Little Big Planet - Love Hurts

I am aware of my own limitations when it comes to creating technical interesting levels in Little Big Planet and with this in mind I created my most recent level. Entitled “Love Hurts” (I know, I really need to hire someone to name my creations) it is a kind of mood piece/ dating simulation. I am interested in created concept levels and this one I felt was pretty interesting. Basically within the level you have the choice between dating a cheerleader or a girl next door type and then determining the end result of that relationship. Whilst I feel the idea is something different, I am hampered by my own abilities. Nonetheless I feel it is my best work yet due to its atmospheric nature, but the online community has given it a very mixed response. Some people enjoyed it and wanted to try and see all four outcomes to the scenario, and some just thought it was weird. And both are opinions I can understand. But I think that Little Big Planet does give the opportunity to create game experiences which are not really game experiences whilst there are platforming elements in my stage, essentially they are unimportant. It is about discovering what you can express through a medium that is usually constrained by having to contain tight and well focused gameplay. I may have not succeed as much as I would have liked to but I hope that someone somewhere has created a better level than I have but with the same idea of creating concept over content. The fact that Little Big Planet provides an opportunity to explore these different ways of utilizing the medium is something exciting. But for now it is just baby steps that are being taken.

Little Big Planet - See Sackboy dance!

Check out this link to a youtube video. It is very very cute and funny. I particularly like the dancing to 'Hips don't lie' by Shakira. So CUTE!

Sackboy dance

Little Big Planet - Reflections on giving birth

I decided to hone my level somewhat based on the advice of a friend and I tarted it up a little at the same time. There were a few pacing and jump points that were issues and at times perhaps it was a little unclear where the player should go. It did not take as long as previously and there were no points at which I contemplated ripping my PS3 from the wall and hurling it from my balcony, which was a welcome change. Now, however I have to deal with another difficult issue. It seems hard to get noticed. There are so many people out there creating levels for LBP that many levels get swept away by the mass of content. The most popular levels that have been played the most often rose to the surface initially, and rightly so, due to their innovation and quality. But now every time you search for new levels there are pages and pages of undiscovered gems that not enough people will play. By no means am I comparing my first attempt to some of these incredible levels, there is a clear gulf in class. But to be criticized and assessed is a positive learning process and it seems to validate the effort you put in. o far my tweaked level has been up for a couple of days and it has only been played by eleven people, three of whom have hearted it (the game’s equivalent of a thumbs up). It is flattering, but at the same time I wish there was a way to promote it. I have started to develop a new level which will be far more interesting and inventive (not going to spoil it yet) but I have a nagging feeling that even if it is good, it simply won’t be noticed. A labor of love should always be a pleasure so I will press on with it. I’m sure that many people feel the same way about aspects of their own life. You feel you have the talent, but there are many talented people and there and many do not succeed. Despite that I still believe it is vital to put yourself out there, believe in your own abilities and to persist. I apologize for the emotive writing and shall now revert to my bitter and emotionally crippled style.
And as update my second level just went up. It is a in the style of a fairlytale with six acts. I like it a lot. If you have the game and want to check them out look for my user name, thedogbarks. One is called "The adventure of the Pirate King and his giant robot spider" and the other is called "Fairytale - a play in six acts". Check them out!

Little Big Planet - The torture of art

Last weekend was a fairly torturous experience for me. I decided that I wanted to finish my first LBP level and I did manage to do so that weekend. But, it took me about 16 hours to do so, in addition to the several hours I spent on it prior to the weekend. And the end result? Not that great. So after a lot of soul searching (and coming close to burning down my apartment with rage) what did I learn? Well for a start don’t be too ambitious for your first try! Whilst my level doesn’t seem too complex compared to some others I used a lot of individual pieces that were connected together. At points in the creation process these pieces disconnected due to something I had overlooked, often to do with the physics, or accidentally ungluing the pieces. Picture the scene if you will. After around ten hours of hard work I felt I was close to completion, only try to test the level and see that all the pirate ships had collapsed and all of the enemies had become buried under rubble. I try not to be a man who wallows in self pity but as I stared at the world I had created crumbling before my eyes (physiatrists can read into this what they will) I felt fury, heartache, desolation, fear, and piercing chest pains. That last one may be due to an over consumption of fast food.
Finally after hours more work and more inexplicable destruction, my level was finally complete. I proudly uploaded and waited for the world to appreciate it. The verdict? About only ten people have played it so far, with the average rating being between 1 and 2 stars out of five. Now I know how it feels to have your kids insulted and looked down on by others. Only time will tell if I can recover from this monumental damage to my ego. But then again, it’s big enough to take it!

Little Big Planet - Pirates Fight!

Last night I decided to embark on creating my first level in Little Big Planet and I found the experience to be both inspiring and humbling. First things first, it isn’t easy. I never expected it to be of course. When you are wrestling with a physics based game, something is bound to go awry. Structures that I felt would be secure, crumbled under the weight of gravity, and spring loaded crocodiles exploded because they were wound a little too tightly. I must have spent about four or five hours slaving away last night with relatively little to show. If that sounds overly pessimistic then have no fear, I’m not giving up yet. And as I worked on the level I gradually became more familiar with my materials and therefore the process did start to speed up. Already I am amazed that I can see my level start to come to fruition. For a kid who would while away hours of his life doodling levels for Mario it’s a dream come true. But a frustrating one nonetheless. Still three pirate ships sit in my level and that’s something tangible to savor. And as further testament to the addictiveness of the game, I had huge trouble sleeping as visions came to me of how to improve on what I already had. It’s been a while since I have excited about a game in the way that this one makes me feel, so forgive me for blabbering on. Just think of these updates as a developer’s insights. Or more accurately as a no talent hack trying to craft his fantastical ideas into something that doesn’t resemble garbage. Will I succeed? Place your bets now.