LBP Level Creation Discussion

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by BillCable

The calculator was a difference engine using switches as magnets. It's based on the inner working of an actual difference engine. Not knowing exactly how one works, I can't help much there. But I assume you build it like you'd build any other machine.

For Tetris, I've seen other unusual trigger events. Dropping an X-shaped block into an X-labeled hole made a dissolvable block disappear. Weird stuff like that. I assume it's the same principle. I don't remember seeing anything like that in the tutorials, though. I'd love to see what tool they used to make it work.

That makes sense for Tetris, since it would fill in the bottom is would effectively dissolve the entire row. That leads me to beleive though that only the bottom row can be wiped out.

I guess that's the only way to go about setting up specific things to happen by using the various triggers.

[Havok83]

Ive been tryng to build one but I realize that I dont have a creative bone in my body

[hardcore_canadian]

I've been messing around with things that Fly.... it's harder than i thought it would be.

Also, just got the idea for 99 Luft Balloons.... or 99 Red Balloons

[joeorc]

Originally Posted by bykes

I was really thinking of getting this game, but I have a feeling the level creation is going to be too complicated. Thats why I'm going to pass.

well its pretty easy...In my Opinion,so far with what i have aquired , i just started btw but the help you get along the way is one of the great things about this game. its every bit as enjoyable as the Review sites has said. its one of the Playstation 3's best released Exclusives so far. This game is FUN..the "fun will overcome" slogan is 100% spot on
with this game.

[mikenike]

Creating complex levels is hard, but it's like organic chemistry. Practice, practice, practice. And if you're not creatively inclined, you can just play the story and user created levels. Believe me, if LBP lives up to its hype, you'll not even have to create your own levels (other than to win trophies, of course).

[PA_Kid]

Ok, so I figured out how to bolt together two items in the same depth - the trick is using a "Wafer thin" object as a connector.

So for my teeth, I created the bottom set, glued a small wafer thin oval of the same material (with half the oval protruding from the back top). Then I put my top set of teeth on top with the bottom back corner behind the top half of the oval and bolted it on. (Hopefully that made sense)

So now I have a set of chattering teeth that chase after sackpeople - amusingly, it only rolls on the back big wheel and keeps the smaller front one in the air, but I think that's a weight issue. I'll probably rebuild the whole thing from scratch to make it look better, but in principle I got it to work.

Here are some things I've learned in the past 2 days I'd figured I'd share:
1 - Materials can be destroyed by applying too much pressure in build mode - rewind is your friend in those cases. (I destroyed my bottom cardboard teeth several times by pushing the top set down into them)

2 - Wafer thin objects are great joiners between two materials in the same level - especially if you want to create a joint or hinge of some sort

3 - Physics, she is a b*tch - tread with caution. (Before putting wheels on my teeth I destroyed at least one set because the piston was so strong that it bounced along the ground just using the piston)

4 - If you put something on a bolt and it's in an unnatural position awaiting an additional piece, be careful not to leave the tool menu and let physics take over (see #3) - it can be very hard to manipulate the moving piece back once it's fallen (Several times I had the upper teeth fall down before the piston was in because I backed out too far - I had to detach the upper teeth, reposition them, remove the bolt, and rescrew the bolt)

5 - This all isn't as scary as it sounds - took me maybe an hour total to learn what I needed and apply it the first time correctly - now that I understand I can do it much quicker.

Here are my only complaints so far (and someone let me know if I just haven't found the items yet):
1 - an easy copy object would be nice - I don't want to save an individual shape every time I want to make duplicate copies of it

2 - the square material is nice, a rectangle would be nicer. I haven't found a way yet to create a rectangle other than to cut or corner edit it. Being able to create the size and length rectangle right from the start would be nice.

If anyone is interested in seeing it, let me know and I can share the level with it as a prize - it's nothing spectacular (the teeth that is - the level is my empty building ground), but it may give someone ideas.

[stockstar1138]

got a question.

lets say i want to make a building out of sponge. however, i don't want that building to be any of the sponge patterns that i have. is there some way i can color the building a different color easily. i went to my stickers to find colors (just solids) and i tried using them, but you have to continuely press them onto the building over and over.

i guess wat im trying to ask is if there is some sort of pencil or marker tool? maybe i just need to unlock it or something. i don't know.

[master_8ball]

Originally Posted by PA_Kid

Ok, so I figured out how to bolt together two items in the same depth - the trick is using a "Wafer thin" object as a connector.

So for my teeth, I created the bottom set, glued a small wafer thin oval of the same material (with half the oval protruding from the back top). Then I put my top set of teeth on top with the bottom back corner behind the top half of the oval and bolted it on. (Hopefully that made sense)

So now I have a set of chattering teeth that chase after sackpeople - amusingly, it only rolls on the back big wheel and keeps the smaller front one in the air, but I think that's a weight issue. I'll probably rebuild the whole thing from scratch to make it look better, but in principle I got it to work.

Here are some things I've learned in the past 2 days I'd figured I'd share:
1 - Materials can be destroyed by applying too much pressure in build mode - rewind is your friend in those cases. (I destroyed my bottom cardboard teeth several times by pushing the top set down into them)

2 - Wafer thin objects are great joiners between two materials in the same level - especially if you want to create a joint or hinge of some sort

3 - Physics, she is a b*tch - tread with caution. (Before putting wheels on my teeth I destroyed at least one set because the piston was so strong that it bounced along the ground just using the piston)

4 - If you put something on a bolt and it's in an unnatural position awaiting an additional piece, be careful not to leave the tool menu and let physics take over (see #3) - it can be very hard to manipulate the moving piece back once it's fallen (Several times I had the upper teeth fall down before the piston was in because I backed out too far - I had to detach the upper teeth, reposition them, remove the bolt, and rescrew the bolt)

5 - This all isn't as scary as it sounds - took me maybe an hour total to learn what I needed and apply it the first time correctly - now that I understand I can do it much quicker.

Here are my only complaints so far (and someone let me know if I just haven't found the items yet):
1 - an easy copy object would be nice - I don't want to save an individual shape every time I want to make duplicate copies of it

2 - the square material is nice, a rectangle would be nicer. I haven't found a way yet to create a rectangle other than to cut or corner edit it. Being able to create the size and length rectangle right from the start would be nice.

If anyone is interested in seeing it, let me know and I can share the level with it as a prize - it's nothing spectacular (the teeth that is - the level is my empty building ground), but it may give someone ideas.

Pressing down L3 will copy your object, so u can use it multiple time without having to save as an object.

You should be able to change the square to a rectangle using the R stick to re size.

[Xerios]

is there a max on how many levels a user can create?

[BillCable]

Originally Posted by PA_Kid

Ok, so I figured out how to bolt together two items in the same depth - the trick is using a "Wafer thin" object as a connector.

So for my teeth, I created the bottom set, glued a small wafer thin oval of the same material (with half the oval protruding from the back top). Then I put my top set of teeth on top with the bottom back corner behind the top half of the oval and bolted it on. (Hopefully that made sense)

Perfect sense. I didn't think about using a thin slice as a backer-board like that. Very innovative.

Originally Posted by PA_Kid

1 - an easy copy object would be nice - I don't want to save an individual shape every time I want to make duplicate copies of it

Can't you grab an object with the little *****-looking tool thing, drag it around and hit X anywhere you want it to paste? I sort of remember that from a tutorial.

[PA_Kid]

Originally Posted by master_8ball

Pressing down L3 will copy your object, so u can use it multiple time without having to save as an object.

Sweet - thank you!

You should be able to change the square to a rectangle using the R stick to re size.

I'll have to play around with that one again. I did that but no matter which way I moved it it seemed to just make a bigger or smaller square. I guess I fail at basic shapes.

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

got a question.

lets say i want to make a building out of sponge. however, i don't want that building to be any of the sponge patterns that i have. is there some way i can color the building a different color easily. i went to my stickers to find colors (just solids) and i tried using them, but you have to continuely press them onto the building over and over.

i guess wat im trying to ask is if there is some sort of pencil or marker tool? maybe i just need to unlock it or something. i don't know.

You might need to do this in an area away from any other objects, but couldn't you just make the color sticker so big that it completely covers the object in question (using R stick) and then stamp it?

[BillCable]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

got a question.

lets say i want to make a building out of sponge. however, i don't want that building to be any of the sponge patterns that i have. is there some way i can color the building a different color easily. i went to my stickers to find colors (just solids) and i tried using them, but you have to continuely press them onto the building over and over.

You can resize stickers with the R stick. So just blow it up HUGE... the size of your building... and you'll just need a single sticker.

[BillCable]

Originally Posted by Xerios

is there a max on how many levels a user can create?

I haven't seen any sort of restriction published.

[mikejet]

Level creation should have keyboard and mouse support.

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by BillCable

You can resize stickers with the R stick. So just blow it up HUGE... the size of your building... and you'll just need a single sticker.

i dont' know why i didn't think of that. lol, thx.

another question though. is ther something where say, i have a cardboard cutout of a person and i want to draw a tie on him, how can i do that? or draw windows and flowers onto a cardboard cutout of a house?

[BillCable]

Originally Posted by mikejet

Level creation should have keyboard and mouse support.

It does have keyboard support.

[BillCable]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

i dont' know why i didn't think of that. lol, thx.

another question though. is ther something where say, i have a cardboard cutout of a person and i want to draw a tie on him, how can i do that?

Tie sticker.

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

or draw windows and flowers onto a cardboard cutout of a house?

Windows and flowers stickers.

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by BillCable

Tie sticker.



Windows and flowers stickers.

so you have to use the pre-rendered stickers, you can't draw your own designs. alright then, thats what i figured. thx. for your help.

[hardcore_canadian]

Originally Posted by mikejet

Level creation should have keyboard and mouse support.

That would make life Much Much Much Easier. Maybe in the Future.

[Simplayer]

Originally Posted by hardcore_canadian

I've been messing around with things that Fly.... it's harder than i thought it would be.

Also, just got the idea for 99 Luft Balloons.... or 99 Red Balloons

Are you going to recreate the song in the level too?