New LittleBigPlanet Planet Details – Users Can Charge for Created Content

Details on LittleBigPlanet are becoming available bit by bit as Sony gears up for its genesis. One of most intriguing morsels is that users will eventually be able to charge for their created levels and content.

Dave Reeves, president of SCEE, told PS3 Fanboy that once the mechanic is in place, users can market their LBP creations using an “iTunes meets eBay” system.

“What we’re trying to do with LittleBigPlanet is almost iTunes meets eBay in the sense that once an individual or a developer has qualified by producing certain levels or certain add-ons, they will then be able in the future to exchange these and make money out of them,” Reeves notes. “Eventually, it’s feasible that you might well see the first LittleBigPlanet millionaire!”

Sony Europe has since clarified that all user generated content will initially be free.

“SCEE and Media Molecule can guarantee that all consumer-generated content will be free at launch. We know how important this is to the LBP community and what we want most is for people to enjoy playing, creating and sharing their content,” Sony told Eurogamer.

“Obviously, we’re also excited about the future and David was talking about how user-generated content could potentially evolve in the long term. Any decisions that are taken to evolve LBP in the future, will include the community and focus purely on enhancing the user experience.”

LittleBigPlanet is scheduled for an October 2008 appearance.

The Sims 2 is an example of a community where opinion over whether user created content should be free is polarized. There are many subscription or pay per item sites as well as free sites available on the Internet. Hopefully, the LittleBigPlanet community will be similarly divided to give gamers a chance to enjoy the game to the fullest without having to deplete their college fund or retirement plan on DLC.

via PS3 Fanboy; Eurogamer