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Level Creation Guide has been marked for a cleanup.

Level Creation Guide is marked for a cleanup to be consistent with the wiki's quality standards.
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Creating Levels is easy, but first you must understand how the tools are used in order to take advantage of them. Having a complete understanding of what you can do will considerably reduce the time you spend creating what you want. This page will help you creat levels in LittleBigPlanet and provide you with some helpful tips. General information about goodies and tools are in separate articles.

Before we begin creating things, we have to understand what we have. After accessing My Moon and selecting an empty crater you will have either a blank level or a level generated from a template. You can also set a background (without having to use a template) in the Tools section of the Popit Menu in Create Mode.


Thermometer

The Thermometer, found at the left side of the screen in Create Mode, is the indicator of how many objects you have in your level. It's a good idea to have a look at your thermometer periodically. It fills up a little whenever you add new types of objects or stickers, and when it's full you won't be able to add any more. You might want to place decorations last, since they are not needed for a playable level.

The thermometer doesn't fill up as quickly as it may appear, so don't worry if it's a quarter full after you place only a couple objects. It only counts the number of different objects, not all the objects in your level. When you add a new type of object it loads in and fills the thermometer a bit, but placing the same object again, no matter how many times, won't increase the thermometer any more.

The following tips will help you avoid filling the thermometer:

  • Tip One: Before you create your level, think about what materials you are going to use. Choose 5 or 6 main materials (different textures count as different materials) and limit yourself to using mostly just those materials. If you do this, and combine your materials creatively, you will be able to make a big and complex level that fills only about 3 grades in your thermometer.
  • Tip Two: Avoid using too many pre-made objects, like the ones you found in Story Mode. These objects are complex, and will fill about one half to one full grade of your thermometer bar. Unless the premade object is important, don't add it! Wait until your level is done and see if you have room for it then.
  • Tip Three: Try to make your level's landscape and structure first (just materials). It will make it easier to add traps, decorations, and complex things later. You will feel better making your level as it seems that you have your level almost complete instead of only a little part, and you probably won't struggle as much against gravitational problems.
  • Tip Four: Whenever you feel you want to add a new decorative object, place it and watch how much of the thermometer it fills up. If you're not sure you can afford it, just leave it until later. You can also simplify the object if it's vital to the level. For example, a small service elevator will work just as well as a huge, towering, fancy lift.
  • Tip Five: Like objects, each new sticker or decoration fills a bit of the thermometer. Stickers only fill about a quarter of one grade. You might want to plan out which stickers to use first, but generally you should just leave them until last since they're not really necessary for your level.

Follow all these tips and you will have room to do the level you want, even a complex one! Remember that you don't have to fill the thermometer bar. It refers to memory loaded, so if you fill it too much, loading your level takes longer for other users. Just because a level's thermometer is only a quarter full doesn't mean it's a bad level!

Level Size & Grid

Surely, before creating, you'll have tons of ideas on how to make your level, so it's helpful to know how big the level really is. Also, you may want to place straight walls and floors without drawing free-hand shapes. So, here's the good news:

  • First of all, there IS a grid. And not only that, but it's available in three convenient sizes. When using the grid, shapes and objects will snap to the grid lines. However, don't expect to be able to separate two objects very slightly, make really thin or small things, or center objects - for these types of things you must turn the grid off. Most good designers frequently turn the grid on and off.
  • Secondly, don't worry about the size! The level scenario is what we call BIG. You may never use even a quarter of it. So be ready to blow your imagination, just remember that big levels take time not only to build but to play, so don't get set on building a long difficult level. It'll only result in a headache trying to finish it.

If you want exact numbers for the grid sizes, they are listed below. The medium grid size is twice the height and width of the small grid (2x2), and the large grid is four times the size of the small grid (4x4).

Grid Size Height Width
Small 768 1575
Medium 384 787
Large 192 393

If you really wanted to place this in another perspective, Sackboy is about 4 small grid units tall. The documentary video says Sackboy is 8cm high, which means the levels are 1536cm high by 3150cm wide, or 154m high by 315m wide (505ft high by 1033ft wide).

To activate/deactivate the grid or change grid size, simply press the START button and move your cursor to the top; there you will find the four options (no grid, small, medium, large), and press X to select the desired one.

Happy building!

Using Materials

Materials are a fundamental part of your level. Without materials, your level would just be a bunch of things lying on the ground. Materials aren't limited to making just landscapes however, they can also be used to make your own objects, traps, creatures, and vehicles.

The Materials

There are some basic materials in LittleBigPlanet you have to understand, each one with different properties. The other materials you find have the same properties as their matching basic material (for example, the 'Wooden Struts' material has the same properties as the 'Wood' material); most of these other materials are found in prize bubbles on your journey through LittleBigPlanet.

Think of Sackboy as a normal weighted material, that can be grabbed, exploded and crushed.

Image Name Weight Able to grab Able to explode Able to crush Extra notes
Cardboard Cardboard Very light No Yes Yes Used as standard for placing trigger Stickers
Glass Glass Medium No No No Slippery, almost transparent - Glass objects placed behind other glass objects are completely invisible regardless of the color of the glass.
Metal Metal Very Heavy No No No Easy to crush things with it
Polystyrene Polystyrene Very light Yes Yes Yes Due to properties, easy to carry things on
Rubber Rubber Normal No No No High traction, good for wheels
Sponge Sponge Light Yes Yes Yes Easily crushed, rounded borders. Normally used for Grab Switches and swings
Stone Stone Heavy No No No Basic for building landscape and solid structures
Wood Wood Normal No No Yes Basic building material, doesn't reflect much light in darkness
Dissolve Dissolve Light Yes Yes Yes Like Polystyrene. Dissolves when triggered by a switch.
Dark Matter Dark Matter Stationary No No No Unmovable; defies the laws of gravity (stays in air and cannot be pushed) - Rounded edges. Very useful for those who desire their platforms floating in mid-air, without having to worry for the building to fall or tip onto the ground.
Peach Floaty Peach Floaty Lighter than air Yes Yes Yes Like Sponge. When left alone, it floats away, so must be tethered.
Pink Floaty Pink Floaty Light as air Yes Yes Yes Like Sponge. Has the same weight as air, so it floats in place. However, it can be pulled down and moved.


Placing Materials

Now that you understand the materials' properties, you will want to use them. To select them, open the Popit Menu with Square, select Goodies Bag with X and in the first page you will find the Materials section. In this section you can select from all the materials you have found. Pick the one you want with X.

After selecting the material, you must choose a shape, which is your brush shape for making objects. Once selected, you will have a material in the shape you chose; you can rotate it, change its size, or flip it with the right stick, and use L1 and L2 to change the plane in which you want to place it, just the same way as you will do with stickers and objects.

You can also set the material's thickness with R1 and R2, to anything from a thin layer to a 3 plane block. Thin layers can be positioned in 4 different planes, but blocks only on 3.

When you are done with shape and placement of your material, place it with X. You can hold X to "paint" with the material and draw bigger, more complex shapes.

To delete materials, follow all the previous steps, but instead of X use Triangle to delete whatever is under your brush. Your current selected material doesn't matter when deleting. Remember that if you erase a material that is thicker than the shape you used, then you will erase it in all the planes, not only the thickness of your material.

Glue

Once you begin placing materials you will want to glue them together in order to manage them as a same object, or avoiding things to collapse.

Glue is a function of your Popit Cursor, not a tool. Glue creates a solid connection between two objects or an object and the floor. To use Glue, select an object with the Popit Cursor and move it where you would like to place it, either against another object or on the floor; hold the direction to where you want to place it (it can be L1 and L2 too if connecting inter-planar objects) and be sure the object you want to glue it to glows green. Then hold down X; you will hear a "clitch" sound. Then when the Popit Cursor detaches from the object, the glue is set.

To separate the glued objects, select one with your Popit Cursor and tap Triangle. Tap Triangle again to delete the selected object. To delete an object along with all the others glued to it, press and hold Triangle.

There is another way of attaching materials. When you paint a material over another in the same plane, then they will glue automatically. To make you notice this, the other material will glow green indicating that it was modified.

Helpful Hints

  • Glue only when necessary - if you glue everything your level may cause odd errors in the editor including a complete collapse.
  • Glue often affects adjacent objects such as wheels - choose your glue order carefully.
  • For your creatures, only attached objects are destroyed when the brain is collected
  • There are alternatives to gluing
  • Bolts connect items on different planes - using two non-moving bolts is effectively the same as gluing
  • String, Rubber Bands, Pistons, and Chains connect items in the same plane

Making the Landscape

The following are various tips on how to build some of the basic things in your level. As you advance in the guide, more complex things will be shown.


Creating gaps

Once you have created an elevated walkway, you can create gaps as minor obstacles. To create a gap, choose any material out of the Goodies Bag and select the shape you wish your gap to be. Use Triangle to cut the shape out of your walkway. This technique can also be used to create decorative features within the walkway.


Creating tunnels

Tunneling allows you to cut out shapes and walkways from one material using another. Try making a large block, three layers deep, out of Basic Metal. Then choose Basic Glass from your materials and select the square shape. Adjust the size to something slightly larger than your sackperson and set it to the back-most plane. Next, ensure your glass is only one plane deep. Starting from the base of the metal structure, stamp down your glass and move it across the bottom of the metal block. This should result in the formation of a tunnel running through the base of the metal. As the new material was painted over the other, then they will be glued automatically.

You may also do the opposite, first place the background and then select a thicker material to overlay with the background. Paint above and below it to do your tunnel and it will be instantly glued.

You can also use thin layers to make three-layer deep tunnels, or to cover your tunnel! Just don't do a big closed labyrinth or it will become frustrating, unless you are creative enough to mark the correct path in some way. You could use the arrow stickers to give users an idea of which way they should go.

Creating Simple Platforms

Platforms are a big part of many LBP levels. Here are a few different ways to make them:

  • Build a large wall of one or two layers deep, then use another material of at least two layers deep and place it partially inside the large wall, leaving at least one layer outside of it. This will instantly glue the platform to the wall.
  • Using a large wall of any depth fewer than three, create your platforms next to the wall and glue them on. This takes longer than the previous method but gives you more control over the platforms.
  • Glue your platforms on top of pillars. This may take longer but it can look better, and it opens possibilities for your platform and background.
  • Make small blocks of Dark Matter where you want your platforms, but on the layer behind, then place your platforms on the layer in front and glue them to the Dark Matter. This will result in floating platforms. Alternately you can just create your platforms then stick a tiny piece of Dark Matter inside each one (though this leaves the Dark Matter visible).
  • Place your platforms in mid-air, then use strings or other connector gadgets (explained later) to hang them from the ceiling or from other objects. This lets you easily add mobility to your platforms and may be more eye-catching than other kinds of platform.

For all platforms that involve gluing you may alternatively use bolts, explained later in this guide.


Creating Rocking Walkways

Select Basic Cardboard and choose the teardrop shape. If you have yet to earn the teardrop, you can create it using the circle and triangle shapes. Turn the teardrop on its side and adjust its depth to one layer. Make its size roughly three times taller than your Sackperson at its highest point, and stamp it down. Return to the shape selection window and select the triangle. Increase its size and rotate it to cover the top arc of the teardrop you just placed. Tap Triangle to delete the covered section. Next, select Basic Sponge from the Materials window and set its shape to circle. Make the circle roughly the size of your Sackperson's head, and line the top of the teardrop as well as the top lip.

Alternatively, you can use a Sprung Bolt to attach a platform to a wall. Tweak its strength until it moves slightly when stood on. The platform should rock a little when weight is put on either side, but it won't just collapse and hang vertically like what may happen if you use a regular bolt.

Also, you could use a Wobble Bolt to attatch your platforms to walls or thin blobs of Dark Matter, and start it horizontally. Set the Rotation to 180 degrees, and put a reasonable time to run across depending on platform length. If done right, the platform will spin round after a while, and then spin back, making platforms that potentially throw players off if they dawdle too long.

Tools Bag

The items in the Tools Bag allow you to hold objects together and add diverse mechanical doodads. There are six sections in the Tools Bag: Tools, Gadgets, Gameplay Kits, Audio Objects, Backgrounds, and Global Controls. Frequently you will start selecting a Background, as it establishes the theme of your level.

Tool objects come with a Tweak Menu, such menu is the one that lets you configure the tool you are selecting or about to place. First of all lets understand it.

Tweak Menu

Tweak Menu is a menu that can be opened when managing or selecting a tool object using the Square button. You may also pop this menu after placing the object and holding the X button; with this method you won't have to go back to the Popit Cursor in order to configure your new object.

In Tweak Menu you will find a variety of options that go along with the object you want to configure, so for connectors you will find configurations such as length and strength; for switches you will find trigger ranges and action on trigger; for audio objects the kind of sounds and triggers; and the such. This means that each object has a different Tweak Menu and it is important to know what each thing means, details can be found in the Tools Bag main article.

Tools

The first window of the Tools Bag has several unique tools. It also brings together many of the Function tools from other Popit windows in one place. This menu's unique tools include the danger tools you've collected as well as the Corner Editor. Consider that all the lethalized objects will glow so they are visible in the dark.


Corner Editor

All objects which are made from the basic materials have corners. Yes, even the circles are made from several corners with subtle angles. You can use the Corner Editor to make fine adjustments to your shapes, or to clean them up if they have become over complicated.

To use the Corner Editor, select the tool and select the object that you wish to modify. As you move the cursor around the object you will hear a distinct "Tink" and the cursor will glow as you pass over each corner. You may modify the shape in the following ways:

  • Move a Corner: Select the corner with the X button. Move the corner with the left stick. Press the X button to release the corner in its new location.
  • Delete a Corner: While hovering over a corner, press the Triangle button to instantly delete it. The object will connect the corners to either side with a straight line.
  • Add a Corner: While against the side of the object, but not over a corner, press the X button to add a new corner to the shape. The new corner will be selected and positionable until you press the X button again.


Some notes to keep in mind:

  • Corners cannot intersect other shapes: While adding and/or moving corners, you cannot intrude on objects adjacent to the one you are modifying.
  • Compound shapes cannot be modified: If you have an object which has another object embedded within it, you cannot move any of the corners. In order to change it, you will need to remove the embedded object and/or unglue it prior to selecting the Corner Tool.
  • Shapes must have a minimum of three corners: If you remove a corner on a three sided object, the entire object will disappear.
  • Corners cannot touch: If, while moving a corner, you move on top of an adjacent corner, your selected corner will be deleted.
  • Unneceessary corners are removed: Similarly, if you move a corner to be in a direct line with two other corners (in other words, not needed to change the shape) it will be removed.

Flame tool

Lethalize your material objects with fire. Fire is cool and brightens the scene a little. Although it may not be evident, materials hold their properties after lethalizing them with fire. You may use fire for different things:

  • Dangerous: Use it to kill a SackPerson. You may lethalize the entire floor, or do avalanches of fire rocks. You may also project fiery objects with help of emitters. Use your imagination.
  • Warnings: Fire is lethal, but can be used as a warning too, based on the fact that Sackboy needs two consecutive contacts with fire to die. So use it in a wall or in some place a Sackboy in a hurry will frequently make contact with, or simply to avoid them to be near.
  • Obstacles: Sometimes you will want dangerous but not so lethal obstacles. Fire is perfect for that as it doesn't represent an instant kill.
  • Decoration: Although Flame is a lethalizing tool, you may use it simply for decorating torches, walls, or a variety of other objects. It will give your level a nice effect.
  • Creative uses: Whenever a Sackboy touches fire he will jump away from it. You may take advantage of that in your level to make Sackboys reach certain places necessary by touching the fire, but almost all times this will require a certain Sackboy velocity to reach the wanted place.

Electric Tool

Lethalize your materials with electricity, which is an instant kill. Unlike fire, electricity doesn't give you a second chance to survive, so that makes your electrified objects pretty dangerous. That leaves electric tool with only two main uses:

  • Kill: Useful for instant kills such as lethal traps and monsters. Similar to fire, you may also spawn hazards with emitters.
  • Decorate: You may decorate the same way as with fire, but Electric Tool has the unique property that it lets you lethalize thin layers, so with it you can decorate in the planes that you may use either as background or foreground.

Lethal Gas Tool

Lethalize your materials with Lethal Gas; or better said, convert them into Lethal Gas. As it names says, the material will be truly lethal. Lethal Gas is pretty unique so there are some things you should know:

  • Whenever you apply this tool to your materials they will lose all their other properties.
  • Other objects can be placed in or moved through gas.
  • Gas stays where you place it, so to make it move or fall you have to attach it to another object.
  • You can configure gas colors. To do so, select the Lethal Gas Tool, then press Square to open the Tweak Menu, and select the desired color.

Gadgets

Moving to the next window in your Tools Bag brings you to the Gadgets section. These are the elements that hold objects together and add action to objects. Gadgets are maybe the second most used section when creating your level.

Gadgets divide into several subsections depending on their use.


Basic Connectors


Connectors are the first Gadget subsection; it contains all the object tools to connect two objects together in a variety of ways, with different properties, and with automated or manual movement.

There are two main classes of connectors: one-point and two-point based. One-point refers to bolts that can only connect objects that are on the same point and on different layers. With two-point connectors you can select both ends and connect virtualy any two objects together, or the same in strange cases.

At the end of this section we will mention some examples of things you can do with connectors.


Bolts

If you want to make something with moving parts, then you'll want to use Bolts. Bolts allow you to join one item to another and can help you do anything from make a teeter-totter to attach a branch to a tree.

You can use a bolt to connect objects, instead of glue.

The tweak feature that becomes more important with bolts is the strength, because it establishes the easiness of the movement between the connection; in other words, at high strength the objects will be almost glued, with medium strength it will require some hits or weight to move, and with low or none strength the object will oppose no resistance to movement. Remember that all these features can be configured gradually and not by scales.

Motor Bolt

Just like bolts, but motors provide automated or triggered movement in a continuous circle. As you may suppose, motors are frequently used to make connections between a wheel or rounded material and something else.

As with bolts, strength is important, but you will surely pay more attention to Speed! Try not to use motors just for wheels and vehicles but for obstacles, traps, bands, and other creative things.


String

String is the basic two-point connector. It allows you to tie two objects together. To attach String, first select it from the Popit Menu and attach it with X to one of the objects you want to connect (preferably a support beam); you will be able to select from which point specifically on the shape's face you want the connection. Then, pull the other end of the String to the second object and tap X once more.

String results as a rope, so its length is the maximum and the minimum length, and the attached objects can move all around as far as the String permits.

A good use is to have some sponges hanging from the ceiling to make swings.


Rods

Rods work much like String and are good for connecting objects together. However, unlike String, once you set a Rod's length, it cannot bunch or stretch; think of Rod as a tube or stick. However the two ends will still be movable, good for hanging swinging platforms.

In this connector you will find the tweak feature "Is It Stiff?". When switched on, the selected Rod is set to its anchor without any pivot in its hinges; in other words, the connection will be solid and no movement will exist in it.

Basic Connectors Examples

Swing

To create a swing, select Basic Wood to form the stand for a sponge. Construct a small base, column, and support bar. All can be achieved with the square shape. First, construct a small base, and then narrow the size of your square and drag the wood upward from the center of the base to create your column. Lastly, when the column is of a sufficient height, increase the wood’s depth and stamp it down to create the support beam. Return to the Materials window and select Basic Sponge. Choose the circle shape and place it midway up the column on the layer beneath your support beam. Exit out to the main Popit menu and scroll down to your Tools Bag, select String, and attach one end to the sponge and the other to the support beam.


There's a lot more to connectors than just basic Bolts, Strings, and Rods.

Adjustment Type Adjustment Name Effect
Basic Settings Set Angle (Bolt) Set Bolt's resting position angle. Toggle between 0° and 360°.
Set Speed (Bolt) Controls the speed of a Bolt's action.Toggle between 0.0 and 12.0.
Set Number of Turns (Bolt) Controls the number of Revolutions a Bolt turns before resetting.
Set Maximum Length (Winch and Piston) Set connector's maximum length.
Set Minimum Length (Winch and Piston) Set connector's minimum length.
Timing Set Time Taken Set the amount of time it takes a connector to complete its action.
Set Pause Interval Set the amount of time before a connector repeats action.
Set Movement Phase Set to synchronize the movement of all the mechanized, motorized, and winchized objects in your level.
Direction (Bolt) Clockwise/Counter-Clockwise Set direction of a Bolt’s movement.
Is it Stiff? Yes/No Determines whether connecting angle is solid or loose.
Flipper Motion (Winch and Piston) Off/In/Out Establishes direction of motor force.


Sprung Bolt

A Sprung Bolt works like a normal Bolt, but adds a little bounce. Create a basic seesaw, but this time use a Sprung Bolt. Open the Tweak menu and adjust the resting angle. The orange marker in the center of the Bolt represents the new resting angle. The strength setting determines just how much spring is in your Sprung Bolt.

Elastic

Elastic works just like String, though like it's name suggests, it's elastic. This connector can be bunched up shorter than its length setting and also stretched out further. How stretchy it is depends on its strength setting. The stronger you make your Elastic, the less it can be stretched.

Spring

Similar to Elastic, Spring behaves just like Rod but obviously, springy. As with the Rod, you may also make a Spring stiff.

Understanding Strength

It is important to understand the effect of a strength setting for your stretching connectors. When set to 0.0, your connector has no elasticity and provides no resistance. If set to 10.0, your connector behaves almost identically to its non-stretchy counterparts such as String or Rod.

Length

When adjusting stretchy connectors, their length is displayed with a white and orange line. White identifies the actual length of the connector, whereas orange shows how much it is being stretched. These start at the end that was placed first and extend away from that point.

Winch

The Winch is another example of String like connectors, but the difference here is this tool has been mechanized. Use a Winch to replace the Spring connector on your swing and pull up its Tweak Menu. Winches have two length options under basic settings: Maximum Length and Minimum Length. The three green marks on your Winch represent its movement based on these length settings. The first green marker, paired with the orange marker, identifies the Winch’s base. The center green marker shows its Minimum Length and the last marker displays Maximum Length. As always, your strength setting determines the integrity and power of your connector.

Piston

The Piston is a cross between Winches and Rods. Its Tweak Menu has all the same features as the Winch, with the additional stiffness setting. This connector is ideal for controlled up/down or side-to-side motion.

Flipper Motion

The way activating Flipper Motion affects the motion of your connectors is essential to understand. The In and Out options are in relation to the connector’s base, identified by the orange marker. If used incorrectly, your connection breaks.

Switches

Switches give you the ability to decide how, when, and why adjustable objects function. Once you stamp one into the world, simply grab the Connector Tab with the Popit Cursor and attach it to the adjustable objects (such as Wobble Bolts or Pistons) you wish the Switch to control. Scroll down to the Switches section of your Gadgets window to start exploring your activation abilities.

Switch Adjustments

Adjustment Type Adjustment Name Effect
Behavior On / Off Triggering the Switch causes affected objects to activate.
Direction Alters the direction of affected objects when activated.
One-Shot Affected objects perform action once.
Speed Controls speed of affected objects (when trigger is fully activated, affected objects reach speed set in their Tweak Menu).
Item Item Selection Field Select activation item from either your Stickers or Decorations window.
Trigger Radius Set Trigger Radius Controls certain Switches’ activation area.
Magnetic Key Color Toggle between color options for Magnetic Keys Sets color of Switch.
Inverted? (Yes / No) When activated, Switch inverts action of affected objects.
Visible? (Yes / No) Determines whether the Switch is visible in Play Mode.


Sensor Switch

The Sensor Switch is the most basic proximity-based Switch. Whenever a you get close to it, the Switch activates. You can adjust how close they need to be.

Grab Switch

Attach a Grab Switch to any grab-able material and activate it by grabbing that material. Grab Switches have all the adjustments you have come to know and love in a Switch.

Dangerous Kit

Tucked away in the darkest corner of the Tools Bag lurks the Dangerous Gameplay Kit. Dangerous Gameplay Kit items don’t need any help from the hazard tools to have a lethal impact.

Spikes

Spikes come in two convenient sizes, small and large. Touching them will result in a Sackperson being killed.

Impact explosives

When pressure is added to impact explosives, they will explode. Impact explosives can be grabbed, though they must be handled gently. If they are dropped or handled too hard, they will explode.

Trigger explosives

Trigger explosives comes in the form of Switches. Simply attach any Switch’s connector tab to a trigger explosive and as soon as the Switch is activated, the bomb will explode. Try using this for traps so the player must use their thinking skills to pass.

Explosions and materials

Weaker materials like Cardboard, Polystyrene, Sponge, Pink Floaty, Peach Floaty, and Dissolve are destructible. If an explosive goes off near one, they can be partially or even fully destroyed in the blast.

Safety blocks

The best way to test your constructions is to switch to Play Mode. If, however, you would like to quickly check a level element in Create Mode, you should start out by dropping a safety block. Safety blocks can be any material or item that is non-essential to your level. Once the safety block is stamped down, you can try out your construction and easily reset it by tapping rewind. This is useful because actions and movements performed by Switches and connectors are not undoable steps.

Moving parts

Springboard

To create a springboard, place two squares of Dark Matter at the same height. Separate the squares by the width of the springboard you would like to create. Run a plank of cardboard across their base at your desired height. Finally, attach one end of a Spring to a piece of Dark Matter and the other end to the edges of your plank. Adjust the strength of the springs to give more or less bounce to your board. Place Springboards at the base of tall platforms to get the most bounce out of your board.

Moving connectors and Switches

Use moving connectors and Switches to create moving parts like elevators and catapults.

Winches

To make a simple rising winch, place a square of Dark Matter well above your sack person’s head. Place a sponge circle below it within reach of an athletic jump and connect the two with a Winch. Open the Winch’s Tweak Menu to determine its Minimum and Maximum Length as well as its speed and pause interval. Once everything is set to your liking, pull a Grab Switch from your Tools Bag and apply it to the sponge. Attach its Connector Tab to the Winch. Now all you have to do is jump and grab it.

Launch pads

You can also use Pistons to create launch pads. Utilize cardboard to create a base for your launch pad. Use the octagon shape, embedding the cardboard in the floor so only the top three sides are above floor level. Next, use the square shape to delete a space for your launch pad. Fill the space you have made with a cardboard plank. Place one end of a Piston on the center of your base and the other on the bottom of the plank. Open the Piston’s Tweak Menu and set its Minimum Length to 2.5 and its Maximum Length 5.0. Your Piston’s speed setting affects just how far you will be launched. Set between 10.0s and 20.0s for a controlled boost, and 20.0 to 30.0 for a major blast off. Turn Stiffness on and set Flipper Motion to Out. Now, attach a Button to the plank and fix its Connector Tab to the Piston. Finally, adjust the Button’s Behavior to One-Shot. Leave the Button’s Tweak Menu and have your Sackperson jump onto the Button to test its boosting ability.

Elevators and moving walkways

To create a basic elevator and moving walkway, build a large platform, then place a small cardboard plank next to the structure so that it runs parallel to the top of the platform. Next, get a Piston from your Tools Bag and connect one end to the floor and the other to the center of your cardboard plank. Open the Piston’s Tweak menu and reduce its Minimum Length to 2.5. Adjust the speed of the Piston relative to its maximum height. For a comfortable ride, try to give between 0.5s and 1.0s for every 10.0 of space traveled between Maximum and Minimum Height. Next, add a small Pause if you would like to give your sack person a larger window to board and exit the elevator. Lastly, choose to make your Piston stiff. You can now travel to the top of the platform with ease.

You can use the same technique on the other side of the platform to make a moving walkway. Create a second cardboard plank and place it off the non-elevator side of your platform. Connect it to the platform with a Piston and perform the same adjustments as before.

Next, try adding Sensor Switches to the center of each plank and attach their Connector Tabs to the relevant Piston. Adjust their Trigger Radius to the border of the plank. Each moving component now only functions while a sack person is riding it.

You can find some great tutorials on how to build elevators and other moving parts at LBPBuilder (a tutorial and blog website). These tutorials were designed using Google Sketchup.

3-way Switches

3-way Switches start standing straight up. Pull it in either direction to activate the Switch. Release the lever to reset it and deactivate the Switch.

Dangers

Simple crushers

Use the same techniques employed in elevator construction to create crushers. Start by making a simple crusher. Run a strip of Dark Matter above your sack person then build a wooden block and rest it on the floor below the Dark Matter Strip. Attach the block to your strip with a Piston. Open the Piston’s Tweak Menu, leave the Maximum Length set to its current height and adjust the Minimum Length to its shortest possible setting. Now, activate Stiffness and set Flipper Motion to Out. Any Sackperson caught underneath is going to be crushed. You can also use the Flame Tool to set it ablaze or add a row of spikes to its base. Also you can possibly put a strip of Dissolve and on top put a block of Heavy Metal/Stone then attach a sensor switch to the dissolve so when the poor Sackperson runs through the switch. BLAM. Bye bye Sackperson!

Advanced crushers

If you want to go really advanced, try turning your crusher on its side to create a squishing obstacle. Build a crusher as before, but attach it to a wall rather than a ceiling structure, causing the crusher to shoot out at a 90° angle rather than downward. Highlight your creation with your Popit Cursor and copy it, then press R3 to invert the crusher. Place the copied construction so the two crushers meet when fully extended. To ensure your timing is right, open each Piston’s Tweak Menu and set their Movement Phase to 1.0. When you exit the Popit, your two crushers should now be moving in and out in tandem, transforming the two crushers into a squasher.

Explosives

To create an explosive, place a trigger explosive near the base of a large cardboard structure. Embed several impact explosives into the cardboard, ensuring that each is close enough to another to cause a chain reaction.Place a Button on the floor nearby and attach its Connector Tab to the trigger explosive. Then, have your Sackperson activate the Button to see what will happen.

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