If there’s one thing Sony’s lacked since it started the PlayStation brand, it was a viable mascot. Back in the day, it looked like Crash Bandicoot would have the honor, or maybe Lara Croft, but no character ever felt truly representative of Sony’s hardware in the same way that Mario did with Nintendo, Sonic did with Sega and even Master Chief does with Microsoft. However, maybe with LittleBigPlanet and Sackboy, Sony has found its ambassador.
“We want LittleBigPlanet to lead the charge into a new genre of gaming and turn Sackboy into the next emblematic character for the PS3,” stated LBP marketer Mark Valledor. “We have coined 2008 ‘the year of the PS3’, and are confident that with the launch of LittleBigPlanet we will continue to see the momentum build throughout the end of this year and on to the next … This is a very big title for us.”
It was obvious that Sony had a gold mine on its hands when it introduced the endearing and adorable characters of LittleBigPlanet to the world. Unlike the brooding and vicious Kratos, these clothy sack creatures appeal to nearly everybody with their wretched cuteness. It’s no surprise that Sony views the characters as ones that could promote the PlayStation 3 brand.
Up until now, the PS3 has had a very cold, faceless “we are pure technology and you will obey” public image. LittleBigPlanet should help make the entire system look far more friendly and help shift some units in time for Christmas.
