Joint Connectors

This page is a work in progress. As a result, the layout and/or content herein may be subject to change.

A joint is a type of connector that joins two objects together over a lateral distance. There are six types of joints, which bind or move objects in different ways.

Usage and behaviour

Joints can be attached to the sides of most solid objects, snapping to the nearest surface when held with the Popit Cursor. Once the first end is attached to an object, the other appears on the Popit Cursor, and can be stuck to something else. The player is intended to connect both ends to different objects, though there is nothing stopping them from attaching both ends to the same object; it is even possible to leave one of the ends hanging by pressing while hovering over nothing with the second end.

The connected objects do not need to be on the same layer, as the tether only affects them on the X and Y axis.

Shared tweaks

Most joints have their own set of tweaks, but all have some kind of Length tweak determining how long a given connector is. How this is used in practice varies slightly depending on the bolt type, and will be detailed in their respective sections. The other tweaks shared between bolts are as follows:

Visible in Play Mode: ( No •‎ Yes ) Determines whether or not the object will be rendered in Play Mode.

Mute (LBP3 Only): ( No •‎ Yes ) Sets whether or not to play the connector's associated sound effects.

String

String
Game:	LittleBigPlanet, LittleBigPlanet PSP, LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita, LittleBigPlanet 3,
Type:	Gadgets
Category:	Connectors

String is a loose joint connector, and arguably the simplest of the lot. Objects tied to a string are bound by its length; the distance between them cannot exceed its length, but they can otherwise move freely.

Tweaks

Length: (0.0 - 5,000.0) Sets how long the string is.

Rod

Rod
Game:	LittleBigPlanet, LittleBigPlanet PSP, LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita, LittleBigPlanet 3,
Type:	Gadgets
Category:	Connectors

A Rod is a rigid joint that cannot extend or contract, always maintaining a fixed length. Depending on the settings in its tweak menu, the connected objects can also be prevented from rotating at either end of the Rod.

Tweaks

Length: (0.0 - 5,000.0) Affects how long the rod is. By default this is set to the distance between its endpoints.

Stiffness: ( No •‎ Yes ) If set to Yes, the points at either end of the rod will keep both objects aligned. If set to No, the connected objects can pivot around the end points, albeit constrained to a 180° angle range.

Elastic

Elastic
Game:	LittleBigPlanet, LittleBigPlanet PSP, LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita, LittleBigPlanet 3,
Type:	Gadgets
Category:	Connectors

Elastic is a stretchy joint connector that can be stretched beyond its set length, but will try to pull its two ends together when stretched too far; the further they go from its set length, the more pronounced this effect becomes.

Tweaks

Length: (0.0 - 5,000.0) Sets how far the elastic can be stretched before it starts to pull itself back.

Strength: (0% - 100%) Determines how strong the elastic's pull is. At 0%, it puts up no resistence and can be stretched indefinitely; at 100%, it pulls at maximum force.

Spring

Spring
Game:	LittleBigPlanet, LittleBigPlanet PSP, LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita, LittleBigPlanet 3,
Type:	Gadgets
Category:	Connectors

A Spring attempts to maintain its original length, bouncing back if compressed or extended.

Tweaks

Length

Length: (0.0 - 5,000.0) Sets the distance that the spring will bounce back to.

Stiffness: ( No •‎ Yes ) If set to Yes, the points at either end of the spring will keep both objects aligned. If set to No, the connected objects can pivot around the end points, albeit constrained to a 180° angle range.

Strength

Strength: (0% - 100%) Adjusts how strong the spring is.

Winch

Winch
Game:	LittleBigPlanet, LittleBigPlanet PSP, LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita, LittleBigPlanet 3,
Type:	Gadgets
Category:	Connectors
Inputs:	1
Outputs:	0

A Winch is a chain link that can pull two objects closer together, but cannot push them. Like String, it can crumple shorter than its specified length, but will not extend beyond it.

In LittleBigPlanet 3, the Winch received an output, which sends an analogue signal based on how close it is to its Maximum Length (relative to its Minimum Length), sending a digital ON signal when it has reached at least 50%.

Tweaks

Maximum Length: (0.0 - 5,000.0) Sets how long the winch's chain is.

Minimum Length: (0.0 - 5,000.0) Sets the point that the winch will pull objects to. Note that the chain can crumple and become shorter than this.

Timing

Time: (0.0s - 86,400.0) Sets how long the winch takes to complete a movement cycle.

Pause: (0.0s - 86,400.0) Determines whether or not the winch pauses at each end, and for how long.

Sync: (0.0s - 86,400.0) Sets how long the winch waits waits after being activated before it begins moving. This is used to sync its movement with other connectors in the level.

Strength

Strength: (0% - 100%) Adjusts the force with which the winch pulls the attached objects. At 0%, it will not pull the object at all; at 100%, the object will be helplessly pulled based on the winch's tweak settings.

Motion

Flipper Type: ( Off; In; Out) Determines whether or not the winch snaps to one of its ends at the start of a new cycle, and which end it snaps to.

Reversed: ( No •‎ Yes ) Inverts the winch's movement cycle.

Piston

Piston
Game:	LittleBigPlanet, LittleBigPlanet PSP, LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita, LittleBigPlanet 3,
Type:	Gadgets
Category:	Connectors
Inputs:	1
Outputs:	0 (LBP1) 1 (LBP3)

Not to be confused with the Piston Motor.

A Piston is a rigid connector that pushes and pulls the connected objects, oscilating between two points. It also exhibits similar properties to a Rod; objects cannot move beyond the points specified in the tweak menu.

In LittleBigPlanet 3, the Piston received an output, which sends an analogue signal based on how close it is to its Maximum Length (relative to its Minimum Length), sending a digital ON signal when it has reached at least 50%.

Tweaks

Maximum Length: (0.0 - 5,000.0) Determines how far the piston can extend to.

Minimum Length: (0.0 - 5,000.0) Determines how close to its start point the piston can contract.

Stiffness: ( No •‎ Yes ) If set to Yes, the piston will keep both objects aligned. If set to No, the connected objects can rotate around the end points, albeit constrained to a 180° angle range at either end.

Timing

Time: (0.0s - 86,400.0) Sets how long the piston takes to complete a movement cycle.

Pause: (0.0s - 86,400.0) Determines whether or not the piston pauses at each end, and for how long.

Sync: (0.0s - 86,400.0) Sets how long the piston waits after being activated before it begins moving. This is used to sync its movement with other connectors in the level.

Strength

Strength: (0% - 100%) Affects how much force the piston exerts on connected objects. At 0%, the objects can freely slide between its two points. At 100%, the piston forces the objects' movement based on the other tweak settings.

Motion

Flipper Type: ( Off; In; Out) Determines whether or not the piston snaps to one of its ends at the start of a new cycle, and which end it snaps to.

Reversed: ( No •‎ Yes ) Inverts the piston's movement cycle.

See also

• Bolt Connectors
• Motor Connectors
• Bendy Rail
  • Rail Hook
• Legacy Connectors