LittleBigPlanet tore up the PS3 last year with it's huge advances in user-generated content. The little platformer that could is now set to storm the PSP. We caught up with Laura Dilloway, Art Director on the game to find out why you should be picking up Sackboy's latest
Studentainment (ST): What one aspect of LBP PSP are you the most proud of?
Laura Dilloway (LD): The PS3 game was awesome because it was so innovative. I think our biggest achievement is our fidelity to this concept. It was always going to be a massive task trying to make such a rich game as LBP fit onto the smaller PSP system, and yet we have done it.
ST: What are some of the most important features?
LD: The most important feature is Create mode, without which LBP simply would not be LBP. We have matched pretty much all of the functionality of the PS3 editor into the PSP version (with a few minor control changes) and even managed to include some new ideas that already players on our Beta trial have said are extremely useful.
ST: How does downloading and uploading levels work?
LD: With the PSP you can choose when you want to go online, rather than the “always-on” nature of the PS3. To reflect this, we have a new feature called the Community Moon, instead of having the online features attached to the Story Moon as in the PS3 version, so our interface is slightly different. You can upload or “publish” up to 20 levels, as you can on the PS3.
LD: With the PSP you can choose when you want to go online, rather than the “always-on” nature of the PS3. To reflect this, we have a new feature called the Community Moon, instead of having the online features attached to the Story Moon as in the PS3 version, so our interface is slightly different. You can upload or “publish” up to 20 levels, as you can on the PS3.
ST: Are you confident that the community can build up a library of portable levels that live up to the PS3 version?
LD: Absolutely. Players who are already familiar with the PS3 game won’t have to relearn anything because our functionality is essentially the same, so they’ll be able to dive straight in and get creating. Even if you’re new to LBP, it’s so intuitive that you’ll be up and creating in no time! I think we’ll get some really interesting levels.
ST: If a player has a great idea for a LBP level, but he has both PSP and PS3 versions, what would be the benefits of choosing to create the level on PSP?
LD: The PSP gives players the opportunity to be much more spontaneously creative. You will be able to create in the car, on the train, in your lunchbreak… and if you see something that inspires you then you’ll instantly be able to start making it.
ST: Can an experienced LBP player just jump right into the game and creation? Do they have to go through a creation tutorial again?
LD: We have included tutorials but they are very easy to skip if you don’t want to listen to them. They are implemented differently from the tutorials on the PS3, and appear as videos that play automatically rather than mini-levels that you have to complete in order to unlock certain tools. So if you quit the video once it starts playing, then you will still unlock the associated tool.
ST: What about new players? Is a certain level of understanding of LBP recommended?
LD: The first theme in the game (Down Under) is equivalent to The Gardens theme on PS3, so we guide you through the basic principles whilst introducing you to some of the many wonderful things in the LBP universe.
ST: What have you done to make the campaign worth playing through if LBP PS3 might have left you feeling like you’d seen it all?
LD: We have a new storyline, with new themes, and this in turn presents us with lots of fresh ideas to work with. Our designers have come up with some great mechanics that hopefully people will love.
ST: Do you believe this is the closest the PSP is going to get to a full on home console experience?
LD: Actually I think that the PSP can offer much more than a home console, you can play it wherever you are whether you are in or out of the house. The PSP also has such variety of games that you can have anything from a quick five minute blast at something, to an epic five hour epic session – creating an awesome LBP level for example!
LD: Absolutely. Players who are already familiar with the PS3 game won’t have to relearn anything because our functionality is essentially the same, so they’ll be able to dive straight in and get creating. Even if you’re new to LBP, it’s so intuitive that you’ll be up and creating in no time! I think we’ll get some really interesting levels.
ST: If a player has a great idea for a LBP level, but he has both PSP and PS3 versions, what would be the benefits of choosing to create the level on PSP?
LD: The PSP gives players the opportunity to be much more spontaneously creative. You will be able to create in the car, on the train, in your lunchbreak… and if you see something that inspires you then you’ll instantly be able to start making it.
ST: Can an experienced LBP player just jump right into the game and creation? Do they have to go through a creation tutorial again?
LD: We have included tutorials but they are very easy to skip if you don’t want to listen to them. They are implemented differently from the tutorials on the PS3, and appear as videos that play automatically rather than mini-levels that you have to complete in order to unlock certain tools. So if you quit the video once it starts playing, then you will still unlock the associated tool.
ST: What about new players? Is a certain level of understanding of LBP recommended?
LD: The first theme in the game (Down Under) is equivalent to The Gardens theme on PS3, so we guide you through the basic principles whilst introducing you to some of the many wonderful things in the LBP universe.
ST: What have you done to make the campaign worth playing through if LBP PS3 might have left you feeling like you’d seen it all?
LD: We have a new storyline, with new themes, and this in turn presents us with lots of fresh ideas to work with. Our designers have come up with some great mechanics that hopefully people will love.
ST: Do you believe this is the closest the PSP is going to get to a full on home console experience?LD: Actually I think that the PSP can offer much more than a home console, you can play it wherever you are whether you are in or out of the house. The PSP also has such variety of games that you can have anything from a quick five minute blast at something, to an epic five hour epic session – creating an awesome LBP level for example!
