Filed under: LEGO Universe

Progression and building in LEGO Universe

by Kyle Horner Oct 27th 2009 at 4:00PM

Filed under: New titles, Previews, News items, LEGO Universe

Information on LEGO Universe has been somewhat thin as of late, but that's beginning to change. Over at 1up you'll find a meaty preview that covers quite a bit of ground, including basic MMO features like progression to LEGO specific stuff like building quests. The building mode is of course the keystone to this game, and the fact that a player cannot be harmed when entering the mode speaks volumes about its importance.

Aside from building mode, zones in LEGO Universe are likely to be distinctly memorable due to the licenses' ability to have pirate, ninja, robot or even Star Wars themed planets -- assuming they're capable of using any of their real world toy lines within the game. And as for combat? If you've played any of the console LEGO games, then you'll know what to expect, which is essentially action-based combat. There's a lot more detail in the actual preview, so check it out if building with bricks is how you get your kicks.

Building the LEGO Universe MMO

by Seraphina Brennan Sep 23rd 2009 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Business models, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, News items, LEGO Universe, Kids

It's slowly coming together -- brick by brick. The LEGO Universe MMO is still on track, and it's still under control of NetDevil. While the company has gone quite quiet on the production of Jumpgate Evolution, GamesIndustry.biz was able to catch up with the company at GamesCom in Cologne to ask them some questions about the LEGO Universe MMO.

This interview is with Ryan Seabury, the creative director on the project, and focuses in on the challenges behind making a directed gaming experience coupled with the creative power of a sandbox game, and then making it all accessible for kids and their families. It's really a great read if you're interested in how game design decisions are made, and how LEGO Universe will bridge the gap between an entirely open sandbox world and a more "theme park" experience.

Devs spill the beans on LEGO Universe

by Lesley Smith Aug 28th 2009 at 3:00PM

Filed under: Interviews, New titles, News items, Hands-on, Casual, LEGO Universe, Kids

Wired.com's GeekDad blogger Curtis Silver has taken some time to sit down with LEGO Universe's Producer, Ryan Seabury, and the games development team. The lengthy interview was posted earlier this week and really gets under the skin of this odd little MMO. Silver also snagged two new exclusive screenshots and states that "LEGO Universe will bridge the generational gap between geek parents and geek kids". After all, who doesn't love LEGO?

The interview itself is really quite in-depth. Silver asks, for example, if we will be able to play as Batman or other characters from the LEGO franchise videogames (no). Additionally, the piece also goes into what kind of gameplay and building we can expect and what sort of PC you're going to need to play it. The dev team seem to be aiming at a wide audience from geeks young and old to kids experiencing LEGO for the first and their parents. Indeed from the interview it certainly sounds awfully promising:

"Whether you're brand-new to LEGO construction or an expert brick builder, whether you like to follow the instructions or just go crazy making up your own creations, you'll be able to use bricks to build virtual LEGO models both on your own and with other players. You'll be helping to create and customize the worlds of LEGO Universe as you play. You'll be able to chat, team up for quests, build amazing LEGO creations together, and choose whether to cooperate or compete as you complete fun and creative challenges ... or adventure and build all on your own if that's your thing. How you play in LEGO Universe is up to you."

[Thanks Hector!]

LEGO Universe screenshots reveal a first look at LEGO MMO

by Lesley Smith Aug 20th 2009 at 11:00AM

Filed under: Screenshots, New titles, News items, LEGO Universe, Kids

As all gamers know, LEGO is big business having created successful games out of franchises like Batman, Star Wars and, of course, Indiana Jones. Well now it's venturing into MMO territory (yes we're also trying to get our heads around it too) with NetDevil's LEGO Universe. The company has just revealed a few screenshots showing character customisation and three of the sets (focusing on pirates, space and ninjas) but for fans of the console games this may very well be the MMO for you. LEGO Universe is scheduled to be released on PC in 2010 and does seem to capture everything we loved about the bricks in a game, whether it pays off as an MMO remains to be seen. To judge for yourself, check out all the images here.

[Via Shacknews]

Gazillion Entertainment Names Stuart Moulder as VP

by Jon Shute May 21st 2009 at 11:00AM

Filed under: Jumpgate Evolution, MMO industry, LEGO Universe

Gazillion Entertainment have announced that their expansion into the MMO market continues with hiring Stuart Moulder as their new Vice President of Studios, with responsibility for game development across all of their studios. Gazillion recently announced that they had purchased Netdevil, who are developing Jumpgate Evolution and LEGO Universe. They also announced that they are developing two games based on the Marvel superhero licence.

Moulder has most recently worked as Senior Vice President at Screenlife where he was responsible for bringing the Scene It? license to games as helping with the sale of the company to Paramount Digital. He also spent eight years at Microsoft where he was responsible for acquiring and managing companies such as Halo developer Bungie, Age of Empires and Halo Wars developer Ensemble Studios and veteran developers FASA of Mechwarrior and Shadowrun fame, although since he has left Microsoft we have seen Ensemble Studios and FASA shut down and Bungie has become independent.

LEGO Universe character creation a soulful experience

by Kyle Horner Apr 7th 2009 at 7:00PM

Filed under: New titles, Previews, News items, LEGO Universe

If there's one thing that LEGO Universe has going for it over any other MMO on the market or coming anytime soon, it's creativity. When your game is based on a franchise that's seen countless boys, girls and men and women alike sitting on the floor snapping together little plastic bricks to make well, anything, you've got a powerful place to design a game on.

And as you would expect, Wired's latest preview of the game shows of plenty of soul and creativity. Our favorite quote from the whole preview is easily this, "Mini-figs are endowed with a creative spark, a "soul" that will never die. They're also fairly exuberant: They'll start mashing the 'randomize' button on their own if you take too long to begin the customization process." We certainly hope that feature stays with the game until release, and that many more like it are scattered throughout the game.

All that being said, LEGO Universe is still going to have all the MMO trappings such as story, conflict and combat. And that's just fine with us considering it'll let millions of people across the globe live our their LEGO ninjas versus pirates versus robots fantasies.

Gallery: LEGO Universe Main Gallery

Gazillion VP shares plans for Marvel Universe, Lego Universe, and beyond

by James Egan Mar 30th 2009 at 12:00PM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Super-hero, Jumpgate Evolution, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, Marvel Universe Online, Casual, LEGO Universe, Kids

If you've been reading Massively over the past few weeks, it's likely you've heard us mention Gazillion Entertainment. They're a company that seemingly came out of nowhere and revealed that they've acquired NetDevil (thus Jumpgate Evolution and LEGO Universe) and have two MMOs based on Marvel Comics IPs in development; Super Hero Squad is geared towards kids while Marvel Universe is aimed squarely at older comic fans.

Our parent site Joystiq managed to get some face time at GDC 2009 with Gazillion's VP of Marketing Paul Baldwin who explained a bit about the company and their plans for the MMO industry.

NetDevil acquired by Gazillion Entertainment... last July

by Kyle Horner Mar 18th 2009 at 9:00AM

Filed under: Jumpgate Evolution, New titles, News items, LEGO Universe

We've got good news that also happens to be a bit strange. Remember that new publisher that's now bringing us the Marvel MMO? Well, it turns out that NetDevil was actually acquired in July 2008 by the newly revealed Gazillion Entertainment. NetDevil's Scott "Scorch" Brown says in his post on the official Jumpgate Evolution forums that the choice was made due to Gazillion's shared view on game development. Specifically, the two companies value lots of focus testing, vertical slice development, iterating until things are great and only releasing games when they are ready.

The strange part is of course the announcement of an acquisition that occured over half a year ago. We're assuming the delay was due to Gazillion wanting to make a big announcement splash, but it's dark business magic like this that make us scratch our heads sometimes.

Is this news and that of Codemaster's chief operating officer unexpectedly departing from the company connected? It's hard to say, but at this point it's anybody's guess as to what's really going on.

LEGO Universe eventually hitting consoles

by Kyle Horner Feb 18th 2009 at 12:00PM

Filed under: New titles, News items, Consoles, LEGO Universe

Just yesterday, MTV Multiplayer's Tracey John spoke with LEGO Universe's project lead Mark Hansen about several topics. His most curious response was to the inquiring of a possible console version of the up-and-coming click 'em together MMO, wherein he basically said yes -- albeit with a caveat. That little "but" is that a console version would exist sometime in the game's future and probably not at the launch date. And considering that launch day just got a little further away, we could be waiting a while.

And while putting something like LEGO Universe on a console sounds like the perfect idea, it seems like we'll just have to build our giant space pirate ships complete with castle tower and damsel in distress on our PCs first, and our Xbox's and PlayStation's second.

LEGO Universe not clicking together in 2009

by James Egan Feb 17th 2009 at 5:00PM

Filed under: Launches, MMO industry, News items, Casual, LEGO Universe, Kids

We've got bad news for all the LEGO maniacs out there, who've been looking forward to LEGO Universe in 2009. They're going to have to wait a bit longer for NetDevil's take on massively multiplayer LEGO play, according to Kotaku's Brian Crecente, who reports that LEGO Universe may not even see a 2010 release date.

Despite the economic troubles many MMO developers are coping with these days, this news about LEGO Universe is not necessarily a bad thing. Kotaku spoke with the director of business development for the LEGO group, Mark Hansen, who said, "Within the company we have made a strategic decision within LEGO to make a delay of LEGO Universe. It will not be coming out in 2009. The reason is, we have a luxury right now, the business is going good. We have products that are not digital, the physical products, with them going so well we don't want to take focus away from them."

A big list of MMOs to watch in 2009

by Michael Zenke Jan 8th 2009 at 3:00PM

Filed under: Aion, Darkfall, Huxley, Jumpgate Evolution, MMO industry, New titles, Stargate Worlds, The Agency, Chronicles of Spellborn, Free Realms, Champions Online, LEGO Universe, FusionFall, DC Universe Online, Star Wars: The Old Republic

Over at The Vault, they've put up an exhaustive list of all the MMO titles you should have your eye on throughout the new year. While they sort of term it as thought it's a big list of games coming out this year, we think they know it's unlikely all of those games are going to be released in the next twelve months. With that in mind, if you aren't sure what games you should have on your radar (and you haven't clicked our handy "upcoming MMOs" widget above), this massive list will bring you up to date.

Here at Massively, of course, we've been doing our own level best to keep you updated on a lot of these titles, be they AAA superhero games like Champions Online or DC Universe Online. We've talked fervently about Star Wars: The Old Republic, and given you the skinny on under-the-radar titles like Aion, FreeRealms, and Jumpgate Evolution. We've even walked away from our precious fantasy to talk about games like APB or The Agency. The Vault's list is a great one to run down - check it out to see what game you should be obsessing over today!

NetDevil talks past, present and future of MMOs

by Shawn Schuster Dec 20th 2008 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Jumpgate Evolution, Business models, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, LEGO Universe

Now that Tabula Rasa will be closing in two months, many of us are remembering a similar situation in 2007 with NCsoft's Auto Assault. The game's development team at NetDevil was fairly outspoken at the time about what they felt was a savable game, yet NCsoft saw it as a business decision. One of the most vocal NetDevil employees who tried to save the game was Scott Brown. Ten Ton Hammer caught up with Brown in a recent interview where he gave his current views on Auto Assault's closing, what the company is working on now and a hint at what's in their future.

"I would never turn off a game." Brown says in the interview. "I would do what I would need to do to make the game support itself, but why turn it off? Especially when there are people that love your game?" With knowing what they know now, Brown discusses how the studio has changed their development process. Their current projects, including the LEGO Universe MMO, Jumpgate and an unannounced web-based game coming soon, are enough to keep this company from focusing too much on their past mistakes and just blasting forward into the future.

This interview is part one of two, so look for more from Scott Brown in the second half coming next week.

Lego Universe could eventually include Star Wars, Indiana Jones

by Michael Zenke Oct 6th 2008 at 1:00PM

Filed under: New titles, Casual, Massively Interviews, LEGO Universe, Kids

We recently had the chance to speak with Ryan Seabury, Producer for Netdevil's in-development Lego Universe. Along with Project Lead Mark Hansen, Seabury gave us an insider's look at the exciting create/play/explore world of Legos online. The two men were extremely confident in their vision for the project, and we couldn't help but be impressed by their passion for bringing this millions-of-kids strong product to the world of MMO gaming.

Join us as we talk to Seabury and Hansen about the background behind the project, and what kind of worlds we'll be seeing. From Castle to Racers and everything in between, it sounds like whatever kind of kid you are at heart there'll be something there to enjoy. And, of course, the exciting news is that it's definitely possible we'll one day see Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and the other licensed Lego products inside of Lego Universe.

Read on, and be sure to come back for our next interview clip about gameplay!

Lego IPs interview pt. 2

by Michael Zenke Oct 6th 2008 at 1:00PM

Filed under: Massively Interviews, LEGO Universe, Kids

Mark: How many play themes there have been? There's been over a couple of thousand. But they're all very different, right, because there are some that are underwater, there are some that are in space. We have a couple of 'evergreen' sets that have been with us forever. Lego City was one of those themes, Racers, the car set, that's been with us forever, Castle has always been very popular. You're going to see them and those different universes come alive. That's why we work so closely with NetDevil.

We want to get that Lego passion and Lego understanding of our products across. If it was as easy as saying, "Here's Lego Castle, let's make it into an MMO", we wouldn't need to do that. It's not that easy. It's how we tie every set together. It's for every kid out there that loves Lego. It's a community of 3 million people, that we have. Each have different interests, you can see if you go online. There are Trains, there have City, they have Space, everything. They're trying to fit a little bit of each in to start with. What we're trying to do with the game is put enough content out there, to see that this is a creative game. You can create what you want, so how far are you going to take it?

The how and why of LEGO Universe's early focus testing

by Kyle Horner Sep 23rd 2008 at 5:00PM

Filed under: New titles, News items, LEGO Universe

Gamasutra has an interesting article up concerning the reasons and implementations of early focus testing; two and a half years early in the case of NetDevil's LEGO MMO. They speak at length with LEGO Universe lead producer Ryan Seabury about why NetDevil has been taking the early approach to testing and how they do it in a way that actually helps the game. The biggest piece of the puzzle seems to be that LEGO itself has been treating the upcoming game like any of its other projects by offering its own consumer testing group to support LEGO Universe's development. Although there's a lot more to getting helpful results out of the process.

It sounds like NetDevil has learned a hard lesson from their time spent on creating Auto Assault, which didn't receive any focus testing until the end of its development cycle. This isn't an entirely new tune from the MMO developer out in Denver. They've been taking a similar approach with the sci-fi space shooter MMO, Jumpgate Evolution. Things are looking pretty positive for both games if our impressions from time spent playing and seeing Jumpgate Evolution at PAX 08 is any indication. Hopefully we'll soon begin to hear some information on the actual game part of LEGO Universe and not just the development of the game.