Prerelease:LittleBigPlanet (PlayStation 3)/Craftling Builds
This is a sub-page of Prerelease:LittleBigPlanet (PlayStation 3).
 | This article is a work in progress. ...Well, all the articles here are, in a way. But this one moreso, and the article may contain incomplete information and editor's notes. |
These are the earliest pieces of footage of LittleBigPlanet. Sackboy's model looked more plump, he had stubbier legs, and his model overall looked different. He was also referred to as a "Craftling" and not "Sackboy" yet. The following videos all probably took place while the engine was being created.
Contents
Siggraph 2009 Presentation
Originally shown at Siggraph 2009's Advances in Realtime Rendering in games course, these were used to show off how they were rendering the game at early points in development. All of the stuff shown here is likely from builds that were made in 2006.
Craftling Screenshot
A screenshot from the presentation of a Craftling jumping that uses some early HUD. The HUD (as seen in some later gameplay videos) would say how much time you've got left in the top left of the screen in a red bubble, and all 4 players' scores would be shown at the right of the screen in green bubbles. The Craftling model looks nothing like his final; it looks rather fat, and has stubby legs and button eyes.
cloth-1.mov
 | To do: This video is partially corrupt, possibly due to how it was uploaded to YouTube. If it's still possible to find online, upload a version without the problems. |
Some footage demonstrating how they were programming the cloth physics in the game.
spritelight1-4.mov
A video used to demonstrate how they rendered lighting in the game at this point in development.
Media Molecule Presentation at GDC 2009
A live recording of one of Media Molecule's presentations at GDC 2009 on the development of LittleBigPlanet, that shows off clips of early gameplay from 2006.
This build's version of the pod is shown off:
- The pod uses rendered videos instead of an actual interface, probably used as a placeholder or concept.
- The music playing in the background is "Under Stars" by Brian Eno.
After the pod, the sackpeople in the video enter a level and start to play it.
- The HUD is different (see above).
- All the costumes seen in this video are unavailable in the final game. A similar costume of the Prince from Katamari would later be made DLC as part of the NAMCO Classics Costume Pack for LittleBigPlanet 3.
- The level itself appears to be in a blue void that uses the Beanstalk backdrop that can be found in the final game, while the Craftlings are standing on some mushroom-like platforms.
- The Craftlings' arms and body move according to a little dot glow, which is most likely there for debugging and testing.
- There is a single car that is used to proceed to the rest of the level by riding it down the mushroom-like platforms.
After the area with the car, they skip the video ahead a bit and we can see the rest of the level, which is revealed to be the Beanstalk level:
- The Craftlings are standing at the base of the Beanstalk, and they start to climb it in the brief moments where footage is shown while the video is skipped forward.
- Some pod-like objects are scattered throughout the level on poles.
- There are various balls of sponge in the level, which some of the Craftlings cut holes into using the removed Hairdryer tool.
- For a split second while they skip forward through the video, a screen can be shown saying "Winners!" in yellow text, presumably used as a win screen to the end of the level.
After the Beanstalk level, this build's version of create mode is shown off:
- Players enter create mode through a level at the base of the pod.
- There are two separate areas found in create mode, the level area and the tool selection area, which can be toggled between using the Select button.
- The level area is just a small room with some sponge blocks that the players can decorate.
- The tool selection area is another small room with some platforms in the middle and various shapes of material used for tools on either side.
- There are oval shapes in the middle of the area that allow the player to choose a paint color to paint with using the roller tool.
- There are varied shapes on the left side (A star, an eye, and a white block) made out of material that the players use to decorate the level area.
- There are some other rectangular shapes on the right of the tool selection area that don't end up being used by the Craftlings in the video.
A video demonstrating how the popit was planned is also shown off:
- The Popit is named as P.O.P.P.E.T. or Portable Organization Projected Phosphoric Electronic Toolbox.
- Some concepts are shown for the different abilities of popit for when in play mode, when on creative zone, and when in create mode.
Near the end of the presentation they show off a clip (Beanstalk_Attempt_5.wmv), of an early concept for the beanstalk level, as well as the removed Giant boss character.
Gamecity 3 (FIRST HALF ONLY)
Presentation Recording
The first half or so of this video is of the rendered videos of the pod, but they appear to have been updated.
- The pod has better details, including higher quality textures and more stuff inside of it.
- No gameplay is seen (not including the second half of the YouTube video).
- The narrator is different.
- The video cuts to what would apparently play after the level was over, directly after he enters the level.
- The narrator mentions "collecting sponge" to "get creative" - referring to the original game mechanic of creating your levels on a budget of Sponge.
Screenshot
This screenshot was seen in the Gamecity 3 slideshow. It has some debug information towards the bottom of the image which is unreadable.
