The game is in stores beginning Tuesday and I have to say that we’re very proud of it. When we were first asked to make a PSP version of LittleBigPlanet, we wondered how on earth that much physics was ever going to fit onto something so much smaller, but to be honest we’ve enjoyed the challenge and now have a whole new world of LittleBigPlanet to show for it.

A world that contains thirty-eight newly created levels across seven different environments, all ready for you to play and explore – in addition to the whole Play, Create, and Share experience that’s synonymous with LBP.

The process, however, has not been without its share of hiccups. We are aware that the game is not yet available on the PlayStation Store, but we’re currently working around the clock to get this issue worked out so keep your eyes peeled for updates this week. We appreciate you bearing with us!

We’d also like to thank Media Molecule for all of their hard work in coming up with the incredible world that is LittleBigPlanet in the first place.

We’ve now added our own sprinkle of magic dust and we’re thrilled to bring LBP PSP to the fans so that they can enjoy it anytime, anywhere. To raise the excitement level even more, here’s a look at our launch trailer, as well as some of the great reviews that have hit thus far…

LittleBigPlanet (PSP) Reviews

• IGN
• Game Informer
• 1UP
• Joystiq
• Push Square
• Crave Online
• PlayStation Lifestyle
• Game Shark
• Digital Chumps
• The Sixth Axis
• Games On Smash

The new package includes everything from the original as well as seven free downloadable content packs, a PlayStation Network voucher code to download the upcoming ModNation Racers online beta AND 18 never-before-seen levels created by some extremely talented members of the community – all bonus content valued at more than $30!

So, how did these 18 consumers get to be part of a video game? Well, it wasn’t random. Our team at Media Molecule handpicked them all after viewing the exceptional levels each fan had previously posted online. Once identified, we contracted each person, with payment, of course, to create a new level that would be incorporated into the Game of the Year. So, all 18 people are now amateur video game developers for the PlayStation family.

One of these creators, David Dino, a 27 year-old Hospital Safety Coordinator from Azusa, CA, recently spoke with USAToday.com about his role in the game. Check out the interview as Dino discusses what it feels like to now be an amateur video game developer and an integral part of a major video game franchise.

Lastly, to drum up early excitement for the LittleBigPlanet Game of the Year, the new bonus levels were playable on the show floor at PAX last week. Take a look at some gameplay footage and a recap of what went down with LittleBigPlanet in Seattle during the show…

And while everyone unveils this type of news with a shiny new package front… grrrr… we wanted to be different and do the reverse…

…and spend some time on the back of the box to talk about what’s in this “Game of the Year” version:

• First off, you’ll get the full award-winning LittleBigPlanet gameplay experience, or as we like to call it “Play Create Share” – ok, that was a bit to ‘infomercially’ (sorry), but you get the idea. Everything that made LittleBigPlanet one of the biggest games on the PS3 is in there.
• Next, to give our new fans a taste of the over 1,000,000 user-generated levels available on the PlayStation Network, Media Molecule has hand-picked 18 extraordinary people to Create bonus levels specifically for the GOTY edition – complete with interviews with each creator. We loved how these levels turned out and hope you will to.

• And, for everyone looking for a great value, the GOTY edition includes 7 packs from the PlayStation Store. These packs feature tons of costumes, stickers, objects, new levels and the “Paintinator” to amplify the fun you’ll have. Once more, these are on the disc FREE (that’s nearly a $30 value)
  Content Packs* include:
• Metal Gear Solid Level Pack – featuring the “Paintinator” paintball gun
• Metal Gear Solid Costumes
• Monsters Costumes
• Monsters Pack
• History Costumes
• History Pack
• Animals Costumes

• Finally, as a peek at the next game in the “Play, Create, Share” family, a limited supply of LittleBigPlanet – Game of the Year Editions will include a special voucher code for the upcoming ModNation Racers Online Beta. This is your chance to play ModNation Racers before the game comes out in 2010. If you haven’t checked out ModNation yet, and you’re a big-time racing fan, always dreamed of creating your own track, or you’re into vinyl art – head on over to www.ModNation.com and register.

So to summarize the bonus content:

• 18 new levels made by players just like you
• 7 different content packs
• Exclusive access to the upcoming ModNation Online beta

All together, with bonus content valued at over $30, the award-winning experience and over 1,000,000 levels to play online, it’s a great offer for those that haven’t joined the LittleBigPlanet community yet…all bundled in one neat little ‘sack’.

One. Million. Levels.

Amazing, isn’t it? Just think, this means that a new level has been published roughly every 21 seconds since LittleBigPlanet launched.

If you, dear PlayStation Blog reader, are a member of the LittleBigPlanet community, then please can you give yourself a big pat on the back from everyone at Media Molecule and PlayStation. We are in awe of the creativity, effort and invention that you have all shown in making LBP such a great place to build, share and have fun together.

In case you were wondering, those million levels have been played a total of 244 million times.

The fact that you keep coming back to play, create and share makes us feel all warm and happy.

To those of you who haven’t yet tried LittleBigPlanet, let me ask you a question. What the heck are you waiting for? With over a million different levels to play … don’t you think you might be missing out? :-)

Oh, and one last thing before I’m off to play some of these great user-generated creations on PlayStation Network: check back on this blog around the 18th of August. The folks at Media Molecule might have something interesting to tell you about then…

In the meantime, the lovely people at Media Molecule made this image to celebrate the great LBP community. Enjoy! And keep those fun levels coming!

Who ya gonna call?

Greetings LBP’ers. Today on Sack it to Me, our SackBoys can walk like Egyptians. Media Molecules gives us the sweet lowdown on the recent Creator Pack, and we see how the a little fox’s struggle for an LBP Crown goes bad. Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Quest for the Crown
This LBP “Fanamation” by Sarah Miscavage shows little fox’s search for an LBP Crown will make some of you laugh. Wouldn’t be surprised if Sarah has a crown waiting for her in her future.

Creator Pack Video by Media Molecule
Some people were confused about how to access the new Creator Pack content once it was installed, so MM made a video showing the sweet in-game tutorials made for the new objects (The Infinite-Life Checkpoint tutorial is just ruthless!). Remember that Creator Pack 1 can be downloaded for FREE from the in-game store right now! Once downloaded, you can play the following levels by going to the LittleBigStore and finding the creator pack queen icon.

DLC Round-Up
If you wanted to get a blast from the past, the Egyptian Mini-Pack ($2.99) just released for all of you LittleBigPyramid builders out there with costumes and stickers based on Egyptian myth.

Don’t forget Kai, Nariko and Stickers in the Heavenly Sword Mini-Pack ($2.99).

“Hey Mark…I got Nariko already and I’m not really a into Egyptian myth ever since those “The Mummy” flicks. What do dig are characters from Norse Mythology?”

You don’t say! Well my friends, good things to come.

Great weekend to all!

As promised from this week’s Sack it to Me post, we are introducing more ways for our LBP Community to obtain the rarest of rare DLC – the Community Prize Crown. Up until now, the only time we (SCEA) offered up the Crown was as a prize for a few of our LittleBigChallenges. With our fan base becoming more and more active, we wanted to give our LBP Community members more chances to be “crowned”. Here’s how:

First off, a few notes: in order for us to contact you, you must have a PSN account in the US, and have opted-in for marketing materials (under Notification Preferences in PSN Account Management.)

#1 – A “Gold Star” on the LittleBigWorkshop
Frequently, when we’re on LittleBigWorkshop.com, every so often, we come across a submission, whether it is an inspiration, workshop or forum post that makes us smile. As a small token of our appreciation, we like to put a smile on your face too by giving you a Community Prize Crown.

#2 – Raising our Eyebrows
Every once in awhile, LBP fans do something that immediately grabs the attention of a few people, spreads on the web, and eventually is talking about it. We love it when this happens, and as a sign of thanks, you may just get a Community Prize Crown in your mail box.

#3 – LittleBigChallenges
We’re in the process of coming up with more LittleBigChallenges, so get your creative thoughts together and stay tuned next week for LittleBigChallenge2.

Now everyone has more chances to be LBP royalty! If you have posted in the past or have some cool stuff up your sleeve, don’t be surprised if you get a crown on us.

Thank you all for your continued support and contributions! Every time you share your creativity, you make the LittleBigPlanet better for everyone.

I caught up with MM’s representatives at the show just minutes after the lights went down to capture their reaction:

From left: Kenny (in the kilt!), Danny, yours truly, Siobhan, Alex.

In case you didn’t catch what Kenny was saying about drawing a blank – they were still on cloud nine having just met Hideo Kojima!

We’ll have more from the Spike 2008 VGAs later on today.