Should've given this thread the name....... Scribblenauts

[midorigreenwood]

World Premier of 5th Cell's new DS game, Scribblenauts, which also focuses on creativity.

an amazing trailer

entertaining and and informative

This is how LBP should have been advertised

ps: don't miss the bit in the end (yes the policeman and the donut hehehe)

high quality

http://au.ds.ign.com/dor/objects/14...uts_new2_120508.html;jsessionid=b4lmfg0e0shhc


low quality

[youtube]HrnsOx9Akcc[/youtube]

 

[RoosterLad]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

Interesting trailer but that game looks gayer than Playstation Home.

 

[midorigreenwood]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

gay? if you want your girlfriend to get into videogaming this is the type of stuff that you can play together.

a quote from someone working on the game

Ok so this is what it is!

No adjectives. Just Objects. (minus copyright and vulgarity)

Bear? Yes. Giant Flaming Bear? No.

If you want to set a bear on fire, by writing torch and setting him on fire (assuming he doesn't eat you first), then yes.

a flaming bear? luring policemen with donuts? attaching laser beams to sharks?

sounds like one of the most amazing games ever conceived if they can pull it off

 

[RoosterLad]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

What?? How is this an amazing game???

Some little cartoon kid wants to get a 'Starite' whatever the **** that is, so you write "Penis" and he whips it out before slapping the Starite around a bit.

Now that would be pretty funny but seriously, you have a few issues if you think this is a brilliant game. 'Most amazing games ever conceived'? You get that by writing 'ladder' so the kid climbs a ladder. Extremely gay.

 

[midorigreenwood]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

you're missing the point

the starlite on the tree is just a proof of concept

obviously there are going to be lots of more intricate multi screen puzzles.

This is not some shovelware company, 5th cell is growing by reputation with each game they release.

Remember that ID software started with Dangerous Dave and Commander Keen.

more info on Scribblenauts

http://au.ds.ign.com/articles/936/936157p1.html

I think the big thing is with this video is that we're still very early – we've got 10 or 11 months before we hit the shelves with the final game – so that's a long time. This video shows a very simple version of what the game can be, but there's so much more to it I can't wait to share with you. There are other levels with multiple screen lengths, far and deep, huge chasms, switches, and some really neat designs in there already. So with the hardcore gamers, we really aren't leaving them out in the cold or anything; we actually have two types of levels, in fact. There's the casual levels where there's a piñata or a Starite in a tree and the answers are pretty obvious. They're lifestyle levels where you say "Oh well yeah. Hit a piñata." But then there are also more game-centric levels, where you've got a star at the end of a huge volcano chasm and you've got vampire bats that'll seek after you and attack you, and you need to figure out how you'll get through all of that at once. So yeah, there are things for the causal player that want to play in the sandbox or enjoy some simple designs, but then there's also a lot for the hardcore player that wants to be challenged and pushed as well.

So if you love the video and you're down with the idea, we're excited to show you more. If you're still on the fence, we've got a lot more in store and plenty for both the casual and hardcore gamers out there.

What Scribblenauts is about in a nutshell is basically "Anything you write, you can use." That's where the concept really came from. It's the idea of "What if you had all these puzzles, and in order to solve them you can write anything; the limit is your imagination." How you do that is through this character Maxwell. As Maxwell you have to grab in-level objects called Starites, and to do that you can write anything you want, and it'll spawn that object. So if there's a Starite in the tree, you could write "ladder" and then a ladder would spawn. Climb up the ladder, and you grab the Starite.

There're more ways of doing it though obviously. You could write "axe", and then cut the tree down using the object you spawned. You could write "shuriken" and throw that at the Starite in the tree and knock it down. It's all based on real physics and interaction, so there's nothing pre-canned. You could write anything though; imagine you write "goldfish" for some reason, well a goldfish would spawn and sit on the ground. It wouldn't help you at all in that puzzle, but you could do it.

 

[HBK619]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

It looked alright, but didn't make me want it.

Have to say it did look a little gay, and I certainly wouldn't think that could be a TV ad, way too long and you have to read too much, TV ads need to be more visual, I would say the new campaign that Sony gets going will be more than enough for it(If not a little too late).

EDIT: Also the fact that your having to show a write up to someone after the ad proves it isn't as clear cut as you thought.

 

[midorigreenwood]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

It looked alright, but didn't make me want it.

Have to say it did look a little gay, and I certainly wouldn't think that could be a TV ad, way too long and you have to read too much, TV ads need to be more visual, I would say the new campaign that Sony gets going will be more than enough for it(If not a little too late).

true, ads are usually 30 to 60 seconds long so this particular trailer is more suited to the internet or a captive audience at the Cinema.

but look at the the LBP ads that have been released so far...... can you honestly say that if you didn't know about the game....you would know what the gameplay is about?

Scribblenauts trailer on the other hand....

draw ladder.....use ladder

draw football ..... use football

draw donut, draw policeman, use donut to lure policeman

entertaining and it actually tells you what the game is about

EDIT: Also the fact that your having to show a write up to someone after the ad proves it isn't as clear cut as you thought.

the ad is pretty clear cut about what the concept is......its because you think it is gay thats clouding your vision.

The writeup is for people who want to learn more about the game and its developers.

 

[HBK619]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

true, ads are usually 30 to 60 seconds long so this particular trailer is more suited to the internet or a captive audience at the Cinema.

but look at the the LBP ads that have been released so far...... can you honestly say that if you didn't know about the game....you would know what the gameplay is about?

I wouldn't know much about the game from the ads, but I have doubts as to whether Scribblenauts would be able to get an add that could really do any different.

In fact looking at TV ads for games nowadays they seem to be getting shorter and shorter, and you need to show them over and over again to get any real idea of what they are about.

I saw a Gears 2 ad on TV the other day, and that is one that if you saw it you wouldn't have a clue about the game(The longer version basically explains nothing more), yet that game has sold like hotcakes.

R2's advertising campaign is fantastic, their TV Spot is particularly great, and the lengths they've gone to with some of their ads have been great(Massive poster on the side of building, Front page ads in newspaper, etc.), there just hasn't been enough of the TV spots for R2.

LBP is quite the same, sure the ads don't tell you much, but do the 'Celebrity' Nintendo ads?, but this is of course why Sony is going to have a huge advertising plan set up to release, and that might bring in more sales.

Overall I think ads for games nowadays is more to the YouTube generation, lets face it, if you want to know about a game, first thing you will probably do is YouTube it, and this is really where the advertising needs to be marketed.

Scribblenauts trailer on the other hand....

draw ladder.....use ladder

draw football ..... use football

draw donut, draw policeman, use donut to lure policeman

entertaining and it actually tells you what the game is about

I don't know if the ad was that entertaining, in fact I would liken it to a showing of a game for the first time, basically tells you the point of the game in a powerpoint like demonstration.

the ad is pretty clear cut about what the concept is......its because you think it is gay thats clouding your vision.

The writeup is for people who want to learn more about the game and its developers.

You still had to explain it further to RoosterLad, so it did show it wasn't the perfect marketing plan, and as I said(I do have a DS), I wouldn't go out to buy this after that ad.

 

[midorigreenwood]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

I wouldn't know much about the game from the ads, but I have doubts as to whether Scribblenauts would be able to get an add that could really do any different.

Then the ad has failed.

If your audience doesn't know what the product is about or how you use it, you're wasting your money.

A prime example was for Pets.com during the start of this century. They spent millions of dollars investing in a single ad which was going to be played during the superbowl. It was basically a cute ad featuring a new mascot called Sock Puppet.

Everyone loved the ad..... but noone knew what the hell Pets.com was about and what services they provided.

They quickly became one of the shining failures of the tech boom.

the scribblenaut trailer can easily be translated to tv.......just choose a particular puzzle and show an interesting way of how you can use your imagination to solve it.

you can easily fit that into a short tv ad

I use Scribbenauts as an example because it is similar in spirit and concept to LittleBigPlanet. The key is using your creativity.

In fact looking at TV ads for games nowadays they seem to be getting shorter and shorter, and you need to show them over and over again to get any real idea of what they are about.

I saw a Gears 2 ad on TV the other day, and that is one that if you saw it you wouldn't have a clue about the game(The longer version basically explains nothing more), yet that game has sold like hotcakes.

gears of war 2 is different to LBP, it isn't a new product....there is an already an established audience: Hardcore fans. You don't really have to work very hard to sell a game to this particular target market.....its basically preaching to the converted

All you really have to show is when its going to be released.

LBP on the other hand, you're trying to sell a hard to explain game to the mass market.

LBP is quite the same, sure the ads don't tell you much, but do the 'Celebrity' Nintendo ads?, but this is of course why Sony is going to have a huge advertising plan set up to release, and that might bring in more sales.

The nintendo ads tell you what the game is about...

Wiisports - kieran perkins and James tompkins having fun playing tennis

Brain training - Olivia Newton John using the power of her brain to show off her maths skills

Mario kart - two people having fun using the MK wheel and playing the game

Wii music - a family playing music instruments together

are you beginning to see a pattern?

You still had to explain it further to RoosterLad, so it did show it wasn't the perfect marketing plan, and as I said(I do have a DS), I wouldn't go out to buy this after that ad.

Roosterlad is only one person.....go look at the neogaf thread and the kotaku comments page....and the ign comments page.....almost universal praise and interest.

Like I said, you're getting your vision clouded because you think its gay. (kinda funny because you're the biggest defender of LBP around)

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

If you can really write whatever you want and it will be created, I don't see how this will be challenging at all.

jetpack

teleporter

tractor beam

etc

 

[omit]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

interesting concept. i'd like to see some in game footage and not just a concept video

 

[midorigreenwood]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

If you can really write whatever you want and it will be created, I don't see how this will be challenging at all.

jetpack

teleporter

tractor beam

etc

yup, true..... imo, there will probably be slight limitations on "superhuman" items...... perhaps the jetpack will shoot you to mars or the teleporter will transport you to a bizarro world where Rick Astley is worshipped as a God.

The trailer is merely a shoutout to the world about the new project....

some of the developers interact and hang out at the Neogaf forum so I'm sure that they'll be solidifying the puzzle concepts as the months pass.

What is getting me excited is the shear obssessiveness hardcore fans could get exploring what different words could do....

the developers has confirmed that there will be tens of thousands of words that you'll be able to write.

the potential for easter eggs is mindblowing....

perhaps writing "kojima" will set off a looped cutscene that will take 12 hours to complete >.>

perhaps there will be a special mode where you can only use a word once so you have to continually find out new ways to solve a type of puzzle.

 

[HBK619]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

If you can really write whatever you want and it will be created, I don't see how this will be challenging at all.

jetpack

teleporter

tractor beam

etc

I was thinking the same thing after seeing the video, what's the use of trying out several other ways to get to an item when using a ladder will get you there 90% of the time?

I am sure that some levels will need different objects and such to finish it, but if you can get such things like a jetpack or something close to that I can't see it being very hard or that fun.

The fun would basically come from trying different words, which could come from just being in one level, even then it wouldn't be THAT fun.

 

[Cynic]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

Wow that's a lot of negativity.

Personally think the game looks pretty fun and worth playing for mine. I mean do you seriously think that the game designers would just let you have an item that will solve 90% of the puzzles like suggested? No doubt the levels will require a series of items used in sequence, and that discovering that sequence will yield some pretty funny results, be that unsuccessful or not.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

Wow that's a lot of negativity.

Personally think the game looks pretty fun and worth playing for mine. I mean do you seriously think that the game designers would just let you have an item that will solve 90% of the puzzles like suggested? No doubt the levels will require a series of items used in sequence, and that discovering that sequence will yield some pretty funny results, be that unsuccessful or not.

Yeah I'm sure there will be much deeper puzzles, I was being a little facetious there.

 

[RoosterLad]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

Still incredibly gay and boring.

 

[Cynic]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

Still incredibly gay and boring.

Let me guess

If you could write HEADSHOT and win then you'd be a fan?

 

[RoosterLad]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

Let me guess

If you could write HEADSHOT and win then you'd be a fan?

I just don't see what's so entertaining about a gay little man running around climbing ladders and throwing donuts at police while catching some Starite thing.

But don't let me put you off the game little one.

 

[Cynic]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

I just don't see what's so entertaining about a gay little man running around climbing ladders and throwing donuts at police while catching some Starite thing.

But don't let me put you off the game little one.

It should take more than a few posts on a forum for anyone to develop an opinion, I admit to a degree of concern about this regard for much of society however.

You're welcome to your opinion, I just find it interesting how games that differ from the accepted models are often held in contempt as opposed to being cautiously optimistic

 

[midorigreenwood]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

I just don't see what's so entertaining about a gay little man running around climbing ladders and throwing donuts at police while catching some Starite thing.

different strokes for different folks I guess.....because that description put a smile on my face that I can't wipe off

I've watched the trailer like 20 times already

and its not just writing one word and using one object..the goal is to allow chaining of multiple objects together

What makes Scribblenauts so unique is that there is no limit on what you can use, you need only to write it and it pops in to existence. This is all possible with a tool they've dubbed "Objectnaut"; a tool that makes it possible for designers to create and edit any aspect of any object. You can even chain objects together, such as chaining a piece of meat on to a pole and riding a raptor around the screen. However, it is possible to be incapacitated; writing things such as 'tsunami' or 'supernova' would undoubtedly get you killed.

The more I think about it, 5th cell is on to a potential goldmine here....... they have covered all their bases.

They're targeting the female demographic: Women are culturally considered to be more verbally adept than their male counterparts. (scientifically its bullshit but its part of the zeitgeist so it can be useful when considering marketing)

They're targeting hardcore gamers: why are some gamer's so obssesive about gamerscore? grinding to raise their levels in an RPG? trying to get 100% in a collectathon platformer? I can see this type of game appealing to these types of gamers. Also why is GTA so popular? its not just because of the story.....its the freedom to explore and do whatever you want. The sandbox mentality.

They're targeting Parents and Children: If marketed properly, this could be the next brain training or Wiifit. A game encouraging children to actually write down more words? To look up words in a dictionary? to increase their vocabulary?

Parents buy alot of games for children and it will not be a hard sell if you market it as edutainment to help kids learn.

Furthermore there could easily be support for a keypad/mouse/keyboard so it could be ported to any number of platforms...... iphone is a big opportunity here.

5th cell has some clever people behind them

 

[Biggy_Boy]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

Hmmm, looks unique, wouldn't mind giving it a go.

However, I don't get how it works. If I were to type gun or penis would they pop into existence? Or is it just a means of calling objects into the game from a large database of pre-made items.

 

[scooterb]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

I also heard that when you replay the game after passing it, you can't use the same things you previously used to pass it.
Seems like an o.k concept, but something I certainly wouldn't buy.

If you can't drive really fast or shoot anything, it's not a game.

 

[scooterb]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

Hmmm, looks unique, wouldn't mind giving it a go.

However, I don't get how it works. If I were to type gun or penis would they pop into existence? Or is it just a means of calling objects into the game from a large database of pre-made items.

It can create anything that has ever existed.

 

[Kerrby]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

It can create anything that has ever existed.

So you can write fakkot and you'll get LLD? Just kidding LLD, I would type legend just to see you ingame.

So you can have dildos and horny goat weed?

 

[midorigreenwood]

Re: How LittleBigPlanet should have marketed their game

except vulgar stuff like penises and copyrighted stuff like coca cola.

you can write down beer and you can write down gun though.

The key is that its limited to nouns and objects....... so its a more manageable 50k-60k words rather than the 300k - 1 million words in the english language

The innovation is in the database system which stores the attributes of objects and generates a videogame representation.

atm its

1) write down word
2) ??????????
3) magic
4) object appears

as I said we'll know more in the coming months

I would assume that similar words would be grouped together so a polar bear and a grizzley bear would only need a pallette swap.