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Most LittleBigPlanet costume DLC to become cross-platform, only require one purchase
Most costumes purchased for use in LittleBigPlanet and LittleBigPlanet 2 will not only be compatible with LittleBigPlanet Vita and LittleBigPlanet Karting, but users will be able to transfer the DLC for freezies, in both directions. This means that purchasing a costume once will grant the use of those threads in all four games.Not all costumes will be available cross-platform at launch, and neither Assassin's Creed costumes nor the April Fools Fragrance costume will be available on Karting, but the rest of the DLC will eventually come to all four games.Since dressing Sackboy up as a Disney princess or indie darling is very nearly as much fun as actually playing a LittleBigPlanet game, we'd imagine this news would be music to the ears of anyone whose nights are filled with costume changes, accessorizing and Ben & Jerry's. Not that we would have any personal, first-hand knowledge of that sort of thing. Nope.
Tearaway isn't the only game Media Molecule is working on
While Media Molecule is hard at work on Tearaway, the new 3D adventure game for PS Vita revealed this week during Gamescom, it's not the only iron the studio has in the fire. The developer has a second project underway, though this mystery game is in the fairly early stages."We're working on a second project right now, and that's very much in an R&D phase," Media Molecule's Mark Healy told Eurogamer. Media Molecule co-founder Alex Evans added that while the "focus is Tearaway" right now, only 15 people are working on the PS Vita game, and that "Media Molecule is a lot more than 15 people.""We call it in a holding pattern," Evans added, "because the focus is on Tearaway. I'm not saying that from a press angle – our focus is on Tearaway and making it awesome. The other project is very much in an early stage and is a toy. You don't need to worry about it."
Tearaway takes iota on a journey through PS Vita, our heart
Tearaway, a new 3D adventure game for the PS Vita, was revealed earlier today during Sony's Gamescom 2012 keynote. But aside from some brief gameplay snippets and specific features possible only on the PS Vita, we weren't given much detail.Thankfully developer Media Molecule just published a lengthy blog post on the subject. Within, the premise of the game is detailed: iota, a cute little paper messenger thing from an alternate dimension, is on a mission to deliver a message to you, the player. Players must team up with iota and "journey through the vibrant papery landscape" to take on enemies and help those in need.Controlling iota is very reminiscent of other 3D platformers, but with the unique hardware of the PS Vita, players can touch and breathe on and shake their PS Vita to affect the game world. "Tearaway is still very much an extension of the creative gaming genre, so rest assured you'll be able to personalise and customise your world to your heart's content," Media Molecule's Alex Evans assures. "We'll have to be secret Susans about that until a later date though!"But, hey, as much as we like information, we'd be remiss if we didn't point you to the real value in Media Molecule's blog post: a pdf link to make your own papercraft elk, the very same seen in the gameplay trailer above. We shall call ours ... Tim.
Tearaway is a new PS Vita game from Media Molecule
Taking stage during Sony's Gamescom 2012 keynote, Media Molecule representatives have shown off their latest original IP: Tearaway. It looks like a 3D puzzle-platformer for PS Vita, where players manipulate the environment using touch. Tearaway also supports the PS Vita's built-in camera and motion-based controls.
LittleBigPlanet celebrates 7 million user levels with massive, manic infochart
Media Molecule has trumpeted a new milestone for its LittleBigPlanet community: seven million user levels created and submitted. At some time last night, the seven millionth user level was uploaded to the servers, spurring the creation of the busy infographic above. See it in its full glory here.The celebratory image provides interesting context for the milestone, like how 200 new levels debut every hour. Did you know it would take Sackboy 21 years to run through every community level? Indeed, it's been a pretty eventful four years since the first LittleBigPlanet launched, and with the impending arrival of LittleBigPlanet Vita and LittleBigPlanet Karting on the PS3, Sony's newest (and most adorable) mascot shows no signs of slowing down.
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.
Tron: Legacy minipack, LBP.me updates for LittleBigPlanet 2
LittleBigPlanet 2 is still building new digital worlds, adding a Tron: Legacy minipack and a couple new features to LBP.me. The Tron pack includes a Clu Costume -- previously a pre-order bonus -- along with Quorra and Gem garb. There are also some Tron stickers for neon flair needs.A recent update to LBP.me added lists and the ability to show off pins. Lists allow creators to make lists of up to 40 lands for proper, obsessive sorting. The pin feature lets players show off their pins to the world, revealing their dedication to the almighty Sackboy deity.
Getting crafty with LittleBigPlanet Karting
While touring the Sony booth at E3, we sat down with United Front Games design director William Ho to talk about LittleBigPlanet Karting. Check out the video above to learn how the studio is translating the vision of LittleBigPlanet into a completely customizable racer.
LittleBigPlanet 2 Vita Cross Control adds incredible griefing possibilities
You can do a lot with LittleBitPlanet 2's upcoming Vita Cross Control patch. In a game already filled to bursting with creative opportunities, the additional Vita features are honestly a little staggering. Sure, you could make intricate levels, leveraging every touch and tilt gimmick, every unique cooperative possibility.You could do that, but why bother when the Vita opens up a whole new world of ways to screw with your friends? Check out our demo with Media Molecule's David Dino above.
LittleBigPlanet Vita box art is as joyous as you'd expect
Media Molecule revealed the box art for LittleBigPlanet Vita, shown in its full glory below (that Sack Boy is naked, after all). The LBP team also dropped a behind-the-scenes video that describes how the collaboration between Media Molecule and developer Tarsier, well, developed.
Alice in Wonderland DLC makes a very important date with LittleBigPlanet
LittleBigPlanet's sackboys lead very busy lives in an extremely large world, meaning they don't always have time to watch the latest movies as they're released in theaters. This is one explanation for the Alice in Wonderland costume pack coming to LittleBigPlanet this week, featuring accessories based on the 2010 Tim Burton film.The pack will include costumes for Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and the Red Queen, all in their full Burtonized glory. Each costume is available individually, but buying the entire pack gives players Alice in Wonderland stickers as well.
LittleBigPlanet Karting arriving in 2012 from ModNation Racers devs
After briefly hearing about LittleBigPlanet Karting in early February, Sony decided to share some new details this morning on the upcoming adorable kart racer. United Front Games is handling production duties – which makes sense given the developer's track record with ModNation Racers – and the team promises the same level of dedication and attention to detail that Media Molecule lavishes on its main franchise LBP titles.Like those main titles, LBP Karting will support a full creation system, which allows players to craft new levels, racers, and even "to modify the rules of the game itself to create completely new modes and challenges," according to UFG senior producer James Grieve. He also says that some form of "community experience" will be included, though he stops short of saying whether LBP.me will play some part in that experience.When we first heard about LBP Karting, the game was said to feature PlayStation Move functionality as well, a la Mario Kart for Wii. However, neither Sony nor United Front Games mentions as much in this announcement. What we do know for sure is this: LittleBigPlanet Karting will launch at some point in 2012 on the PlayStation 3.%Gallery-151249%
LittleBigPlanet 2's Muppet DLC is just about the happiest thing ever
The latest level kit for LittleBigPlanet 2 combines Sackboys and The Muppets into the most adorable thing ever. The Muppets Premium Level Kit for LBP 2 includes five new levels and two mini-games, a new soundtrack, objects, voices, seven new trophies, 12 new pins and a bonus costume of Rowlf the Dog.The Muppets are bringing two new materials to help them help you put on the best show possible: The Attract-O-Gel allows Sackboy to walk on walls and ceilings, and the Attract-O-Tweak makes it possible for any object to do the same. Upside-down cuteness.The Muppets Premium Level Kit launches this week, beginning Jan. 24, and costs $5.99 (£4.79, €5.99, AUS $ 9.95, NZD $11.50) via PSN.
Report: Media Molecule spends big on R&D to make new, innovative things
Despite all of the informercials telling you game development is all about tightening up the graphics, it takes more than that to make a game. Media Molecule, best known for the LittleBigPlanet series, announced it would not to pursue another entry this year, in the interest of innovation. At the end of March 2011, the studio reported a profit of £3.44 million ($5.3 million) for the year prior, yet spent £4.1 million ($6.3 million) over those 12 months on research and development, according to a report obtained by Develop. Media Molecule is striving to "remain at the forefront of technological advances" and "must bring new and often risky innovations to market in products of the highest quality," the report cites. In layman's terms, the report is saying MM spent a ton of cash researching new tech. These include "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." But with 50 people on staff during the period of reported expenditure, that comes out to £82,000 ($126,000) a head -- it's not unheard of for development studios to classify game development as research and development. So how much of the money was used to pay its employees and specifically explore innovative new things? Without the report, we can't say for sure. It's possible this is simply a report of how much MM paid its employees for the year, a possible obligation for all UK business entities.
TGS Vita screen 'splosion: Escape Plan, LittleBigPlanet, Dark Quest, Legion of Hell
We don't know if you realized, but Tokyo Game Show is actually conducted entirely in stop motion, through a series of giant screencap cutouts and mulitcolored strobe lights. Really, it is. No, really. OK, fine. It isn't. We do, however, have a ton of screenshots from TGS, including the following batches of Vita games: Escape Plan, LittleBigPlanet, Dungeon Hunter Alliance (Dark Quest in Japanese) and a new title from Square Enix, Legion of Hell (make sure your speakers are turned up all the way for that website). Switch on your strobes and let the show begin below: LittleBigPlanet %Gallery-134126%
LittleBigPlanet 2 Move Pack review: A brand new toy box
The LittleBigPlanet 2 Move Pack DLC (which is suitably, adorably subtitled Rise of the Cakeling) is the franchise's most gargantuan expansion, and could make a run for the most ambitious DLC release for any game ever released. Just as the core game sought to allow the use of a DualShock 3 for virtually any purpose, this expansion hopes to give players the same freedom with the PlayStation Move. Media Molecule was successful in achieving that initial, lofty goal -- and once again, the Guildford-based studio has created an engine of infinite possibility for the Move controller. Any function you could devise for the remote is within reach, provided you've got the patience and cleverness to figure out how to invent it. %Gallery-130809%
LittleBigPlanet 2 1.06 now live, Move support added
Though the majority of LittleBigPlanet 2's suite of PlayStation Move-enabled features won't go live until next week's release of the Move Pack, a handful of additions have arrived in the game as part of update 1.06. These include the integration of some new sensors for building, an option to limit the maximum number of players on your homebrewed level, and the ability to control the basic game with a Move controller. Don't get it twisted: If you want the new Move-centric story levels, the Brain Crane tool and the other features based around Sony's motion controller, you'll have to grab the Move Pack next week. Based on our E3 preview of the ambitious DLC, we're guessing it's going to be worth it.
Media Molecule designer kayaking around the UK for charity
The folks at LittleBigPlanet developer Media Molecule have proven time and time again that their brains don't work in quite the same way as everyone else's. Take, for example, John Beech: Though most normies would elect to bring their kayaking trip to a close after an hour or two, John has decided to row his plastic vessel around the entire circumference of the United Kingdom. It's a mind-searing 2,450-mile trip that will take him two months to complete; and he's doing it all for a good cause. (Naturally!) You can check Beech's progress on Media Molecule's site, and sponsor his attempt by donating money to GamesAid, a UK-based organization which distributes funds to other, smaller charities. We'd also suggest that you wish him luck on his sojourn, but we're not sure about the quality of the Wi-Fi on his tiny boat.
Pizza Planet invades LittleBigPlanet 2 with Toy Story costumes and level kit DLC
As if the Toy Story universe wasn't endearing and heartwarming enough, Pixar's plastic pals will be upping the adorable ante by donning sackboy skins and setting foot on LittleBigPlanet 2. Come August 8, Buzz Lightyear, Slinky Dog, Rex, and Hamm costumes will be available individually for $1.99, or as a toy-chest of memories for $5.99. Costumes aren't the only thing The Claw managed to grab however, as a Toy Story Level Kit will also be available for $5.99, featuring 9 new levels and 2 new music tracks, as well as materials, decorations, stickers, and an Alien costume exclusive to the pack. To quote a great philosopher: "OOOOOOOooooooo."%Gallery-129610%
Long-awaited Final Fantasy VII costumes dated for LittleBigPlanet 2
A LittleBigPlanet Sackboy skin patterned after Final Fantasy VII's Sephiroth was first revealed at Tokyo Game Show in 2008. Three years and one LittleBigPlanet sequel (plus two spinoffs) later, a newly redesigned version of Sackiroth is finally on the way to LittleBigPlanet 2, and he's bringing some "friends." The PlayStation Blog revealed that a LittleBigPlanet 2 Final Fantasy VII costume pack will be released on July 13, containing Sackboy garments based on Sephiroth, Cloud, Tifa, and Aeris, who of course is doomed to lose her stuffing at the adorable hands of the vicious Sephiroth Sackboy. If you buy the $5.99 / €5.99 / £4.79 bundle, you'll get a bonus Vincent Valentine costume, allowing you to complete that long-in-progress LBP remake of Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. Separately, each costume will run $1.99 each (though Vincent is only available in the bundle). Other Sackboy raiment due for release soon includes Infamous 2, Toy Story, and Killzone 3 packs.
