It might not say a
thousand words, but this picture says enough to bring into question statements by
LittleBigPlanet community manager Sam_Protagonist, who
claimed the development team had "no plans to introduce" image importing into the game. Clearly, this "work in progress" (as it's called), which appeared in Media Molecules
Flickr stream yesterday, shows that the team is developing an "Image Import Tool" that pulls images from the PlayStation 3 hard drive and sticks 'em to players' creations. Indeed, in his denial, Sam_Protagonist did admit that importing is "very much technically viable."
Still, as Sam implied, there are obvious copyright and balls-on-the-walls issues that complicate the introduction of an image-importing tool. Until those are resolved, consider this update
for internal use only.[Via
TAWKN]
{ Nov 5th 2008 at 11:56AM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
koehler83 @ Nov 5th 2008 12:04PM
These 'copyright' issues havent stopped anyone from holding copyrighted artwork up to their PSEye to accomplish exactly the same thing in much lower quality.
It in fact only gives people the option of using pre-printed, likely copyrighted art since this method requires a hard copy image to be held inches away from the camera.
The HDD uploading feature would in fact deter this behaviour by giving people the ability to create their own art in photoshop or wherever without the need for wasting time and money on a print-out of any kind.
Eggy @ Nov 5th 2008 12:13PM
Wow you're so naive it's funny.
Lars @ Nov 5th 2008 1:06PM
koehler does have a good point. I think their intention was that you would likely take a pic of yourself, but it seems like everyone and their brother is just taking pics of copyrighted material because that's what's lying around in physical form. My PS3's HDD only has photos that I've personally taken, so at least for me it would be true.
And as for the "balls on the walls" comment: you gotta use the Eye or a camera of some sort to take a pic of your jewels... so, how does image importing make that easier than the PSEye?
Mr Khan @ Nov 5th 2008 12:03PM
There would be no way of controlling it, quite simply. Unless Sony wants to get into the same business that YouTube does (working with companies to nail copyright violations), it just can't be done
BananaBoat @ Nov 5th 2008 1:09PM
There really aren't any copyright issues here...I mean, look at Flickr. How many copyrighted images do you think are on Flickr right now? Safe Harbor would cover them, as long as they took down images (or, in this case, levels) that companies reported as infringing. Also, if a work was a parody of something, it's legal to use the image, so that's a nice loophole as well.
I can't believe that they came out yesterday and said that there would be no such image importing tool. Goes to show you that the left hand has no idea what the right hand is doing at some of these companies.
Bluebrake @ Nov 5th 2008 1:35PM
There are no fundamentally new copyright issues here. People can already take photos of copyrighted material with their PS Eye and stuff it in.
This might expand the scope of the problem, sure, but if they think it's an issue, they've already got the system they want to deal with it in place.
Kevin @ Nov 5th 2008 12:21PM
say a thousand words? no
IMPORT a thousand words? YES!
Kevin @ Nov 5th 2008 12:24PM
(my user icon has nothing to do with Meteos)
Tiptup300 @ Nov 5th 2008 12:36PM
Say, does your avatar have anything to do with Meteos?
Tiptup300 @ Nov 5th 2008 12:36PM
NVM! >_>
Chase @ Nov 5th 2008 12:24PM
I think they'll figure out a way to nickel and dime gamers. Perhaps each imported image will cost twenty-five cents? Perhaps they'll charge for the Image Import Tool? You never know.
copa @ Nov 5th 2008 12:26PM
"There are obvious copyright and balls-on-the-walls issues that complicate the introduction of an image-importing tool."
True that. The first thing I intend to do when the release image import is create a Balls On The Walls level.
Next up, will be the Nuts In Your Butts level.
xGeneral DEATHx (Mr ESC Welcome Back Party Ultimate Mega Action Force) @ Nov 5th 2008 1:11PM
That last level title still has me lol'ing.
mattrob24 @ Nov 5th 2008 12:36PM
"Balls-on-the-walls", my ass. You can make all kinds of offensive things in LBP. We all know the real reason the image import feature won't happen soon. Because Sony's trying to push a $40 camera on us.
Popfrogs @ Nov 5th 2008 3:06PM
That's 100% true, because we all know that Sony nickels and dimes for every single PS3 feature and you can only buy official peripherals for it like hard drives, headsets, etc.
*rolleyes*
mattrob24 @ Nov 5th 2008 4:47PM
Right, right. There are plenty of third-party cameras that work with LittleBigPlanet.
Oh wait....
Smart-ass.
Popfrogs @ Nov 5th 2008 6:29PM
Actually, there are, Senor Douche. Both the Xbox 360 camera and the old PS2 Eyetoy work.
But please, continue chewing on your shoe, don't let me interrupt.
mattrob24 @ Nov 5th 2008 10:57PM
Consider me corrected by the biggest ass on the boards.
mattrob24 @ Nov 5th 2008 11:07PM
For clarification, even if other cameras work with the PS3 _AND_ LittleBigPlanet (has anybody ACTUALLY tried LBP with another camera?), I still say the main motivation for not providing the image importing at this time is to sell the PS Eye. They've made sure to mention it in numerous ads and trade show demos, as well as pushing it in the game.
@Popfrogs:
A simple, "you are mistaken, sir" to begin with would have been sufficient, instead of your condescending tone.
mattrob24 @ Nov 12th 2008 12:17AM
@Poptart or Popcorn or whatever
What was that you were saying about Sony nickle-and-diming...
http://news.littlebigworkshop.com/en-us/post/2008/11/LBP--PS-Store-111308.aspx
Asswipe.
mattrob24 @ Nov 12th 2008 12:18AM
Now who's eating their foot, bitch.
2PeteShakur @ Nov 5th 2008 12:51PM
Good, and it's about time if it does happen, makes sense really.
Apparently, you don't need to buy the camera just to do your importing in the game, as the PS3 will quite happily accept most usb webcams anyway!
Opps, have i let something slip? :)
Tucker @ Nov 5th 2008 12:59PM
"there are obvious copyright and balls-on-the-walls issues"
balls-on-the-walls is my favorite quote of the day.
Judson @ Nov 5th 2008 2:07PM
There are no copyright concerns that don't already exist with the camera. They (Sony) do lose out on a $40 camera, and software wise it is a little harder, especially if they want to integrate with LittleBigWorkshop, which they might...
Rocketboy @ Nov 5th 2008 1:49PM
I can't wait for the 'Bucket of Dicks' level.
And by "can't wait for", I mean "fear the existance of".
Rage02Fire @ Nov 5th 2008 5:22PM
cool. can't wait!
anglimsean @ Jan 18th 2009 3:33PM
they could do it.this is how it COULD worc.
you create your level and import you photos and put em on ur level etc etc.Then you must send it to a mod.There will probably be a long list so it'l probably tace a weec BUT it would worc.NOW ASC UR SELF DA QUESTION.HAVE NO IMAGE IMPORTING AND BE ABLE TO PUBLISH IN 2 SECS OOOOR BE CABLE TO IMPORT AND PUBLISHING TACES A WEEC...