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LEGO Universe Already in Some Gamers' Hands
Posted by Adam Barenblat at 6:00 AM on September 30, 2008
LEGO Universe producer Ryan Seabury sat down with us last week to talk about the future of the massively multiplayer online game. Seabury says that a core group of 50 LEGO users have already started messing around with the game, building in-world models and adding to their own private game maps. Some of that content may even make it the final game when it launches sometime in 2009.
As they work on the game, Seabury says that NetDevil is trying to identify what is "really core LEGO play" and not create a directed adventure like you find in the Traveller's Tales games. In fact, he hopes that the game could get people to do the same in the real world. Right now, it seems that lots of kids buy the pre-packs to make the models found on the box cover. Seabury says playing the game inspires he and his child to actually take their virtual creations and make them with real-world LEGOs.
Seabury also talks about how LEGO Universe will compare to LittleBigPlanet and Spore when it comes to user created content. It's a chunky, though interesting interview if you have the time.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Mact
Posted 6:45 AM 30/9/08
@TheFamous1:
You seem to underestimate how many adults are Lego enthusiasts.
[kotaku.com]
[kotaku.com]
[www.mocpages.com]
Mact
Zegridathes
Posted 6:39 AM 30/9/08
@ridepod: I don't know if I ever built what was actually on the box. Closest I ever got to 'following directions' was building some of the few dozen designs that came with the LEGO Technic sets.
I was always a big fan of conveyors.
Zegridathes
DaveKap
Posted 6:38 AM 30/9/08
Why no comparison to Second Life. It is the only other MMO that allows full-on building of the lego-type.
DaveKap
sloth1991
Posted 6:37 AM 30/9/08
This is for xbox 360 right?
sloth1991
joandrade
Posted 6:36 AM 30/9/08
So, how long until we see a Lego Strip clup, or a Lego Penis-zilla?
joandrade
MacHarper
Posted 6:34 AM 30/9/08
@ridepod:
Sigh Lego. (Never with an s)
Anyway, the prepacks trech building techniques and feature alternate box models which don't have instructions. (This is still creativity).
The final step is of course to create something new from the set or combined theme sets.
MacHarper
TheFamous1
Posted 6:33 AM 30/9/08
@Brian Crecente: Little kids and Big Little kid B-Rian Crecente (Whooosh!)
@thepintobeaner: I can't picture this game being a success though. I don't know? Does the world really need a Lego MMO? Do people really want a Lego MMO? In my opinion, No, and No. I'm a somewhat fan of MMO's, and I played WoW, but I can't see how a Lego MMO can be fun. Why would I want to invest my time and monthly payments into a Lego world/character? The Lego theme seems fit for a regular game, but a Lego MMO doesn't seem right. I think people want their Orcs and Trolls (Warhammer/WoW), Cops/Robbers (All Points Bulletin), Super-Hero's (Champions Online/CoH/CoV), and the others like Guild Wars, FFXI, and Huxley (If that game even exists anymore? It's been in beta for-ev-er) But, hey, the details are thin - they might have something cool and unique up there sleeve all I'm saying is that they better have a long sleeve.
TheFamous1
NeVeRMoRe666
Posted 6:33 AM 30/9/08
In reply to some here who have said that the Legos series is primarily marketed to "tots", I think the main reason why these games are as popular as they are today is because the "tots" who use to play with lego or have grown up with lego, have essentially grown up. We are the lego generation. I know for a fact that lego is not even as close to or as popular with my youngest brother as it was with us in our heyday. Much like how most of us are crying out for Ghostbusters, so too does lego feed our nostalgic needs. Since many of us, whether in our middle 20s, early 30s, refuse to sit and play with plastic blocks (probably for fear of others mistaking us for being in the special olympics or something), these games allow us to continue on with what we did as kids. Its interesting to see how Lego as a brand has not only stayed with us all of these years, but has evolved to suit our needs.
Believe it or not, there is a market out there for this mmo outside of 5-year olds, its us.
NeVeRMoRe666
Chances
Posted 6:27 AM 30/9/08
@ridepod:
Yeah I had a king's ransom in LEGO when I was a kid, and none of my creations ever came from a box front.
Chances
headcrab
Posted 6:26 AM 30/9/08
@TheFamous1: Little kids?! I can't believe you just said that. I'm genuinely excited about this.
headcrab
ridepod
Posted 6:24 AM 30/9/08
kids buy the pre-packs to make the models found on the box cover
Really?! That totally defeats the purpose of legos! If these were my children I would buy one of those big buckets of indiscriminate legos, build a wicked lego spiked-club, put some wheels on it, and beat some creativity into them.
Well maybe not beat it into them, but they make something cool to get me to shut up about my Spiky-PainMobile !
ridepod
NeVeRMoRe666
Posted 6:20 AM 30/9/08
Its not truly "user created content" until some genuis out there decides to make a 2000 peice replica of a penis...
NeVeRMoRe666
Modus_Operandi
Posted 6:19 AM 30/9/08
@TheFamous1:
So all those Lego Star Wars and Indiana Jones games were being purchased by millions of 5 year olds right?
Modus_Operandi
austy108642
Posted 6:19 AM 30/9/08
I didn't listen to the video, or watch it rather, but this seems like a game that you'll have to wait and see how it plays.
austy108642
Hey_guy
Posted 6:18 AM 30/9/08
@TheFamous1:
Every other game/toy little kids own is paid for by their parents, I don't see why an MMO fee would be any different.
Hey_guy
homernoy
Posted 6:17 AM 30/9/08
Being primarily a PC gamer, I have to say I like this guy. His reply to the casual gaming market question was kind of suprising to hear, but I agree with him.
homernoy
Sk8r-Ralph
Posted 6:15 AM 30/9/08
@TheFamous1: It would have been for little kids years ago, but now those little kids have grown up but still want the lego.
Sk8r-Ralph
thepintobeaner
Posted 6:14 AM 30/9/08
@TheFamous1: I don't know... the Lego brand has made serious in-roads into the gamer community in recent years. It's not just tykes lining up for Lego Batman, for example.
thepintobeaner
Brian Crecente
Posted 6:12 AM 30/9/08
@TheFamous1: Little kids?
Brian Crecente
dobilay
Posted 6:12 AM 30/9/08
@TheFamous1: Maybe it's going to be supported by microtransactions?
dobilay
TheFamous1
Posted 6:09 AM 30/9/08
Seriously though.. A Lego MMO? How are you going to have a monthly fee when your game is targeted towards little kids?
Ah.. Nevermind.. I guess WoW was somewhat successful right?
TheFamous1
InsidiousTuna
Posted 7:07 AM 30/9/08
@DaveKap: I guess there's just something special about the little yellow dudes.
InsidiousTuna
Mact
Posted 6:51 AM 30/9/08
@TheFamous1:
I don't know. Try asking the sales of Lego Star Wars, Lego Indiana Jones, and the recently released Lego Batman...
[uk.gamespot.com]
Guess that depends on how you define success too. I'm pretty sure they'd define it as making a profit.
"Do people really want a Lego MMO? In my opinion, No, and No."
Erm... how can that be an opinion? Either people do or they do not. As the game has made it this far, it would likely be a fact that there is a group interested in the game. In other words, you're wrong.
"I'm a somewhat fan of MMO's, and I played WoW, but I can't see how a Lego MMO can be fun."
I think most MMO's are stupid, but I'd be up for giving this a go.
"I think people want their Orcs and Trolls (Warhammer/WoW), Cops/Robbers (All Points Bulletin), Super-Hero's (Champions Online/CoH/CoV)"
Funny thing about that... Lego has every one of those. But, yes. More trolls and orcs. That has yet to be done to death.
Mact
LittleBigPlaneteer
Posted 6:47 AM 30/9/08
@sloth1991:
PC only
LittleBigPlaneteer
Spikeles
Posted 7:32 AM 30/9/08
@DaveKap: Never heard of Blockland?
Spikeles
DaveKap
Posted 7:49 AM 30/9/08
@Spikeles: I have. In which case, why no comparison to that either? Oh right, if I remember correctly, Blockland is the laggiest thing I've ever run on my computer. :(
DaveKap
rizzo9972
Posted 7:43 AM 30/9/08
If publishers are letting this be created, then give me my damn Halo MMO!
rizzo9972
ssoltero
Posted 9:32 AM 30/9/08
@Modus_Operandi: Touche! Ain't that the truth!
ssoltero
hoorayforcorn
Posted 11:50 AM 30/9/08
Right? Right? Right?
hoorayforcorn
joe_e
Posted 11:49 AM 30/9/08
@NeVeRMoRe666: But will 20 and 30 somethings allow themselves to have LEGO Universe achievements and Now Playing: show up in their gamertag? not that i'll care.. er.. um.. ::scowls at viva pinata in my game list:: yeah.. LU is probably cooler than that though.
joe_e
SanchaliWalsall
Posted 12:06 PM 30/9/08
lego mmo isnt directed to kids only, and if it is the so beit im 20 and im excited for this, especially if they have "veteran" lego makers building the game.
SanchaliWalsall
Tuna_Matrix
Posted 6:53 AM 30/9/08
This game has A LOT to live up to if it wishes to embody the spirit of my LEGO-y childhood! I've seen so little of how you actually play the game that I'm a little worried...
Continuing with the market argument, I agree with NeVeRMoRe666 in that this game is targeted for adults and kids alike. The whole game is about creativity, whether or not it involves candy-colored blocks.
Tuna_Matrix
motogp
Posted 2:36 PM 30/9/08
LOL a Lego MMO.Even though i agree its gonna be for kids but seriously its just going to be one of the WoW quanity selling games in weeks.Looking at Lego's fans (me being one :P) i am sure they wont mind playing the MMO.And building models =D how cool can that get.Next thing i know i'll be seeing whacky creatures in Lego xD.Some flying ones,some water ones,some monster and so on
I'll be waiting for the game though i am sure i wont play it =/
Hahahah but just think of the graphic card it will require :P a 64 bit would be enough xP
motogp
ridepod
Posted 2:35 PM 30/9/08
@MacHarper: Whoops! Sorry! I retract two S's.
Also I consider figuring out how to do something without instructions to be more in the realm of analytical thinking than the realm of creation, but that is mearly my humbumble opinion.
ridepod
Mooglepinoy22
Posted 3:54 PM 30/9/08
What about [www.blockland.us] ?
Mooglepinoy22
LemmingX
Posted 9:11 PM 30/9/08
@NeVeRMoRe666:
I shall be that genius for you!
Also, video doesn't work for me past the first half second.
LemmingX
Rocktober
Posted 11:52 PM 30/9/08
I'm heading into my late 20's, grew up with Lego as a kid, and I can honestly tell you I've been looking forward to this game for a while! I even get the newsletter!
You might be surprised just how many adults out there still play with Lego (www.lugnet.com), as there are many local "chapters" that get together and design stuff. Personally, I've spent a couple hundred dollars a few years back buying sets I had wanted as a kid but never got. While at this age I don't feel like making the horse run up the drawbridge and have the guards talk to each other, I still proudly placed them on my book shelves - it's a part of who I am so why not put them on display?
(I also bought a metal Pac-man lunchbox, and wife gave me a Pac-man watch for my birthday!)
Rocktober
qJohnnyp
Posted 8:12 AM 1/10/08
My personal WoW killer. No, really.
qJohnnyp
minipiwi
Posted 6:10 PM 1/10/08
keeping children virgins
minipiwi