Little Big Planet sequel 'counterproductive' - Media Molecule

By Tom Magrino, GameSpotPosted Nov 6, 2009 4:49 pm PT

PS3 developer discounts follow-up to user-generated content-heavy puzzle-platformer, saying new installment would harm player community.

Media Molecule's Little Big Planet has been one of Sony's most successful PlayStation 3 exclusives, both as a stand-alone retail release and as a platform for downloadable content. So, when a June job listing revealed the Guildford, England-based developer was staffing up for a "ground-breaking, AAA, PS3 title for Sony Computer Entertainment," many believed that a sequel was on the way.

Sackboy apparently has plenty more costumes in the works.

However, that now appears not to be the case. In a recent interview with UK gaming site Critical Gamer, Media Molecule level designer Danny Leaver discounted the idea of a Little Big Planet sequel for the PlayStation 3, due to the harmful impact it would have on the player community.

"We'd never want to do that," he said. "That'd be the most counterproductive thing you could do, I think." Producer Martin Lynagh went on to note that Media Molecule plans to continue supporting the original Little Big Planet with downloadable content and other updates, saying "I think what you've seen so far from Little Big Planet...that's the way it's going to continue."

Launched to critical acclaim in October 2008, Little Big Planet combines multiplayer-centric platforming with a lighthearted aesthetic that's fronted by Sony's pseudo-mascot, Sackboy. In April, Sony announced that Little Big Planet's player community, which uses the game's versatile level-creation tools to generate new material for the game, neared the 2 million mark. A PSP version of the game is due November 17.

244 Comments

  • FabioPizzini

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 8:13 am PT

    Woa, a company that think at the users!

  • FabioPizzini

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 8:13 am PT

    Woa, a company that think at the users!

  • madSomnambulist

    Posted Nov 13, 2009 2:19 am PT

    Good call, guys. It's a one-of-a-kind game setup with a one-of-a-kind community and this means that tens of millions of hours spent making all those levels. Hell, even when it hits greatest hits price in a year it'll still be profitable given the huge appeal and attractive DLC system.

    I know it got off to a fairly slow start compared to what Sony wanted, but it seems LBP rolls along with slow but consistent sales month-to-month. Stand-alone titles with high longevity are few and far between these days and this has been holding up quite well. I kind of fear for the PSP version though over multiplayer and short single-player story that'll make it look expensive and shallow, but I guess we don't have to wait much longer to find out.

  • TongLong

    Posted Nov 12, 2009 8:05 pm PT

    YAY! Finally a company that realizes that sequels generally spoil the original experience! Can't a story just be told ONCE, or does it have to have every ounce of life squeezed from it before it's thrown away?

  • Babywarrior5

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 8:56 pm PT

    If only other game developers *coughcoughActivision* would think like this. It's so nice to see a studio that isn't in it soley for the profit. Love you, Media Molecule. LBP Game of the Year Edition, baby! I will keep playing that thing for ages to come.

  • hannify

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 5:42 pm PT

    British game

  • KillerWabbit23

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 2:13 pm PT

    omigosh, that's actually one of the smartest things i've heard from a developer/publisher in a long time!
    Just keep us hooked with lots of expansion packs, please!
    And release LBP Water soon! (the closed beta is already out!)

  • Zoomer30

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 10:54 am PT

    No reason for a sequel, wait till the PS4

  • peewizzle

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 10:14 am PT

    this game is def great the way it is and i support their decision not to release a sequel...yet

  • Dualmask

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 6:17 am PT

    This is the kind of game that definitely would benefit from expansions (a la MMOs) rather than a sequel. LBP is such a great game with a lot of longevity.

  • anthonettex

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 3:12 am PT

    sequel should just be downloadable for existing users and released as 'service packs'

  • valcrist09

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 9:10 pm PT

    such a great game, very innovative and different among most rehashed games these days.. I agree there is no need to be a 2nd game.. DLC with costumes and and more level design is all you really need, i mean what could you possibly add to the game to make a 2nd? If this game was from activision or EA there would be 3 or 4 games by now...

  • lbptoady

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 4:09 pm PT

    LBP is my favorite ps3 game and would love to see a sequel. The people that don't like it have never tried it.

  • jtthegame316 posted Nov 9, 2009 3:11 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    jtthegame316

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 3:11 pm PT (hide)

    please no this game was aweful

  • Beltsu posted Nov 9, 2009 12:31 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Beltsu

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 12:31 pm PT (hide)

    I still don't get what's so hot about this game. Yeah, we can create lvls and stuff, but in it's core, is just a 2D platformer.

  • Narator

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 11:50 am PT

    Do not blame EA so much.
    They published Burnout and Rockband and support them for nearly 2 years.
    Developer should do that. To create flexibe platform keeping in mind that game can become successful. Then Your game is played for long time.
    GTA 4, Burnout, Rockband, LBP.

  • Carpe_Noctum

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 11:12 am PT

    That's good, I see no reason for a second game. Then again, I don't have much interest in it. It's very cool and fun for a couple of hours and then next........ Props to MM for not just trying to cash-in. Will be keeping an eye out for their next project.

  • Waza19

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 9:55 am PT

    would have been good if valve tought that with l4d and l4d2

  • Wallenstein_155

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 9:23 am PT

    @AngelCage-2: This should be brought to the attention of Activision and Microsoft as well.

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