Lego MMOG Announced

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.

Bulding your own stuff

[TheSexican]

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.

An MMO for kids?

[earthbound kid]

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.

Re:Oh Boy

[Carewolf]

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

THINK OF THE CHILDREN!

[Mr_Kcleen]

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?

Re:Oh Boy

[gfxguy]

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 [bricklink.com] 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.

Re:Bulding your own stuff

[ozphx]

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 [penny-arcade.com]

I'm going to need more legos :(