Joystiq

BattleBlock Theater to spotlight community-created levels

Mike Suszek — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST

The Behemoth recently detailed its plans to feature community-created levels in its upcoming platformer, BattleBlock Theater. The game will include a "Furbottom's Features" section, which will spotlight hand-picked user-created levels in the solo, co-op and arena playlists. Players will have added incentive to play these levels, since strawberries in featured levels will be replaced with gems that can be spent in the BattleBlock Theater Gift Shop.

We've embedded a trailer that shows off some of the levels created by BattleBlock Theater's beta testers above. These levels may not be included in the full game, which is set to launch this Spring.

BattleBlock Theater to spotlight community-created levels originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 16 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard: StarCraft 2 'marketplace' still coming

JC Fletcher — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST

During BlizzCon 2009, Blizzard revealed plans to put a shopping interface inside StarCraft 2, which would allow players to purchase user-created maps, with revenue shared between Blizzard and the creator. The game came out in July 2010, sans marketplace, and that feature is still missing.

During an interview with MTV Multiplayer, Blizzard's Frank Pearce asserted that the feature is still on the way. "But it's not necessarily something we have a specific timeline for," he said, "which is unfortunate because one of the things that we've found is, especially from our learnings from World of WarCraft, is that these audiences that play these games are very, very passionate and want to experience lots and lots of content. With the StarCraft 2 client and the StarCraft 2 map editor and the Battle.net platform, it creates an opportunity for the community to serve itself with content, if the mechanisms are there."

To be fair, if it did have a timeline, it would be a Blizzard timeline, and therefore could only be specific to the year. Approximately.

Blizzard: StarCraft 2 'marketplace' still coming originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Portal 2 getting user-created content 'on all platforms,' has two endings

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:45:00 EST

Though mod tools for Portal 2 will only arrive on PC ("there's a bunch of dependencies that require the Windows platform"), Valve's Chet Faliszek confirmed during a recent interview that the fruits of those tools will make their way to "all platforms." Faliszek specifically noted that "the content that comes out is agnostic, and so we will be seeing that on all platforms." That said, the content may not be distributed the same way across all platforms. "Depending on the platform you're on, I should say, will depend on how we're delivering it," Faliszek said, also confirming that the PS3 version would get user-created content via Steam for PS3.

In other Portal 2 news, speaking with VideoGamer, Faliszek revealed that each of the game's two campaign modes (single-player and co-op) will have their own individual surprise rewards for completion. "Both sets of credits [will feature something special], because we've got two credits," he explained. "So we had to do something twice as amazing." Presumably, Mr. Coulton has been hard at work on a hot new mix (mixes?) for GLaDOS. This time, we're holding out hope for a big dance number.

Portal 2 getting user-created content 'on all platforms,' has two endings originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Skate 3 ramps up user-created content

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:25:00 EST

If we told you that the user creation tools in Skate 3 were robust, we'd be selling the game short. From the highly customizable skate parks (that can be shared online) to the revamped graphics creator, there's no doubt that the devs at Black Box have upped the ante on user creation in a significant way.

While there's always the worry that the Skate franchise could start packing in a bit too much (the Tony Hawk-ization of Skate, if you will), it looks like the folks in charge of improving the annual franchise know to keep the game focused on skateboarding culture and real physics. We'll be checking out the game this weekend at PAX East, so look for a more thorough opinion soon (and feel free to tell us in the comments below what you want to know about the game).

Gallery: Skate 3

Video: Skate 3 ramps up user-created content originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: WarioWare D.I.Y.

JC Fletcher — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:25:00 EST

Do you want a new WarioWare game, with the same kind of rapid-fire microgame play you've come to love since the first game? WarioWare D.I.Y. is that. If you want the world's easiest game design utility, WarioWare D.I.Y. is that. If you want the long-awaited Mario Paint sequel, WarioWare D.I.Y. is, surprisingly, pretty close. If you want a game about shaking up a bottle of root beer and using it as a firehose to extinguish a fire ... you'll have to make that one yourself.

WarioWare D.I.Y. does for making games what the original WarioWare did for playing them. The series has always been about distilling the act of gameplay down to its simplest elements, so that a game can be learned and completed in five seconds or less. In this case, a simple, menu-driven interface, combined with the harsh time restrictions of the games, allows you to go from idea to full (but tiny) game in just minutes.

Gallery: WarioWare DIY

Continue reading Review: WarioWare D.I.Y.

Review: WarioWare D.I.Y. originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trials HD trailer displays disasters and triumphs of player-created content

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST

Rather than play that silly old full-motion video arcade game with motorbikes -- you know, that one that only exists in the trailer above? -- the latest video from developer RedLynx encourages you to pick up Trials HD instead and hop right in to the level creation tools. Beyond the initially jarring brutal crashes and eviscerations, the latter half of the clip displays the subtle elegance at players' disposal should they master the physics-based controls to the pixel-perfect precision the game asks of its users (we're especially impressed by the double front flip). And though we haven't seen any DLC for Trials HD since the last one in late December, it's good to see the developer supporting its game so long after release. But let's be honest here -- we'd could always use some more DLC.

Gallery: Trials HD (XBLA)

Trials HD trailer displays disasters and triumphs of player-created content originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LittleBigPlanet reaches two million user created levels

Justin McElroy — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST

You may not be checking LittleBigPlanet for new levels as obsessively as you once were, but that doesn't mean that junior designers aren't still out there trying to perfect Super Mario Bros. 1-1 or trying to recreate the myth of Sisyphus. The game's community has just reached another big milestone: Two million available levels. It took them nine months to get the first million in late July of 2009, meaning that development isn't slowing down. In fact, it would appear to be speeding up.

It's inspired us to dust off our LittleBigPlanet disc and ... oh, wait.

LittleBigPlanet reaches two million user created levels originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Gran Turismo 5 to feature track editor

JC Fletcher — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST

The site E4G reports that Gran Turismo 5 will include a very exciting option: The ability to create your own tracks or edit the existing tracks. Eurogamer checked in with Sony to confirm this new feature, and, while Sony refused to confirm the news, the company also refused to deny it, in a carefully worded statement that makes the news suddenly seem more plausible: "We haven't confirmed this and aren't offering any other comment at this time," Sony told Eurogamer.

We contacted SCEA but have yet to hear back, so this rumor is going to have to remain a rumor. Hopefully we'll find out before the game comes out, although Sony also has yet to announce the release date beyond a possible "early 2010." Okay, we'll simplify the whole thing: Gran Turismo 5 is an unconfirmed rumor.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5

[Original image credit]

Rumor: Gran Turismo 5 to feature track editor originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spore Galactic Adventures now has over 100k user-created levels

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 23:00:00 EST

(click to Galaxy-size)

After Spore Galactic Adventures launched in late June, we expected a similar torrent of user-created content that arrived with the original game's release. Though not quite the same in terms of exponential upward curves, the expansion has just surpassed the 100,000 mark of user-created adventures.

For those of you who haven't been spending countless hours with the Robot Chicken-created DLC, there's clearly plenty of other stuff to keep you occupied. EA Maxis suggests you check out "The Silent Beacon," "Valley of a Thousand Deaths" and "The Fog," but we know better. How about the only good version of Sonic in twenty years? Sold!

Gallery: Spore Galactic Adventures (PC)

Spore Galactic Adventures now has over 100k user-created levels originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LittleBigPlanet hits one million user-created levels

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:50:00 EST

Awww, little Sackboy, you've come so far! Running, jumping and, um, grabbing your way through over one million user-created LittleBigPlanet levels in under a year -- why that's like, 20 million miles! In fact, according to the PlayStation Blog's calculations, that's about one new level being published every 21 seconds since the game released.

In celebration of the game's benchmark achievement, the game's developer, Media Molecule, has created the video you see above -- basically, a montage of various user-created levels, though we're more inclined to point you to LittleBigContra if you're really looking to be impressed. Furthermore, the post teases an August 18 reveal of "something interesting" from Media Molecule. Could it be more downloadable levels for the game? A new game entirely? A brand new car? We'll just have to wait until the 18th of August to see.

LittleBigPlanet hits one million user-created levels originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scribblenauts gets more awesome with level creation, sharing

Jason Dobson — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:30:00 EST

We already know that developer 5th Cell's ambitious DS project Scribblenauts will keep us distracted with its purported ability to let us conjure up anything simply by writing its name on the screen. What we didn't know is that the game will also let us confound others by letting us edit and share levels. Seriously, is there anything this cute little game can't do?

In Scribblenauts, players will be able to create and share custom obstacle course-style levels with other players, as well as dictate how objects in these levels behave. We might create a whale who loves honey, or a rainbow that attracts flies. Or, as Kotaku's Totilo puts it, things could get weird when Scribblenauts pencils in all of our free time this fall.

[Via GoNintendo]

Scribblenauts gets more awesome with level creation, sharing originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 May 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: Made of win

JC Fletcher — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 10:33:00 EST

Filed under: DS Daily

The announcement of some actual DSiWare games was pretty welcome, sure, but the real winner out of Iwata's financial briefing is Made in Ore, which is sort of a programming suite for WarioWare games. We can't wait to start designing our own bite-sized games and playing them on the DS and Wii.

Do you think the microgame style of WarioWare is too limiting for player-created games? Will it be frustrating to be restricted to the typical WarioWare format? Or do you think the limitation is going to help spur creativity?

DS Daily: Made of win originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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User-created content is the heart of Band Brothers DX

David Hinkle — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, Imports

Gamers in Japan will likely be delighted to hear this bit of news. Band Brothers DX will allow players to share content they created in the game, namely compositions. By uploading them online, other games may then access and download the tracks. Pretty neat, eh? We think so.

Of course, this only works for folks in Japan, meaning that we're incredibly jealous. We hope, nay, need this game to be localized. So, Nintendo, get on it!

User-created content is the heart of Band Brothers DX originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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