Community Corner: An Interview With TSFRJ
by Cynella, HSM team writer
Whilst playing Little Big Planet 2 one day, I stumbled across a Sodium-themed level.
“How clever!” I thought to myself.
Someone had actually taken the time to put so much detail into recreating not only a game, but a game based in PlayStation Home. The detail alone in the Sodium costume was enough to set my creative neurons on fire. I began thinking of different things I could re-create in LBP, and after much contemplation, decided to leave the creating to the geniuses.
I don’t know if you have ever attempted to create a level — or a mini-game for that matter — with all the tools that LBP2 has to offer; one might think it’s an easy task, but you’d be wrong. I have always prided myself on patience, until it came to creating a level. One tiny mistake can set the whole level awry faster than asking Jeremy Clarkson to cook something inside a caravan.
Of course, you have a rewind button, but what happens when you can’t fix what you have messed up? It’s time to rebuild, and I have learned I just don’t have the patience. Sort of like those RPG Maker games. No.
Shortly after playing the Sodium level in LBP2, I noticed that TSFRJ not only created the Sodium level, but tons of extremely detailed levels as well. From trains to PlayStation Home, TSFRJ had developed quite a talent for detail. I was extremely excited when he agreed to do an interview for HSM.
TSFRJ: My first games were: Donald Duck’s Playground on the Tandy 1000, and Frogger on the 2600 Atari.
What are some of your favorite games?
My favorite Playstation Games have to be the Dragon Age series. The writers (in particular David Gaider) did a great job with the storylines, and the graphics are great. I really like how they set up banter between the team members. While running around in the game, your party members will start chatting between themselves. Overall, they are my favorite due to how alive and fleshed-out the characters are.
My favorite computer game has to be Transport Tycoon. I also enjoy all Mario Kart and Legend of Zelda games. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is my favorite Zelda game.
When did you begin using PlayStation Home?
I started using Home in December of 2008; I had tried unsuccessfully to get into closed beta, but was there, day one, when Home went public.
What was the first level you created in Little Big Planet?
To be honest, I don’t remember. I purchased the game in October of 2008, and I do still have a copy of my first train level.
How do you like the new tools that were added to Little Big Planet 2, that weren’t in the first LBP?
Without the controlinator seat and all of the rotators/mover tools, I’d never have been able to create the Sodium levels.
What kind of tools do you think would make Little Big Planet 3 even better?
That takes up too much mental processing; LBP3 will need to be a new LBP that allows us to create open-world sandbox levels similar to Super Mario 64 and GTA games.
If LBP3 presented capabilities of Super Mario 64 and GTA games, what would you create?
I probably would make something similar to Animal Crossing from the Game cube Era.
How hard is it to create a level in the upwards view, as opposed to the side scroller view?
Creating in the side scroller view is easier, because the details dont have to be as highly detailed. The only hard part really is camera angles and vehicle/person movement controls.
Have you made a movie level yet?
I made a movie for the LBP2 intro back in the LBP.me beta-test days: a short film called Kitty Gets Fish. Currently that is my only movie level.
What clubs you are associated with in Home?
I started out as a part of HOME Conference. When it flopped, I moved to the N1s. Somewhere, N1s became GamerIndepth, and then that split into Gi and HomeInformer. I also run my own MediaMolecule clubhouse for LBP community members. To my knowledge I’m in the MediaMolecule club, HomeInformer, and GamerIndepth.
What is your inspiration for building trains on LBP?
My dad was into models and real trains when I was little. Most of my summers were spent going to model train shows all over the country. As a child, my dad raised me to enjoy the rich history and knowledge behind trains. Some kids are born with a sliver spoon; I was born with a golden rail spike. For the record, though, I blame my dad for my love of trains. He would drive me four hours away on the weekends, to Memphis. We would sit at a railroad crossing where all of the major raiload companies’ tracks came together. Perhaps I had one too many trips to the Chattanooga Choo-Choo Museum, or the many visits to a museum in Cowan, Tennessee.
We also spent hours and weeks looking at old, abandoned railways. Eighty percent of my childhood, until I was 17 years old, was around real and model trains. Bottom line: y’all have my Dad to thank for my training.
Thomas the Tank Engine, or Brio?
Oh my god, you remember Brio. I hate Thomas. Little children nowadays think all trains are Thomas. Brio was my favorite — and, at that time, was the only wooden train in exsistance. I’d say I prefer the Hot Wheels plastic train sets from 1985, overall.
What was your inspiration for your Pimp Your Truck Level?
A lot of LBPers like my little truck, and I saw a chance to make lots of attachments for it to show its many uses. The first was the grappling hook; during a Contraption contest I made the truck with a working grappling hook. It was to help the swinging truck to get over a fire pit and drive away. After that, the other truck add-ons just kinda flowed out.
So much detail goes into each level, how long does it normally take you to complete a level?
A simple level takes about six to eight hours. The PlayStation Home level was started on January 3rd, 2009 and is constantly
being updated.
While making the LBP Home Level, did you refer back to Home, or did you create it by memory?
I took many pictures in-game, and walked around Home looking for hours on end — and, in some cases, went by memory. I was the second person on LBP to create a a realistic Home level, and the first one to recreate a North America Home level. The first LBP Home level recreated the Japanese PlayStation Home; after seeing their level, I dove into detailing the North America Home level. My Playstation HOME level is published under the PSN name LBPpsHOME to make finding the level easier.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLJyC8dh__Y
How did it feel to be recognized by nDreams’ Patrick Farnborough for your Xi-themed work?
It was really nice, and I’ll admit I feel somewhat feel bad about it. Before I had seen Patrick’s Twitter feed, I had started working on the Sodium levels, thus delaying the AlphaZone levels. Fear not, nDreams — I promise the AlphaZone 1-3 levels will be worth the wait! Also NaughtyDawg was so pleased with my UC2 train level that they even left a level comment on the actual level on LBP.
How does it feel to be recognized by Lockwood for your Sodium levels?
Feels great! Alex [Loffstadt] even contacted me personally on it. Originally, I was trying to build my first top-down level, and just couldn’t get a tank looking right. While taking a break from Create Mode to play Salt Shooter, I thought a hover tank would be easier to make; thus, S1 LBP2 level construction began. Then, after I posted the video and pictures to VICKIE’s Facebook page, it got noticed more than I thought it would. The best part was the level of interest Lockwood took in my work, and the encouragement to do more. They are interested in using it for some promotional stuff. Any chance you or other HSM people got a good video capture card? Alex was hoping I could find a better way to get video footage of the levels.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0Zt-Zo9QAE
When SodiumTwo exits beta and finally launches, will you have a level ready to publish for LBP2?
Actually, it’s ready now, I just recently published it. It’s accessible by going to the LBP2 Sodium Hub and using the green teleport. I’m hoping Lockwood will get with Sony and create an official Sodium DLC pack for LBP2. After all, all self-respecting developers should have LBP DLC, which is why hoping more people like the recreations and beg Lockwood for it. I’m also hoping the levels help bring a LBP user to Home and into Sodium, to see why Sodium is so great that I had to make a LBP version of it.
The detail you put into your levels is extrodinary, do you have any other creations? Paintings, drawings, etc.?
Not really most of my creativity has been on LBP, SSBB, and Animal Crossing for GCN, DS and Wii.
Is there anything you would like to say to your fans?
Thanks for enjoying the levels and helping make the effort in recreating HOME on LBP worth the effort. Special thanks to TOM and Staff at MediaMolecule. To HCM: GlassWalls; and my friends stuntaddict, narde, grimm, DJ_DTM, Meesh, Sophronia, Jersquall, Jump_Button, Gevurah22, speedracer1955; and the HOME development Team for their help in the project.
Thanks to MusterBuster and LiquidRunner on the Playstation European team for their support.
Extra Special thanks to the Sodium development team, who’s kind words and appreciation for allowing me to make it.
I also like to reccomend these LBP creators for those who are looking for more LBP and LBP2 HOME content:
Psn Id: X-CHAMP-X level: Playstation Home V1.36;
Psn Id: KUSAMOCHI: Who created first detailed HOME level on LBP of the Japan version of HOME;
Psn Id: PAKALICIOUS: Who has the best Vickie costume on LBP2. He was the one who made the Vickie sackbot that I use.
It was a real pleasure to interview TSFRJ for this segment of Community Corner, and I encourage anyone who has LBP2 to checkout his meticulously detailed levels. You can find out more information about them on his YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/omegafalcon).
June 4th, 2011 by cynella | 19 comments
Cynella is a veteran gamer and RPG enthusiast; a member of PS Home Gazette, Home Tabernacle, Imagine!, as well as Hamster Freedom, she runs HSM's ongoing column, Community Corner.
Thankyou for the kind words
Thank *you* for consenting to be interviewed, TSFRJ. And for creating some truly wonderful experiences for people to enjoy.
Well between some nice reveiws from DJ_DTM and help from stuntaddict on the mall made it better. One of DJ_DTM’s reveiws even incourages players to go back on the real HOME. And the part where you go to on the level link. stuntaddict built the mall part with the 2 levels and all the store fronts. Stuntaddict has this epic lbp2 military obstacle course level thats got ziplines. DJ_DTM just got 1,000 creater hearts and has some fun levels and have hearted a selection of epic levels. LBP2 fans i recommeond these 2 creators to find stuff that even better than what i have
TSFRJ, i sent you a messaage on psn… i dont know if you know some people that could help with that problem. but i cant find anyone but i found your name and i thought “hey he seems prety kool” but yea. read that message for me on psn and message me back if you can. KEEP MAKIN SICK MAPS!
thank u for the responce
Also i can’t beleieve there are others who remeber brio
greatest wooden train toys ever 
NOW I am going to get LBP! Anyone who loves trains, DragonAge games, and Sodium is a good enough reference. And then I shall start to create….. TSFRJ, you are an inspiration!
keep in mind LBP 1 for PS3 is free for the welcome back psn package.
Dude! Thanks for the shout out! I love my lil sack VICKIE. but you mispelled my PSN Id.
Not a problem, got it fixed!
Thanks for pointing it out.
curse you spellcheck program i shall rip you from my HDD and install a new one. No name shall go misspelled ever again!!!
TSFRJ is a great guy, a good friend and really deserves the attention! I mean look at what he’d done! I expect to see great things from TS in the future especially in infamous 2.
Thanks for the shout out bro! See you at the meetings.
Congratulations !! I can’t wait to talk you!
Grimm im going to have to get you on lbp2 and see if you can wip me on my 3D multiplayer tank shooter level
When i first saw videos of TSFRJ’s work, I was simply blown away. A great eye for detail and a fantastic ability to capute the feel of the places he has recreated.
Thanks for the article Cynella, and thanks for giving me a few “Wow…how’d he dooooo that” moments TSFRJ (and thanks to your dad for helping to get you in the right brain space :>).
johneboy1970 lol im not sure my dad would believe you
he always thinks im missing the 3rd rail 
It was a pleasure interviewing TSFRJ. Not only is he awesome at creating LBP levels, but he is a very nice person.
Thanks for the shout TJ and Nice Interview Soph.
Soph? Who’s Soph? I thought Cynella wrote the interview…
I think you mean Cynella, Narde. And I agree: she did a great job.