SCEE: LittleBigPlanet user-generated content 'free at launch'
by Alan Tsang 
{ Jul 21st 2008 at 6:30PM }
Those of you who are thinking of using LittleBigPlanet as your ticket to champagne wishes and caviar dreams after reading our last post might want to rethink your plans. "SCEE and Media Molecule can guarantee that all consumer-generated content will be free at launch. We know how important this is to the LBP community and what we want most is for people to enjoy playing, creating and sharing their content," SCEE told Eurogamer after being notified of David Reeves' statements. They emphasized that Reeves "was talking about how user-generated content could potentially evolve in the long term" and that any future direction of LBP "will include the community and focus purely on enhancing the user experience."
Adding to the confusion, last month at GDC Paris during a keynote presentation, Media Molecule co-founder Mark Healey said "that's a fantastic idea" in response to a question of whether LBP user-generated content can be sold.
We think having the option of selling user-generated content, if implemented correctly, can be positive for the community. So did Reeves reveal something he wasn't suppose to yet? Can we kiss charging for LBP content good-bye?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Wrathbringer @ Jul 21st 2008 6:34PM
I'm sure this news will make A LOT of people happy. I didn't actually care about users being able to charge for their created content, but apparently many people around here got their panties in a bundle over it so it's good to know that the content will be free for at least a while.
ahsayuninew @ Jul 21st 2008 6:38PM
Well, either way, it hasn't changed my definate purchase of this game
Xoonaka @ Jul 21st 2008 6:41PM
Damn, I really wanted to be able to sell my levels... that would've been pretty cool, actually.
Maybe they'll implement some sort of QA into it, as in you need to acquire a certain "rank" in order to sell content? Like X number of levels with a 5 star rating or something?
That could be a nice compromise. That way you're more likely to get quality levels.
P @ Jul 22nd 2008 1:05AM
Im pretty sure that was what was being implied previously, except half the moaners didnt bother reading and just assumed it meant everyone could sell anything if they wanted. Likewise half the people thinking it was a great idea didnt bother reading the fact that 'for sale' stuff would be for approved people only (whether that resulted in 0.1% or 10% who would know).
Too many people jumped to conclusions as it wasnt a proper announcement it was just a passing comment, which looking at it probably wasnt a wise one, but certainly wasnt a clearly wrote announcement of their plans, as im sure its just something they're considering.
It could go either way, but i think if user created $$DLC was done, and done strictly enough that it had to be of an extremely high standard (ie dev-standard) then it wouldnt be a bad thing, but anyone and everyone... no thanks, and thankfully i think they see that too.
Quantum @ Jul 22nd 2008 7:29PM
i like this game
Dwag @ Jul 21st 2008 6:51PM
Free at launch it doesn't mean it can't come in a few months later.
Guess i'll wait until they add in the money feature before I start making maps.
StaticKevin @ Jul 21st 2008 7:09PM
are you serious...?
P @ Jul 21st 2008 7:11PM
"Guess i'll wait until they add in the money feature before I start making maps."
Congrats, your the perfect example of 3 things:
1) People who dont read
2) Reasons why MM wont introduce what you THINK they're suggesting they're offering.
3) Exactly why people dislike the idea of people being able to sell their content.
I'll guarantee you this much, if you let me know what your PSN name is, i'll never purchase anything off you no matter how wonderful it is, people like you who have no interest in SHARING and only in selfish profiting have no place on LBP.
Eggy @ Jul 21st 2008 7:12PM
You should have read the previous post regarding LBP DLC a bit better. I said you will have to be qualified to be able to charge money for your DLC. Now unless you are something special you'll never be able to charge for your maps.
naruto007 @ Jul 22nd 2008 7:35AM
you are the reason why i didn't like this idea. damn greedy people.
oOo BioShock oOo @ Jul 21st 2008 6:54PM
Sweet, great news!
hexhunter @ Jul 21st 2008 7:10PM
I am sure that you can still sell your levels, but you'd need to do it through a website.
All you have to do is create a series of levels, release the first few as demos, then lock the others with keys, and email people the keys in exchange for a Paypal transaction.
Only issue is that if the key isn't random, one person can easily buy it and then post all your keys on the net...
I think if you create your own stuff, you should be able to release it however you wish, unless if it's rude of course...
- Deus X Machina -
SuperGayParade @ Jul 22nd 2008 1:05AM
as was described when announced, the user has to pass some creation milestones, i.e. make a few awesome levels, before they can begin to charge for their content. it's not like I get the game and immediately can charge.. I have to work for it to eventually get the ability
BerkleyJ @ Jul 21st 2008 7:16PM
I STARTED A PETITION!
http://www.petitiononline.com/LBPPAY/petition.html
TuxBobble @ Jul 21st 2008 7:35PM
I won't sign it, sorry.
I love the idea of sharing but I understand that some people aren't. I mean, not everyone will charge for content, and you're not required to buy it, either.
So I don't really see what the issue is...most people will likely share anyway--there'll just be some who won't. Most I'd EVER charge for an LBP level is like a quarter, anyway...
Rishard @ Jul 21st 2008 7:17PM
Wait, I must have missed something here. Why wouldn't user generated content be free? Is there a URL that describes this better?
JamesL007 @ Jul 21st 2008 7:24PM
In order to charge for your content it would have to be at a developer level of content, meaning you probably would have to spend a long time developing stuff to get noticed enough that you could have the option to charge for it.
But isn't User generated content when submitted the Property then of the developers, meaning you give over all creative control and ownership when you submit it to them.
drdre74 @ Jul 21st 2008 7:26PM
Ummmm... you guys need to read between the lines here. He said they will be free at launch. He didnt say they would never charge for levels and sale levels down the road after the game is out. Launch and 2 months down the road are two different things. Do you think Sony is going to give up making extra money off one of the biggest games of the year. I think "NOT".
P @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:46AM
I think you need a better understanding of what people are talking about before getting your knickers in a twist.
Your the only one talking about MM produced DLC, which i think everyone would welcome, or at least has no complaints about it.
What has people split is the suggestion by MM that *user* generated content *could* be sold.
Nobody will have the option to sell their content, ever, without having proved their content is worthy of being sold/paid for (meaning it'd have to be particularly impressive in *their* opinion), and that upon release user-sold content wont be possible due to the build not allowing it.
Albanian_Killa @ Jul 22nd 2008 1:05AM
I don't like it (having to pay for user-generated content). Why? Because, with LittleBigPlanet, I dream of having 100s of levels. I wouldn't like to pay for them. I would want to get rich, don't get me wrong, but with all the levels that'll be created, imagine how hard it will be to get spotted. Anyway, keep the game free. That's how everyone wants it (except a few creative, greedy bastards).
tmontana213 @ Jul 21st 2008 7:35PM
I'll be happy to pay for levels made by MM, but not user-created levels...unless the levels were as good if not better than MM's.
Nozz @ Jul 21st 2008 8:55PM
i agree with you fully!!
Phantom @ Jul 21st 2008 8:29PM
Oh well , I'll still make maps so i can enjoy them . And I might as well share them .
Maybe after a month or 2 , when the REALLY talented map-makers are well known around the community , and the community has aged a bit , they will pick out the creators that are renowned among the community , and give them a charging license or whatever .
Phantom @ Jul 21st 2008 8:39PM
AND I think that maps should only be allowed to cost at MAX 25 cents , and each party (Sony , MM , Creator ,) get's a quarter , then the last 1/4 is taxes and charity money. And instead of users , once their allowed to charge for levels , instead of just putting pay levels up at will , Sony should inspect each level to make sure that it is quality . So if you make like say 3 really good 4-5 star levels , Sony will let you submit your new level designs to them , so they can decide if it's quality enough to be payed for . And I hope people will be nice enough to make a map free every now and then ,I now I will if I make it big .
Geekman @ Jul 21st 2008 8:40PM
I think its ok if they gather a bunch of good level creators and pay them from the top for there levels, than they release a compilation with lets say 100 new levels for the price of a game...
the creators get royalties and I pay for the upgrade and not per level.
Elsnerma @ Jul 22nd 2008 7:06PM
I think being able to chare for content is a sweet idea, if implemented well.
I hope they find a way to put it in.
Burns11 @ Jul 22nd 2008 1:07AM
I'm not contented by "free at launch" at all, game is still solidly in the rent column, where it moved after the previous statement.
Chico @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:29AM
I agree. This whole issue has soured the game for me.
@ash: I can read, and have read the article. I still don't like it.
What I was looking for was a statement from MM saying along the lines of "Reeves is daft! Who knows what the hell he's on about!"
Oh well, easy come, easy go..
bkalasin @ Jul 22nd 2008 2:32PM
No, neither am I. Clearly the developers caught wind of the grumbling and read a bunch of emails from concerned gamers like myself. "Free at launch" means one thing: give us our $60 when the game hits the shelves. Once we have it, we can backtrack and will no longer care that the sharing community gets neutered by people holding out their best ideas on the off-chance someone will offer them a chance to charge for them. LBP was the one title I was really looking forward to, but this has left a distinctly sour taste in my mouth.
ash @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:09AM
NO ONE CAN ACTUALLY READ!!!!!
THE SUPER GOOD LEVELS CREATORS WILL BE GIVEN THE OPTION TO SELL CONTENT.
STRICTLY INVITATION ONLY, YOU CAN'T JUST CHARGE FOR YOUR CONTENT
Superbean @ Jul 22nd 2008 5:34PM
R u serious? i cnt believe MM is actually listening 2 all these whiny little bitches. " omg, i cnt believe theyre gona let like 7 people charge me $1 to download an awsome map" Shut up already. this is a great game and it will continue to be regardless of wether or not a select few (well deserving) make a little money. besides if your a real gamer, u cant deny that the thought has crossed your mind about making a living playing games. This is a great innovative idea that will reward you for doing what you enjoy doing. MM if you're reading this please dont listen 2 the masses of idiots posting nonesense. They know not what they do MM, they know not, what they do.