LBP won't have online co-op level editor at launch
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Sep 22nd 2008 at 1:10PM }
The four-player co-op will still be online and four-player level creation will still be possible -- as long as everyone is sitting in the same room. LBP is slated for release globally at the end of October.
[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Arttemis @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:17PM
Considering that the BluRay has been filled, I wish more companies would do the same thing.
Not all DLC has to be a ripoff, nor do they all merit their own pricetag (especially if they're created alongside the retail product).
Poisoned Al @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:20PM
Sure, DLC lets you ship unfinished and untested games and have the cheek to ask full price of them.
Killjebus @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:21PM
Yes, free DLC for LBP and others please. Only 1 more month to go.
Killjebus @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:32PM
@poisoned
Unfinished? Untested?
You do know that a closed beta has been going on 4 months right? Right?
Why is it a BAD thing for Sony wanting to give us free IMPROVEMENTS or ADDED modes 4 free?
Your fanboy logic is irrational.
Would it be better if Sony CHARGED us for DLC?
The mind of an M$ fanboy is weird....DEFENDING having to pay more for access. and DLC and functionality to the 360 is pathetic.
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:35PM
Unfinished and untested? Holy fuck, some people are REALLY stretching to whine about this game. Online Co-op? Check. Upload levels to your own planet? Check. Single Player experience? 50 levels, so check. Hugely open editor? Check. Online co-op editor? Ugh, not quite working flawlessly yet... delay another two months or ship and fix while people are playing?
Seriously, dawg. Would you prefer a game that exists in an online community be DELAYED another two months? That's a grand idea. One part isn't working up to snuff, take it all back to factory. Or they could go by the Xbox route and, working or not, ship the online multiplayer. I'm looking at Gears, Orange Box, Lost Planet, Saint's Row, many more while I say this. Hell, took Saints Row four months out the gate before that was working right and to my knowledge, Lost Planet never got fixed.
Poisoned Al @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:40PM
Fanboy logic? YOU ARE DEFENDING THE REMOVAL OF SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE THERE FROM DAY ONE FOR FUCK'S SAKE!
I was hoping LBP would a a driving force for the PS3, but obviously not as much as you.
Calling me a fanboy you sad little twat!
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:41PM
Is this really DLC or could we call it patch? Not all patch are bad either.
Immortal Technique PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:43PM
The appeal of Lost Planet (for me) was the single player campaign. That games remains my favorite 360 title to this day. However, the online mode did pretty much suck total ass and had more holes than a piece of swiss cheese.
As far as LBp goes - Maybe this mode should have shipped with the game. But, I don't think it's going to be that big of a deal especially if it means that when it arrives it works like its supposed to work. In the end its not a big deal.
It seems to me that a lot of people want this game to fail and they are just looking for any reason to critcize it because of its affiliation with the PS3.
Arttemis @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:47PM
Not to mention that this is coming FREE to a game that's already FILLED the BluRay disc.
This isn't the cannibalization of a game's features so they can be sold individually for a significant percentage of the cost of the original game like most DLC.
Killjebus @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:47PM
"Fanboy logic? YOU ARE DEFENDING THE REMOVAL OF SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE THERE FROM DAY ONE FOR FUCK'S SAKE!"
How do you know if they removed it? They are working the bugs out of it so PEOPLE LIKE YOU don't complain about how Sony shipped a buggy game.
You can't have it both ways...either we get a polished product that will have more modes added later or we get buggy product.
Oh, and the name calling is Kevin Costner bad. If your going to call me names...show some originality and come up with something different like I do...and try not getting mad so easily.
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:49PM
Well MY opinion is if they ship it with this mode enabled but broken, it would REALLY shape peoples opinions of the game negatively. Whereas if they fix it and update it later, a working mode introduced post release reflects much better.
And FYI, some people may be searching for reasons to hate the game but there never has and never will be a game to make everyone happy. Expecting everyone to latch onto some LittleBigDick is foolish and unrealistic.
Jack of No Trades 85 @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:50PM
@ Killjebus
Hey we will finally get to play some fucking co-op together!!!
Poisoned Al @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:56PM
"How do you know if they removed it?"
Plllease. This mode is what they've been hyping for ages! They couldn't get it to work, so instead of putting the whole game back until after Christmas (NOT going to happen) they pulled it and try to fix it "later".
Killjebus @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:56PM
"It seems to me that a lot of people want this game to fail and they are just looking for any reason to critcize it because of its affiliation with the PS3."
And the skewed logic of an MS fanboy is revealed. Why they want Sony to fail so that MS can charge MORE and give LESS (like they do with every Monopoly they get) is beyond my level of fanboy logic.
I have said it b4 and I will say it again. I WANT the 360 to do well, that way game companies have TWO up to date and CURRENT consoles to make games for gamers on.
Marty @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:56PM
Come on guys, this isn't something you should be defending. Sticking to a launch date regardless of whether or not the planned features are in the game or not is bad for you and for the developer.
We should not applaud this move - the release-first-patch-later mantra is one of the things that ruined PC gaming in its golden days, and it doesn't bode well for game reviews either. You can't expect reviewers to rate games based on what's to come - they have to review the product as it lands on their desk, and with each feature cut, the product gets a little worse.
They chopped part of the game off to make the publish deadline, and they're going to release it later under the guide of "free DLC." It's complete bullshit and you know it.
Immortal Technique PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:04PM
"Expecting everyone to latch onto some LittleBigDick is foolish and unrealistic"
There is a difference between not liking a concept and being overly critical about an unreleased feature. It's fair to say that there are people who have no interest in the premise of the game -- thats fine. It's also fair to say (we are seeing it here) that some people use this news as an oppourtunity to be overly critical and hate for the sake of hating.
It's not about everyone jumping on the LBP train. Let's all be fair here and give the game a chance before we shred it up for not shipping with one feature.
It's all speculation when the patch will be released anyway. What if it release a week after the game does? None of us are privy to that information. It's a little pre-mature to be calling the game "gimped" without having tried it out.
Jakka(A tribute to whose who fought and failed during the Epic Flamewar of L.A. Noir) @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:08PM
...
!?
...fuck it.
Arttemis @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:10PM
This game is already providing more than most others on the market. The entire BluRay is already filled, and the highlights of the game are still there.
The patch isn't being charged for so you're getting everything you've paid for.
In the age where entire sections of games are delayed during production so they can be sold individually for 20% the cost of the game, it's ABSURD to call this tactic bullshit.
Immortal Technique PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:11PM
Marty -
You can still edit levels in multiplayer locally. It's not as if the entire feature was crapped. As i said before non of us are privy to the information as to what the bugs actually are and when the patch will launch.
I agree that it should not really be defended but the game should also not be characterized as a hack job because of a delayed feature.
I want to get my hands on the game and a short delay of online multiplayer level creation is not going to make the game less enjoyable. It's not like you can't play levels online together.
I don't want this to turn into a fanboy name calling contest but, I am nto suprised that the usual suspects are the ones pointing the fingers here. If the tables were reversed I think some of the critics would be singing a different tune.
Jakka(A tribute to whose who fought and failed during the Epic Flamewar of L.A. Noir) @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:20PM
I know that I swore(look two comments up) not to comment here anymore because I'll get downvoted even without talking about LBP but why do people point out that the game has "FILLED a blu ray" like it's a reflection a how good it is?
They could easily save up a couple of gigs if they decided to get rid of the useless lossless audio.
Also how much time are we talking about? Two weeks is a necessary evil, but two months would be a cockslap considering how heavily hyped that feature was and that 90% of all map traffic would come from the online editor.
Arttemis @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:26PM
@Jakka - I'm referring specifically to the filled BluRay because people are making this delay out to be a failure to deliver a capable product.
The game is still there. Only a small feature isn't ready yet... but it's coming... and it won't be charged for.
OF COURSE it sucks that it's not done yet, or it couldn't be squeezed into the disc (or both) - but to say that this tactic is bullshit baffles me.
This doesn't bother me at all, and that's probably due to the fact that I have NO desire to co-create online.
Immortal Technique PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:27PM
@Jakka
You are assuming that there is no compressed audio. Just because Kojima did it for MGS 4 doesn't mean that MM did it with LBP (unless you have a source and I missed it - which is possible).
Why would someone say that filling a Blu-Ray means anything? Because it is a massive storage medium. They have assetts that the team worked on (textures) that are MBs in size. When you have a game that looks this good and has such a robust editing capability - those assetts take up a lot of space. It's not like they are going to throw some crappy compressed textures for the users to create content with.
Just the assetts, creation suite & pre-made levles maxes out a Blu-Ray. I can only imagine the size of future DLC texture and model packs.
Mr Khan @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:41PM
Its nice that its free, but damned if it shouldn't be there day 1, even if its a day 1 patch
I won't call Media Molecule lazy. The time and care they've put into the game have proven that they are anything but lazy. But still, games should be complete at launch. It's a principle that's just slipped and slid away as the generation goes on
Jakka(A tribute to whose who fought and failed during the Epic Flamewar of L.A. Noir) @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:42PM
@ Immortal
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/10/littlebigplanet-fills-up-blu-ray-disc/
There ya go. Admittedly I only remember it because I started some huge page-spanning debate on Cell,Compression,Installation and Loading Times.
Assets - fair enough but I still think that uncompressed audio is useless.
Vcize @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:43PM
On one hand, it shouldn't be defended. As someone mentioned, they're chopping off a feature they said they'd have to meet a sales-driven deadline, and saying "you'll get it eventually". They should have just met the deadline in the first place, even if that means adding a few extra people to the project in the short-term.
On the other hand, it's certainly not something worth complaining about either (as long as they don't decided to charge for it). I mean really, it's not a huge gamebreaking feature or anything, so why not give people that have been anticipating this game a year a chance to get their hands on it a little earlier at 98% completion? I mean, people dig and claw there way into betas just to get a taste of an unfinished game, so why should people have to wait longer to play a game that basically is done minus one little feature?
Of the people complaining about it, if you had the option to have Gears 2 right now without being able to play Horde mode until November 7th (at which point it would be added via a patch) or to wait until November 7th for the entire game, which would you choose? I sure as hell would take the rest of Gears 2 without Horde mode right now, and I'd imagine most of you would as well.
Of course the difference is that November 7th was the announced release date all along, so maybe a better analogy is getting Gears 2 without Horde mode on November 7th (and having Horde mode patched in later) or having the entire game get delayed until December. Again though, I'm sure you'd all take Gears 2 minus Horde mode on Dec 7th in an instant.
There's no foul play here.
Vcize @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:49PM
Whoops, that last sentence should say
"again though, I'm sure you'd all take Gears 2 without Horde mode on NOVEMBER 7th".
CB @ Sep 22nd 2008 3:02PM
Everyone shouting "FREE", do you think something like this would actually cost money? It's a patch plain and simple.
Arttemis @ Sep 22nd 2008 3:12PM
@CB - Of course not. People are making this out to seem as though the consumer is being fleeced because they are *continuing* to work on a specific, isolated segment of the game.
That said, I wouldn't be surprised at all (hugely upset) if it were charged. It's obvious that publishers are intentionally segmenting games so that features (that would have been included for retail price) get pushed back so they can be individually sold.
This isn't that case... it's merely a delay of one element.
GoldenS1104 @ Sep 22nd 2008 3:54PM
Okay, I didn't read this whole argument but from what I gather, some one is upset cause LBP doesn't include a mode it should have from the start. My take on this is that there is probably something wrong on the server side of things. Sony probably just isn't ready to handle online co-op creation and since they don't want to anger people after just announcing the game's release date, it will instead be unlocked with a patch later. What I'm saying is fairly reasonable right? I mean, no one ever said that the mode wasn't on the disc, just that you can't play it till later on. That's what leads me to believe that the game is ready but Sony isn't. I mean, think about it. The game just went gold yet there is still a beta going on. The beta is clearly to test their servers and online connectivity and whatnot, so that's the most likely reason the feature won't be available immediately.
Ayrkain @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:06PM
Ah well, I hadn't even seen that this feature was included. Learn something new every day, eh?
Nick8708 @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:13PM
Regardless of the reasons behind the removal of the feature (be it buggy, not enough space, not satisfactory yet) removing it and patching it in later is the responsible thing to do development-wise. Certainly they could delay the game, but since they're so close to launch I think they'd have considered that and dismissed it since the majority of players would be able to overlook the missing feature for the time being if it means the game comes in a more timely fashion.
Should it be there at launch? Of course. Can you predict exactly how long it'll take to develop, test, and finalize a feature? Not at all. At least it'll show up eventually rather than being tossed out the window entirely. For me personally, I don't know how useful it will be since my roommate's PS3 doesn't have any friends (I don't know if he's ever played an online game on it).
Another possibility is that they intentionally want to make sure the game still launches the same day as Fable 2. I remember hearing some of the employees at Media Molecule used to work at Lionhead, so perhaps there's a little spirit of competition going on there :)
Haggard (Mr.ESC resurrection force) @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:30PM
But Jakka, it's uncompressed audio of Stephen Fry speaking!
This is far more important than a mere most-important-feature-of-the-game.
Top Cat @ Sep 22nd 2008 6:46PM
OK, THAT'S IT!
We need a chill-out post on joystiq so everyone can get their collective panties untwisted and their collective vaginas cleansed of all sand.
Killjebus @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:19PM
Good, I need some time as will most others to get good at level creation. So, this game will continually recieve updates for more functionality?
Me like.
j.howlett @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:23PM
i can wait to online co create. i want to make a level that seems impossible to beat till you do something easy, like burn the rope.
copa @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:24PM
Uh, that's really, really bad news. Co-op level editing is what made LBP my Game Of The Year.
I have no doubt that the game will be well-supported, but I can now happily wait to get this game (and a PS3) until after they find a way to deliver the promised feature set.
brickwalker0 @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:32PM
i am completely fine with them waiting to patch that addition rather than delay the game a month or two.
its not THAT important. just invite some RL friends over and create a level.
Killjebus @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:36PM
Why is it really really bad news? As long as it come relatively quickly who cares?
I could spend weeks if not months just learning the vast level creator.
When online shared level creation goes live...I will be ready to contribute to an awesome level.
The ONLY way I see this as bad news is if the online creator mode takes more than a few months.
Until then, I won't bash Sony for wanting to put the game in my hands SOONER.
Why is it the anit-Sony crowd has to make a mountain out of a molehill?
Killjebus @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:39PM
"just invite some RL friends over and create a level."
What an idea.
How many of you that are complaining have a PS3 and are going to ACTUALLY GET this game?
Show of hands?
Arttemis @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:51PM
Like others have said, there is still a co-op level editor in the game - it's simply local.
The online is merely being released in a *free* patch.
Killjebus @ Sep 22nd 2008 1:58PM
"*free*"
A concept that continues to BAFFLE the 360 fanboy.
browntown @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:16PM
if u had real life friends, you could make levels with them, what a shame that is. Now ill have to go over to my friends house. That means leaving my house, i don't know if i have that in me. Im so upset right now. Damn u MM
copa @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:38PM
"if u had real life friends, you could make levels with them, what a shame that is."
When I was 14 years old, I was able to go to my friends' houses every day and play videogames together.
Now that I have a career and a family, most gaming with my friends happens online after the kids go to bed. You'll learn when you're older.
j.howlett @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:46PM
you can still play co-op online you just can't create co-op online. if you don't yet have a ps3 do you expect to have friends to share the experience with?
Vcize @ Sep 22nd 2008 2:48PM
I have no problem with them doing this rather than delaying the whole game, but even so that was the comment of the year right there copa.
copa @ Sep 22nd 2008 3:00PM
"If you don't yet have a ps3 do you expect to have friends to share the experience with?"
Indeed, I do. My brother (who lives in another state) and my best friend both have PS3's. Right now, they use them primarily as Blu-Ray players, but that will change once we all have LBP.
j.howlett @ Sep 22nd 2008 3:22PM
i'm just suggesting you get it sooner rather than wait till online co-op create comes. you still have to play to unlock stuff in the editor and with the practice solo could make it better. besides you'll have to update your ps3 and this late in the game it could take awhile.
Immortal Technique PSN: johnnynumber5 @ Sep 22nd 2008 3:37PM
Copa -
Saying that your two friends only use thier PS3 as a Blu-Ray player is a bit of a back handed compliment.
1. Did they already have 360's?
If so then the only reason to purchase it would be for exclusives or the features like Blu-Ray.
2. Did they buy it for PS3 exclusives?
If so then why is it only used for Blu-Ray movies? Didn't they know what they were investing thier money into?
3. Did they buy as a Blu-Ray Player?
If yes then why say that it is only used as a Blu-Ray player like its a bad thing when thats the reason they bought it.
Honestly I have heard this same song and dance from you for a while now.
If LBP is the ONLY or MAIN reason you want a PS3 then why would this news of a free patch change anything? you still have 50+ level campaign, local content creation with multiplayer (you said you have kids - perfect game for them) & ONLINE multiplayer. You know that you can still play levels with your two friends and share levels - don't you?
I am not calling you a liar but I am highly skeptical that this game would be the tipping point for you getting a PS3 and this news making you wait longer. It doesn't really make much sense.
Did you buy Castle Crashers? Did you enjoy it even though the online mode is still not fixed? Same principal. If you would rather wait for the patch then wait. But, that doesn't sound truthful to me.
Invisible Robot Meat @ Sep 22nd 2008 3:59PM
Thank goodness Copa found time with his busy "career" and family to grace the comment section of a gaming blog
copa @ Sep 22nd 2008 4:29PM
"I am highly skeptical that this game would be the tipping point for you getting a PS3 and this news making you wait longer."
That's the situation. The game plus the hardware purchase is several hundred dollars. Blu-Ray is not yet the tipping point for me. MGS4 is not the tipping point. LBP is the tipping point.
What seduced me about LBP was not that it is an attractive platformer. Rather, it is the videos showing collaborative real-time manipulation of a physics based environment. You can tell that these guys get it, and they know how to design a compelling game.
So when they get around to putting integrating the online collaborative design features that mesmerized me, I'll put up the cash for the system and the game.
"Did you buy Castle Crashers? Did you enjoy it even though the online mode is still not fixed? Same principal."
It is exactly the same principle. If you had looked elsewhere in this same thread, I had already explained that I love Castle Crashers from the demo, but I am not paying a penny for it until I can play online with my friends.