All About LBP Context Contest #2: Missing Marble!
Updated: Dec 4, 2022
Hey, sackfolk! Mark Hall is back with another special LBP Context Contest for LittleBigPlanet 3's 8th birthday. With prize crowns, rare LBP caps, and potential team picks on the line, knowing all the details is essential. Let's get you up to speed on this second LBP Context Contest, 'Missing Marble', so you can get creating!
Fast Facts
The context contest begins today, November 18th, 2022.
Submissions close on February 1st, 2023.
The contest is organized by Mark Hall and not by the official LittleBigPlanet team.
Mark Hall is Principal Level Designer at Sumo Digital.
The contest takes place on LittleBigPlanet 3 PS4/PS5 via the official servers run by Sony.
You must include the hashtag #LBPCC2 in your submission to be considered.
Winners will have a chance to receive rare prize crowns, LBP caps, and a potential team pick!
What is LBP Context Contest #2: Missing Marble?
This contest is a unique one compared to other level creation contests run in the past. Instead of creating a whole new level, creators are encouraged to modify an existing template level by dressing it up with a new theme. Creators who create the best 'context' for the level are the winners!
The Context Contest series is run by Mark Hall, Principal Level Designer at Sumo Digital, the company that led the way in creating LittleBigPlanet 3 and Sackboy: A Big Adventure! Although Mark Hall works for Sumo Digital, the contest itself is run by him personally, and is not officially sponsored by the official LittleBigPlanet team.
However, there's no denying that the official LBP team has their eyes on the contest. Rare prize crowns and caps are up for grabs, and team picks may also be available for winners. These rewards mean that LBP Community Manager Steven Isbell is working alongside Mark Hall to make this contest a success.
Contest Theme: Swoop's Missing Marble
The general theme of the contest surrounds an unusual fact about LittleBigPlanet 3's story mode. In the story, Sackthing must find the missing marbles of each of his comrades, Oddsock, Toggle, and Swoop. Oddsock and Toggle both have three marbles to track down, while Swoop only has one.
SWhere is the third marble, you might ask? Well, Mark Hall decided that it should be you who decides! The blockout level Mark has created features gameplay where Sackthing tracks down that missing marble. The only thing left is for you to decorate the environment to add some meaning to it!
Unique Game Mechanic: Gravity Zones
LBP Context Contest #2: Missing Marble features a unique gameplay mechanic that's similar to the original mechanic introduced in the first contest. This gameplay mechanic involves gravity zones which disable gravity so long as Sackthing remains inside them.
This concept isn't new. In fact, it's been previously seen in TheRealEpicPro's LBP Reconnected submission, Gravity Rush, which you can learn more about at our Reconnected results post.
Creators are encouraged to dress up these zones and the environment around them. They can also move gameplay pieces around too so long as it fits well with the original gameplay theme.
Guidelines!
Here are some guidelines that you'll need to know to participate in LBP Context Contest #2. Mark Hall provided these instructions in create mode inside the blockout level:
[You can add] all the materials, decorations, and stickers to [the template] OR you can start from scratch and make your own!
...more points will be awarded for creators that consider Bunkum Lagoon and its inspirations when choosing their new theme.
Judging will be done primarily on how well you realize the new location so you don't have to change anything about the level design if you don't want to. Please feel free to make changes though if you wish.
In its current iteration, the level can be beaten in a single score combo. Rem