Archive: 51 posts

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It's been almost two weeks since they added anything to their LBP2 picks. I never kept track of how often they updated it with the first game, so maybe this is normal, but they seemed to be adding stuff daily for a while after the new game came out.

2011-03-24 18:05:00 Author: Behonkiss Posts: 229

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It's not been that long, Frozen Flame was added within at least the last week unless time is going uber fast. I'll agree there doesn't seem to be many lately, but there has been the odd one or two picks here and there.

2011-03-24 18:23:00 Author: Moonface Posts: 310

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It's been almost two weeks since they added anything to their LBP2 picks. I never kept track of how often they updated it with the first game, so maybe this is normal, but they seemed to be adding stuff daily for a while after the new game came out. Maybe nothing much Classic has been published since last time...

2011-03-24 18:26:00 Author: Unknown User

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I've seen a few levels that could be added - and some really great platformers, but I don't think they're interested in platformers anymore. Personally, they could probably just get rid of it. Or it's just going to end up like the news section in the old game.

2011-03-24 18:41:00 Author: CYMBOL Posts: 1230

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They most be busy... http://lbp.me/u/Spaff_Molecule - he started to play after mouth long brake, i heard he had vecation http://lbp.me/u/Tom_Molecule - Tom didnt touch LBP2 since 20 days BTW notice that LBP.me got updated and now it now it marks MM employees ;]

2011-03-24 18:48:00 Author: Shadowriver Posts: 3991

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I heard everyone was *****ing about MM Picks and that made Spaff go sad True Story. Or he was on holiday. As others have said, the picks have been sort of coming in slowly.. Frozen Flame was added about a week ago - I was meaning to play it last weekend but never got around to it. Hopefully we'll see a vague trickle of levels from MM Picks and it won't just shrivel up and die now we're a little way past release... While it's not that active, you could always check out the level showcase, I hear quality feedback is hard to come by these days

2011-03-24 22:45:00 Author: rtm223 Posts: 6497

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Oh man, I hope they don't let them shrivel up and die 3 days on cool levels really shouldn't be the most visibility a truly inspiring creation can achieve. If they could just be consistent about picking one or two every week, it would be so much more motivating and exciting to me as a creator, knowing that there's always that chance, and that it doesn't just come down to whether or not you published your level when they were in crunch time on DLC. Of course, as RTM points out, if they can't continue to make the MM picks an important part of the game, the community will have to pick up the slack, and I'm sure we'll manage. You know, looking at how often they get to play, it seems like the community managers are busy enough as it is, and picking one or two levels a week means you need to play many more, to find the good ones... Maybe they need to hire an MM pick specialist! Where do I submit my resume Alex

2011-03-25 00:09:00 Author: Alic Posts: 81

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Of course you didn't track Mm picks because it was on the blog. I disagree, Mm picks shouldn't be a 1 or 2 levels a week afare, it should be whatever the developers find cool. If it's a slow week it wouldn't be fair on previous Mm pick levels which had a lot more effort put into it. Pretty much everything on Mm picks is special and pretty much won't be outdone anytime soon.

2011-03-25 01:25:00 Author: PPp_Killer Posts: 449

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Well different with the blog is fact that now they can easily add them without much effort, back then they did that rarely and in packs and besides not all people knew about them

2011-03-25 01:31:00 Author: Shadowriver Posts: 3991

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The MM picks menu it's under the cool pages section, wich is why it is played nearly as much as cool pages. Hundreds of good levels are published every week, and I understand they probably have no time to play them all. But if this is the case, they should hire some "MM picker", or if not, MM picks shouldn't have so much relevance. Also it's true that NO platform level has been picked! Oh well, the "panda" level, but we all know why it was picked. This is a shame. Very discouraging.

2011-03-25 07:53:00 Author: poms Posts: 383

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Of course you didn't track Mm picks because it was on the blog. I disagree, Mm picks shouldn't be a 1 or 2 levels a week afare, it should be whatever the developers find cool. If it's a slow week it wouldn't be fair on previous Mm pick levels which had a lot more effort put into it. Pretty much everything on Mm picks is special and pretty much won't be outdone anytime soon. You seem to have read what I said as "they should always pick the same number of levels every week, no matter how many good ones are published." That's not what I was saying at all, really -- I'd be against such a system as well, because like you said, it could lead to unfairness in a different way. I'm saying they should try to hold to a minimum of at least one pick a week, even when they don't have much time to play levels. That way, creators who publish during a two or three week drought don't end up feeling cheated of even the chance of being picked. They could still pick more levels during weeks where more amazing levels are published, of course! I honestly don't remember a single week in the past month where I haven't seen several levels that could comfortably be added to the MM list. Can anyone here? If so, maybe you're not... playing enough levels? (I've heard creating a lot can have that effect.) Alex

2011-03-25 08:54:00 Author: Alic Posts: 81

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I heard everyone was *****ing about MM Picks and that made Spaff go sad True Story. Or he was on holiday. As others have said, the picks have been sort of coming in slowly.. Frozen Flame was added about a week ago - I was meaning to play it last weekend but never got around to it. Hopefully we'll see a vague trickle of levels from MM Picks and it won't just shrivel up and die now we're a little way past release... While it's not that active, you could always check out the level showcase, I hear quality feedback is hard to come by these days Well, I seriously hope it's not true. First, when a MAN does something he must back his decision...maybe just come here, put his face on the forum and explain the reason behind some choices. Second...I was one of the complainers, but complains are NOT meant to be dull, void things, often they're made just to let people open their eyes and adjust the aim. MM picks are not perfect and never will be, but going in a corner crying because people, or better, customers, didn't appreciate your job it's not the reaction I expect from an adult. MM pickers' behaviour has put down a LOT of amazing creators around, and that's a friggin' shame. So, hope he's not sad, since he has only to be sad with his choices, that DELIBERATELY kept the platform genre out of the picks. People, everywhere in the World, should start to acquaint with the idea that being criticized can give a hint to perfection yourself and what you're doing, and not start to frown, being sad, etc...

2011-03-25 09:33:00 Author: OmegaSlayer Posts: 5112

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'twas a jokes :/

2011-03-25 09:48:00 Author: rtm223 Posts: 6497

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'twas a jokes :/ I'm sorry, I'm really slow on jokes lately... but the main point is still there, MM picks are a bit of a problem for a significant part of the community, and a little clarity would only do good.

2011-03-25 10:02:00 Author: OmegaSlayer Posts: 5112

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In answer to your question - Nothing is going on with Mm Picks... aaaaabssssoluuuuuutely noooooothing.... No one at Mm cares about Mm Picks anymore... and now we don't either. It's like getting a new puppy. At first it's all cute and cuddly, but then it starts pooping on your floor and eating your underwear and is just a general nuisance I guess. Yeah, that'd be my guess. Mmpicks are Mm's older stinky dog now. Seriously though, I was noticing a drop on Mm Picks a while back and began to make a mental note to start tracking it, and to see if they'd ever pick something that wasn't a retro game or one that was made by someone who isn't on their favourite creators list (or perhaps even pick a platformer... which this game STILL IS as far as I know). I can tell you this for certain. The two pinball games in Mm Picks were added to that list about a week after Sehven published his Jedi Arts level, maybe more. I know this because I was sure that Sehv's level would make it to the Picks and was interested to see how long the process takes of Mm updating their Picks once a level that is pick-worthy starts gaining major attention. So if memory serves, since that level got pub'd they added two pinball levels and now we have Frozen Flame added. I just checked lbp.me and according to the level info for Jedi Arts it was First published 19/02/2011 Last published 09/03/2011 I think if you do the math you'll clearly see that Mm aren't doing much picking other than their noses at this point. What's that... 3 levels added in a month? Pfftt... pathetic is what Mm Picks have become. I find it hard to believe there's only two people who work there that are capable of discerning what makes a level great vs. most of the other chaff people are putting out still. Let's face it folks... Mm picks is dying (if not already dead). If Mm decide to get off their rumps and dedicate a half an hour a day to go through Most Played or Highest Rated and find something to share with the community, then they might have a hope of adding some sort of Voodoo Zombie Brew to the mix and pull the Picks out of the grave. Given their track record lately though, and the News section everyone laughingly references... don't hold your breath. I'm not. Meh... I find tons of great levels to play all the time. I don't need Mm favouritism to show me a good time. Just stay connected to the community and check out what your friends are playing. Let's leave Mm alone to finish fixing all those bugs we tried to squash in the beta that are still getting in the way of this "pushed back release date" unfinished game gettin' finished. Heck... maybe they'll even find time to send out some bug blaster codes to all of us who busted our ***es trying to help out in the first place. EDIT: MM picks are a bit of a problem for a significant part of the community, and a little clarity would only do good. Unfortunately, clarity and communication isn't one of their strong points. Ever watched their tutorials? Fact is, it's up to the community to keep the community going. Mm Picks should have never been put into effect, as it will one day wither and die like so many other flowers.

2011-03-25 10:22:00 Author: Rustbukkit Posts: 1737

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Is it really "clarity" some of us are craving? Someone over there at MM picks levels they like. It's pretty simple. Now, no level ranking system is ever going to seem entirely fair to everyone, so explaining how MM picks works over and over again until everyone is happy seems a pretty thankless job to expect of anyone.... The only thing I would put forward, is that speaking for myself (and maybe Poms?), MM picks could be a really inspiring part of the game if they continue to be done. That's all I'm encouraging -- keep it up, Media Molecule! You guys made an incredible game -- you went way beyond what's been done before with stuff like backwards compatibility, which I know must have nearly killed you. You can handle updating this list, and it will make a big difference -- probably to way more creators than myself! During the first few weeks of the game being out, there was a feeling of excitement that I have rarely felt in any game (I know for a few of you jaded beta folks it was just more of the same, but trust me on this one, there was excitement). I don't think the excitement was due solely to the newness of the game, the usual cause. To me, LittleBigPlanet is a game that's always new, always being reinvented -- so in a way, the release isn't any more special than 6 months in. What really made it exciting is that it felt like things were happening. Really convincing looking zelda, DK, and Mario clones popped up so quickly you'd almost be ashamed if they weren't so darn impressive. Great racing games, a really cool shooter from Rauland, Foofles' first person engine remade from the beta better than ever, so many great top-down shooter levels... It all happened so fast, and it seemed like it was just going to keep going. But in the past few weeks, it seems like things have slowed down, despite the fact that a truly amazing camera glitch was discovered within the past month. Maybe it's just a lull in the storm, but I can't quite shake the feeling that maybe the constant flow of MM picks was giving the game that extra feeling of freshness from day to day that really made it feel like things were happening, people were being discovered, the game was changing every time you came back to it. It's still happening, of course, but it feels a lot quieter. A lot less front-page. Anyway, I think consistent MM picks really could make a big difference for LBP. But as I said, if not, I'm sure sites like LBPC can pick up the slack. The more inconsistent the MM picks are, though, the more likely they are to change from something inspiring to strive for, to something discouraging and upsetting to anyone who happened to publish their level(s) in the wrong month. One more thing: can we not turn this thread into something super-dramatic? When people get mad over something like this, which could probably go either way at this point, it never helps get any point across, except maybe that people trying to be heard are melodramatic whiners I just want the point made, and clearly: It really does seem like some consistency with the MM picks could go a loooong way in the community. For example, no one was complaining about MM picks before the list stopped being updated last month (with two awesome exceptions in the past three or four weeks, of course). As far as I know, no one was complaining back then -- not even creators whose levels were passed over. And now, on LBPC, we've had two big threads on the subject in the past few weeks. It seems like it's something that gets to people. Alex

2011-03-25 11:25:00 Author: Alic Posts: 81

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'twas a jokes :/ Also, this response/exchange made me lol. Specifically the shocked expression on the ghost sackboy's face, which suddenly looked a lot like "what have I done?"

2011-03-25 11:32:00 Author: Alic Posts: 81

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The current situation is just an additional proof that MM doesn't care about the community structure at all. LBPCentral is full of great levels which struggle immensely to reach 100, sometimes 50 plays, and for every LBPC level there are 10 great levels done by people who don't advertise online which struggle to get 10 plays.

2011-03-25 12:15:00 Author: Vergil Posts: 155

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You see Alic...maybe you're not old enough... Whatever job you do, it's not enough that you dress, take your car, go to your job, spend 6-8 hours there, then go back home... If you do your work in a bad way, not at your best, usually you get fired. In my case, the storekeeper one, you lose the respect and trust of your customers (the ones that let you buy food and pay the bills at the end of the month ) Or if you speak about school, you fail, you're rejected and don't go to the following grade. A work done with the feet instead of being done with the brain, is useless, and in some cases it's damaging. If an architect doesn't do well his maths before planning a building...the building falls and people dies. If a doctor doesn't wash his hands before a surgery, the patient gets infections...and so on. The point that this is a "GAMING" industry, doesn't change anything. It's their work, they earn a salary that it's paid with the money of the consumers/costumers. They can have millionths of reason to not work on MM picks, but you don't implement a feature if you can't be sure to run it and support in the best and most believable way. Games don't grow on tress, there are multiple meeting where they discuss what is doable and what not. Did Spaff and Tom miss that briefing where they could have said that 2 persons alone can't play millionths of levels? That's their fault. Decide to do what neither a small team nor even the entire community can do, check all the levels and objectively spotlight the best.

2011-03-25 12:59:00 Author: OmegaSlayer Posts: 5112

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You know, we don't even know that it's Tom or Spaff's job to handle MM picks. I think I remember reading somewhere that it's actually the lead designer who handles it -- I think Mark? That may be out of date or simply not true, but still, as far as I know, we don't know who handles it, and it's easy to come off as just angry and dramatic if you're complaining about something when you have very incomplete information.

2011-03-25 14:07:00 Author: Alic Posts: 81

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-MM has many,MANY, things going on right now. You've seen all the new DLC coming/or already out, the Teacher Pack, they just finished the Sly and Bently Cooper, R&C, and J&D. Now they probably have to squash a few bugs. Even if MM Picks is slow right now, you can always check out a level just as good somewhere on the Cool Pages. Ill bet you by the end or middle of April MM Picks will be up and running again. Be thankful for the MM Picks you have right now. DM

2011-03-25 15:01:00 Author: DominationMags Posts: 1840

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Oh great, MMPick drama strikes again Either way Spaff is back so more MMPicks may show up now. And remember guys, MMPick is not institution that needs to reward every single good level ^^'

2011-03-25 15:24:00 Author: Shadowriver Posts: 3991

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Oh great, MMPick drama strikes again Either way Spaff is back so more MMPicks may show up now. And remember guys, MMPick is not institution that needs to reward every single good level ^^' Ok, let's put it this way... If you buy the iPhone, as a consumer you expect that the AppStore is updated, because it's a feature that the device has. If the guy who updates it goes on vacation, the service has not to stop. And you can be a bit upset if you buy the device for a certain kind of application (platformers in LBP2) but you only find promoted other kind of apps that you don't like/don't need. And...if you buy a Sony Vaio, then you get home and realized that it's flawed because the DVD tray closes bad, do you have problem if it was Kyoshiro, Ryo, Midori, Eiichiro or Kazushi instead of Hiroshi was the responsible? Everyone here sees MM like a big friendly family and yes, they're good chap, but they're professional developer and I'm a customer, and I actually paid the game (a game that has been released late in my Country, without Limited Editions and stuff, that I paid 70 € against the 45 € that it costs in England, and that I'm playing with a major bug). So yes, I'm not happy at how both them and Sony are handling things.

2011-03-25 15:43:00 Author: OmegaSlayer Posts: 5112

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Yeah, I think most people who are upset with MM picks are upset for 2 reasons: 1. The list seems to be retro arcade or Creators that are well known by MM (doesn't mean that they don't deserve to be there - but that it was easier for their level to get a viewing in the first place) 2. No updates. I think people do have that small hope in the back of their head that maybe, their level might make it on MM's Picks - but they feel a bit hampered by the fact that it seems they have to create a certain kind of level to even be considered - and, that even if they did - what are the chances it would be noticed when no one from MM is playing levels? So, I think people are just frustrated that not only is their chance of getting an MM Pick almost zero - but that no one is even looking at levels - so now, the chance really is zero! And, of course, there are those of us that remember seeing the Survival Challenges listed in the "news" section for over a year in LBP1. Oh well, what can you do. But I do agree - if the feature isn't going to be updated regularly (there are plenty of levels that deserve to be up there - and yes, some of them are platformers) - then it should just be taken down. Just let it slip away quietly, like the "Play Create Share" counters that never worked and were quietly scrapped.

2011-03-25 16:22:00 Author: CYMBOL Posts: 1230

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Ok, let's put it this way... If you buy the iPhone, as a consumer you expect that the AppStore is updated, because it's a feature that the device has. If the guy who updates it goes on vacation, the service has not to stop. And you can be a bit upset if you buy the device for a certain kind of application (platformers in LBP2) but you only find promoted other kind of apps that you don't like/don't need. And...if you buy a Sony Vaio, then you get home and realized that it's flawed because the DVD tray closes bad, do you have problem if it was Kyoshiro, Ryo, Midori, Eiichiro or Kazushi instead of Hiroshi was the responsible? Everyone here sees MM like a big friendly family and yes, they're good chap, but they're professional developer and I'm a customer, and I actually paid the game (a game that has been released late in my Country, without Limited Editions and stuff, that I paid 70 € against the 45 € that it costs in England, and that I'm playing with a major bug). So yes, I'm not happy at how both them and Sony are handling things. AppStore don't even have app featureing... maybe it had if we add those ads on it's main page, wither way i don't know why you compireing AppStore updateing with MMPicks, in LBP this happens automatically on cool pages and other list. Again MMPick is not institution that need to check every level to search good levels, this is what most people think MMPick is and cry if there level didn't get picked, this is why ideas "Give MMPicks to community" or "employee someone from community for it"ideas born.... this job is for cool pages. MMPick is a feature where developer marks there favorites or stuff that they got involved in.

2011-03-25 16:51:00 Author: Shadowriver Posts: 3991

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But at the end of the day: What impact does an MM Pick ultimately have on you as a creator? Does it mean that you can lean back and rest on your laurels? Does it mean that your job as a creator is done? I'm not going to try and create an illusion(as many people on these sites do) that plays and attention is unimportant. I want my levels to be played. I love good feedback and the feeling that my hundreds of hours of "work" is appreciated. I think it's because I am quite competitive as a person. Still, getting positive feedback from the COMMUNITY counts a lot more in to me. In fact, getting Yays and hearts from quite a large number of MM Picked creators that I respect and admire counts more.

2011-03-25 17:04:00 Author: Discosmurf Posts: 210

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http://wiki.lbpcentral.com/images/thumb/b/b4/Pin_Mm_Picked%21.png/45px-Pin_Mm_Picked%21.png Here's the reason, making an achievement, that's almost impossible to reach or not related to skills, is not the smartest idea... MM picked description from LBPC wiki (http://wiki.lbpcentral.com/Mm_Picks) Mm Picks are a collection of levels hand picked from the community by developer Media Molecule as awesome! An Mm Picked level is shown by a rosette around its level badge. The creator of a "Mm picked" level will receive a rare pin which players can exhibit on their page. Only levels that are incredibly detailed, brilliantly designed and down-right fantastic will receive an Mm Pick, so don't be disheartened if you don't receive one. Thus, if your level is not picked it is automatically NOT incredibly detailed, NOT brilliantly designed and NOT down-right fantastic, so don't feel disheartened, just feel a sheer poo Then I see PacMan remake and I get puzzled, then I look at OCK's or Alic's levels and feel saddened.

2011-03-25 17:10:00 Author: OmegaSlayer Posts: 5112

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Here's the reason, making an achievement, that's almost impossible to reach or not related to skills, is not the smartest idea... There's also one for working at Media Molecule. These very extreme pins were made to very clearly indicate that achieving ALL of the pins isn't a viable objective and not something that people should be attempting to do. You posted MM picked description from LBPC wiki: Mm Picks are a collection of levels hand picked from the community by developer Media Molecule as awesome! An Mm Picked level is shown by a rosette around its level badge. The creator of a "Mm picked" level will receive a rare pin which players can exhibit on their page. Only levels that are incredibly detailed, brilliantly designed and down-right fantastic will receive an Mm Pick, so don't be disheartened if you don't receive one. Here's Mm pick description from Media Molecules own site. The MmPicks are a selection of levels that have been played by us and deemed awesome. They began as a list of levels we’d been playing over the weekend and then showed off to one another on a monday morning, and now are a list of levels we stumble upon at any time. Each one of them has made at least one person here to praise the marvels within, and utter phrases such as ‘ooooooh that’s cool!’ From that you clearly see that they never said the levels have to be 'incredibly detailed or 'brilliantly designed'. All they have to do is make a Molecule go 'Ooooooh'...and there are many ways to do that You also see that they emphasise the fact that 'they have been played by us' on the first line. Therefore straight away suggesting that not every level that is published has the chance to be Mmpicked. As well as talent and awesomeness, you also require a bit of fortune for your level to be picked, and that ain't gonna be changing any time soon guys Always better to look for something said directly by them rather than someone who is writing on behalf of them

2011-03-25 17:20:00 Author: jackofcourse Posts: 1494

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Thanks for the punctualization Jack Still, the point is that many perceive whatever MM doesn't pick, as something that doesn't make anyone go "OOOOOOH" And, unfortunately I can't favour anything that puts luck in front of skills, since well it's not fair towards all the hours of hard work every creator puts in whatever they do (despite shark bomb poo stuff). So my position towards MM picks can't ever change

2011-03-25 17:45:00 Author: OmegaSlayer Posts: 5112

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And, unfortunately I can't favour anything that puts luck in front of skills, since well it's not fair towards all the hours of hard work every creator puts in whatever they do (despite shark bomb poo stuff). True.... but you know.... a lot of life is like that. Every amazing guitarist has a CHANCE to hit the big time, but not very much of one. And there's quite a few "not-as-good" guitar players that are millionaires now. Life is kind of like that.... Talent doesn't always equal getting discovered or being successful. Of course, in LittleBigPlanet it seems quite a bit has to do with taking initiative.... getting people to notice your stuff, playing other people's levels and providing feedback.... and making friends. Although I have limited artistic skills, I've done OK. Since I first joined here, I always tried to help others with their levels, as well as working on my own. Making friends and helping others gave me opportunities, such as being asked to be on the Spotlight Crew, then helping with the LogicPack, which resulted in being asked to be part of a group which ended up turning into the Hansel & Gretelbot group. When I released Vectroids, quite a few people I've become friends with played it and helped it out, which resulted in it being noticed by MM. I think you'll find quite a few people with similar stories, including Wex, GrantosUK, CompherMC, rtm223, Steve_Big_Guns, JackOfCourse, Morgana.... the list goes on and on. All of them not only built their own levels, but had good attitudes, helped others tremendously, showed initiative... and ended up with greater opportunities. In fact, I would say that's the way a lot of life works. Oh.... and as someone who has constantly been watching the MM picks, there have been picks about every monday, plus possibly 1 or 2 others during the week. Last week only had 1, but it's not like they have TOTALLY STOPPED doing MM picks like the OP kind of insinuates. There will be more. In the meantime, there are tons of levels in cool pages and here. There are certainly some levels I would love to get MM picked... but, then again, there are probably a ton I don't know about that should be also.

2011-03-25 19:23:00 Author: CCubbage Posts: 4430

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Omega, one who decices if level is great or not are LBP2 players that rate levels and make them apper in cool pages ;] once again i need to tell you take mmpicks too seriesly, like there nothing else around and it's only thing that make you level great in eyes of others XD btw MMpick LBPWiki articule been writen by someone, feel free to correct it in way as it is in MM page About pins, achivments are not things that you really need to do, it's mark that you achived something and being mmpicked (even thru luck) is an achivment, getting job in MM is also a achivment ;p

2011-03-25 20:22:00 Author: Shadowriver Posts: 3991

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Awesome post CCubbage, that I agree with at 1000% In fact I never complained about the people from Central being there. I complain for the overall direction taken by choosing the picks and for the people that are left out. And I consider myself a player more than a creator since I released only one level in LBP and will release something here God only knows when. So it's not a point of "poor me I won't ever be picked", the point is that what is going on is putting down a lot of awesome creators. And since the creators are the ones who give a shape to this game, I found that an unclear/unconsistent/random support from MM is detrimental to the game. All those post show that the system causes bitterness, something that I didn't perceive in LBP1. Sure there has always been from a minority of people a "brag stance", some jealousy and whatever else, but lately it's reaching paramount heights...and personally I don't like this overall atmosphere. The system should gave everyone the same possibility to be noticed, not only to MrX friend of MrY. Yeah, levelling things if you want...not the max of life, but if everyone starts from the same point, the people with skills will always be forward. While what you say that being in the right spot at the right moment is true to life, I always preferred and found more rewarding to reach my objective for who I am and not because I'm friend of a notorious person. Every time the MM picks problem shows up, someone comes out with the "play the levels that your friends and fav creators liked". And that, in my humble opinion should be the right thing. I perceive MM as "intruders"

2011-03-25 21:38:00 Author: OmegaSlayer Posts: 5112

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True.... but you know.... a lot of life is like that. Every amazing guitarist has a CHANCE to hit the big time, but not very much of one. And there's quite a few "not-as-good" guitar players that are millionaires now. Life is kind of like that.... Talent doesn't always equal getting discovered or being successful. Of course, in LittleBigPlanet it seems quite a bit has to do with taking initiative.... getting people to notice your stuff, playing other people's levels and providing feedback.... and making friends. Although I have limited artistic skills, I've done OK. Since I first joined here, I always tried to help others with their levels, as well as working on my own. Making friends and helping others gave me opportunities, such as being asked to be on the Spotlight Crew, then helping with the LogicPack, which resulted in being asked to be part of a group which ended up turning into the Hansel & Gretelbot group. When I released Vectroids, quite a few people I've become friends with played it and helped it out, which resulted in it being noticed by MM. I think you'll find quite a few people with similar stories, including Wex, GrantosUK, CompherMC, rtm223, Steve_Big_Guns, JackOfCourse, Morgana.... the list goes on and on. All of them not only built their own levels, but had good attitudes, helped others tremendously, showed initiative... and ended up with greater opportunities. In fact, I would say that's the way a lot of life works. Oh.... and as someone who has constantly been watching the MM picks, there have been picks about every monday, plus possibly 1 or 2 others during the week. Last week only had 1, but it's not like they have TOTALLY STOPPED doing MM picks like the OP kind of insinuates. There will be more. In the meantime, there are tons of levels in cool pages and here. There are certainly some levels I would love to get MM picked... but, then again, there are probably a ton I don't know about that should be also. Hey Cubbage, I agree with the point you're making. And I actually agree that it's a good thing that networking, helping others, and doing other important things for the community can help get your creations out there. One thing I have to point out, though -- the MM pick they picked last week was picked after at least two weeks of nothing being picked. Not only that, the level was published 27/02/2011. That means no level published in the last month has been picked, let alone week. How many levels were picked from February, while it was still February? Surely more than 10 -- they had a great run there. I agree, it's not completely awful yet, but I'm suggesting that there's a reason you've got people willing to complain now, and not a month ago. While I can't find anything to link to on this, as someone who has also been following the MM picks closely, and has a cursedly accurate memory for these things, I can tell you that they haven't made a pick on a Monday for over a month. Frozen Flame was chosen going into the weekend, and Pacman as well was done in the middle of the week. That means the last batch of monday picks was either Pinball/Zombots OR something before that. And those picks were done well over a month ago. Contrast that to the weeks after the game came out, when (I think?) every Monday, as you said, there were multiple picks. And that's all I'm trying to point out, that due to their consistency alone MM picks can be perceived by some creators (maybe many?) as either a good thing or a bad thing. An inspiration or a leech. That's the line we're crossing for some people right now, I don't pretend to know for how many. It rubs people the wrong way, feeling like they never got their chance to shine, because they spent an extra two weeks polishing their level and ended up releasing it when the molecules were too busy to look. So, all that drama, I repudiate I agree that it's actually a good thing LBP rewards friendship and some self-promotion! It's probably one of the many useful skills people can learn playing the game instead of the shooter of the month. All I'm saying is, a higher level of consistency == good for the community, and probably way fewer people feeling like complaining. And, I think MM are capable of it. And if they're not, and no one there has enough time, I put forward my resume (which unfortunately only has piano teacher on it) as the level scout they need to find the good ones and keep MM picks rolling I honestly get the feeling that this stuff could be the difference, a year from now, between whether or not we're talking about LBP2's sharing features as a bit of a joke a la the original, or a huge improvement. Thanks for reading Alex

2011-03-25 21:48:00 Author: Alic Posts: 81

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Huh.... I was almost positive Pac Man was MM picked 2 weeks ago, and that RPG was picked a week ago. The "Pac Man" thread under recommendations was posted the same day by LeatherMonkey, and it says 2 weeks ago. And I believe a week before that they did the 2 pinball levels within a couple days of each other. Not saying I'm right on that, but it seemed like that to me. It seems to me they have been consistently doing at least 1 level a week.... and if they start doing a ton of them it will lose it's "specialness" a bit. Regardless.... I find them fun, and they've been doing enough of them in the last few months to get some nice attention to some less-known creators (and some known creators). I TOTALLY loved seeing Foofles and Smasher get MM picks - I've been a fan of both they're work for a couple years now.

2011-03-25 23:34:00 Author: CCubbage Posts: 4430

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The system should gave everyone the same possibility to be noticed, not only to MrX friend of MrY. I feel like in my particular case, I did have the same possibility to be noticed as everyone else. I have never been popular. I'm still not popular. I haven't the slightest idea how MM even came by my level. In my case I feel like someone from MM played my level, and was hopefully blown away by it. So they gave it a pick. The point I'm trying to make, is don't give up people. As long as MM picks exist, you have a chance to get picked. There's no reason to get upset if you don't though. I was convinced that I would NEVER get a pick, so I always try for a spotlight. That was always my drive. Don't get me wrong, I don't create just for spotlights. What I mean is when I build a level I pour my heart and soul into it. I Don't hold nothing back. I Don't rush it. I Try to come up with stuff that when people play it they think, Man, why didn't I think of that. At the very least you'll know you've done your best. No one can take that away from you......

2011-03-25 23:55:00 Author: smasher Posts: 641

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Huh.... I was almost positive Pac Man was MM picked 2 weeks ago, and that RPG was picked a week ago. The "Pac Man" thread under recommendations was posted the same day by LeatherMonkey, and it says 2 weeks ago. And I believe a week before that they did the 2 pinball levels within a couple days of each other. Not saying I'm right on that, but it seemed like that to me. It seems to me they have been consistently doing at least 1 level a week.... and if they start doing a ton of them it will lose it's "specialness" a bit. Regardless.... I find them fun, and they've been doing enough of them in the last few months to get some nice attention to some less-known creators (and some known creators). I TOTALLY loved seeing Foofles and Smasher get MM picks - I've been a fan of both they're work for a couple years now. You inspired me to check for proof. Luckily, MM lists when a level was picked at the bottom of every level's "info" page on LBP.me, so it didn't take long to find it MM picks this month: Frozen Flame picked on MmPick'ed on 17/03/2011 Pacman MmPick'ed on 03/03/2011 -- just over three weeks ago. That's two picks this month. In February, by contrast, there were 26 MM picks. February also had... what, 28 days? (I'm not very good with the months.) We're a weekend away from the same amount of time passing. Again, my only point is, maybe frustrated people are responding to this discrepancy. Consistency -- for example, trying to pick at least one level a week at the low end, could potentially make a huge difference, and erase the feeling that people could be publishing in the wrong month. Anyway, thanks for responding, guys, it's nice to talk about this reasonably. And Smasher -- amen to that. Thanks for saying it so well. Full Disclosure: By the way guys, I haven't published a playable level in the past month. This isn't about unfairness that I feel is affecting me in particular. Tom from MM actually played my level I published in February, and hearted and liked it. So I have the comfort of knowing they at least saw my level. It wasn't up to par for a pick, I'm sure, but just seeing that was exciting enough. Nearly gave me a heart attack, actually. I'm trying to make this point, because to me it's pretty clear the tone when talking about MM picks, and the way some creators in the community feel about them, has shifted over the past month. I'm trying to say, maybe it isn't some flaw in picking too many of one type of level, and maybe the problem isn't that they play levels by people they've hearted (isn't that supposed to happen, anyway?) Maybe the problem is just that there have been one thirteenth as many levels picked this month as there were last month. That's kind of a big jump. Twice as many, you probably wouldn't have felt the difference. Three times as many, maybe they were busy and it was a slow month. But when you start getting past ten times as many, from month to month... Honestly, it makes me worry because I want LBP2 to be more successful than the first game, and the MM picks really seemed to be carrying a lot of momentum and adding a lot of excitement early on, and I don't want to see the game lose that for something that could mostly be done by an unpaid intern. (In this country, anyway -- call me, MM.) Alex

2011-03-26 01:11:00 Author: Alic Posts: 81

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Yea, i you look on mmpicked creators you will notice that there a lot names that you never heard off and are not much known. Imo mmpick shouldn't be talk as a mark of quality and specially as a substituted of cool pages as lot of people claimed to be... since it isn't. This is "Featured" or "Dev Favorite" and LBP is not first and last service that have this, but this is first time i seen people see some controversy in it.

2011-03-26 01:33:00 Author: Shadowriver Posts: 3991

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It'd be great for Mm to notice a level you've worked on and a huge honour if they picked it but first and foremost, as long as you're enjoying what you're creating and you're proud of the end product, then anything else is just a bonus. It seems to me that Mm will choose a level to be picked when they play a level that's deemed worthy of being picked and that's the way it should be. If the community wants a weekly updated pick from Mm, the only suggestion I can think of is something like 'Mm's Top 5 Levels of the Week' and keep Mm Picks separate. To those who worry that they'll never get Mm Picked, the chances are you never will. Just keep enjoying creating great things and remember that you alone are your greatest critic.

2011-03-26 05:31:00 Author: shindol Posts: 78

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So Shindol, I have a simple question for you: Do you believe that there being two mm picks this month (though those levels were created in february as well), while there were twenty six MM picks last month, reflects the exact number of levels that were published in each month, that are high enough in quality to be picked by MM? In other words, do you think there were twenty eight levels published last month that are good enough to be picked, and zero levels published this month that are good enough to be picked? Or do you think there might be other factors involved in this difference between the two months? Alex

2011-03-26 05:57:00 Author: Alic Posts: 81

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Or do you think there might be other factors involved in this difference between the two months? Like Spaff taking vacation?

2011-03-26 06:07:00 Author: Shadowriver Posts: 3991

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Hey, don't answer the question for him, I was asking Shindol

2011-03-26 06:10:00 Author: Alic Posts: 81

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So Shindol, I have a simple question for you: Do you believe that there being two mm picks this month (though those levels were created in february as well), while there were twenty six MM picks last month, reflects the exact number of levels that were published in each month, that are high enough in quality to be picked by MM? In other words, do you think there were twenty eight levels published last month that are good enough to be picked, and zero levels published this month that are good enough to be picked? Or do you think there might be other factors involved in this difference between the two months? Alex I think the answer could be that the rate of levels being picked now may well be the norm. Mm Picks isn't a new thing that's just been started. All that's happened is that it's been utilised in LBP2. There was never a mass amount of levels added every month. LBP2's slogan is 'A platform for creating games'. As you said, there was a large amount of picks in the first month and that could be because of all the new concepts these creators were making. This could explain why there was so much activity at that time and now it's getting back to normal. I don't think they need to go bonkers with it just because they've put it on LBP2. It could just be that Spaff's been on his jollies too lol. I'd like to think that my answer's more reasonable though. One thing I don't understand though is why it flashes as if it's been updated when it hasn't.

2011-03-26 09:10:00 Author: shindol Posts: 78

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Gotta say.... Shondol's comment makes perfect sense to me. Yes, for the FIRST COUPLE MONTHS after the release of LBP2 they picked a whole mess of levels, but if they picked them at that rate.... levels that were immediately picked would go down so fast it wouldn't mean anything. For the last several years, they've periodically picked levels for MM picks. Maybe 2 a month is more realistic? Or maybe even one in a week? In the past it's been, I think, maybe 1 a month. Maybe the reason there were so many picks to begin with is that we've seen so many different gameplay styles being created from the LBP2 tools beyond platforming, and that excites them? They want to show the world what their engine can do. And maybe the unrealistic amount of levels that were originally picked has given people an unrealistic expectation that they, too, deserve one?

2011-03-26 17:05:00 Author: CCubbage Posts: 4430

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Just wondering.. do molecules get a little option under the levels they play that say "Mm Pick?" ?

2011-03-26 17:27:00 Author: Tawarf Posts: 457

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Just wondering.. do molecules get a little option under the levels they play that say "Mm Pick?" ? Probably not. I imagine it's some sort of server-side configuration file or program they use. Afterall, if there was something like that built into the game, it would be a dangerous tool if a player uncovered some glitch and was able to use it.

2011-03-26 20:39:00 Author: xero Posts: 2419

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Probably not. I imagine it's some sort of server-side configuration file or program they use. Afterall, if there was something like that built into the game, it would be a dangerous tool if a player uncovered some glitch and was able to use it. This way it would be dangers to even do web-sites, since LBP server software is not so far from how LBPC works. ;p Server got your PSN ID and if you gonna tell him you want this level go mmpicked he gonna simply ignore you, same as this forum got url to delete threads that everyone can type in but it will only listen to login user with specific level of access. Thats the basis of server security, don't listen to commands from everything that send you, check who doing that. Ever played GTA:SA multiplayer mod or at least seen? you know why there ton of cheating there and on other games in not so bad? It's because it's based on all players clients syncing (it smart hack since game dont have any multuiplayer infrastructure) and client blindly listen to it's user since developers don't care what you do with a game on single player (back in days that developers didnt need to care a bout online achivments). So you gonna tell other clients that you have 99 health (usally server manage that) all players are synced and you never gonna die So game can have it, MM also got debug version of the game not to mention whole source code of game so they can build game that have that option specialy to them (if you ever compiled any software, specially in Linux you will notice that you can compiled it in many ways and have functions that you want). Ofcorse they can also have separate application to manage server database (Who uses configuration files to manage data on server now days?), probably the one who sends those unicorns with secret pins

2011-03-26 22:56:00 Author: Shadowriver Posts: 3991

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So game can have it, MM also got debug version of the game not to mention whole source code of game so they can build game that have that option specialy to them (if you ever compiled any software, specially in Linux you will notice that you can compiled it in many ways and have functions that you want). True, but usually in the case of a game, there are a lot more bugs and exploits to worry about than on a website. If it were me, I would not have any server-management administrative commands built into the game itself, unless as you said it was their own client build--which is technically like saying they have a custom server-management program at their disposal. Ofcorse they can also have separate application to manage server database (Who uses configuration files to manage data on server now days?), probably the one who sends those unicorns with secret pins Well, that depends completely on the server. I, for one, do directly edit server files to configure my Minecraft server, for example.

2011-03-26 23:21:00 Author: xero Posts: 2419

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True, but usually in the case of a game, there are a lot more bugs and exploits to worry about than on a website. If it were me, I would not have any server-management administrative commands built into the game itself, unless as you said it was their own client build--which is technically like saying they have a custom server-management program at their disposal. Websites got bugs and exploits too and surly, just saying that even if there is one it's not like server is blind or something, besides there lot games that allows you to send any commands to servers ;] and it's not so compliantly hard administrative server managing command it's just mm picking. Not to mention you LBP2 client allows to delete and copy levels from LBP2 database, which is more deadly Well, that depends completely on the server. I, for one, do directly edit server files to configure my Minecraft server, for example. Yea but most servers use databases since they are easier to manage and distribute the data, i won't be suppriced if minecraft will move to that eventually when the game gets more complicated, if i goggle i already see some minecraft stuff already using it. Ofcorse world block data would probably left in files since it's faster and core configuration

2011-03-26 23:56:00 Author: Shadowriver Posts: 3991

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The system should gave everyone the same possibility to be noticed, not only to MrX friend of MrY. And just how are you going to play the couple thousand levels made EVERY SINGLE DAY? Yeah, you go do that. No system will be perfect. The best thing they could do is hire someone/people to do nothing else but look for levels to MM pick.

2011-03-26 23:57:00 Author: Fishrock123 Posts: 1578

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Websites got bugs and exploits too and surly Yes, but in most cases, not nearly as many. A website usually isn't as complex as a game. just saying that even if there is one it's not like server is blind or something, besides there lot games that allows you to send any commands to servers ;] and it's not so compliantly hard administrative server managing command it's just mm picking. This is correct, assuming that the "molecule" flag was server-side and not client side. If it was client side it would be as simple as fooling your client into thinking that it has the privileges to access such commands. It no longer becomes a matter of the server being "blind" if it's up to the client to decide who can do what. MM would never be that dumb though... would they?

2011-03-27 00:16:00 Author: xero Posts: 2419

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This is correct, assuming that the "molecule" flag was server-side and not client side. If it was client side it would be as simple as fooling your client into thinking that it has the privileges to access such commands. It no longer becomes a matter of the server being "blind" if it's up to the client to decide who can do what. MM would never be that dumb though... would they? Ummmm ^^' Ofcorse it's server-side, and ofcorse server is not blind... this is why option to mmpick in the game is not insecurity since even if this in the game, server have final word.... that i was trying to tell you since you said: Just wondering.. do molecules get a little option under the levels they play that say "Mm Pick?" ? Probably not. I imagine it's some sort of server-side configuration file or program they use. Afterall, if there was something like that built into the game, it would be a dangerous tool if a player uncovered some glitch and was able to use it. It's possible to have a option in game for molecules since server won't listen if you are not molecule ^^' as i said: Server got your PSN ID and if you gonna tell him you want this level go mmpicked he gonna simply ignore you, same as this forum got url to delete threads that everyone can type in but it will only listen to login user with specific level of access. Thats the basis of server security, don't listen to commands from everything that send you, check who doing that. I don't know why you been agueing to what i said first then XD but whatever it does not matter much anyway they got something to give mmpicks for sure whatever it is

2011-03-27 03:17:00 Author: Shadowriver Posts: 3991

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