Level 4
Biggest advice I could possibly give is start small. Your plans are fantastic (though you're right, they would be quickly banned if you published them online, LBP is a game designed to be played by children after all) but they would require a lot of effort, and likely wouldn't be possible in the way you imagine.
Sackboy is stuck in his form unfortunately, but can don a costume. Talented individuals can make pretty decent costumes based on existing characters.
If you can get your internet up and running on the PS3 have a look at some of the levels in MM picks; they are often the best examples of quality levels and a good thing to aspire to, as well as draw inspiration from.
Most of all, keep playing around in create mode. It can seem daunting at first but you'll quickly realise how everything works.
E_T
Level 4
That, was a long read....
Congratulations of receiving your very own copy of Little Big Planet 2, your very own simple game making tool. We would like to take some time to run over the basics of the game, basics of level creation and a few other minor details.
First, let us begin by connecting your PS3 to the Internet. To do so, please check your house for one of the fallowing:
An Ethernet Cable.
A Wireless Router.
Have you found either of those items? Good. If you have discovered, A Wireless Router, you are already halfway to enjoying the glorious wonder of 'Teh Interwebz' on your PlayStation 3 home entertainment Console. However if you have discovered, An Ethernet Cable, there are a few more steps that need to be taken.
To use, An Ethernet Cable, one must first lure it out of it's current residence. These devices tend to burrow into the backside of computers, the sides of laptops, or any device that may act as a portal to the cyber world. An Ethernet Cable, is quite fond of being petted. To pet, An Ethernet Cable, gently place your Index finger and Thumb around the base of the head and apply slight pressure. Once, An Ethernet Cable, is securely in your grasp, a slight tug in the opposite direction of the device it has been buried into should be suffice to dislodge it. Once removed from it's previous home, An Ethernet Cable, can become ravenous. It is wise to quickly find, An Ethernet Cable, a new home. On the backside of your, PlayStation 3 home entertainment Console, is a port, just large enough for, An Ethernet Cable, to make it's new home. Gently place the Head of, An Ethernet Cable, into the port until a slight Clicking sound can be heard, this is how the, An Ethernet Cable, communicates it's gratitude.
Once you have connected your, Ethernet Cable, or have turned your, Wireless Router, on, start up your, PlayStation 3 home entertainment Console. After logging in with the desired User Account, select the Settings drop down menu.
Now that you are within the, Settings drop down menu, hold either the, Down Button, or, Down on the Left Control Stick, until you reach the very bottom option, Network Settings. Press the X button. When in this new Menu, select 'Internet Connection Settings', and fallow the on-screen prompts.
It is now time to explain the finer points of Little Big Planet 2's Gameplay and Creation elements.
It is Highly suggested that every, Little Big Planet 2, player, play the 'Story Mode' in it's entirety. Upon Playing and completing 'Story Mode' Levels, Items, Stickers and Materials will be made available for the player to us in 'Create Mode'. This also gives the player a chance to examine how the Creators of the game (Media Molecule Studios) took to the task of using the 'Create Mode' tools to make Little Big Planet 2. It is not every game that can say, that it was built on a PlayStation 3 home entertainment Console, but after the 'Create Mode' and 'Physics Engine' of Little Big Planet 2 was developed on a Desktop Computer, ALL of the 'Story Mode' levels, were made using a DualShock 3 Controller and PlayStation 3 home entertainment Console.
After the Player has completed the 'Story Mode' levels, We suggest the player take to the 'Tutorials' before entering 'Create Mode'. The 'Tutorials' explain the different tools, materials and logistics of 'Create Mode' and also present the Player with the Tools and Logical devices needed to Create within 'Create Mode'.
Now that you have an impressive arsenal of Materials and Logistical items at your disposal, you may Create your own game.
However there are a few rules that must be fallowed.
THE RULES OF 'CREATE MODE'
1. The Thermometer is the be all, end all of your level. Once it is full, you will not be able to create anything else in your level.
2. Sackboy will always be present in your level. However, you can hide him behind Control-seats (control-inator) or a Move-inator (available with the Little Big Planet Move DLC pack)
3. The borders of your Level can either be your friend, or your enemy. There are times where your vast imagination can overflow your level, in either height or length. The only known method of overcoming this, is by using an Level Link, which should have been explained in game.
4. Remember to have fun. Never get too serious about a level, or you will only be disappointed. Little Big Planet 2 can create a lot of things, but it does fall short in several Game Making areas.
For, inspiration or ideas of how 'Create Mode' can work for you, We suggest playing, or watching via 'YouTube' the many levels crafted in Little Big Planet 2 in the past year.
A few examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NKigJ2_pg8&feature
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSF5q_5ee18 Sack Flower by RAPHAEI
There are many more levels and creators to be discovered in the Little Big Planet Multiverse.
Now for a little hint on Downloadable Content. There are a lot of different 'DLC' packs available, but We highly suggest the Little Big Planet 2 Move Pack. This pack expands the tool set of 'Create Mode' with many more items and Logic.
We hope this has been helpful to you, if there are any questions or concerns please leave a comment in this thread.
Kuklinski2012 wrote:Please, explain this to me like I'm a 4 year old, just like Steven Fry's voice narration in the game!
Hello Pocoyo! What's that you've got there? LittleBigPlanet 2? Oh my, what fun!
What are you doing there? Making a serial killer? I don't think Ellie likes that *at* *all*.
Mostly, what Elessar_Telemnar says [Edit: and Spike... these messages take too long to compose...]. You won't make great games straight away. Start small. Create an arena to run and jump around in, perhaps stick in a game camera zoomed out and see what you can squeeze on to one screen. Get a friend to run and jump in there as well and plant a couple of weapons to collect (plasma-launching creatinator helmets perhaps?) or maybe spawn some sackbots that run scared away from you. Learn to create moving platforms and jump-pads and death traps and other cunning machinery.
Plus there are loads of tutorials on Youtube and various LBP fan-sites that you could look through - but they should be for picking up tips and getting ideas. Getting stuck into Create mode is the best way to learn. The old adages are the best because they're true: you'll learn more by making a hundred mistakes than by watching someone else do it right first time. Make something and play with it. Figure out what's not working and replace it. Figure out what works best and make it better.
If you're looking for ideas, there are loads of examples in other people's levels or in the regular competitions that various LBP communities run. It won't be all that long before Contraption Challenge 17 gets started, though I can't promise it will leave any scope for ultraviolence. 
As for protagonists, if you want to make life easier for yourself, you can stick to sackboy-style puppet characters. With some artistry, these can be made quite individual. You could make person-like contraptions or dinosaurs but a lot of logic, mechanical engineering, thermometer and sheer effort is required.
Level 4
Ahh, I remember that game. I know what you mean.
a) The first-person effect is a trick of the game. I believe the creator used the 3d glitch (look it up on youtube) to get the gun into the foremost layers. This is a little challenging and may be a bit fiddly for new creators.
b) The guns are made the same as everything else in the game, layers of material cut into shape, though like I said above, the 3d glitch is exploited to move it closer to the screen.
c) This is even more difficult. Sticking to something like cardboard people-shaped targets may be a better plan.
d) Not so bad. If you create the targets in parts, individual pieces can be programmed to be destroyed when shot.
e) Another difficult one. I can't think of an easy way to do this. Perhaps another one of us can, that's what LBP is about.
f) Absolutely. There's no additional tools only available online.
g) When you select the level within your moon there is an option for play mode. Alternatively, while in create in the level, pressing start and selecting 'play mode' achieves the same.
_____________________
I'm not going to comment on the second half of your post except to say, I couldn't disagree more on any of your points.
E_T
Kuklinski2012 wrote:
BTW, the reason the makers of LBP/LBP2 have forced players to be unable to change the size/shape preportions of your 'sackboy' is because they fear people will make their own perfect game characters, and the original game selling market will crash. As people will just 'share' their free game ideas online.
With the power of PS3 and its ability to link to the internet, there is absolutely nothing stopping a game making company to make a game that allows a player to design an original game within create options.
And it could actually be a whole lot simple than LBP/LBP2.
I was hoping to see something like this...
Prompts telling you what to do (not Steven Fry talking to you like your a tot).
First prompt; 'CREATE YOUR CHARACTER' ie: Face morph, Body Morph, Eye detail, hair styles, clothing etc. Just like in the SVR games.
Second prompt; 'CREATE YOUR STAGE' ie; Stage templates; 'JUNGLE' or 'CITY' or 'DUST BOWL TOWN'. Add trees, buildings etc. Chose weather options, is it raining etc.
Third prompt; 'WHAT TYPE OF GAME ARE YOU MAKING?' ie; '1st/3rd person shoote'r or 'Combat Verses fight game' (Tekken/Mortal Kombat etc) or 'Racing Driving Game' etc.
Fourth prompt; 'ANIMATE/CREATE THE MECHANICS OF YOUR CHARACTER/or VEHICLE' (Give him/her unique moves etc).
Fifth prompt; ' 'ANIMATE/CREATE THE MECHANICS OF YOUR LEVELS OPPONENTS/or OPPOSING VEHICLES' etc
Sixth prompt; 'ADD WEAPONS/or LEVERS/BUTTONS/ITEMS TO YOUR LEVEL/STAGE' (place/possition items of interest, ammo or a door or a ladder etc).
Seventh prompt; 'FINALIZE YOUR GAME' - Add music, sound effects, lighting effects, and mechanical details - such as how much blood comes out from a target or how it sprays out etc. How scores are collected, eg: Each kill is counted 1,2,3...
But, it seems with LBP/LBP2, we've just got more false advertizing, just like with the other misleadingly titled game 'Create'. This is purely and simply kids stuff - which doesn't make sense since no kid young enough to actually enjoy this jumping-through-hoops-for-points crud would even be able to set up his PS3 to the internet. Unless he's a real wizz kid.
Like I said, game makers just don't want to make the game I detailed out because it would be 'TOO PERFECT' -and nobody would buy another game once they made their own little perfect games.
Hi. Welcome to the forums and to LittleBigPlanet. I'll let the others dispense some useful advice. I meanwhile, will provide a friendly rant. 
I'm sorry but you're talking nonsense.
Sure there are limitations to LittleBigPlanet but that's because it's a game, not a PS3 software development kit. What LittleBigPlanet does provide is a set of creative tools unparalleled in any other game, while still making them accessible to a wide range of skill levels.
You appear to be getting annoyed with the game but from the sounds of things you've barely played it and know next to nothing about it. Have you completed the Story mode yet? It shows off about 5% of what is possible with the toolset. For the other 95% you need to go online (or at least YouTube) and see what other people have made before you start talking about the limitations of Create mode. There are community-made levels out there which (no exaggeration) are unrecognisable as LBP. Everything you mentioned is possible in the game but you need to learn how to do it. Forums are a great place to ask for advice (rants are available on-request too) but you should really be looking to learn about the individual concepts and techniques that go into making a level and then coming up with ways to use those techniques to make what you want. LBP logic is a great exmaple of this. A creator called Comphermc provides brilliant tutorials on his YouTube channel and some exmaples of how the methods could be used, but the skill comes in adapting what he shows and using it to create what you want.
I'm not sure you know what you want out of LBP - You talk about wanting the freedom to make ANYTHING YOU LIKE, but at the same time want wizards to step you through the process??
The reason LittleBigPlanet doesn't provide pre-made guns and blood dispensers is because it's rated 7+/E (as in, 'For Everyone'). That's not to say it isn't possible to make these things yourself, but the game isn't going to give them to you. Wasn't the cute, Hessian character and bright colours on the front cover a giveaway?
I think you've misunderstood the type of toolset LBP provides. Take some time to understand and learn how to use exploit it to your own needs. Don't expect to be able to create a masterpiece in a matter of hours. It takes weeks or even months. What you're doing is akin to opening some top-of-the-line video editing software and saying, "Right, where's the 'Create Blockbuster Movie' button?"
Level 4
Kuklinski2012 wrote:
============================================================================= BTW, the reason the makers of LBP/LBP2 have forced players to be unable to change the size/shape preportions of your 'sackboy' is because they fear people will make their own perfect game characters, and the original game selling market will crash. As people will just 'share' their free game ideas online.
With the power of PS3 and its ability to link to the internet, there is absolutely nothing stopping a game making company to make a game that allows a player to design an original game within create options.
And it could actually be a whole lot simple than LBP/LBP2.
I was hoping to see something like this...
Prompts telling you what to do (not Steven Fry talking to you like your a tot).
First prompt; 'CREATE YOUR CHARACTER' ie: Face morph, Body Morph, Eye detail, hair styles, clothing etc. Just like in the SVR games.
Second prompt; 'CREATE YOUR STAGE' ie; Stage templates; 'JUNGLE' or 'CITY' or 'DUST BOWL TOWN'. Add trees, buildings etc. Chose weather options, is it raining etc.
Third prompt; 'WHAT TYPE OF GAME ARE YOU MAKING?' ie; '1st/3rd person shoote'r or 'Combat Verses fight game' (Tekken/Mortal Kombat etc) or 'Racing Driving Game' etc.
Fourth prompt; 'ANIMATE/CREATE THE MECHANICS OF YOUR CHARACTER/or VEHICLE' (Give him/her unique moves etc).
Fifth prompt; ' 'ANIMATE/CREATE THE MECHANICS OF YOUR LEVELS OPPONENTS/or OPPOSING VEHICLES' etc
Sixth prompt; 'ADD WEAPONS/or LEVERS/BUTTONS/ITEMS TO YOUR LEVEL/STAGE' (place/possition items of interest, ammo or a door or a ladder etc).
Seventh prompt; 'FINALIZE YOUR GAME' - Add music, sound effects, lighting effects, and mechanical details - such as how much blood comes out from a target or how it sprays out etc. How scores are collected, eg: Each kill is counted 1,2,3...
But, it seems with LBP/LBP2, we've just got more false advertizing, just like with the other misleadingly titled game 'Create'. This is purely and simply kids stuff - which doesn't make sense since no kid young enough to actually enjoy this jumping-through-hoops-for-points crud would even be able to set up his PS3 to the internet. Unless he's a real wizz kid.
Like I said, game makers just don't want to make the game I detailed out because it would be 'TOO PERFECT' -and nobody would buy another game once they made their own little perfect games.
Dude I was being nice before, but now I feel I have to drop the hammer up in this piece!
I graduated from a college that taught me how to design a 3d character, not so much on game making skills, but I have learned enough to tell you, that NO game would EVER allow you to do that. There is absolutely no way that you can pack all of the information needed to make a game, into a game.
1st, you need to decide what type of game you want.
Do you want to make a FPS? Ok, lets take a look at somethings that I have on my PC right now, that are needed for First Person Shooters.
As a basic FPS tool, I have FPS Creator X10. This does exactly what it says, allows you to make your own First Person Shooter. Next I have Steam's Hammer Editor. This allows you to make Mods for Steam's many FPS games. and Lastly I have the UDK Editor, better known as Unreal Engine Developers Kit. Those three programs are all alternatives to the MANY FPS creation tools out there. And still, they mean nothing if you don't have other things. All they do, is provide the framework for you to create an environment, and allow your character to perform correctly in an First Person Shooter.
I also use Autodesk Maya 2012. This is a 3d editing software, that allows you to create and animate 3d models, such as characters, environments and objects such as vehicles and weapons. http://www.wix.com/spikestarkey/michaelstarkey3d < that is my website,
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN2ZUxGrllU < that is a video I posted on Youtube about me Recreating Sackboy (with help from a friend on the model) in Autodesk Maya.
It took me 2 years to get that good, and I'm still laughable compared to the industry guys.
2nd, what is your story?
From what you have described in your post(s) you are looking to make a type of First Person GTA, where you can just shoot anyone you feel like at the time. Ok, simple enough.
3rd, What do you want the characters, environments, vehicles, weapons, ect to look like?
Now comes the fun part. Sketching out Hundreds or even THOUSANDS of different designs for your main character, secondary characters, background characters, environments, vehicles and weapons. What will work in he game? Sure Uzis are practical, but do they work in 1812 Europe? Will everyone be driving around in a Humvee or riding horses? There are a lot of things here that need to be addressed Long before the game can be made.
4th, Do you have the licensing rights to use the weapons, vehicles, storefronts, clothing you want in game?
This gets rather expensive, pretty quickly. You may not realize this, but Just because you caught a glimpse of a Pepsi can in a Blockbuster game or Movie, doesn't mean that was just what was there. The developers had to pay Thousands sometimes Millions of dollars to get the company to say Ok, use this in your game/movie.
5th, Now you have to actually make everything you want made.
If you are doing this alone, (which it seems to me you want to do, some of the best indy games were made by one guy) this will take time. Lots of time. The average turn around time of a FPS is two years (thanks to Activi$ion pumping out COD like water) and that is with a team of people working every day, for at least 12 hours a day.
There is no Magic MAKE A GAME program, let alone a game that can provide what you want. It is impossible. Years go into learning how to program a game engine, how to model a character, how to code artificial intelligence. Just because a game company didn't give you the tool set you wanted doesn't make them an evil corporation. The fact that LBP/LBP2 gives you any amount of creation tools, in the depth that it does, is groundbreaking in the industry. For the first time, people who have wanted to make a game, or at least be part of making one, can get a taste of Making something special, where Literally Millions of people can enjoy it (and some of these creators were given jobs at Mm Studios because of it).
You want to make a game, Go for it. I want to make one too. But you need to get your facts together and actually look into the industry you just raged against.
Level 4
What you are asking is for a game company to just give you the tools to make AAA game, THAT is impossible. And I would hardly call a character editor in any video game, making a 3d model. Every thing you can do to the model in SvR, has been modeled by somebody who was trained how to do it in the first place, then somebody else coded the user interface that allows you to slide between the different models that somebody else made.
The programs needed to actually make a game cost thousands of dollars, so even IF somebody creates a game that does everything you want it to do, it would either be extremely simple (resulting in sub par games), or extremely expensive.
Then there is the actual programming needed to get the game to work properly. Can you read C++? I can't, let alone script it for a game.
You seriously need to do your research on how to make a video game. It's not as simple as you think it should be.
Click the icons below to join the fun!
Website ©2013 Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
All content, game titles, trade names and/or trade dress, trademarks, artwork and associated imagery are trademarks and/or copyright material of their respective owners. All rights reserved. [more info]
