Sackboy™ Gets Behind the Steering Wheel in the Fastest LittleBigPlanet Adventure Yet, LittleBigPlanet™ Karting, Exclusively for the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) System

FOSTER CITY, Calif., March 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. (SCEA) announced today plans to release LittleBigPlanet™ Karting, the newest adventure in the award-winning LittleBigPlanet™ franchise, exclusively for the PlayStation^®3 (PS3™) system.  Scheduled to launch in 2012, LittleBigPlanet Karting will provide fans a new means to Play, Create, Share in the form of a competitive and cooperative karting adventure based in expansive 3D environments for the first time and one that is unmistakably LittleBigPlanet.

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The franchise that has seen more than six million user-generated levels and games shared online via PlayStation®Network is now revving the engine once again as Sackboy™  returns in a completely new, fast-paced karting campaign to save the Craftworld universe.  In LittleBigPlanet Karting, players can jump into vibrant 3D game worlds with Sackboy for intense classic kart racing and ultra-competitive arena battles.  More adventurous karting expeditions are just as accessible, including objective-based missions, boss battles, and mini-games.  On the create side, players can customize their Sackboy, karts, and much more.  The new level editor tools will allow players to construct far more than just kart racing games, as they can design their own karting experiences with the ability to make their own game rules, weapons, and tracks that break free from the constraints of a traditional racetrack allowing the imagination to run wild in a completely open environment.  Players will also be fully able to share this content with others around the world through PlayStation Network providing access to what promises to be millions of LittleBigPlanet Karting experiences created by the community.

"Since the launch of LittleBigPlanet, our community has provided incredible support, which can be seen in the more than six million levels and games that have been created and shared online through PlayStation Network, a truly wonderful accomplishment," said Guy Longworth, Senior Vice President, PlayStation Brand Marketing, SCEA.  "Now, we're thrilled to bring PlayStation 3 owners  the next Play, Create, Share experience, LittleBigPlanet Karting, a brand new competitive karting adventure that is sure to move this genre forward, providing endless entertainment for fans and newcomers, while resonating with every member of the family, young and old."

Developed by United Front Games, in conjunction with Media Molecule, LittleBigPlanet Karting is a single or multiplayer creative gaming experience that has an ESRB rating of "RP" for Rating Pending.  For more information about the ESRB, visit www.esrb.org.  For more information about the LittleBigPlanet franchise, visit www.littlebigplanet.com.

About the LittleBigPlanet Franchise

Since its launch in October 2008, LittleBigPlanet has been widely praised and critically acclaimed with more than 80 industry awards worldwide, 15 of which have been for Game of the Year categories, with awards ranging from the top gaming critics to prestigious organizations such as the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) and The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).  The franchise has sold more than four million units in North America alone and has been credited with establishing the Play, Create, Share creative gaming genre by putting the powers of creation firmly in the players' hands.  The game's stitched-together mascot, Sackboy, has broken through as the industry's newest star—one that has resonated with every member of the family, young and old.  LittleBigPlanet is a unique experience that provides developer and user-generated levels and an engaging story to explore and Play, a huge host of materials, tools, stickers, and more to Create, and a robust set of online features for everyone to Share these creations with each other as part of the LittleBigPlanet community.  In fact, the sharing nature of the game has become so embraced, it has attracted fans to publish more than six million levels to PlayStation Network since the award-winning game was released.

In 2009, the LittleBigPlanet Game of the Year edition was introduced to celebrate these achievements, featuring 18 never-before-seen bonus levels created by members of the community.  Hand-picked by the development team, these fans were rewarded with the opportunity to become actual level designers, a notion that all LittleBigPlanet devotees can relate to.  Later in 2009, LittleBigPlanet moved to the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) and PSPgo systems allowing players to bring the beloved Sackboy with them on the go.  This was followed by the release of LittleBigPlanet™ 2 for the PS3 system providing fans a new means to Play, Create, and Share, allowing users to not only make better levels, but completely new games across multiple genres.  Later this year, LittleBigPlanet will be coming to PlayStation®Vita allowing users to customize Sackboy and the world around you with unique touch and camera create tools that let you play with more freedom that ever before—a miniature development kit in the palm of your hand!

About Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC

Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one® systems, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the ground-breaking PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system, PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) system, and its online and network services, the PlayStation®Network and PlayStation®Store.  Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one, PlayStation 2, PSP, PSPgo and PS3 systems for the North American market.  Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC serves as headquarters for all North American operations.

Visit us on the Web at http://www.us.playstation.com.

"PlayStation", "PSP", and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks and "PS3" is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.© Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC.  LittleBigPlanet ©2007 Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.  Developed by Media Molecule.  LittleBigPlanet is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.  Sackboy is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC.

SOURCE Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC