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[DCharlie]

Maybe that wouldn't be a big problem though, I dunno..

yeah, i assume consistancy was a major factor - for it to have wide appeal, suddenly changing gravity/jump/other physics would have been confusing for the mass market.

Still, means that we can at least get some interesting takes on 8-bit classics in the engine .... if i get fired/have a holiday, i will still try and get some sort of MM/JSW stuff up!

 

[wolfmat]

I don't think word-of-mouth is a factor for LBP. I mean, every freaking PS3 owner should be aware of the title and what it offers and should have made up his mind right now.

I don't think that this title is a system seller (kind of disagreeing with a lot of people here). Although it has much to offer, the dude on the street going by the window with a bunch of cash in his pocket won't realize that, I say.

And word-of-mouth by friends will only go as far as the affinity for the PS3 does. What I mean is that if you weren't highly interested in a PS3 before LBP, the game itself doesn't really change the odds.

As opposed to, let's say GT5.. THAT'S a system seller.

To sum up, word-of-mouth doesn't change anything. You either want this game now, don't care for it and never will or don't have a PS3 until a system seller comes along.

At least that's how I see that aspect of it.

 

[fortified_concept]

Sony marketing is PATHETIC. That's the main problem and it will always be this generation with PS3 games since Sony doesn't seem to learn their lesson. Same thing happened with Uncharted,

 

[Conflict NZ]

I wouldn't call it a bomb so much as a failed hit, they forced it to try and become something it wasn't, in the process creating a campaign that failed to capture the true essence of what LBP was, trying to make appear simple to the casuals while simultaneously attempting to throw in enough to capture the HC audience. In the end all they did was confuse.

 

[[Nintex]]

I think he meant in terms of marketing push..

And while we can argue about TV ads, I've not seen Sony push a game on the ground, here, like they have LBP.



I'm gonna guess LBP has done better relative to the userbase than any of Rare's games have on 360..(that didn't benefit from being launch titles at the very least). I'm also going to point out that LBP has been universally acclaimed, unlike Rare's titles It's a lazy comparison to say they're like Rare, and too big a compliment for Rare as of late to be perfectly honest.

On the general topic of the thread, I think it should be doing better, it deserves better, but I don't think I'd say it's bombed.. it should have pushed out 600k or more in its first couple of weeks worldwide looking at MC and NPD (and guessing that it's done at least as well in EU as US). That isn't bad.

(There are some spurious claims being made about the game in this thread too, but I'm not even going to bother addressing those. This thread will be a honey pot.)

Just replace RARE with Monster Games and Viva Pinata with Excite Truck and the point still stands. PS3 fans would rather play Resistance 2 than Little Big Planet. Reviews don't say anything about sales, It's like Okami, everyone loved it, 9's, 10's across the boards but it didn't sell at all. Even 'ever green' titles post the biggest numbers at launch, pre-orders and all that. If a game isn't doing that well at launch in a crowded holiday season, It'll be forgotten by early next year. Games that kept selling like Call of Duty 4 and Mario Kart were succesfull at launch. LBP had it's chance and it underperformed.

 

[worldstiniestpenis]

fuck '8 bit classics', people are so keen to prescribe outdated values to what is a very unique game. littlebigplanet's about momentum and energy, chaos, being flung wildly and trying to fight against a gravity as real and unflinching as our own - not some kind of ancient pixel-precision you can only really get when the pixels fill up 1/16th of your screen.

there's absolutely nothing wrong with the control mechanics of this game. they could only ever be changed by compromising the entire nature of the game's physics, which is the heart of its charm

 

[CrushDance]

Just replace RARE with Monster Games and Viva Pinata with Excite Truck and the point still stands. PS3 fans would rather play Resistance 2 than Little Big Planet. Reviews don't say anything about sales, It's like Okami, everyone loved it, 9's, 10's across the boards but it didn't sell at all. Even 'ever green' titles post the biggest numbers at launch, pre-orders and all that. If a game isn't doing that well at launch in a crowded holiday season, It'll be forgotten by early next year. Games that kept selling like Call of Duty 4 and Mario Kart were succesfull at launch. LBP had it's chance and it underperformed.

Resistance 2 in my opinion is not that great of a game and was/is plagued with problems. I bought LBP day one and play it on a daily basis.

 

[gantz85]

Sony marketing is PATHETIC. That's the main problem and it will always be this generation with PS3 games since Sony doesn't seem to learn their lesson. Same thing happened with Uncharted,

and will happen with Killzone 2. Woohoo.

 

[fortified_concept]

fuck '8 bit classics', people are so keen to prescribe outdated values to what is a very unique game. littlebigplanet's about momentum and energy, chaos, being flung wildly and trying to fight against a gravity as real and unflinching as our own - not some kind of ancient pixel-precision you can only really get when the pixels fill up 1/16th of your screen.

there's absolutely nothing wrong with the control mechanics of this game. they could only ever be changed by compromising the entire nature of the game's physics, which is its very charm

Thank you, finally someone gets it. The misinformation in this thread has been laughable.

 

[thelurkinghorror]

C'mon guys, I fall in love for Little Big Planet one minute after the first presentation of the game, probably because I'm a fan of Lionhead and Rag Doll Kung Fu, in spite of that is really easy for me understand why LBP actually don't do so well on charts around the world...

First thing: LBP, for a casual gamer but also for a veteran, still a very difficult game. Yeah, everything works well but it's almost impossibile to replicate the accuracy of a normal platform when you build your game trough an editor like the one in LBP. Only able players can avoid this kind of trouble.

And then come the editor: the majority of peoples out there can't use tools like that. I'm a player since 1986, a player not a designer, i'm a very proud of my skills but when i boot up the editor my mind became totally blank. That's because only a few of us can do this jump, dress the clothes of a designer and try to create something really fun to play. And don't forget the time... after 8 hours inside the office a lot of peoples prefer to blast some hellgast, can you believe this?

 

[fortified_concept]

and will happen with Killzone 2. Woohoo.

You doubt it? I can bet it will happen with Killzone. These people are morons, they spend millions developing quality games and then they drop the ball on marketing.

 

[[Nintex]]

Resistance 2 in my opinion is not that great of a game and was/is plagued with problems. I bought LBP day one and play it on a daily basis.

Than replace Resistance 2 with Call of Duty or Need for Speed

PS3 fans would rather play a 'hardcore shooter' game instead of a 'platformer' game, there you go. Since the PS3 isn't aimed towards casuals a casual game isn't going to sell. Just watch The Conduit on Wii bomb next year when they release it alongside Wii Sports Resort.

 

[Sloane]

- This is really a hardcore game hiding under a cute graphical exterior
- Level creation is too complex for the masses

This. It looks like a mass market title but it just isn't. Most people neither want to spend days or weeks on creating own levels nor do they have the time to do so. And while downloading an almost unlimited number of new levels sure sounds nice, I don't think it's that appealing to most without a narrative etc.

 

[Loudninja]

You doubt it? I can bet it will happen with Killzone. These people are morons, they spend millions developing quality games and then they drop the ball on marketing.

ummm
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=13757754&postcount=78

 

[kevm3]

Sony really sucks at marketing this generation.

 

[Tieno]

Bow to the XFE.

 

[Luckyman]

This thread is retarded.

a) It did not bomb.
b) It will sell multiple millions

In its European homeland it crashed out of the top ten in just its second week, and has subsequently slipped further down the charts.

OMG. Gears fucking 2 slipped to 9. after two weeks. There is just much new releases .

 

[wolfmat]

ummm
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=13757754&postcount=78

Yeah I wonder who calls that brilliant marketing.

 

[worldstiniestpenis]

This. It looks like a mass market title but it just isn't. Most people neither want to spend days or weeks on creating own levels nor do they have the time to do so. And while downloading an almost unlimited number of new levels sure sounds nice, I don't think it's that appealing to most without a narrative etc.

but it has an extended and very appealing story mode

 

[fortified_concept]

ummm
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=13757754&postcount=78

I'll believe it when I see it. I'm not convinced anymore by sony's promises about marketing this gen. They've screwed up too many times.

 

[6.8]

I'm pretty sure it'll be a slow-selling game, but that it will have a long shelf-life.

That, and the industry is waiting for Killzone 2.

 

[Loudninja]

nvm

 

[gofreak]

Just replace RARE with Monster Games and Viva Pinata with Excite Truck and the point still stands. PS3 fans would rather play Resistance 2 than Little Big Planet

I wouldn't :| But then maybe I'm odd.

I'm just saying, I don't like the Rare comparison at all. It's too reminscint of comparisons made between LBP and VP after LBP was announced (with regard to expected sales), which have subsequently proven off the mark. VP did half a million in its first year, or thereabouts, LBP should have easily cruised past that around launch.

As you say, sales don't scale with scores (exclusively), and I do think there's an audience issue, right now at least, in so far as the audience of potential LBP-ers and $399-console-buyers may not generously overlap, but I was just saying a comparison with Rare isn't fitting IMO.

 

[gantz85]

ummm
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=13757754&postcount=78

Edit:By the way did not something not make the same topic about Uncharted?

That referred to the UK MARKETING CAMPAIGN, not the US one.

The US one is already out, and shit.

Surprise.

You doubt it? I can bet it will happen with Killzone. These people are morons, they spend millions developing quality games and then they drop the ball on marketing.

No, I don't doubt it. In fact I'm sure it will happen -- I was being serious

 

[Deleted member 1235]

I immediately ignored it because it centres around user generated content.

I always hated level editors. Give me a well designed campain by professionals please. I don't want to play anything someone called B1gw@nga91 created.

I'm largely ignorant of LBP the game itself and have only been exposed to the marketing and a couple of trailers/word of mouth. The above is my impression of it after that, if my impression is wrong, well maybe sony has a problem there, I can't believe I'm the only lazy gamer that doesn't want to build the game himself.

This. It looks like a mass market title but it just isn't. Most people neither want to spend days or weeks on creating own levels nor do they have the time to do so. And while downloading an almost unlimited number of new levels sure sounds nice, I don't think it's that appealing to most without a narrative etc.

^

Really that nails it, when it was touted as the next it game, I was highly skeptical. It seems like it's trying to mix the sims with a platformer. hmmmm. I understand why a ton of people will love the shit out of it, but I also thought it should be blindingly obvious to all why a ton of people will ignore it outright.

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

Been convincing a friend of mine for weeks that LBP is an awesome game, yet he didn't bulge. Yesterday, he finally bought it and played it and to quote him: "This game make me smile when I am feeling down or unproductive".

People are afraid of jumping the LBP bandwagon cause they don't really know WTF it is. An offline demo will certainly help alot!

 

[antiloop]

I immediately ignored it because it centres around user generated content.

I always hated level editors. Give me a well designed campain by professionals please. I don't want to play anything someone called B1gw@nga91 created.

I'm largely ignorant of LBP the game itself and have only been exposed to the marketing and a couple of trailers/word of mouth. The above is my impression of it after that, if my impression is wrong, well maybe sony has a problem there, I can't believe I'm the only lazy gamer that doesn't want to build the game himself.

You aren't the only one. But I think you should at least have a little faith in other gamers creativitity.

I mean, B1gw@nga91 could be the next Miyamoto if you just support him.

 

[BlazingDarkness]

well i live in the UK and i've not seen a single TV advertisement for the game, none at all. So as far as the UK is concerned, the mass market doesn't even know the game exists.

 

[fortified_concept]

I immediately ignored it because it centres around user generated content.

I always hated level editors. Give me a well designed campain by professionals please. I don't want to play anything someone called B1gw@nga91 created.

I'm largely ignorant of LBP the game itself and have only been exposed to the marketing and a couple of trailers/word of mouth. The above is my impression of it after that, if my impression is wrong, well maybe sony has a problem there, I can't believe I'm the only lazy gamer that doesn't want to build the game himself.

Well... it shows. There are some user levels that are simply ingenius. Borrow the game and play a few levels suggested in the USER LEVEL lbp thread here in neogaf. You'll take back everything you've said.

But you're right, Sony's at fault here and noone else. MM did a tremendous job with the game yet Sony failed them like they've did with every other developer they've published games for.

 

[Nolan.]

C'mon guys, I fall in love for Little Big Planet one minute after the first presentation of the game, probably because I'm a fan of Lionhead and Rag Doll Kung Fu, in spite of that is really easy for me understand why LBP actually don't do so well on charts around the world...

First thing: LBP, for a casual gamer but also for a veteran, still a very difficult game. Yeah, everything works well but it's almost impossibile to replicate the accuracy of a normal platform when you build your game trough an editor like the one in LBP. Only able players can avoid this kind of trouble.

And then come the editor: the majority of peoples out there can't use tools like that. I'm a player since 1986, a player not a designer, i'm a very proud of my skills but when i boot up the editor my mind became totally blank. That's because only a few of us can do this jump, dress the clothes of a designer and try to create something really fun to play. And don't forget the time... after 8 hours inside the office a lot of peoples prefer to blast some hellgast, can you believe this?

I think the cold hard truth is that most people are just not interested in using those tools for whatever reasons. I think the whole ''create and build it your way'' thing only truly strikes a cord with the mass with things like Myspace, Facebook etc not videogames. Things that people are more likely to happen across.

well i live in the UK and i've not seen a single TV advertisement for the game, none at all. So as far as the UK is concerned, the mass market doesn't even know the game exists.

I've seen a few but it's almost always been on an mtv channel.

 

[Stop It]

Well the SDF was quick to point out the NPD side of the debate while ignoring Japan and Europe, nice work.

In the UK at least LBP has bombed, why? Because it hasn't been advertised, anyone wtaching the TV these last few weeks will have seen tonnes of ads for Xbox 360 and Wii games on the "main" channels (BBC/ITV/CH4/Sky) where-as I haven't seen a PS3 ad, let alone one for LBP.

This isn't a case of "confused" advertising, it's a case of NO advertising, and word of mouth will not save it here, unless the hype train is started by serious prime time advertising, LBP is dead in the UK.

 

[Loudninja]

Well the SDF was quick to point out the NPD side of the debate while ignoring Japan and Europe, nice work.

In the UK at least LBP has bombed, why? Because it hasn't been advertised, anyone wtaching the TV these last few weeks will have seen tonnes of ads for Xbox 360 and Wii games on the "main" channels (BBC/ITV/CH4/Sky) where-as I haven't seen a PS3 ad, let alone one for LBP.

This isn't a case of "confused" advertising, it's a case of NO advertising, and word of mouth will not save it here, unless the hype train is started by serious prime time advertising, LBP is dead in the UK.

So do you know how many copies sold in Europe?Nice can you tell us?

 

[Ledsen]

The floaty jumping mechanics kill it for most casual gameplayers. The little amount of time I spent with the game hasn't left me with any desire to play more.

I haven't played the game, so I'm curious about this. In videos the floaty jumping looks absolutely horrible, but how does it work in practice?

 

[antiloop]

well i live in the UK and i've not seen a single TV advertisement for the game, none at all. So as far as the UK is concerned, the mass market doesn't even know the game exists.

In Singstar/The Sims/WoW heaven Sweden I see TV ads daily for LBP and Motorstorm 2. But I personally believe the console is too expensive for them to make a big impact......
If people ask me what console I recommend as a christmas gift I say XB360. The price difference is too big, they aren't even competing for the same market.

 

[BlazingDarkness]

Well the SDF was quick to point out the NPD side of the debate while ignoring Japan and Europe, nice work.

In the UK at least LBP has bombed, why? Because it hasn't been advertised, anyone wtaching the TV these last few weeks will have seen tonnes of ads for Xbox 360 and Wii games on the "main" channels (BBC/ITV/CH4/Sky) where-as I haven't seen a PS3 ad, let alone one for LBP.

This isn't a case of "confused" advertising, it's a case of NO advertising, and word of mouth will not save it here, unless the hype train is started by serious prime time advertising, LBP is dead in the UK.

.

 

[Sidzed2]

The core gameplay isn't actually all that fun, despite it's amazing creative elements.

This quote is amazingly true.

This isn't the reason for tepid sales, though. It's all in the marketing - this is a weird concept for non-hardcore to grasp.

 

[Huggers]

well i live in the UK and i've not seen a single TV advertisement for the game, none at all. So as far as the UK is concerned, the mass market doesn't even know the game exists.

This

I see Xbox ads constantly, and by constantly I mean nearly every commercial break has one of some description. LBP has only sold moderately well where I work, since the launch sales have completely disappeared despite my best efforts to big it up to everyone (to the point where I think I might be annoying my boss!). I have read that Sonys big advertising push is still to come but they really need to get their asses in gear, we're nearly at the end of Novemeber and I have seen one or 2 PSP ads and that is it. They need to create a buzz around the PS3, they are already at a disadvantage with the higher price point, they don't need to further this disadvantage with lack lustre advertisisng. Get on it Sony!

 

[Frillen]

THIS.

Wait until the next NPD before declaring it a bomb.

Way to ignore Japan and Europe.

Japanese and European trends shows us that LBP is falling FAST on the charts.

 

[fortified_concept]

I don't understand the argument about the casuals not wanting to create user levels. Of course the casuals won't want that, did you actually thing they'd spend hours creating a level no mateer how simple the level editor is? The casuals would want to play the unlimited levels created by the hardcore though.

Bad comparison ahead but I'll do it anyway: It's like suggesting that the warez community will fail because the average joe doesn't have the time to crack applications or something.

 

[Orin GA]

Cant wait till NPD. Haters or Lovers. Who ever loses I still get the lulz :lol

 

[gofreak]

Way to ignore Japan and Europe.

Japanese and European trends shows us that LBP is falling FAST on the charts.

A lot of 'big games' have fallen fast the last few weeks, though. At least they start somewhere to fall from! It is a really really busy period, there's a lot of churn as new releases get put out.

Now I've no idea how well LBP's sold in Europe, but I would be surprised if it wasn't around the same as the US. I doubt one could call it a bomb in absolute terms, in Europe. If that's so, and we're basing that on chart movement, then lots of games have been bombing recently.

 

[Jinfash]

I definitely think that by the end of the year it'll reach the 1 million milestone in sales (WW of course), but I'll still consider it a commercial bomb due to its scope, potential and vision that Sony had for this title.

The blame entirely falls on Sony's shoulder. The launch of the game was an epic mess, the ads were scarce and laughable (it made it hard to tell what exactly LBP is) and the lousy initial online-support it got from Sony and MM is embarrassing.

I remember after people have tried beta and were WOWed that they started saying "We can't think of a way how Sony can mess this up"... yeah, smh.

There may be time to turn this around, maybe... But we're talking about Sony here, I've lost all faith in how they run anything.

 

[LoveAndBeer]

An offline demo will certainly help alot!

I just wanted to reiterate this point. I've not picked up LBP yet despite all I have read/heard about it because in my heart of hearts I'd never spend $60 on a platformer I've never played.

There has to be a way they can carve out a chunk of the single player game and maybe hand pick a user level or two and put up a demo so I can make sure it is my cup of tea.

I'd probably have risked it during a slower time of the year, but $60 against SO many games that are either proven franchises or new IPs which did offer up a demo to assure me I like the game play (Mirror's Edge) means no sale until a price drop or I get hands on time.

Just my 2c on why I personally haven't bought it yet.

Demos sell games Sony.

 

[lowrider007]

Good God the ignorance in this thread is amazing. My head hurts.

This tbh.

I honestly can't believe people are talking about this game in past tenths already as a failed hit, what are the estimated 'world' sales of this game so far ?

 

[DeaconKnowledge]

First off, not seeing what there is about LBP that's to make it a blockbuster, aside from it being published by Sony.

That said, I think after a slow burn and bundling it'll push 1 million worldwide. No way Sony is letting it just die.

The real story here is the people who thought the LBP would save the PS3, this time by way of being a casual blockbuster the likes of Wii Sports. LBP is not that type of game and never was. It's a game that people that love it will dedicate themselves to, and everybody else will tinker with.

 

[Darklord]

Dunno about the rest of the world, but the marketing for this game has been dreadful in Australia. TV ads where a bunch of stoners show off shitty looking levels while talking about killing their girlfriends or something, bus adverts based around fart jokes.

Shouldn't be that difficult to advertise a 2D platformer!

God, I know. That ad is shocking.

 

[antiloop]

Demos makes the decision easier Sony.

Fixed.

 

[wi@tt]

I haven't played the game, so I'm curious about this. In videos the floaty jumping looks absolutely horrible, but how does it work in practice?

Just give it a try. Personally once I became accustomed to it it felt natural.

 

[MidiSurf]

Give it time, people, the Sims was also off to a slow start.

Of course it's more easy to sell a "I make people's head explode and steal stuff while they still like me game" than a "make your own super creative jump n run stages" game.

If it's still bomba in 6 months, then ok. I expect this get mostly get around by word of mouth, so I will wait till then.

Didn't orginal Sims have stellar first month sales ? I know it sold more then 6 million copies (worldwide) in two years.

 

[neojubei]

Wow talk about baiting, the OP just cut and run and everyone is taking the bait.