LBP the creative star of 2008 - Molyneux

By Robert Purchese Published 15 January, 2009

"One of the defining titles on PS3."

Lionhead boss Peter Molyneux has hailed LittleBigPlanet as the most important creative innovation of 2008, ahead of his own dog-filled role-playing adventure Fable II.

His decision was made as part of C&binet's review of the creative economy over the last 12 months, which has also picked out Amy Winehouse's performance at the 2008 Grammy Awards as sterling work.

"LittleBigPlanet has outstanding creative vision," said Molyneux. "It's from a British start-up studio and is one of the defining titles on Japan's Sony PS3."

The Creative and Business International Network is a forum for brainy inventors to get together, and counts Microsoft's J Allard, Channel 4's Andy Duncan and Last.fm's Spencer Hyman among its ambassadors.

Sony pinned high festive hopes upon LittleBigPlanet, but the game failed to climb higher than fourth in the UK All-Formats chart. While sales may have been low, critical opinion has been high, with LBP winning our hearts and becoming the Eurogamer Game of the Year 2008.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (46) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Matt_82 #1 3 years ago

    I want to see a PM level on LBP

  • JohnnyWashnGo #2 3 years ago

    Normally old Molywhatsit talks a ton of crap, but this time I reckon he is spot on.

  • pjmaybe #3 3 years ago

    Good Job Mr Moulinex!! Long may you bray!

  • mingster #4 3 years ago

    It's got very nice graphics and sackboy is a great mascot but it's really just a very average 2.5D platform game.
    The interface and how people can create a level and interact with environment and objects is actually better than the game itself.
    Which i find a little disturbing. ie: Its more editor than it is game.

  • miiiguel #5 3 years ago

    "ª Normally old Molywhatsit talks a ton of crap, but this time I reckon he is spot on."
    It's obvious what defines those feelings...

    And I really like this kinda statements it shakes the "factions" world.
    "Ooooh Molyneaux said good things about LBP, shit...! Now what??! What should I think?!!!"; "OMG Greenberg said LBP is very good..., damn you! Stop messing with my head!"
    Edited by 2 at 15/01/09 @ 15:12

  • Widge #6 3 years ago

    strange... I only ever play the 'game' part

  • JediMasterMalik #7 3 years ago

    Well he would say tha...oh

    :D

    It's a brilliant game really, well deserved praise. Now bring Fable 2 to PC Molly. :)

  • bioreit #8 3 years ago

    @ miiiguel

    I was thinking along those lines too.

    "Peter Molyneux's an absolute tit who is over-blown and over-hyped. And Fable II killed my cat. True story."

    A few months later......

    "Oh, he said something nice about PS3 - nice chap, always hard done by I've thought."

  • Dan234 #9 3 years ago

    And that was out of the hundreds of defining titles on the PS3 with "outstanding creative vision".

    Would you like to race a car or shoot a monster in the face?

    /runs

  • TedBaker #10 3 years ago

    LBP > Fable Dog

  • penhalion #11 3 years ago

    Why does he not just shut up?

  • woodnotes #12 3 years ago

    "strange... I only ever play the 'game' part"

    Same here. And while it's full of charm and very pretty, I feel it's decidedly average in gameplay terms. I think the fun is in the creation, but I have more important things to create elsewhere for money.

  • RexRunti #13 3 years ago

    Isn't Media Molecule made entirely of ex-Lionhead employees who are still friends with Peter anyway? (Not that what he said is in any way inaccurate, LBP is easily the best PS3 game IMHO.)

  • woodnotes #14 3 years ago

    "Why does he not just shut up?"

    You're trying too hard.

  • Rash' #15 3 years ago

    i was at oxford street hmv today and they had PS3 with LBP running. i've got the bloody game but still wanted to have go. two player only was up so thought my luck wasn't in. decided to mess around with the costume and before long a passer by asked me what that "nice" game was. i told him and asked if he wanted to play. before long we were jumping long with massive grins on our faces. it's such an infectious game. forget last year. it gets my vote for the decade! Drop the price Sony and pack this in with every PS3 and you'll be laughing.

  • kangarootoo #16 3 years ago

    "It's got very nice graphics and sackboy is a great mascot but it's really just a very average 2.5D platform game.
    The interface and how people can create a level and interact with environment and objects is actually better than the game itself.
    Which i find a little disturbing. ie: Its more editor than it is game. "

    I think you've kind of missed the point somewhat. Its sort of like critisising mecano for being all about building things.

  • Petulant_Radish #17 3 years ago

    You spoke to a random stranger in London? Nay, in Oxford Street? Did you check your belongings afterwards, or indeed your sanity?

  • Rash' #18 3 years ago

    not all of us are paranoid you Radish!

    ;o)

    in all seriousness, that's the charm of the game. not since the days of arcade beat 'em ups have i been so compelled to play with random people like that. it was great.
    Edited by 3 at 15/01/09 @ 16:08

  • mingster #19 3 years ago

    Yeah and if you have not an ounce of creativity in your head or are just spacially challenged then meccano is crap its a bunch of metal that all you can make is ladders with.
    If you are slightly more gifted then you could make a ferris wheel but the majority of people would be only able to make ladders with meccano. The same for LBP you could make a very basic level quite easily but do people have the gift to make anything more creative than a penis level? Only very few do.

  • miiiguel #20 3 years ago

    What about "vulvas" ? (oh man, I so dig that word... sorry...).

  • Petulant_Radish #21 3 years ago

    I’m not paranoid, I’m a cynic. That’s what being born and raised in this city does to you!

  • Rash' #22 3 years ago

    being so cynical can limit you. i know, it's my city too but i try to embrace it for what it can offer me. not everyone is out to get you. certainly not me.

  • Petulant_Radish #23 3 years ago

    Yes I know, but you can never be too careful. Though I do miss laughing with strangers at the Sinner or Winner man, it was a travesty they gave him an asbo.

    LPB is a very charming game anyway, my brother and I have played on it a lot and it is very good. I especially like the pointing fingers with dual analogue sticks, and that’s a gimmick. Still, simple things…

  • kangarootoo #24 3 years ago

    @mingster

    But the whole point is that you don't have to be creative yourself, because you can download the efforts of those who ARE creative and patient etc. Yes I know there will always be loads of dross, but a decent community rating system will allow the gold to float to the top.

    Imagine when YouTube first started. It was crap, 'cos all you could do was upload videos. "What about those of us who don't make videos?" went up the cry...

  • ronuds #25 3 years ago

    How DARE PM speak! Seriously, HOW DARE HE!

    You guys beat up on PM all the time, but you know what? Without him in the industry it would be a lot more boring. Not only that, but getting mad at someone who's answering questions asked of him in an interview is pretty stupid. Direct your anger and hate in a direction maybe more...oh, I dunno, that won't make you look like an ass?

  • rotmm #26 3 years ago

    @ronuds,

    Indeed. In the current world of homogonised corporate speak, people like Molyneux are a breath of fresh air.

  • kangarootoo #27 3 years ago

    @ronuds

    I think the PM hate in this thread is barely present. People seem to have chilled out about him recently (me included) after he recently showed a little bit of self awareness when it comes to his waffling on, AND Fable 2 turned out to be pretty damn good.

  • ronuds #28 3 years ago

    @ kangerootoo

    "Why does he not just shut up?"

    ^^I was mostly replying to this comment. It gets tiring having to see that garbage every time PM makes a comment about anything, whether favorable or not. It's like, "why don't YOU just shut up!" :D
    Edited by 1 at 15/01/09 @ 17:24

  • Petulant_Radish #29 3 years ago

    I love him, I always have. I'll love anyone who gives me hours of joy.

  • ronuds #30 3 years ago

    Well, if the one thing he's remembered for is not following through on a promise that you'd be able to grow a tree in a game, then that's pretty sad - because he's done a lot more good than he has harm in the industry.

    From what I've experienced of his work, he may not always deliver on every promise, but he almost always delivers an enjoyable and usually different experience - which is much more than anyone can say for 90% of developers. The same guys who give PM guff are the same who will buy FIFA every year and claim it's innovative.
    Edited by 1 at 15/01/09 @ 17:31

  • Entity #31 3 years ago

    As the proud owner of a three-day old PS3 and LBP, I have to agree with 'ol Molychops. Fable 2 was the only thing stopping me parting with the squids for a PS3. Now that has been a monumental failure (Disclaimer: IMO!), I've taken the plunge and I'm not disappointed.

    /waits for honeymoon to end and the realisation that it's just another anti-climax.
    Edited by 1 at 15/01/09 @ 17:34

  • tomnol #32 3 years ago

    OMG Greenberg said LBP is very good..., damn you! Stop messing with my head!"

    Greenberg didn't say that. He said it was at the top of the list of games he wants to try out, but hasn't had time yet. Someone messed with your head, it seems.

  • miiiguel #33 3 years ago

    "/waits for honeymoon to end and the realisation that it's just another anti-climax."

    Don't let your brand new wife read this statement...

  • The_vorlon_man #34 3 years ago

    ...yet it sold nearly 2 million worldwide since launch.

    It's a slow burning success, and that's because it's the standout game of the year by a long margin.

  • miiiguel #35 3 years ago

    ...yet what?

    Craving for a discussion? Everyone knows LBP is the game of the century and it sells like hot babes (in toyland), and everyone here agrees with that!
    Edited by 1 at 15/01/09 @ 19:18

  • Entity #36 3 years ago

    "Don't let your brand new wife read this statement..."

    After 5 years of marriage you get a telegram from the queen allowing that to be an "insignificant reason" for a divorce.

  • Grayvern #37 3 years ago

    A Valkyrie Profile level on LBP, but i cant get anything but the campaign at the moment due to the way my shared internet works, and i only dipped a to into the online at home.

    Im missing out on so much feel sorry for me.

  • ronuds #38 3 years ago

    "...yet it sold nearly 2 million worldwide since launch.

    It's a slow burning success, and that's because it's the standout game of the year by a long margin."

    Who are you trying to prove a point to? I'm not sure if the 1.3 million in WW sales is something Sony's particularly proud of, but it's certainly nothing to sneeze at.

    And come on with that second statement. Wouldn't that be a HIGHLY subjective matter? Just take the damn compliment from PM and be thankful for it. No need for crazy talk and trying to incite a fanboy war.

  • autogunner #39 3 years ago

    stop stalling peter, get back to work on the PC port of fable 2...

  • spudsbuckley #40 3 years ago

    As much as i love LBP, it really is just a 2.5D platformer with a level editor.

    I think everyone is getting a little bit over-excited about it. It's still great though.

  • Les #41 3 years ago

    It's not as if there's been much competition... But still, LPB deserves every praise IMHO.

  • rprince #42 3 years ago

    This comment is mostly due to the fact the founder of Media Molecule was an employee at Lionhead.

  • DrDamn #43 3 years ago

    "I'm not sure if the 1.3 million in WW sales is something Sony's particularly proud of ..."

    While widely reported as such Sony didn't actually say that at all. Effectively he said they have had 1.3 million unique users play it online. What that means in terms of sales figures is debatable but they categorically did not say 1.3m WW sales.

  • CHAZBIGPOTATO #44 3 years ago

    As the owner of only an Xbox 360, I have to agree with Molyneaux, LBP is a great game. (sony fanboys heads explode).

  • zedzee #45 3 years ago

    Acclaim, awards and praise do not cut it if your game has not sold as much as anticipated, after all the hype before its release.

    Let's face it, LBP was a disappointment and almost a 'flop' in contrast with the multi-platform games that it had no chance of competing with. It's simple, PS3 is in THIRD place and just doesn't have the INSTALLED BASE as other consoles.

    I bet that Media Molecule's next version will be multi-platform and if they are intelligent enough, they'd have signed up for one exclusive release with Sony only.

  • Rash' #46 3 years ago

    trebell, that's why i said drop the price...