its about little more than the level editor, which is absolutely phenomenal.  When people go to preview this game do they ever not write about it?  never before has a level editor been so easy and expansive to use that it is the game.

i think this could be sony's viva pinata.  its the game that they have to sell to reach the demographic that they want it to.  their gateway drug, the killer app, the system seller.  It will be a focal point in the future of the console and everyone knows it.

My point about 2D platformer (and it really looks to be somewhere between 2D and 2.5D) is that it is not really as revolutionary in its core gaming elements as some are making it out to be.

The level editor and sharing and such are the new unique elements. And outside of a very specific type of gamer, I am not sure they are a selling point to all.

It is interesting how I have seen it compared to Viva Pinata. That game sold well -- but really didn't move systems. And that gets to the heart of the question in the OP.

Mike from Morgantown

PS -- I find it interesting that an Amazon.com search for "Wii Sports Resort" brings up Little Big Planet as the 6th item.

Viva Pinata only sold like... 1.5 million copies.

Viva Pinata is actually a point in the favor of people saying they don't think it will be a system seller.

Me... I think it will sell systems. Not to the super causuals though, but to the people who like videogames a little too much and instead of playing them would rather make them... except they either don't have the talent or attention span to do it themselves.

The kind of people that search all over for RPG maker and the like.

It might sell to other people too... but you likely won't know since if it is going to sell to casuals... casuals buy stuff like casuals.  They aren't going to go out first day, or first week, it'll take a month or two before people really start buying in, and by then everyone will attribute it to the holidays or some other game.

I don't know if this game will be a system seller, but it looks flippin' incredible. I'm happy for PS3 owners. Can't wait to get mine.

The game most likely will be a system seller. It has been described as mainly being strong while being played in multiplayer, not so much in single player. They said it can be a pain in the ass and when you play with 4 players it raises the level of fun. I still don't get the true core story of the game yet.

that was my point.  viva pinata sold pretty well to people who already had 360's.  the problem with that is that ms was saying how important it was, how they need a good marketing campaign, how it was going to jumpstart their casual drive in the market, and stuff like that.  then they went and completely blew the marketing and it did nothing but sell lots of copies.

sony has the same situation where it could jumpstart their casual drive if it has the right marketing.  otherwise it will be doomed as loved by people who already have the game.

if sony gets lucky then it will be a word of mouth game.

I believe it will do much better than Viva Pinata. Sony is going to market it very well I'll assume. Also you have to remember Viva Pinata had to potential to be a a decent console seller but in the recent History of Rare article. Rare expressed disappointment in the lack of marketing for Viva Pinata in favor of a massive Gears of War campaign.

This will not shift hardware.

This will not cause a bump in sales the moment it is released, but just because it will sell shedloads over the holidays it will be +1 in favour of PS3 compared to the others when each buyer will be considering which console to buy.

As such, it will be a system seller....

Sony are heavily promotion the game and I think that alone should cause at least a minor bump in sales.