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Lego Creating Multiplayer Online Game 99

Posted by CmdrTaco from the you'll-never-find-the-block-you-want dept.
An anonymous reader writes "Players of Lego's new MMOG (massively multiplayer online game) are tasked with a mission: help save imagination from the dark forces of evil. The bad force can be kept at bay only by users' 'imagination and creativity,' said Ryan Seabury, the creative director for the game and founder of Louisville, Colorado-based NetDevil, which is developing the game for Lego. Players cannot be killed, but they can be reduced to a pile of unassembled bricks. The idea is to play the game and collect bricks, which will allow users to build more interesting models. Lego Universe, will launch in the second half of this year and will be a subscription-based service (price not disclosed)."
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Lego Creating Multiplayer Online Game More

Lego Creating Multiplayer Online Game

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  • Blockland is similar, but more interesting (Score:5, Interesting)

    by sopssa ( 1498795 ) * <sopssa@email.com> on Thursday February 18, 2010 @12:45PM (#31186124) Journal

    In recent months I've been playing Blockland [blockland.us]. It has the similar lego/blocks aspect in it, but frankly it's a lot more interesting than what Lego MMOG sounds like.

    Basic gameplay idea is that you're a small "lego" guy. You don't need to collect the blocks, you can just select them from menu and build whatever you want. You can do this with friends in multiplayer too.

    But what's more fun is that the game has great support for scripting, macros, minigames, weapons and vehicles. There's tons of mods and user-created content. Different servers also all have different kind of gamemodes as they're all build by the players. There's the normal deatchmatch, tdm, ctf, zombie survival, portal games, racing and jail and city building RPG's. Some server owners concentrate on making a beautiful place (it's quite amazing what some have done) and some fun mess-around places.

    Because of Blockland, I feel like Lego is seriously missing something here. It's not really that fun for long to just collect bricks and then build with them (actually the collecting part sounds awful already). In Blockland most of the gamemodes are accompanied with the building part. Some of the dig digging ctf/tdm servers are truly great, as it allows you to dig tunnels under everyone even as far as to the enemies base, or you can build better defences to your base or even surround the capture-the-flag point with a bunker.

    Lego was earlier in talks with Blockland authors to make it a Lego MMO, but looks like they went the more boring route :(

    • PETITION TO REMOVE RED BRICK NERF (Score:5, Funny)

      by Useful Wheat ( 1488675 ) on Thursday February 18, 2010 @01:00PM (#31186358)

      PETITION TO REMOVE RED BRICK NERF

      These changes are unnecessary, aggressive, CRIMINAL ACTS against the VERY BUILDERS WHO constitute the FOUNDATION OF LEGOLAND!.

      Red bricks ALREADY have a 10 second cooldown, why would you reduce our DPS! WE already suck next to blue bricks.

      Reply #1: /signed

      Reply #2:
      Learn to build noob

      Reply #3:
      can i has ur bricks?

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by RobVB ( 1566105 )

      Sounds like Garry's Mod [garrysmod.com] with bricks.

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by pcolaman ( 1208838 )

      Actually the Lego MMO was talked about as having event and trigger scripting similar to that found in Little Big Planet, so your fears may be unfounded (yet to be seen one way or the other).

    • Then you probably saw the drama-filled forum topic surrounding the game I've been developing, based on the same Torque Game Engine as Blockland, but with support for the standard LDraw CAD format. If you haven't, you may want to check out the current svn (https://svn.bountysource.com/tbg/trunk/), or our development website, http://www.cemetech.net./ [www.cemetech.net] To be fair though, it looks like Lego has created a totally different game from Blockland with some of the same game mechanics I've been hoping to implement (b

    • And I just looked at Blockland - boy it looks crap.

      Lego Universe looks great.

      (Check out the trailers
      http://www.gametrailers.com/game/lego-universe/4954 [gametrailers.com]
      )

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by sopssa ( 1498795 ) *

        That's why I hoped they would had continued the talks with Blockland's creator. It's just a one man project (with lots of content made by community too), so it has its certain amateurish look, but the game mechanics are great.

    • Sorry I don't mean to be a dick, mod me down if you absolutely must but.. the Lego MMORPG was announced a while back, complete with a very awesome trailer for it. I love /. but in some cases the news on some things trickles in so slow other sites have reported it long before there is an article here.

  • In Lego Universe the forces of evil are... (Score:5, Funny)

    by presarioD ( 771260 ) on Thursday February 18, 2010 @12:53PM (#31186240)
    ...the same as in our Universe:

    Entropy!
    • "Life, which you so nobly serve, comes from destruction, disorder and chaos. Now take this empty glass. Here it is: peaceful, serene, boring. But if it is destroyed...

      [Pushes the glass off the table. It shatter on the floor, and several small machines come out to clean it up]

      ...Look at all these little things! So busy now! Notice how each one is useful. A lovely ballet ensues, so full of form and color. Now, think about all those people that created them. Technicians, engineers, hundreds of people, who

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by catd77 ( 1743104 )
      Yep, originally I thought it would be a good MMOG when I heard about it 2006!

  • Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Thursday February 18, 2010 @12:55PM (#31186262)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • Personally I always played out fights with legos. Like some guys invading a fortress or pirates attacking a city I built. But since it's a MMORPG there will probably also be non-fighting stuff to do.
    • You're kidding right? I used to build giant, rec-room-carpet-covering moon bases with all sorts of spaceships (fighters, carriers, etc.), AA laser turrets, ground assault vehicles, etc. etc. to wage my pseudo-Star Wars battles: all completely from-scratch (I would build the plan on the box once and then come up with my own creations). Of course I had a "bad guy" -- they had no compelling background story, obviously, but I needed something to blow up...
    • So you want Lego Sims

    • Indeed - Lego should have taken their cue from The Sims Online, There, and Second Life rather than cookie cutter MMORPG's. The evidence is abundant that people want a virtual world to hang out, create, and socialize in. (Reaching as far back as MUD's. Back in the day, when UO ruled the roost, it was occasionally called the 'worlds bloodiest chatroom'.)

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by DudemanX ( 44606 )

        I just want a mechanism for building spaceships which I can then fly to blow up other people's spaceships, pirate ships, castles, or whatever else people build. Then if someone happens to blow up my spaceship I'd get to design a brand new one.

    • Oh come on. Ever since the early days of Lego Castle (early 1980s) there have been factions for kids to enact battles between. It's not exactly a new phenomenon for kid's play either. Certainly it was one of the main play themes for my siblings and I (usually Space constructions). Even in boring old Lego City, for kids it is always about stuff going wrong so you actually have something for all those police/firefighters/medics/builders to do!

      Besides, this game includes a lot more than just battling bad guys.

  • Imagination? Please. (Score:4, Insightful)

    by FrigBot ( 1459361 ) * on Thursday February 18, 2010 @01:01PM (#31186380)

    Lego sets of the past decade or so have been mostly build-it-once kits, and then you have a toy that the kid either plays with or leaves on the shelf. There's no imagination required, you just follow the directions. The parts are so specialized now that you can't take it all apart and come up with your own design, because they can only fit in one spot and have only one possible function. When I was a kid, I used to build super cool cars and spaceships and houses using these buckets of random Lego we had. There were some specialized parts, like laser thingies and stuff, but you could add that to your ship to make it super awesome and imagine how the guns would work. I used to also add bomb-droppers. Later in my Lego-career, me and a friend used to build little cannon stations and then targets out of Lego, and shoot blocks at the targets using rubber bands. That was fun.

    Do they even sell bulk kits anymore? How can you get plain old blocks without going on ebay and buying someone's old, used random lots of Lego?

    My point is that Lego itself is the enemy of imagination. By selling kits that you can't do anything else with besides build their prescribed design, they are stifling the imaginations of kids. It's really disappointing, actually. Like what's the point in building the set from Star Wars? What creativity is there in that?

    • Actually I was thinking the same thing but there is a Lego store near Chicago in Woodfield Mall that sells individual colored blocks by the pound I believe. They also started going back to their roots a bit and remade a lot of the pirate, space, town, and medieval sets that were the cornerstone of my childhood.

      • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

        by wjousts ( 1529427 )
        I've seen the same thing in a Lego store in the mall near me. They have giant containers that dispense blocks (standard colored bricks and some specialized parts). It's kind of like the a candy pick-and-mix.

    • Re:Imagination? Please. (Score:4, Informative)

      by sopssa ( 1498795 ) * <sopssa@email.com> on Thursday February 18, 2010 @01:16PM (#31186594) Journal

      Seems you can at least order via Lego site [lego.com]. Actually now I'm wanting to order that Lego Giant Box [lego.com] :)

      They also have some Lego Digital Designer [lego.com] where you can build the design on computer and possibly order the needed pieces.

      But I agree, I'd rather get some good set of basic pieces than some of those pre-designed packages. They most likely make good money for Lego tho.

      • Re: (Score:3)

        by Rhys ( 96510 )

        There's more re-use than you might expect. Battle droid-arm balconies have become a standard building tool in both what the community does and what Lego themselves do.

        If you think the specialized parts aren't useful that's your own limitations, not a problem with the sets. Go peruse brothers-brick.com and you just can't say with a straight face, "well this part is only good for (use in original set)." In particular the blue dragon a ways down right now (cement mixer truck nostrils!), or the classic ford pic

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by richlv ( 778496 )

          larger models are fairly good at having generic, reusable parts. technic series usually excels at that as well (at any size).

          but then a store here had large discount on last christmas for legos (40% ? don't recall for sure), so i grabbed a bunch of packages they still had left. one of them was a small motorbike.
          only when i opened it, i noticed that all of the bike body was single molded plastic. internal "frame", wheel attachments and everything was another part. i'll admit that was a disappointing model :)

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by kent_eh ( 543303 )

        Seems you can at least order via Lego site [lego.com]. Actually now I'm wanting to order that Lego Giant Box [lego.com] :)


        LEGO® Giant Box
        Item #: 5589
        Sorry, item is not available in this country: Canada.

        dammit

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by kuzb ( 724081 )

        I'm wanting to order that Lego Giant Box :)

        Sorry, item is not available in this country: Canada.

        :(

    • There was a talk with LEGO guys about how they were trying to reduce specialized parts and return to a generic brick model. They are also stopping the movie tie-in products [slashdot.org].

      What I really despise are those dreadful Bionicle kits. They are the essence of everything that's wrong with LEGO nowadays.

      • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

        by British ( 51765 )

        The Lego Star Wars sets showed a direction of reducing over-specialized pieces. Sure, there's going to be a unique Yoda figure, etc, but the vehicles, etc weren't that bad. They could have gone overboard with specialized pieces for wings, etc, but didn't. Take a look at the Imperial Shuttle. Looks real nice.

      • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

        by MaWeiTao ( 908546 )

        They are also stopping the movie tie-in products

        The recent introduction of Toy Story sets and on-going Indiana Jones and Star Wars sets would indicate otherwise.

        As for specialized pieces, if the new themes are any indication Lego has embraced them more than ever before. I think the problem with the early generation of Star Wars sets was not so much due to specialized pieces but rather unimpressive designs. Lego acknowledged the problem and has taken a lot more care in making more robust and impressive sets.

        • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

          by zoney_ie ( 740061 )

          I can tell you that for AFOLs (Adult Fans Of Lego), the vast majority of "custom" parts are embraced. At the very least parts usually have a broad application within their specific role, but more often than not, because they all have studs, or technic holes, or bars or clips or various ways to connect to other pieces, people find all sorts of uses for them.

          Lego now have a broader range than ever. If you want more conservative sets, they are there. Some of the sets with bionicle-type parts are specifically t

    • The last time I looked at the lego blocks in the toy department at WalMart, there were three or four 'tub of blocks' purchase choices available. They were toward the back, and not as well displayed as the 'theme kits.'

      I agree about the boxed single-purpose kits. For goodness sakes, most of them don't even look like Lego blocks, except for the packaging.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Rogue974 ( 657982 )
      I saw an article from a local news person about a year ago that said this exact same thing. I wanted to write to the guy and tell him that no, LEGO didn't remove the imagination, his age removed the imagination. The guy was a late 20's early thirtys single guy who has never watched kids play with the current legos. I have 4 kids and they play with Legos all the time. This is what always happens, they get their set that has the fighter, troll battle wagon, etc and build it per the directions. They then
      • Amen. When I was a kid we had one of the Lego "space" sets, but after building the "actual" model with it we used it for other space-themed installations, and later used some of the parts for the vehicles used by some high-tech criminal gang that roamed the streets of Lego town(!!!)
    • As the father of a five year old, we have bought four set kits(1 power miner, 2 star wars, 1 space police), with these he has built the initial kits according to the directions, which as is doesn't require a lot of imagination but does show he can follow directions. After this he then rebuilt and cannibalized them as he wanted. The last time I was able to figure out the lines of battle the rebels, clone troopers, power miners, and a space cop were in a firefight with lava monsters and a space villain(squi

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by lexbaby ( 88257 )

      You can't give instructions on imagination. So what if there are instructions? You mean you can't build anything else just because the set was intended to build a specific thing? My son will build and rebuild the "intended" model a couple times, and THEN he gets creative. Those Star Wars sets have some pretty unique pieces. He has a blast with them.

    • Lego sets of the past decade or so have been mostly build-it-once kits, and then you have a toy that the kid either plays with or leaves on the shelf.

      That would be the decade before the previous one. They've sort of got their act together a bit recently.

      I know because I've been looking at some today. Sadly I'll have too be patient, hog junior is still at the duplo stage.

  • In a world run by Ubisoft... (Score:4, Funny)

    by bobdotorg ( 598873 ) on Thursday February 18, 2010 @01:01PM (#31186382)

    ... the EULA's fine print would state that if your computer's webcam spots any Mega Bloks, Lego will ban you from the game.

  • In the pirate world (Score:3, Funny)

    by bobdotorg ( 598873 ) on Thursday February 18, 2010 @01:05PM (#31186446)

    FTFA:

    Some worlds will have traditional Lego themes, such as pirates, ninjas and castles, while others will be novel for the Lego space.

    Will the pirate world be built with Mega Bloks?

  • I can hardly wait (Score:3, Funny)

    by idontgno ( 624372 ) on Thursday February 18, 2010 @01:07PM (#31186472) Journal

    to start grinding up to the point of raiding for sweet, sweet epic purple bricks.

    Public chat will be full of "L2PYM" (Learn to play your model) taunts and Chuck Norris Lego facts.

    Lego gold-colored plastic coin sellers will start spamming.

    Griefers will player-kill you and reassemble your bits into something rude and embarrassing. And permanent, since they'll OMGH@x0r the system to glue the parts together that way.

    • Chuck Norris can make a 4-peg red block using only three, single peg yellow blocks and a ROUND HOUSE KICK!

      (That is for your red-shift geeks out there)

  • With users assembling their own models, it wont be too long until the entire world is filled with walking lego penis griefers.
  • Ok i'd buy the game... but not if a subscription fee is required.

    one of the many reasons i got a PS3.

    • Ok i'd buy the game... but not if a subscription fee is required. one of the many reasons i got a PS3.

      Ars (I think it was Ars, at least) recently reported that PS3's online features are soon going to require a subscription.

      • Only a rumor so far, last I heard was that they might have a basic free service (including online play) and extra features available as premium services.

  • Imagination? [wikipedia.org] Will Kyle suck Cartman's balls?

  • Red Blocks are OP.
  • Parents are gonna LOVE that! LEGO is now consorting with Satan?
  • FTFA

    Lego Universe, will launch in the second half of this year and will be overrun by /b/tards building huge Lego penises within a week of that.

  • Ars Technica did a story [arstechnica.com] about a month ago, have a link to a decent video on it.

  • Undoubtedly ... (Score:3, Funny)

    by PPH ( 736903 ) on Thursday February 18, 2010 @02:02PM (#31187178)
    ... one of the hazards in this online world will be Lego pieces hidden in the shag carpeting. Players will have to accumulate enough points to acquire shoes.

  • Stargate's Replicators (Score:4, Funny)

    by HTH NE1 ( 675604 ) on Thursday February 18, 2010 @02:21PM (#31187522)

    Players cannot be killed, but they can be reduced to a pile of unassembled bricks. The idea is to play the game and collect bricks, which will allow users to build more interesting models.

    Well, until Maj. Carter develops a weapon which disrupts the communications between the individual bricks, rendering them inert and harmless.

  • I for one welcome our new Lego World of Warcraft overlords and look forward to bashing in the lego skull of an Orc with my two-handed Lego Battleaxe.

    I'm hoping for a purple drop.

  • My kids are looking forward to this. However, they have been happily playing Roblox (http://www.roblox.com/) for years now. Lots of kids + pure imagination.

  • Think you may have missed this one by some margin.

    I signed up to the newsletter when this was first announced, thinking the thing would be out in about a month. The earliest email I received (entitled "It's the first ever LEGO Universe Newsletter!", fyi) dates from 6 September 2007.

    Still, only out by 900 days. Better luck next time, ./.

  • Just so long as the current free one stays the same.
  • I don't see this game being meh. This is either going to kick immense amounts of ass, or be completely terrible. I just can't see lego making a game that's just okay.

  • Lego Universe, will launch in the second half of this year and will be a subscription-based service (price not disclosed).

    I, don't know why people feel the need to put a comma after the subject in a sentence. It, is stupid.

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