Dec
14
Why Xbox Fan Geeks Should Love Little Big Planet
Filed Under console games, little big planet, ps3, xbox 360 | Leave a Comment
Xbox 360, and PS3 fan geeks, generally choose big battles between each other related to games that are specific to each have their own individual consoles. It seems to be whatever the exclusive to one console versus another, seems to think it gives them the upper hand over who has the best gaming machine in the business. Little big planet has been definitely a big disappointment for Sony from a sales perspective, but there are those in the business that suggests perhaps Xbox 360 fan boys shouldn’t be getting so excited.
Like many of the new next-generation games out there, little big planet counts on user generated content is one of its primary selling points. All the adorable little sack people, a great for marketing the game, it’s the included level editor that really makes little big planet special. Everybody wants to be a game designer, and that’s what the level editor gives them. But not the first game to try this, they won’t be the last but it’s well known that user generated content needs to a lot more game replayability.
Of course, any time you turn the plane community leaders with something important like level editor to generate content for your game, there can be little problems. Copywriting, is always an issue when it comes to intellectual property, and nobody knows that better than Sony. So, it’s no surprise that they’re going to be pretty stringent about designers creating little big planet levels with copyrighted material from other owners. Is one thing to set the rules, but it’s another thing to enforce them. Given a Sony somewhat new to the area of games with tons of user generated content, it’s not surprising that the struggling here in controlling what designers put out there.
It’s taken quite a while, but it’s pretty exciting to see level building games included in the console marketplace. There have been a few, and games that allowed level building, like far cry to for the Xbox, but generally their the exception to the rule. And just for the record, if you close for your Sim character or glasses and a beard, don’t count level but when or even content creation.
Being able to play levels, another source content is one of the areas of the PC gaming world has already excelled in for a number of years. Entire games, (like counterstrike) have evolved out of just such a consumer, gamer, designer and enhanced environment. It stills continues to this day. As games with both PC, and console versions are released, and only the PC versions and upper-level builders and editors. It is slowly changing though, and that’s a good thing for owners of an Xbox, the PS3, or Nintendo Wii. Bioware, is apparently considering including level editors and a few their upcoming games.
You have to wonder, why it’s taken so long for this to occur. For some games, like follow three, or an editor is only included in the PC version, it’s not about game sales. As games are selling equally well on both platforms. Apparently someone in the developers, or publishers boardrooms don’t think gamers to use a console care about level building. Perhaps it’s time the console gamers spoke out, and expressed an interest. As long as the companies building the games, don’t believe users want a feature, you can be pretty sure they’re not going to provide it.
Given the recent sales slump a little big planet, you have to wonder what messages that consumers are sending to Sony, Microsoft and the Nintendo folks. You can be assured that Microsoft and Nintendo are paying attention to how this game does. Hopefully the fans of both the Nintendo, and the Microsoft Xbox will understand what this means for gaming consoles. It’s an opportunity, for all gaming consoles to take a step forward in the revolution.