LittleBigFeatures

Logic Lesson! Again! Yes!

2009-07-01T13:47:00.000-07:00

JULY 1st, 2009

Here we are, on the very first day of July! Too bad it's a gloomy day outside. But it can be a nice, sunny day inside--our computers, that is. Okay, this Logic Lesson is about making progressive lights. Progressive lights are those in a row or really any shape; what makes them progressive is the fact that you want them to light up in order, but only one at a time. This is accomplished with a progressive switch, with each magnetic switch hooked up to one light. Then set the piston to a very low time--.5 or 1.0 seconds usually works just fine. Make sure that the piston is set to a flipper motion. Otherwise it won't work correctly.

That's really all you need to know. It's a simple way that doesn't take up a lot of thermometer, and it works effectively.

However, I will share one more detail with you. If you want the lights to deactivate at a certain point, there's a trick to it. Sure, you can just have the piston stop. But nine--well, 9.9--times out of ten, one light will remain activated because the block with the key on it will almost always stop where it still activates one or more switches. So! Make the block with the key made out of dissolve. Then, when you want the lights to stop, hook up the button or switch that will make it stop to the dissolve block. The key will disappear along with the block, and all the lights will be off.

That's it! Simple as that!

Gad on!

Community Feature #8, Part 2

2009-06-28T12:23:00.000-07:00

JUNE 28th, 2009

Here's the next part of this Feature for the week of June 28th, 2009. This next level definitely was not the best I've ever played; it was one of the best, though. What really propped it up and carried the day, so to speak, was the gameplay and the story. The gameplay was good enough even without the even better story. The visuals are decent as well. Nothing was done particularly well and nothing was specifically innovative. However, everything was solid across the board.

THE FORBIDDEN LAIR by Dr_Vab

Gad on!

Community Feature #8, Part 1

2009-06-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

JUNE 28th, 2009

Hello again, folks! It's time for another Community Feature. However, I regret to tell you that most of it will probably come tomorrow. But, don't let it dampen your day. (Most) of the country is hot enough to fry bacon on a sidewalk right now. Get out and go do something! Take a bike ride! Go to the swimming pool! Play some baseball!

Public Service Announcement is now over.

This first level is a rollercoaster that, to me, is a cut above the usual fare of roller coasters and theme parks. It comes from a Walt Disney World ride that a lot of people go on, and drop down about thirteen stories. Alright, if you seriously can't tell from that, I'll tell you:

THE TWILIGHT ZONE COASTER OF TERROR! by clankbot9

A video may be coming soon.

Gad on!

Logic Lesson!

2009-06-25T21:04:00.000-07:00

JUNE 25th, 2009

Sorry this is a bit late (both a day and at night). The Logic Lesson is here now, though! Sorry for the wait, I truly apologize.

Today's Logic Lesson is about the art of making movie-like levels. Movie-like levels are those with progressing magic mouths with cutscene cameras that show different scenes of a level. Say that you're making a lighthearted level about a duck that needs to get home, but you want it to play out like a film. This is actually pretty easy to do. First, you have to put the magic mouths near the scene that you want them to show. Then hook a long progressive switch (see an earlier Logic Lesson for that explanation) up to the respective magic mouths. Then have your scenes activated by another progressive switch. Make sure they travel at the same time, or everything will be out-of-sync and very unprofessional and disjointed.

That's really it.

Also, today the Jon Burgerman 72-sticker pack came out today on the PlayStation Store. The free druid costume to celebrate the summer solstice also was released today.

Gad on!

Hmm...

2009-06-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

JUNE 24th, 2009

Unfortunately, I'm going to have to delay the next Logic Lesson until tomorrow. However, I get my new MacBook tomorrow (if it stays on schedule), so I can test it out by writing the Lesson. Maybe. Or maybe I'll spend the whole day exploring Leopard and not write the Lesson. Hmm...let's say I'll go with the first one.

Gad on!

Community Feature #7, Part 4

2009-06-22T11:59:00.000-07:00

JUNE 22nd, 2009

On to Part 4, fellow LBP folks! I'm starting to run out of creative names for all the players out there. Maybe LBP'ers? LittleBigPlaneteers? Happy Gadders? Gad-uys and gad-als? Okay, this has to stop. Now. I'm kidding, I'm kidding. But! This next level is the embodiment of detail and polish. It's a little light on gameplay, but the visuals and details more than make up for it. I'm glad I found this level while searching around The Promotion Zone. I'm serious: this level is so good, if you don't go out and play it now...well...I don't know what, exactly.

ROBOT TOWN 2 by jump_button

The video is from SheepLord.

Gad on!

Community Feature #7, Part 3

2009-06-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

JUNE 22nd, 2009

Here we are already at Part 3! Are you ready for another great level? I know I sure am. This level is about the favorite bedrock family from an old cartoon. I sure hope it doesn't violate any copyright laws, because this level is a gem. The visuals are absolutely stunning and the gameplay isn't too shabby either. The characters are great as well, true to their cartoon counterparts. That's right, this level is:

THE FLINTSTONES by FrOdO_FragginS79

Videos are from SheepLord.

Gad on!

Community Feature #7, Part 2

2009-06-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

JUNE 21st, 2009

This next level is not mine, but is the pinnacle of greatness in LittleBigPlanet. Fans of a certain fast-talking reviewer will find a lot to like about his level. Even if you aren't a fan, still play it. The visuals are absolutely amazing, the gameplay is very good if not exceptional, and everything just clicks, to be honest. That's right, the reviewer I'm talking about is Zero Punctuation. And the level I'm talking about is:

ZERO PUNCTUTATION: QUICK TIME'S REVENGE by Asbestos101

Videos are from SheepLord, obviously and of course.

Gad on!

Community Feature #7, Part 1

2009-06-21T07:31:00.000-07:00

JUNE 21st, 2009

Here we go again, faithful LittleBigPlaneteers! Time for another Community Feature. Well, the poll for this week, where I asked 'What DLC pack do you want announced the most?' is almost over. So far it's pretty close, so let's see who's the winner in a few hours. Hopefully Media Molecule is riveted to this blog and it's bookmarked in their browsers. Yeah, somehow I highly doubt that, but oh well. That's the nature of the blog business. So many blogs, so little time for game companies to scroll through those dedicated to them or their games.

I'm kidding.

Or am I?

But anyways, I'm going to do something shameful right now. I'm going to choose one of my own levels to put in the Feature. I know, I know, I'm not supposed to choose my own, but oh well. Too bad, so sad. You play as Jack, a not-so-grizzled veteran soldier in the United Strategic Alliance. Your family is stranded in Polli, a town not too far away from where you are stationed. You must go find them. The level(s) is:

BITTER WAR PART 8: ALMOST THERE by gocubsgo2

These videos are, of course, from SheepLord. I also want to say that completion of posting the Feature for this week may take today and tomorrow, as I have limited time due to Father's Day.

Gad on!

Unfortunately...

2009-06-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

JUNE 18th, 2009

Unfortunately, the druid costume planned for release today in Europe and next Thursday, June 25th, in North America, has been all pushed back to June 25th. There was, however, one region that supposedly got the costume today: Asia/Japan. I am not sure if this was simply a mistake, but I suppose Japanese/Asian players with the costume don't care all that much if it was or not. If you don't know what the druid costume is or looks like, head here.

Or I can just provide the picture and information here for you. The druid costume is to celebrate the Summer Solstice, something I am generally unfamiliar with--living near Chicago and all--but is purportedly a big deal over in the United Kingdom and Europe in general. I have no problem with it. At least now I can make a decent-enough Jedi costume with the robe.

Also in the LBP news recently is the patch 1.15, most likely simply a data content patch with all the next and new DLC.

Gad on!

Logic Lesson!

2009-06-17T11:38:00.000-07:00

JUNE 17th, 2009

Hello everyone waiting for today's Logic Lesson! Well you can stop biting your fingernails in anticipation. Fingernails are filthy anyways. The all-day wait is over; this here is another Logic Lesson, brought to you courtesy of LittleBigFeatures. Today we're going to talk about the delay mechanic. The delay mechanic is useful for, obviously, causing a time delay after a switch is thrown or a button is hopped on. The delay mechanic can be used for doors, triggering events, turning on lights, etc. Anything you want to delay can be delayed with this mechanic.

It's really pretty simple. Hollow out a piece of dark matter, as usual for switches. Add a block pushed by a piston at one end, and then place a magnetic key right in the center of the block. Place a magnetic switch at the other end. Now, hook that mag switch up to whatever you want to delay-activate. Or you can connect it to the dissolve in a permanent switch, if you wish. The last thing you need is another switch or button, set to directional, to attach to the piston.

As you can see, this mag switch is hooked up to the light hanging underneath. Hop on the button, and...

The light doesn't come on. Well, that's simply because the key hasn't reached the range of the mag switch yet. So we wait a few more seconds...

And voila! There we go, the light is now activated. Again, you can, instead, hook up that mag switch to a permanent switch's dissolve block. Then hook up the permanent switch's switch (ah--tongue-twister!) to the object/event you want delayed. That's it! Simple as that! Now go out and use it!

The end.

Gad on!

New video!

2009-06-14T20:20:00.000-07:00

JUNE 14th, 2009

Here's the video for STEAM PAINT-SUB-URBIA by croissantbuncake, courtesy of SheepLord.

Gad on!

Community Feature #6, Part 5

2009-06-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

JUNE 14th, 2009

Well, we're here at the last part of this week's Community Feature. I saved the best for last. This level is sorely underplayed; seriously, after you read this, go play it. I try and pride myself on finding underplayed, hidden diamonds in the rough of H4H's, trophy levels, and free prize levels. Well, I think I outdid myself on this one--not to brag or anything. This level actually takes LBP and makes it a little bit creepy. To be able to take a cute game and turn it into a good survival horror level is no small feat. Chilling sound effects and different light sequences and blood all over combine to make:

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER by dylantd

That's it for this week! Check back on Wednesday for the Logic Lesson, and then maybe a bonus sometime later in the week.

There should be a video coming soon.

Gad on!

Community Feature #6, Part 4

2009-06-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

JUNE 14th, 2009

Next up is a level that is a bit off-beat but very fun nonetheless. You play as a small pet Sackboy, trapped in a cage, desperate to get out. You do, and wander around the house, encountering cats, gassy fans, and huge kitchen appliances. The level has a good amount of detail, polish, and good visuals, as well as nice gameplay. The gameplay isn't very inventive or innovative, but the level's parts just fit together so well you can't help but enjoy it.

PET SACKBOY by Hymanator

A video should be coming soon.

Gad on!

Community Feature #6, Part 3

2009-06-14T07:24:00.001-07:00

JUNE 14th, 2009

On to the next level, guys and gals! So, let's see...we've already covered Steam Paint-Sub-Urbia...already covered TeddyCrag...so what's next? Luckily I keep a handy pad of paper with my list of levels on it. Okay, so the next level has a garden-like theme with a barnyard animal whose name is used for a pun in the title. It was on the first page of Highest Rated and it deserves to be there. You have to guide this said animal back to his home. The level has a nice visual style and stays in theme with the Gardens background in it. The level is:

SHEEP HAPPENS by EXR-Malo

Gad on!

Community Feature #6, Part 2

2009-06-14T07:14:00.000-07:00

JUNE 14th, 2009

Well, it's no longer unlucky Saturday the 13th, so here's another level chock-full of gaming goodness for all of you! Today marks the sixth anniversary of Community Features, and also of LBPFeatures itself as a whole. Whoo! I hope to keep this place going strong, as long as my readership stays steady. Because why put the time and effort into a blog if nobody's going to read it? Seems a little bit silly to me. But anyways, I've got another great level for you, here in this part, where you are in ruins suspended in the air, apparently, with spiky, red-eyed bears coming after you from every way possible. This level is finely detailed and comes from an obviously experienced creator.

TEDDYCRAG by Liquid_Blood_

This level has a fine sheen of polish on it. There aren't any rough edges, in terms of visuals or gameplay. Some gameplay is very inventive and clever. The visuals are great all around. The difficulty is a little high for most players, but it shouldn't be utterly frustrating. Check out this level! It has a fair amount of plays, but more plays couldn't hurt.

A video should be coming soon.

Gad on!

Community Feature #6, Part 1

2009-06-13T20:35:00.000-07:00

JUNE 13th, 2009

Oh no, it's unlucky Saturday the 13th! Kidding, kidding, of course. But I decided to kick things off here on LBPFeatures tonight, to save me from a very long time spent working on the Feature tomorrow. Now it will be merely a long time. Starting things off, the first level is a very detailed and full-thermometer one with spiky and plasma-spittin' enemies. Rocket smoke is all around you, obscuring your vision in strategic places while the tanks hunting you try to turn you into a disintegrating ball of green light. Broken buildings lay in ruins in the streets, chunks of stone scattered about the ground. A war is on, and it is your job to defeat the enemies that started it. This level is sorely underplayed and underappreciated:

STEAM PAINT-SUB-URBIA by croissantbuncake

This level epitomizes attention to detail and just how robust this creator is in terms of creativity and willingness to spend the time polishing. You'll be amazed at just how much visual and gameplay goodness is packed into this level. I'm definitely a fan of this creator and will be on the lookout for the next big level from him/her.

A video should be coming soon from SheepLord.

Gad on!

Logic Lesson #3!

2009-06-11T10:35:00.001-07:00

JUNE 11th, 2009

All right, here we are happy gadding guys and gals. It's officially time for another Logic Lesson, straight from LBPFeatures. Sorry about it being a day late, but I simply ran out of time yesterday. Today's Logic Lesson is about the progressive switch, as I call it. There really isn't an official name for it, so I'm giving it one. The progressive switch is good for creating chains of events and switch activations. Say you have a row of lights that you want to light up in order to signal the countdown to a rocket launch. A progressive switch can turn on those lights in order and progressively. Or if you have a bunch of magic mouths and want to create a conversation; progressive switches are great for that scenario as well.

So, what is a progressive switch, exactly? It's a long block of hollowed-out dark matter with a magnetic key on a metal block attached to a piston that extends all the way down the block. Then to finish the switch all you have to do is add magnetic switches, preferably using one of the grids, and hook the switches up to the lights, magic mouths, etc. Here's a picture of it:

I have these switches hooked up to dissolve blocks, as you can see, just as a simple example. The dissolve blocks, thanks to the progressive switch, will dissolve in order.

Well...that's the end! This is a pretty simple Logic Lesson this time around. The next post on LBPFeatures will be for Community Feature #6. Can you believe we're almost there already? Or...maybe my next post won't be Feature #6...but something else, and a day earlier...we shall see.

Gad on!

I'm Sorry...

2009-06-10T20:03:00.000-07:00

JUNE 10th, 2009

I'm terribly sorry, but the Logic Lesson for this week has been delayed until tomorrow due to some unexpected time delays. It will for sure be up tomorrow, so that's something to look forward to for all you faithful readers! That is, if I have any regular readers...chime in with a comment if you are!

Gad on!

Community Feature #5, Part 4

2009-06-07T09:59:00.000-07:00

JUNE 7th, 2009

Part 4 is coming your way...now! I'm leaving in fifteen minutes, so Part 5 will be delayed for a couple hours, until I get back. This next level for Part 4 isn't the best looking, doesn't have the most original gameplay, and isn't the most polished, but it sure is a heck of a lot of fun to play! You are a test subject in an evil scientist's lab and must escape. Watch out, though: you may not escape quite when you think you have. That's right! It's:

TEST SUBJECT by Tactical_Gunner

Next, and final for this week's Community Feature, is Part 5. However, remember it will be delayed for a few hours.

Gad on!

Community Feature #5, Part 3

2009-06-07T08:22:00.000-07:00

JUNE 7th, 2009

This next level is from one of my favorite creators, and boy is he talented. It shows in all his levels, the three that he has. However, quality over quantity, right? There sure is quality in this next level of his, brand-new and published just a few days ago I believe. You must make your way through a construction site, using the tools and machinery provided to reach the scoreboard. Machinery includes cranes, trucks, steamrollers, and more. A very high amount of polish and detail is present in in this level. So!

CALAMITY CONSTRUCTION by jackofcourse

Part 4 is next: however it might be delayed a while as I'm leaving soon. Then, obviously, Part 5 comes after that!

Gad on!

Community Feature #5, Part 2

2009-06-07T08:12:00.000-07:00

JUNE 7th, 2009

The next level is a type I usually stay away from, but I've decided to jump in and include one this week. The type is amusement park. I only picked this one because to me it was exceptional and different than the gajillions of others out there. Especially the Sky Shot ride, the first one, that was very good and very well done. Well, here it is:

STUPID'S THEME PARK by Stupid_Luchador

The level had a very good sheen of polish on it. Not just visually, but all across the board. The rides worked perfectly, with the Sky Shot taking up all that logic you see above. I know I could never do a theme park. I think I'm pretty good at logic, but I'm positive I couldn't figure out all the logistics and logic details it would need. Well, maybe I could, but it would far longer than I would want it to.

Well, on to Part 3!

Gad on!

Community Feature #5, Part 1

2009-06-07T07:44:00.000-07:00

JUNE 7th, 2009

Today on a fine rainy day in Chicago comes Community Feature #5, here on LittleBigFeatures. This first level is jampacked with awesomeness. This level (and its counterpart) are sorely underplayed, averaging out at about 50 plays each. This is a truly undiscovered creator and series, I believe, that players should pay much more attention to. So, I present to you LittleBigFeatures' first undiscovered creator:

CONFLICT: PART 1 by rubberspoon12

You are a soldier fighting against a mysterious alien force. You must defend your base and not allow any part to fall. This level is a wild rollercoaster. Everything is done with remarkable quality and polish. This creator needs plenty more attention than he/she currently is getting. So, go play rubberspoon12's levels!

On to Part 2!

Gad on!

Community Feature Coming Tomorrow

2009-06-06T11:44:00.002-07:00

JUNE 6th, 2009

Tomorrow will be the fifth overall Community Feature here at LittleBigFeatures. Expect the first post to be sometime in the morning tomorrow. It will then continue as fast as I can upload the videos (it takes a long time for Blogger to process them!).

Gad on!

Community Feature Coming Tomorrow

2009-06-06T11:44:00.001-07:00

Another Logic Lesson, woo-hoo!

2009-06-03T07:47:00.000-07:00

JUNE 3rd, 2009

Good morning, all you happy gadders! It's Wednesday, and that means a new LittleBigPlanet logic lesson. This next switch is something I call the switch-switch. I'm sure there's a better technical term for it, but I don't really care. It sounds cool so I'm going to use it! So, what is the switch-switch and what can it be used for? I'll tell you what it can be used for. The switch-switch can primarily be used for altering the states of different objects and functions. Now what the heck does that even mean? Okay, let's say there's a door standing between you and an enemy shooting plasma balls or impact explosives or whatever. Now, th
e strategy you would probably have is lower the door and shoot like a madman until you get shot yourself.

However, that's with a conventional door. With a switch-switch, you can open and close the door to do attack-and-runs. Kind of like guerrilla warfare, but instead in the world of LittleBigPlanet. Another example is from a Media-Molecule-made level, in The Construction Site. In this level there is a platform on two winches that, when you press a button on two different levels, seems to come to you specifically. But how just did they achieve this? Well, others figured it out before me, but I doubt they went into this much detail!

So, here's my setup for a door:

You see the dark matter switch casing behind me, and the magnetic key there on the right. The switch is composed of a hollowed out piece of dark matter with two metal blocks on either end attached to pistons. The pistons are set to flipper motion. The magnetic key you see there is on a piece of glass, which slides when the block it's closest to pushes it. The two piston-blocks serve the purpose of transporting the magnetic key to the opposite side. The buttons are hooked up to the pistons, the left to the left and the right to the right, and the buttons are set to 'One-Shot'. I made it invisible for some inexplicable reason, but the magnetic key in this case is on the left, near the left block, and set to 'Directional' and is inverted.

Now, that magnetic switch is hooked up to the door's piston. The key is outside of the range of the switch, so the door is still closed. But! Step on the right button and the right piston-block pushes the magnetic key within range of the magnetic switch, and voila!

The magnetic key activates the magnetic switch and the door opens! Simple as that. Now the toggle function comes into play. Imagine an enemy on the other side of the door. If you want to go for guerrilla warfare, go ahead and open and close the door as much as your little heart desires.

Now, onto the other example of this niche-but-useful switch. This time it's with the winch platform I outlined earlier. In the Media Molecule level, there was gas to cross over, and this was accomplished by 'calling' the platform down to your level. I didn't put gas in here, but just imagine it. So, just plop down the switches in the right place:

Unfortunately when I took this picture I got the buttons mixed up, so they're really the opposite. Okay, so you need to cross the gas from the left after beating the enemy and opening the door. Simply hop on the button provided and ta-da!

The platform comes down to you, at your beck and call. Now you cross the gas, hop up to the
next level and hop on the button.

And there we are! That is the end of this week's Logic Lesson. If you have any questions, please leave them in the form of a comment on this post.

Gad on!

A Host of New Videos

2009-06-02T14:21:00.000-07:00

JUNE 2nd, 2009

Here we are, rounding out this week's Community Feature with some videos that were missing/not recorded yet. First up is the video for Can't Sleep, Clowns Will Eat Me by Velkro_Merkin. These following videos are courtesy of SheepLord.

Next is AAAlone PRESENTS: Moving Parts by AAAlone.

Gad on!

Community Feature #4, Part 4...

2009-05-31T08:19:00.001-07:00

MAY 31st, 2009

And here is the fourth part of the Community Feature of the week of May 31st, 2009. This next level is, presumably, inspired by a song. It has a very dark theme and content. Well, at least about as dark you can get in LittleBigPlanet. That level is:

Can't Sleep, Clowns Will Eat Me by Velkro_Merkin

Again, there is no video currently, but I have messaged SheepLord.

Gad on!

Community Feature #4, Part 3...

2009-05-31T07:55:00.001-07:00

MAY 31st, 2009

The next level is a high-speed one with a motorcycle, or, as the creator calls it, 'Steelhorse'. That's an accurate description of what looks like a custom-built motorcycle that you ride in this level. The special effects as you're going along at high speeds are pretty impressive, including flashes of lightning, creatures popping up, things falling apart, and plenty more. The level is both visually and conceptually impressive. With no further adieu:

Hell's Angels by poms

I couldn't take any pictures, but the video explains it well enough. The video was recorded by latmask00.

Gad on!

Community Feature #4, Part 2...

2009-05-31T07:39:00.000-07:00

MAY 31st, 2009

Next up in this week's Community Feature is a level that exemplifies ingenuity. Time and time again you'll find yourself being fascinated by the mechanics of this level and the brilliance of its design. The visuals aren't as detailed as one might like, but that criticism pales in comparison to just how much fun this level is to play, and just how mind-boggling all the mechanics behind it are. Kudos to this creator for a fun level where you never know what's coming next.

AAAlone PRESENTS: Moving Parts by AAAlone

Unfortunately, as of right now there is no video. However I have requested one from SheepLord, so it should probably be up within the week.

Gad on!

Community Feature #4, Part 1...

2009-05-31T06:49:00.000-07:00

MAY 31st, 2009

Well, guys and gals, it's time for another annual Sunday installment of LittleBigFeatures' own, well, LittleBigFeatures! Here today we've got a great crop of levels sure to scintillate and impress. Ooh, big words! But no, in all seriousness, we do have amazing levels that either look amazing, have a great concept, or boast some of the best gameplay. Without much further delay, as I don't want to get you guys mad, here we go!

This first level has a very interesting and enjoyable concept. Dr. Heartforheart has gone crazy in LittleBigPlanet, spewing out Heart-4-Heart levels like there's no tomorrow. It's up to you to stop him and his crazy, illogical, cheating ways. This level boasts great visual style, nice gameplay, and a great concept, and pulls it off in all imaginable ways. Kudos to the creators of this one, I enjoyed it immensely.

7 Days by xkappax, GruntosUK, Catiers, and HardSync

Thanks to albonshasta for the video. This is a great level, so seriously, go out and try it! I believe it's on the second page of Cool Levels right now. Isn't that ironic?

Gad on!

Tomorrow!

2009-05-30T21:21:00.000-07:00

MAY 30th, 2009

Well, tomorrow comes the next Community Feature! I won't be giving any hints away here, so you'll just have to wait for a few more hours. This was just to confirm or...something that the Feature is coming tomorrow. Well...

Gad on!

Also, please don't mind...

2009-05-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

MAY 27th, 2009

I'm trying to raise money for a new MacBook and I'm trying to get it before the end of summer. So I decided to start Google AdSense to try and get a few extra pennies. Please don't get mad at me for doing this; every little bit helps!

Gad on!

Yes! A logic tip!

2009-05-27T15:08:00.000-07:00

MAY 27th, 2009

This may be one of the most important logic lessons you'll ever read. Well, if you're a new creator, anyways, this technique will be vital to your growth and development as a creator. Learning logic definitely doesn't come easy, but I'm going to, today, teach you about the permanent switch. This little doodad lets you activate something permanently, makes something activate and never shut off again. Things this can be used for are, but not limited to, opening and closing doors, activating machines, turning on/off lights, and plenty more uses. You'll find yourself using permanent switches in pretty much every level you make; they are ubiquitous and can be applied to many, many different things.

Okay, so here I made an example for everyone to look and see and go 'ooh' and 'ahh' at the pretty pictures. Okay, not really.

So here's the setup. You have a solid material block at the top and a dissolve material block underneath it, all encased within hollowed-out dark matter. Dissolve material, well, dissolves and disappears when it is activated. In this case a button is hooked up to it. When the button is pressed, it activates the dissolve block, dropping the solid block down into the magnetic key's activation radius. On the solid block is the magnetic key and on the bottom of the dark matter is the magnetic switch. So, the magnetic switch stays activated forever, letting something like a door stay open forever. In fact, that's my example...

Here the button is hooked up to the dissolve and the permanent switch is in place. The magnetic switch is set to directional and inverted, to keep the door closed until the switch is activated.
Then Sackboy hops on the button and...

Poof! The dissolve disappears, dropping the key within the switch's range. The door will now stay open forever.

So! That ends this logic lesson. I'm sure you'll find that permanent switches will soon become one of your creating best friends! Not one of your real best friends though...that might be a little sad...

Gad on!

Let's see...

2009-05-26T10:31:00.000-07:00

MAY 26th, 2009

Tomorrow I may be putting up another logic tutorial, covering all the basics of what you need to know. These logic tutorials I hope to turn into a weekly thing, making sure every creator can do what they need to in order to make a great level. Hopefully the next installment will be coming tomorrow...

Gad on!

Community Feature #3...Part 4!

2009-05-24T06:51:00.000-07:00

MAY 24th, 2009

The fourth installment of the Community Feature of the week of May 24th, 2009 is right now, folks. Now I have an exceptionally stylized level here for you. I truly cannot imagine how much time these visuals took to make. Plus, the level has pretty good gameplay as well, comparable to the less-looking, better-gameplay levels out there. Here it is!

B.W. by Morrito

Gad on!

Community Feature #3...Part 3!

2009-05-24T06:17:00.000-07:00

MAY 24th, 2009

Here we go again, LBP fanatics! Next is a level that may be a little obscure to everyone. It is definitely worth a play though, and for me it was worth the heart it got. I can't believe how much attention to detail went into this level. Everything was done so well: the gameplay, the visuals, the detail, the concept, everything was executed so well and amazingly, that it is definitely one of the best levels I've played so far. That level is:

PINBALL WIZZARD: THE GREAT PINBALL ADVENTURE by Allieran

As the level moves a lot, I could not take a lot of pictures of the actual gameplay. However, the video shows it well enough. Thanks to Sackboy223 for the vid.

Gad on!

Community Feature #3...Part 2!

2009-05-23T20:15:00.001-07:00

MAY 23rd, 2009

Moving right along, this next level is a very artistic one. It lasts only approximately three or four minutes; however, those few precious minutes are spent very well. I'm not sure if the thermometer just filled up rapidly and unexpectedly or what, but this level is quite short compared to others out there. It's the only blemish on an otherwise very creative and great level that definitely got a lot of attention to its visuals.

EXPLOSION OF MIND-THIS IS ART! by TOBSn08

Thanks to ChimpanzeePS3 for the video.

Gad on!

Community Feature #3...Part 1!

2009-05-23T19:11:00.000-07:00

MAY 23rd, 2009

Hey all, it's time to get this week's Community Feature off to a bang. Without further adieu, let me present a level that is very short but also very good. You can tell a lot of detail and thought went into making this level, as the visuals are impeccable and it's also pretty funny. Well, I don't think it needs any more explanation. This level speaks pretty well for itself, I think. Here you go!

LIQUID'S BAR by Rhys125

Gad on!

Could it be? Yes, a video!

2009-05-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

MAY 23rd, 2009

This isn't just a regular video, folks, this is a video by me! Of course, I have a digital camera with no microphone, so don't expect elaborate sound effects or anything. But, I didn't need it for this particular video, luckily.

We've all heard of the Monster Pack, right? But it's $4. Some people don't have that kind of money week after week after week, or some do and want to spend it wisely, not just burning it away on nothing. So, what's in the Monster Pack? This video has everything in the Monster Kit Pack, not the Monster Costume Pack. Take a look and decide for yourself whether you want the kit pack or not.

Gad on!

Is it...? Yes! The bonus!

2009-05-22T16:50:00.000-07:00

MAY 22nd, 2009

Well hello fellow happy gadders, ladies and gentlemen, it is time again for another installment of LittleBigFeatures' own bonuses. This fine day I am featuring a very good level and an excellent creator. He's not around on the forums (as far as I've seen) and I've only seen and learned of him because of an interview by Media Molecule. So, that creator is the one and only O-tera.

THE BIZARRE RESIDENCE [JPN] by O-tera

That's it for this post. Hopefully there will be a video soon to go along with this. My next update will be on Sunday for the Community Feature, and then hopefully another tip will be coming sometime next week. Any feedback, let me know. So far there hasn't been, but, who knows?

Gad on!

Bonus level! Yeah!

2009-05-21T18:20:00.000-07:00

MAY 21st, 2009

Tricked you! This will actually be coming tomorrow, as I ran into unforeseen time delays today that have prevented me from putting up the level yet. I haven't had enough time to photograph the level yet; I have played it, but have not taken pictures yet. I'm not going to put it up without pictures, hence, the bonus will be delayed until tomorrow.

I will give you one more hint, though, as to what the level is. It's a house with a pretty good boss at the end and a very unique art style...more tomorrow.

Gad on!

Hmm...what could this be?

2009-05-20T20:03:00.000-07:00

MAY 20th, 2009

Tomorrow I will be unveiling another bonus level. I'm not going to give much away right now, mind you, so don't look for a whole lot. All I will say is that this creator is from Japan and has been interviewed before. If you can figure this out, you're a pretty avid LittleBigPlanet follower. I actually only learned about this creator not too long ago. If you can guess, go ahead and leave a comment. Even though nobody ever does. Never. I haven't gotten a single one. Oh well.

Gad on!

The First Tip: Boss Logic!

2009-05-19T14:29:00.000-07:00

MAY 19th, 2009

Logic in LittleBigPlanet is an invaluable thing. It helps us creators pull off many different effects and events. Things like permanent switches and different kinds of 'gates' are very handy for the creator who knows how to use them. However, a lot of methods eat up a lot of thermometer. So I'm here to present my alternative with a different method I haven't seen so far of boss logic. Boss logic is simply logic used to operate a boss creature, machine, or thing in a level. My method is explained in the pictures below.

LET THE LEARNING BEGIN!

I'm creating the seventh level in a series right now, Bitter War Part 7: The Road to the Palace. I decided to have a mini-boss in it. I experimented with different methods of logic but found they took up too much processing power for my liking. This boss comes about one-third through in the level, give or take a couple fractions. This idea has been forming slowly over time in my mind. Now is the first time I've put it into action, and I've found it foolproof so far.

So this is my setup. Ignore everything else except the top left, tall box of logic with the three dissolve blocks and the metal block at the top with two magnetic keys on either side of it. The other logic boxes are specific to my boss. They will be different for yours, most likely. So the first dissolve block on top is activated by a sensor switch, dropping the metal box down to the next 'level', so to speak. This activates the magnetic switch on the left, which starts my boss's first phase and also closes a door behind Sackboy.

So this is the first phase. The boss, seen in the picture on the right, is now firing bombs. It was immobile before but is now moving thanks to the other logic boxes I won't explain here. The topmost paint switch on the boss is connected to the second dissolve block. So when that switch is depleted and activated, the metal activating box drops to the next level and starts the next phase.

There was a black-stickered dissolve block in front of the bottom paint switch's area. This prevented players from activating the bottommost switch prematurely. The metal activating box activated the second magnetic switch in the stack, which dissolved the dissolve material in the front and started emitters on the front, which shoot plasma balls. The boss is now in the second stage.

Now the second, bottommost paint switch is activated. The box reaches the bottom and activates a magnetic switch set to one-shot hooked up to a protected creature brain on the back of the boss. This kills the boss. The switch is also hooked up to three dissolve shapes as you can see from previous pictures, sitting in front of the three arches. The arches have point bubbles to reward the player for defeating the boss. Also the switch is hooked up to an explosive wall of cardboard, clearing the way for the player to continue.

So my method is basically make a stack of dissolve blocks for however many phases you want your boss to have, plus the starting block so the boss doesn't start prematurely and the ending block to kill the boss. Add a separate, normal-material block to the top, place one or two magnetic switches on it, and hook up everything appropriately. This is the most efficient way I could create. It only took up less than a quarter of a notch of thermometer.

If you have any questions, please leave it in a comment. I'll be happy to answer any questions. It can be difficult to wrap your head around. This is the first tip of what I hope will turn out to be many along the road.

Gad on!

Coming Tomorrow...

2009-05-18T20:00:00.002-07:00

MAY 18th, 2009

Coming tomorrow is a tip/create tutorial of something that I made up. I think it will be very useful for skilled and unskilled creators alike. It's a simplified method of previous versions, I believe, as it only took up less than a quarter of a notch of thermometer. Other versions I've seen of this take up a whole section or more. So what am I talking about here? Tune in tomorrow to find out.

Gad on!

Community Feature #2! Part 5!

2009-05-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

MAY 17th, 2009

This final level is a very good one to say the least. It may be a bit unpolished in some aspects, but it's a dang good-looking and good-playing level. This creator I had never heard of before either, as well as the level. I'm glad my review group (the LittleBIGReviewers) got to try it out, otherwise I would probably never know about this hidden gem, this diamond in the rough. The final level for this week's Community Feature is:

TEST CHAMBER'S by boost4444

That's it for this week of May 17th. However, I may have a bonus sometime in the middle of the week, depending on my available time. The week after this current one are my final exams and then I'll finally be out of school for the summer. You can expect more frequent updates in June, July, and August. After that, though, it'll go back to whenever I have time. Well, that's it for this week! Hope you enjoyed the levels!

Gad on!

Community Feature #2! Part 4!

2009-05-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

MAY 17th, 2009

Hello again Happy Gadders! This is Part 4 of the Community Feature of the week of May 17th, 2009. This next level must have taken almost impossible-to-figure-out logic to make it all work. This is a one-of-a-kind level; you likely won't find anything like it anywhere else in the LittleBigPlanet community. Without further delay, the level is:

GROW-GARDEN by KillerTerek

Next is the last and final part!

Gad on!

Community Feature #2! Part 3!

2009-05-17T06:42:00.000-07:00

MAY 17th, 2009

Continuing on the same thread of great looks and exceptional gameplay, plus with a good measure of brilliant design, we have the next level. It's a very new one from, in all honesty, a creator I had never heard of before. However, after seeing their promotion thread and the pictures, I had to play it. It was and is definitely worth a play and a comment of feedback. I guess that creator will be on my horizons and sights from now on. All I can say is, great job on:

THE CAVERNO EUTOPIA: THE PETRIFACTION LIVING DEAD by SiXth

And now we're going on to the next part!

Gad on!

Community Feature #2! Part 2!

2009-05-17T06:34:00.000-07:00

MAY 17th, 2009

Here we are again, ladies and gentlemen: it's time for another installment of LittleBigFeatures', well, Community Features. I've really focused on quality this time around, which means not only does it have to look good, it has to play well and have good gameplay. This part's level is a grand master example of a perfect blend of good looks and good gameplay. This is a relatively new level, but it comes from a quite skilled creator. Without further adieu:

CANNON CANYON BLAST by TOBSn08

Unfortunately there currently isn't a video of this level. However, hopefully there will be one soon, as I've submitted a request to SheepLord already. On to Part 3!

EDIT: Thanks to SheepLord, we now have a video!

Gad on!

Community Feature #2! Part 1!

2009-05-16T15:08:00.000-07:00

MAY 16th, 2009

I have some extra time currently, so I've decided to get Community Feature #2 off to an earlier start than planned. Please, if you have any suggestions, comments, feedback, leave it in a comment and I'll be sure to address it. But! Kicking off this Community Feature for the week of May 17th, 2009 is a very good level that I'm sure many people may have played (or may not have). It's from one of the most promising creators in LittleBigPlanet, and has a very detailed look to it like nothing else in the community. That level is:

STARCRUISER by candyk

Credit goes to Sackboy223 for the video for this level. Great job, candyk! You're definitely one of the best up-and-coming creators of the LBP community. All I can say is, keep on doing what you're doing.

Gad on!

How Community Features Will Work Now

2009-05-16T14:12:00.000-07:00

MAY 16th, 2009

I've decided to break up Community Features into five separate posts now. I've learned from Feature #1 that one huge post is a bit too unwieldy and time-consuming to rearrange everything every single time a picture is added. So I'm going to break it up into manageable chunks, just to let you know.

Gad on!

A LittleBigHint

2009-05-15T20:18:00.001-07:00

MAY 15th, 2009

I've decided to drop a few hints for Community Feature #2, coming courtesy of yours truly on Sunday, May 17th. I'll have a level with some relics in it, a level with many rooms in it, a garden, a futuristic level, and a full-of-gunpowder level as well to round out the top five. Can you make any guesses as to what the levels are? Leave it in a comment.

Gad on!

Hey! You! It's a Bonus!

2009-05-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

MAY 13th, 2009

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is another bonus coming straight from LBFeatures itself. What level is it this time? I'll give you a hint: it's a level I couldn't take pictures of because it would mess up the presentation terribly and spit me out at the very end. That's right, this bonus is FUTURE WARZONE 2 TRAILER by johnee. See? I told you the PlayStation Network ID was a real life name. Were you able to guess which level it was? Leave it in a comment if you could.

So now we have a nice, wholesome, family-friendly video from LBPMan12. Who am I kidding? It's full of destruction, violence, giant robots, and bombs. Who am I kidding? It's an awesome video and level.

Gad on!

A Small Announcement

2009-05-13T13:54:00.001-07:00

MAY 13th, 2009

There may just be a bonus level coming today. Possibly. I'm not giving any details as to what it is, except that the level's creator's PlayStation Network ID is a real-life name. It's not anything like xXPwnerXx. It's a real name. And be assured that this level is definitely a very good one indeed.

Gad on!

An Explanation of My Videos

2009-05-11T13:38:00.001-07:00

I want to again stress that I don't mean any infringement or to steal any of the videos' owners' work. If one of your videos is on my blog and don't wish it to be, just comment or message me on LittleBigWorkshop and I'll be sure to take it down right when I get the message. I also want to say in advance a thank you to Sheep-Lord from the LittleBigWorkshop forums, who will be recording videos for any levels that don't already have their own videos.

As a note, for the Loco Roco level video, that was made by Sackboy223. All credit goes to him for that one.

Gad on!

What's this? A bonus!

2009-05-11T11:54:00.000-07:00

MAY 11th, 2009

I had some extra time today, surprisingly, so I decided to add one more level that wasn't quite good enough to make it into yesterday's picks, but is still definitely worth a shot. It has an excellent visual art style true to its creative source. The gameplay is decent as well. What stood out for me in particular is the aesthetic and simplicity of the visual style. It's so nice, so polished that you don't care there's not a lot of decoration. It just looks good no matter what. The only real reason it didn't make it into yesterday's picks is because it was just too short.

LOCO ROCO by BlahYourHamster

Gad on!

Surprise! Community Feature #1!

2009-05-10T06:53:00.000-07:00

MAY 10th, 2009

Hey you Happy-Gadder guys and gals, it's time for the very first community feature! This week I'll be featuring only five levels unfortunately, but they are some good ones at that. You may have heard of some of them, but I can bet there's a surprise or two that made it in. I have hearted all these levels, so if one of yours get into the feature, consider it hearted! Please note, though, this does not mean I'm doing heart-for-heart (which is in my opinion just stupid), but rather that I liked your level so much I practically had to heart it.

Kicking things off for the first level this week is one I'm sure almost everyone knows:

FLAMING TIMBERLAND by jackofcourse

This level combines a mixture of wood and stone very well, creating a nice aesthetic that is consistent throughout the whole level. The decoration is top-notch, fitting in well with the established aesthetic. The gameplay is also, in my opinion, very original with many different hazards and obstacles. this is one that you'll enjoy p laying more than once, that's for sure.

My closing comments for this level are simply that this is amazingly good. I'm pretty sure I heard that jackofcourse spent three months on this. All I can say is, three months well spent!

JAPANESE GARDEN by Syroc

This level was surprisingly elegant and traditionally Japanese minimalist. The decorations were sometimes scarce, but the material usage was so elegant I was more than willing to overlook it. From the moment you step into the level you can tell a lot of attention was put into the material usage and shapes. This was a great level. The gameplay was adequate and could have been improved, but this level is definitely worth a play.

FROM SIBERIA WITH LOVE PT. 1 INFILTRATE by GruntosUK

This particular level uses the winter theme and background very well, in my opinion. The gameplay is very good, as are the visuals and aesthetic style. This level is worth a play and a look, in my opinion. Go check it out.

UNCLE FRITZ'S FABULOUS FUNHOUSE FRENZY by thekillermiller

I have to honestly say, this is one of my favorite levels of all time. Everything is so well polished, so well decorated, so well executed that you simply have to give it a five. Honestly for the life of me I can't understand why it only has four stars in its rating. The characters are top-notch, especially Uncle Fritz himself and the girl with the spilled ice cream cone. The level feels cartoony and at the same time strangely realistic. The lighting, materials, structure, gameplay, and visuals all come together to create a fantastic level. Good job, thekillermiller!

TORN BY DARKNESS by Stampy83

This level is a very moody, dark level with superb narration and storytelling. Everything is dark except for guiding lights and thunks and notes of what sounds like a broken piano as you go along a mental journey into the morbid and macabre. The gameplay is surprisingly good; usually levels with good, engaging stories lack the gameplay to back them up. This was definitely a pleasant surprise to play, with excellent visual and atmospheric effects.

I hope all you avid LBP creators, players, and fans enjoyed this feature. I hope it alerted you to a few great, extraordinary levels that you hadn't heard of or played before. If anyone has any suggestions, please leave them in the form of a comment on this post. Hope you enjoyed this!

The respective owners of the videos, in order, are jackofcourse1, Sackboy223, JohnnyDFox,
preshaa, and VicRattler. All the credit goes to them, respectively, for these videos, not me.

Gad on!

Greetings to Everyone!

2009-05-09T19:07:00.000-07:00

MAY 9th, 2009

I want to introduce myself. I am an avid LittleBigPlanet creator and a die-hard Cubs fan. So don't cross me on either of those two things! For those of you who don't know what LittleBigPlanet is, for some reason, it is an exclusive PS3 game where you Play, Create, and Share. I think the trailer below explains itself well enough, don't you?

So my goal for this blog is to do a weekly or, if I'm lucky, more than that post of my absolute favorite community levels of that week. I'm running another blog and the LittleBIGReview Group on the LittleBigWorkshop forums, so forgive me if I'm a little late in my posts. I have a video camera; however it doesn't have a microphone, so unfortunately no sound. I will, however, upload pictures of my favorite levels.

I'm doing this as a service to the community at large. LittleBigPlanet, heretofore referred to as LBP, has a very strong community indeed. All I would like in return is a thank you, nothing more. I love this game just as much as you do.

By the way, the posts will hopefully have my top 5, or if you're lucky, top 10. I'm not making any promises though.

Gad on!

LittleBigFeatures

Logic Lesson! Again! Yes!

Community Feature #8, Part 2

Community Feature #8, Part 1

Logic Lesson!

Hmm...

Community Feature #7, Part 4

Community Feature #7, Part 3

Community Feature #7, Part 2

Community Feature #7, Part 1

Unfortunately...

Logic Lesson!

More new videos!

New video!

Community Feature #6, Part 5

Community Feature #6, Part 4

Community Feature #6, Part 3

Community Feature #6, Part 2

Community Feature #6, Part 1

Logic Lesson #3!

I'm Sorry...

Community Feature #5, Part 4

Community Feature #5, Part 3

Community Feature #5, Part 2

Community Feature #5, Part 1

Community Feature Coming Tomorrow

Community Feature Coming Tomorrow

Another Logic Lesson, woo-hoo!

A Host of New Videos

Community Feature #4, Part 4...

Community Feature #4, Part 3...

Community Feature #4, Part 2...

Community Feature #4, Part 1...

Tomorrow!

Also, please don't mind...

Yes! A logic tip!

Let's see...

Community Feature #3...Part 4!

Community Feature #3...Part 3!

Community Feature #3...Part 2!

Community Feature #3...Part 1!

Could it be? Yes, a video!

Is it...? Yes! The bonus!

Bonus level! Yeah!

Hmm...what could this be?

The First Tip: Boss Logic!

Coming Tomorrow...

Community Feature #2! Part 5!

Community Feature #2! Part 4!

Community Feature #2! Part 3!

Community Feature #2! Part 2!

Community Feature #2! Part 1!

How Community Features Will Work Now

A LittleBigHint

Hey! You! It's a Bonus!

A Small Announcement

An Explanation of My Videos

What's this? A bonus!

Surprise! Community Feature #1!

Greetings to Everyone!