いや、EUのSCEE公式ブログを見てビックリしました。

ぉぅぇぃがかなり高く評価したLittle Big Planetの製作会社が、

ソニーコンピュータエンタテインメントに買収されるらしい。

→Media Molecule Officially Joins The PlayStation Family

As the Senior Vice President for Worldwide Studios in Europe, I’m really pleased and excited to welcome Media Molecule to the PlayStation Family. We announced today that we have acquired Media Molecule, making them a wholly owned part of Sony Computer Entertainment.

The decision was an easy one after meeting five young, talented people with a massive ambition to redefine video games as we know them and create and grow a fantastically talented team at Media Molecule. This was followed by a fantastic exclusive relationship that culminated in the launch of one of the most innovative PlayStation games of recent years. Of course, LittleBigPlanet needs no introduction here, as it was thanks to you that it became a best selling PS3 title when it released in late 2008.
The acquisition will enhance the talent pool within SCE, protect past and current investment and ensure a solid base for future investment. Media Molecule have exciting projects in the pipeline and we’re looking forward to sharing these with you in the not too distant future.
The most important thing is that nothing will change from your perspective; Media Molecule will simply continue to make great games. Welcoming Media Molecule into the PlayStation family will allow us to better support their future titles and ambitions.
In case you’re still wondering why we would purchase a developer who has only one game under its belt, allow me to present to you their list of awards and accomplishments — just click “more” below. I’m sure you’ll agree it’s an enviable list.
I have no doubt that this will mark the beginning of an even more exciting relationship with Media Molecule for the future.

Tokyo Game Show October 2008

Future Award: Winner

Famitsu Magazine

Platinum

E3

IGN Best Platform Game of E3 2008-Runner up

IGN Best PlayStation 3 Platform Game of E3 2008-Runner up

IGN Special Achievement for Technological Excellence of E3 2008-Runner up

IGN Best PlayStation 3 Artistic Design Game of E3 2008-Runner up

IGN Best PlayStation 3 Multiplayer Experience of E3 2008-Runner up

IGN PlayStation 3 Special Achievement for Technological Excellence of E3 2008

IGN PlayStation 3 Special Achievement for Innovation of E3 2008-Runner up

IGN PlayStation 3 Most Anticipated Game of 2008- Ranked #5 out of 10

Game Critics Best E3 2008 Console Game

Game Critics Best E3 2008 Social/Casual/Puzzle Game

GameTrailers Best of Show E3 2008-Runner up

Game Trailers Best Playstation 3 Game E3 2008-Runner Up

Game Trailers Best Innovative Game E3 2008

GameTrailers Best Online Game E3 2008-Runner Up

G4TV Best of E3 PlayStation 3-Runner Up

G4TV Best of E3 Online Multiplayer-Runner up

G4TV Best of E3 Best Original Game

G4TV Best of E3 Best Innovation-Runner Up

G4TV Best of E3 Game of Show

GameSpy Top Ten PS3 Games E3- #2 out of 10

GameSpy E3 Staff Picks

GameSpot Best Stage Demo E3 2008-Runner Up

GameSpot Best Platform Game E3 2008

GameSpot Best PS3 Game E3 2008

GameSpot E3 Best of Show 2008-Runner Up

PS3 Fanboy Best of PS3 Exclusive E3 2008

Ripten Best PlayStation 3 Game E3 2008

Ripten Best Game of E3-Tied with Fallout 3

1UP Best PS3 Game E3 2008

1UP Game of Show E3 2008

WhatIfGaming Best Platform Game E3 2008

WhatIfGaming Best Artistic Design E3 2008

WhatIfGaming Best Multiplayer Experience E3 2008

WhatIfGaming Most Gracious Technological Excellence E3 2008

WhatIfGaming Revolutionary Design E3 2008

WhatIfGaming Best Console Game E3 2008

WhatIfGaming Game of Show E3 2008

Kotaku Best Original Game E3 2008

Kotaku Best Social/Casual/Puzzle Game E3 2008

Game Pro Best of E3 Silver Winner

Cheat Code Central, Favorite Game of 2008

Cheat Code Central, Best Platformer of 2008

Cheat Code Central, Best PS3 Game of 2008

Cheat Code Central, Best New Character of 2008

Cheat Code Central, Most Creative of 2008

GameSpot, Best Implementation of User-Generated Content of 2008

GameSpot, Best Graphics, Nominee

GameSpot, Best UK Developed Game, Nominee

GameTrailers Best Action Adventure –Runner up

GameTrailers Game of The Year-Runner Up

GameTrailers Best PS3 Game-Runner Up

GameZone Overall Game of the Year – 2008

GameZone Best PlayStation 3 Game of the Year – 2008

GameZone Best Overall Platformer – 2008

IGN, Best Platform Game of 2008 (for PS3)

IGN, Best Artistic Design of 2008 (for PS3)

IGN, Best Local Mult-player Platform Game of 2008 (for (PS3)

IGN, Best New IP (for PS3)

IGN, Most Innovative Design (for PS3)

USA Weekend (online) – “The Best Video Games of 2008”

The Onion’s Best of 2008 List

Edge December 2008

Best Game: Winner

Best innovation: Winner

Best visual: Winner

Best developer: Winner

Best online experience: runner up

Pocket Lint Awards

Game of the Year 2008-12-17

Spike TV Video Game Awards December 2008

Studio of the Year: Media Molecule Winner

Game of the Year: Runner-up

Best Performance by a Human Male: Runner-up, Stephen Fry as LBP Narrator

Best Original Score: Runner Up

Best PS3 Game: Winner

Best Soundtrack: Runner Up

Best Graphics: Runner Up

Gameplayer.com

Most Influential Developers of 2008 (with other Developers)

Feb-09

Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Awards

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction

Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering

Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction

Outstanding Innovation in Gaming

Family Game of the Year

Console Game of the Year

Overall Game of the Year

Best Multiplayer Game in Troféu Gameworld (Brazilian) www.heroi.com.br

Best international game at Deutscher Computerspielepreis. (German) http://www.deutscher-computerspielpreis.de/9.0.html

Platform Game Of The Year at Swedish Game Awards 2009 in Stockholm

Best Platform Game of the Year in the Norwegian Game Awards http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/03/05/kultur/spill/gullstikka/5149468/

Mar-09

BAFTA Video Games Awards – Artistic Achievement (Winner)

Oct-09

Golden Joystick Family Game of the Year (Winner)

Golden Joystick Family Game of the Year (Winner)

Nov-09

BAFTA Children’s Awards – Video Game (Winner)

ちょっと英訳する元気がありませんので、さら〜っと貼りつけるだけにしますが、

このリトルビッグプラネットが取った賞のリストを見るだけで、

このM&M社は結構スゴイゲームを作った会社…ということが分かるじゃないかと思います。

ぉぅぇぃの中でも、リトルビッグプラネットは別次元のゲームとして評価しています。

ハッキリ言うと、このゲームは日本では過小評価されていると思います。

更にいうと、小中レベルの物理の基礎の教育にもかなり良い…だよね。

しかし、これを使って授業をデザインするのは、

色々な側面の高度なリテラシが必要なので、結構難しそうだけどね。

気になって検索してみますと、日本にもこのことはニュースになったようです。

いくつかのリンクを貼っときます。

→ITmedia:SCE、「リトルビッグプラネット」の開発会社・Media Moleculeを買収
→CNET Japan:SCE、ユーザーがゲームステージを作れる「リトルビッグプラネット」の開発会社を買収
→4Gamer.net:SCE，「リトルビッグプラネット」の開発元Media Moleculeを買収

まあ、買収のニュースよりも、

リトルビッグプラネットのスタジオが作り次の作品のほうが気になるけどね。