LBP is one of the best selling sony first party games this generation so I am guessing, no?
That's damning with faint praise.
The relative futility of Sony's 1st party franchises is another topic altogether, though.
LBP is one of the best selling sony first party games this generation so I am guessing, no?
Yeah, you need at least 8 million to be considered successful in this industry.
The single playing side was also mixed too. Because while the levels were varied enough, the floaty controls and the whole concept of the game (use stickers, grab and move stuff) didn't made a good/quick/easy to get into 2D game so those looking for something "like Mario"; just weren't going to find it.
Why do you assume people are looking for something "like mario"?
How is it a fail if it's optional? You can still enjoy the campaign and countless other creations made by others.
Right, there's no way to "prove" absolutely and conclusively that LBP1 was not well liked by those who played it, generally speaking.
But the best evidence we could possibly have is:
1) How did those buyers review the game online?
2) How many buyers went on to buy sequels?
Obviously, as already mentioned, these metrics are subject to statistical noise. It is not perfect. But it's essentially the best evidence we could ever possibly hope to get, and both pieces of evidence suggest that customers were not especially fond of the game.
People in this thread are looking for an explanation. This is likely the best explanation we're ever going to get, backed by the best evidence we can reasonably hope to acquire in a confusing market with lots of missing sales data.
because that's the benchmark by which all platformers are ultimately compared?
Honestly? I think it's just because it's on PS3.
Games just tend to send less on PS3 for some reason. Different AND smaller userbase?
That's why I said "like Mario". I don't assume, but the game was "sold" to many as the "playing a 2D game like Mario". Same way many think 2D platformer = Mario = every 2D game is like Mario.Why do you assume people are looking for something "like mario"?
Thread should have ended after this answer. Impressive post.Yup. I mean, technically all platformers are based around some kind of object physics, but the problem with games like LBP is that they try to build platforming into a generic object physics engine.
The design goals of a game physics engine and of a platformer are actually at explicit cross purposes. The way objects interact in real life is complex and has tons of inflection points: if you drop a ball onto a stack of blocks, almost imperceptible differences in positioning, angle, and speed can completely change the result, and physics engines try to capture this, either to create more realistic visual behavior in a game or to create puzzle elements where the player applies their knowledge of real-life physics to intuitively achieve a goal.
The goal in a platformer, on the other hand, is to remove inflection points: for objects to interact in straightforward, comprehensible ways. A good platformer has systems that a player can understand implicitly and predict the behavior of; that allows them to focus instead on the actual platformer gameplay, the execution of navigation through an environment. In the best platformers people talk about getting into a "flow" and this sort of simple physics is exactly what enables that -- you can look at the screen, know exactly how all the parts interact, and then focus just on implementing the motions needed to get where you need to go.
When you build a platformer on a generic physics engine, you get a game where consistent inputs don't produce consistent outputs, and you have to compensate with overbroad level design to make up for a lack of precision. (Which is exactly what happened with LBP.)
because that's the benchmark by which all platformers are ultimately compared?
Really? Do you compare Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts to Mario? Mega Man to Mario?
THE selling point? Hardly.it's the selling point of the game through its trailers.
But even I , a lifelong gamer, went uh man creation mode is too too long and requires too much planning to get anything done for a medium gamer
SMG and LBP are totally different games. I have no clue why you would compare them to each other except for the fact that they are both platformers. It would be similar to comparing NSMB to SMG.
That's why I said "like Mario". I don't assume, but the game was "sold" to many as the "playing a 2D game like Mario". Same way many think 2D platformer = Mario = every 2D game is like Mario.
Plus I could've said any other name; chose Mario since is the easiest one that people recognize. Like how everything people ask for recommendations of 2D platformers "like Mario" on 360 or PS3 LittleBigPlanet is one of the first recommendations; even when the games play nothing alike. Or the usual "my girlfriends likes Mario, what should I get her that is similar on PS3".
That's why the controls are garbage. Entirely physics-based controls have no place in a platformer. Have no place anywhere but in driving simulators. Loathe that shit, personally. It just feels likes twitchy, unresponsive ass.
Someone said earlier that it feels like this game was designed by engineers and programmers. I think that was spot on.
Does the average game consumer know/give a shit about Ghosts n Goblins? Come on.
to me LBP2 came out to quickly.
I would have had MM work on something else in the meantime, then develop LBP2 for the ps4's launch. With no anti gravity Sackboy.
I personally didn't need another LPB at the moment. The first game had me completely satisfied for a long ass time. VERY long ass time.
Are you criticizing the marketability of LBP here, or the game mechanics? Which part of the comparison doesn't hold?
The marketability. Sorry, I got you mixed up with the person who was suggesting that all Sony products are aimed at the same demographic.
typical group sony always targets
On the contrary, it is many of GAF that don't like the game and most of the real world that does. Basically the complete opposite of whatever you are talking about.
Sony games target different demographics, but in a specific range. There is no game sony has come out with that targets little kids like nintendo. It is usually 13+.
I didn't say every game was targeted to the same demographic. You simply assumed that. I said:
Sony games target different demographics, but in a specific range. There is no game sony has come out with that targets little kids like nintendo. It is usually 13+.
Super floaty.
Is that why LBP2 sold so much and this thread exists?
Eyepet, but aside from that, do you have any idea how many games Sony has published?
Do you mean just PS3 games?
Eyepet? Sly Cooper? Ratchet & Clank? Hell, I'd even argue in the opposite direction - no way that Killzone is aimed at kids. Killzone is aimed at older teens and adults.
Those titles are broad range games. I am in my early 20s and I just played a R&C game. That is why I said 13+. Point out a ps3 sony game that targets ages 7-13 like some other companies.
Yeah.I guess that's true, but it still seems like a ridiculous limitation on developers. I never saw anyone criticize Limbo for not having the same jump as Mario. Halo and Call of Duty don't move/aim/jump the same. You can still recommend Call of Duty to a Halo player.
Maybe if LBP's levels were designed like Mario3, and you're constantly falling between a small chasm, it would be annoying. But the jumps work fine in the context of the game, which includes a lot of hanging and swinging.
What Nintendo games target mainly target ages 7-13?
Well, I thought LBP hadn't sold well before I started this thread, but it actually has. I have pointed that out through the thread, but people, including you, seem to miss it. LBP2 has only been out for less than a year. It will sell a lot more when it hits greatest hits like LBP.
I was focusing on PS3 titles, but I have yet to see a sony title specifically for children 7 - 12 like a barbie like game.
Those titles are broad range games. I am in my early 20s and I just played a R&C game. That is why I said 13+. Point out a ps3 sony game that targets ages 7-13 like some other companies.
I'm also in my early 20s and I like Transformers and the original Dragon Ball. That doesn't mean that those weren't aimed at kids. Eyepet and things like Sly Cooper are pretty clearly aimed at younger folks.
Dragonball/Z was mainly popular with 13-18, but a lot of 18-20s watched it too. Your not that much older than that. Transformers is targeted to 7-18 I would guess, but with the movies that have recently come out, I would say anyone could really watch it if they are interested in transformer. These shows aren't like power rangers that really target only kids.
Sly Cooper is targeted to everyone, but leans towards kids. Eyepet, I guess is targeted to mostly kids. Another game I would say is targeted to mostly kids is invizimals. LBP with it's complex level editor isn't targeted towards little kids.