LittleBigPlanet: "Biggest update ever" dated

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Media Molecule will throw out what it's calling the "biggest game update EVER" for LittleBigPlanet on November 30 which, most importantly, will add the option to create levels with other players online.

The update, which brings the game up to version 1.21, will also give players increased profile space and tweak save options and networking.

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Here's the full official low down:

Online Create

Now you can create with up to three other players online across the internet, across the world!

Networking fixes & location-based matchmaking

We've rewritten both the way the game handles networking code and the way it finds people for you to play with when you hit 'Play Online'. Now, it searches for people who are closer to you and more likely to have a lower ping. This should bring significant improvements to lag and other networking problems.

The POD Computer will first try to match based on location, if this fails it will fall back to matching with any location.

Save game rewrite

We've changed the way your saved games work to make it faster, more flexible and more robust. It also means you'll be able to save way more stuff.

On a PS3, there are two places games store data - the Game Data folder and the Save Data folder. Previously your automatic save would be stored in the Save Data folder. We've changed it so that your save is now stored in the Game Data folder.

Of course this won't affect most people, but if you do find yourself rummaging in these folders then beware! If you want to back up your data, or move it to another PS3, you will need to use the following new tools:

Profile Backup

The save game backup options can be found in the Profile Settings page of the Start Menu:

* Backup Profile - This will create a back-up copy of your profile, progress, and your levels into a folder in the Save Data Utility. It is also handy if you want to copy your profile to another PS3.
* Import Profile - Lets you import / restore a previous back-up from the Save Data Utility.

Level Backup

You can now backup individual levels! On your moon, select a level and press the Square Button to bring up the options. There will be a new option under the publish menu:

* Backup - This will create a back-up copy of your profile, progress, and your levels into a folder in the Save Data Utility. It is also handy if you want to copy your profile to another PS3.

Doing the same thing to an empty level will give you another new option:

* Import - This lets you import any level you have copied to the Save Data Utility to the selected crater on your moon.

Increased profile space

On top of the extra space you get from the save game re-write, we've also doubled the number of photos and costumes that you can save to Popit.

Other awesome Features:

* If you play a level but do not complete it, a silver Sackboy medal will be displayed on the badge, to get a gold medal you must complete the level.
* We made the LittleBigStore a bit easier to navigate and also to download things after purchase.
* There is now an option to 'Auto-Reject' invitations from other players. The option is in 'Profile Settings'. If you have this set to 'On, no one will be able to join you unless you choose to 'Play Online'. This setting is not saved to your profile and needs to be set every time you play.
* Sticker switches have been made more noticeable and give better feedback to the player when attempting to place stickers on them.
* Checkpoints can now be activated using switches.
* Race Gates can be made thin again!
* You can now use the Sticker and Decoration tool and turn Sackboy around while in Customisation mode.
* Added the QWERTY keyboard layout to the text chat menu.
* Play, Create, Share scores have been removed - we thought these scores were a good idea but they never worked in the way we wanted them to. They may return one day. Maybe.
* If you collect a key whilst playing a community level, you will now see the level unlocking for you once the level you are playing has been completed. You can also search for linked levels in the search menu.
* Pressing L2 and R2 while browsing community levels can now show you the name or the author of each level on the earth as well as the Heart Count and Rating.

Mike Jackson