Media Molecule finally confirmed this week that LittleBigPlanet 2 is in development. Details on the game will be revealed on Monday May 10. Supposedly, leaks from a feature in the next Game Informer magazine reveal a lot about what the game might contain. Since I cannot figure out if those details are real, all I will say is that it sounds like an incredibly ambitious project, almost too good to be true.
The original LittleBigPlanet is one of my favorite Playstation 3 games and definitely the one I come back to the most. It has a very large amount of replay value due to the huge community behind it. While the first game was excellent, there are still many features I would like to see added to the second game. While some of the features I talk about could hypothetically still come to the first game via a software update, I think Media Molecule could be saving some of their best ideas for LittleBigPlanet 2.
1. More Organized Community Level Section
When a player pops into the community levels section, it’s nothing but a giant unorganized pile of levels. There is no way to be able to see the most popular levels for a given day, a given week, or of all time. Other added sections should be newest levels, highest rated levels, most hearted levels as well as featured levels which are chosen by Media Molecule and updated every week. Although you can search for specific levels you might hear about from others, having an easier way to check out the best levels will make the game a lot better.
2. Sackboy Sharing
If we can share levels, why not share our customized Sackboys? ModNation Racers will allow players to share their mods and the Check Mii Out channel on Wii allows players to upload their best Miis for others to download. This feature would fit perfectly in LittleBigPlanet. The only concern I have about this feature is when a Sackboy uses gear from downloadable content that another user might not have. Media Molecule can figure something out.
3. Import Everything
This one is pretty self-explanatory. I have downloaded tons of costumes for my Sackboy as well as some level packs. All that money I spent should not go to waste. All of the downloadable content should work with the second game but that’s not all. I think all of the over two million user created levels should be accessible through LittleBigPlanet 2. Why let the first original creations rot after many players retire the original LittleBigPlanet? They should join the LittleBigPlanet 2 party along with all the new content that will be produced.
4. Simpler UI for Beginners
I am an experienced gamer and I find LittleBigPlanet’s level creation interface to be hard to use. The problem is that there are so many tools which can confuse those who have no similar experiences with creation. Creating a much simpler interface option for those who find the normal interface confusing to use will allow anyone to create a simple level very quickly. Those who want to really create an awesome level can use the normal interface that has always been there.
5. Machinima Tools
Machinima is the art of using a game to make mini movies. Web series such as Red vs. Blue use this tool and I think Sackboys should do more than just run through levels. They were also born to act. The fact that a player can already change a Sackboy’s facial expressions, tilt its head and move its hands in real time is already astounding. Tools that can help players create small animations and movies will make Sackboys more entertaining. Recording the animations and being able to give a Sackboy your voice through the Playstation Eye microphone or a Bluetooth headset should be standard features in the machinima tool. Editing the video and uploading the finished projects to YouTube can also be possible features.
6. Easier Ways to Share Levels
Sharing levels between friends is easy but what if you want to share it with the masses via the web Playstation Network should allow users to click on links that will queue up a LittleBigPlanet 2 level that is found on the web. I believe this is a possibility and it would make sharing levels even more popular.
7. Create by Moving
Using a Dualshock 3 controller to create levels can be time consuming and annoying at times. A game controller should not be used to edit levels. Sony will be releasing Playstation Move this Fall and I believe that should be used as a tool to create levels. Pointing and dragging would be a much simpler way to edit levels rather than using a controller. It would also feel much more natural being that it is closer to using a mouse on a computer. It could also make the interface much simpler and easier to use.
8. More Than Platforming
This was one of the rumors I heard when hearing of supposedly leaked details of the game. LittleBigPlanet 2 will surely be a great platforming game but it can be so much more. The original game allowed users to create survival levels where the goal was to survive rather than to get from point A to point B. Some extra tools could allow users to create games of other genres such as strategy, RPG, puzzle, racing games, or even simple 2D games. Some incredibly talented LittleBigPlanet players have attempted to make stuff like this before and hopefully LittleBigPlanet 2 will give them the extra tools that will allow them to complete their original visions. If this happens, the game could become a platform for great content rather than just a game.
9. Keep the New Coming
One of the greatest things Media Molecule did was to keep updating the first game with more updates than I could count. My hope is that there is no LittleBigPlanet 3 and that new updates as game changing as the recent water update come to LittleBigPlanet 2. The game has serious legs and the constant updates can keep the game feeling fresh for a long time coming. Hopefully the game is built so that new features and updates can be added on a regular basis.
10. A 2011 Release Date
Sony only has the Playstation Move launch titles and Socom 4 as its key titles for the Fall on Playstation 3 so far. There definitely is at least one or two games missing from that lineup and one of those will probably be LittleBigPlanet 2. For those who only own a Playstation 3, this game is a no brainer to put on your list for Santa. For those who own multiple consoles, LittleBigPlanet 2 will most likely get lost in the sea of games coming out. Waiting for Spring or Summer 2011 would give Media Molecule more of an opportunity to make the game as perfect as it could be. Sony could start a huge marketing campaign which could make the game very relevant during the 2011 holiday season. If this does happens, I hope a beta of some kind is released during the 2010 holiday season which will give players a small taste of what is to come from this epic title.
