Update: Sony's official PlayStation Blog has confirmed that all levels created in the online beta will make the jump to the retail release.

Original Story: Hot off the news that LittleBigPlanet 2 is in the works, the first one has finally gone online, allowing players to play together online and share user-created levels.

After the customizable platformer's last-minute delay, players who sprung for the early Qur'an Edition of the game--featuring the later-censored stylings of Malian songwriter Toumani Diabate--inserted the disc only to find that Sony had pushed back the game's server launch until its official release, which is this week.

With the servers online, players can now join LittleBigPlanet's online community, often touted as the selling point for Media Molecule's PlayStation 3 exclusive. Shacknews has discovered that a great variety of levels are already available for download, including recreations of levels from gaming classics Super Mario Bros. and God of War, and even the not-yet-released Mirror's Edge.

Shacknews reminds aspiring creators to move past the religious "outcry" that delayed the game and make things that put smiles on the faces of Sackboys and Sackgirls everywhere.

Media Molecule has already begun crafting a sequel to its long-awaited PlayStation 3 platformer LittleBigPlanet, which makes its official retail debut in the US this week.

Speaking with BBC News, the studio confirmed that a sequel is in development for the game, which allows players to make their own levels and share them online.

Beyond the sequel, Media Molecule and publisher Sony are investigating various spin-offs, such as LittleBigPlanet-branded comics, cartoons, and action figures.

In addition, technical director Alex Evans noted that some of the user-created levels seen in the recent beta--all of which will be available for download when the servers switch on--were better and harder than some of those made internally by the team.

With many lamenting the one-week delay of LittleBigPlanet, caused by the inclusion of a song containing verses from the Islamic holy book Qur'an, former Sony Worldwide Studios president Phil Harrison believes the recall was the right move.

"It was absolutely the right thing to do, because LittleBigPlanet set out from day one to be a game for the entire world," Harrison, now the president of Atari, told GamesIndustry. "If there was anything that accidentally detracted from that vision and made the game not fun for the entire world, then the game would... Read more

Toumani Diabate, the Malian songwriter whose Qur'an-referencing song sparked a worldwide recall of Media Molecule's LittleBigPlanet (PS3), has spoken in humble defense of his song.

Diabate, himself a devout Muslim, explained simply that the song his "way to attract and inspire people toward Islam" according to MTV Multiplayer. "It is quite normal to play music and be inspired by the words of the Prophet Mohammed (Peace on his Soul) in my country in Mali," he explained. "You can see this on television all the time," he added.

Unlike the Mohammed cartoon controversy of 2005, when images of the prophet were drawn against the explicit rules of the religion, music borrowing lines from the Qur'an does not break a rule but could be construed as offensive by certain interpretations.

"The idea of a prohibition that there shouldn't be verses of the Koran, in music... that's an implied or interpreted rule," said Dilshad Ali, a Muslim editor for religion site BeliefNet. Ali added that the Queen classic "Bohemian Rhapsody" included a word from the Qur'an and didn't cause any backlash.

A statement from Diabate's record label explains the meaning of the song along with the context for the two lines from the Qur'an. Reproduced from Multiplayer is the statement in full... Read more

M. Zuhdi Jasser, M.D., president of the non-profit American Islamic Forum for Democracy, has joined the controversy surrounding the recall and delay of Media Molecule's LittleBigPlanet (PS3) based on a song containing two lines from the Qur'an.

"Muslims cannot benefit from freedom of expression and religion and then turn around and ask that anytime their sensibilities are offended that the freedom of others be restricted," Jasser said to Edge.

Living up to his organization's name, Jasser put the issue in terms of the quintessentially American free market and freedoms of expression and religion... Read more

With a few copies slipping through the cracks of Sony's worldwide recall of Media Molecule's LittleBigPlanet (PS3), the inevitable has happened: they're for sale on eBay.

Copies of the customizable platformer, complete with little bits of the Qur'an in background music, are "being offered on eBay for as much as $249," writes GamesIndustry.

Indeed, a few copies are coming with a "Buy It Now" price of $250 from would-be "entrepreneurs" looking to make a killing from a six-day delay that came as the result of the recall from retail stock rooms. The game was set to release tomorrow but instead arrives the week of October 27.

Most copies being auctioned off, however, appear to be going for approximately $100 at the time of writing.

Facing religious outcry due to the use of Qur'an verses in one of the game's songs, the North American release of LittleBigPlanet will now arrive the week of October 27.

Developed by Media Molecule, the physics-based PlayStation 3-exclusive platformer was originally slated to hit North American store shelves next Tuesday, October 21.

"Sorry for the delay, and rest assured, we are doing everything we can to get LittleBigPlanet to you as soon as possible," Patrick Seybold, a representative from publisher Sony Computer Entertainment America, wrote on the PlayStation.Blog.

The song in question--"Tapha Niang" from Grammy award-winning artist Toumani Diabate--contains two verses from the Islamic holy text Qur'an. The tune was released in 2006 and has not generated any controversy until now, according to Joystiq.

Developer Media Molecule was ready to resolve the issue with a day-one patch, but noted that publisher Sony decided the "right thing to do for quality and support of people with no on-line was to replace existing disks."

Update 2: Sony has announced that LittleBigPlanet will now ship the week of October 27 in North America, with more details having surfaced on the song in question.

Update: LittleBigPlanet developer Media Molecule has revealed via its official site that a day-one patch was just completed and would have removed the offensive material.

However, publisher Sony decided that the "right thing to do for quality and support of people with no on-line was to replace existing disks." The company has yet to issue a new release date for the anticipated PlayStation 3 platforming game.

Original Story: Media Molecule's highly anticipated LittleBigPlanet (PS3) is facing a delay and recall from retailers--just a few days shy of release--after being finished nearly a month ago. CVG obtained this statement from Sony's European branch:

During the review process prior to the release of LittleBigPlanet, it has been brought to our attention that one of the background music tracks licensed from a record label for use in the game contains two expressions that can be found in the Qur'an. We have taken immediate action to rectify this and we sincerely apologise for any offence that this may have caused.

Eurogamer has confirmed that the delay is worldwide. Further... Read more

It's a good day on LittleBigPlanet as the game picked up Sackboy versions of video game icons Solid Snake and Sephiroth as well as confirmation that levels made in the ongoing beta will be playable after the game's October 21 release.

As shown in the screenshots above, Metal Gear Solid 4 hero Old Snake joins Final Fantasy VII villain Sephiroth in transmogrification into LittleBigPlanet's iconic Sackboy characters.

"To be involved with [Metal Gear Solid] is... slightly bizarre. When we were looking at what options as a studio we'd have to work with, they were under the 'yeah, right!' category of games," said Alex Evans, co-founder of developer Media Molecule on the PlayStation Blog.

Evans also let slip to 1UP that levels made in the game's somewhat open beta will survive into the final retail release of the PS3-exclusive, roll-your-own platformer. In so doing, he put to rest lingering confusion surrounding the state of the game's already impressive array of levels and digital miscellany.

The mad scramble for LittleBigPlanet beta keys may be at a temporary end, as publisher Sony has provided USA Today with a whopping 15,000 beta codes.

For your chance to play Media Molecule's physics-based PlayStation 3 platformer in advance of its October 21 release, simply hit up the USA Today web site, click on the "Do you want to test drive the game?" button, and follow the instructions.

"First come, first served," the publication warns.

In a remarkable bit of honesty, Media Molecule co-founder Mark Healey has admitted his company hasn't gotten the controls for LittleBigPlanet entirely right just yet. Speaking to Eurogamer, Healey admits that "The Z [axis] movement is an incredibly hard thing for us to get right. There's times when it annoys me actually, but we can work on that if we want."

According to Healey, getting the controls right is partly difficult "because we wanted to cater for my mother and someone that's a hardcore player."

The PlayStation 3-exclusive platformer ships October 21 -- leaving no time for improvements before release, but Media Molecule will be patching the game.

"There's definitely room for improvement and we've got the channel to be able to do that" Healey added. "I'd really love to be able to do backflips and all kinds of things with my Sackboy, and there's no reason why we can't add that and refine that."

Publisher Sony has unleashed a new nature documentary, or trailer, showing off the world of LittleBigPlanet (it's small), its inhabitants (the Sackpeople), and a heavily accented man explaining what happens when a Sackboy dies ("Epic Fail"). Also, two Sackpeople are shown "making love."

Developed by Media Molecule, the PlayStation 3-exclusive, build-your-own-level platformer hits stores on October 21.

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Media Molecule's LittleBigPlanet might be getting a LittleBitAmbitious, as a pair of hints point the way to a PSP version in the future.

"There's definitely scope for a PSP version," said Media Molecule co-founder Mark Healy to Eurogamer TV in an interview being aired next week. "We've had discussions and talks, [but] nothing concrete at the moment."

Healy let slip a few ideas he has for the game--if it were to be made. "It'd be great to make, for the people who are really into the Create side, some kind of companion products that allow you to create things while you're on the train," he mused. "One thing that I'd love to add is the ability to create your own music, for example, that you can import into the game. That seems like an obvious one to do and it'd be quite easy really."

Healy added that such a version would be handled outside Media Molecule "because we're very keen to keep this very tight core of people."

Conspiracy theorists, then, would get a kick out of a Sony job listing for a pair of PSP programmers "to work on the development of exciting new LittleBigPlanet projects." Sony publishes the customizable platformer, which is due out for PlayStation 3 on October 21.

Prior to working with Sony on the physics-based platformer LittleBigPlanet (PS3), developer Media Molecule has revealed that it was working on a game described "more Portally than Portal" and "Portal, but with scale factor."

The company even met with Valve, which suggested the two work on the game together.

"We were very tempted," studio co-founder Alex Evans told Kikizo. "But in the end we decided to talk to Sony and they just got the game at the beginning."

Media Molecule had previously worked with Valve for the Steam release of its physics-driven action game Rag Doll Kung Fu.

Developed internally at Valve, Portal (PC, PS3, 360) and its wit-driven take on puzzle-action shooting was released last fall to critical acclaim. It was inspired by the 2005 independent game Narbacular Drop, the creators of which are now at Valve.

LittleBigPlanet, originally unveiled in early 2007 as part of Sony's Game Developers Conference presentation, is slated arrive on October 21 as a PS3 exclusive.

Update: The report below contradicts Sony's official PlayStation Blog, which says that "levels created here will be available for consumers at launch of the full title."

Both the Sony report and Little Big Madness's interview were posted today. Shacknews is investigating the matter.

Original Story: LittleBigPlanet, the customizable platformer from MediaMolecule sporting 10,000 beta users and over 1,000 user-created levels, will lose all the levels made during the beta process and the full retail release of the game will start from a clean slate.

"Everything is lost!" cried fan site Little Big Madness after interviewing producer Leo Cubbin. Cubbin suggested that some of the best levels may be converted over into the retail release of the game, but--in the words of the site--"they can't convert everything."

LittleBigPlanet will hit stores--sans levels created in beta--October 21 exclusively on PlayStation 3. Until then, users looking to create a masterpiece may want to stick to planning on paper.

Media Molecule's just-gone-gold customizable PlayStation 3 platformer LittleBigPlanet has suffered a LittleBit of a setback: the ability to work together online to make new levels has been pushed back to the game's first major update, due sometime after the game's October 21 launch.

"The ability to create with your friends online will come as part of the first major update after the game is released," reads a post by developer Sam_Protagonist on the official PlayStation forums. "Offline creating with up to 4 people on one PlayStation 3, however, is available right from the get go," he added.

Sam_Protagonist stressed that all other online and multiplayer features of the game are still present. Players can still play the game as a team online, share created levels online, and download levels made by other users.

As the developer pointed out, "[the delay] might actually be beneficial to creators ... as you'll be able to work out the tools entirely, and figure out how best to work with others."

LittleBigPlanet, Media Molecule's PlayStation 3 customizable platformer, is off to production and will land on North American store shelves on October 21. Europe will be just a few days later but falling in the same week.

Quoth the official PlayStation Blog: "We've received great news from Media Molecule--the game code has gone 'GOLD' and we've started manufacturing the PS3 cases, manuals and most importantly Blu-ray discs. Meaning, LittleBigPlanet will hit stores in North & Latin America on October 21 (with Europe releasing the same week)."

In celebration of the highly anticipated game, there will be a pair of free bonus downloads available for the first week after the game's release. "LBP fans everywhere will be able to download a free, limited edition Spacesuit costume for your SackBoy" in addition to "a rare 'I was there Week One' t-shirt" for the game's sack-inspired protagonist.

With Media Molecule's PlayStation 3 platformer LittleBigPlanet due out this October, publisher Sony hired a crew to document the lives of the game-starring Sockboys.

This is their story.

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The level editor in MediaMolecule's upcoming customizable PS3 platformer LittleBigPlanet could net talented creators more than internet fame--it could land them a paying job.

Speaking to CVG, producer Pete Smith said that the team at MediaMolecule plans to closely watch the game's oft-touted user-created level marketplace for talented Little Big auteurs. "We will be aware of who those awesome designers are and certainly there's the potential to get them building levels as part of [our] team," he said.

Smith mentioned two possibilities for the designers who rise to the cream of the crop. "[We could] get the top ten guys and commission them to make some amazing stuff for us," he offered. Or a lucky creator could skip that process and become a real-deal game designer: "It'll be a great way for us to recruit great new designers."

Aspiring designers have just under two months to polish their resumes and their skills, as LittleBigPlanet releases in late October.

The latest LittlBigPlanet trailer highlights the player-aided construction of the monstrous Sackzilla, while new renders and artwork show SockBoy running the emotional gamut.

Developed by Media Molecule, the creation-driven PS3 platformer debuts in October.

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