We're off.
Kareem's on the stage. They're showing an LBP compilation video.
Things blowing up. Cars driving along. You've seen it all before.
And it's over.
Mark Healey talking now.
It's easy to assume it's a platform game. It's not. It's a creative tool.
He's talking about use empowerment.
He gets a "big buzz" from creating something and showing his friends what he's done.
It makes him "tremble with excitement".
Kareem - How can we make is versatile but cohesive?
He's talking about the creative language of childhood.
Birthday parties, etc. When you decorate the house to make it look like a jungle. His words.
Galaxies, pirate ships.
They wanted LBP to have a "handmade" look.
He's talking about inspiration from child TV shows. Things like Button Moon.
Familiarity is what they wanted.
"We wanted to invite and empower."
"The creativity in LBP is the creativity is something we all have."
The handmade look was more than a visual decision.
"LBP isn't a completely original idea." Mark's talking about the shooter construction kit, and so on.
He wanted to "take that idea and realise that the internet exists now."
Wood and cardboard, nuts an
"We wanted to avoid scary language."
Not things like "fuck".
He means things like "vertices" and "splines".
"We wanted to avoid scary language.
d bolts.
The game's a craftbox, they're saying.
They wanted a craftbox with widgets and gadgets and accessories.
"And you just open it up and make things with it."
They wanted both complete novices and people with a lot of tech knowhow to be able to get a lot from the game.
Visual diversity. "Why try to invent what is already around?"
They weren't limited to time periods. They looked at various cultures, such as Japan.
Hi-tech, pop culture, fashion, etc. Everything.
"LBP is a fusion of different world motifs and vocab."
The game shipped with seven themes.
Make the "handmade" decision early on made a lot of sense for the art team. Mark says gathering the themes was "easy".
Then they moved onto concept art.
He just showed a concept called "Frisco Car Chase".
Now Kareem's on about fantasy forests.
As you do.
"This is when the arguments began" - Mark.