LittleBigPlanet (2008 video game)

LittleBigPlanet
File:LittleBigPlanet logo2.png Logo for the game
Developer(s)	Media Molecule
Publisher(s)	Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3
Release	TBA Early 2008 TBA TBA
Genre(s)	Platformer
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer, Co-Op

LittleBigPlanet is an upcoming title for the PlayStation 3. It was first announced on March 7, 2007 by Phil Harrison at the 2007 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, California. In the game, players control characters, using their various abilities to shape and develop the highly manipulable environment to build custom spaces, individually, collaboratively, and/or competitively. The game provides opportunities for players to acquire new skills and tools. LittleBigPlanet features global community features through the PlayStation Network for players to interact and share their "patches". It is being developed by Media Molecule, a British company founded in part by Rag Doll Kung Fu creator Mark Healey. A demo version of the game is stated to be released on the PlayStation Network in the fourth quarter of 2007, with a full version expected to be released in early 2008.

Gameplay

During a session at the 2007 Game Developers Conference, gameplay details were revealed to the audience. The game is currently in development but these details have been revealed so far:

The game features co-operative physics based gameplay, in which the player must overcome obstacles in a stage in order to get to the end. It also places significant emphasis on user-created content within the game, encouraging players to create their own levels and distribute them.

According to the on-stage demonstration at GDC 2007, each character can jump, move, and grab objects. Grabbing allows a character to pull an object (or another character) in whatever direction they are currently moving. This allows, for example, a chain of players to hang off of a rope when only one character is actually grabbing the rope. Also, it allows a jetpack-equipped player to carry the other players through the sky.

Objects are also made of many different, selectable materials, such as felt, wood, metal or sponge. The materials act realistically, where wood doesn't change shape when you stand on it or grab it, felt "squishes" and deforms. For example, at GDC 2007, the designers pull up a felt tree, a football (supposedly made of leather), an orange and stickers from the selectable menu, nicknamed "Pop-It" in a later interview.

So far, public exhibits of the game haven't shown any enemies, preferring to derive challenge from the stage itself, which the player must navigate by jumping, pushing, grabbing, running and flying through it to overcome numerous puzzles provided by the game's robust physics engine. However, according to senior producer Pete Wilson, the game will, in fact, have enemies, ranging from small to big and complex.

A scoring system was shown off at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show in the form of a time trial with a start and end gate. Scoring is based time and execution of the level.

A screenshot from LittleBigPlanet

The player is also able to move their characters' arms and head by using the control sticks and tilt control respectively. An unknown button on the controller, most probably a shoulder button, is likely used to swap the functionality of the joysticks from movement and camera control to individual arm control.

It was also revealed that character movement would also be based on how hard the controller is used, much like pressure sensitivity. For example, by jerking the analog stick, the player is able to slap another player inside the game.

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

User Created Content

LittleBigPlanet has integrated content-creation tools for the player. There is no special mode for the player to go into to reach them and, as such, are accessible to the player at all times. These tools enable the player to dynamically place, edit, morph, rotate and interact with objects within the game world. Dynamically reacting physical objects such as springs, ropes, levers, cloth and motors have been seen so far. Allusions to player created objects were also made by Alex Evans and Mark Healey during their presentation at GDC. Additionally, the player may place an unlimited number of decals or 'stickers' onto the objects in their stage, including custom ones from pictures stored on their hard drive or other storage media. From here, levels can be uploaded onto worldwide servers where other players can download them by browsing world ladders of popular maps.

Finally, the player's avatar, Sack boy/girl , can be heavily customized and personalized using the in-game creation tools.

History

LittleBigPlanet began life in January of 2006, soon after the founding of Media Molecule. Initially, it was a simple prototype called Craft-World, with a main character called "Sackboy", a little brown group of sacks shaped into a humanoid like shape with a face that will be your default character , two-dimensional world called Craftworld by rolling objects and jumping around. The colourscheme of the Media Molecule website and offices were eventually based on this.

Reaction

The unveiling of LittleBigPlanet at the GDC 2007 elicited numerous positive reactions. In his BBC News blog, technology editor Darren Waters writes, "LittleBigPlanet is perhaps one of the most dazzling demos I've seen in the last 10 years." 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.". 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." 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". Even Reggie Fils-Aime, the president of Nintendo of America, praised the product, though he wasn't sure how well it would do on the PlayStation 3.

See also

• List of PlayStation Network games

External links

• LittleBigPlanet page at Media Molecule
• LittleBigPlanet Full Demo Run at GDC 2007 at GameVideos.com