Sackboy gets edgy in this baffling piece of promotion for LittleBigPlanet.
Sackboy doesn't look like he can do very many push-ups.Apparently Sony isn't messing around when it comes to making sure that everyone on this regulation-size planet knows all about its LittleBigPlanet. While it's certainly going broad spectrum, it would also seem that extra-special attention is being paid to the quote-unquote tastemakers out there. In a move that's too clever by half, Sony has hooked up with the coke-loving Williamsburg hipsters at Vice Magazine to produce a promotional LittleBigVice Magazine, something the folks at Wonderland stumbled upon at their local coffee shop. It appears to take the basic layout of Vice, substituting Sackboy for the usual assortment of scruffy indie rock kids. It's a little unnerving to see Sackboy posing in one of those filthy-by-inference American Apparel ad, but I have to admit, it looks pretty thorough.
It's a real peculiar pairing, considering the usually severe content of Vice. I have to imagine there are none of the snarky fashion critiques, first-person drug stories, or non sequitur porno reviews that comprise most issues of Vice. Like a lot of the marketing that Sony has put out there for the PlayStation 3, the real question I find myself asking is why does this exist? I can appreciate Sony's apparent desire to try some real left-of-center advertising, but is a divisive pop-culture fringe publication the best way to get to the hearts and minds that it seems to need more of? This doesn't seem like the kind of cred Sony needs to push more copies of LittleBigPlanet.
Sackboy doesn't look like he can do very many push-ups.Apparently Sony isn't messing around when it comes to making sure that everyone on this regulation-size planet knows all about its LittleBigPlanet. While it's certainly going broad spectrum, it would also seem that extra-special attention is being paid to the quote-unquote tastemakers out there. In a move that's too clever by half, Sony has hooked up with the coke-loving Williamsburg hipsters at Vice Magazine to produce a promotional LittleBigVice Magazine, something the folks at Wonderland stumbled upon at their local coffee shop. It appears to take the basic layout of Vice, substituting Sackboy for the usual assortment of scruffy indie rock kids. It's a little unnerving to see Sackboy posing in one of those filthy-by-inference American Apparel ad, but I have to admit, it looks pretty thorough.
It's a real peculiar pairing, considering the usually severe content of Vice. I have to imagine there are none of the snarky fashion critiques, first-person drug stories, or non sequitur porno reviews that comprise most issues of Vice. Like a lot of the marketing that Sony has put out there for the PlayStation 3, the real question I find myself asking is why does this exist? I can appreciate Sony's apparent desire to try some real left-of-center advertising, but is a divisive pop-culture fringe publication the best way to get to the hearts and minds that it seems to need more of? This doesn't seem like the kind of cred Sony needs to push more copies of LittleBigPlanet.
Does this mean they'll give away strap-on's sackboy can wear? How about a little yayo dusted under his nose? Vice pack DLC, including a level where sackboy takes a crack trip through the blood stream ending up in the brain where youstimulate the central nervous system releasing prize bubbles!
This is the kind of marketing which I loved when Sony promoted the Playstation 1 in Europe. Remember the Krazy Ivan or Wipeout commercials they were so cutting edge.
So is Vice gonna do a a Do's and Don'ts about LMP levels now?
This kind of marketing is actually pretty clever. As long as they don't have people walking around the street, who come up to you all friendly-like, asking you if you have a quarter for the phone, you say you do and give them one, and they thank you profusely, saying...
You know, this is a really good story idea, I think I'll just write it down.
Makes sense, they are doing the opposite of targeting the "casual" or "common" player, their reaching out to people who A) are more likely to get INTO serious core gaming, and who probably aren't into things like LBP. It shows them wanting to expand their audience in a way that doesn't just bring in extra cash, but also brings in more core players, and opens people up to new avenues of entertainment. And Rowr, look at all of Sony's other big ticket items. We have seen something of Killzone 2 at least once a month in the bajillion years since it was announced, and any time there is any kind of gathering of the industry, we see about 30 videos/ads for the game. The same happened with Haze, Sony is a hype machine. 10 times more so then Microsoft, which is why I always think its ironic that people call MS the hype machine. Sony actually NEEDS to push the PS3 quite a lot. LBP hasn't had that much internal hype at all. More then quite a few games, but nothing considering how much hype generated in the industry and the consumer base.
Eh, flashy ads will never get me to buy a game, or a system for that matter. Like most people here, I read reviews, watch videos, look at a system's entire library, and who is going to be developing for it in the future. If you want to sell PS3s don't try and sell a game, sell the system, and sell it like there is a reason to invest the money in it. I'm sure anyone who owns a PS3 already bought LBP and anyone who doesn't own a PS3 wasn't considering picking up the system 'cause of these ads.
Odd, the internet community seems to be going nuts over this game, however the real-life community (the people I actually know who actually have played this game) feel like it's just a boring platformer with some neat level creation, and nothing more. I need to get a PS3 one of these days...
I really think that they should be pushing the split-screen family friendly aspect of it more. I have spent countless hours playing with my 10 year old little sister, and sometimes my 15 year old brother and 12 year old sister as well. There is no other game that i have experienced that has covered the simple, yet challenging gameplay that is accessible to such a wide range of ages and also nail the depth and replayability that a good AAA game should have. There is something in this game for everyone. I like to build levels and my 10 year old sister likes the bubbles.
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