The LittleBigPlanet pre-release Saga

[upnorthsox]

Ah, awesome. I'm hoping too that they expand to different gametypes and perspectives (shooters? adventure games?), or even 3d. But we'll see what happens. Nothing but goodness from these guys, so I'm willing to just wait and see ... Or a true 2D version for the PSP that uses the same assets? Probably not because that's actually been discussed.

IMHO this is still the killer app waiting to happen, if you could create your own levels on the ps3 and then upload them to your psp and bring them with you to school/work/commute to play or let others see and play what you've created you've hugely expanded your audience and playability. All they'd really need for this is a game runtime app for the psp.

 

[patsu]

I salivate at the above PSP idea.

My random guess would be social gaming integration with the web. If they are going for RPG elements, I think they need drama (or dramatic elements/ingredients) even more, otherwise it's more like grinding.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

PSP version can't happen IMO. The assets are too memory hungry, the processing requirements probably too high in enough cases to cause slowdown. A new game mode is plausible, but at the same time I think that'd actually be too much for starters! Given Alex Evans remarks about simplifying things, that added complexity doesn't seem right for launch.

I can only hope that it really is something worthwhile, unlike so many 'killer bombshell announcements' that go pffft...

 

[patsu]

Yeah... I am not holding my breathe for anything exciting. At this late stage, I think they should focus on polishing the game until it rivals MGS4 in attention to details. They can always introduce great ideas via a patch rather than letting everything out at one go.

 

[Cornsnake]

I can only hope that it really is something worthwhile, unlike so many 'killer bombshell announcements' that go pffft...

He should have waited until the official announcement. Now they'll never be able to live up to everyone's expectations. People got excited over LBP because they always showed great thing instead of telling us about it. LBP already has enough to make me happy, I not getting my hopes up for something unknown, when its only 2 months away from release.

 

[upnorthsox]

Speaking of different game types, God of Sackboy anyone?

 

[Npl]

Speaking of different game types, God of Sackboy anyone?

Is that a mockup or that "Sack of War"-skin in the game?

 

[patsu]

Pre-order goodies:
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/08/05/littlebigplanet-pre-order-goodness/

EDIT: I would have much much preferred Solid Snake.

 

[mister slim]

EDIT: I would have much much preferred Solid Snake.

You mean Solid Sack.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Is that a mockup or that "Sack of War"-skin in the game?

It's a download skin for preorders. I've already placed my preorder so I guess I get no goodies.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

An Edge preview. Highlights :

How about setting the scene? Select which of the available backdrops you want, from dew-spattered garden to sun-scorched desert, then use the sliders within Popit to change the time of day, increase fog, alter brightness and even colour-correct.

From these relatively simple components the team has already made RPGs, complex platformers with numerous stages and hub worlds, and puzzle games like Tetris. It’s even made a version of OutRun, which simulates the changing road ahead by moving about a set of painted strips of wood on hinges.

While the aesthetic is unmistakably its own, the mixture of precision jumping, simple physics and the intricate clutters of moving platforms is strongly evocative of 16bit gaming. There’s ingenuity and humour on display everywhere, with risky secret routes to be uncovered, jumble-sale landslides to trigger and an entire sequence that plays out on the back of a mechanical elephant which advances across a bed of flames...With fairly low expectations for this aspect of the game, it’s a revelation to come away with the sense that we’ve just played through some of the purest 2D design we’ve seen since Super Mario World.

Healey laughs: “The game hasn’t even been released yet – it might be crap. Never been one to believe in hype, myself.”

 

[upnorthsox]

An Edge preview. Highlights :

Great article, maybe the best I've read on LBP but what's up with those Vogue-esque photos?

“We’ve struggled with describing the game,” admits Healey finally. “Different people do it their own way. For me, it’s a creative tool. Other people say it’s a game that you play and learn to make stuff.” He frowns and leans forward, and then, in four words, unintentionally sums everything up: “What do you think?”

What a great phrase to build a marketing campaign around, it really goes to the essense and appeal of the product.

 

[patsu]

It's a download skin for preorders. I've already placed my preorder so I guess I get no goodies.

Is that how it works ? I placed my MGS4 preorder very early due to the insufficient BD50 rumor. I still got all the goodies when they handed me the disc.

“We’ve struggled with describing the game,” admits Healey finally. “Different people do it their own way. For me, it’s a creative tool. Other people say it’s a game that you play and learn to make stuff.” He frowns and leans forward, and then, in four words, unintentionally sums everything up: “What do you think?”

I caught on to this statement as well. I can't place the game in my mind. May be a new category, or may be a non-game, or may be a disappointment if it dilutes/losses the game elements too much. It's a very strange title.

This is one game that needs to go cross-platform (in a limited, "marketing" way), or even cross media. Everyone needs to experience this title and chip in.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Is that how it works ? I placed my MGS4 preorder very early due to the insufficient BD50 rumor. I still got all the goodies when they handed me the disc.

From the blog,

Exclusive Nariko SackGirl - SackBoy’s beware! Nariko SackGirl has been known to keep other SackBoys (and SackGirls) in check. This exclusive downloadable costume features our favorite heroine on the PS3.

Exclusive Kratos SackBoy - Nuff’ said. Yes…the forum rumors were true - but the biggest question remains “why didn’t this guy smile?” Seriously, this is another exclusive downloadable costume that will elevate your SackBoy status to godlike proportions.

I caught on to this statement as well. I can't place the game in my mind. May be a new category, or may be a non-game, or may be a disappointment if it dilutes/losses the game elements too much. It's a very strange title.

The gameplay mechanic is still core platformer, puzzler with vehicles. It just comes with an advanced creation aspect, like Banjo Threeie or Kingdom Hearts have their vehicle creation, and also a full modding system in place.

But really, it's just a big fun playpit of stuff, and anyone trying to pigeon-hole it is missing the point! Why does it need a label? If it does, call it a game...

 

[patsu]

From the blog, The gameplay mechanic is still core platformer, puzzler with vehicles. It just comes with an advanced creation aspect, like Banjo Threeie or Kingdom Hearts have their vehicle creation, and also a full modding system in place.

But really, it's just a big fun playpit of stuff, and anyone trying to pigeon-hole it is missing the point! Why does it need a label? If it does, call it a game...

I may not be able to explain it well. And to be fair to the game, I don't have enough information to critic it.

The "label" (or rather, sense of identity) is important only because it will have implications when it comes to the implementation details. MM may have to give or take conflicting elements during the development process.

For example, MM can get carried away by the world builder "realism" mechanics and forget to reward/entertain the users at every little steps (to keep them going):
http://kotaku.com/5033986/dont-let-sackboys-cute-face-fool-you-lbp-is-hard

Then again, if the goal is to create a great end user game, then they only need appealing and addictive completed levels. Leave the intricacies and expressiveness to the hard core gamers and creators.

That's why I can't decide where to place the game yet.

EDIT:

So we finally got the hat on the piece of wood and I put some wheels on. But then since the hat is light, we had to make sure it’s glued down or it will blow off. Then we had to add two motors (one for each wheel) and manually go in and alter the settings to adjust the speed of the car.

Why can't they add a "super-glue" tool to "stick" 2 items together regardless of the physics (even fire + metal) ? It helps people to build fast and makes the building process much more fun.

 

[Gradthrawn]

LBP Official (US) site is up, and integrated with PSN.

For now, the news site will keep you informed, educated and hopefully excited about our release in October, but eventually, our website will evolve into something much bigger and better to support our community of Players, Creators and Sharers.

The animated Flash banner (featuring the waving Sackboy) at the top of the page is customizable with stickers, using a GUI reminiscent of the in-game version. Just click on the Sackboy to bring up the menu.

 

[Arwin]

Interesting stuff ... I subscribed to the RSS feed, so Opera will keep me up-to-date.

 

[patsu]

LBP Official (US) site is up, and intergrated with PSN.

I think that's the community and news site. The official LBP site is http://littlebigplanet.com/

The flash banner at the top is customizable with stickers, using a GUI reminiscent of the in-game version.

Cool, took me a while to realize what you're refering to.

 

[Gradthrawn]

I'm wondering if we're going to see some dedicated creation, sharing, tips/tricks, etc threads for LBP? I could imagine 1 single LBP thread getting extremely messy with users asking questions, giving general impressions, giving level impressions, sharing videos, describing their own levels, and so on. Or perhaps it will be handled on a need-by-need basis with spin-off threads created and clean up performed as necessary? Just curious.

Even with the small group who have actively expressed interest here, I could see this thread getting quite disorderly upon release.

EDIT

I think that's the community and news site. The official LBP site is http://littlebigplanet.com/

You're right, my mistake. I can see why they separated them, two very different purposes (and thus 2 very different designs).

Cool, took me a while to realize what you're refering to.

Ah, yes. Reading back I guess I wasn't very clear.

 

[patsu]

I'm wondering if we're going to see some dedicated creation, sharing, tips/tricks, etc threads for LBP? I could imagine 1 single LBP thread getting extremely messy with users asking questions, giving general impressions, giving level impressions, sharing videos, describing their own levels, and so on. Or perhaps it will be handled on a need-by-need basis with spin-off threads created and clean up performed as necessary? Just curious.

Even with the small group who have actively expressed interest here, I could see this thread getting quite disorderly upon release.

Ha ha... I think organic forum works great. They can publish an official doc with sections linking to different threads to organize it better.

It should not be too sterilized. I actually like the whole place to be a little messy but structured in a simple way (not too refined).

Search is probably the single most important function there. A close second is recommendation/voting.

EDIT: Check out this thread: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=330527
to see the creativity of GAF posters using the LBP flash banner alone.