I’ve been quite surprised lately by the number of complaints about LittleBigPlanet. Aside from the expected bashing due to it being a PlayStation 3 game (there’s still plenty of sheep within the gaming public and press that hate Sony), the big complaint I want to focus on today is the sheer amount of people scoffing at its focus on user-created content.

First, a bit of background information. LittleBigPlanet is a platformer created by Media Molecule exclusively for the PS3. You control little customizable creatures called Sackboys (or Sackgirls), and run around vast worlds solving puzzles, jumping on stuff, and engaging in other platformer fare. LittleBigPlanet also sports a robust level creation system; you can not only build your own levels, but share them online, and invite friends to play along with you within them. Sony is pushing the community aspect of the game very hard, so expect to see boatloads of creative levels flooding the PlayStation Network very soon after the game’s release.

Everything sounds good, right? So why are people complaining? The most common complaint is “I have no interest in creating my own levels.” Okay…so don’t. No one’s forcing you to. That complaint’s counterpart is “I don’t want to play other people’s levels; I want professionally-designed ones!” Did these whiners read any of the information on LittleBigPlanet? The game comes preloaded with plenty of levels from the developer. You don’t have to indulge in any of the user-created stuff if you do not wish it.

The reason I find these complaints baffling is that a vast majority of the complainers enjoy online multiplayer games, which I consider to be user-created content in and of itself. Sure, you don’t build levels, but when you’re playing an online game of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, you’re certainly creating the game experience in realtime. And when you invite your friends to play…isn’t that technically the same as having them run around in a LittleBigPlanet level with you? You’re not constructing the environment brick-by-brick, but you’re certainly creating unique content based on the other players, the ruleset used, and so forth.

Maybe it’s the fact that the Sackpeople just look cute, and therefore don’t fit into the overly violent world of video games today. If that’s your beef, then at least Media Molecule has you covered with this Sackboy, dressed as Kratos from God of War. (You can nab that costume by preordering the game from GameStop, as I did.) If that’s the subconscious basis for people’s problems with the game, then I think need to get outside more. That whole digital machismo makes me both laugh and shake my head, as they’re obviously sad little human beings.

The moral of the story is twofold: don’t knock it until you try it, and do some damn research before you bash the game. LittleBigPlanet looks to be one of those rare games that offers something for everyone, so don’t be so quick to damn it.