media molecule
Latest
European PlayStation Plus subscribers get free LittleBigPlanet [update]
If you live in Europe and were intrigued by the deals, trial games and complimentary downloads offered by the recently announced PlayStation Plus subscription plan, you might want to sign up with a quickness.
Interview: Media Molecule's Alex Evans, on LittleBigPlanet 2
We know enough about Media Molecule's follow-up to 2008's highly customizable platformer LittleBigPlanet to know that it's remarkably ambitious. Still, for each feature the studio announces, dozens of questions surface about how they'll actually be implemented in LittleBigPlanet 2. For answers to these burning queries, we turned to Media Molecule co-founder Alex Evans. Click past the jump to learn more about the sequel's bold new creation tools, community features, PlayStation Move functionality, and the unconventional ways the small development studio has expanded. %Gallery-95497%
Preview: LittleBigPlanet 2
There's a phrase that sometimes comes to mind whenever a developer is showing off the differences between their upcoming sequel and the past iteration of the franchise. It only springs forth when this new installment introduces major, sweeping improvements over the series' previous entry, and, in my case, it almost always serves as a metric for my excitement for the sequel: "Well, this changes everything." As a fond appreciator of the already powerful creation tools upon which LittleBigPlanet is perpetually built, this phrase entered my mind a score of times during Media Molecule's recent E3 media demo of LittleBigPlanet 2. I suspect that, in order to contextualize the hugeness of some of these changes, you have to have a deep understanding of how the creation tools in the first game functioned. Even if you don't, the proof is in the proverbial pudding: You didn't used to be able to make real-time strategy games. Now you can. %Gallery-95497%
More LittleBigPlanet 2 community features, LBP.me functionality revealed
At a recent E3 preview presentation, LittleBigPlanet 2 mastermind Alex Evans revealed a handful of new innovations that Media Molecule is incorporating in the do-it-yourself sequel. One aspect of the game that will see a major (and oft-requested) improvement is its community features. According to Evans, the days of hunting for levels randomly distributed across the face of a planet will be gone -- player creations will now appear in a simple list, which players will be able to filter using a number of metrics (genre, keyword, etc.). More exciting than that was the explanation of the functions offered by LBP.me, the web portal which will give players their own personal websites, which will automatically update with that player's creations, recently played levels and top scores. If you're looking at one of these pages in a browser, you can set the game to automatically queue up the level next time you play -- or, alternatively, you could just print out a QR barcode assigned to each level, place it in front of your PlayStation Eye, and watch as it loads up the appropriate creation.
Jam-stained Heavy Rain costumes coming to LittleBigPlanet
Though the thematically distinct universes of LittleBigPlanet and Heavy Rain don't have much business crossing over into one another, we're in full support of the former's upcoming batch of DLC based on the latter. The costume pack, which will hit the US PlayStation Store later today, costs $1.99, and includes the outfits of Heavy Rain protagonists Ethan, Madison, Jayden, and Shelby. Also included is an origami hat, stained with the crimson hue of spilled ... jam. (We're guessing Media Molecule's stance on blood hasn't changed.) We can't wait to see the LittleBigHeavyRain levels these costumes inspire. "In order to save your jelly beans, you'll have to cut off your own shoelaces. You have three minutes." [Via Videogamer]
Worlds collide in LittleBigPlanet's 'Kevin Butler Ware' micro-games
It's been a while since we last posted about a LittleBigPlanet creation that really knocked our socks off, but maybe that's because we were simply waiting for that super special level. You know, a platforming masterpiece that combines Sony spokesperson extraordinaire Kevin Butler with the fast-paced micro-games of WarioWare into a single, functional package. We weren't aware science had progressed far enough to make this fusion possible -- but the very existence of "Kevin Butler Ware" seems to indicate that it has. Check out the video after the jump to see this extremely clever level in action.
Amazon offering Father's Day PS3 bundles, LittleBigPlanet included
Is your old man still just a kid at heart? Does he show proficiency for structural design, but lacks the power tool expertise required to actually build said designs? Does he ... like ... platforming games starring adorable, sackcloth protagonists? My, what a coincidence -- Amazon is selling a special Father's Day PS3 bundle which includes a 250 GB PS3 Slim, an HDMI cable, and a game that should fit your Pops' needs quite nicely: LittleBigPlanet: Game of the Year Edition. The bundle sells for $350 (the base price of the console alone), and will go on sale June 12th. We'll wait around for a bundle which is more tailored to our dad's preferences, which is to say, one that includes Def Jam: Icon. Yes, that's how he rolls. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
LittleBigPlanet 2 FAQ clears up some confusion, confirms Stephen Fry
The debut trailer for LittleBigPlanet 2 created more questions than it answered, most of them relating to the sequel's compatibility with DLC for the first game, and how the new features promised in said trailer would function. A handful of these queries have been put to rest by a FAQ post published on the PlayStation.Blog. For instance, the post confirms that all objects, costumes and decorations collected in the original game should carry over, except for objects using a graphical glitch or exploit. More importantly, QI host and wildlife enthusiast Stephen Fry will reprise his role as the game's omniscient narrator. However, the FAQ also references "custom Voice Acting," a feature with a capacity for hilarity that we've yet to be able to comprehend. For more answers to your burning questions, check out the full LittleBigFAQ.
Media Molecule co-founder talks LBP2 changes, Move support
In a recent interview with VG247, Media Molecule co-founder Mark Healy talked about some of the big changes coming to LittleBigPlanet 2 -- not all of them were revealed in this morning's action-packed, Passion Pit-infused trailer. According to Healy, improving the "Play, Create, Share" pillars of the first game was a focus for the sequel. The first two will be bolstered by new creation tools like the Direct Control Seat and character AI, which allow you to modify the genre of your homespun creations. The Share pillar will see the implementation of the web functionality teased last year, suited to creating personalized websites for each of your in-game creations and making them easier to share with other players. Media Molecule will also streamline the stage-finding process with Level Links -- badges you can embed within your levels, which players can use to hop directly into another of your creations, or the next sequential level in your fully-formed game. Finally, on the subject of Sony's motion controller, Healy said the potential to play the game using only the Move and Sub Controller "seems like a bit of a no-brainer." However, he added, "we're totally going to go to town on supporting that, but I don't think we will have the full functionality at launch." After watching this tech demo, we're not sure we can wait for the Move's near-limitless capacity for Sackboy-griefing.
LittleBigPlanet 2 trailer falls to Earth
digg_url = 'http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/10/littlebigplanet-2-trailer-falls-to-earth/'; Media Molecule officially took the handmade wraps off its game-sweding suite's sequel, LittleBigPlanet 2. How do you make a full sequel to a game that's already had a sequel's worth of free content updates? Media Molecule appears to have expanded its game-making engine significantly. For example, it is now possible to add AI characters called "Sackbots," with behavior you can record or define. Levels can also be bundled to make a whole game, and those games don't have to be platformers. The trailer above gives us brief looks at racing games (one of which appears to involve players riding mice) and a Space Invaders-style shooter. You can even open use a "Direct Control Seat" to alter controls, allowing you to control objects that are not Sackboy, "and make a game that doesn't even remotely resemble" Media Molecule's foundation. This sequel will even, in a way, act as yet another upgrade to the original: all of the two-million-plus LittleBigPlanet 1 levels will still work. LittleBigPlanet 2 will be out on PlayStation 3 in Winter 2010.
Media Molecule re-confirms LittleBigPlanet 2, more details coming Monday
Though the first day of the working week is typically despised by most intelligent lifeforms -- especially Garfield -- we've got something to look forward to this coming Monday. Following information about Game Informer's feature article on LittleBigPlanet 2, Media Molecule Tweeted that the game is, in fact, real, and that we can expect "full mega details on Monday." Details supposedly culled from the Game Informer feature have already found their way online, but we think we can wait another 48 hours for the first-hand skinny. [Thanks Luis!]
LittleBigPlanet 2 revealed in June Game Informer
While Gears of War 3 may hold the cover spot of the next issue of Game Informer, the June 2010 issue will also feature a "huge feature" on LittleBigPlanet 2, Sony's not-yet-announced-but-very-real platforming sequel. Considering the numerous leaks surrounding the title, we're unsurprised that the game's existence is confirmed by an uneventful preview of a preview. If Sony shows this off at its E3 press conference, just try to act shocked, okay? [Thanks, Scuba Owl!]
Musician announces licensed song for LittleBigPlanet 2
It looks likely that LittleBigPlanet 2 in the works. Musician Christopher Leary (aka Ochre) announced on his Twitter that his song, "Infotain Me" has been licensed to Sony for use in LitteBigPlanet 2 on PS3. This would be the second accidental mention of a sequel to Media Molecule's platformer in under a month. First spotted by IGN, Sony refused to offer comment on the tweet, simply stating it "does not comment on rumors and speculation." Hopefully, if this sequel is real, it will provide full backwards compatibility with the original game -- something that was promised by Media Molecule's Alex Evans. Listen to the track after the break.
The Incredibles powering their way into LittleBigPlanet
How adorable is this? Just when you thought you might be done Sackboying around, they find a way to suck you right back in. This time it's a Disney/Pixar inspired Incredibles costume and level packs coming on April 8th. According to the PlayStation blog, "This huge pack features NINE costumes: all of The Incredibles family (including a "Retro" Mr. Incredible sporting his classic blue costume), their allies Frozone and Edna Mode, and their arch nemesis, Syndrome." You'll be able to purchase individual costumes as well, and download the Incredibles Level Kit that includes locations from the movie, and all the materials used to make it. Pixar may not have given us a sequel to The Incredibles yet, but now you can make your own. We can't wait to see what Syndrome looks like. Is Disney going to move their entire universe into LBP some day? Pirates of the Caribbean vs. The Incredibles, here we come. Dibs on Dash. [Thanks, Conor]
Sony Benelux brand manager casually mentions 'LittleBigPlanet 2'
In a video interview posted by Game-Vid and reported by Dutch tech site Tweakers, a kind of nervous-sounding Folkert Langeveld, PlayStation marketing manager for Sony Benelux, appears to have outed LittleBigPlanet 2. His Dutch-language speech about the PlayStation Move hits all the familiar bullet points: support for downloadable games like Hustle Kings, new games like The Shoot, and major releases like SOCOM 4. The thing is, he also name-drops a "LittleBigPlanet Twee" -- or, in English, "LittleBigPlanet Two." (See the video interview after the break.) While it makes sense on a base level for Sony to release a sequel to one of its flagship games, we're leaving the possibility open that Langeveld simply misspoke, for a couple of reasons: First, Sony has made repeated reference to Move support for the original LittleBigPlanet, something that Langeveld didn't mention; and second, Media Molecule level designer Danny Leaver once said that a sequel would be "the most counterproductive thing you could do I think." Of course, Leaver may have been overruled by Media Molecule's Alex Evans, who said last year that he would "love there to be a sequel" -- and overruled by Sony, which owns the studio now.
LittleBigPlanet 'Amphibious' Contraption Challenge winner revealed
Media Molecule's latest exercise in LittleBigPlanet creativity -- a Contraption Challenge in which players had to build clever water-traversing vehicles -- has borne some pretty delicious fruits. The six finalists' creations can be seen in the video above, but first place (a title that comes with a copy of LittleBigPlanet PSP and a PSP Go) went to Asbestos101's "Crouching Boat, Hidden Car." We can't wait to see what the next LBP challenge will require from its players -- perhaps an AI construct built from simple switches and levers that's capable of love?
SOCOM 4 to support PlayStation Move
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/SOCOM_4_to_support_PlayStation_Move_Joystiq'; During its GDC 2010 conference Sony has revealed that Zipper Interactive's upcoming shooter SOCOM 4 will support the (just officially named) PlayStation Move motion controller. Controlling the shooter requires the PlayStation Move and its optional secondary device known as the Move "Sub-controller" -- a wand like device which sports an analog stick. During Sony's Game Developer's Conference keynote SOCOM 4 was demoed using the precise motion-control scheme to varying accuracy success. PlayStation Move support was also showcased in a demo for LittleBigPlanet (originally shown at TGS 2009) where PlayStation Move players could interact with the environment around Sackboy (or Sackgirl!). Sony also featured a handful of mini-games for an upcoming compilation title titled Sports Champions, including a gladiator-style fighter and table tennis. The PlayStation Move will release later this year in a variety of bundles.
We leprechaun't believe this week's LittleBigPlanet DLC
No globally-recognized holiday can escape attention from Media Molecule's DIY platformer, LittleBigPlanet, don't ya know? This week, the PS3 version of the game will receive a free St. Patrick's Day-themed costume, which turns your adorable sack-vatar into a reddish-orange-bearded leprechaun. That's really exciting news if you're a fan of Lucky Charms -- but really terrifying news if you're familiar with Warwick Davis' acclaimed psychological thriller series. We hate to derail this post's train of thought, but we've been absorbed by the rich mythos of Leprechaun after reading that Wikipedia entry. Did you guys know there have been six installments in the Leprechaun franchise? It's true: Leprechaun, Leprechaun 2, Leprechaun 3, Leprechaun 4: In Space, Leprechaun: In the Hood and Leprechaun: Back to tha Hood. This is not a joke. Those are all real movies, which real people really made.
Media Molecule becomes a wholly-owned Sony first-party studio
A lot of developers have earned publishing deals with Sony this generation, but only a small handful have managed to deliver a real "blockbuster." (Sorry, Lair and Heavenly Sword.) Three million copies, two million levels, and one Game of the Year edition later, Sony Computer Entertainment has decided to purchase LittleBigPlanet developer Media Molecule. The Guildford-based studio will join the ranks of other SCEE teams, such as London Studio, Guerrilla Games and Evolution Studios. While Media Molecule is no longer an independent studio, Michael Denny, Senior VP of Sony Worldwide Studios promised to continue supporting the team: "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." The acquisition likely guarantees that Media Molecule will continue to work on the LittleBigPlanet "platform" for years to come -- although we hope SCEE allows the team to explore creating new franchises as well. Of course, considering the ambitious plans the team has for LBP, it seems Media Molecule will have their hands full for quite a long time.
LittleBigPlanet reaches two million user created levels
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/playstation/LittleBigPlanet_Reaches_2_Million_User_Created_Levels'; You may not be checking LittleBigPlanet for new levels as obsessively as you once were, but that doesn't mean that junior designers aren't still out there trying to perfect Super Mario Bros. 1-1 or trying to recreate the myth of Sisyphus. The game's community has just reached another big milestone: Two million available levels. It took them nine months to get the first million in late July of 2009, meaning that development isn't slowing down. In fact, it would appear to be speeding up. It's inspired us to dust off our LittleBigPlanet disc and ... oh, wait.
