LittleBigPlanet internship winner describes his Tarsier experience

Hey guys, happy Friday! You might remember the LittleBigPlanet internship competition we ran a while back for the chance to win a one month placement with Sony to join top design studio Tarsier (the developers behind LittleBigPlanet Vita) at their headquarters in Sweden. Our lucky winner Simone Di Giorgi has just completed a fantastic four weeks with the team and has shared an account of his best experiences below – check it out!

“Stepping into Tarsier Studios for the first time was a strange and unique experience. It feels like a place where magic happens and the company was very warm and welcoming. After settling in, I was introduced to some of the designers who tried out my level and they advised me on how it could be improved. I then worked to make my level more appealing based on their feedback.

“During the next few days I had the chance to see the guys at work, creating new stages, music and designs. The attention to detail is incredible and I felt very inspired to continue creating via LittleBigPlanet.

“It’s very difficult to choose my favourite part of the internship as I’ve enjoyed every minute at the studio. To see these guys working with so much passion has really encouraged me in expanding my own level. So really, the most thrilling part of this internship would have to be working with the team itself. You learn something every day, simply by watching them.

“I was amazed at how the process through which levels are created differs to what I have seen in the community: it’s a meticulous process with no room for error. Everything must be engaging and original.

“To improve Flint, the level I created for the contest, I pretty much had to start from scratch again. The editing process was challenging and hard to master, but the guys at Tarsier really helped me. I stuck with it, worked hard, and in the end I managed to achieve everything I had wanted to in the final version.

“Overall, the whole experience exceeded my expectations. To be there in the studio is something that I could never have imagined – even in my wildest dreams. It’s a feeling you can’t describe, it’s just incredible. I was nervous during the first couple of days, but the team made me feel comfortable and I have fully embraced their world of creativity and I’ll remember it forever.

“The team holds a meeting each week to talk about what’s going on and the progress made with the projects they’re working on. It’s a moment of sharing and everyone chips in. They work really well together. Everything is so organised and the guys from creative and the producers work together like clockwork.

“One thing that struck me was the team’s passion for LittleBigPlanet. For us gamers, Sackboy is just a character, a puppet. For the team he is something much more than this – he is alive. Members of the community should appreciate how much effort the team put into everything they create.

“Tarsier Studios is beyond a doubt the incarnation of the LittleBigPlanet World: a place where creativity reigns and you can find objects, posters and paintings straight out of the game (even a Sack-Girl version of the Mona Lisa!).

“Working with them has been an amazing, thrilling and unforgettable experience. Every LittleBigPlanet fan should visit Tarsier at least once in their life just to experience the passion and the focus of the team. It’s a magical place and I hope that I’ll be able to come back one day…”