New LBP costumes feature LocoRoco, TV-on-head

I think there goign for dlc everyweek, which is sweet since there will always be one free costume.

I'm cool with that as long as there is always a free costume. I still can't really see myself paying for these, I would much rather buy a Rock Band song. The only exception is maybe the Solid Snake or Sephiwhatever costumes. $3 for 5 costumes that don't change gameplay at all just seems like a rip off to me.

Yeah, I don't feel any incentive to buy these. Can't you (to a limited extent) make your own completely unique sackboys?

Haggard, with well planned sticker placements, yeah.. you can make some really awesome stuff.

thats cool there is a free costume each week when the dlc is released.
cant really complain at all about that.
if someone wants to spend money on DLC that is their right and their loss of money.
doesnt affect me.
but free stuff is always good.

The brown one too. Look at the dolls they're holding!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golliwog

Are you serious? It's blue!!! With big red lips! There's nothing racist about that...

I just wish they'd ad the LocoRoco audio track as part of the DLC. Then when someone makes the Loco Roco level, we can have the full effect with some great game music. :) New audio might make it worth the $3. (although I'll probably buy it anyway)

LocoRoco and LBP FTW!!!

What I found interesting about it was when Kotaku made the point that it isn't racist because blackface doesn't hold the same history in Japan as does America.

But this pops up a lot in anime and manga, and I can best guess that this style probably came from somewhat racist cartoons that probably was availible during the American occupation (pre, during and post war America was very big on using blackface and racist images in cartoons, ie. "Coal Black And De Sebbin Dwarves").

Does that mean that the Japanese are bigots for doing it? Maybe not. The older generations are more xenophobic and it is noted that non-Japanese civil rights are rather backwards (no voting rights, no citizenship rights, many clubs have "Japanese Only" rules), but I'd say that the use of blackface in Japanese media is more akin to a kid learning the word "n*gg*r" and using it without understanding of the context. Accidental racial insensitivity, I suppose.

Well from what I understand about Japan, and I am no expert, that is somewhat the case, in that Japan kind of lives in its own bubble and doesn't really listen when someone says something is offensive.

From first hand experience in my limited limited time in Tokyo I can confirm this as much as I can. I went into one store that was selling Mr. Popo shirts. It was just Mr. Popo's eyes and big lips on a brown colored shirt. For that shirt to even be made shows they have an understanding what Mr. Popo's design means culturally, but it also means they think it is funny and they know they won't get shot if they wear that walking down the street.

Look at Hard Gay. A complete ridiculous characterization of a homosexual. But Japan is one of the most open counties when it comes to homosexual relationships.

I think mostly they think the exaggerated characterization of a stereotype is funny in the act itself, but not so much that they are making fun of that group.

But I didn't grow up in Japan so that is just an observation.

In THIS case, LittleBigPlanet was made in America, so the developers should have known better then to put those type of lips on a cartoon character.

Just to clarify, I don't care one way or another, but I think it is interesting to talk about. I think America is too hyper sensitive when it comes to what is racist and what is not. In 9 times out of 10 it seems angry white guys are the ones complaining about something being racist towards a minority.

when i see this type of stuff from the japanese that sometimes makes me uneasy i calm myself by thinking they're japanese they don't have the same thought process as me. doesn't make it right but it puts it in perspective

"In THIS case, LittleBigPlanet was made in America..."


Britain actually.
Guildford, Surrey to be even more precise.

The colored Sackboys have big lips.

Except the red one, he has a shaved head and mohawk.

Yup. The actual one makes sense since it reflects the cartoony/homemade look of LBP more than the original design, but it is sad that they didn't stick with the TV static body material, that would have been nice.

And I think a better idea would be giving you a level for a small price and you can unlock costumes by completing the level. That would seem more justified to purchase and feel like I actually earned the costumes.

But keep it up with free stuff!

And I just suddenly realized that I should totally make a tree spirit sackboy.

This is the last comment, I swear.

And indifference is not ignorance.

I really can't see how it matters that I see a black character with red lips in a video game where everything looks bonkers anyway. And when we have black characters in American games that say nothing but "shit" and "dawg" I find it hard to single out Japan as uncaring about racism.