I'm sure there are many people who haven't even heard of ModNation Racers, and those who have are probably thinking "Oh yeah, that kart racing game at E3! Eh, nothing special..." Well I'm here to make you think otherwise. I was recently given a full run through the game and all of it's unique features by Dan Sochan, the game's producer at United Front Games.

Going off of LittleBigPlanet's motto of "Play. Create. Share.", ModNation Racers is a PS3 exclusive that let's you make your own kart racer from the ground up. When you first get started you have a character silhouette/outline (it kind of looks like LBP's Sackboy, except completely white, with no features or textures). You then have all of their tools at your disposal to create something truly unique. For the most part, the game features an "urban vinyl" art style. There are many different skins to choose from, and after selecting one, you can customize it further. You can then add the eyes, a hat, facial features, and any of your other standard character features. One of the things that ModNation Racers does differently is that you can alter just about every option beyond the initial design. 

A quick look at the character customization options.Once you have created your character, or ModNation Racer so to speak, you then get to create your kart. There are plenty of base designs to choose from, even designs beyond standard "race cars". That's right, you can select an ice cream truck or a mail van. Along with these preset designs, you have the opportunity to add your own touch of creativity with the game's many customization options. 

For those thinking that ModNation Racers could end up being just like LittleBigPlanet, think again. While LBP was revolutionary with all of it's character and level creation tools, many consumers felt overwhelmed by the bevy of options. However, the game's producer, Dan Sochan has even said that the game "must feel like play, not work." So keeping that in mind, they are allowing gamers to go as shallow or deep as they want. During the demo I was shown, there was not one time where it felt overwhelming, or that the game became too complicated. It has a very simple user interface, but the amount you can do is just mind-boggling.

After creating your own kart or racer, you can upload it to the server and other people can download you creations and modify them. It's a cool new feature unique to ModNation Racers. If you choose to utilize this option, you'll be tagged as the creator with any modifier's names added with a subsequent tag. This feature not only exists with karts, and racers, but also any tracks you choose to create.

The track editor/creator is very easy to use. For those who saw the game's unveiling at E3, you saw how quickly the developers were able to create a race track on stage. None of that was pre-planned, they made that entire track, and customized it in just a few minutes, and in front of a huge audience to boot! Instead of using a "track piece" or "panel-by panel" type of editor, laying down race track is just like driving a kart in the game. The game will even adjust the height of your track and create a bridge if you want to build over top of pre-existing track.

Once you've got a basic course set up, you can begin the customization process; this is where the game really shines! You can change the type of track, from pavement to dirt road in a matter of seconds, and can just do it to certain parts of the track. You can change the width of certain parts of your track, or even the terrain on the fly.

The track editor/creator is easy to use, and satisfying to explore.Adding props to your background such as trees, mountains, buildings, you-name-it-it-has-it, couldn't be simpler. You just open the editor and select the type of prop you want and then just spread it around, or in the case of mountains, pull it up. Unlike other games, you can create mountains right next to, or even in the center of your race track without interrupting the leveled plain it was set on (basically this means the road won't get wobbly). You can also adjust the lighting (position of the sun), how fast the clouds move or how many are in the sky, the wind, whether or not the trees blow (and how fast), and even the water level (should you choose to add any). And if you're ever dissatisfied with something, you can click the L1 button to undo your actions (and go back as far as you want). 

As if there already wasn't enough that ModNation Racers is doing, one of my favorite things was the fact that you are no longer restricted by "red objects". I am referring to when other games wouldn't allow you to overlap objects, and they would indicate this by making said object red. ModNation Racers allows you build objects on top of objects (it will still turn red, but just to let you know you are overlapping), and really let you harness your creativity. In fact, the developers are really excited to see what unique things the community will do with their game. 

And finally, for all of you keeners, United Front Games is already investigating licensing for downloadable content. Throughout the entire process they have been talking to MediaMolecule (the creators of LBP), and getting advice on various parts of their game. There could even be the chance of a possible collaboration...

The guys at United Front Games (which is a Canadian company), are hoping to have the game in your hands by the end of Sony's fiscal year, which means by the end of March 2010. Keep in mind that this is in no way a confirmation of a release date. For all those anxious to try out ModNation Racers for yourself, the company hopes to launch a public beta in December, so keep your eyes peeled.

ModNation Racers is a Playstation 3 exclusive, hoping to launch in March of 2010. In the next couple of days I will be posting the audio file of the walkthrough I received from Dan Sochan about the game and all it's features. Stay tuned for more of our hands-on or developer previews of some of this season's hottest games!