Computer & Video Games. "But as Mr. Miyamoto states, Nintendo years ago considered and rejected the type of approach Sony is now taking."

Nintendo's Wii has options to create Miis, which are cartoony avatars usable in games like Wii Sports and occasionally like to wander over to friend's Wii systems. This doesn't have the same sort of scope of customization that Home features, but Nintendo appears to be happy with the approach they've chosen. "Miis have become a cultural phenomenon in their own right, appealing well beyond the traditional core gamer audience, and the process of populating them across the Wii universe is just beginning," said the spokesperson.

What about Microsoft's take? Chris Satchell, general manager of Microsoft's Game Developer Group, dismissed it to CVG, saying it was "not a very game-centric approach."

"I think they've definitely taken some concepts that we originated like achievements, but I think they're pushing in a different direction and we've sort of fundamentally got two different approaches going on here. I think theres is very much a vision that people see it and it looks cool but it's fundamentally separate from the games - or at least what they've shown so far," Satchell continued. "It's a cool world but it's like a little game by itself. Our approach is the other way around; it's that games are the center and that's the star of the show, that's what people buy the console for."

On the user-created content front, which seems primary in Sony's initiatives, Satchell says that Forza Motorsport 2 will offer gamers a lot of options. "You're able to take a car out, completely paint it, completely mod it, tune it and you're able to auction it online, take the funds from that and reimburse them in the game to do whatever you want," he details. "That's great user-generated content. It's not building a world but if you're into racing games it's just as meaningful."

Still, Satchell likes LittleBigPlanet's unique offerings. "I think LittleBigPlanet is very cool," he commented. "But I can't see a big portfolio of games at the moment that do this. I don't think there's a whole load to catch up."

Don't get too excited just yet though gaming fans, as beta testing is due to be carried out this April, with the full service going live in Autumn of 2007.

Source: GameDaily