| Borkachev said: You're right in a sense, but to say that is to miss the point. If you break it down, just about everything that LBP does -- level creation, physics-based platforming, charming art style, cooperative gameplay (though I'm not so sure about that last one in a platformer) -- has been done before. What's different about LBP is the way it brings them all together in the right way, at the right place, at the right time. |
This is exactly my problem with the LBP hype machine. Until the game is actually released, I don't see how anyone can say it "brings them all together in the right way". Previews just aren't enough to make a judgment like that. Reviewers love game experiences that feel new and fresh, and when combined with a polished presentation, such games will always receive rave previews. The question is this: after a few days, when the "new experience" feeling starts to wear off, will the core of the game still be great without it? The game has potential, and could very well succeed in becoming a masterpiece - but I'll wait until some time after release before I believe any hype.
As for "the right place, at the right time" - again, I think it's too early to say that. People's perceptions of the PS3, 360, and Wii are pretty much set at this point, and it will be difficult to change their minds. As such, I don't see LBP single-handedly bringing a new demographic to the PS3. While it's certainly possible for LBP to become a cultural phenomenon, such things are almost impossible to predict.
