I’m Jun Tokuhara, the producer of Super Monkey Ball Banana Splitz. Today’s update is about the edit mode. In SUPER MONKEY BALL SPLITZ, you can easily create your very own stage by using the PlayStation Vita’s camera feature. Once you have created map data, not only will it be saved in your PlayStation Vita, but you can also upload it to PlayStation Network to share it, and also to play the match on that map with players around the world!

It is fun to take pictures of things around you randomly, but today I will teach you the know-how necessary for creating stages in an intended design. Reproduce the interesting shape and difficult level designs so you can surprise your friends and opponents!

First, I will teach you the points you should be careful of, when shooting the photo. The stage is created based on the light, shade and color of the photo.

Below are examples of photos that would be hard to create an intended stage design.

Shadow is halfway in the photo

It would be difficult for the game to recognize a shape when a shadow darker than the object appears in the photo.

Too slim/too small
If the game determines that there is no object, a minimum sized map will be created.

Similar colors adjoining

If the object and the background merge, the camera will focus on a different area.

Shoot the photo as you keep in mind the points listed above, and you’ll be able to create a stage with an intended design.

Now I would like to show you 2 examples of an edited stage. One is based on a face everyone would think of trying. The other is trying to design detailed stage by drawing the design on a paper.

When created based on a face

To create an intended design, using a face, shoot the photo so the line and brightness of the face is clearly displayed.

When created based on a sketch

The area filled out in dark colors will be the island. However, based on conditions, the stage may reflect only the outline of the sketch, or the island and sky may invert, so keep trying until you get it the way you want it to look like.

Although using the same object for the photo, the difficulty of the stage changes based on how hard you shake the PlayStation Vita, while the stage is being created. Shake harder than your previous edit and you’ll see changes such as, parts connecting the islands changing from a rope to a rail, the route to the goal increasing in length, even moving floors appearing in the stage! All will increase the difficulty, so experiment and see what you can come up with!

Edited stages are formed by combining square shaped parts.

The varieties of these parts are limited at the start. However, after the game is released, we will be adding parts as DLC so look out for them![m3] [K4]

If you have any questions, feel free to leave comments. OK then, see you next time!