Michael Corvin

Alright I'm finally getting into this. I played a Temple of Doom level earlier that was kinda cool. Simple but shows some promise of user generated content. I too worry about the nickel and diming of levels. Hopefully there will be some tight restrictions on charging.

I was playing with my 4 year old in what I thought was offline mode. Someone hopped in our level. He was just waiting on the edge of the screen the whole time waiting for us to catch up.

Walker Boh

So after playing for a few days, here are my thoughts. The game is fun, and very cute. The music is nice, and I love the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"-esque narration. The three included levels (not counting the mini-game) were good.

However, I haven't played any user-created levels that have wowed me. Don't get me wrong ... there are some pretty good ones, but (with the exception of a few gimmicky ones that weren't very fun anyway) they all kinda felt the same. I'm sure part of this has to do with the limited items available in the Beta, but that can't be the only reason. I mean, I don't think they left out any tools or gameplay mechanics ... the final game will just have a lot more objects, textures, designs, etc.

Online play has been horrible ... extremely laggy to the point of being almost unplayable. I'm not sure if it was bad connections on the part of the random people it was matching me with, or if I was just catching the servers at bad times, or what.

Maybe it was overhyped. Maybe it just isn't my type of game. Maybe I was just having a few "off" days, and when I try it again in a few days I'll fall in love. I'm not really sure what I was expecting. It's not bad by any means. But instead of leaving me jonesing for the full game the beta has just left me feeling pretty indifferent towards it.

Agree 100%.

UncleGramps

Thanks for the multiplayer session, Michael Corvin! I hadn't tried out that feature yet. I tried to show you some of the levels that I've enjoyed the most so far. It was pretty funny trying to communicate only with arm gestures, facial expressions, and hip movements.

tlwizard

You never know! Apparently the Playstation Underground is starting to send out codes. So the people who signed up for the blog keys or the main site keys (or who knows, at this point it's all confusing) may still be getting their's. So, it may still happen. And then on top of that is the rumor that the demo will be opening up after the beta closes on the 11th.

In regards to the user-created content for sale, I don't know where the link is, but I remember someone at Media Molecule saying that for a user to get to the level where they could charge for their content would be way down the line and they would have to prove themselves in a big way. It was only stated as a possibility and not a probability.

For me it's been different. Online play has been really tight. Maybe I'm just playing at the right times or the right boards, I don't know. But I've always had good encounters with the PS3's online play (everything but the download times.)

My biggest problem is the sackboy's movement on the z-axis. I have noticed that you will inadvertently move along it if you are moving too fast and there is an object in the way. But I'm hoping (and assuming) that a lot of the quirks and issues will be resolved in the final build. Remember, this version of the beta is one or two versions back from the latest internal MM beta.

I also think the user created levels will get a lot better as time goes on and people get better with the tools. Also as people get better about filtering out the crap.

Michael Corvin

Definitely Gramps. Those were pretty fun. You had me cracking up with your dance on the car waving your arms in the air. It is a hoot trying to communicate sans headset. While none of the levels were all that impressive, multiplayer definitely made them enjoyable.

BTW, how do you smack people? I did it once on accident but have no clue how I did it.

That makes me think it will be something more along the lines of getting a David Jaffe level for $1 or a Ken Levine "Little Big Bioshock" stage for a couple of bucks. Maybe they open it up and offer some "developer only" tools to make them stand out more. If it is someone like that on a professional level, I don't think I'd have a problem paying. Only if it is Joe Schmoe thinking he can make a quick million doing LBP levels.

Decker

Average Joe will not be making $$$ by charging for levels. If for no other reason than the income tax nightmare it would create. Besides if people are creating great levels for free, why would any company even try to implement a fee system?

Now if game design studios want to charge, that's a completely different thing.

Walker Boh

Other than the times when the whole network has been down for everyone, this is the first time I've had any online problems on the PS3. I only tried twice, and both times were really bad. I'm hoping it was just a temporary glitch since their servers kept going down over the weekend.

UncleGramps

Just so everyone knows, the level where we danced on the car is called Sweet Child o' Mine. Make sure you play the one marked "latest version" - if you find another version, just choose "more by this author" and you should see the updated version. I won't spoil the surprise of what the level is, but it's worth checking out.

I think you hold down the shoulder button to move your hand as usual, and then make a sharp movement towards the outside of the analog stick.

Michael Corvin

I had a lag fest in one round last night with a random person but IIRC, UncleGramps and I had a lag free experience. Maybe one or two hiccups at most.

chuckd21

Ugh...

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pinata242

Could see where that was going from the still image alone...

Michael Corvin

People are retarded, but at least it wasn't a penis! By posting and making us watch you are just feeding his ego with YouTube views.

Check out this one instead(I think it was on Joystiq earlier):
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZiRgYBHoAoU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZiRgYBHoAoU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

mhg83

You think thats bad? I have much more deviant ideas for a level. Cant wait till you guys see my "Little Big Auschwitz" level

TheBigDave

Glad to see I'm not the only one annoyed by the control problems.

Michael Corvin

With the game coming out in weeks isn't a little late to be addressing control complaints?

darkside

Finally got my beta invite today. I'll definitely check this out tonight.

Liver&Onions

Well, this is coming from a company that's calling this a beta even though the game has gone gold.

Michael Corvin

Looks like a 'controls' patch may be in the cards. Article

I let my daughter just fool around in the starting area tonight and she was actually figuring out the Popit and was placing stickers everywhere.

darkside

I enjoyed the little bit I played tonight, but it was a big hit with my 5 year old daughter. This is looking like a must buy. She needed a bit of help with some stuff like swinging, but had a blast playing it.

TheBigDave

Do a search for the author "geosautus". He's created some amazing levels including the World Of Color. His new level might be the best. It's titled "God Of War - Demon Skull".

SonOfAStu

USA Today giving out 15,000 beta codes.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/...g-planet_N.htm

First come, first served.

pinata242

Michael Corvin

I signed up so I can maybe pass it along here if I get one.

Liver&Onions

Thanks - hopefully i get one this time.

chuckd21

Signed up. Now I wait...