LittleBigPlanet Karting!

[craigmond]

I don't like the mix-n-match cars. I wanted to craft my own vehicle from scratch.

It would be a good Idea, but it would be unfair on 'noob' creators.

[49er Nation]

Geez! I've been gone a while!

I am actually quite excited. I saw it in GameInformer, and it indeed looks interesting.

[GribbleGrunger]

In spirit, it was LittleBigPlanet Racing all along. United Front Games' 2010 DIY kart racer, Modnation Racers, was a charming if slightly unbalanced effort driven by the same 'play, create, share' philosophy that underpins Media Molecule's creations.

William Ho, design director at UFG, calls the studios "kindred spirits", beaming: "We love them. Hopefully they love us!" Ho loves lots of things. Karting, LittleBigPlanet, and LittleBigPlanet Karting, for starters, he gleefully tells a room of journalists. I kind of love his Tango-orange trainers.

Ho is infectiously, uncynically enthusiastic about everything in that American way jaded Brits cannot seem to muster unless they work in children's television. Or at Media Molecule, whose modus operandi is to find the little spark of joy in everything and share it with as many people as possible, joyfully.

LittleBigPlanet Karting is exactly what it sounds like. It's a competitive kart racing adventure, set in Sackboy's craft world. The entire game is "authentically LittleBigPlanet" through and through, says Ho. Making the point, all roads in-game lead from the familiar Pod.

Here, it's been upgraded to a cardboard spaceship, which can be explored, and in which your karts and characters can be customised in the millions of bizarre little ways we've come to expect.

Dragsters, monster trucks, flowerpots, tin-cans, cupcakes and bumblebees whizz by with cheerful randomness as the menus are fiddled to show what's possible. And then, at last, into the game.

There's a few playable stages to try out and the mechanics play out predictably but satisfyingly. You can drift with the shoulder buttons, holding as long as you dare to earn a boost; and power-ups litter the circuits, with guns, homing missiles, grenades, close-range stun attacks and such like.

There's a Boxing Glove that works like Bullet Bill in Mario Kart, launching you forwards and knocking out anyone in the way. And true to the spirit of LittleBigPlanet, you can slap other racers with L2 and R2 - a touch Ho is so pleased with he looks like he might burst.

There's a Battle Mode circuit, King's Castle, for eight-way competition, though the demo is strictly single-player only versus AI. It's a tight space that forces karts into each others' paths, with tight navigation and a killer-aim useful skills to possess.

Finally, there's an original-themed race inspired by the World's Fair of the '20s, called Future Perfect - a track in the sky. Here, the game's secret weapon is revealed: the grappling hook.

Migrating over from the platform to the racing genre, it becomes your kart's means of latching on to objects to swing across great gaps in the circuit. But it's the wider possibilities in level creation that could make this a particularly canny addition.

Ho promises that LittleBigPlanet Karting will ship with the same set of level design tools his team uses to make the levels. And everything from kart and power-up parameters, to the behaviour of AI (which will please those irked by the injustices of Modnation), can be played with.

The bare bones for a potentially brilliant kart racing game are there, but there's still plenty of work to be done under the bonnet.

Significantly, this is LittleBigPlanet in a 3D world for the first time. So the normal rules of karting need not apply. "Already we've had people experiment with shooters, carnival games, and even slot machine," Ho reveals.

"People are also paying homage to certain scenes in movies and TV shows, and recreating classic arcade games from the '80s and '90s. You can switch the controls and the camera, so there's no reason why you can't just about recreate any other racing game."

It would all be delightfully encouraging but for one nagging detail. Currently, it's just not running close to smoothly enough.

"This is still very much a work in progress," Ho acknowledges. "We're constantly optimising - we've a long way to go, but I'm sure we'll get there." Is the target to be locked at 30 frames-per-second? Ho whispers, in a tiny voice as small as Sackboy: "I'm not supposed to say…" then erupts into a nervous laugh, nodding.

Curse my British cynicism. But if sheer enthusiasm can help iron out the remaining creases, the project could not be in better hands. Or trainers.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...arting-preview

[Lord_Vile71]

well just think of how you make your own costumes in LBP2 and i'm sure you can see how that can easily be applied to carts

Yeah, I know. I have MNR. Customization is a "better-than-nothin" solution when compared to crafting from scratch.

I was gonna make something like this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unZsiINaxTA&hd=1

You can't "customize" a vehicle to transform into a robot with shoulder mounted missile launchers and dual-wielding laser pistols.

[GribbleGrunger]

Yeah, I know. I have MNR. Customization is a "better-than-nothin" solution when compared to crafting from scratch.

I was gonna make something like this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unZsiINaxTA&hd=1

You can't "customize" a vehicle to transform into a robot with shoulder mounted missile launchers and dual-wielding laser pistols.

who knows?! i've got a feeling there will be games made with this that totally go against what it's meant to do, so....

from the article i posted above:

Here, it's been upgraded to a cardboard spaceship, which can be explored, and in which your karts and characters can be customised in the millions of bizarre little ways we've come to expect.

Dragsters, monster trucks, flowerpots, tin-cans, cupcakes and bumblebees whizz by with cheerful randomness as the menus are fiddled to show what's possible. And then, at last, into the game.

[Lord_Vile71]

It would be a good Idea, but it would be unfair on 'noob' creators.

The assumption/hope was that crafted/specialized vehicles would be made available inside the user-made levels in the same way that crafted vehicles and specialized sackbots are in the other LBP games.

EDIT:

who knows?! i've got a feeling there will be games made with this that totally go against what it's meant to do, so....

from the article i posted above:

He's talking about the new pod. It can hold more (I assume people and you can access the mix-n-match vehicle menu from inside it. Its just a slighter bigger version of the same pod that we've been using for years. His description of it makes it sound more fabulous and exciting that it really is. There are lots of pics and videos of it.

[GribbleGrunger]

He's talking about the new pod. It can hold more (I assume people and you can access the mix-n-match vehicle menu from inside it. Its just a slighter bigger version of the same pod that we've been using for years. His description of it makes it sound more fabulous and exciting that it really is. There are lots of pics and videos of it.

did you miss this bit i posted from the article?

Dragsters, monster trucks, flowerpots, tin-cans, cupcakes and bumblebees whizz by with cheerful randomness as the menus are fiddled to show what's possible. And then, at last, into the game.

although, thinking about it it could be just describing some of the designs used for the vehicles already in the game

[Lord_Vile71]

did you miss this bit i posted from the article?


although, thinking about it it could be just describing some of the designs used for the vehicles already in the game

No, I didn't miss it. It just didn't show up when I quoted you previously by using the "reply With Quote" button. I don't think its going to show up this time either. Must be a quote scripting glitch, or something.


I believe that he was referring to the prefabricated parts. Everything that they've shown or mentioned (in terms of vehicles) so far has been prefabricated. Even that boxing glove with the controllinator (as seen in the announcement trailer) is prefabricated.
It's just part of a default automated powerup animation.

[Uncuddly]

Everything that they've shown or mentioned (in terms of vehicles) so far has been prefabricated. Even that boxing glove with the controllinator (as seen in the announcement trailer) is prefabricated.
It's just part of a default automated powerup animation.

I was surprised to learn that the boxing glove rocket was a powerup too. It makes sense, in retrospect, given the popularity of unstoppable auto-pilot powerups.

Still, the developers have mentioned the potential for making your own weapons and changing the controls in custom levels. That seems to leave room for us to make something like a rocket-powered boxing glove of our own. We'll see!

[Lord_Vile71]

I was surprised to learn that the boxing glove rocket was a powerup too. It makes sense, in retrospect, given the popularity of unstoppable auto-pilot powerups.

Still, the developers have mentioned the potential for making your own weapons and changing the controls in custom levels. That seems to leave room for us to make something like a rocket-powered boxing glove of our own. We'll see!

He mentions in one the videos that you can make your own powerups using prefabricated objects that they provide.
I'm trying to remain hopeful, but it seems like the more they reveal, the more disappointed I become.
I wanted to craft stuff. It's what I do. I'm a builder. I spent nearly 95% of my LBP time in create mode creating complex machines, creating logic, and experimenting with the physics of the various materials when combined with custom microchips.
So far, LBPK doesn't appear to be made for people like me. Oh well. There is no law that says all games must be made to my liking.
(Although, I wish there was. )
We'll see what they show at E3. No crafting = No money (from me).

[Nitranon77]

He mentions in one the videos that you can make your own powerups using prefabricated objects that they provide.
I'm trying to remain hopeful, but it seems like the more they reveal, the more disappointed I become.
I wanted to craft stuff. It's what I do. I'm a builder. I spent nearly 95% of my LBP time in create mode creating complex machines, creating logic, and experimenting with the physics of the various materials when combined with custom microchips.
So far, LBPK doesn't appear to be made for people like me. Oh well. There is no law that says all games must be made to my liking.
(Although, I wish there was. )
We'll see what they show at E3. No crafting = No money (from me).

He actually mentions you can also paint your own object. I am 100% sure he said that in one video, so don't worry.

[Alternative_sack]

Well. I now have yet another game to get on my list of games to get.

THIS IS AT THE FRIKIN TOP!

[Nitranon77]

Heres some news I recently found, answers quite a few questions:

We spoke with Erich Waas, Director of Development for Sony San Diego, about LittleBigPlanet Karting, combing two franchises, the endless possibilities.

Recently, Sony announced that two of its biggest PlayStation 3 franchises would be joined in blessed union. It was a chocolate meets peanut butter sort of moment, as LittleBigPlanet and ModNation Racers merged into the kart racing title, LittleBigPlanet Karting.

We recently had the chance to preview the game, and there were a few things that stood out about it. The title is very much the merger of the two franchises, and blends the customization and creation of LittleBigPlanet with the karting fun of ModNation. That joining will also bring together two of the most active and imaginative online communities on the PS3. Because of that, we may be able to get a general idea of the game now, but it won’t even come close to hitting its full potential until after it has been released–possibly months or years after its release–when the communities have had the chance to really stretch their design muscle.

We had the chance to talk about the potential of the game with Erich Waas, Director of Development of Sony San Diego, as well as the creation tools, a few more details about the game itself, and throwing eggs at dinosaurs.



Erich WaasSo, how long has Little Big Planet Karting been in development?

It has been a couple of years that we’ve really been focusing on the game. United Front Games did a really good game in ModNation Racers, and we were looking at what’s the next big thing we can do. We happened to have a conversation with Media Molecule. They’ve always had that dialog between the two camps, and it just seemed like a really good fit to go “hey, what can we do in the LittleBigPlanet ethos.” And so that’s kind of how it got started.

Do you have a release window in mind?

We’re saying Fall 2012.

Are you saving the goods for E3?

We have more plans for the events we have coming up, and we have more reveals as the next few months come along. And of course we’ll have an open beta.

Will you be able to use any saved game data from LittleBigPlanet or LittleBigPlanet 2?

There will be some things you will expect out of a LittleBigPlanet game, and a game in the LittleBigPlanet universe, but I’m not prepared to say much more at this time…

Could we see a Vita port of LittleBigPlanet Karting?

I would love to see that, I think it would be a lot of fun. When we set out to do this, we were setting out for this to be a PS3 exclusive. So we don’t have any other plans at this time. But I think it would be fun.

What are you most excited for people to see and experience in this game?

I think seeing what the guys at United Front Games have done, from making a really good party game in ModNation and encapsulating that LBP ethos, to create all sorts of gaming and karting experiences that go beyond that traditional kart circuit racing. From things that are more common, but not as—like battle mode to brand new game karting experiences where you can take the tools set that you’d expect from a LittleBigPlanet game and create your own games.

Little Big Planet KartingSo, just to confirm, everything you create can be shared with others?

Absolutely, yeah. You want that LittleBigPlanet community, and you’ll be able to get to it from the website, LBP.me, like you’d expect from a LittleBigPlanet game. It’s not a create-and-share game without the share.

How many people will be able to play online?

There’s going to be different ways you can play multiplayer. It’ll be a total of eight in any given track or battle mode or game experience. From playing four player splitscreen on the couch with friends in the same room to eight players online, and you can do two player splitscreen from the couch, while you play against others online.

We also got the chance to try out the game. How complete were the levels you are showing off?

They’re a work in progress. We still have months of polish and a little more functionality to put in, and optimization, honing—like the weapon icons, which is its own system. You’re going to be able to create your own weapons in the game. What you aren’t seeing right now that’ll be there in the end is a lot of that honing and tuning and focus group testing, and making sure we’re creating a game for our audience and not just for ourselves. From the drifting and the steering and the physics and the play control, to ease of use of the creation tool.

What can you tell us about the creation tool?

We are going to talk a lot more about that in coming months. It’s got a ton of strength. We can’t wait for it to come out in open beta, because we know people are going to create things are going to come out that we hadn’t anticipated. But it is really strong, and it’s capable of a lot of interesting things that go way beyond that traditional karting experience.

Little Big Planet KartingSo that creation tool includes designing weapons?

You can design your own weapons, you’re going to be able to tweak physics, you’ll be able to tweak AI. You’re’ going to be able to make your own rule sets for wind conditions in the game and even be able to create your own HUD elements to put on the screen to help, not just for yourself, but for those that play your creation so they better understand how the game works, and they get some kind of visual cues as to what is going on.

We’ve seen the racing and the battle mode, but can you talk about any of the other modes?

Waypoint races, which really allows you to utilize an environment, whether you want to make it a track or a battle arena environment. There are some game modes that are less traditional, like one that I think you’ll see a little bit of in the trailer here, which is this egg dash, where you’re trying to use the grapple hook that you can use form more traditional levels, latch onto the egg, sling them into these target areas, while this dinosaur that’s been constructed with props is spitting fireballs at you. And that’s all done within the level editor.

One of the coolest things that helps give you a unique set of game experiences is tweaking the camera angle. You can go top down and create something that might be more akin to the old arcade games like Super Off Road, or side view and do something like Moon Patrol. All sorts of different game experiences. And they don’t have to go from Point A to Point A, you can script something that goes from one side to another. There’s just a lot. Whatever you want to do. We’re going to give you a lot of different game experiences with the blu-ray, but I think the real power is going to come from the community and all of their creations.

Aside from the LittleBigPlanet license, how is this game different from ModNation?

ModNation was a really good circuit karting game. This takes circuit karting and makes it more accessible, makes the weapons more playful, puts it in the LBP ethos, and then in addition, does all this other stuff. Battle arenas to waypoint races to some of these other mini-games, or full games that we’ve talked about that can be really big hybrids of things that we know some of,and then taking that user creativity and making all sorts of different kinds of game experiences. It’s doing all that, enriching the community, the share—even out of game at LBP.me connectivity so you can still interact with your game.

Little Big Planet KartingWhat kind of game engine will you be using?

It’s developed by United Front Games. They’ve got strong DNA for karting. So we started with that engine. Now we did a lot of stripping down and re-architecting, because there were some things. We were really proud of ModNation, but with any game there are going to be some things like “hey, I wish we had done this better, or that better. So let’s re-architect and solve these things that we didn’t do as well as we wanted to do.” So I think load time is probably one of the best examples of really getting those streamlined.

So we’ve taken that recent technology from United Front Games. They’ve got a powerhouse team up there.

What are you personally most excited about?

Just the fact that this is an LBP game. This is LittleBigPlanet Karting. It is everything you would expect form a LittleBigPlanet game, but it is putting it in these new game experiences, and it’s making it 3D. If you played LittleBigPlanet, you are going to completely go “oh, I get this game.” It’s LittleBigPlanet, and you’re going to know how to navigate everything. Of course the gameplay is different.

If you are a karting fan, you’re going to really love this game because it has addictively fun karting, in the traditional sense of circuit racing, and this just unbelievable amount of other type of game experiences that we’re going to both give to you on blu-ray, and then the community is going to give to you in their creations

LINK: http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/...#ixzz1ulJtpS9W

[Valeview]

I plan on creating a 1 lap race.
It shall be a huge hill, with a ramp at the end.
:-D
Ramp shall live

[Dav1d0]

I plan on creating a 1 lap race.
It shall be a huge hill, with a ramp at the end.
:-D
Ramp shall live

You know what would make that even better?
bombs raining from the sky and the ramp leading into a pool of sharks XD