14 DAY TRIAL // The GDC is the place for launching new and ambitious projects, as the buzz from the gaming crowd is almost guaranteed. LEGO representative Mark Hansen has offered a flurry of details regarding LEGO's upcoming MMO universe.
LEGO expects every man that has ever played or ever dreamed of playing with its bricks to be ready to take the fun on-line. The MMO they are preparing will let you build, destroy, rebuild and then destroy again a varied array of objects and the building blocks will be LEGO bricks.
This being a MMO, there's bound to be a social element to it. Each player will have a fully customizable brick avatar that will show both how the player is feeling and how much he has played with the on-line bricks (yes, I make it a point of using "bricks" as much as possible in a LEGO material). Digital LEGO pets will be also be made available, along with dozens of tools, weapons and other accessories. All LEGO bricks, no glue, no nails.
As the game is primarily aimed at kids up to around 12 years of age, all the virtual brick creations will be monitored so giant dangling genitalia will not appear all over the place. But the fun in building is not just for kids and Hansen expressed a hope that grown-ups will also play the game. As part time Second Life, part time building game and part time traditional MMO, the experience could prove a big draw for casual gamers that are looking for a game that does not require huge amounts of time and that brings to the table nice visuals and a satisfying experience.
And there is, of course, going to be a competition aspect to the on-line world and even an ongoing conflict between the good guys and the bad guys. Players will be able to get coin, compete for treasure, explore worlds based on the various LEGO sets already available in real life and guilds will be formed to tackle some of the bigger construction challenges the developers will put in the game. Regular events will be organized by the team running the MMO, and there's a chance that LEGO Batman of LEGO Skywalker will make appearances.
There have been no details on a projected release date, or on the pricing, other than that it is going to be subscription-based. As more details emerge we will be sure to bring them to you.