mediamolecule
Latest
'LittleBigPlanet' follow-up 'Dreams' comes to creators this spring
Media Molecule's Dreams has generated a lot of buzz for its creative potential during its beta phase, and soon it'll be available to everyone. The LittleBigPlanet studio has announced that its PS4 crafting tool will be available in Early Access form this spring. This version won't have everything you'll find in the polished release, but it'll include the same implements Media Molecule uses, a range of pre-made arcade games and tutorials to help with your own projects. The rough release will help "prioritize" what the company works on, the developer's Siobhan Reddy said.
'Knights and Bikes' captures childhood in '80s England
Knights and Bikes is a game about friendship, adventure and a county in the southwest corner of England called Cornwall. The area is littered with sandy beaches and quaint seaside towns that attract British families looking for a cheap summer holiday. Tourism, though, is not enough to sustain the region during the winter months. Rex Crowle, an artist, animator and video game developer, knows this all too well. He grew up in Cornwall in a farming family that raised sheep. It was a "pretty hard life," he said. Enough so that he sold his own flock at age 10 and bought a Commodore Amiga 500 computer.
'Dreams' makes imagination manifest on the PS4
Like Little Big Planet before it, the premise behind Dreams has long confused and infuriated me. Why on Earth would you pay good money for a game in which you work to create smaller games? But after puttering around in what is essentially a console-based development platform during a demo in Santa Monica last week, I realized that this game isn't built for gamers, it's built for artists.
'Dreams,' the new game from 'LittleBigPlanet' devs, lands in 2018
We've been wondering about Dreams for a while now. First announced in 2015 as a trippy, user-controlled kind of world-creating game, Dreams is the new title from LittleBigPlanet studio Media Molecule and it's due to hit PlayStation 4 in 2018. The release date is new -- Media Molecule has been remarkably silent about Dreams over the past few years, but the studio revealed its launch window tonight during The Game Awards.
'Knights and Bikes' is a charming co-op game set in '80s Britain
Every so often we'll spot a game in the bowels of Kickstarter which, despite all of the problems associated with crowdfunding, grabs our attention and won't let go. Knights and Bikes is one of those projects because, well, just look at the screenshots below. Everything about it is adorably British. Conceived by Rex Crowle and Moo Yu -- two fellows from LittleBigPlanet developer Media Molecule -- the game promises a co-op adventure about two friends on an island near Cornwall. Set in the late 1980s, the pair are tasked with saving their town from spooky spirits and financial ruin. Think The Goonies, with a sprinkling of Earthbound and Secret of Mana.
'Dreams' isn't an enigma, it's 'LittleBigPlanet' reborn
Sony hasn't worked out how to explain Dreams, the new title from LittleBigPlanet and Tearaway creator Media Molecule. Its debut at E3 was exciting but enigmatic, with a focus on player-driven creation and animation mechanics. At Sony's Paris Games Week press conference on Tuesday, the studio showed off a little more of Dreams. But it still wasn't clear how exactly what was shown on screen would work in practice -- we've seen a lot of creation tools, but not a lot of gameplay. Luckily, Media Molecule took some time after the event to talk us through its grand vision for Dreams. And, despite the confusion, it most definitely will be a game.
Media Molecule's 'Dreams' beta coming to PS4 in 2016
One of the most interesting games we saw at E3 2015 was Dreams, from the team behind LittleBigPlanet and Tearaway. Today, during Sony's PlayStation event at Paris Games Week, Media Molecule demoed the title on stage and revealed a beta of it will be available next year for PS4. As we learned earlier this year, Dreams is designed for people who love streaming gameplay on Twitch and YouTube, focusing on exploration and sharing between players in the online community. For example, you can create "dreams" for people to play in, such as a puzzle, but whatever rules you've set on your own world don't have to be followed by others. Here, wandering around with freedom is key and "almost anything" can be a gateway to another dream, says the developer. Hopefully it won't be too long before you can try it yourself -- all we know thus far is that a Dreams beta's set to hit the PlayStation 4 sometime in 2016.
Media Molecule's 'Dreams' is for YouTubers and Twitch streamers
When Alex Evans, co-founder of Sony PlayStation first-party studio Media Molecule, announced Dreams onstage at E3 this week, there was a lot of confusion in the audience and on social media. And that's okay, according to Evans. "What we wanted to do was get it out there and get people talking about it. And your staff are right to be scratching their heads. ... If it's on your radar, fantastic. Because it is hard to take it in. The main confusion I've seen reading on the net does seem to be that people are like, 'Is it a movie maker? Is it a game maker? What is it?' The communities will probably define that. But it's absolutely a game. We are making games with it. What you will choose to make with it, what the community will choose to make with it -- that's the cool thing. We don't know."
Sony invites PS4 gamers to invade each other's 'Dreams'
Leave it to Media Molecule, the Sony first-party studio responsible for the crafty Tearaway and level-creation bonanza that is LittleBigPlanet, to introduce something a little different at E3. Dreams, as the new title is called, takes a unique approach to gameplay, letting PlayStation 4 users create, explore and "remix" each other's dreams. Alex Evans, studio co-founder, explained that by using the DualShock 4's motion controls, players can easily "piece together a whole environment in moments." There's also the ability to animate characters of your own creation using performance capture.
LittleBigPlanet 2 gets a visit from Disney's princesses
Two different DLC packs are planned for LittleBigPlanet 2 over the next couple of weeks, ultimately adding nearly every princess from Disney's history to Media Molecule's DIY platformer. Disney Princesses Costume Pack 1 includes Aurora, Cinderella, Jasmine, and Snow White.A few weeks later, the second pack will add Belle, Tiana, Repunzel, and Ariel. LittleBigPlanet community coordinator Steven Isbell offers no word on pricing in his PlayStation Blog post, but says more will be revealed in the future. Well, sir ... be our guest.
Sony creates LittleBigPlanet 2 Move bundle, separate limited edition
Today, the PlayStation Blog confirmed earlier rumors of a re-release for LittleBigPlanet 2. We can't say we're surprised, since the previous LittleBigPlanet game had a Game of the Year Edition re-release, but here it is: both a limited edition title with all of the game's DLC thus far and a PlayStation Move hardware bundle are coming to select retailers on November 15. The LittleBigPlanet 2: Special Edition features the original game, PlayStation Move add-on content, the Toy Story level and costume pack, and the pets costume packs, all in one package. But if you're lacking in hardware and have got the requisite clearance for flailing in your domicile, then perhaps the PlayStation Move hardware bundle is for you. It includes the enhanced version of LBP 2, plus a PlayStation Move controller, a Nav controller and a PlayStation Eye camera. Sorry, no word on pricing, but we imagine the game will be $59.99 and the bundle will be somewhere around $149.99.
LittleBigPlanet: Game of the Year edition coming Sep. 8, $59.99
Looks like the reports and retailer listings were accurate: LittleBigPlanet: Game of the Year Edition exists and it's coming to stores on September 8 for the same ol' $59.99 you can currently find the non-GOTY variant at. So what does your ... well, just your waiting get you above and beyond the existing release? Media Molecule has hand-picked 18 "extraordinary" level creators to each build a level "specifically for the GOTY edition." Not enough? Perhaps seven "packs" from the PlayStation Store – including the Metal Gear Solid Level Pack and Costumes Pack – would be enough to entice you? Says here that's "nearly a $30 value." Still not biting, eh? Lastly, a "limited supply" of LBP: GOTY discs will include a voucher granting you access to the ModNation Racers online beta, the next game in Sony's "Play, Create, Share" series. If you're still not convinced, we don't think the trailer after the break is going to change your mind, but we still think you should watch it. Sackboy ... he's just so cute.
LittleBigPlanet available now at GameStop
Though the initial report from Media Molecule following the delay of the once Qur'an-infused platformer, LittleBigPlanet, was that the title would now be dropping during the week of October 27, dozens of readers have sent in tips reporting that GameStop's lovable customer service robot, Aeris, recently called to say the title would be in North American stores October 25. For those still recovering from a start-of-weekend bender, that's today.We'd suggest calling your local GameStop before making the trip down, just to avoid any possible disappointment. If the very thought of crossing the threshold of the oft-reviled retailer makes your skin crawl, rest assured that with the title readily available at GameStop, it shouldn't be too much longer before it appears in the rest of your local brick-and-mortars.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Nega-review: LittleBigPlanet
"Sony's game falls short of perfection, in large part because of imprecise controls." (1) "[They] left a few corners on what should have been a razor-sharp control scheme." (3) "Your Sackboy's jumping doesn't feel quite as precise as you might want it to be." (6) "After making a jump, Sackboy slides just a bit, as if he were on ice." (1) "We found ourselves forever overdoing jumps, slipping off ledges and generally getting into trouble at the hands of the controls." (6)"Momentum is another issue. ... the physics don't feel right, so it takes more tries than necessary to complete the objective." (1) "Player acceleration (and perhaps deceleration) isn't as quick as it could be ... likewise, in-air direction change can be a little iffy at times ... making your character occasionally over or under-respond to what you want him to do." (3) "Combined with the vague, slow and over-zealously auto-corrected movement between the game's three planes of depth, it's a problem." (2) To put it mildly, "the controls were a little fickle when it came to moving your character among the three planes of perspective." (8) "The three-tier system the levels use, allowing Sackboy to move in and out of the screen.... can cause real problems, ending in annoying and occasionally infuriating death." (6) "It works fine except when the game decides to shift you to another plane, which often kills Sackboy." (1) "There are instances where it doesn't do what you want it to do, and these points stick out like a sore thumb, especially when it means your death." (3) "I ... found myself getting ... frustrated as Sackboy found himself on the wrong plane, repeatedly, sometimes resulting in his untimely demise." (7)"This is made all the worse by what can only be described as a terrible checkpoint system." (6) "Three lives just aren't enough for some of the harder sections, and if you lose them all, it's back to the start of the level. ... this inflexible system creates half a dozen choke points of almost unbearable, teeth-grinding irritation that simply didn't need to be there." (2) "It tests your patience to near breaking point." (6)%Gallery-1943%
Parsons hosting LittleBigPlanet level making marathon
Despite a well-documented obsession with LittleBigPlanet and its emphasis on user-generated content, our skills pretty much begin and end with penis-themed level design. This is probably why Sony has tapped New York's Parsons The New School For Design and not us to host a LittleBigPlanet level-making competition. The event, taking place in New York City from September 21-22, aims to pit 120 students in teams of five against each other over a 24-hour period in order to see which group can create the best custom level as judged by developer Media Molecule, as well as members of the media and Parsons faculty. Winners will see their creation make it into LittleBigPlanet as "a specially branded Parsons section" of the game. We can't wait to see what comes out of the competition. As for the penis levels, that's something best left to the masters.
Stephen Fry makes LittleBigPlanet sound even better
Media Molecule's Alex Evans announced at an E3 press briefing that British comedian/actor Stephen Fry has been chosen as the narrator for LittleBigPlanet. Fry is most famous in the United States as a reader for audio books such as the Harry Potter series and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, though he appeared in movies such as V for Vendetta and MirrorMask. We really didn't think anything could make game sound any better, but we think this news just did!
Little Big Planet beta growing, Trophies teased
We admit that we have an obsession with Little Big Planet, bordering on addiction. It's something with which we're trying our best to cope, a therapy helped somewhat by Media Molecule co-founder and technical guru David Smith. We like to think of his recent interview with Eurogamer as a kind of patch, letting information seep into our bloodstreams, taking the edge off as we pine for the game's October release. Among the number of topics discussed, Smith spoke out in support of the game's beta testing, something he noted as being "in progress," and -- contrary to earlier reports -- that "it should gradually grow to include more people." In addition, with the recent addition of Trophies, he stated that the team is "having a lot of fun working out what trophies most fit" Little Big Planet, teasing that one will involve "making your sackperson be thrown at some huge velocity." Check out the full interview for more words strung together about Little Big Planet. We'll be quietly twitching in the corner.
LittleBigPlanet gameplay details showcased in Sony Gamers' Day previews
We admit it -- we developed a crush on Media Molecule's LittleBigPlanet from the first time we laid eyes on its texture-rich world. Ever since its GDC '07 unveiling, we've been fiending for more information on this Go! Team-infused gem -- yesterday's Sony Gamers' Day did not disappoint in that respect, bringing us three new LBP video previews (look for our writeup from the event soon). The video above features the game's PlayStation Eye functionality, the other two (embedded after the break) feature some nuances of the character creation system and the recently revealed "danger" system. It will be ours. Oh yes, it will be ours.
Get another glimpse of LittleBigPlanet's level creator
Or in this case, its foliage creator. Embedded after the break you'll find a brief CES video demonstration of the PS3's perpetually praised LittleBigPlanet, depicting the elegant interface used to give form to your platforming designs. Though we're already envisioning a deadly sequence of precarious, single-pixel steps suspended above a pit of eternal hellfire in our level, you're perfectly welcome to make a happy little tree and call it a day.In the interest of being informative, we'll remind you that LittleBigPlanet is only expected to arrive in September. We are not happy about it.
LittleBigPlanet cardboard robot boxing match
As the guy who sent this in to us said, if you can watch this without cracking a smile, you probably don't have a soul. Here's another example of the possibilities within LittleBigPlanet -- out of nothing, two players create large cardboard boxing fighters complete with stickers matching their personality (we love the hairy chest on the left fighter) and duel to the death! It's a really fun video and you get a good deal of insight into the workings of LBP. We should all train to be able to create such crazy ideas and beyond![Thanks, McComber!]
