'LittleBigPlanet' studio invests £4.1m in research and development

LittleBigPlanet developer Media Molecule has invested £4.1 million in research and development to end its dependence on the franchise.

The studio's annual report states that it is ploughing resources into new technologies, but made no mention of a specific game, according to Develop.

Media Molecule's directors said that the main areas of investment are "leading edge physics and dynamics, rapid world creation from laser data, innovative routes to market via web-based interfaces, 3D stereo-optics for advanced simulation, and use of 'hi-def' data capture and processing techniques."

LittleBigPlanet debuted on the PlayStation 3 in 2008, followed by a scaled-down PSP edition. LittleBigPlanet 2 was released in January 2011.

For the twelve months ending March 2011, Media Molecule's annual report shows profits of £3.44 million, suggesting that it has run up a deficit due to its research and development spending.

"It is vital for Media Molecule to focus a high proportion of its resources on R&D to allow it to maintain its world leading position as a developer of innovative games," the company's director's said, adding that "risky innovations" are necessary to remain at the "forefront of technological advances".

> 'LittleBigPlanet': Media Molecule on Building The Big Society

Watch a trailer for LittleBigPlanet 2 below: