The Evilbore Official LittleBigPlanet* Thread

[duckman2000]

God damn, these MM designed levels are HOT

[cool breeze]

You can actually unlock that prototype character for LBP by acing the last stage.  I unlocked it and it's pretty cool because it's completely flat.

[duckman2000]

You know, I really hope these guys make a PSN platformer. No editing tools, no stickers, just a bunch of MM-designed levels set to some story of whatever quality.

[cool breeze]

It's not hard.  I aced it.  I aced every stage.

[Bebpo]

I didn't realize it, but the MM levels are kinda tough.  Normally I wouldn't mind this but the randomness of the physics at times + the LENGTH of the levels can occasionally = argh.

I wish MM cut the levels in half and made twice the levels at half the length.  I have an issue with this in user levels as well.  Making 10 min+ levels where suddenly there is a real hard section or physics dependent section at the end is distinguished mentally-challenged.  When I die 7/8 mins into a level I don't think "yay, I want to do all that again to get back to the hard part I was at!" I think "well I guess I'm not finishing this level".

I know some people will be against it, but honestly I think LBP would have been better with infinite lifes and special bonuses for finishing a level by acing it or under X amount of lives.  I mean you basically have infinite lives in Mario and can just keep retrying a section until you get it.   

[duckman2000]

I can't believe they are charging for costumes. Not much, but still.

[CurseoftheGods]

That's my main complaint too. The second half of the MM levels are frustratingly difficult, and they kind of turned me off the game after I've finished the story. I haven't played LBP for the past two weeks, but I expect I'll do so once the fall rush is over and there are more good levels online.

[cool breeze]

I can't believe they are charging for costumes. Not much, but still.

Yeah, I don't plan to buy any of them, but the things that piss me off are the game related ones.

Like, if they had common sense they would make it: Buy Motorstorm PR, get Motorstorm costume.  Instead it's $2.  It's such a dumb move.  I'm guessing the Killzone, MGS4, and FF7 ones will all be the same.

[Bebpo]

That's my main complaint too. The second half of the MM levels are frustratingly difficult, and they kind of turned me off the game after I've finished the story. I haven't played LBP for the past two weeks, but I expect I'll do so once the fall rush is over and there are more good levels online.

If I make a level, instead of making one ten minute level I'm going to make 3 three minute levels and call them 1-1, 1-2, 1-3.

It's a little annoying because there are so many incredible user levels out there already and I love playing them.  But if I die over 6-7 mins into one of them I'm not going to replay it, I'll just try another level.  I think most people are like that and level creators need to keep that in mind and be plentiful in checkpoints and lives.

[cool breeze]

Uh, so the entire moderation process of this game is fucked up.  The Azure Palace level was taken down because it had blood stains in the level.  Apparently the World of Colour level was also taken down, but that was in protest because the user's GoW level was removed.  Those were two of the best community levels.  What a mess.

[cool breeze]

wow, they even got to the Tetris level.  Are they fucked in the head or something? how is this a good idea at all?

[MrAngryFace]

HORSE ARMOR

[duckman2000]

Console gaming 

The camera shit is still the most annoying thing. Sony has boasted about this open format approach since before the generation began, and now when that approach can finally be applied in a positive way, they strangle it.

[duckman2000]

That thing, about charging for costumes, that just seems like a complete disconnect between financial and marketing. These things could be neat little marketing tools, but putting a price on them makes them immediately inaccessible to most, to be purchased almost exclusively by the already convinced. It doesn't matter that they are "cheap," as that is still a cost. For a fucking Sackboy costume. I love this game and I'm happy that they tried, but it really sucks to see it crumble. Not sure what this is going to mean for other games with a strong content creation and sharing component.

[cool breeze]

It's such a shame that there is so much bullshit happening with this game since the actual core game and idea is so damn good.  It's one of my favorite games this year, if not my favorite game this year, or even throughout this entire gen...but it's such a mess.  I check the gaf LBP thread every once in a while and you have people excited that the servers are up, almost like it's a gift to play the main draw of the game.  Now there is the DLC and moderation nonsense going on.

I will say that I would totally but substantial level packs made by MM for this game for DLC, just not costumes.  The MM levels are sooo good.  And again, why they aren't releasing level DLC with costumes as the prizes for those levels? I don't know.

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

I don't know if the core game is all that great 'cause the character is just way too floaty, the physics can really get in the way on some levels, and having it on 3 seperate planes hurts the experience rather than enhance it.  I'm finding the user created levels to be more enjoyable than some of the later stuff in the story mode but I'm feeling compelled to go back to MM's levels not because they were fun but just to collect the stickers...which is a little odd since I'll probably never actually sit down and build my own level.

[cool breeze]

I didn't have a problem with the 3 planes or the floaty controls once I got the hang of them.  The controls aren't so much floaty as they are based on inertia, and once you get that down, it all makes a lot of sense.  I got by the game fine, but it really 'clicked' in the later levels where you need to take advantage of the inertia based gameplay to get by some areas.  And the 3 planes isn't a problem if the level is well designed, the MM levels even showed how you can do some cool stuff by using them.

[CurseoftheGods]

And the 3 planes isn't a problem if the level is well designed, the MM levels even showed how you can do some cool stuff by using them.

That's the problem right there. After playing a bunch of levels online, it's almost apparent that MM are the only ones that know how to use the three planes in a good manner. Not a lot of users know how to take advantage of the z-axis properly.

[Bebpo]

I don't find the controls floaty, but yeah the 3 plane thing was a bad idea.  I think the game would've been better in everywhere if it was just a 2.5d platformer on a single plane.  The 3 plane thing limits you at times when building a level because you don't want the player to jump back into a plane full of lava or something when making a front plane jump.  I noticed this being a big issue when trying to ace the skulldozer level.

Otoh, some of you guys like DC need to chill about LBP suddenly collapsing and everything being a failure.  Sure there are problems, but all in all they affect you maybe 10% of the time.  The majority of the time LBP delivers on being an incredible user-content driven game.  Go play the levels in the gaf user-level thread and come back and try to say you are disappointed in LBP.  There are already more MM-calibur user-levels than there are MM levels in the game.  Once image importation from the hard drive is implemented (and it is 100% coming going by the devs blog), levels are just going to get even better.  Sure there will be hiccups with moderation and good levels will be taken down occasionally (though if the creators are not stubborn they will just re-up the level with visual changes; you can't copyright gameplay [well, maybe tetris]), but overall LBP has continued to produce incredible experiences one after another since launch and I only see the community getting better, not worse as months and years go by.

I agree that LBP is flawed.  It's probably an 8.5-9.0 game to me from a critical perspective.  Yet it's easily the best game I've played not only on the PS3, but this entire generation by giving form to the imagination of people around the world.  There are hundreds of "worlds" people have created already from the depths of their minds and the joy of exploring them and obtaining their objects/textures for your own creations is pure fun.  I was always a fan of rpg maker, fighter maker, N+, and any game that stresses the endless imagination of user minds.  LBP is the best realization of this to date, and as a nice bonus it's a pretty darn good looking engine to make visual beauties out of.

[Bebpo]

I agree that LBP is flawed.  It's probably an 8.5-9.0 game to me from a critical perspective.  Yet it's easily the best game I've played not only on the PS3, but this entire generation by giving form to the imagination of people around the world

but here's the problem - the moderation system is now become so weird that any level ideas i had (well, especially as the main one was to recreate an old ZX Spectrum game) has been flushed because there's no point making it if it's going to get pulled (which it will). And that is running counter to the imagination/build angle.

Also - anything decent/good has been moderated out :/

I have this horrible feeling that this is going to end up just being a corporate download tool for disney/other sony game levels that we pay for

A few levels have been moderated.  I don't see what the big deal is.  Take the level that got moderated because it had some blood...just change the blood texture and re-up it!  The gameplay will be the same great level, who cares if it has some visual changes to make it more PG. 

For things like remaking old games, it's a shame but outside the nostalgia factor and the "wow, they made mario 1-1!" wowness, most of them aren't particularly good from a gameplay perspective.  Even the gradius level is a cool idea but not a very good level.  Instead it'll be a great start for the guy to make an ORIGINAL level incorporating gameplay mechanics from his gradius level.

Instead of recreating an old ZX Spectrum game, why not make a NEW ZX Spectrum styled game.

In general I think remakes and such are a bit of a waste of resources.  If you're a quality level maker then use your time and make something original that people will enjoy and appreciate you for.

[Eel O'Brian]

yeah, clever and original levels like that azure palace level

oh wait


...


this game is done, no one's going to put forth the time and effort into making intricate levels (that azure palace guy said it took him a week to finish) just to get it snatched down for no apparent reason, with no way to alter it because it's locked on your own system - that's the big deal, subjective opinions on quality don't even factor into it

hope you like simple rollercoaster rides and rocket car races that last ten seconds, because six months from now that's all you'll be getting

there is no way in hell image import will be added now, i'd be willing to bet money on it

[Bebpo]

yeah, clever and original levels like that azure palace level

oh wait


...


this game is done, no one's going to put forth the time and effort into making intricate levels (that azure palace guy said it took him a week to finish) just to get it snatched down for no apparent reason, with no way to alter it because it's locked on your own system - that's the big deal, subjective opinions on quality don't even factor into it

hope you like simple rollercoaster rides and rocket car races that last ten seconds, because six months from now that's all you'll be getting

there is no way in hell image import will be added now, i'd be willing to bet money on it

From what I've read the game allows you to alter your levels and re-publish them.  Also if they were taken down for no reason like Azure Palace the author can just re-publish them as is as many times as they are taken down.  Image importation is still coming.  We don't know why certain levels were taken down as of now.  I'm sure the MM guys will be talking to Sony about this once the work week beings on Monday.

But whatever, keep on living in your dream that because there was one weekend on incorrect moderation the entire game is doomed and there won't be boatloads of excellent new levels every week.  There are still new great levels that came out yesterday, today.  Guess those guys don't know about the moderation that destroys the game!

[Eel O'Brian]

sdf go!

whatever, dude, it's fucking bullshit and you know it

"my dream"

i'm the one who told drinky on gaf the game justified my ps3 purchase, and i even bought a pseye just for lbp

of course, that was during the beta, when none of this insanity was going on - coincidentally, when reviewers were partially basing their scores off the online beta

if you think i'm taking delight in the fact that a neat and original game is being shitted up by a bunch of red tape and poorly implemented organization after the fact, then you're the one living in a nytol stupor

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

Private Hoffman made a "protest" level. 

Okay I published my protest level.

"LittleBigPlanet Alternate Ending: The Petition"

Try searching for "Alternate Ending:" and look in the US. It's easy to find because I have a picture of Patrick Swayze with a horse as the icon.

Play it, Heart it, Comment on it.

It's now time for my favorite part of LBP - handing out 1 stars like candy on Halloween.  Let the downgrade commence!

[Bebpo]

sdf go!

whatever, dude, it's fucking bullshit and you know it

"my dream"

i'm the one who told drinky on gaf the game justified my ps3 purchase, and i even bought a pseye just for lbp

of course, that was during the beta, when none of this insanity was going on - coincidentally, when reviewers were partially basing their scores off the online beta

if you think i'm taking delight in the fact that a neat and original game is being shitted up by a bunch of red tape and poorly implemented organization after the fact, then you're the one living in a nytol stupor

More like LBPDF.  I think it's the first PS3 exclusive that actually lived up to the hype and is AAAwesome.

Do I think the moderation is bad?  Sure, just as much as it is on a message board or how you can't call yourself "shawn" or any words that are close to curse words in a dozen games.  The moderation has abuseable problems but I think everyone running around waiving their hands like the sky is falling are ridiculous.  This JUST happened and it's a weekend when no one is working at MM's office or the main Sony offices.  Give a little time for MM to get to the bottom of this and see what happens.

Also if the people making levels are so ticked off that oh no they lose their l33t played/hearted count when they re-up their level to the point where they decide to quit level making in LBP, then /shrug.  I'll miss their good levels, but seeing them cry is satisfying since they're making levels for the wrong reasons in the first place.  Everyone else will just continue making levels and if they get taken down they will re-upload them either as identical versions or with slight changes if they feel the moderation was justified.

For all the problems LBP has, I can turn it on right now and have the same great experience I've been having with the user community that I've had since day 1.  It's the most interesting game in a long time and yeah, I'll defend it since it's still fucking awesome even this minute if you go online and play.

[pilonv1]

First night with the game and servers seem to be down

I had fun with it but the Z-axis with a shitty camera at times infuriates me. Other than that it's amazing. And XFE has nailed why community driven stuff on consoles will never work. You're always going to be at the mercy of someone's interests.

[cool breeze]

Apparently the Azure Palace came back up.  I don't think anyone knows what's going on at this point with moderation.  I can only assume that they take levels down to look at them before putting them back up and thereafter ignoring the 'good grief' suggestions.

[pilonv1]

Azure Palace is back. but i cant load it (can load everything else)

fuck mm and fuck sony :'(

[Bebpo]

Finished all the main story levels.

WOW

Even with all the annoyances I have with the game, these levels were incredible and the best platforming I've had since Mario Galaxy.  The ninja palace levels were :O!!!  And the final levels were creative and challenging.  The final boss was solid as well.  Man, the main levels are polished as hell.  They also show how to make HARD levels that aren't STUPID HARD.  Too many user levels are trying to be hardcore platformers to the point where they are punishing as hell and the timing on stuff is bullshit.  While the MM levels got hard, they were always fair and you could run through them without losing a life to get the ace item.  People need to replicate that when they try to make hard levels.  For instance I played the new God of War level "Trial of the Gods" and there's a lot of really bad frustrating design in there because they wanted to make it hard.  Bad hard; good hard.  Level makers need to learn the difference.

Still, this game took me by surprise.  I was one of the not-haters, but non-believers, and really didn't care about the game until I popped it in and started playing and right from the intro I was heavily impressed and it only got better.  In a year with games like this and L4D, 2008 went VERY WELL for gaming.

Anyone who hasn't finished the story levels and has just been playing user levels should go and finish the rest of the story.  It's 

Metropolitan was awesome as well.

[cool breeze]

Yeah, after playing the MM levels my standards for what a good level is went way up.  Since I probably couldn't make a level like that, my levels are more adventure/puzzle like.  And by my levels I mean one I've been thinking about and haven't made yet.  It will be out sometime and it will be great.

First level I wanted to make on the final was gonna a 'sack to the future' type thing where you would time travel and do things in the same area in different time periods, but I got bored of that idea.

[pilonv1]

so azure palace is fun.

but these long levels...fuck theres no way im going to do a long level if i dont make it to the end. replaying 5 minutes of floaty platforming? no thanks

[duckman2000]

Yeah... I'm hoping we'll see a straight platformer from these guys

[cool breeze]

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/292476.html

[fistfulofmetal]

what the hell 

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

Yet another "look this is kind of neat" LBP user level but in the end what we get is not very fun to play.

As a creative editor LBP is all winner winner chicken dinner but as an actual game the thing fails big time.

[duckman2000]

Yet another "look this is kind of neat" LBP user level but in the end what we get is not very fun to play.

As a creative editor LBP is all winner winner chicken dinner but as an actual game the thing fails big time.

Says the dude who has been a grated cunt about it all along. 

HitlerStoleMyPotato 

[Bebpo]

Yet another "look this is kind of neat" LBP user level but in the end what we get is not very fun to play.

As a creative editor LBP is all winner winner chicken dinner but as an actual game the thing fails big time.

If you want fun levels, go read the user levels thread at gaf.  It probably has 40+ levels by now and most of them have great gameplay as well as creative designs.

I'll agree that the ratio of good to bad levels is terrible and it's very difficult to find the good levels without someone TELLING YOU which ones are good ones to play, but when there's still 5-10 good levels pumped out a week it's hard to complain.  I'm already far backlogged on catching up to all the quality levels that are out there.

[Draft]

He's right, though.

The user content for this game is so weird. None of it looks compelling. All the value is in that initial "how'd they do that" wonder.

Someone needs to develop a DOTA for this game.

[duckman2000]

I've only given out one crappy rating so far, and that was a level that we managed to actually break into unplayability. Then again, I don't spend much time with user created levels; the MM levels are brilliant enough that 'd rather just play through those several times than spend time trying to find similar brilliance online. Hopefully they release a "Best Of People" pack somewhere down the line, with MM-picked levels.

[duckman2000]

He's right, though.

The user content for this game is so weird. None of it looks compelling. All the value is in that initial "how'd they do that" wonder.

Someone needs to develop a DOTA for this game.

Uneven quality of user created levels hardly translates into the game "failing" as a game though, considering that there's a heap of good, professionally developed content there.

[y2kev]

There are a number of fun levels that people don't bother to upload to youtube because they aren't showy or use the technology in new ways.

[duckman2000]

There are a number of fun levels that people don't bother to upload to youtube because they aren't showy or use the technology in new ways.

I suppose that's likely true; unless it does some wacky crazy thing, people aren't going to notice it on Youtube. Still, it'd be nice if it was easier to find the good amongst the shit.

[y2kev]

I had fun finishing the game with Bebpo. He saved me <3

[cool breeze]

Yeah, that Zelda level like the Gradius and Duck Hunt levels aren't really fun, and really they are almost fundamentally broken, but it's still interesting to see how they can adapt a different type of game into the tool set meant to make 2D Platformer levels.  Of the interesting/cool levels that have different gameplay, the one that really works is the Tetris one.  The Tetris level is so much fun co-op.

I'd actually go as far as to say that by watching that video, you have probably experienced that level at it's best. 

And yeah, MM really needs to improve the level searching for this game.  I play once or more a week and check out the levels people suggest, then I usually go play random ones hoping to find something good.  More often than not I'd drawn to ones with creative titles, the problem is that people know that's the key and you end up with really shitty puns as titles for everything.

Last time I played a multiplayer game, this random guy took me into some of his levels and they were actually a lot of fun.  It's probably one of those levels that has very few plays because it doesn't standout.

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

He's right, though.

The user content for this game is so weird. None of it looks compelling. All the value is in that initial "how'd they do that" wonder.

Someone needs to develop a DOTA for this game.

Uneven quality of user created levels hardly translates into the game "failing" as a game though, considering that there's a heap of good, professionally developed content there.

I don't think the professionally designed levels are all that great either but that has less to do with their actual design than it does with the basic mechanics of the game not being that compelling in the first place.  It's just not that great of a platformer, period.

And yeah, I've been "grated cunt" about LBP forever now, haven't I AA?  How many fucking posts have I made around here or GAF or anywhere else for that matter where I've been ragging on LBP?  Please hunt them down and show them to me.  I'd love to read this shit.  I remember making one (1) comment during the beta on how the game seemed a little boring and your sfag defense hardware kicked in.  I mean I bought the fucking game, why the hell would I want it to be bad?  So I could waste 60 bucks?

[Bebpo]

I had fun finishing the game with Bebpo. He saved me <3

I did?  ^^; 
Some of those co-op challenges are tough >_<

[y2kev]

Yeah, I could not do that giant wheel at the end of the game if my life depended on it. But maybe because with two people the camera zooms way out.

[cool breeze]

If you two ever want to play again and happen to find a fourth person, I'll help you guys get through those final levels so you can help me get the 4 people required items.  I aced every level, so yeah, I'm pretty awesome.

[demi]

I've got LBP!!!!!!

demibear is back in action

[Eel O'Brian]

i'll play with you sometime

i played co-op through some of the story mode with a friend the other night and had a lot of fun

he complained about the jumping, though

[Bebpo]

I've got LBP!!!!!!

demibear is back in action

Nice.  Like Jinfash said, play the story levels first because they are awesome.  It's more fun co-op but also harder so be warned (easier if you play with someone whose beat the levels before).  Then play hearted levels from people who have good taste.

[cool breeze]

http://www.sackbook.com/

it's a step forward to finding good levels to play, but it isn't exactly within the game.

[Bebpo]

So I hadn't played in a couple of weeks because of finals and I popped it in today to play some of the AAA user levels made recently.  First of all, LBP seems to have been updated quite a bit and the search tools are much better.  Also it seems you can export your photos/screenshots (YAY) and new items/objects have been added.

Second, I played Razhotep's Tomb and wow, user levels are getting impressive now.  Took me over 30 mins and that wasn't because of any stupid "you are stuck" puzzles.  It was just good challenging and varied platforming.  Tons of original textures, creatures, a story, a boss fight, secrets, multiplayer optional areas, lots of frequent checkpoints with 8-10 lives (though I wish all levels used the infinite checkpoint that someone on gaf made).

I wish I had more time to give to this game.  I run through the screenshot threads from the top 50 or so user levels and so many of them look great but if they take 15-30 mins each there's no way I can play most of them.  Plus playing all these creative levels really makes me want to build my own, but I just don't have the time for it   LBP feels like the perfect game if my house sets on fire and I lose my entire game collection and it's the only game I have to play for the next year. 

[demi]

got bored of this within 30 minutes

6/10

[Bebpo]

got bored of this within 30 minutes

6/10

Not knowing true fun  :'(

[duckman2000]

I'm really impressed with the MM created levels. But I'd enjoy the game a hell of a lot more if I could play all levels without running into insufferable lag when playing with people on other continents. Some work better than others, but lag + platforming = 

[demi]

got bored of this within 30 minutes

6/10

Not knowing true fun  :'(

Vesperia > LittleDickPlanet

[cool breeze]

the user made levels are really good now, but even though they've improved, as soon as I played the MGS DLC you can tell that MM is still way ahead.

a good example is how to make a light gun game, one guy build an entire contraption to simulate a crosshair and all that.  First level of the MGS DLC has enemies pop out and you put a bullet hole sticker on them.  The users over complicate things.

[fistfulofmetal]

oh god the final boss in the MGS pack is INSANE. And the paintgun is so good.

and i want the costumes really bad omg omg