LittleBigPlanet 2 info

[cool breeze]

from gaf:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=394825

Okay. Here we go:

LittleBigPlanet 2 Game Informer June 2010 Issue Information

Context about the first LittleBigPlanet

- The first LBP was never intended to be a simple platforming game
- Over 2 million levels available online
- About 56,000 new levels per week on average

LittleBigPlanet 2 Information Starts Here:

- LBP 2 has less of a focus on platforming altogether and it's more of a platform to actually create games with
- There is an all-new level creator and it is not just a tool to create platform games.
- As examples, the game 100% encourages the player to create game types and wants you to make a shooter, a racer, puzzle games, Space Invaders clones, even RPGs
- A player can even customize a HUD. The example given is a health bar for a fighting game.
- A Media Molecule developer has created a fully-functioning Command & Conquer Clone
- Media Molecule loves that a lot of user-created levels in LBP1 were homages to classic games and laments that so many manipulations of the creation tools were necessary to do them. Sackboy won't need to be "hidden behind the curtain" when you make games with LBP2.
- There is a new super-important creator tool called "direct control seats"
- (from previous point) In LBP1, lots of people made rudimentary "hold R1 to accelerate" vehicles. Mark Healy created a car out of rubber wheels and a bottle, then placed a direct control seat in it. He pulled up an interface that resembled a PS3 controller and assigned commands to buttons.
- Example given was assigning Sixaxis tilt for forward and reverse, horn on the X button.
- You are no longer limited to the game's stock sound effects. You can record your own sounds and voices, attaching them to characters or objects. Magic Mouth from the original LBP is gone
- Direct control seat's control scheme is instantly accessible and you can attach it only to the part of the vehicle you want it to control.
- Example was given about the 8/16-bit remakes/tributes having to use the signature gameplay mechanics of LBP. That is no longer true in LBP2. A creator can place a direct control seat on their own platforming protagonist and complete it with a customized control scheme.
- Example of the previous was Yoshi's Island. If a player creates the perfect recreation of the SNES-era jump they can share it with anyone in the community.
- There is an in-game microchip that functions as a calculator and it is a direct response/homage to PSN user Upsilandre (seriously, he's mentioned by name)
- Enemies in the original title could only be programmed with super-basic commands and most resembled marionettes.
- Users will be able to take a template for an enemy called a Sackbot, tweak the AI and dress it in any way they choose.
- Creators can choose the weak points on the Sackbot, determine if it is scared of heights, and even program acting routines.
- A disco scene was set up by Media Molecule and two employees recorded together on a single Sackbot. They moved its arms and bobbed its head in a dancing routine. JUST the AI was copied and pasted onto twenty different Sackbots. Each Sackbot was given its own unique look.
- There are now movie editing options as well.
- Every LBP2 player will receive their own profile on LBP.me. It will display your activity feed as well as previews of their own stages
- There will be user-created integration in QR codes as well. They can be printed on advertisements, business cards, and automatically load a level when held up to the PlayStation Eye. There is no special menu to do this. Any time the PS3 is turned on and running LBP 2, you can wave it in front of the Eye.
- If you are not near your PS3 you can take a quick photo with your smartphone to see an online preview of the level and add it directly to your level queue.
- For creators of multiple levels, you will be able to string your stages together so that they flow from one level to the next.
- Sackbots can be drastically increased or decreased in physical size.
- Sackbots can be controlled by direct control seats as well.
- There is a new gadget (like the MGS paintball gun). It is a big-ass grappling hook.
- Media Molecule says explicitly there are multiple more gadgets coming.
- All DLC from LBP1 transfers over to LBP2. Including downloaded content packs, costumes, etc.
- There is a major overhaul to the story level as well. There's the same 3-plane perspective for the story mode and the levels so far have a similar run-jump-grab platform style.
- Storyline is not country-based like last time, but is based in periods of time
- Here is a list of levels and summaries so far:

spoiler (click to show/hide)

- Techno Renaissance: Whimsical alternative take of the Renaissance period. Leonardo da Vinci-like character to guide him through a technology-based twist level

- Steam & Cake: Steampunk-style level based on a fucked-up tea and cake party

- Neon Propaganda: Cold-war era posters line a factory environment where Sackboy is liberating oppressed workers. There is a grim nature to the level that is totally opposed to the neon lights and signs.

- Fluffy High-Tech: Various high-end technology equipments like video walls are mixed with bunnies and fluffy sheep. It is a cold, futuristic environment populated by adorable creatures

- Designer Organic: Eco-architecture comes together around a designed and controlled version of nature. Described as "art noveau". The closest to nature Sackboy gets in this game. Elaborate designs comprised of plants.

- Hand-Made Arcade: A super-tribute level to tons of arcade classics. Embraces the hand-made art from the first game. Pixels made of cardboard and wood.

[close]

- Circuit boards (like the calculator) can get extremely complicated and they have a very distinct interface
- Creators can make full-on cutscenes. Camera angles and voice-overs included. Creators can even make little five-minute short films. These levels are clearly marked on the stage select screen so you can tell whether you're watching or playing the level.

basically just a lot more tools to make what you want.  But ability to change the core mechanics to the point where you can make it feel like Yoshi's Island is awesome, so no more floating jumping if you don't want it.  Customizing hud, sounds, cutsenes, controls, etc.  Plus there is a grapple hook.

[magus]

good lord i wish overhyped game about "potential" would just go away

OMG SCRIBBLENAUTS 2 IS GOING TO BE SO AWESOME! YOU CAN GIVE ADJECTIVE TO STUFF HERE'S A ROBO COW! THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEST GAME EVER!
OMG LITTLE BIG PLANET 2 IS GOING TO BE SO AWESOME! I CAN MAKE A FULL REMAKE OF FF7 WITH THOSE CUTE SACKBOYS! THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEST GAME EVER!

[Smooth Groove]

Why does Sony love making sequels to mildly popular IPs?

[cool breeze]

So instead of making the tools easier and trying to perfect one game type (platforming) they opted to go for a more complicated, untested approach in the sequel? Hmmm.

I'm definitely interested in how it'll turn out but I really wish they'd address the problems with the first and make a more streamlined game, with casual friendly tools that are stupid-proof.

It sounds like they're doing that.  It depends on whether or not you enjoyed the puzzle-platforming of the story levels, but I thought the biggest problems with the first game was that people just didn't understand how to make puzzle-platforming levels, and if they did, finding those levels was inconvenient.  People kept making Mario style levels and the floaty jumping mechanics didn't hold up.  They mention that the tools are easier and it no longer takes a crazy contraption to open a door (which was absurdly stupid in the first game), and because you can tweak how the game plays, it seems like people can make those straight up platforming levels if they want to.  Or an easier way to make other game types without needing complex mechanic knowhow to trick the game into playing like something else.

Why does Sony love making sequels to mildly popular IPs?

I with Microsoft loved it too.  Nuts and Bolts 2 would kick ass.

[TripleA]

Sounds awesome, if they can tighten up the jumping mechanic then this game will be excellent.

[Third]

Why does Sony love making sequels to mildly popular IPs?

Becasue Sony cares for the fans.

[TripleA]

Why does Sony love making sequels to mildly popular IPs?

Becasue Sony cares for the fans.

You meant to say a multi-billion dollar corporation will release a successor to a product that sold over a million copies 

[Third]

Well, the Motorstorm games don't really sell millions of copies, and the Ratchet games don't either. But Sony is still making them because there seem to be people out there who like the games.

MS ususally axes a whole studio after a game fails.

[Stoney Mason]

Why does Sony love making sequels to mildly popular IPs?

To be fair I give Sony credit in this regard. Adds some diversity to the line-up.

[brawndolicious]

So instead of making the tools easier and trying to perfect one game type (platforming) they opted to go for a more complicated, untested approach in the sequel? Hmmm.
I'm definitely interested in how it'll turn out but I really wish they'd address the problems with the first and make a more streamlined game, with casual friendly tools that are stupid-proof.

it's probably the best approach.  The designer of a "good" level is probably willing to spend the time to learn the new tools and the actual players who just download the best 5 maps every week will love the variety.

[Phoenix Dark]

Holy shit sounds hot. This is gonna sell boat loads of PS3s

[TripleA]

Well, the Motorstorm games don't really sell millions of copies, and the Ratchet games don't either. But Sony is still making them because there seem to be people out there who like the games.

MS ususally axes a whole studio after a game fails.

True, Microsoft have an absolutely horrendous first party.

[naff]

Damn this sounds pretty hot. I've never made a level in LBP but the user generated stuff is what keeps me going back to it, some of the users are pretty dedicated, I'm definitely keen to see what people do with such an expanded tool set.

[Bebpo]

Awesome.  With so much you can do in LBP I was wondering how they'd do a sequel that didn't feel like a mere addon.  Sounds like it will be very revolutionary.  Sure the physics and controls are a little floaty, but imo, LBP is the best game this generation so far and one of the best games ever made.  This is because it accomplished something very few other games have, it made a user-created playground and gave easy access to it all.  Sure this kind of stuff has been done before in RPG Maker, Mugen, even making DOOMII levels and mods but there's a huge difference between having to go out of your way to get each thing and install them and a living, breathing community where you can just instantly jump into user created gaming.  It's basically the youtube of gaming and nothing has pulled it off until now.  There were TONS of issues and it's very rough because it's a first attempt at something so groundbreaking, but even with the problems for what it succeeds to do is unbelievable.

LBP was the game I always dreamed of playing as a kid and I wasn't let down.

I have a feeling LBP2 will really polish and improve while adding tons more like it mentions.  The only thing I dislike about the announcement is that they are keeping the 3 planes.  The 3 planes made jumping off sometimes because you would move between them.  Hopefully they've figured out a way to not have this be a problem this time.  I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

How active is the LBP these days? have any levels come close to the ones designed by MM?

I mean when the game first got out most of the levels I tried were poorly made. The more experienced the user-base got, the more effort they put into polishing the looks and style of the levels, without enhancing the gameplay aspect (whether it's platforming, puzzle solving, or whatever). I kept thinking: they need more time, more time, then a year or so later I gave up on the game.

It's pretty active and there is a ridiculous amount of high quality levels on there.  Unfortunately sorting through 90% shit makes it hard to find them unless someone hints you in to them.  I used to follow this thread as there were some really creative/cool levels in there: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=341622

Just from an art perspective, so much has been done with LBP










Those are just random shots I pulled from a couple of pages.

[Bebpo]

I agree there's a lot of meh levels, but everytime I tried a bunch I'd play a few with neat ideas that actually turned out well.  I'm just surprised how much people were able to do with the engine.  Like one level I played was a haunted house adventure game with items and dialogue choices.

I think opening up the engine even further in LBP2 for making other game types like this will really spawn a lot of creativity since you don't have to work as hard to try to fit it into the LBP platforming engine.

[twerd]

Am I the only one who felt this way?

No.

I really hope they allow you to mess with the physics of the game so that the platforming itself can be tweaked.

[Arbys Roast Beef Sandwich]

LBP2 = more sackboy avatars = easier to spot the fucktards over at GAF

[Eel O'Brian]

people would spend all this time creating these elaborate and beautiful levels, only to ruin it by requiring precision jumping, which would in turn lead me to react by saying "fuck your level" and one-starring it

[Van Cruncheon]

LBP2 = more sackboy avatars = easier to spot the fucktards over at GAF

this.

lbp was an awful game. the imagineer short bus set will still get their rocks off spending gigajoules of their collegiate lives cranking out embarrassingly awful tributes to contra, and the rest of us will pass on a shitty platformer with shitty controls.

[TripleA]

Damn this sounds pretty hot. I've never made a level in LBP but the user generated stuff is what keeps me going back to it, some of the users are pretty dedicated, I'm definitely keen to see what people do with such an expanded tool set.

You should try to make one.

It's not hard, but it's time consuming though.

[TripleA]

LBP2 = more sackboy avatars = easier to spot the fucktards over at GAF

this.

lbp was an awful game.

 

[cool breeze]

people would spend all this time creating these elaborate and beautiful levels, only to ruin it by requiring precision jumping, which would in turn lead me to react by saying "fuck your level" and one-starring it

pretty much, and that's why I think it's good that they are letting people make the game play like a precision platformer if they want to

seriously, it was ridiculous how much effort people put into the look of levels only for them to be so poor.  I remember playing a silhouette level that was impressive and all, but after two jumps I quit out because it was bullshit. 

and while the game is fun to play with friends in the same room, finding a level is 100 time worse in those situations.  After trying a few levels and realizing their all shit, eventually we would play the story mode ones and that was pretty fun.  And I think they can learn a lot from NSMB Wii.  Multiplayer in both games are really similar.

[Bebpo]

It's weird.  I have no idea what you guys are talking about.  I never had a death because of platforming.  I gave up on levels because of glitches or because I was stumped on what to do next or because they were boring.  Never had a platforming problem.

I felt like most level designers understood how much distance you got on a jump and made the platforms with enough leeway to not matter if you were .001CM short.  I dunno, maybe I didn't play the bad platforming hell levels.  Floaty controls aren't bad if you design your level around them.  At the end of the day the level designer knows EXACTLY how the jumps work.  Their height and distance.  So it's up to them to make the levels accordingly.

I feel like drinky and a lot of the FLOATY OMG THIS GAME SUCKS people never gave the game a real chance and just wrote it off because it wasn't THE BEST PLATFORMER EVER MADE 

LBP is one of the only games I would give a 10/10 to.  It's flawed but it's just that good imo.  I thought LBP PSP was fantastic as well.  I think it think it's dumb to write off the large amount of fans as sony fanboys since LBP is a game that actually lived up to its hype.  Killzone & Heavy Rain & Lair avatars sure.  But LBP, Uncharted 2, Heavy Rain avatars no.

[cool breeze]

There were some that were poorly designed, and then there were straight-up platforming levels that were better, but it didn't matter too much because both were kinda boring.  I don't think the draw of the game was the precision platforming.  Story mode levels played like a puzzle-platformer.  The physics, sticker, contraptions, etc. you interacted with made it more than just running through the level like a Mario game.  If it was a bunch of Mario levels with LBP mechanics, it would be boring, and that's what a lot of the user created levels were.

like I said, I think it is a good that they are letting people customize levels to the point where you can change controls and mechanics.  If people make levels that seem like they're from a Mario game, then make the gameplay match that.

[Bebpo]

There were some that were poorly designed, and then there were straight-up platforming levels that were better, but it didn't matter too much because both were kinda boring.  I don't think the draw of the game was the precision platforming.  Story mode levels played like a puzzle-platformer.  The physics, sticker, contraptions, etc. you interacted with made it more than just running through the level like a Mario game.  If it was a bunch of Mario levels with LBP mechanics, it would be boring, and that's what a lot of the user created levels were.

like I said, I think it is a good that they are letting people customize levels to the point where you can change controls and mechanics.  If people make levels that seem like they're from a Mario game, then make the gameplay match that.

Oh I'll agree with that completely.  There is no "challenge -> satisfaction" platforming in LBP.  Like I said, I didn't die from platforming, so I found it all overly easy and thus it wasn't super satisfying for the jumping.  I never made a jump and went "YES!".

I got my enjoyment out of exploring the levels.  Watching things play out, solving puzzles, finding hidden areas with bubbles containing the parts from the level.  Interacting with creative gadgets.  All of the main levels and most user levels told a story.  It was definitely more of a platform adventure game like you say than a "make it to the end of the level platformer"

[Himu]

LBP is a really great game, especially on multi. I thought it had most of the stuff I've wanted from a new Sonic the Hedgehog game for ages: levels full of secrets, physics and momentum platforming and multiplayer is just icing. It's a really cute game and it's fun to play. Popping into a random game and playing with a bunch of random folks is a blast.

[naff]

LBP is a really great game, especially on multi. I thought it had most of the stuff I've wanted from a new Sonic the Hedgehog game for ages: levels full of secrets, physics and momentum platforming and multiplayer is just icing. It's a really cute game and it's fun to play. Popping into a random game and playing with a bunch of random folks is a blast.

Not to mention it's a great creative timesink for people that way inclined, it's not just stoner college kids makin Mario clones as Prole suggests, levels like Distress In Ocean show some pretty amazing creative talent. I'm yet to find any tools as comprehensive and easy to use to make games for people who don't understand programming, and even if you do playing with the level creation tools are a game in itself which is really fun, whether you're making them online or locally with friends or by yourself. You're not going to create a gaming masterpiece but potentially something fun or unique that people can enjoy.

There's over 2 million levels and on average around 54,000 new ones made every week. Obviously a large proportion are going to be bad, I personally find the likes of Contra and Mario clones and games deriving from themes of other games to be the most boring levels. However when people work with LBPs constraints to create something original it can be really good.

[bork]

I honestly would much prefer they make a proper Single Player experience and leave the creation tools as an extra.

This.  I never got into the original because the levels I played just seemed flat-out boring and I did not like the floaty jumping mechanics.

Hyping up the fact that you can change the game around to play more like other, better titles leaves me scratching my head.  It's like they are saying "Our game sucks, but you can make it exactly like Yoshi's Island or Command & Conquer!!" 

So why not just play Yoshi's Island or C&C instead of some user-made version of it? 

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

LBP sucked, plain and simple.  I give it credit for having an amazing editor and incredible production values but the game itself just wasn't fun at all and only 20% of all the user created levels are only interesting in that "hmmm, I wonder how they did that?" kind of way, the other 80% is either boring or pointless or a mixture of both. 

Looking forward to the LBP2 soundtrack though.

[Third]

They should just fix the jumping. The floaty controls ruined the game for me. So did the 3-layer level lay-out.

[Himu]

Story mode on local multi is a blast.

Why complain about making the single-player experience better when the game is clearly at its best on multi, especially local?

[TripleA]

New shots












Full set here http://www.flickr.com/photos/48949920@N03/sets/72157623906173733/

[Bebpo]

I don't get it.  Someone at gaf said LBP fans might be put off by the look because it's very different than LBP.


....it looks like LBP 
maybe a little more realism?  I dunno, looks like LBP!

And interesting that they have those shmup shots like Paradious.  Not usual that you see other company's game screens on a game.

[TripleA]

Hmm, it does look a little more realistic due to the shadows.

[Third]

Game still uses the same style. Looks the same as LBP 1 so far imo. I need to see gameplay footage first, or play it for myself to notice any differences in graphics.
The graphics in LBP are still pretty good. They don't need to change much.

[cool breeze]

[youtube=560,345]Fs0T5l24JL0[/youtube]
 
looks roughly the same as the first game.  Only exception is that they don't seem to be keen to show the seams of levels.  In the first game there were more bolts and switches that would stick out while the levels in this video are clean.

RC Pro Am-style racing game and the grapple look cool.

[Bebpo]

What a great trailer.  All the stuff you can do with the engine looks great and the main platforming stuff looked much better than before (although the physics looked FLOATY again, so I doubt they will be much different).  My favorite part is when the character had INSTANT 500MPH AIR DASH and was jump dash to one side and then jump dash to the other.  It was like Shinobi LBP.  People are going to do cool stuff with this.

Cool song too.  Trailer definitely got my hyped.

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

Again, looks incredible but that was never the issue with LBP.  I'll definitely at least rent LBP2 and give it a shot but I'm not over optimistic about it because I seem to be in the minority when it comes to the mechanics of LBP gameplay so I doubt that they changed it too much for the sequel.

And for the love of god, can everyone agree to never play Sleepyhead ever again?  I mean I really liked the song at one point but I swear it's freaking everywhere now.  It's the "Don't Worry, Be Happy" song of this generation.

[Bebpo]

And for the love of god, can everyone agree to never play Sleepyhead ever again?  I mean I really liked the song at one point but I swear it's freaking everywhere now.  It's the "Don't Worry, Be Happy" song of this generation.

I'd...never heard the song before ^^;  Then again, I'm completely out of the loop with modern music.

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

I'll definitely at least rent LBP2 and give it a shot but I'm not over optimistic about it because I seem to be in the minority when it comes to the mechanics of LBP gameplay.

The mechanics are deeply flawed, anyone who disagrees with that is delusional. Most critics recognized those shortcomings.

Well then I hope it's addressed.  I seriously WANT to like LBP because I love it's aesthetic and I appreciate what they're trying to do, but I just never had much fun with it.

And for the love of god, can everyone agree to never play Sleepyhead ever again?  I mean I really liked the song at one point but I swear it's freaking everywhere now.  It's the "Don't Worry, Be Happy" song of this generation.

I'd...never heard the song before ^^;  Then again, I'm completely out of the loop with modern music.

I've heard Sleepyhead on everything from cellphone commercials to sandwhich ads.  Maybe it's my location or whatever but I seemingly can't go a day without hearing the song at least once. 

Like I said I like Sleepyhead and Passion Pit but I'm getting to the point where I want to smash my nuts whenever I hear it.  Enough is enough. :p

[TripleA]

No, its looks exactly the same...

No, only in your head it looks the same.

[TripleA]

I'm there.

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

That gif just further demonstrates what my main beef with LBP is all about.  Looks great, and it's cool that you could build something like that in the game, but more than likely it won't be all that much fun to play. 

Honestly, that mouse thing looks boring.

[TripleA]

Yeah, you should probably skip LBP 2 all together if competitively racing fluffy Mice doesn't look fun to you.

[Himu]

I'm an LBP fan and I think that looks stupid. Why would I want to race mice? I want to jump.

[TripleA]

I'm an LBP fan and I think that looks stupid. Why would I want to race mice? I want to jump.

Because it could be, what's the word I'm looking for...

...fun?

If LBP 2 just had jumping levels, then LBP 2 wouldn't really be all about playing, creating, and sharing unique content.

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

If LBP 2 just had jumping levels, then LBP 2 wouldn't really be all about playing, creating, and sharing unique content.

What?  LBP just had jumping levels but that didn't stop people from playing, creating, and sharing a bunch of other stuff like shooters and what not.  They weren't fun, but it was being done.

[TripleA]

If LBP 2 just had jumping levels, then LBP 2 wouldn't really be all about playing, creating, and sharing unique content.

What?  LBP just had jumping levels but that didn't stop people from playing, creating, and sharing a bunch of other stuff like shooters and what not.  They weren't fun, but it was being done.

Exactly.

LBP 2 isn't just a platformer like LBP 1. It's a platform for creating games.



I'll take this ^ over a jumping level.

[Eel O'Brian]

so i guess they'd added a top-down perspective you can flip to in-game

LBP3 goes third person, i am guessing

[Bebpo]

I'm with TripleA, I want to play that mouse race because it looks fun.  I don't care if I'm not jumping, I'm sure there will be plenty of levels for that.  I think the mouse race simply looks neat (the mouses bumping into each other and knocking each other around within the confines of narrow tracks) and that is all that matters.  The mouse race clip looks more fun to me than the RC Pro Am clip which looks like RC Pro Am except with bad controls (cars swerving too much and unable to stabilize).

[Himu]

Go play a racing game, triplea.

[TripleA]

Go play a racing game, triplea.

Go play Mario  :himu

[Himu]

I don't like Mario games.

[TripleA]

Weird.

You'd think a person craving a platforming experience would be interested in playing a game that's all about platforming.

[Himu]

You assume all people like the same type of platformers.

[TripleA]

My bad, you must be in the market for a completely different platforming experience*

*one that doesn't exist

[Himu]

...

[TripleA]

http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/action/littlebigplanet2/news.html?sid=6261823&mode=previews&tag=topslot;title;1

Interview with Alex Evans 

[Skidmark]

I have never tried little big planet, it looks fun to me but I'm not really sure if it is. I have tried physics sandboxes where you build stuff and so on but I get bored after an hour max. Is it the same thing with this game? It seems interesting, I guess I will have to look up some gameplay on youtube.

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

I have never tried little big planet, it looks fun to me but I'm not really sure if it is. I have tried physics sandboxes where you build stuff and so on but I get bored after an hour max. Is it the same thing with this game? It seems interesting, I guess I will have to look up some gameplay on youtube.

That's pretty much it.  LBP has an amazing editor, certainly going far beyond anything else offered on a console, and LBP2 looks to take the concept even further but the core gameplay is mediocre at best. The main game levels that Mm created are very imaginative and it can be a fun collecting stickers or items that you can then use in the editor, but the floaty physics along with the multiplane levels don't make for a satisfying experience.  When you watch videos of it, it looks and sounds amazing but it doesn't really translate in practice and it completely fails as a platformer.  However, used as a creative tool to make stuff there's nothing out there on any console that can touch it.

I'd really only recommend it if you're intent on making levels or what not otherwise these aren't the droids you're looking for.