LBP would not work on 360 "as it is"

By Robert Purchese Published 10 September, 2008

PS3 hard drive, Blu-ray a large factor.

Media Molecule boss Alex Evans has said LittleBigPlanet "as it is" would not work on Xbox 360, mainly because the game had been developed with only one system in mind.

"The 360 is an incredibly capable machine, and you could make a user-generated content game on it, no question - just as you could make one on the PS2 or the Mega Drive, or any platform," Evans told GamesIndustry.biz. "But because we picked our platform, you go and you use every available bit of space, every little processor cycle.

"The design decisions on the PS3 are huge, and I'm sure you realise that having a hard drive on every unit makes a difference. That's another thing - if we didn't have a hard drive on every unit, we'd have to scale back the ambition of what you could save and do.

"So yes, you could make this game on the 360, but it'd be a different game."

Blu-ray capacity, Evans pointed out, also made a difference, with LittleBigPlanet occupying around 40GB because of its tutorial content for players and creators.

Head over to GamesIndustry.biz for part one of the interview with Alex Evans, where he talks about Sony pressure, Peter Molyneux's advice to "go for broke", and explaining the game concept to his mum.

LittleBigPlanet is due out exclusively for PlayStation 3 on 31st October.

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 (145) Latest comment 3 years ago

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

  • Dizzy #1 3 years ago

    Yea Bluray...

  • TheWretched #2 3 years ago

    Smash your heads in in 3...2...1...

  • Stu #3 3 years ago

    Mega Drive?

  • ThePissartist #4 3 years ago

    This is gonna get nasty.

  • LHH #5 3 years ago

    Shame. But then the game doesn't really appeal to me, not enough AK47's.

  • TheBoyChris #6 3 years ago

    "LBP contains the colour blue..."

    How many news stories can you get out of one (late and unreleased) game? Every bloody week for years...

  • mcmonkeyplc #7 3 years ago

    YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE HA!

  • miiiguel #8 3 years ago

    Most hyped games in history:
    Halo & LBP

  • JohnnyWashnGo #9 3 years ago

    If it would work on a Megadrive then bloody put it on the Wii

  • kestral #10 3 years ago

    Media Molecule boss Alex Evans has said LittleBigPlanet "as it is" would not work on Xbox 360, mainly because its a PS3 game and you can't run PS3 code on an Xbox, apparently.
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/08 @ 11:30

  • Psychotext #11 3 years ago

    lol... blu-ray a factor.

    This wouldn't work on the 360 because Sony own the IP.

  • DFawkes #12 3 years ago

    I don't believe him. I'll just buy it and stick it in my mates 360 anyway. Then we'll see who's a moron.

  • menage #13 3 years ago

    Funny thing is this started out as a DL. Now it's 40 G. Go figure. Those tutorials must be fucking HR.

  • johnnybrn #14 3 years ago

    LittleBigPlanet occupying around 40GB?

    Thats massive, bigger than 7 standard DVD movies!

  • Rash' #15 3 years ago

    Well the question was could the game done on 360 so they were fishing for tabloid material. Trust you to not offer anything substantial to this thread, Dizzy.

    Yea for bluray and standard HDD...

    :o)
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/08 @ 11:38

  • the_dudefather #16 3 years ago

    @Coin-Op
    'Is it even a game?'

    Oh you

  • peterfll #17 3 years ago

    Would it work on the Vic 20?

  • zuljin #18 3 years ago

    @Coin-Op
    "Don't like sack boy"

    Shocker of the year.

  • johnnybrn #19 3 years ago

    How about a modified version for the PSP somewhere down the line

    Tutorial aside Im sure this can be done

  • Demento41 #20 3 years ago

    As Carmack said, the main advantage of the PS3 is the standard HDD and blu-ray. That's basically what they are saying here, but as it comes from a Sony dev, it's instantly more controversial.
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/08 @ 11:40

  • menage #21 3 years ago

    The only thing I'm thinking is

    Do they really need such a large amount of tutorials. I thought this was supposed to be super easy.

    Well, maybe it will mean it will be pretty deep at least.

  • DrDamn #22 3 years ago

    Not actually anything controversial in what he said. It's actually true of any half decent exclusive title as it plays to the target platform strengths. Key points - he said it would be possible to do on 360 just different - and actually better in some respects, worse in others I'd guess.

    As for tutorials taking up lots of space - comprehensive tutorials for what they are trying to acheive is key. They could be done on the 360 using SD video or on mulitple discs without too much of a problem - it just a little nicer to have it HD and on one disc. No a big thing though.

  • chiz #23 3 years ago

    39gb of data padding more like.

  • DrDamn #24 3 years ago

    @Menage
    It needs to be easy to create the basic stuff but more indepth creation such as using triggers etc which will be required for longevity of the title would necessitate more tutorials. It needs to be this way.

  • menage #25 3 years ago

    @Dr Damn

    Yeah, figured that. It is actually pretty web 2.0 to have on disc tutorials. Like Apple or Adobe do.
    Beats an unclear manual if you can see it.

    The we need BR claim is pretty void though if it''s just because of tutorials.

  • Colin8703 #26 3 years ago

    Don't most people with a PS3 have a nearly full hard drive anyway due to the amount of compulsory installs needed?

  • Gnort #27 3 years ago

    Sorry, I'm still trying to get over "it's 40GB because of the tutorial content we put in".

    40GB?

  • Madafunkola #28 3 years ago

    Maybe the tutorails are in the form of full hd movies rather than "in engine" - not for any reason other than "because they can be" - that'd fill a BR disc I reckon.

  • Skooch #29 3 years ago

    What he has said is spot on - the basic fact of the matter is that devs will always use what they are given. Give them 100Gb and they will use it - but they will probably have the same 4Mb textures repeated many times etc.. Some clever coding would see the game shrink massively and I would bet my bottom dollar it could fit on a single DVD-9 if it was done right.

    There really isn't anything more to say.

  • miiiguel #30 3 years ago

    "It needs to be easy to create the basic stuff but more indepth creation such as using triggers etc which will be required for longevity of the title would necessitate more tutorials. It needs to be this way"
    So, it's a degree, not a game?

  • Apostle #31 3 years ago

    /Starts rumour mill

    LittleBigPlanet coming to 360 shocker!!1

  • Dark_Stranger #32 3 years ago

    out next year then!

  • BiscuitBase #33 3 years ago

    I like sacks and I like boys. Is this the game for me?

  • Dizzy #34 3 years ago

    "Well the question was could the game done on 360 so they were fishing for tabloid material. Trust you to not offer anything substantial to this thread, Dizzy."

    I don't think anything substantial can be said when a 4GB game has 36GB tutorials and requires a Bluray disk.

  • Xerx3s #35 3 years ago

    Nothing like tearing someone's words out of context eh eg?

  • Collymilad #36 3 years ago

    Lies. Lies. Lies.

    I really wonder if these devs that use 30/40/50Gb etc sit there wondering "Hmm, what crap can we cram in"

    Just seems odd how most games require nothing like 50Gb, yet some apparently can't do without it.... *cough*BS*cough* They fit GTA IV on a DVD - they can fit this on. End of.
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/08 @ 11:59

  • Physically_Insane #37 3 years ago

    *cough*final fantasy xiii*cough*

  • Inigo #38 3 years ago

    It strikes me that LBP is going to be a Media Darling game where the all the reviewer think its amazing. But most people who just want to play a good game (and not create something) we be unimpressed.

    The level creator on Neverwinter Nights was amazing until i realised i have no artistic talent at all. All i was left with was a very average RPG.

  • ps3owner #39 3 years ago

    "But because we picked our platform, you go and you use every available bit of space, every little processor cycle."

    so has my PS3 reached the end of it's lifespan already?! Crap :)

    It's probably all in 1080p, hence 40GB

    maybe it's 4GB for the game and 36GB of the XXX sackboy hot stuff going on there?

  • space_ace #40 3 years ago

    "360 as good as PS2 and Mega Drive, not a match on PS3"

    there :)

  • DrDamn #41 3 years ago

    Could people actually read what was said before piling in with stupid comments or is that too much to ask? He didn't say it couldn't be done, he said it would be different - which is just plain obvious no?

    @Miiiguel
    "So, it's a degree, not a game?"
    No. It's accessible but if you want depth in the gameplay you need depth in what you allow people to create and do. Therefore there will be levels of complexity in the creation process. They've shown you can create quite a lot with basic knowledge. If you want to do something more complex then you have to put the time in and learn to do it. That is helped greatly by some nice swish tutorials voiced by Stephen Fry.

  • BulletTheory05 #42 3 years ago

    @ inigo

    People who want to play a good game and 'not create things' won't buy the game. Simple.

  • miiiguel #43 3 years ago

    "Therefore there will be levels of complexity in the creation process."
    That is scary..., and starts to sound like a non-ludic activity. I don't want to be a game designer, I just want to play them. But hey, I'm not judging, I bet some ppl will enjoy it.

    edit: a bit like XNA with pictures ?
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/08 @ 12:16

  • Beano #44 3 years ago

    "Most hyped games in history:
    Halo & LBP "

    So true - hopefully LPB will be the one living up to the hype ;)

  • Vanmunt #45 3 years ago

    Umm... basically you need a hard drive to play this... MS say you cannot make a game that relies on everybody having a hard drive, so basically that is why it was designed for PS3.

  • DrDamn #46 3 years ago

    A key point you seem to be missing is you don't need to do any of the create stuff - just play and download other people's stuff.

  • kestral #47 3 years ago

    Actually i'm jealous like the rest :p Would be a great game to have on the 360!

  • andywilkie35 #48 3 years ago

    anyone seen the Kratos sackboy? looks quite good actually

  • IneptPercy #49 3 years ago

    Hmmm, still not massively bothered with this game.

    I do believe that some of the games using massive amounts of GB's is due to no compression (fair enough there is room) and duplicated data (to try and combat slow read/seek speeds)

    I am still waiting to see this massive advantage of blu-ray for games.

  • Vanmunt #50 3 years ago

    @Farticus

    Agreed, however are they specifically designed for the 360? Did MS cosy upto Square for future exclusives?

  • ParanoidZombie #51 3 years ago

    In other news, soul calibur legends would not work on 360 "as it is".

    Wiimote a large factor.

  • Rash' #52 3 years ago

    Dizzy, so how do you know those figures to be exact?

  • SeesThroughAll #53 3 years ago

    Re: shallow

    Can't be more shallow than FPS games.

    Video games are ALL shallow by nature. I can't believe how some people can be so hypocritical about it.
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/08 @ 12:45

  • Waldo #54 3 years ago

    It's 5GB of data, repeated eight times.

  • mcbi4kh2 #55 3 years ago

    @fart

    Even though I personally hope the game will bomb

    Fixed. Don't mention it.

  • ps3owner #56 3 years ago

    @Turnip_of_Doom

    thanks for the link :)

    I was wrong, but reading it does make me wondere where on earth the 40GB size comes from? especially since he says that the levels are supposed to be tiny in (MB) size to improve sharing speeds... odd?!

  • gingerlink #57 3 years ago

    How many of you have actually played it, seriously?

    I played this in Leipzig, several times as it was such good fun. It's just a really fun game to play, simple as that, how games should be. Even more so if you're doing multiplayer. If you're not a fan of creating stuff, then just play the levels on the disk and download other people's high rated ones, that's the point of having the huge hub there!

    I don't own a PS3, but wasn't expecting it to ever get released on the 360, it's a good game, but doesn't justify buying the console as little else appeals to me. Ok, maybe MGS4.

  • zuljin #58 3 years ago

    andywilkie35
    "anyone seen the Kratos sackboy? looks quite good actually"

    They are quite cute, I've seen some shots of Nariko sackboy/girl too.

  • Widge #59 3 years ago

    I prefer the Nariko one, have gone the Play pre-order.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #60 3 years ago

    I wish this game was coming out on 360. It's literally the only PS3 game that has tickled my fancy in any way, shape or form.

    However, watching videos recently the platforming bits looked very sluggish - not fast-paced like I'd imagined. Eagerly awaiting the reviews.

  • mcbi4kh2 #61 3 years ago

    Actually,good attempt because you bit :)

    So,
    My point is whether the game is a roaring success (probable)

    You think the game is probably going to be a roaring success.

    and,
    I personally think the game will bomb

    you think it will bomb. My fault, apologies all round.

  • Arwin #62 3 years ago

    Given that there are thousands of textures and objects on the disc, as mentioned in the interview, downloadable levels will generally be small especially when they use those default textures and objects that all LBP owners will have on their disc already. This means they don't have to be redownloaded.

    I have to laugh at those using GTAIV as evidence that DVD will always be enough.

    One of the problems with the 360, and it affects games like Grand Theft Auto if you think about how much content we put in the actual machine, is the fact that they don't have a significantly larger storage medium than the previous systems. It's a slightly bigger DVD disc.

    [snip]

    I think that the 360 is going to have to get 'round this issue we're talking about. I can think of various ways they can do it. Hopefully, they're going to adopt one of those in the next year or so, because it's going to become more of an issue. If we're filling up the disc right now, where are we going? It's not like our games are going to get any smaller. I think that issue's on the table with a bunch of games right now. I'm sure they'll come through with an intelligent solution.
    Edited by 2 at 10/09/08 @ 13:10

  • sneetch #63 3 years ago

    I'm surprised that the tutorials contain that much video, I would have thought they'd use the in-game engine to do them. That way you could select objects, manipulate them and generally participate as the tutorial runs to get a better idea of how it all works (and it would use a fraction of the space).

    I'm sure the videos will work almost as well though.

    @Arbiter

    Alternately you could just use a DVD format movie on to a DVD and you'd end up with no artifacts (or at least no visible ones). Obviously, you would lose your HD but it's better than Blocky-Artifactville. In this particular case the tutorials could be stored in SD with very little real impact.

  • drumbaby #64 3 years ago

    "LBP would not work on 360 "as it is""

    Luckily it's not coming out on Xbox then.

  • BobsUncle #65 3 years ago

    @PS3Owner

    You do realize that 1080p games aren't just a series of 1920x1080 pixel bitmaps don't you? You don't need massive amounts of storage space just because a game runs at 1080, it's exactly the same but just drawn on a higer definition window.

    You can run most PC games at 1920x1200 if you have the monitor, and you don't get a bigger disc for it.

  • ps3owner #66 3 years ago

    @BobsUncle

    I meant the vids (tutorials) in 1080p encoding. not the game itself... I do know how it works with regard to resolution. Sorry if I didn't explain myself properly.

    @Arwin

    that makes sense.

  • mcbi4kh2 #67 3 years ago

    Any other bone you want to pointlessly gnaw on?
    Not in this thread, no.

    because I know you have a particular problem understanding
    How did youn know that?

  • bonker #68 3 years ago

    Never mind explaining the 'game concept' to his Mum - someone explain it to me ...

  • des #69 3 years ago

    Either Sony developers are biggest fanboys in the world or Sony is paying them to say stupid things.

  • BobsUncle #70 3 years ago

    @PS3owner

    Oh, ok. I'd assume any vids would be using the in-game engine anyway, like MGS.

    I'm a bit baffled as to how you fill a 40GB disc up with content. Textures and models can only be so big otherwise they don't fit in RAM, and like you say the levels are meant to be small for downloads.

    Maybe it's just full of HD porn.

  • the_dudefather #71 3 years ago

    @BobsUncle
    'HD porn.'
    thats only in the review copies

    suddenly, 10/10s everywhere :D

  • BobsUncle #72 3 years ago

    @Confounder

    What a boring attempt at baiting.
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/08 @ 13:39

  • ps3owner #73 3 years ago

    If they put 35GB worth of HD porn on it then it would probably turn into a systems seller :)

  • DrDamn #74 3 years ago

    @des
    Read the article and what the bloke actually said - it's not him saying the stupid thing ...

    @BobsUncle
    Downloadable levels are only small because you already have the larger info available on the disc.

  • nejibob #75 3 years ago

    im with LHH... wouldnt buy this for either console if i could
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/08 @ 13:49

  • Rash' #76 3 years ago

    Arwin:

    +1

  • anamenos #77 3 years ago

    LPB will flop

  • GooseUK #78 3 years ago

    Right..... this game is 2d (ish) and has a level editor ... but takes 40gb.

    How big are these tutorials for gods sake..... bearing in mind you can fit gta 4 and far cry 2 and crysis on one dvd

    I guess they recorded 4 hours of the tutorials in 1080p at a massive bit rate and added true HD surround just be allowed to say - "Thank christ for blu-ray!"

    Im sure the tutorials could be done for less, this is a Sony marketing dream, so they can put on the box "ONLY BLU-RAY CAN HANDLE THIS!!!!11!!"

    Yet still, i remain completely underwhelmed by my PS3. Blu ray, standard hard drive and all

  • RESIDENT_nEVILe #79 3 years ago

    This boat will not work on land "as it is".
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/08 @ 14:36

  • Agent_Orange #80 3 years ago

    Kinda going full circle with this game... I mean platformers used to fit on one disk... a floppy disk, now they need a 20/40gb blueray drive?

  • Feanor #81 3 years ago

    I love how people keep parroting the the line that discs are going away soon, and downloads will be taking over. Not with 40 GB games and most households still without decent broadband.

  • Buztafen #82 3 years ago

    /reads half of article
    /goes out and buys second hand Mega Drive
    /.....reads other half of arcticle
    /looks for bluray drive on Mega Drive
    /fails
    /cries
    /bluwanks.

  • BobsUncle #83 3 years ago

    "Right..... this game is 2d (ish)"

    I see people still don't understand the difference between a 2D game and a game with a 2D perspective...

  • Rash' #84 3 years ago

    1080p content for a 40GB HD game? Who would have thought it?

  • woodnotes #85 3 years ago

    That's right, because "as it is" Sony are publishing this game. Hence why it would not work on 360. Also, last time I checked, PS3 games don't work on the 360, so "as it is" it definitely won't work. Try inserting Resistance in to your 360 and check for yourself! OMG!

  • penhalion #86 3 years ago

    :) So it's one of those "We could do it if we wanted to" moments. Given this has always been exclusive to the PS3 I'm curious as to why the developers said anything at all.

  • DrDamn #87 3 years ago

    @Penhalion
    Maybe because they were asked?

  • DrDamn #88 3 years ago

    @Arbiter
    As one someone who has watched a lot of the vids and is seriously looking forward to this there is I think a valid case for suggesting there could be "shallowness" issues. Something I don't think will be full known until the game is released. On the other hand I've been amazed at some of the stuff I've seen and have faith in what will eventually be delivered. There is a danger - even if you accept it is only a small one - that it could ultimately disappoint.

  • DrDamn #89 3 years ago

    Oh the other thing which will help keep things fresh is the support post release from MM - which looks like it will be impressive.

  • Whatsfor #90 3 years ago

    DrDamn, surely by that token any game could disappoint? The uncertainty is because people dont know what they want this game to be yet.

  • Rash' #91 3 years ago

    DrDamn, I've beening watching a few more vids in anticipation for this and i have to agree the danger is very small of it being shallow or disappointing. Edge's article last month and their most wanted section this month convinces me that this will at the very least deliver where it matters most: gameplay.

    As to whether the game is possible on other platforms, well PS3 does have strengths the other two platforms don't. Granted they are unproven advantages, but then it's up to exclusives like this to prove their worth.

  • DrDamn #92 3 years ago

    @Whatsfor
    I'm not so sure about that. While the creation side does allow for lots of surprizes - computation machine, trampoline and bucking bronco mini games, music sequencer - it's not a jack of all trades in terms of genres and what you can do. At it's heart the core mechanics are that it's a platformer - regardless of what people want it to be.

    What I think is consistent about the majority of previews is how much fun it is to play. Regardless of the content it's fun to just mess about in with other people. Fun is a factor missing from a lot of games.

  • bengray66 #93 3 years ago

    I find it deeply ironic, that a game which looks most at home on a Wii, is turning into a major seller for the PS3, after all the Wii-bashing about "simple fun games"....

    If it floats your motor boat then more power to you.

  • the_dudefather #94 3 years ago

    @bengray66

    because each individual ps3 owner represents all ps3 owners amirite?

  • Rash' #95 3 years ago

    farticusmaximus, Well clearly it is up for debate otherwise posters on this site would have accepted Evan's remarkes that it isn't possible (in it's present state).
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/08 @ 16:15

  • DrDamn #96 3 years ago

    @bengray66
    I've never seen this as a Nintendo or Wii game. The style of the game screamed Sony of old at me from the first screen shot. Its the sort of stuff they have been sorely lacking in this gen - aside from PSN titles.

  • DrDamn #97 3 years ago

    @Rash and Farticus
    I think you are talking about different things. Farticus is talking about possible as a game idea, Rash is talking about possible without changes (for better or worse). Both are correct.

  • Goodfella #98 3 years ago

    There is no debating whether it's possible, from a technical perspective, on other platforms. That is a no-brainer. Having played vast quantities of, and marvelled at the physics of the incredible Boom Blox, LBP would even be possible on the Wii.

    How do you know this, or are you basically just saying it for a reaction?

    Seriously, unless you are qualified in the field of programming and/or work for MM then please share with us just exactly how you reached this conclusion.

  • DrDamn #99 3 years ago

    @Goodfella
    At the core in order to replicate LBP on the Wii you would need a decent physics engine. It doesn't have to be exactly the same in order successfully replicate the game. What LBP does is simulate stuff like gravity, friction etc. This is ably demonstrated in Boom Blox. I don't think Farticus is suggesting the exact physics models used in LBP could be done, but a decent enough cut down version to get the same effect should be possible.

  • Rash' #100 3 years ago

    DrDamn, Ordinarily, I'd agree with you, but this is Fart we're talking about and he did said "technically" so once again, the guy's talking out of his arse (though his comments regarding Motorstorm were surprising).

  • Rash' #101 3 years ago

    DrDamn, I'm not convinced though. The engine is making levels on the fly. Players are jumping in and out of a level at will and the engine is having to calculate a large amount of data to make it all possible. Boom Blox as a game is much simpler than that.
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/08 @ 16:37

  • DrDamn #102 3 years ago

    Take out a lot of the graphical niceties and there are always ways and means to work around restrictions - as I said it might not do things the same way, with the same precision - but the approximation would be workable. The Wii isn't that much of a slouch in terms of computational power.
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/08 @ 16:40

  • smelly #103 3 years ago

    @miiguel:

    quote: "Most hyped games in history: Halo & LBP "

    Yeah.. but at least from the hype I knew what halo was ... an overhyped fairly average - quite boring - shooter.

    I still have no idea how LBP *plays* apart from that it has a boring looking level editor

  • canIdoyabombsforya #104 3 years ago

    Woohoo, finally some value for my FOUR HUNDRED and TWENTY FIVE POUNDS.

    "We have invested billions of dollars, a processor rivaling that of super computers, uniquely designed to support the massive processing requirments of digital entertainment"
    Kaz Hirai 2006

  • Whatsfor #105 3 years ago

    Smelly, without wanting to stray from the topic too much... Whats your idea of not boring? I'm not a Halo fan but I dont think it looks boring. Likewise with LBP the intrigue about it keeps it from being boring...

  • smelly #106 3 years ago

    "Whats your idea of not boring? I'm not a Halo fan but I dont think it looks boring."

    Okay.. the first was cool as it was the first "proper" fps on a console.

    Sequels dont interest me at all, because now there's too many fps's on consoles...

    it's like going back a decade or so to the snes where every game was a 2d platformer..


    "Likewise with LBP the intrigue about it keeps it from being boring..."

    Which was my point.

    Halo had shit loads of hype.. but at least you KNEW what the GAME was.

    My prediction.. this is an average boring game with a nice level editor.

  • Goodfella #107 3 years ago

    It looks like Fallout has been released eaerly....

    What?

  • smelly #108 3 years ago

    >It looks like Fallout has been released eaerly....

    I think he got confused with FlatOut

  • Rash' #109 3 years ago

    smelly, How did you reach that predition? This is what I don't understand. Nearly all of us are informed by the gaming media about things that interest us. If LBP doesn't interest you that's one thing, but to make a loaded statement like that not backed up by any credible source is plain stupid.
    Edited by 2 at 10/09/08 @ 17:41

  • Whatsfor #110 3 years ago

    I agree with Rash' but he perhaps said it better then me..

  • J.C #111 3 years ago

    Just fuck off Evans!

  • JediMasterMalik #112 3 years ago

    All I know is that this game looks fantastic.

  • bad09 #113 3 years ago

    Exactly how many news stories can be made from one game?

    I'm pretty sure LBP wins the prize for most! Completely fed up of the game before even playing it, gotta love PR.....

  • ParanoidZombie #114 3 years ago

    @rash: no, he's right, it's all about making bold predictions, and hoping that you're right. My 2 cents: EG score 8/10, metacritics 90.8, barely 1 million copies sold.

  • captainrentboy #115 3 years ago

    8/10 all over it.

  • yagisencho #116 3 years ago

    So intuitive to use, it only requires 40GB of video to train the user!

    I'm interested in playing this sometime, but...dare I mention the fact that the PC games have had user-created content, including user-generated gameplay elements, for well over a decade?

  • ParanoidZombie #117 3 years ago

    @arbiter: ok, I forgot the fact that sony's gonna make some ps3+LBP bundles, which means I now predict it's gonna sell 2.5M copies total (standalone + bundled) , but that's my final offer...

    @ yagisencho: so fucking what?
    Edited by 1 at 10/09/08 @ 19:09

  • patchbox360 #118 3 years ago


    its just a side scrolling platform... thingy. im not making levels for no one, thats not my job, and im definately not making my own levels cos that defeats the point of gaming.



  • Slamhound #119 3 years ago

    I'd be more worried about getting it to work on the PS3.

    Guffaw.

  • IneptPercy #120 3 years ago

    I loved the comment about people saying blu ray isn't nessary are only bitter 360 owners with HD-DVD drives.

    Quite the opposite, I can play both HD-DVD and Blu-ray films already and since HD-DVD's demise I have bought 70 films at Ł2.99-Ł3.99 each and the HD-DVD add-on for my 360 (Ł15) so I can play I good selection of my HD movie collection in another room too.

    Also my 360, Wii and PC all seem to be doing fine with games on DVD.

    Don't get me wrong the drive on the PS3 is a good value added feature if you want to play blu-ray, but it wasn't needed for games.

  • ShiftyGeezer #121 3 years ago

    1) Regards the 40GB data being uncompressed - All game data on disc is compressed, because it's faster to load. No developer is going to pad out a game disc with uncompressed data and ruin their load times as a result! The only possible exception to that I can think of is streamed lossless audio if you're not loading level data on the fly, such as you might have on a video tutorial, though I expect high-quality audio compression to be used instead.

    2) Alex never said it was 40 GBs exactly, only that they're filling up a dual-layer BRD. He's uncertain of the capacity of a BRD layer, which is 25 GBs and not 20. We don't kow where the interviewer got the 40 GB figure from, and we don't know what state of build that figure is either.

    3) (Amount of content) * (content complexity) is what takes up a lot of that space, and not amount of content on its own. A game could be huge and still require little space because the content is low quality and/or limited. There are thousands of unique resources in LBP. Other games can offer thousands of unique items, say in something like Oblivion, but as LBP is going to have to manage these objects up close and personal, filling substantial amounts of screen-space, they will likely need to be created in higher detail. A fork in Oblivion won't need to be modelled in as much detail as a fork for LBP. From that viewpoint alone, it's clear a DVD's worth of content created at twice the quality would require twice the capacity, exceeding a DVD. Higher quality assets (less compression) will also take up space. Then there are about 30 music tracks going by the manual, and some (nine, or maybe all, but I don't think so) come with individual instrument components for in-game editing, so that 3 minutes of song with 5 different component tracks could become 15 minutes of audio data with separate drum, guitar, keyboard etc. tracks. There is actually a lot of content here, which was Alex's point!

    4) Alex Evans point on the game being possible on any platform, but being different : The original demo-pitch had a very simple 2D game, without any textures, and simple 2D physics. This was in essence the same game, and could be created on Wii or PS2, say. The same idea created on Megadrive with sprites and a vastly more limited selection of components would also be possible, and in essence - a platformer where you can also create stuff - would be the same. The implementation on PS3 is using PS3's resources to create someting unique to the platform. This includes a complex lighting model, 2.5D fluid dynamics for special effects, 3D model creation and destruction technology with on-the-fly mesh generation, and other lovely things that are very processor intensive. Clearly not all these technologies could be ported to all other platforms. A Wii version likely wouldn't have the explosives destroying terrain, for example. Alex didn't hazard a guess at what XB360 could achieve technically, despite the baiting question, as he clearly hasn't given it any thought. His point was that they targeted and developed for PS3, but had they have picked a different system, they would have created LBP, from scratch, based on that original simple concept game, and it would be different to some degree or other. LBP on Wii would perhaps be more LocoRoco in design, still be functionally similar, yet not be the same game.

    5) Media Molecule isn't a Sony developer. They are independent. They left the XB360 exclusive Lionhead to shoot out on their own with no prior contracts. They created the prototype demo and pitched to Sony as their first choice publisher, and Sony got it and offered to take them up. I don't know why they went to Sony first - that'd be a great question for an interview, why they approached Sony first and not MS or Nintendo (my guess is Sony had the better reputation for supporting exclusives) - but that's the way it went. Now Sony are giving them excellent support and they're able to focus on PS3 without worrying about being multiplatform. They are free to create other games for other platforms if they want - they are not in any way Sony owned. The fact they are exclusive is more a testament to Sony's support and Media Molecule's principles as anything else. MM didn't want to do multiplatform with all its headaches, and Sony were happy to take them on on strength of a flimsy pitch and a cheap demo!

    6) Yes, LBP is one of the most hyped games in all time! I'm extremely keen on the game, but even I'm rather sick of its frequent coverage in the gaming media with the same messages being regurgitated! However, it's better this way than being rolled out in nigh-silence and not getting the coverage it needs. Sony have fumbled other valuable titles before, and their overall marketing went completely down the pan from a couple of years back. At least they're back to being positive with their exclusives. For those following the gaming press, it's the same old thing, but each marketing push has the chance of reaching a fresh pair of ears and getting another interested party. Also don't forget the gaming press themselves are involved in seeking out interviews etc. Did Alex Evans contact GamesIndustry requesting yet more LBP coverage, or did GI.biz contact Media Molecule wanting an exclusive interview for a high-interest title...? And finally to MM's credit, the rollout of video clips are at least fun/interesting, like the Sackboy in the Wild trailer. The clips are often worth watching just for being entertaining regardless fo the fact they're pitching a game!

  • bad09 #122 3 years ago

    ShiftyGeezer is indeed a Shifty Geezer as most of is comment are on LBP.....

  • captainrentboy #123 3 years ago

    I literally go into a tiny coma of boredom if someone's post goes on for more than four lines.^^
    I think this game looks, erm, cute. And that's pretty much it.
    I'm too lazy and too stupid to be arsed with fannying around making different levels. I want my game made for me, and ready to go.

  • electrolite #124 3 years ago

    Well, it certainly looks 30000 times more interesting than GOW 2....

  • RazorObsession #125 3 years ago

    not to dampen the spirit of the game, but side scrolling platformers? its a bit of a meh concept isn't it? been done to death, and whilst they can be good (Mario, flashback), even they went 3D after a while.

    hasn't the universe evolved the concept a bit since then? physics and co-op are alright i suppose, but neither of them necessarily equate to refreshing original gameplay. especially if you are playing with morons.

  • Les #126 3 years ago

    "Well, it certainly looks 30000 times more interesting than GOW 2...."

    30000 * 0 = 0... ;)

  • seasidebaz #127 3 years ago

    What we up to, 100 comments lolling at the news story? This game in its current form, if converted to 360, would not be possible on the 360. IMPOSSIBLE.

    WHERE DO YOU SAVE THE UG CONTENT WITHOUT A HARDDRIVE!!!

    You can't. And seeing as MS REQUIRE devs to not rely on a HDD, that means one SERIOUSLY crippled game.

    Oh, and the fact that stuff can be sold for MONEY in LBP... MS wouldn't let you do THAT, either.

    And the 40G of tutorial is all the building tutorial stuff, not a tutorial level. Learn to read, people...

  • oupe #128 3 years ago

    This game is going to be the best sold and least played game in ps3 history. I mean c'mon, it's a platform game with a level editor...WTF!11???

  • O.Z #129 3 years ago

    This will sell only like 100 copies... no matter how good it is!

  • Widge #130 3 years ago

    Just checked out latest, vid! Looks the business!

    http://ww w.gametrailers.com/player/39778...

  • Les #131 3 years ago

    "Sure LBP is being hyped, just like GTA4 was and Halo 3, Gears of War, Orange box, MGS4 and countless others before it. Big games get hyped and there's nothing you can do about it but wait for it to subside."

    One of the meanings of hype: promote or publicize (a product or idea) intensively, often exaggerating its importance or benefits

    In the case of LBP it's about informing the public as opposed to build up anticipation for a tested brand (most of the games in the above quotation aren't sequels by coincedence). Let's not forget LPB is a new IP that must convince gamers to spend their money on it while the sales statistics suggest they feel much more comfortable spending that same money on HD upgrades of old franchisses...

  • DrDamn #132 3 years ago

    Whether a brand pre-exists and has a good reputation is a factor in exposure. With LBP there has been a case of overexposure for a couple of reasons. First off it was shown too early - because Sony needed the boost rather than the game needing to be shown for it's own benefit. If Sony were not in the situation they were at E3 in 2007 then it wouldn't have needed to be shown. Secondly it has genuinely captured something in the eyes of gamers and - perhaps more importantly in relation to exposure - journalists. It's not just that Sony are heavily pushing the game, it's the fact that sites like EG want and seek out info to print as it gets hits.

    @Farticus
    "yet revealed so little about the actual game"

    That I don't agree with. Look at what has been shown in vids. Think back to E3 2007 - what did they show? It wasn't pre-rendered footage, it wasn't mock ups. It was four people playing the damn game through an entire level. There is plenty of gameplay vids out there and in promo stuff they are putting out. If you don't like the game they show then that's fine, but there is more actual game stuff shown in these vids than any other game I can think of.

  • DrDamn #133 3 years ago

    There is *plenty* of other info out there. What exactly do you expect a full description of the game from start to finish?

    A couple of examples - just on the play not create side ...

    * It's a platformer - you jump, grab hold of stuff, swing, jump on enemies weak spots, flick switches, avoid hazzards and trigger events
    * You collect bubbles for points and when playing with others it track who collects the most and they are the "winner" of each level
    * Co-op can allow you to reach other areas in levels as indicated by signs in the levels
    * There are other collectables like Sackboy outfits and items to use in your own levels. The game tracks how much of the collectables you have found in each level.
    * There are levels where you need to use create to complete a level
    * There are race sections with a start gate and finish line within levels which tracks fastest times on leaderboards and within groups of people playing a level co-op
    * There are competitive mini-games in different environments like a trampoline, bucking bronco and tower levels.
    * You get prizes for completing levels
    * You can play up to 4 player co-op locally or online

    That's just off the top of my head.

  • dryden555 #134 3 years ago

    Dont believe everything you read -- of course it will run on a 360, just as other games run on both consoles. duh.

  • seedaripper #135 3 years ago

    @dryden555
    11-Sep-08 11:46:34 Dont believe everything you read -- of course it will run on a 360, just as other games run on both consoles. duh.

    I think if you took the time to 'read' the article that 'you don't believe' in, then you would realise that isn't the point.
    duh.

  • seedaripper #136 3 years ago

    oh, and kudos to 'shiftygeeza'...i think you got the ethos of LBP in a nutshell mate (if only these kids with short attentions spans, would bother to actually read a well informed post) they need their ears boxing sometimes.
    TCH!

  • DrDamn #137 3 years ago

    @Farticus
    "this game is being touted as the best thing on the PS3."

    Surely you don't think that is a difficult thing to achieve though? ;).

  • MilkYMoO #138 3 years ago

    They offered this game to nintendo but they turned it down. Hopefully it'll live up to the hype.

  • DrDamn #139 3 years ago

    @milkymoo
    Not quite. Nintendo didn't turn it down, they just lost out ...
    linky

  • ronuds #140 3 years ago

    From my perspective, Sony seems to be pushing the game a bit too hard for what the game really is, simply because it's a little different than the usual big seller. It will definitely sell well if for no other reason than Sony has been shoving it down our throats for the last year and a half.

    I think a lot of people don't understand what it is because they're expecting it to be more than it actually is. It's a platformer with a level creator...what you've seen in videos is apparently what it is. I'm sure there are still little surprises here and there for it to offer, but basically we've seen the game.

    To the people who've gotten to play the game, have you had extensive time with it or just a few minutes? I wonder if you were given two hours as opposed to ten minutes if you wouldn't be looking for something else to do after a while. But that's just me and what I think of the game - but then again I'm not in the least bit interested in platformers. I only like boring FPS's and such...



  • ShiftyGeezer #141 3 years ago

    ronuds : A lot of the press coverage from gaming conventions has generally reported quite the opposite from what I've read. Gamers have spent hours playing the game and wanted more. I see no reason why this game should get any more tiresome than all the others out there, shooters and football and everything else that is in essence the same thing over and over. The thing that keeps games interesting is good gameplay mechanics and evolving content, playing over different levels with different graphics and a few different pickups, as it were (except in sports games, natch ;). LBP has both, with some quite diverse levels. The little shown so far has been a bit standard in approach, with a left-to-right platform aspect, akthough there have also been some interesting gameplay variations with revolving levels and explosions destroying levels. But even if the rest of the BRD content is rather unexciting, I know for a fact that there's gonna be some awesome later content with more sophisticated puzzle elements, vertical platforming, and funky doodads, coz I'm gonna be making it!

  • DrDamn #142 3 years ago

    The diversity in the gaming market is huge these days, it's not just about genres, but sub-genres - gameplay types within gameplay types. So why are some surprised when a game comes along which lots of people get excited about but you don't see the point in?

    There are plenty of titles I think are complete pish - but I can accept that as a game they might actually be quite good because a lot of other people get enjoyment out of them. I'll just move on and play a game I want to play. As gamers we don't have to like everything which is good. Elements of games which make us want to poke our eyes out with pointy sticks can be happily ignored by others because of different factors.

    So if you don't like the game how about not trying to piss on the chips of the people who do. People who would quite happily leap about and bounce on stuff all day. For whom working out the right set of jumps to reach the switch which gets them a funky doodad is just as satisfying as the winning headshot. Because for them it's fun.

  • FromTheLandUnknown #143 3 years ago

    I totally agree with all who are reserved about this game or openly against it.Namely, I also stopped playing with sack dolls decades ago, even couple years before I discovered Doctor Games with Girls.

    Even when I must agree, that there should be a Game or genre for everyone (We live in a free world), I can not understand, why some of us, who do not fall for all the hype too easy, should not express our opinion about it.

    In my country we have a phenomenon in music, whic is called ˝ethnic˝ or folk music, which really isn't, because producers are using 3-4 phrases over and over again, supported by modern instruments.
    It is a great success, even abroad-Germany for example, but it doesnt change the fact, that this music is fucking shit for retards, like It seems to me, this game will be.
    Like said, its a platformer, in two dimensions (see, I know the difference between 2D and 3D), made with modern means, and even that, some say, will not run in 1080p.For me, analogy with above example is clear, even when some journalists, wishing to be special, to look educated, will give the game high notes.
    But hey, It's just so in Art sometimes. A hammer with nails in the handle is for some of us just that, but for some of you modern art installation, called "Suicide".

    Before any of you try to put me in some anti ps3 drawer, I must tell You, that I own just ps3, and a laptop which isnt good enough for gaming. I am wishing a XBOX 360 also, but being from a land which both Sony and MIcrosoft not only ignore, but they don't know that we exist (see my nick- so don't many turists which drive through our land on holidays to Croatia), that is not so easy and, from what I hear, wise. Namely, every RROD console at our place is not so easy repaired or replaced. I prefer ps3, solely for the fact, that it has a little better support in our country.

    The amount of fanboys (which is just another word for irreparable retards) on this and similar sites explains all the hype and a possible succes of this game, because most of them will be buying and playing this game.

  • m0thr4 #144 3 years ago

    Yeah, figured that. It is actually pretty web 2.0 to have on disc tutorials. Like Apple or Adobe do.

    Err, no... it's really not. I think you have misunderstood what Web 2.0 means (if it indeed means anything at all).

  • DrDamn #145 3 years ago

    @FromTheLandUnkown
    "Like said, its a platformer, in two dimensions (see, I know the difference between 2D and 3D)"

    I think that original point was actually more to do with the technicalities of a game presented in 2D and one presented in 3D - i.e. space for models, textures etc. LBP allows movement in the 3rd dimension - albeit in 3 distinct planes.