LittleBigPlanet's Sackboy is PS3's Next Emblematic Character

In an interview with Advertising Age, SCEA's product marketing manager for LittleBigPlanet Mark Valledor echoes the sentiments of associate producer Eric Fong: LittleBigPlanet will move PS3s. The marketing team aims to "increase visibility with the consumers early and gain credibility with retailers to help prolong the marketing push well into the holidays." Ultimately, Sony's goal is to "turn Sackboy into the next emblematic character for the PS3." Is the adorable little guy above Sony's answer to Mario and Master Chief?

One of the ways they are advertising the game is with "LittleBig billboards" that are the size of a typical yard sign, but "will feature working lights and ladders and other high-end art and design." They'll be placed in major cities like New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Sony knows the size of these boards will likely make them the target of thieves -- a spokeswoman even said if these stolen signs end up on eBay, it might add to the hype.

The article concludes by interviewing several people regarding their predictions of the success of LittleBigPlanet, including Massively's Michael Zenke. All of them having nothing but praise for the potential they see in the PS3 exclusive -- Anita Frazier of NPD calls it "family-friendly" and Zenke thinks it will be "accessible to casual gamers and even non-gamers." With the hype train in full force from now to the next two months, do you think they'll be a backlash? Or will Sackboy live up to the hopes and dreams of Sony fanboys eveywhere?\

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