Sony and Media Molecule are planning to take LittleBigPlanet’s user-created content to a higher level of customisation by Xmas. Media Molecule co-founder Alex Evans has revealed that a patch will soon allow you to upload images from your PS3 hard drive and use them when designing and building your own levels and items. Those errant Qur’an references might soon be the least of LBP’s worries…
User-generated content is very much a double edged sword. On the one hand, the only way Sony will be able to unlock the full potential of the LittleBigPlanet design tools is to allow users to apply their own content unrestricted. The trouble is that once you combine freedom of expression with the anonymity of the internet, the result is invariably some joker uploading a close-up image of someone’s genitalia. Possibly their own.
EA’s Spore Creature Creator and the resulting wave of Spornography was a perfect example of how people’s mischievous tendencies rapidly come into play. It can be quite hilarious when made in cartoony computer graphics, but one too many 1920 x 1080 pixel shots of a male scrotum bedecked in full military regalia, could sorely damage the family friendly image of LBP.
What’s going to stop this happening on the PS3’s flagship title? Not a lot really, except for the integrated ratings within the Share system and the vigilance of content moderators. Hopefully the community will pull together to keep it in check, but it’s hard not to think of how Microsoft got stung with one its few forays into the murky world of user-generated content on the Xbox 360.
The console maker was sorely criticised over racist paintjobs in the racing title Forza 2. That was just a few tasteless liveries in a fairly niche racing game; LittleBigPlanet is going for a wider audience and far more ambitious kind of customisation.
Out Nov 5 | £40 | LittleBigPlanet (via Destructoid)
LBP also has a feature where users can report questionable content. So if you come accross something that is crued you can report with a flew button presses.
Sounds like a decent solution, but I’d still be surprised if LBP doesn’t have its share of controversies by the time it’s through.
I agree – by the time enough people have reported it offensive to flag it up to the moderators, someone will have taken a screen grab and passed it to the Daily Mail