LittleBigPlanet allows users to charge for created content

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 20th 2008 at 2:00PM }

What's a better incentive to create a level in LittleBigPlanet than good, hard cold cash? According to recent comments by David Reeves, president of SCEE, that's what's planned for the upcoming community-driven platformer. "What we're trying to do with LittleBigPlanet is almost iTunes meets eBay in the sense that once an individual or a developer has qualified by producing certain levels or certain add-ons, they will then be able in the future to exchange these and make money out of them," Reeves notes. "Eventually, it's feasible that you might well see the first LittleBigPlanet millionaire!"

It appears that how much creators can charge for content is also user-determined. "Even if you charge less than one euro, it doesn't take many downloads if you've got a really strong LittleBigPlanet level for people to be able to make money. It's a great way for people to show others what they can do." This may give aspiring level designers a chance to not only show off their creativity, but turn their skills into profit.

[Thanks, Alex H.!]

Tags: david-reeves, littlebigplanet

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Brett from Atlanta @ Jul 20th 2008 2:05PM

Yeah! My cash-cow has arrived!

Lordtombot @ Jul 20th 2008 2:16PM

Soon we'll have a limewire type program especialy for nicking these levels without permission.

Evi1d33d @ Jul 31st 2008 12:10AM

Exactly, and what prevents someone to create a free level that is 'very similar'? Maybe they can make money selling custom items to put in levels but a whole level is a rip off and won't fly.

wicko @ Jul 20th 2008 2:17PM

This is neat, but how do you prevent someone from scamming people? Is there a way to demo the levels or see the level from one end to the other? I don't know if I'd trust people enough to start paying for their "creations". I hope you can release them for free, that would be the route I would take.

spyker @ Jul 20th 2008 2:22PM

Did you even read it? You have to qualify first to charge and you don't need to.

wicko @ Jul 20th 2008 2:37PM

Nope, guess I didn't.

Drake70 @ Jul 20th 2008 2:17PM

So I won't be able to download other people's content for free?

Or is it optional to charge other users for my content?

Skemo @ Jul 20th 2008 2:27PM

Optional.

Hyams @ Jul 20th 2008 5:18PM

It's not even optional.

Only the content selected by Sony (ie. the very best of the best) will be given the option of having a price tag.

Da @ Jul 21st 2008 1:21PM

Thats cool, if you're paying for it you know it's not just crap.

BananaBoat @ Jul 21st 2008 12:29AM

I have a feeling that making anything truly worthy of selling in Little Big Planet is going to be extremely difficult. Kinda like how a ton of people play Second Life (not me though, ugg no) but how there are very few people that can actually create (good) content for it. Since we're talking entire levels you'd have to create if you wanted to sell them, the field of potential sellers goes down to such a low number anyway, that once you take into account that they have to be "quality" levels, you've got a very small, and probably very dedicated field.

I'd pay for a really good map, but I'd never sell them. I'm of the opinion that this type of thing should be free. It's fine if other people don't feel that way, and I'd be more than happy to pay them if their content is amazing, but I wouldn't personally do it. I'm sure Sony will get a cut of any profits you make, which makes it less appealing anyway.

Phantom @ Jul 21st 2008 10:28AM

I'll probably try to make a few good maps to qualify , and sell them for like a dollar or 2 . I don't care if Sony gets 10 cents or so . I'm guessing if it'd really good maybe I could make like 200 dollars .

This map creating for profit is great for when i'm bored .

MexicanTerrorist @ Jul 20th 2008 2:27PM

You have to qualify by making really awesome free content and get chosen by Media Molecule to make charged for content.

Luke @ Jul 21st 2008 1:23PM

As long as this is true, where Mm specifically picks people and the average Joe cannot easily become "qualified" to charge for levels, I don't have a problem with this.

I just want to be able to download craploads of FREE levels from 99% of users. If Mm feels a user has enough creativity for them to charge for their levels, I think I can trust them and maybe, just MAYBE give them a few coppers.

MexicanTerrorist @ Jul 20th 2008 2:28PM

Besides, charging for content defeats the purpose of LBP for me anyway. It's Play, Create Share. Not Play, Create, Sell.

zyxwiley @ Jul 20th 2008 5:57PM

I agree for the most part. But to me, this seems like good ol' capitalist motivation. This should draw out the talented developers and push them to create truly interesting work. Even if 1% (heck, it'll probably end up being like .01%, given the amount of people that will likely make something) of the user generated content requires purchased, the remainder of the 99% of the free content should theoretically be that much better quality. Instead of rampant swarms of 12 year olds trying to make levels out of boobs, you'll get a lot more talented people trying to qualify / building their reputation for charging their skills.

Granted, if it ends up that like 10-20% of the user generated content isn't free, then that would ultimately be the death of the game (to me, at least).

Luke @ Jul 20th 2008 2:32PM

Here's a link to the interview.

http://uk.playstation.com/games-media/news/articles/detail/item111520/

paul @ Jul 20th 2008 2:39PM

MUST BUY IM GONNA BE RICH

McBonk @ Jul 20th 2008 2:40PM

Okay, this is the first cringe-worthy news I've seen regarding LBP.

Arttemis @ Jul 20th 2008 5:08PM

Agreed, this is pretty tasteless.

paul @ Jul 20th 2008 5:37PM

How?

ChodalBerryWagon @ Jul 20th 2008 8:54PM

Same. How?
I do not want to go try get some cool user-generated levels, only to find out that all the good ones must be paid for. I really hope it's only the VERY best of the best (a 1-in-a-1000 level) that you have to pay for, and that they don't charge you any more than a dollar/euro/pound/whatever. It DEFINITELY must be less than you pay for characters in Pain ;)

Damian @ Jul 20th 2008 2:46PM

But there should be plenty of choice - and if you've got a choice between good user-created levels which you've got to pay for, and a plentiful supply of good user-created levels which are free... it's a no-brainer surely?

browntown @ Jul 20th 2008 2:58PM

Stupid move, its gonna kill the community and numbr of user created levels played. Who wants to pay money to play a level they have no idea what it looks like exactly. Of course, this just makes me want to spend more time on making an wesome level

Mark @ Jul 20th 2008 5:21PM

You have to have a track recor of producing quality free content, before you can charge for levels.

Did you ACTUALLY read the article?

ADPolicenaut @ Jul 20th 2008 3:18PM

To capitalism!

Konchu @ Jul 20th 2008 3:21PM

I think this will be more for the really popular devs so say some of the big web comic guys like Penny Arcade jump on the bandwagon they may allow them to make sellable content and that would be a cool thing in my eyes. But I could also see some individuals making some super awesome content and get a following and start selling some. But I think there is going to be so much great content that it will take exceptional content to justify purchase.

Konchu @ Jul 20th 2008 3:23PM

So much free content that is.

stargateheaven @ Jul 20th 2008 3:26PM

If you see an object you like, surely you'd just make it yourself and not buy it?!

that, or i'm quitting my job lol

naruto007 @ Jul 20th 2008 3:30PM

i dont like this idea everyone will want to earn money from it so pretty much most good maps will be pay to play =/

Chico @ Jul 20th 2008 3:47PM

Still buying this game, however, will not be paying a cent for content, nor would I charge. Like a previous poster said, it's about sharing, not selling.

Potentially a bad move, but guess only time will tell.

MakaiOokami @ Jul 20th 2008 3:57PM

But if you're making good content and people are willing to buy why are you against people being compensated for time? If someone spends 20 hours developing a level shouldn't he be entitled to be able to make 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 cents or maybe even 1-5 dollars? Even Red Cross could make games and use the profits for donations. I mean this is epic.

Besides, if you can't sell something, do you really own it?

Chico @ Jul 20th 2008 4:13PM

Not arguing what people should be entitled to or not, just saying I would not pay for content.

This was by far, my most anticipated game, however, this news gives me pause.

I will definitely follow this over the next few to see how it pans out.

Hyams @ Jul 20th 2008 5:14PM

Well, unless you happen to make one of the most popular levels in the game, you won't even get the option to put a price tag on it.

Chico @ Jul 20th 2008 9:43PM

oh, I fully understand that not all content will have a price, that only the creme de la creme will carry a price tag.

What disappoints me, is that up until now, this game has been presented as being revolutionary, even somewhat utopian in it's premise. This latest news seems to have sullied that notion IMO.

I admit, a lot of people(myself included) are probably making a mountain out of a mole hill. Best to see what LBP news comes out this week, as I am sure some clarification will be offered.

Hyams @ Jul 21st 2008 8:18AM

Chico: This is actually in reply to your other post starting, 'no no, I was never under the impression that anyone and their mother could charge for content...'

My response is: fair enough. I don't intend to pay for any content in LBP either.

Thing is, many people have misread the article and are over-reacting based on their miscomprehension of it, setting up boycotts, cancelling pre-orders and such. These are the people my messages have been aimed at.

If you *do* understand the article, and still don't like it, fair enough. To be honest, I'm not thrilled about it either, but it's not the game-killing, all-content-will-cost-moneys thing many seem to think it is.

William @ Jul 20th 2008 3:49PM

Nice. I'm gonna try to create levels to make some money =)

Spider-Prime @ Jul 20th 2008 3:55PM

stupid IMO cause since anyone can make levels in it, if someone buys it they probably can just copy it by remaking it and send it out for free.

MakaiOokami @ Jul 20th 2008 3:59PM

Copyright infrindment. They'd probably have their PSN ids banned. All someone has to do is take a screenshot and send it in. The screenshot has a lot of information on it so they'll be able to entirely find out who's doing it and the stealers will be routed out pretty quickly.

They would just use the same kind of strategy they have planned for explicit or sexual images since you can upload anything you want really to be int he game.

Spider-Prime @ Jul 20th 2008 6:39PM

perhaps, but I guess we will have to wait and see.
Still wouldn't be hard for people to find out how to make the said level and make it themselves instead of downloading it.

We all know, people will do anything to get the things they want for free.

Le @ Jul 20th 2008 3:56PM

I think it's a ridiculous idea. It'll hurt the LBP community as people won't build levels for its wellbeing, but rather for their own profitable gain. if they want to reward great level devs with cash, do a contest or something where they can earn cash prizes or whatever, but to allow them to charge for levels is ridicule, or a donating option would be cool too. I think the word that knocked everyone off is 'feasible'.