Earn $$$ With LittleBigPlanet

LittleBigPlanet is awesome. It brings a unique blend of co-operative and competitive gameplay that hasn't really been seen in video games before. However, it also offers a rather comprehensive set of tools for creating custom content, as seen during Sony's recent E3 keynote.

However, while making content can be rewarding in itself, Sony is preparing to make sure that authors of content are rewarded in a more material sense. People will be able to charge for their LittleBigPlanet content online.

"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. Eventually, it's feasible that you might well see the first LittleBigPlanet millionaire!"

Personally, I'm not too sure what to think about this. On the one hand, it's great that people will be able to make money from their time and effort -- and knowing that you will be paid will likely inspire people to put more time and effort into their creations, meaning that content will possibly be of a higher standard. On the other hand, it kind of flies in the face of user-generated content, which is usually created by fans for fans in an effort to increase the lifespan of a game. If the LittleBigPlanet model proves overly successful, it could mean an end to free user-generated content. Greed is a powerful ally of the Dark Side -- and how long will it be until publishers start wanting to take a cut of the profits? Especially when it's using their IP and assets.

For now, the best we can do is to be optimistic and have faith that the spirit of the gaming community will not turn LittleBigPlanet into some kind of mean-spirited cash cow. The last thing we want to see is the user-generated content equivalent of ##RARE (on TradeMe)## popping up all over the place alongside overinflated prices.

Keep it locked to NZGamer for more details on LittleBigPlanet as they emerge. In the meantime, let us know what you think about the possibility of charging for user-generated content. Are you a fan? Or do you think that this is the kind of thing that should be discouraged?

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