gofreak said:
There are a number of things that leave me scratching my head over Home, but there are also core things that make it very worthwhile if support is there. So I don't think they should scrap it at all. But they really need to refocus on what's important here. Namely game's plugging into Home and supporting those two specific features - game launching, and item rewards.
Once that's down pat, I think they can start casting an eye on the other stuff, which could be cool, but that doesn't give the same ongoing return on investment (in terms of keeping home fresh and compelling) that broad game interaction would.
I think in some ways what Sony is doing is very smart. They're turning the PS3 into what they said it would be--a home entertainment unit, not a "gaming system". From a business standpoint that's a good thing, AND it can have good side effects for the gaming side of things as well.
Look at it this way...
Sony's PS3 is still not caught up with the 360 in sales. Third party support could be better, as proven by the loss of certain games that could have been exclusives. (Final Fantasy, for example) Now, if Sony pushes the system as an entire entertainment unit, they get a bigger market to sell to, as the Wii has already seen with its "casual games" market expansion.
Now, if Sony can take advantage of media buffs and social networking fans, they expand the market share. A larger market share, for the financially inept, is a GOOD thing for Sony. While the initial focus is not on gaming, the effects can definitely be seen. When the PS3 becomes "the first thing you turn on" when you get home to your TV (to check what's going on in the Home space, watch new trailers, etc.) it becomes a gateway into gaming.
When this happens, Sony will have sold more and more consoles. This bodes well for third-party support--other developers will look at the PS3 more favorably by numbers, and will recognize the expanded market that Sony is reaching, and try to reach it through the PS3.
I'm not saying Home has an immediate positive effect for gamers, but long-term it's a good thing for EVERYONE who owns a PS3. You don't HAVE to use Home--it's a free service, which makes it accessible or neglectible, at any time you wish...The game launching, etc. will come in time, but while it's in development it's a good thing to support free services like this one...