LittleBigPlanet: The Quality IP That Battles Quality Sequels

Those "in the know" are well aware of LittleBigPlanet's greatness; it's one of the most innovative and accomplished titles of the new generation, and just about every reviewer will tell you exactly that.

But perhaps the sales numbers aren't representative of this particular title's exemplary quality. Sony's David Wilson spoke to GamesIndustry.biz on the subject and simply said, "This is an incredibly volatile time of year and the chart reflects that." Well, those charts say that LBP has only sold about 750,000 copies so far, while the likes of Guitar Hero: World Tour clocks in at about 1.2 million and Gears of War 2 hits the top with well over 2 million copies sold already. Now, granted, both of these titles are wonderful games, but is LBP that far beneath either in terms of quality? Of course not, and Sony hopes that by "word of mouth," the sales will continue to rise for Media Molecule's ambitious platformer. Also, they talk about the difficulties of selling a new IP; sequels with established name recognition are easy to sell by direct comparison. As Wilson said:

"LittleBigPlanet has also sold well given that this is a brand new IP...Our industry is littered with examples of brand new innovative titles that have been lauded by the critics but have sold dismally," Wilson added. "But Sony is delighted and honored to be working with hugely talented developers who can create brilliantly creative original games."

We're just hoping that word of mouth starts to spread quickly, because if the developers aren't sufficiently rewarded for the likes of LBP, that would a great injustice. Would you not agree, fellow gamers?

Related Game(s): LittleBigPlanet

11/19/2008 John Shepard

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Comments (34 posts)

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WaR_HaWk
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 @ 10:29:03 PM
Reply

LBP is the Best platformer this gen. Sony Advertisisng Sucks. Even MS can make a crappy game blockbuster.

3 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 @ 10:31:20 PM

Gotta agree on Sony's advertising for some games...

If Sony would've targeted this game to the masses outright it would've had a big impact.

Anyway, let's see, the Holiday season isn't over.

2 up, 0 down

Wage SLAVES
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 6:15:38 PM

Ill Third That! Advertising is fundamental!

This game is soo much fun especially at parties believe it or not. And the ladies LOVE it! I love to SLAP 'EM!!!

1 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 @ 10:29:16 PM
Reply

Don't know who said it, but the delay LBP got with the Muslim song that was offensive really hurt the game.

It brought it closer to Resistance 2, Fallout, and other big games.

That really is the thing which I see here.

Other than that I'd say that it will sell more as time goes on.

Personally I'm extremely happy with the game. And I don't care if people buy it or not, I'm the one having all the fun.

I also think that this is the kind of game that when it has its own time to shine it will sell a lot more. Christmas looks good for it.

They really gotta advertise this game as a pure party game. And it is, it's the ultimate party game if you ask me.

0 up, 0 down

Phoelix
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 1:26:25 AM

Personally, I think that delayed LBP was a necessity. While free speech is a constitutional right, businesses don't have all the rights people do. Imagine if Sony ran an ad campaign endorsing a political candidate or even something trivial like a type of soda.

It may not have been a good option, but it was the best one they had.

0 up, 0 down

LightShow
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 @ 10:40:53 PM
Reply

sony's advertising puzzles me. there supreme lack of anything resembling an advertising blitz makes it seem to the general consumer that the PS3 isn't a major player.

If Sony's director of marketing decided to get up and say "lets invest a substantial wad of cash into a MASSIVE advertising campaign" I'm sure it would work.

They have superior hardware, superior software, and a superb (if not a dominating) network. all it has to do is get the word out.

1 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 @ 10:55:00 PM

Amen to that 100 times!

Think 'bout it...imagine this commercial:

"Ever wanted to relive your dreams in real life? Well too bad, but you can relive them in LBP! And not along, play with your friends online(or not).

PSN = Online gaming fun for FREEEE! Get in and have fun!"

How hard can that be?

0 up, 0 down

LightShow
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 10:51:59 AM

they had those commercials with "Explosion of Catastrophe" playing, and those still rank as some of my favorite commercials. Too bad I only see them once every couple of months...

0 up, 0 down

Fabi
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 @ 10:51:51 PM
Reply

Pretty much feel the same as everyone else.

Even the Japanese R2 commercial is better than the crap were getting.

Those obscure commercials with the people walking in slow motion and Sackboy in the reflection of a buildings windows doesn't make anyone wanna play it.

It's cool looking, but that's about it.

They need to zoom in and really let people (kids) get a good look of Sackboy.

LBP hasn't even been close to what I thought it would be.

0 up, 0 down

OhYessss
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 1:51:29 AM

lol, the rapping grim. Advert GOLD.

0 up, 0 down

The_Vandelizer
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 @ 10:53:14 PM
Reply

yeah PS3 advertising sucks.... i still got the game though

1 up, 0 down

caliblue15
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 @ 10:54:12 PM
Reply

Everyone should check out my Level.

Truck Mountain v0.7

Its still in its beta form, any feedback would be appreciated, and especially some hearts for the level, and creator, you can also check out my other levels there too.

PSN: caliblue15

0 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 @ 10:57:01 PM

Awesome, will give it a look

0 up, 0 down

Tatsujin
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 @ 11:04:55 PM
Reply

Sony's advertising does suck. LBP should have been a game that killed GTA IV's sell records... Everyone with a PS3 should have bought it the first day it came out, but when I ask my friends about it.. the ones that DO have a PS3, they have NO CLUE what so ever wtf LBP is, and it shocks me. Although, when they youtube it or google it theyre talking about it the very next day like it's the only game on earth...

Sony should think about firing who ever is in charge of the advertisments... shit, for all anyone cares put Ben on the spot im sure he will do a hella lot better than the chump right now...

0 up, 0 down

caliblue15
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 @ 11:12:46 PM

They are trying to conserve money in the worst economic downfall the world has seen for quite some time.

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 12:10:09 AM
Reply

Sony has advertising?

2 up, 0 down

NuCl3aR32
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 12:34:16 AM
Reply

The last sony commercial I saw was probably during PS2 days.

0 up, 0 down

Ultimadesires
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 1:40:39 AM
Reply

Before they think of asequel they need to settle down on the 1st one, the online conection is pitiful! and no my internet connect isnt bad, its great on other online games.

I havent experience and online game on LBP with out lag ad it usually takes about 15 -30 minutes just to get in a match without something failing, i'd love the game if it worked but i just cant enjoy it like it is

0 up, 1 down

Scarecrow
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 11:48:37 AM

Your online connection sucks

I've no problem with online gaming in LBP, and I play with friends almost every time I play the game.

1 up, 0 down

OhYessss
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 1:52:37 AM
Reply

Also add me: ibazookajoe

I've made a quality level one that has a story and an art style, also no dark matter in sight!

0 up, 0 down

AntDC
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 2:04:14 AM
Reply

It's possible this game might get eaten up by parents for the kiddies for christmas though... but then again, how many young people actually own a PS3?

0 up, 0 down

Aftab
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 9:32:31 AM

A lot of kids out there who are bored with their wii's are wishing for a 360 or ps3 this holiday season. Who knows? The game could catch on over time.

0 up, 0 down

HUSO
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 3:18:47 AM
Reply

mebbe sony actually wants the title to sell over a long period of time instead of an instant burst in sales. tht'd actually keep the interest in the game going through out the console's life.

0 up, 0 down

crapreviews
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 7:53:51 AM
Reply

not that i even care for this game but.... ONE time, and i mean ONE time only, i saw a commerical for LBP. thing is you could only tell it was for LBP IF you already knew about the game and sackboy.

the commerical was real short. showed 2 ppl in front of a tall building and in the glass windows was sackboy and other things from LBP. that's all. then it just went to the PS3 logo and that was it. didn't even say the name of the game...lol

Last edited by crapreviews on 11/20/2008 7:54:46 AM

0 up, 0 down

caliblue15
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 8:52:47 AM

Its there new campaign, called reflections.

Its 21 sec clips up to around Black Friday, then they said they would full out unleash the power of advertising.

0 up, 0 down

Aftab
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 9:29:03 AM
Reply

"because if the developers aren't sufficiently rewarded for the likes of LBP, that would a great injustice. Would you not agree, fellow gamers?"

Agreed. As the developers would have less incentive to be experimental, we would see fewer titles pushing the envelope on creativity.

1 up, 0 down

LHomie
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 11:21:55 AM
Reply

If the moderation of levels wasn't so bad people might actually buy the game. You gotta be honest, most of the best levels are based on other games. But there are some good original ones out there.

0 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 11:51:28 AM

Do you even know the guidelines?

Seriously if people like you would care to read the guidelines things would be fine.

Basically don't COPY + PASTE stages from other games.

Creating the EXAAAAAAAACT same stage/scene from MGS1 is not original.

Now, creating a MGS1 INSPIRED level is 100% fine.

0 up, 0 down

ec0li
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 11:43:26 AM
Reply

Even though LBP will probably not reach the same heights as Gears2 it will do very well in terms of sales. I could see this game reaching at the very least 2 million copies easy. I think that is more than enough to ensure future iterations of the game. It's one of those games that will continue to sell long after the launch. I'm really glad that developers like MM are still out there that have the creative balls to make games like LBP that give such a unique and original take on the platforming genre. I applaud Sony for sharing MM's vision and taking a chance on publishing an unproven ip. The result is that we gamers get the chance to experience a refreshing change of pace and true gaming greatness that is LittleBigPlanet.

0 up, 0 down

coolistic
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 12:12:28 PM
Reply

Yeah I have to say that LBP is the most original and the most fun game I have had in this generation.

Nobody have done what MM has done.

0 up, 0 down

Arvis
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 1:11:52 PM
Reply

I was under the impression that those short commercials that say "Have you started your wish list?" at the end were teasers, setting things up for the marketing blitz Sony will unleash near the end of the month... I'm pretty sure I didn't make that up...

-Arvis

0 up, 0 down

bamf
Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 8:48:51 PM
Reply

I don't watch much TV but I have seen plenty of 360 commercials, showing the games and the movie download side of it then showing viewers the arcade model. Even for multiplatform games all it shows at th end of the ad is the 360 logo. I have only seen Mirror's Edge ad for PS3 the once, and thats it for Playstation.

0 up, 0 down

whooka
Friday, November 21, 2008 @ 6:48:52 AM
Reply

While platform games are my game of choice I've not gotten obsessive about purchasing LBP (though I will in the future at some point) mainly due to the fact that most reviews I've read indicate the content that comes with the story part of the game does not take that long to finish and a part of me has a problem with spending $50-$60 on a game that's gonna rely on user-created (aka 'amateur') content to make it a longer playing experience. I know the game and engine feature brilliant design but it should've come with more content from the studio.

0 up, 0 down

Thinker
Friday, November 21, 2008 @ 1:48:19 PM
Reply

It puzzles me, that a company like Sony, with as much access to popular media as it has - what with it being in movies and TV, and hardware to boot, still seems divorced from the fact that it should unleash a media blitzkrieg (sort of like the one that elevated Halo 3 from a run-of-the-mill FPS, albeit with a very good multiplayer component, into the must-have blockbuster of last year) that establishes it's games and console in the minds of people.

0 up, 0 down

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