LittleBigPlanet shown for PS3; a 2D mixed genre game in a 3D (online) world

LittleBigPlanet was announced by Phil Harrison at the Sony keynote just now. Media Molecule’s Mark Healey and Alex Evans are the makers of Rag Doll Kung Fu and LittleBigPlanet is their next game for download on PS3. LittleBigPlanet will hit the PlayStation Network later in 2007 and on Blu-ray disc early in 2008.

LittleBigPlanet is a user designed playground, a make-your-own-platformer editing tool, the actual game with deep physics that looks beautiful and fun to play. It’s basically a 2D game in a 3D world. Maybe a mix of Viva Pinata, Spore, Super Mario Bros and Line Rider? See for yourself:

LittleBigPlanet starts with players learning about the powers of their chosen characters to interact physically with the environment. There are obstacles to explore, items to collect and puzzles to solve — requiring community-based teamwork and brainpower. As players begin to explore, their creative skills grow and they will be ready to start creating and modifying their surroundings (with anything from fruit, stars & jetpacks) — the first step to sharing them with the whole world. Ultimately, levels of the game will be user generated on a worldwide scale and will change everyday as players create, publish and share their own levels. One to four players can game at the same time.

Users have the power to design, shape and build both objects and entire locations for others to play. Players can make their world as open or as secretive to explore as they like. When it’s ready, they can invite anyone within the LittleBigPlanet universe to come and explore their field, rate and comment on it, or they can go and explore everybody else’s. You can even take photos of your most memorable platforming moments. The music sounds upbeat too.

Is the above movie not enough? For pictures go to Kotaku.