Here is a quick bullet point list of new features in LBP2 that have been announced:

• Voice-over recording
• Directly-controlled vehicles
• Sackbots (Custom AI sackpeople)
• Circuit Chips (They can contain programming behaviors, much like grouping programming thoughts)
• Multiple level link-ups for “campaigns”
• New camera angles
• 6 new visual themes
• New Grapple Hook tool (a la Lost Planet)
• Improved graphics engine

On top of these new features, there will be a social site launch with the games release called http://www.lbp.me.  This site will contain the entire games user-generated level database and will be searchable.  You will even be able to queue downloads to your PS3, much like Bungie.net and Halo 3.  It seems that Media Molecule has a good eye for what needed improvement from their first game and if you can make Space Invaders using this new editor, then I am already sold that it will be much more powerful than the current iteration.  LittleBigPlanet 2 is looking to be released to retail by the end of 2010.

Check out the full article at 1up.com here.

They say that the beta release will have a limited selection of unlocks and that saving your earned credits will not carry over to the retail game so feel free to spend this in-game money like it was stolen and is burning a hole in your pocket. You will be able to buy different helmets, helmet accessories like flashlights and cameras, breastplates with different looks, shoulder pads and potentially more.

The color selection system and emblem creation tools, although modified, are making their return in Reach as well and the the steel color is closer then ever to Halo CE’s black. All I can say about that is it’s about time!

Go ahead and check out the video after the break for a first-hand look at what you can select in the beta. Only a week away folks! Now go buy ODST if you haven’t already and shame on you if you need to.

I wonder if Chris got the go ahead to start the viral marketing or if he slipped this info under a non-disclosure.  Whether or not Sony wanted people to know, the cat is out of the bag now.  You can check out the video below to get a taste of Ochres musical abilities.

The demo has a twenty-minute time limit and gives you a chance to experience both single player and co-operative and versus multiplayer modes.  It starts out with the skate school, which is essentially an optional training session for beginners hosted by Jason Lee, the actor and former pro skater.  This will teach you the basic controls and simple tricks and help you get a feel for the game.

Next you’re thrown into free play mode where you can roam around the University District of Port Carverton, a new fictional setting for Skate 3.  During this time you can skate wherever you want, with the ability to capture, edit, and upload replay clips of your craziest moments to share with your friends.

The final release of the game will have many more creative features such as photo mode, a logo creator, and a park editor to name a few.  Look for the full game on May 11^th for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Basically you have to design a mini-game for Nintendo’s recently released Warioware DIY. The game allows players to create their own games and upload them to a database. The cool thing is other people can login to the database and try out your creation. Anyways back to getting you to E3. To enter you have to create a microgame themed either creatures, sports or animals. If you haven’t gotten around to picking up the game just yet not to fear! Entries can be the finished microgame uploaded to to the database or you can submit a concept for a game complete with pictures and a written description. The contest runs from March 28th to May 16th.

]]> http://gamermade.com/2010/04/07/its-a-pax-east-podcast/feed/ 2 http://gamermade.com/2010/04/06/skate-3-demo-coming-soon/ http://gamermade.com/2010/04/06/skate-3-demo-coming-soon/#comments Wed, 07 Apr 2010 01:42:18 +0000 Toastman http://gamermade.com/?p=1075 Black Box, an EA-owned development studio just announced today their plans for allowing the public a sneak peek at their latest work, Skate 3. This demo will be available on both Xbox Live and Playstation Network on April 15th.  The demo offers up a playable area in the University District of Port Carverton, the brand new locale for Skate 3.  There will be single player and multiplayer options in the demo but it seems unlikely that the demo will let you mess with the robust park editor.  However, the video replay system will be in place to mess around with.  Get ready to get your skate on folks!  It’s getting closer!

Joe Danger is a game that aspires to relive the glory days of arcade classics, and it follows the story of a washed-up stunt man determined to make his big comeback.  The game was inspired by toys like the Evel Knievel stunt cycle, and it plays like a combination of Excitebike and Sonic the Hedgehog but still manages to feel fresh and unique.  The quirky cartoon style and cheesy 80’s music are a perfect fit for this side-scrolling salute to old school gaming, giving Joe Danger a fun and humorous vibe that carries through every element of the game.  There are several game types, including standard race modes, time trials, and a coin dash mode where the objective is to get through the level as quickly as possible while collecting gold coins and stringing together ridiculous stunt combinations.

Mastering the game will be a challenge and getting perfect runs will be no simple task, but the controls are simple and easy for beginners to get used to.  The triggers control acceleration and braking, as one would expect.  The left thumbstick allows you to pull wheelies, control your rotation in the air for flashy stunts like back flips, and it also allows you to control which lane of the track you’re on.  Although Joe Danger is a 2D side-scrolling racer, there are several “layers” of depth to each track similar to the levels in LittleBigPlanet.  There are also controls allowing you to bunny-hop, squat, boost, taunt, and punch to take out opponents and avoid obstacles in your quest for the checkered flag.

The environments themselves will often be your biggest opponents, with obstacles like shark tanks, mousetraps, spikes, and explosives blocking your path to victory.  One of the most exciting things about Joe Danger is that you’ll be able to use all these elements to create your own stunt tracks and share them with friends online.  The developers have said that every level in the game was created with the same tools available to you in the level editor, so you know the variety of levels will be infinite making the replayability of the game nearly endless.  You won’t be forced to unlock map editor items, as the developers wanted all the toys to be accessible right out of the box so that everyone could have fun regardless of skill level.  You will be able to jump into edit mode at any moment and place items in real-time for instant track testing.  Each track breaks down into sections, and these sections can be shared and remixed with anyone on your friends list.

Overall, I was extremely impressed with Joe Danger and all the creative features that are included.  Even more impressive to me is the fact that all of this was created by just four guys who decided to quit their day jobs in the gaming industry and start up a company of their own (Hello Games) dedicated to making fun games that make people smile.  If Joe Danger is any indication, they are well on their way to accomplishing that goal.  Judging from the crowd at PAX, I am not alone in this opinion.

Even though the Joe Danger booth at PAX was in a pretty terrible location in the back corner facing away from the main show floor it didn’t seem to stop anyone from finding the game, as there were always people lined up to play.  I had read about the game and seen videos, but as I waited for my turn and watched the screens while the other players giggled and cheered each other on like old friends, I began to get a feel for what this game was all about.

Joe Danger definitely put a smile on my face, and I can’t wait to get the full experience when the game finally releases, whenever that may be.  The release date is still undecided and even the platform is subject to change, but word on the street is that the game will be available for download on the PlayStation Network sometime around Spring 2010.

For more insight and information on the world of Joe Danger, check out our interview with Sean Murray, Managing Director for Hello Games.

The creative elements in Skate 3 come in many forms, which is good news as that’s what we love the best.  It all starts off in carrier mode with a nice character generator with all the trimmings.  You’ve got your tattoos, clothes, and an enhanced version of the Skate.Graphics features allowing gamers to make graphics the skate.ea.com website and import them into the game.  From here you can then build a team of AI players or import the characters of your friends to build your team.  As a team, either offline with AI or online in co-op with a friend, you can complete a slew of challenges to gain more fame, or just pal around in the Free Skate mode.  A nice new creative enhancement here is allowing the Skate.Reel video recording options to function in the Free Play mode as well allowing for cool team stunts or promos.  Of course all that you create can be uploaded and seen by the world, which as I will explain later is an important gameplay and fame element.  But making characters, designing logos, building a team, and recording videos as creative as all that is, is not the reason we are here right now reading this, No sir.  We are here to talk about the latest and greatest of all Skate 3 features – the Skate.Park editor.  At my request, we left behind all the other features and Josh quickly began to show off what the Skate 3 Skate.Park editor can do.

The Skate.Park editor is easily the main course in this creative dish.  As your character forms a team in the story mode, you will need an HQ.  This blank slate of a site can be used to build your wildest dream skate park.   Sure we have seen park editors in skate boarding games before, plenty of them, but this time it would seem Skate 3 perfected the process.  In the Skate.Park editor you get two main types of brushes to play with: terrain and props.  Terrain brushes consist of your half pipes, platforms, and bowls.  The props are your rails, benches, and other objects you can place here and there to grind, jump or avoid and can be placed anywhere and anyhow.  In fact not only do gamers get complete freedom in placement of these brushes they also get the freedom to manipulate them as well.

For those of us who already know the pleasures of an advanced map editor, say like that of Far Cry 2, then there is nothing to disappoint in Skate 3.  Each brush allows for full rotation on two axis, as well as the ability to drop brushes beneath the floor surface.  This of course means that I can easily build the 50 ft robot dinosaur I have been dreaming of and grind down his back.  When Mr. Kline walked me through the editor menus and I got a look at the brushes available I realized I had potentially found a new digital playground for my imagination.  I have to admit that one of the least interesting brushes stood out the most in my eye – the cement barrier.  A flat short wall of cement that can be used as a Lego block to build oh so many things.  But brush manipulation is just the start – BWAHAHAHAHA!  (Sorry, I felt devious laughter was needed) as you can also create your own brushes.

No there is not a 3D editor included, not in this version at least, but there is the ability to rip apart certain terrain brushes and create your own.  You can also take existing terrain brushes, such as the half pipe, and bend and mold it’s shape to create your own custom brush.  These brushes can then be used in your park on shared with others.  And that is the meat of all creative gaming isn’t it?  We all want to share that which we have created.  Here is an area where Skate 3 steps up once again.

The online sharing ability complete, meaning that everything and anything created by the gamer can be shared with everyone.  Not only that, but getting downloads and good ratings not only helps boost your ego but also your game.  Mr. Kline explained how a gamer could gain great fame in game, by just being the most creative player.  Music to my ears.

The level kit will include areas to play that depict Syndrome’s Island, the city rooftops, and the Parr home.

Look for the kit at the Playstation store beginning April 8!

Source: Playstation Blog