Had the opportunity to play about an hour's worth of LBP online the other day with Bill. Reactions are a bit mixed, though they do sway towards the positive. Being the first PS3 game I've played online, I quickly discovered how much the 360's voice chat was missed during a game. When it works, it works very well, and becomes part of the experience. Not having it on the PS3 was glaring from the outset. However, it does lead to an interesting phenomenon: trying to silently work out the multiplayer sections of the various levels without talking. Using a bunch of trial and error, a few sackboy (never gonna get used to that) gestures, and the occasional jumping up and down in the same spot to signify importance, we were able to solve most, if not all, of the various challenges the game presented. Now, it doesn't hurt that Bill is super smart, what with his UVA physics degree and all. I just follow his lead. (Tip: find really smart people, and ride their coattails as long as possible!) Maybe Europeans are used to things like this, since everyone speaks their own version of the base language, but for us Americans, doing without talking just ain't natural.

Another ClapChat, this one on LBP:

Bill
that is interesting
oh, we also picked up LBP last night

Dib
thoughts?

Bill
well, first, it's absolutely amazing.
even my graphics-shmaphics fiance called it "gorgeous" which has never happened with any game ever.

Dib
it is pretty
graphics work in the setting, like WoW
but only better

Bill
the graphics work terrifically for the setting
secondly, in both of our opinions it thoroughly charming
*it's
the playful art design is brilliantly done
the facial expressions, and the way you can manipulate the character's body language... i was surprised at how evocative and expressive the result can be.
i expect people will connect with that
and third, i've only just unlocked the creative content, and am working my way through the tutorials for the various tools and materials.
so far, it seems like an incredibly powerful toolset.
and it's interesting to contrast it with Spore's.

Dib
i can see that
it is well designed

Bill
i of course intend to make a controllable AT-AT as soon as possible

Dib
of course
not the it isn't already out there somewhere

Bill
true... and after i do my little learning exercise i'll probably go find a much better one to play with

Dib
find the controls an issue?

Bill
yes, and no.

So I, probably like a lot of you, got a call from GameStop Friday saying that LittleBigPlanet would be in the store Saturday. Great, I'll get in Monday at lunch, when I'm in the big city. So, I head on in, ask for my preorder, and BOOM! Denied! But it wasn't a "we didn't get enough in, so yours will be in the next batch, and we will hold if for you." This has happened before, and is understandable. No problem with that here. No, the reason was "the 48 hour pickup period was over as of Sunday night", and they released the rest to public sale. That, my friends, borders on unacceptable.

Granted, the release of the game was messed up by the music thing, but in such a case I'm surprised that GameStop didn't also adjust their preorder pickup policy. I have to imagine a lot of (older) gamers base things around the Tuesday release cycle in combination with their work schedule. By not accounting for this, GameStop, at least I think, has let many gamers down. I know I was disappointed, but maybe I'm one of the few.

I'm loyal to Chris, my GameStop manager, and will continue to be. He has set me up on more than one occasion, and this won't break that relationship. I'm more disappointed in GameStop corporate, and their lack of foresight.

Anyway, just wanted to vent a little. I did write them a polite but pointed email, to keep up my official "Rabble Rouser" status.