LittleBigPlanet (2008)
Media Molecule's Tactile 'Play, Create, Share' PS3 Platformer Starring Sackboy
LittleBigPlanet is a 2008 puzzle-platformer and user-generated creation suite developed by Guildford studio Media Molecule for Sony's PlayStation 3. Introducing knitted mascot Sackboy across handcrafted 2.5D worlds of felt, cardboard, and sponge narrated by Stephen Fry, it handed players the studio's own Popit level-building tools and catalyzed millions of shared community creations.
Handcrafted Tactile Physics, Sackboy, and Stephen Fry's Warmth
Founded in Guildford in 2006 by former Lionhead developers Mark Healey, Alex Evans, Kareem Ettouney, and David Smith, Media Molecule captivated GDC 2007 when Sony's Phil Harrison unveiled their craft-table prototype. Rather than metallic sci-fi corridors, LittleBigPlanet rendered miniature three-lane 2.5D worlds from tangible burlap, corrugated cardboard, foam, and stickers, guided with gentle wit by British actor Stephen Fry. Up to four couch or online players puppeteered knitted hero Sackboy—tilting DualShock 3 Sixaxis sensors to nod his head, clicking sticks to wave his arms, and flashing grins or frowns on the D-pad—set to an eclectic global soundtrack led by The Go! Team.
The Popit Creation Revolution and Community Ingenuity
Embodying its three-word manifesto 'Play, Create, Share,' Media Molecule built every campaign stage inside the exact in-game Popit editor given to buyers on My Moon. Intuitive radial menus let creators carve shapes out of wood, rubber, or floaty sponge, wire magnetic switches, pistons, winches, and jetpacks together under real-time physics, and publish levels directly onto an interactive planetary globe with player tags and heart ratings. Within months, PlayStation Network hosted functional eight-bit mechanical calculators, musical sequencers, racing games, and Shadow of the Colossus homages—earning a 95/100 Metacritic score and sweeping BAFTA Artistic Achievement and AIAS Game of the Year honors.