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Alex Evans of Media Molecule talks up LittleBigPlanet
Here's an interview with Alex Evans, co-founder of Media Molecule, the developers of LittleBigPlanet. The gameplay footage in the video is mostly old news, but Evans spits out some really good narrative that'll give you more of an idea about the open-endedness (it's a word for today) the game offers. A very interesting and creative part of the interview comes when Evans is talking about creating a "race" level where everybody sprints to the finish -- but the creator of the level put the sign that says "finish" on wheels, so it keeps "running away" from the sackboys. That's really funny and rather creative. He says the game should be done this Fall and it's got an October date slapped on it, so let's hope that remains the date of release.
LittleBigPlanet devs will 'support' interesting tool exploits
It isn't that we're disgruntled with LittleBigPlanet or interviews in general, but we can't help but think we know pretty much everything we possibly can about this little giant of a title short of having it on our consoles. Its release date is still far off, but Gamespot took the time to question Media Molecule, the developers, on its progress. Let's listen in with our handy-dandy summary goggles.There are interesting parallels between the Media Molecule office and LittleBigPlanet -- both have co-op and versus modes, both have dark sides, and both are totally awesome. They feel the game could have existed and risen in popularity even without user-generated content. They want to enforce that concept: they pitched the gameplay mechanics and tactical elements to Sony. The user-generated idea wasn't the focus. It's a fun game where building stuff yourself is merely an option and not a necessity.Still, they hope what users create is as professional or better than what they ship with the game. Those kinds of talents are in every game with user-generated content, after all. In fact, if people find ways to exploits the creation tools Media Molecule provides in interesting ways, they'll promote it. On the flipside, offensive or poor content will get rated down, similar to our own website's comment system where the "rubbish" simply fades away, while the good remains. We look forward to hearing more as the game draws closer to release.
LittleBigPlanet video features a king locked out of his castle!
It has no audio, but you can surely add your own soundtrack in your mind as you watch this LittleBigPlanet video. It's also available in high-definition off of IGN's website, so if you're having trouble seeing things, go ahead and try that version. We're working on a dinosaur of a laptop, so the framerate's really choppy on the HD version for us. Anyway, watching sackboys with capes running around is a great way to lower your stress level, until they can't quite advance through the level and it infuriates you. Not that it happens here.
LittleBigPlanet open beta officially dead
Through the hard times, through the delays, fans of LittleBigPlanet -- or at least people who think they will be fans of LittleBigPlanet -- have been comforted by the fact that whenever the game arrives they'll be getting an early look at it through the oft-promised public beta of the game. Now, our friends at PS3 Fanboy are sadly reporting that they were bedside to see the public beta's death rattle.There's still a chance that a limited number of gamers will be invited into Sony's internal beta or that a demo will make its way to awaiting PS3s. But for now, we must wait and hope and design our platforming levels with the only materials we've ever needed: Notebook paper, a Sharpie and a boring lecture in algebra class.
LittleBigPlanet open beta will never happen
We had the opportunity to speak at length with various LittleBigPlanet producers at PlayStation Day, as well as get some hands-on time with the title. Top of our discussion list was the beta. We wanted to know as much as possible about when it's coming and have done since it was implied last July. However both Sam Bennett (Community Development Manager) and Pete Smith (Producer) maintained that a public, open beta will sadly not be happening. The game will go through a beta phase, obviously, but this will be performed by an internal group at Sony.There's a possibility of a small number of gamers and press being invited into the beta phase, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Releasing the game in its entirety to the public, free of charge would be suicide. Instead, there's talk of a demo being made available, which will curb our monstrous hunger pangs for the game until its October release. What the demo will contain and when it will arrive is still being discussed.Check out our gallery below for some new images of LittleBigPlanet straight from PlayStation Day. Also be sure to check out the video of the cute-but-ghastly Helghast Sackboys. %Gallery-3199%
LittleBigPlanet slated for October
Well, that didn't work. Tearing out the May, June, July, August and September pages from our official 2008 Sackboy Calendar has utterly failed to bring us any closer to LittleBigPlanet's newly announced "October" release date. Speaking at Sony's PlayStation Day 2008 event in London, Sony bigwig Kaz Hirai confirmed that the burlap-bouncing, community-powered platformer would be gracing PlayStation 3 systems in that month when people dress up as pirates and vampires. Provided it doesn't slip again, LittleBigPlanet is going to make for quite the treat.
Sony shying away from dating the LittleBigPlanet beta
If you were expecting the LittleBigPlanet beta to hit your PS3 this summer, you might have to substitute that joy with something else. Sony is growing quite hesitant to pin a date down for the game's beta and has opted instead to focus on the September release date. It isn't that there won't be a beta, but a Sony spokesperson at SCEE said "we haven't yet made any announcements as to the dates of the LittleBigPlanet beta trials, and are not yet able to confirm a specific month." If it's not so much a beta but more of a trial, then we wouldn't expect it to hit until August. That's just a shot in the dark, though.
LittleBigPlanet creators to deliver opening keynote at Paris GDC
We can't wait to get our hands on Media Molecule's LittleBigPlanet. The release is still a while away, so we're anxious to hear more information about this upcoming PS3 creation game. Mark Healey and Alex Evans, co-founders of Media Molecule, will deliver the opening keynote at the upcoming Paris GDC. According to the press release, "their talk will touch upon the ways in which game developers can incorporate creativity into their designs, and the future of user-generated content as illustrated by their upcoming title, LittleBigPlanet for the PlayStation 3."While PS3 Fanboy won't be attending the conference, we do hope that some intriguing newsbits will make their way out of the conference. Who knows? Maybe they'll surprise us with an early release date (we hope!).Update: Paris GDC is the second French edition of the Game Developers Conference, and is scheduled for June 23-24 at the Coeur Défense Convention Centre in Paris .
LittleBigPlanet will "evolve over time"
The sack people are back! It's been a while since we saw our cute, unofficial Sony mascots playing around in their sandbox of a world, so here we are with a new video of just that. There's some new stuff in here, but it's predominantly footage we've seen. The level design at the one-minute mark is especially awesome. We do get a nice bit of narrative from the developers behind the game, but it only further enhances our desire to get this game in our hands. Hopefully they'll stick to their September release date!
Rumor: LittleBigPlanet in development for PSP
It seems that CVG has been informed by an insider that the upcoming PS3 cute-em-up LittleBigPlanet is also in development for the PSP. Apparently Studio Liverpool, of WipEout fame, are managing the creation of the PSP version. That's all the information that's available, unfortunately -- and we don't have any idea how true it is, at that.A PSP version of LittleBigPlanet could only be a good thing, in our opinion. Whether it's a shrunken down version of its PS3 cousin or simply a portable version of some of the content creation features, being able to interact with the LBP universe away from your PS3 would be awesome. If it's true. Hopefully we'll hear more about both the PS3 and PSP versions at some point soon. Nothing's been said about the game for a little while and the suspense is killing us.
LittleBigPlanet approaching Alpha, last stop before Beta
It seems so long ago now. We can still remember the feeling of gasping for air; like a heavy weight (one made of equal parts whimsy and cardboard) was planted directly on our collective ribcage. The adorable object of our user-generated desires, LittleBigPlanet was being delayed from early '08 to the much further away and unfathomable "September" ... ... and though news that the game is being pushed "toward the Alpha stage" isn't far removed from an update confirming the game is being pushed towards being released someday, we're pleased as punch to read the update on Media Molecule's blog nonetheless. Why? Because everyone knows that the Alpha stage comes just before the Beta stage and, if you'll recall, Sony has said the demo for LittleBigPlanet will take the form of a "public beta." That means public beta playtime sometime between right now and this September (which is 164 days away, in case you weren't counting). Not much of an update, we know ...%Gallery-1943%
LittleBigPlanet hitting Alpha stage soon
Media Molecule came out of their hiding place to assure anxious gamers that LittleBigPlanet is, in fact, coming along quite nicely and is about to enter the Alpha stage of development. What does this mean? They say that "basically this means all the cool stuff we said will be in there should be playable, even if it isn't pretty enough to release." Well, the last known release date for the game is September. Making the game look pretty shouldn't take all that long, right? Perhaps this is one release date that will stick. We'll find out![via Eurogamer]
LittleBigPlanet planning lip-synching voice chat, filters
Just when you thought you knew everything you could about Media Molecule's upcoming world-creator game LittleBigPlanet, we find something else that blows our minds and makes us anticipate the title even more. In the latest Edge magazine, it's been revealed that in addition to the emotions and such your sackboy (and sackgirl) can perform, there are plans to lip-synch voice chat. That is to say, the characters will move their mouths in roughly the same way you do (even if not, it's still cool). Down the line, expect stuff like voice filters, too. We think that's a pretty stellar move.[Thanks, Kane!]
The best thing you'll see today: LittleBigPlanet plushie
What's there to say? Our ability to assemble letters into words and words into sentences is trivial – a trifle! – compared to one family's ability to make adorable things we want. The mother of an artist working on LittleBigPlanet knitted what could only be described as the most amazing plushie ever: a Real Life Sackboy. Advice to Media Molecule: make more. Lots more.[Thanks, John]
We <3 this LittleBigPlanet plush
SACKBOY LIVES!This adorable real world recreation of LittleBigPlanet has us swooning with incredible joy. Our hearts are fluttering at the thought of being able to grab one of these for ourselves.Unfortunately, these aren't commercially available. Why? Because it was made by the mother of a Media Molecule staffer. Completely unfair.[Thanks, John!]
LittleBigPlanet will not intimidate users, says Sony
There's a fairly lengthy interview over at GameTap where Sony's senior producer, Pete Smith, speaks up about the hugely ambitious LittleBigPlanet. While we'd love to cover the whole Q&A session, we're just going to give you a glimpse of what's discussed. For example, the concept of the game was brought to Sony when Media Molecule had a total of three members on the development team. Of course, the game has changed drastically since then, but tapping into user-generated content has always been their vision.The game keeps it's 2D structure primarily to deter users from feeling intimidated. It's much easier to work with a 2D world, anyway. The intense physics engine helps keep things fresh and prevents the game from becoming just a 2D platformer. Keeping things approachable and keeping the single-player experience fun and satisfying are also keys to success. While some levels can be designed with teamwork in mind, if it's not fun alone, it probably won't work online. There's plenty more to read up on, so check out the whole interview. We're just excited to hear anything about this glorious sounding game.
LittleBigPlanet video details content and death
For those hungry for a new LittleBigPlanet video, we've got a nice sandwich this morning. It has some delicious meat and cheeses in it ... have we carried the metaphor too far? This video interview shows off some new features being implemented, such as evil Sackboys, more deaths outside of being smooshed or burned, a beta version coming as soon as they can -- but still prior to release, there is a storyline, and each level should take from 5-15 minutes to complete. That length may or may not apply to user-generated content. Anyway, enjoy the video.[via PS3Forums]
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 updates with new tentative release date
From Crackle: LittleBigPlanet at CES We all know homebrew gaming is coming to the PS3, most notably through Media Molecule's own LittleBigPlanet. We've come to learn the game is slated for a September release for now, but what else is new with the game? We've got some cute information for you to digest. Unless, of course, you don't like fluff.The emotions for your characters, called Sackboys (Sackpeople if you want to be PC about it), are controlled with the D-pad and seem to have a wider array than previously noted. Facial contortions indicate the style of body gestures your character will do. Kind of neat. You can move into and out of the background now -- no more left-to-right only limitations. You can leave little items in the levels, too, like a leaf texture or something, to add to your personal inventory. The currency in the game was once Sponge, but now called Fluff -- it looks like marshmallows in a variety of colors.How about creating your own levels? It's pretty tough to imagine something when you're greeted by a giant white screen. No worries -- the game will come with several pre-rendered levels like a desert scene that will give you a better place to start. Parental controls and a user-created level rating system to control R-rated content is in the works. When we hear more, we'll let you know, but it's shaping up to be something special.
LittleBigPlanet demo not coming this year
As the year winds to a close, the staff at Joystiq has been discussing what's actually missing from 2007. Not delayed or canceled, mind you, but missing. Topping that list* was the demo for PS3 future-hit LittleBigPlanet, which was "slated" to appear on the PlayStation Network "this fall." Just days after the debut of an adorable, pirate-themed trailer – the memories of which are sure to manifest themselves as violent pangs of desire – MTV's Stephen Totilo cornered Sony and demanded answers! A spokesperson for SCEA told the vaguely menacing Totilo, "I can officially confirm that there won't be a demo this year." While we can't say we're surprised at the news (seriously, Fall's days are numbered), the finality of the official statement pretty much punches our secret wish for a holiday surprise right in its jolly gut.*(Also missing: PC Live Arcade ... hrmm).
