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Lego MMOG Announced

Posted by Zonk on from the swordhand-connects-to-the-orc's-face dept.

Gamespot is reporting that a Lego Massively Multiplayer Game aimed at kids is in the works. Developer NetDevil, makers of Auto Assault, will be working on the project. No firm details beyond the project's announcement at this point, but the site slates the game for a 2008 launch.

16 of 61 comments (clear)

  1. Oh Boy by inklein · · Score: 2, Interesting

    As a kid who grew up on legos, does a computer game destroy the point of legos?
    I mean, you're supposed to BUILD with them!

    1. Re:Oh Boy by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Interesting

      That's not what LEGO is about. The really cool thing 'bout them was that you could take the (more or less) generic parts and build something new that came out of your imagination.

      I've recently seen some of the "newer" LEGO boxes and I was appalled. I mean, what does it have to do with LEGO when you get like 4 parts that you have to link together, and which you can't put together any other way than how it's intended?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    2. Re:Oh Boy by Carewolf · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It could be Second Life universe for kids, where the kids can create their own content using Lego.

    3. Re:Oh Boy by gfxguy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Hello. My name is GfxGuy, I'm 40 years old, and I'm a lego-holic.

      ["hi, GfxGuy"]

      Some sets are like that, but they are usually for the younger kids. My daughter has one set with a little fairy tale setting where the set really is basically four pieces (a floor plate, two wall/shelf things, and a pointy top), but it also came with a number of accessory pieces, plants and so forth that can be used anywhere. It's true that the wall is useless for anything else. There was a dinosaur kit my son got, and it was exactly like you mentioned - a foot piece that could only reasonably be used with the leg piece that could only be used with the hip piece...

      On the other hand, I like a lot of the pieces. Sometimes I get ideas based around, for example, an interesting new cockpit design, or engines (they have several jet engines now).

      But beyond that, my favorites were always various wheelsets and doors and windows. Sure, I could get a tub of lego and build a house, by why should I have to imagine working doors and windows?

      So yes, I agree they've gone too far, I think it's mostly in sets that try to appeal to younger kids. My son also got a dragon set (it's a really big dragon - if you're still into lego, you'd probably know the one I'm talking about). He gave up right quick, so I built it for him. It's almost completely "generic" pieces that can be used elsewhere. Even the cloth pieces that came for the wings could be used as a sail or something.

      So the more complicated sets, the ones with hundreds of pieces - I believe they still are like that; you can use the pieces for anything your imagination wants.

      And if you have a specific idea you think would be cool with Lego, then BrickLink is your friend. I wanted to make a bridge to work with the lego trains, and got all the technique girders and pins from there.

      --
      Stupid sexy Flanders.
  2. So let me get this straight by dave1791 · · Score: 4, Funny

    So let me get this straight! Instead of my son knocking down my daughter's masterpiece Lego tower, some anonymous greifer will do it?

    Oh yeah, I just soooooooooo have to subscribe.

  3. Purely Training... by Clazzy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Start them on this and move them up to WoW, it's a perfect scheme to get more people addicted, don't you think?

    --
    If we can hit that bull's-eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards... Checkmate.
    1. Re:Purely Training... by toleraen · · Score: 2, Funny

      Toontown Online did this years ago, and if you've spent much time in WoW's general chat channels, you've seen that they've moved on already. God bless the ignore command!

  4. Bulding your own stuff by TheSexican · · Score: 3, Insightful

    There would be some awsome opportunities in this game to be able to build your own houses, cars, super-weapons or whatever by finding/obtaining the raw Lego building blocks needed and then assembling them in any manner you choose. It would allow user-created content a-la Spore with such massive potential. Furthermore, quests could be used to make obtaining certain Lego parts challenging. But yeah, in the end it just seems like if the game designers really put some thought into this then they might have a great game on their hands that would allow today's children to build with Lego virtually, preparing them for future high-tech computer jobs while still having fun.

    --
    Hey, guys. Big gulps, huh? Cool. All right! Well, see ya later.
    1. Re:Bulding your own stuff by ozphx · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yes, because the first thing people are going to build is a lego house.

      Prepare mortals, to feast your eyes on Phallus Maximus, the largest creation in the land.

      http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2003/06/13

      I'm going to need more legos :(

      --
      3laws: No freebies, no backsies, GTFO.
  5. An MMO for kids? by earthbound+kid · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Does anyone else think this is a Bad Idea? If there's one thing we've learned from Second Life, it's that left to build their own world from scratch, adults on the internet will make a lot of sex shops. Now, even if the Lego MMO is targeted for kids, it's also going to be pretty popular with people who played with LEGOs as kids, which means it's inevitable that the entire world is filled with nothing but boobs and wieners made out of CGI little plastic blocks.

    It's like, "think of the children," only for real this time, because seriously adults are going to fill Legoland with crap.

    1. Re:An MMO for kids? by iainl · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Really? Not insubstantial portions of the internet are filled with adult geeks who still play with Lego, and their designs. But these are usually nano-scale Giant Japanese Robots, Star Wars vehicles, assorted creatures from the Cthulhu Mythos and film sets.

      As much as I don't want ten replies with links to anatomical Lego designs, there seems a higher chance of your daughter being attacked by Yog Sothoth than animated penii.

      --
      "I Know You Are But What Am I?"
    2. Re:An MMO for kids? by argStyopa · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I'm not entirely sure I agree.
      I would have agreed with you that MMOs are inevitably 'tainted', but Disney's Toontown is an outstanding example of a fun MMO that is totally child-safe. I was amazed at the unobtrusive yet secure protections that they have in place, yet it remains a really quite a fun game.

      So I wouldn't say it's impossible. Difficult? Especially if you hand them freeform construction tools, yes. But I would no longer say impossible.

      --
      -Styopa
  6. THINK OF THE CHILDREN! by Mr_Kcleen · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Everyone is so opposed to getting kids hooked on cocaine, and then they put out an MMORPG for kids! Why don't they sprinkle some heroin around the schoolyard while they're at it?

  7. Blockland!! by Some+Guy · · Score: 3, Interesting

    There is already a game where you build with lego-like-but-not-lego blocks. It's called Blockland and it's cool. Although it isn't massive, it is multiplayer...

  8. Netdevil, huh? by Bieeanda · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Given the abysmal sales and retention rates of Auto Assault, and the server consolidations that have resulted from both, I'm really surprised that anyone was crazy enough to finance their pursuit of such a lucrative license.

  9. Crafting is going to rock by CharAznable · · Score: 3, Funny

    No word on classes? combat system? instanced Lego dungeons? races? I bet crafting is going to be awesome.

    --
    The perfect sig is a lot like silence, only louder