LittleBigPlanet will soon be released for Playstation 3 with high expectations. If you haven’t heard of this game:
1. Go straight to youtube or gamespot
2. Watch a trailer for LittleBigPlanet (gamespot video is here).
LittleBigPlanet is a visually stunning and creative game. I expect it to sell very well for these qualities alone.
What businesses should really paying attention to is the extent to which LittleBigPlanet embraces community and creativity. Players can use an elaborate level-editor to design environments for the game that have the potential to rival those created by the developers. User-generated content can then be uploaded online and shared with the community of LittleBigPlanet players.
Like Wikipedia or Second Life, the economics heavily favor this game. It’s expensive to hire programmers to create levels. Gamers play through levels quickly, and new content must be continually generated. LittleBigPlanet breaks the rules by providing the infrastructure and tools for the community to create the magic.
LittleBigPlanet will resemble Wikipedia, with a handful of users that will spend hours or even DAYS creating brilliant content (at zero cost) for the masses. The game has not even been officially released, and I’ve already found some incredible creations on youtube:
This is a recipe for generating content that will engage users more than anything packaged with the game. Provide the tools and structure, and let the masses shape their experience.
