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Interview: Media Molecule's Alex Evans, on LittleBigPlanet 2

We know enough about Media Molecule's follow-up to 2008's highly customizable platformer LittleBigPlanet to know that it's remarkably ambitious. Still, for each feature the studio announces, dozens of questions surface about how they'll actually be implemented in LittleBigPlanet 2. For answers to these burning queries, we turned to Media Molecule co-founder Alex Evans. Click past the jump to learn more about the sequel's bold new creation tools, community features, PlayStation Move functionality, and the unconventional ways the small development studio has expanded.

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Video Interview: Shigeru Miyamoto on 3DS, Retro, Zelda and Pikmin 3

Shigeru Miyamoto
You may have read our interview with Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto earlier this week – where we talked about everything from the 3DS to Retro's reboot of Donkey Kong Country to the Wii MotionPlus-enabled Zelda title, Skyward Sword – but why not watch the video also? You can marvel as the voice of Nintendo's Bill Trinen magically appears out of Mr. Miyamoto's mouth thanks to the magic of editing and, as a freebie, you're also hearing the thoughts of one of video gaming's great creators. Find it just after the break.

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Sega: Sonic is the only playable character ... 'in Episode 1'

Visiting Sega's booth for a little hands-on time with Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1, a representative told us something that fans may find a little disconcerting. Someone asked the representative if Sonic was the only playable character, to which the rep replied that Sonic is the only playable character "in Episode 1." While he wouldn't confirm if future episodes will have other playable characters, he certainly hinted at the possibility.

Consider our fingers crossed for Big the Cat.

Preview: Lego Universe

There's no question at all: Lego Universe is a game built for children. Creative Director Ryan Seabury says the primary audience of the game is ages 8-12, and the interface is very clearly young user-friendly, with big, brightly colored buttons, and easy-to-use UI widgets. The game centers on collecting "imagination," and while there is combat in the game, it's simple and trouble-free, more fun than strategic.

But here's the thing: good game design is ageless. And Lego Universe seems like a tidy summation of everything both developer NetDevil has learned about making MMOs, and Lego has learned over 75 years of making classic toys.

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Preview: Super Meat Boy

Super Meat Boy could become our newest addiction. Microsoft and developer Team Meat brought the Xbox Live version to E3, and we thoroughly enjoyed beating levels at the expense of the game's hero. If sacrificing one's body to rescue a fair maiden held hostage by a fetus sounds like a fun time (and it certainly should), this downloadable game should make it onto your most wanted list.

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Devour these Metal Gear Solid 3D: Snake Eater The Naked Sample screens

Metal Gear Solid 3D: Snake Eater The Naked Sample may not have been a playable game at Nintendo's 3DS display area, but it was still one of the most impressive demos shown. It's like really being a terrified secret agent crawling through the jungle, totally checking out a big alligator and having knives thrown at you.

These screens aren't even 3D. They aren't even in motion. But for 2D, static images of a non-playable 3D demo, we think these screens are pretty impressive. They show evidence of a lot of work -- Snake's sneaking suit appears to be a revised version of the sneaking suit he found in MGS3.

Preview: Echochrome 2

Announced during Sony's press conference, Echochrome 2 is the PlayStation Move-exclusive sequel to Sony Japan Studio's M.C. Escher-inspired puzzle platformer, in which players change the camera perspective to create paths with intersecting shapes. This sequel is an extension of that concept -- except you're using the Move controller as a flashlight, aiming its beam to project shadows against a wall, which are used by your character to reach the exit.

The concept and the controller couldn't make more sense together, based on what I played. Several levels -- there will be 100 in the final product -- were available on the show floor, each one introducing a new concept. For example, the shadow circles created by spheres can be used to bounce the game's indirectly controlled protagonist towards the exit.

Gallery: Echochrome 2

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Retail consensus has Kinect at $150

Retail titans Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart and Amazon agree: Kinect will cost $150. Microsoft will not comment on the posted pricing beyond saying that it's speculative. Microsoft's Xbox bigwig Aaron Greenberg wrote on Twitter (twice), "No Kinect price announced yet, retail price estimates are purely speculative, final price & pack-in details are not yet determined."

We understand that the retail listings are speculative, but it may be worth putting aside $1.08 aside every day until Kinect's release just in case -- unless it ends up being more.

[Thanks, Elias]

Gaijin Games 'can't wait' to work on Bit.Trip.Runner for 3DS

Did you know that quite a few developers are working on games for the Nintendo 3DS? It's true! Here's this enormous list of games if you don't believe us. Not on that list, however, is Bit.Trip series developer Gaijin Games. That said, in a recent interview with Gamasutra, Nintendo executive VP of sales and marketing Cammie Dunaway said that the studio "can't wait" to start working on bringing Bit.Trip.Runner to the 3DS.

Just think about it: colors, explosions and music all working in tandem -- but in three dimensions! All kidding aside, the idea of Bit.Trip.Runner on the 3DS sounds like pure insanity. Pure, wonderful insanity.

Video Interview: Sony's John Koller, on PSP Go, PSN and PS3

SCEA's director of hardware and marketing sat down for an intimate 30-minute chat with us at E3 this year. In the first part of this video interview, we talk primarily about the PSP, and Sony's expectations for the PSP Go. In the second part, we also talk about the PlayStation Network, and Sony's future plans for PlayStation Plus and cross-game chat.

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Joystiq Podcast 141 - Big News edition

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