Sony confirms LittleBigPlanet for Sept

By Robert Purchese Published 9 January, 2008

How exciting!

Sony has confirmed to Eurogamer that LittleBigPlanet will be released in September.

It follows word from a source on Monday who claimed this would be the case, despite Sony's reluctance to stamp its name on it.

LittleBigPlanet is essentially a tool that lets you build your own games within an overarching framework; think variations on a theme. You and three friends can then try them out, or you can share them with the rest of the PS3 community.

September is a little later than most were expecting, although no solid date had previously been mentioned. But perhaps a longer testing period is a necessary and beneficial move for such a community-based project.

For a better idea of what to expect, take a gander at the latest CES demonstration video.

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 (66) Latest comment 4 years ago

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

  • DonnieDarko333 #1 4 years ago

    erm...great? O_o

  • Rodney #2 4 years ago

    September of which year?

  • dionfyre #3 4 years ago

    This game is actually convincing me to get a PS3 atm - so yay :)

  • Madafunkola #4 4 years ago

    Could we please have a little demo/beta just so we can whet our appitites and get a feel for it? PLEASE???

  • Cloudane #5 4 years ago

    A while off indeed but it is definitely something to look forward too.

  • LetsGo #6 4 years ago

    Can someone tell be where the game is?

    What do you do? Whats the aim?

    I saw the last video of some guy making a level but it just looked like a platform game for kids?

  • Beano #7 4 years ago

    What about the demo, Sony ?

  • SBfistfun #8 4 years ago

    Probably fun for all of an hour

  • craigy Verified Senior Developer, Eurogamer Network #9 4 years ago

    September translates to 2050 in my ADD-addled brain. Way too long a wait to endure.

  • gizmo #10 4 years ago

    September? Ouch, best part of a year.

  • seasidebaz #11 4 years ago

    you know it's funny, the amount of people who keep asking "where the game" is,

    YOU MAKE IT YOURSELF!!!!!

    this is a TRUE sandbox game, where YOU create the scenery and try to tax other people with you 1337 5k1ll5 as a level h4X0r

    none of this gta nambypamby sandbox, "oh let me hold your hand and tell you what to do" style of gameplay, this involves imagination! (and in reference to those who ask "where the game is", this is no good for them as they obviously *have* no imagination).

    this is the first glimpse of game3.0, combining community with internet and user-created content. and i for one can see this being huge. with an infinite number of user-created levels (although who's betting most of them represent genetalia?) this will last forever. now let's see something of a "youtube" page embedded so we can see how good the content is, and this will be a perfect example of completely interactive entertainment.

  • degville #12 4 years ago

    Call me a cynic but I bet its almost complete but there are at least 2 reasons to wait tile Sept. One I imagine thats when Home is going to be properly released and Two it builds up the hype nicely for next winter season sales. I'm disappointed about the release date but mayeb it will allow then to create more levels for us technically challenged....

  • dazzaman #13 4 years ago

    I hope since we're making most of the game ourselves it's not going to cost much then!!!

  • Steroyd #14 4 years ago

    :(

    They have to get network features perfect at launch as well, or there goes a third of the game.
    Edited by 1 at 09/01/08 @ 12:53

  • dazzaman #15 4 years ago

    Could do a 5 quid starter pack which gives you the core game plusa llimited amount of 'stuff', that would do me as a demo, would probably go for that if it still let me make a few things and play online.

    Then just a matter of upgrading to the full thing later on by buying the full pack of 'stuff'

    Quite looking forward to this but September seems so long away.

    Will be interesting how the mags review this as most of the content will be by us the user.

  • SBfistfun #16 4 years ago

    "game3.0"

    pr bullshit ftw!

  • sd99 #17 4 years ago

    "game3.0" is pure PR bullshit as you say. Gamemakers have been around since the spectrum...

  • thedaveeyres #18 4 years ago

    thedaveeyres confirms that he has no excuse get a PS3 until September



    bugger

  • Dizzy #19 4 years ago

    >YOU MAKE IT YOURSELF!!!!!

    You will need the tools to "ADD THE FUN".

    ATM it has a nice level editor.... I have yet to see the gameplay editor.

  • Inigo #20 4 years ago

    One of the problems Neverwinter Nights had is that while the "make your own game" part was cool; there wasn't a good game behind it. I think LBP may suffer from this, thats why its delayed.

  • moggsy #21 4 years ago

    this is the first glimpse of game3.0

    I just sicked up a little in my mouth.

  • monkie_king #22 4 years ago

    and what's the use of an "infinite number" of user-generated levels when there's not really anything to do apart from jump about?

    I'm sure it's going to be a lot of fun for a couple of days, but it seems like it'll be one of those things you exhaust the entertainment value of pretty quickly.

    I'll be happy if I'm wrong though.

  • ruttyboy #23 4 years ago

    I also am confused about this game. You create a level, sure, but then what? Are you supposed to get to the end of it like a Mario level, are you supposed to build in something else to do?

    If it turns out to just be a level editor and you have to make your way from one end to the other by effectively flipping switches and pushing crates (sometimes with friends!) then I fear a lot of disappointment come Autumn...

  • Steroyd #24 4 years ago

    Wait for it.

    WAIT FOR IT!

    <a href=http://crackle.com/c/Vi deo_Games/LittleBigPlanet_CES_2008/2141762#ml=fi%3D%26fu%3D2 262162>BANG!</a>

  • RexRunti #25 4 years ago

    This game will either be fantastic or will be a huge disapointment and a bit rubbish. I'm obviously hoping for the former.

    And oh as for "this is the first glimpse of game3.0, combining community with internet and user-created content" I guess you forgot about Doom, Duke Nukem 3d, Neverwinter Nights and let's face it pretty much every PC game ever made. It's not even the first console game which combines these things to such an extent. I doubt Halo 3 would have got so many 10s if it wasn't for Forge.

  • ruttyboy #26 4 years ago

    So come on, what *is* the aim of the game? Does anyone know? I'm not trolling, I'd genuinely like to know then maybe I could get excited too.

    Oh and you're not allowed to answer with 'Whatever you want it to be', as that's clearly bollocks.

  • That_Happy_Cat #27 4 years ago

    I used to play with LEGO a hell of a lot when I was younger. Loved building my own versions of things. I didn't play too much with the finished creations.

    THis is the same as that, except now I can show peole what I've made, play around on it, smash it to bits and take inspiration from people around the world.

    For example... a friend of mine used to build "bases" out of lego on top of card board boxes and added another dimenion by building off the edge and down the side of the boxes. It was something I hadn't conceived of before.

    Apologies for the simple reference but I think anyone doubting the "fun" in this project might be reading too much into it. If you are used to moving from A to B in a game and getting a scoobie snack for it then maybe it isn't for you. This is a toy more than a game IMHO.

    September can't come soon enough. Good luck MM!
    Edited by 2 at 09/01/08 @ 13:38

  • Steroyd #28 4 years ago

    Oh and you're not allowed to answer with 'Whatever you want it to be', as that's clearly bollocks.

    How is it bollocks?

    If you have no friends and you just want to play, then you just download everyone else's created levels.

    If you want to play online co-op then that's a possibility to.

    If you find the fun in creating levels on your own, that's an option.

    If you want to create a level with friends that's another way to play the game

    The link I posted shows that obstacles can be created like Lava, so your sackboy can die a horrible painful fiery death.

  • DrDamn #29 4 years ago

    @ruttyboy

    As a game essentially it is a very flexible platformer with an emphasis on co-operative play and a little dose of competition. So while the goal is to get from start to finish - as with most platformers - the fun is in how you achieve this and stuff you do along the way. Levels can contain collectable things (coins or stars if you will) with competition between players on collecting the most - or as a single player collecting as many as you can. For example in the vid Steroid posted there are these big pinata. Inside the pinata are the collectables, but to get them out you need the players to cooperate to pull the two halves apart. This then throws up the competition aspect of how long you cooperate before going in to grab the goodies.

    The levels shown so far contain a lot of interesting things to place in the levels, like the tethered jet packs in the original showing, moving platforms and mechanical objects. Because of the free nature of the level design and flexibility in the engine you'll find people will do things in ways you aren't expecting, and that is also where part of the fun lies. There is not always going to be a simple set way to achieve goals. With the ability to create quite complex objects through basic means there is a lot of potential here. That's what gets people excited.

    As to "Is that all?" - well isn't that what a platformer actually is when you boil it down?

  • Dizzy #30 4 years ago

    >How is it bollocks?

    If it allows you to make something that can compete with a 20 year old platformer (Mario for example) that would already be great. I doubt it though.

    Seems more like a mess around with physics game. Probably fun for some... but not really what most people would want.

  • ruttyboy #31 4 years ago

    It's bollocks because the aim can never be create a new real life economic system which spreads across the globe via a series of bloodly civil wars leading to the death of your family etc. etc. etc.

    However you then list things that are ways to play the game rather than what you are aiming to do in the game. I can't see your video, but from your description it *is* a case of getting from A to B.

  • ruttyboy #32 4 years ago

    "As to "Is that all?" - well isn't that what a platformer actually is when you boil it down?"

    Yes, and I've no problem whatsoever with it being a platformer as it seems to be from your description, sounds quite good with lots of potential. What I was concerned with (quite rightly it seems) was all these people telling me it was all things to all men and had no limits as to what you could create.

    So in summary it seems to be a fun co-op platformer with lots of user generated content and emphasis on making use of modern physics based engines.

  • DrDamn #33 4 years ago

    @RuttyBoy
    What is wrong with getting from A to B? It's not about the destination it's about the journey.

  • monkie_king #34 4 years ago

    anyone remember KickStartII on the C64? That was a simple game with a neat level editor, I did play that a lot. Same with EA's Racing Destruction Set. That was 1986 though.

    Think we'll really just have to wait and see with LBP, it could really go either way. It would just be nice to know that there was a bit of depth, or challenge, or complexity, to actually playing the levels once you've created them.

    edit: with the complexity of the physics shown so far, and the co-op stuff, I wonder whether the more interesting levels might turn out to be more puzzle than platformer. Two players teaming up to activate ingenious newtonian contraptions to operate lifts, open gates etc.
    Edited by 1 at 09/01/08 @ 13:59

  • ruttyboy #35 4 years ago

    As I say above, nothing at all. I just didn't have a clear image in my head about the game thanks to lots of misinformation and hype, hence the questions which yourself and others kindly answered.

    I still believe though that the hype machine will lead a lot of people to be disappointed when they find out their imagination is effectively limited by the constraints of the inherent nature of a level editor.
    Edited by 1 at 09/01/08 @ 13:58

  • DrDamn #36 4 years ago

    @ruttyboy
    Yep. It has the make up of something which will could do some surprizing things. The level of control in the right hands will likely produce some magical gaming moments. It isn't a "game" creator though. The bounadries are clearly platformer - but that in itself is diverse enough.

    I wouldn't be surprized to see stuff like LittleBigRacer and LittleBigShooter at some point too.

  • Rash' #37 4 years ago

    Dizzy, Having had a quick look at your games collection, your synisism doesn't surprise me.

  • Waffleaber #38 4 years ago

    Can you change around the physics or speed of the game too? The mechanics when jumping seem a bit "floaty" to me and it would be nice to be able to tighten them up by increasing the gravity.

    It better have keyboard and mouse support to, using a duelshock for the fine movement needed to position platforms would probably give me a headache.

  • Moz #39 4 years ago

    "I hope since we're making most of the game ourselves it's not going to cost much then!!!"


    If you watch the video he says that the game will come with lots of levels included and beating these gives you more items to play with in the level creator.

    So from that it sounds like there is going to be a lot of game straight out of the box.

  • Daymare #40 4 years ago

    I wonder how are they gonna manage the extra downloadable content (more toys to play with).. If they're not gonna be for free, will everyone have to download (and pay for) everything to be able to play every user-made levels (with new toys in them)?

    And I do wish those cute little characters could die horrible deaths, with blood and guts and heads flying off and everything=) I sure wish players will be able to make something else then just "from A to B" platformer. Probably not from the very beggining but later, when add-ons are sure to be released. Potential, potential, potential..

  • GamesConnoisseur #41 4 years ago

    Long wait but it will be goddamn worth it!

    I agree that this is more of a true Sandbox game in the current gen at least, others argued on previous title but LBP is the more complete package and looking forward to it! I m not sure that this is going to be system seller such as PokeMon was for GBA but serious gamer should not miss this out.

  • monkie_king #42 4 years ago

    A little early to be so sure. PS3 has had quite a few false dawns. Keep an open mind.

  • DrDamn #43 4 years ago

    @Daymare
    "I sure wish players will be able to make something else then just "from A to B" platformer."

    Can you give an example of what you want? Not sure I can think of much which couldn't be done as part of the journey from "A to B". It is a platformer, not something else. I do wonder how easy it will be to set up triggers though. For example door A will not open unless you have done task B.

  • LetsGo #44 4 years ago

    Why are the 'whatever you want it to be' people BLINDED by the other comments;

    This game sounds SO cool and I HOPE it rocks! But.....

    You make a level, then what? You need to get to the end of it? At the moment, all i've seen is a really cool object/level editor but then what do you do...?

  • DrDamn #45 4 years ago

    They are probably blinded by the same thing you are. Try reading all the comments ...

  • Daymare #46 4 years ago

    "@Daymare
    "I sure wish players will be able to make something else then just "from A to B" platformer."

    Can you give an example of what you want? Not sure I can think of much which couldn't be done as part of the journey from "A to B". It is a platformer, not something else."

    Well, yes, but I wish it will evolve from here. That you will be able to make a genuine puzzle game based on physics. A sort of RPG? That guns and explosions will also find their way into LittleBigPlanet=) (I was just thinking that Worms franchize needs this kind of level editor/community aspect). I'm going too fast though (which just shows how LBP makes some of us already cracking fingers) - I'm perfectly okay with LBP being "just" a platformer, but I hope its possibilities, especialy later on, won't be too rigid. That also depends if it's going to be a success or not though..
    Edited by 1 at 09/01/08 @ 15:45

  • Garulon #47 4 years ago

    Great, thirty thousand levels spelling various permuations of FUCK OFF. Count me in!

  • Dizzy #48 4 years ago

    "Dizzy, Having had a quick look at your games collection, your synisism doesn't surprise me. "

    Ha the, "my taste is better than yours" argument. First of all my games collection is probably all 360 stuff since EG lets me add them easily and second I have been developing and playing games for 20 year. I think I know when to have some cynicism. I like the concept... but have seen many "game creators" in the past and results were never mind blowing. Also I haven't seen any real serious gameplay from this game... just some messing around with mates in a sandbox physics world. That can certainly be fun, but it is not uber game that some people are proclaiming it will be at the moment. Like I said many times before. The editor is brilliant, the artwork is awesome... but I need a bit more to make a game. Stuff we normally program :) I am just wondering if they will have scripted events, AI controlled ingame stuff and objects that follow paths. If not.... it will just be a "horsing around with drunk mates" experience for most.

  • drumm23 #49 4 years ago

    "synisism "


    Come on! I'm no spelling terrorist but you have *got* to be kidding...

  • Dizzy #50 4 years ago

    "Come on! I'm no spelling terrorist but you have *got* to be kidding... "

    Hey.. don't shoot me.. I was just quoting the guy (and spelled it correctly BTW in my reply) :)

  • DrDamn #51 4 years ago

    @Dizzy
    "That can certainly be fun, but it is not uber game that some people are proclaiming it will be at the moment."

    It's Uber if that is exactly what you are looking for :). It's not a massive system seller though, but I think it is an important title for those who want this type of gaming and for Sony in terms of distinguishing their game portfolio. Gran Turismo, MGS and a load of not as good as the 360 version ports are not going to cut it. It might not be something people will buy a PS3 for specifically, but maybe something which will get them leaning that way.

  • paulf #52 4 years ago

    looks promising, I'm quite excited about it tbh. However The problem with all user generated stuff is that 95% of it is crap and finding the good 5% is difficult, if they can sort this out, then it could be something special.

  • DrDamn #53 4 years ago

    Thats why there is the whole YouTube a-like rating system. So you can let word of mouth bubble the good stuff up to the top. Much like X-Factor voting ... oh ... well it should at least weed out the crap anyway :D.

  • mkreku #54 4 years ago

    Games like this is what the Xbox 360 needs and is why I sometimes jealously look over to the Sony side. Despite Sony treating Europe like a third world country, demanding ridiculous prices, loses every comparison here on Eurogamer, etc. This and Patapon.

  • Rash' #55 4 years ago

    Dizzy, The problem I have with your cynicism is that you're looking for gameplay when it's looking you straight in the face. The whole game experience is playing, creating and sharing. I know I'm repeating the slogan for the game but it's appropriate for what the game is. Anyway like I hinted earlier, you're only frame of reference this gen is 360 so I expect you to be cynical. (I spell checked that so piss off drum! :-P)
    Edited by 1 at 09/01/08 @ 16:34

  • DrDamn #56 4 years ago

    A little harsh there Rash. To some the idea of play, create & share in this context is as dull as racing round and round a track to others. Different tastes. This does hit some really good notes with some people, but you can't expect a game everyone will love or even understand why others love it so much.

  • jamespo #57 4 years ago

    A game that might be worth getting a ps3 for.

    I may buy one at last then... if the price comes down a bit as well

  • Kazzahdrane #58 4 years ago

    I think the PS3 is a console that is a waste of money with only a couple of must-have games.



    I quite fancy this :( I have a mate with a PS3 and if when he gets this he says it's the bees knees that's probably when I'll head in to town and buy a PS3.*

    *assuming Sony release a pack with a Dualshock 3 and PS3 BC again by then.

  • Gaol #59 4 years ago

    You can measure how much potential this game has by the animosity shown here by all the x-box fanboys; its being discussed like they've actually played/used it. Could be huge this, could be utter cock.. glad its got a more concrete release date now but I think Home will be a bigger factor for PS3 owners this year.

  • ruttyboy #60 4 years ago

    @Gaol

    I think you might be a little confused, this thread has been full of pretty much nothing but positive comments or well founded (and yet optimistic) doubts/concerns.

  • Gaol #61 4 years ago

    @ruttyboy

    I think you're right.

    Fanboy war threads have started to shorten my attention span.
    Edited by 1 at 09/01/08 @ 18:57

  • Decap #62 4 years ago

    Huge fuzz over nothing. Could be fun for a while but come on, dont get your hopes up.
    Hype is a mysterious thing and usually leads to the path of disappointing.

  • zedzee #63 4 years ago

    Little Big Planet is the game that Shiguri Miyamoto WISHED he’d invented and J Allard would’ve LOVED to have bribed the developer for its exclusivity.

  • TitusCrow #64 4 years ago

    who knows maybe games like spore and LBP will save us all from fps mediocrity hell for the next 5 years :)
    but seriously, i am very hopefull for this game. i mean mario wasnt built by the best platform designer in the world. only the best guy with access to the tools, if this game through some miracle can give powerfull enough tools to everyone..well we may just get some of the best levels and concepts in the world rising from obscurity, in a pure meritocracy! sure there is the possibility for failure and disaster but isnt there always with games that take a risk?
    for the good of our future electronic entertainment expectation of enjoyment stuff like this needs to succeed.
    i hope it is everything my inner 9 yearold says it should be. :)

  • Garulon #65 4 years ago

    "Games like this is what the Xbox 360 needs and is why I sometimes jealously look over to the Sony side. "

    Well not exactly the same but Lode Runner is out on XBLA in a couple of weeks with all the level-editing malarky you can want.

  • cnlfailure #66 4 years ago

    Sounds to me like many of the anti-LBP comments would have tagged along nicely with pre-hype to the original Sims, and we all know what a flop that was. Because people hate having the option to build their own game, design their own objectives and create whatever it is they fancy.