LittleBigPlanet
LittleBigPlanet is a video game that consists of 6 releases
Reviewed on Nov. 5, 2008
Sifting through user-created LittleBigPlanet levels and seeing the wonderful and weird things that people are making is a great way to spend an afternoon, a week, a month...
Read Jeff Gerstmann's full review
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A Closer Look at LittleBigPlanet
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LittleBigPlanet PSP Trailer
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How to Make LBP Challenge Levels
Lead the way as your very own Sackperson in the highly customizable side-scrolling world of LittleBigPlanet, where you can play, create, and share 3D levels with your friends and the whole PSN community.
Overview
A highly anticipated PlayStation 3 exclusive title from Media Molecule, LittleBigPlanet, which was revealed during GDC '07, allows players to create their own levels using the game's robust, streamlined and comprehensive creation tool set, mapped for ease of use through the PS3 controller. Players control doll templates, the only difference in gender being what the player decides to dress them in. The player characters are able to run, jump, grab and manipulate objects in the game world, which players can modify and customize to an extreme degree either on their own or through co-operative gameplay. Levels can be built that implement complex Rube Goldberg machines, classic platforming levels with specific goals mind, huge environments to explore, and pretty much anything the players can dream up that will work on the 2D plane of a platformer. LittleBigPlanet supports up to 4 player co-op. This game was to be developed by Lionhead, Peter Molyneux's studio but it slipped through their fingers and was developed by media molecule instead.Multiplayer
Play with your friends!
The online level creating co-op function of LittleBigPlanet was not be available during launch; however, it will be patched in a future software update.
LittleBigPlanet sorts its user-created levels by sorting them onto different pages of levels. There is also a system of bookmarking a level which then makes it a "hearted" level. These levels can then be seen by other people on friend lists, and there will also be a basic search function to find a level.
Gameplay
One of the included stages
LittleBigPlanet will incorporate a scoring system, a feature that in this time has become quite rare. Players will be timed at the beginning of a level, and the quicker they accomplish their task, the higher their score. Scattered throughout each level are collectible items which also add to your score, such as bubbles and sponges. A combination of time and performance will come together to determine the final score on a level.
In the Metal Gear Solid content pack, the Paintinator was added, similar to the jetpack, once you grab a gun your character does not lose it. You use the R1 trigger to shoot, you can hold it down for a slow automatic fire, or tap it for quicker shooting. You can jump while you have the gun, however you lose the ability to grab surfaces while you have the gun. Also your head stops moving with the SIXAXIS and instead looks to where your paint gun is pointing. You can change the direction in which the paint gun points with the right analog stick.
Custom Content
Little Big Planet gameplay
Perhaps the biggest part of LittleBigPlanet is the total freedom players are given to manipulate the world, making it their own. A great emphasis has been placed on creating custom level content and sharing it with the world. Included in LittleBigPlanet is an in depth level design system, and it is accessible to players once they complete three levels of the main, commercial set of levels. In the level creator, players have access to a plethora of items to put in their levels. Snakes, skateboards, boxes, bubbles, and more are available, and players can even combine items to make something completely new. Joints, elastic bands, and glue are included to combine whatever the player imagines. Players can rotate objects, change their size, and place them anywhere. The game has it's own physics engine, which will effect all of these objects. Objects can be crafted from glass, metal, sponge, polystyrene (foam), and rubber, and each material will have true-to life properties.
Little Big Planet gameplay
In addition to the included objects, players can make their own or use objects created by others. You can even make your objects prizes for completing custom levels. Other objects can be obtained by playing through the main game and collecting bubbles. The built in level editor includes a plethora of tools that allow players to customize every last detail of their created objects. They can use a variety of objects, textures and colors, and trim and polish their objects for hours. Joints, wheels, and other mechanisms can help players make objects that move, and special items can be placed to make them react when players reach certain areas.
Players can further customize levels by placing stickers on objects throughout their own levels. LittleBigPlanet includes a base set of stickers, however, using the PlayStation Eye camera, players can take pictures of themselves to plaster on their level for the world to see. Many have also used the PlayStation Eye functionality to create their own textures and characters to add into their levels.
When players create content, they can post it on the web for the world to see. The game features an in depth search system and rating system so that players can find levels tat serve a wide variety of interests. The main "moon" also displays a number of the most popular levels, which players can access with ease. Each level has a screen with key word descriptors to give players a basic idea of the stage, as well as lists of comments from players who played through the stage.
The editor has been proven to be quite flexible. Many have created levels within LittleBigPlanet that go beyond the intended platformer. The ever popular music levels have been created, along with scrolling shooters, puzzle games, sports games, and many others. Players have gone beyond the intended limits, creating some truly innovative and creative things. Some have even managed to re-create games like Contra and Gradius, games not much like LittleBigPlanet at all.
Metal Gear Solid Custom Content
On December 2008, Media Molecule released for 6 dollars a series of levels based on Metal Gear solid, along with the paintinator upgrade. These 6 levels focused on Liquid Ocelot's creation of a trophy level machine which would flood the world with his creations. Alongside with this: another 6 dollar pack of 4 MGS costumes was released, including, Meryl, Old Snake, Psycho Mantis, and Ninja Raiden. Release of this content has been received generally positively and exceeded expectations.Character Customization
Unbelievably Cute Sack Boy
News
David Reeves, president of SCEE made quite a stir in the community when he announced that users will be able to charge for created content. Says Reeves, "What we're trying to do with LittleBigPlanet is almost iTunes meets eBay in the sense that once an individual or a developer has qualified by producing certain levels or certain add-ons, they will then be able in the future to exchange these and make money out of them." He added, "Eventually, it's feasible that you might well see the first LittleBigPlanet millionaire!". While quite a strong claim, it is still undetermined what exactly the qualification is to be able to sell content, and what the pricing structure might look like. 
Kratos and Nariko Sackboy characters, shown with LittleBigGameSack.
In early August '08, Sony announced that pre-order bonus characters Kratos ( God of War) and Nariko ( Heavenly Sword) would be made available at various outlets across North America and most parts of Europe. The God of War skin is available from GameStop, and the Heavenly Sword skin is available at Best Buy in the US.
In the UK, the Kratos character was available as an exclusive free download which came as a free voucher with the PlayStation Official Magazine UK. Also announced was a sticker book, strategy guide, and game-carrying case. The Nariko character download was announced as an exclusive download attached to pre-orders of the game from Play.com. In 2009 however, both the Kratos and Nariko characters were released as DLC for all regions, negating all exclusivity. For those who purchased the game in the first week, there was a free spacesuit costume for Sackboy, only available for download in the first week. A special "I Was There Week 1" t-shirt was also promised, but ended up costing a whopping 5 dollars.
During the Leipzig Games Convention, Pete Smith, senior producer for LittleBigPlanet, revealed that user generated content published by users on the PSN will be region specific, due to the fact that each territory will be getting their own dedicated server. However, Sony would later deny this report by indicating that the issue of having content on their own dedicated server is being worked around, thus stating that LittleBigPlanet's content will not be region-locked.
Snake and Sephiroth Sackboys
On October 8th, 2008 Sony showed new costumes for Sackboy at the Tokyo Game Show. Players will be able to make Sackboy stealthy assassin Solid Snake or Final Fantasy VII antagonist Sephiroth. On December 16, 2008 Sony announced the release of the first "Level Pack" for LittleBigPlanet. These "Level Packs" will bundle multiple items into one convenient download. The pack is the Festive Level Pack and will only be available until January 8th, 2009.
Interesting Trivia
- When Media Molecule was looking for a publisher; Nintendo was extremely interested and had sighted them and were also planning to meet for a deal, but Sony got to them first and made LittleBigPlanet a PlayStation 3 exclusive.
- The week before the original release of October 21, 2008 the game was delayed worldwide because one of the licensed music tracks had lyrics from the Qu'ran, which Sony deemed potentially offensive.
Downloadable Content
- Spaceman Costume (Time Limited, 2 weeks after launch)
- Pumpkin Costume (Time Limited, initially Halloween 2008)
- Lilly Pad Frog Costume
- Hugo Gorilla Costume
- Great Blue Shark Costume
- Frost-E Penguin Costume
- Sack-Eating Plant Costume
- MotorStorm Costume
- Sack-in-the-Box Costume
- LocoRoco Costumes
- Resistance 2 ( Chimera) Costume
- Kabuki Actor Costume
- Turkey Head Costume (Time limited, Thanksgiving 2008)
- Santa Claus Costume, released in pieces (Time limited, Christmas 2008)
- Festive Level Kit (Time limited, Christmas 2008) including Wrapped Present Costume)
- Leprachaun Costume (Time limited, St Patrick's Day 2009)
- Street Fighter Costumes: Ryu, Chun-Li, Zangief, Guile
- God Of War Level Kit featuring Minotaur and Medusa Costumes
- Metal Gear Solid 4 Level Kit featuring Genome Soldier Costume
Even as a Sackboy, Snake is a bad ass - Metal Gear Solid 4 Costumes: Raiden, Screaming Mantis, Old Snake, Meryl Silverburgh
- Chinese New Year Costumes (Time Limited, Chinese New Year 2009)
- Groundhog Day Costume (Time Limited)
- Toro Inoue Costume
- Wipeout HD Costumes
- Patapon Costumes
- Kratos Costume
- Buzz Costume
- Killzone 2 Pack including Helghast Costume
- Rag Doll Kung-Fu Costume Kit
- Monkey King Costume
- Creator Pack 1 Level Kit includes more tutorials
- Heavenly Sword Level Kit including Nariko and Kai costumes
- Egyptian Mythology Mini-Kit including Anubis and Sekhmet costumes
- Norse Mythology Mini-Kit including Thor and Valkyrie costumes
- Monsters Level Kit
- Monster Costumes: Sackula, Bride of Sackula, Werewolf, and Zombie
- Judge Dredd, 2000 A.D. Costumes / Level Pack
- Team Ico Costume Pack: Ico, Yorda, Wander, Colossus 2, and Colossus 3.
- Ghostbusters Costumes and Sticker Pack
- Cole McGarth (inFAMOUS)
Cole, in Sackboy form. - FFVII Level Kit / Costumes (TBA)
| Game Name | LittleBigPlanet |
| Platform(s) | |
| Publisher(s) | |
| Developer(s) | |
| Genres |
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| Themes | |
| Original US Release |
Oct. 27, 2008
need a fuzzy date? |
| Original US Release |
October
2008 know the real date? |
| Aliases | LBP |
| OFLC |
OFLC: G
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| CERO |
CERO: A
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| ESRB |
ESRB: E
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| PEGI |
PEGI: 7+
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Metal Gear Sackboy
LittleBigPlanet meets... Metal Gear?!
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| Chili's Trophy Guide for LittleBigPlanet |
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