Early in every console’s life, it tries to stake a claim for itself with a certain franchise or character that can be leveraged into ongoing success. Back in the old days, the NES had Super Mario Bros., the Sega Genesis had Sonic the Hedgehog, and the original PlayStation showcased Crash Bandicoot. Let’s not forget that Microsoft’s Xbox may have never gotten off the ground if not for Halo, and Master Chief continues to be a major source of income to this day.

Speaking in a gamesindustry.biz interview published today, Lionhead’s Peter Molyneux believes that while the Wii and Xbox 360 have already found their feature franchises, the PS3 is still searching for its own "defining" game, one that will turn out the masses and drive sales to a brand new audience.

Some choice quotes from the interview:
"It is always one or two games which define a platform - it’s the same for the Wii, and the PlayStation 2."

"I think the PlayStation 3 is still waiting for that definition title that represents the platform - and I think that’s what hardware manufacturers need to do, find that defining title."

"Nintendo did a brilliant job of doing that at launch with games like Wii Sports and Wii Play - maybe Fable 2 is a defining title. But you are talking to the proud father of this game, so you can’t ask me to be tremendously objective," he added.

Molyneux went on to state that he believes LittleBigPlanet could be just what the doctor ordered, as it represents a truly unique experience that can be enjoyed by nearly anyone.

"If we want to bring people in who haven’t played games before, wherever they are in the world and whatever their cultural background, whatever their sex or age, then we’ve got to think out of the box and start creating stuff which fascinates those people. I think LBP could be one of those."

So is LBP going to be the game that really propels the PS3 this holiday season? What do you think?

http://ps3.thegamereviews.com/story-1993-Molyneux-Believes-PS3-Still-Searching-for-Defining-Title.html

I don't think any game defined the Playstation2. And we all know how THAT turned out. It's just never been like that, although certain games do stand out. Like MGS4, perhaps he missed that one?  There is no mascot for PS2, but Snake is certainly mentioned alot by gamers. 

Grand Theft Auto 3 and Final Fantasy were the defining games of the PS2! Dont be fooled. Everyone thought of those two titles as "Playstion" games.

Fable, a defining title? Maybe as much as MGS4... which means not so much. Halo and Gears of War are the obvious 360 answers...

The PS3? It'll take a while... it's possible they'll never have any really huge titles until GT5. It's all up to new IP's, since Sony didn't make their presence felt on the PS2 compared to any other system (talking about broad appeal).

 Uh... didn't GTA3 come out on the xbox.... I didn't think of it as a playstation game.

It was originally a PS2 exclusive until a year later when GTA came out for PC and then another year for Xbox.

Sony had a 4 year exclusive deal with Rockstar. All 3 Grand Theft Auto games were timed exclusives for the PS2 and the PS2 had all the advertising for it.

Tommy Vercetti was most definitely the defining character for the PS2. Remember the PS2 had the title first. However I do not see that being the case for Little Big Planet. No I think it will be a character from Killzone 2. I just do not see the PS3 being for the cute and cuddly demographic. I really think Nintendo has that sewn up.

That's because there was only the Playstation according to majority, only people who know about the gaming industry knew of the other consoles but your mum who bought you such games just knew you played on your Playstation, it could have been a GC or Xbox but she would have called it a playstation anyway. (Well this is in the UK at least where Playstation became the name for a console and Nintendo for a handheld)....i think.

But they were defining games, more so with GTA3 as more people played that then Final Fantasy X

PS3 defining title should be LBP.

GTA3 was the defining title for the last generation.