LittleBigPlanet

] .

Objects

Objects are made of many different, selectable materials, such as felt, wood, metal or sponge. [cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI5JmcQv3n4|title=GDC March 07: LittleBigPlanet Gameplay video|publisher=youtube.com] The materials act realistically; wood does not change shape when you stand on it or grab it, while felt "squishes" and deforms. Objects are selectable from a pull-out menu, nicknamed "Pop-It" [cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaWpSyJjDwA|title=E3 2007: LittleBigPlanet Interview|publisher=youtube.com] , accessible at any point during play.

Usable items are not limited to physical objects; from the "Pop-It" menu "stickers" are also selectable. These "stickers" are pasted to any object or wall throughout the world, limited only by the player/level creator's imagination. The stickers can be created from photos taken from the PlayStation Eye.

A resource system is also in the game, where sponge and other items are collected by the player in order to fuel their ability to build new objects.

Player control

Players can jump, move, and grab objects by using the controller. The analogue sticks are used for movement and camera control during the game, but may also be used to move a characters' arms by pressing a certain button to swap between functionality. The head can be moved by using the Sixaxis tilt control.

Character movement will also be based on how hard the controller is used, much like pressure sensitivity; for instance, when the L2 or R2 triggers are held (for the left and right arms respectively), jerking the analogue stick will cause the player to slap another player inside the game.

Grabbing is also a key ability; it allows a character to pull an object, or even another character, in whatever direction they are currently moving. This allows, for example, a chain of players to hang off a rope when only one character is actually grabbing the rope. Also, it allows a jetpack-equipped player to carry other players through the sky.

Emotions are also a controllable aspect of the characters. Aside from the normal expression the player's avatar exhibits, the player also has a choice of four different emotions to show, each emotion triggered by pressing a directional button on the controller's D-pad. Starting from the upward directional button and going clockwise, the emotions are as follows: happy, angry, sad, and nervous. Each emotion has three different levels of intensity, the emotion growing more intense with each consecutive press. Kyle Schubel of SCEA also mentioned they want to expand the emote system even more. [cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlhfoILrbeo|title=Kyle Schubel explains emotions and interactions in a LittleBigPlanet demonstration]

User-created content

After the player has completed three of the levels which ship with the game they will be able to access "Create" mode, "LittleBigPlanet"'s integrated content-creation systemcite web|url=http://www.littlebigmadness.com/news/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-littlebigplanet/|title=10 things you didn’t know about LittleBigPlanet|publisher=Little Big Madness|date=2008-09-15|accessdate=2008-09-15] . Any level or individual object can be edited by the player. This includes those which ship with the game, are created by other users or are created by the player. When in "Create" mode, the player can fly around the level on a jetpack. Pressing the down button on the d-pad will deactivate the jetpack, allowing the user to test the level under normal game conditions. "Create" mode allows the player to dynamically place, edit, morph, rotate and interact with objects within the game world. The tactile design of the objects and materials available react as at the player would expect when under game physics. Objects can be made out of glass, metal, sponge, polystyrene, cardboard and rubber. More complex items can be built using these materials in conjunction with glue, bolts, string, rods, springs, elastic, winches and pistons. Players will also have access to a range of pre-made objects, such as vehicles, which are shipped with the game or user-created objects which can be given as rewards by the creator for completing his or her level [cite web|url=http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/9860|title=GDC 07: LittleBigPlanet Presentation|publisher=Gamevideos.com] . The user can obtain new objects and materials by collecting the "Prize Bubbles" placed throughout the pre-made levels.

The player may place stickers onto the objects in their level. These stickers can be images included in the game or stored on the user's hard drive, photos taken using the PlayStation Eye camera or screenshots taken in-game. From here, levels can be uploaded onto the game's servers where other players can download, play, and edit them. When levels are created, the player can choose to provide a reward for completing the level. Objects given as prizes can then be used in the player's own level, however they are not able to provide it as a reward. The developers hope that this will help expand the "share" aspect of the game by encouraging users to discuss others' levels with each other and in turn exponentially improve a level's popularity.

User-generated content is not tied to any specific region. This means that all user-created levels will be accessible by users from all three gaming regions; Europe, North America and Asia [cite web|url=http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/08/23/littlebigplanet-confirmed-region-free-by-scee-rep/|title=LittleBigPlanet confirmed region-free by SCEE rep|publisher=ps3fanboy|date=2008-08-23|accessdate=2008-10-10] .

Character customisation

The player may customise their character in a range of ways. They are able to select a base colour and texture for their "Sackboy" from a range of materials and designs. They are also able to create items for the character to wear such as masks and clothes as well as give them pre-made items including swords and capes. The game will also feature items based on other PlayStation 3 franchises such as a "Killzone 2" maskcite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5030312/tons-yes-tons-of-littlebigplanet-info|title=Tons (Yes, Tons) Of LittleBigPlanet Info|publisher=Kotaku|author=Brian Ashcraft|date=2008-07-29|accessdate=2008-07-29] and character models based on Kratos, Medusa and Minotaur from the "God of War" series, [cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/07/gamestop-lbp-pre-order-adds-more-god-of-war-sackness/|title=GameStop LBP pre-order adds more God of War sackness|publisher=Joystiq|date=2008-10-07] Nariko from "Heavenly Sword", Old Snake from "" and Sephiroth from "Final Fantasy VII". [cite web|url=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/10/08/tgs-08-sackboy-solid-snake-and-sephiroth-to-join-littlebigplanet/|title=TGS 08: Sackboy Old Snake and Sephiroth to join LittleBigPlanet|publisher=PlayStation.Blog|date=2008-10-08] [cite web|url=http://209.85.171.104/translate_c?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://www.jp.playstation.com/scej/title/lbp/colabo_081009.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dplaystation%2Bjp%26num%3D30%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26pwst%3D1&usg=ALkJrhjBES9EPSCOts_rtCvEXc1AccTpvg | title=Add the delivery of content information RITORUBIGGUPURANETTO |RITORUBIGGUPURANETTO ™|publisher=SCEJ|date=2008-10-09]

Multiplayer

"LittleBigPlanet" features a range of multiplayer options. Levels can be played online with up to four players, locally with up to four players or with a mixture of up to four online and local players. Up to four local users can play together in "Create" mode, the ability to create levels with up to four players online will be added in and update at some point after the game's launch [cite web|url=http://n4g.com/ps3/News-202456.aspx|title=LBP will lack "Online Create" mode at Launch|publisher=N4G.com] . How multiple users play with each other is dependent on the design of the level and how the users choose to play allowing the players to choose whether they play cooperatively or battle against each other to get to the finish line first or collect the most bubbles [cite web|url=http://ps3.ign.com/objects/856/856680.html | title=IGN: LittleBigPlanet] [cite web|url=http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=littlebigplanet&message.id=23152#M23152 | title=Sam's post on the PlayStation Underground forums.] . Each local player will also be able to sign in to their own PlayStation Network account and individually collect trophies for their own account. This is the first time such a feature has been included in a PlayStation 3 game [cite web|url=http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2008/09/02/lbp-multi-user-logons/|title=LBP: Multi User Logons|publisher=TheSixthAxis|date=2008-09-02|accessdate=2008-09-02] .

Development

Mark Healy recalled that the first conversation he had about the game that was to become "LittleBigPlanet", was with Dave Smith (a fellow co-founder of Media Molecule) after they had been to the cinema to see "Howl's Moving Castle". Healy and Smith talked about a game that had character controls similar to their previous game "Rag Doll Kung Fu", but that would be playable on a console. Healey, Evans, Smith & Kareem Ettouney left Lionhead in December 2005 and managed to arrange a meeting with Phil Harrison (The then head of development for Sony Worldwide Studios). They created a prototype of their idea, a game called "Craftworld", a physics-based, 2D side-scrolling game, with a place holder character called Mr Yellowhead. Mr Yellowhead's arms were controllable with the right analogue stick of the PlayStation 2 controller that Media Molecule had connected to their PC, his legs were controlled with the left stick. The object of the game was to guide Mr. Yellowhead past a number of obstacles by grabbing onto objects and pushing or rolling them aroundhttp://uk.gamespot.com/news/6167059.html] .

They pitched their idea to Harrison using their own software rather than Powerpoint. Their software allowed for bullet point information but also for live controllable movement of game characters. By their own admission the pitch was vague and they had deliberately toned down some of the weirder aspects for fear of scaring Sony off. Evans relates that Harrison actually picked up on the weird angle of the game and asked them why they didn't do more of it. Sony agreed to pick up the game and Evans et al had received funding from them by January 2006 with Media Molecule being incorporated as a company in Februarycite book| last = Simons| first = Iain| authorlink = Iain Simons| title = Inside Game Design| publisher = Laurence King Publishing| series =| year = 2007| doi = | isbn = 978-1-85669-532-9| pages = pp 89-94] .

The game was less than one year into development when it was first shown and GDC in 2007. In an interview with Eurogamer, Media Molecule's Alex Evans said that this sort of public approach to the game's development meant that they have been able to react to feedback from the community. He also states that the game has been specifically designed to allow them to easily implement further developments in the future based on demand from the players [cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=224220&page=3|title=Media Molecule's Alex Evans] .

Marketing

Both Sony Computer Entertainment and Media Molecule have undertaken a robust marketing campaign in the run-up to the game's release. In North America, SCEA have partnered with several of the major online retailers including Amazon.com, GameStop [cite web|url=http://littlebigplanet.us.playstation.com/post/2008/08/Pre-Order-Details-Amazon--GameStop.aspx|title=Pre-Order Details: Amazon & GameStop |publisher=SCEA|date=2008-08-13] , Circuit City [cite web|url=http://littlebigplanet.us.playstation.com/post/2008/08/Pre-Orders-LittleBigStickerBook.aspx|title=Pre-Orders: LittleBigStickerBook |publisher=SCEA|date=2008-08-26] , Best Buycite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5044759/where-to-get-your-lbp-nariko-sackgirl|title=Where To Get Your LBP Nariko SackGirl |publisher=Kotaku|date=2008-09-03] and Game Crazy [cite web|url=http://littlebigplanet.us.playstation.com/post/2008/08/Pre-orders-Phase-2.aspx|title=Pre-orders: Phase 2 |publisher=SCEA|date=2008-08-20] to offer unique bonus gifts to customers pre-ordering the game from the selected retailers. These gifts include codes to access additional in-game characters, a sticker book, a burlap pouch for storing the game disk in and an official game guide published by Brady Games [cite web|url=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/08/05/littlebigplanet-pre-order-goodness/|title=LittleBigPlanet: Pre-order Goodness|publisher=SCEA|date=2008-08-05] . The game's developers have also created retailer-specific trailers for Amazon.com and Wal-Mart. These videos feature in-game footage of levels featuring the retailer's logo built using the in-game toolset and have been embedded into LittleBigPlanet's product page on their respective websites [cite web|url=http://littlebigplanet.us.playstation.com/post/2008/08/Retail-Exclusive-Videos-%e2%80%93-Only-The-Beginning.aspx|title=Retail Exclusive Videos – Only The Beginning |publisher=SCEA|date=2008-08-18] .

In the UK, SCEE have partnered with Play.com to offer a downloadable Nariko character (from "Heavenly Sword") to customers who pre-order the game. Also, a temporary shop has been set-up in Manchester's town centre where people will be able to play the game before its release. This shop is due to move to central London in early October. [cite web|url=http://threespeech.com/blog/2008/09/littlebigplanet-pop-up-space-in-manchester/|title= LittleBigPlanet Pop-up Space in Manchester! |publisher=ThreeSpeech|date=2008-09-17] .

Release

A demo version of the game was planned for release on the PlayStation Network in the fourth quarter of 2007, but was delayed until 2008. [cite web|url=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2007/12/11/little-big-planet-demo-not-coming-in-2007|title=Little Big Planet Demo Not Coming In 2007|publisher=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com]

Original announcements pointed to a full release early in 2008, but Sony later said that the game had been delayed until September 2008 in the UK.cite web|url=http://www.videogaming247.com/2008/03/26/lbp-killzone-2-and-resistance-2-dated-for-europe/|title=LBP, Killzone 2 and Resistance 2 dated for Europe|publisher=videogaming247.com] However, during the Sony PlayStation Day on 6 May 2008 in London, Sony announced that the game would be delayed by one month.cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=137090 |title=LittleBigPlanet coming in October News // PS3 /// Eurogamer] It is now scheduled for release on 21 October, 2008 in North America, 22 October in Europe and Australasia, 24 October in the UK and Ireland cite web|url=http://littlebigplanet.us.playstation.com/post/2008/09/Fun-Shall-Overcome-on-October-21.aspx|title=Fun Shall Overcome on October 21|author="SackBoy103"|date=2008-09-19] and 30 October in Japan.

A public beta version of the game was previously scheduled for the summer of 2008, [cite web|url=http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-news/2994.html|title=PS3 News: LittleBigPlanet Closed Beta Drops This Summer] but it was later announced that only private beta testing would take place, with the possibility of a publicly available demo before the full game is released [cite web|url=http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/05/08/littlebigplanet-open-beta-will-never-happen/|title=LittleBigPlanet open beta will never happen|publisher=PS3 Fanboy] . However, in a later interview, Alex Evans, Co-Founder of Media Molecule, said that a beta would be released in September 2008 describing it as "a public beta, but limited at the same time." He goes on to say "We will disclose that info when we’re ready."cite web|url=http://whatifgaming.com/whatifgaming-e3-08-littlebigplanet-beta-coming-this-september|title=LittleBigPlanet Beta Coming This September|publisher=WhatIfGaming|author=Usman Ihtsham] The first beta became playable on September 23 when gaming website EuroGamer began offering beta codes to its members on the same date, with a total of 5,800 codes available; the website quickly buckled under the influx of visitors, with many unable to load the site. Subsequently, several other gaming websites including 1UP.com [cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8884809&publicUserId=1002415|title=Little Big Beta] and GameSpot [cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/shows/on-the-spot/?tag=promo%3btitle|title=On The Spot Podcast] have offered beta codes to their users. Redeemable through the PlayStation 3's Account Management section, players with both a code and a PlayStation network account will be able to play the beta until October 12.cite web|url=http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/09/23/littlebigplanet-beta-begins-tomorrow-codes-available-on-eurogam/|date=2008-09-23|accessdate-2008-09-23|publisher=PS3Fanboy|first=Jem|last=Alexander|title=LittleBigPlanet beta begins tomorrow, codes available on Eurogamer]

Reaction

Previews

The unveiling of "LittleBigPlanet" at the 2007 Game Developers Conference (GDC) elicited numerous positive reactions. In his BBC News blog, technology editor Darren Waters wrote, "LittleBigPlanet" is perhaps one of the most dazzling demos I've seen in the last 10 years." [cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technology/2007/03/a_whole_new_world_1.shtml|title=BBC News article based on the GDC demo|publisher=bbc.co.uk] IGN described the game as "beautiful" and reports that "Even in the presence of Home, Sony's impressive new community software, "LittleBigPlanet" stole the show at Phil Harrison's Game 3.0 practice conference, and was the thing that everyone was talking about." [cite web|url=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/770/770999p1.html|title=IGN reaction to the GDC demo|publisher=ign.com] . 1UP writes that "There are plenty of questions remaining about "LittleBigPlanet" … but it's clear from the reaction to the game so far that it has already won over many fans" and that "this could be something very special." [cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3157799|title=1UP reaction to the GDC demo|publisher=1up.com] Slashdot Games editor Michael Zenke suggested that the game could be the PlayStation 3's killer application, saying, "if these elements are for real, this is the reason to buy PlayStation 3". [cite web|url=http://games.slashdot.org/games/07/03/07/209213.shtml|title=Sony Keynote Offers Hope For Playstation 3 Fans|publisher=slashdot.org] Even Reggie Fils-Aime, the president of Nintendo of America, praised the product, though he was unsure how the game would fare on Sony's platform. [cite web|url=http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5117&Itemid=2|title=Nintendo Wanted Media Molecule|publisher=Next Generation - Interactive Entertainment Today]

Reviews

VG Reviews
width = 25em
OPMUK = 10/10cite journal|author=Leon Hurley/Ben Wilson|year=2008|month=November|title=LittleBigPlanet - The best game on the PS3 is the one you make|journal=PlayStation Official Magazine|issue=24|pages=92-99|publisher=Future Publishing|location=UK|language=British English|format=Print|accessdate=2008-09-30]
rev1 = Game Reactor
rev1Score = 10/10The first major publication to review "LittleBigPlanet" was the UK edition of "PlayStation Official Magazine". In their November edition they gave the game a score of 10/10.

References

External links

* [http://www.littlebigplanet.com/ Official Game Website]
* [http://littlebigplanet.us.playstation.com/ Official Blog]
* [http://www.jp.playstation.com/scej/title/lbp/ LittleBigPlanet at PlayStation Japan]
* [http://uk.playstation.com/games-media/games/detail/item76401/LittleBigPlanet%E2%84%A2/ LittleBigPlanet at PlayStation UK]
* [http://au.playstation.com/games_media/games/ps3/l/littlebigplanet.jhtml LittleBigPlanet at PlayStation Australia]
* [http://nz.playstation.com/games_media/games/ps3/l/littlebigplanet.jhtml LittleBigPlanet at PlayStation New Zealand]
* [http://www.us.playstation.com/PS3/Games/LittleBigPlanet LittleBigPlanet at PlayStation US]
* [http://mediamolecule.com/games.html Media Molecule official "LittleBigPlanet" page]
*dmoz|Games/Video_Games/Action/L/LittleBigPlanet|"pagename"
*wikia|littlebigplanet|LittleBigPlanet Wiki