So, yesterday the LittleBigPlanet servers went live. People who managed to secure early copies of the game have been playing it without the community features for the past few weeks, but now they're finally able to go online, publish their levels and play with other users. Brilliant. Or not. As with any online community, LBP is having some teething problems....
People stealing levels
Some of the most popular levels from the LBP beta - God Of War: Demon Skull, Metal Gear Solid: Return To Shadow Moses, Hollow Bastion - are being copied and republished by other users, and they're taking all the credit for them. In some cases they have more hearts/plays than the originals. Sure, we can copy protect our levels, but we shouldn't have to. Hopefully Media Molecule catch onto this and ban anyone who's found copying other peoples' levels. Seriously, what are these people thinking?
Trophy levels
There are dozens of these scattered across LBP's thirteen pages of Cool Levels. They're designed specifically to earn people Trophies; for example, supplying enough point bubbles to get all the score multiplier awards, or giving you enough boost to earn the incredible speed Trophy. We don't think this is exactly what MM had in mind when they designed the game's community features, and it's simply a shameless way for the creators of these levels to get hearts/plays and up their play/share/create scores.
People uploading unfinished/broken/test levels
We've lost count of the amount of times we've played a level, only to find out that it's an empty room with a single obstacle in the middle, a pile of random junk, or a level that's impossible to complete thanks to bad design. Before anyone uploads a level they should test it to within an inch of its life, trying every possibility and making sure people won't get trapped or stuck. Probably 50% of the levels online now are like this, and again, Media Molecule need to plough through the archives, moderating any levels that aren't up to scratch.
People asking for the Kratos costume code ALL THE TIME
This is more of an internet problem than the actual game itself, but look at any LBP forum - GameFAQs, the official one, Gametrailers, anywhere - and you'll see dozens of posts like 'PLS GIVE ME KRATOS KODE PLS!!11' or 'WILL SWOP RESISTANCE BETA COEDE FOR KRATOTOSOS COSTUME EEE!!1' Expect to see this making its way to the main game. Take our advice; if you have the costume (like us), don't play online with it. If you do, expect dozens of desperate, begging PSN messages. "PPLLZLZLLZLZLZL!!!!11111!!"
The servers can't cope
Last night, about the time when the Americans were waking up, the servers suddenly imploded. Nothing would load properly, the game would freeze and hang, and even checking your friends' profiles or uploading a level was impossible. Hopefully they'll add more heft to the LBP servers come the EU release, otherwise the game's at risk of buckling under the weight of the millions of users trying to play it. It took us nine or ten attempts to upload our level last night, and multiplayer was lag-tastic.
But even with all of this, LBP is still incredible, and we had more fun last night than we've had with some entire games. When the servers are sorted out, the griefers are smashed with the banhammer and the game's available to the general public, LBP will be perfect. Now it's 'merely' brilliant.
I think the trophy levels are pretty much to be expected aren't they?
Surely there'd be a way that MM could stop that, or atleast make it a little fairer? I haven't got any genius ideas, but if anyone does, i'd expect MM would.
Oh so that's what that code was/is! I have that, but wasn't sure whether it was an actual physical sackboy that they'd send you through the post or what!
We've lost count of the amount of times we've played a level, only to find out that it's an empty room with a single obstacle in the middle, a pile of random junk, or a level that's impossible to complete thanks to bad design. Before anyone uploads a level they should test it to within an inch of its life, trying every possibility and making sure people won't get trapped or stuck. Probably 50% of the levels online now are like this, and again, Media Molecule need to plough through the archives, moderating any levels that aren't up to scratch.
I have to disagree, most of these levels originate from beta testers and because of the servers going offline many ppl uploaded their maps to save them from deletion.
I myself also uploaded a level which, in its current state isn't finished but also play worthy, will be completed when they finally release the damn game here in Europe. Have you ever thought of that? NO!
I think these problems were to be expected with such a big and innovative game like LBP, I'd expect MM to sort these problems out pretty soon with some, as Seany said, ingenious patches.
I smell another delay I can beleive people are phisiclaly stealing levels, it almost makes me glad that I never made my levels very good. My levels were ROFL, Rocket Yard, Fireworks factory and survival, I doubt anyone will have replicated them.
As to the levels that cant be completed, Thats going to happen anyway. At the end of the beta test, a shed load of beta testers (including myself) made 'storage' levels with the things that they needed to create good levels when the full game is released. I added in the description that the level couldnt be completed and I had every intention to reclaim my stuff and then delete the level when the game was released and Im sure that others would have done the same. I doubt that this will be as much of an issue in the full game. However MM should release a patch which scans a level when it is been published to let the creator know whether it can be completed.
Aaanyways, soo the servers went offline and now they're back on! Not sure if anythings changed, but i guess they wont have turned em off just to give us a nice surprise.
I myself also uploaded a level which, in its current state isn't finished but also play worthy,
I was talking about levels that aren't play-worthy, though. Y'know, like it says in the text?
I think this had to be expected though after MM stated that the only way to save your unfinished work from the beta was to publish it to the servers and pick it up when the game is released. I think most of these half-levels will magically disappear when these people pick up the full game. I'm sure users wouldn't want to submit half-finished levels by choice, but given that the alternative option is to lose their work, I can understand why it's happened. My only concern is for those who (for some crazy reason) decide not to buy the full game; their incomplete scraps will remain on the servers indefinitely. I suppose these 'levels' will fall into obsurity and the cream will rise to the top as always.
Surely there'd be a way that MM could stop that, or atleast make it a little fairer? I haven't got any genius ideas, but if anyone does, i'd expect MM would.
They could make the trophies (the Play ones at least) only obtainable from the original levels.
The question is what was Trahildar actually trying to achieve, since 'son of an unmarried couple' doesn't translate to anything. Surely 'son of a female dog' would have been more fitting.
http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo202/Randaybuckethead/DSC00069.jpg I had a good play of this at the Eurogamer Expo yesterday and I think it's good but it's entirely made for co-op mode. There's no way I'd play it by myself but the creation aspect is the selling point really. Still, I think it was the fact that I was socialising whilst playing the game that made it fun, as most of what I'd played involved jump and pull. Sometimes both.
"Anyone else playing Dead Space at the moment? Good, no?"
Bought it Friday afternoon. Played it for two days. Got every trophy and traded it in for Far Cry 2. Brilliant game, loved nearly every minute of it. Not exactly scary, but gives you enough shocks along the way to make it a good experience. A little short imho. Can't wait for the sequel.
Ok, maybe i'm missing something, but surely that just means 'you b_ _ _ _ _ ' then.
Rather than 'you son of a b_ _ _ _ _'?
Edit: Just read Dan's post, quick change!
And it loosm like i'm rather late with my view anyways.
I'd probably buy Dead Space if there wasn't so many games coming out. I know i've said it too many times to count on all the hands in India now, but it still stands.
I havnt been on this website or bought psm3 in 2 months now, because the mags more expensive and thinner - Ive got to prioritise spending to rent (and guitar hero 4).
however, my friend who has a ps3 let me play mgs4 for the week. Im full of opinions and philosophies and dissapointments in this mgs, and I was wondering if I was too late bringing these to the mgs4 dabate?
I havnt been on this website or bought psm3 in 2 months now, because the mags more expensive and thinner - Ive got to prioritise spending to rent (and guitar hero 4).
Yes it costs more, but it's been better since the price has gone up. You've missed out.
however, my friend who has a ps3 let me play mgs4 for the week. Im full of opinions and philosophies and dissapointments in this mgs, and I was wondering if I was too late bringing these to the mgs4 dabate?
No. There's a thread somewhere. Look for it. It's always a good time to discuss MGS.
Well I'm not sure I should tell you. A long time reader of the mag, that's all you need to know. Not really a regular poster, never thought much of it. But considering how much time I have to spend on my PC programming I decided to follow the forums and blogs.
Yeah BigBoss987 I've noticed that sometimes they are away for quite some time before a string of blogs. Usually near the mag deadline. Then again there isn't much to blog about atm is there?
Well I'm not sure I should tell you. A long time reader of the mag, that's all you need to know. Not really a regular poster, never thought much of it. But considering how much time I have to spend on my PC programming I decided to follow the forums and blogs.
Yeah BigBoss987 I've noticed that sometimes they are away for quite some time before a string of blogs. Usually near the mag deadline. Then again there isn't much to blog about atm is there?
maybe a problem will be is no one will be inspired enough i know theirs going loads of features and everyone but maybe people won't know how to put them together i dunno i mean i bet people will bug a person who made a good level to make certain ones and more
There isn't much to blog about? What about all the amazing games out at the moment or the American elections or the global economic down-turn?
Yeah we could talk about those amazing games (or actually play them...) but other than LBP (and those on that other console), I think they've already been discussed. Then again I'm open to suggestion. I've played Dead Space and Bioshock recently, started Far Cry 2 and found it daunting, and then LBP (I'm planning on making a Crystal Maze level if I get enough time). As for the American elections that's for news sites to cover not games. The global economic down-turn? Well all that happens is for entertainment people buy more games because they last longer than films and music. To be honest it's always in the news and if I recall has already been covered in a blog or article somewhere. We need the PSM3 team to start a new topic really...
You seem very political. Is this normal? Umm... if I had to put money on it I'd say China. Most of "The West" doesn't have the money or the manpower, they do. Then it could be someone different, someone you'd never suspect. Nice and friendly, but at the same time suspicious... like Germany. If it was them then at least game developers wouldn't have to change the models much, they could use the same lines of dialogue, and they'd have a new era to set games. No more WWII with battlefields in France, no, no. Now we can have WWIII with battlefields set in.. France. Hmmm...
Well if you're referring to me then I'll get this straightened out now. My first name is Andrew. James is my middle name. As for my surname... I suggest process of elimination. A few days and I'm already spilling the beans, and breaking the golden rule of the net. If you weren't referring to me too bad I'm posting anyway.
Where in the hell did that come from?
I suggest reading all of the posts to find out. There's a clear thought process linking LittleBigPlanet with World War III all laid out in this forum. Then again LittleBigPlanet has been controvesial enough already in its short lifespan. I suppose by analysing this we can prevent World War III from ever happening. It could be sort of like a Skynet thing, but with LittleBigPlanet's servers. Maybe if the servers work properly we're in for some apocolyptic "Rise of the Sackboys" (See how I've brought it back on topic? ). We don't have John Connor, but we do have John McCain! He is less busy after losing the election right?
phwoar! chug me i'm blog famished!
running out of blogular glee. Need more blogging for the harsh winter blog fest!
BLOG NEWDULER PLEASE!!!
It would be blogtastic of you.
Now even if you substitute blog for the correct words you realise this makes no sense? I do feel your pain in need for a true new blog, but I realise that your overuse of the word blog is a true cry for help and should be dealt with by a medical professional.
Maybe tomorrow will yield a new topic for conversation. Well I bloggy well hope so...
I like him already. And by the way, Trahildar (Or as he is known now, Trahildian), is James.
Thanks for that salient piece of information. Suppose that's my problem with being newish to the forums. Also make Preppy's comment make sense too.
As for my idea about a skynet LBP I think it may be coming into fruition. They're getting rid of levels related to other games like Mario and Metal Gear. This is either for the Sackboy revolution, or more likely, to stop Sony getting sued. This somewhat crushes my creative spirit. If I can't copy from what I've seen or has already been done I may be forced to use my imagination. Heaven forbid...
I'm just going to go ahead and suggest you venture over to the PSM3 forums since we could do with more members, and at least you can string a sentence together, which can't be said for all new people unfortunately.
I've only noticed a few levels missing so far. Then again my use of the "Cool Levels" so far hasn't be that extensive as to notice that many good levels. I think it is really more the levels that blatently infringe the EULA or Copyright that are the ones disappearing. If you named it something else and don't use images from Metroid you should be fine. My Crystal Maze knockoff will have to be something else now. The Diamond Maze? For now at least I'm just trying to get to grips with the editor. I've got one puzzle working (The Tower of Hanoi if anyone is interested) but it is very slow progress. Anyone else doing something interesting with LBP? As a side note it has been nearly 2 whole weeks since the last blog. Do you think we should send out a search party or something?
Have you always noticed when it has been a long time and people won't come visit that the tumble weed always does? The tumble weed is always there for you, films, tv, video games (Fallout 3 for example), now even in forums. I salute you tumble weed, always there for the lonely and unwanted.
Only too true. Except in COD, tumbleweed is changed for what must be a whole printing press worth of newspapers and a whole bunch of other forms of arab excretement wipes.
Looking at the picture for this blog, it was an Christmas themed LBP level. BOoH! I spent weeks on a brilliant Christmas level that had you saving elves and presents fro these Grinch-looking goblins...well, actually you are pulling them into elevator with the toys and then they go in to thsi underound level wher prize bubbles are. After that you have to find the reindeer sticker, and stick it on an sticker switch to open to a huge bit...that I haven't any idea for, so it]s the end there for now. There are no funny glitches or bits where you get stuck, plenty of checkpoints, not to easy to get to the end to the level, and I had mates comover and they said it was better then most of those crap -made user levels. gave it a solid 84%.Buyt now hopes and dreams of people playing it online. Should I still work on it? Honest answeres please.
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Not really a regular poster, never thought much of it. But considering how much time I have to spend on my PC programming I decided to follow the forums and blogs. 
). We don't have John Connor, but we do have John McCain! He is less busy after losing the election right?
