Where is LEGO Worlds?

It’s been a while since we (LUN) have talked about LEGO worlds, and those of you with good memories would also remember that LEGO worlds was hoped to be launched in early 2016 (We are now ending 2016, it is almost past us.)

LEGO worlds was a game that, in concept, is very similar to what LU was going to be originally. And is certainly similar to a game named Minecraft.

(Please see previous Blog posts for more info. Search LEGO Worlds)

So, Where in the world is LEGO Worlds?  Good question :P.

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  Well, Here’s their answer. . .

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“The original plan was to finish the “v1” by mid 2016. However, the experience we have had, has been so overwhelmingly positive that we have decided to continue through to 2017. No firm date just yet, but we’ll share more when we can.”

source: http://store.steampowered.com/app/332310/

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And in another News update:

LEGO Worlds will be leaving Early Access in February 2017

November 29 – ttcrose

Hi all,

As you may now be seeing from the news spreading around, LEGO® Worlds is leaving Early Access in February next year and coming to console as well.

We wanted to share our thanks to you all for helping us during our first ever attempt at not only Early Access, but at doing something that is outside the realms of our normal game design. It has been a project that our team has been excited about since Day 1, and we remain committed to ensuring it’s the best it can be. Mostly though, we want to say thank you to the players that have been contributing suggestions, bug reports, discussions on design choices and of course, an immense amount of fantastic builds to showcase and share with our community and the world at large!

Also, we want to let you know that all Early Access players will be receiving a little something from us on Launch day too.

We will also continue to explore ways we can benefit our Steam players in ways that the platform allows/supports.

So what does leaving Early Access mean to you, us and everyone else then? Ironically, from our perspective, it doesn’t really change all that much in terms of our planning ahead. We have a wall of ideas that we still want to add. But having been in Early Access for over 18 months, we feel it’s the right time. If you’ve been keeping tabs on us through our latest community video, you know the team has been hard at work behind the scenes with some fantastic game updates and we have some amazing things planned for February launch.

For you, it means you know that we’ve reached a point where we can confidently say this title is ready for launch. You’ll also be pleased to hear that we plan to continue to support Worlds for the foreseeable future with a host of regular updates planned throughout the year which will introduce more of your highly requested features, as well as our own!

We look forward to seeing what you can create! Be sure to keep an eye out for our Developer Diaries on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/legoworldsgame) and Tumblr page (http://legoworldsgame.tumblr.com/).

. . . Anyway, speak soon, there’s much to do!

Many thanks,
The LEGO® Worlds Team

source: http://steamcommunity.com/games/332310/announcements/detail/702955069259464057http://steamcommunity.com/games/332310/announcements/detail/702955069259464057

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     So I guess you can expect it sometime early next year!

Finally the wait is over. Maybe soon we will get to play it… 😛

That’s all for this news update!

NENEN

An Update on the ROBLOX crossroads Ideas Project

First post on subject: https://legouniversenews.wordpress.com/2016/02/15/roblox-crossroads-on-lego-ideas/

The ROBLOX Crossroads Ideas Project has hit its first Milestone! (1000 supports)
see the Official Comment: https://ideas.lego.com/projects/77042/official_comments

They currently have doubled that number to 2241 Supporters. CM4Sci has thanked ROBLOX for posting and promoting about the project at the Project Update page https://ideas.lego.com/projects/77042/updates

Because they got these supports they have an extra 6 months (182 days) until the Deadline for the project.

If you haven’t supported this project yet, Please do so now. Don’t Forget to tell your friends where you learned about it!

 

ROBLOX Crossroads on LEGO Ideas.

Finally somebody woke up!

http://blog.roblox.com/2016/02/crossroads-imagined-in-the-world-of-lego/

https://ideas.lego.com/projects/77042

Actually This isn’t the Official LEGO ideas project Roblox was supposed to release a while back (See here). This is a Robloxian (Roblox user) who decided on his own to start a project, and Roblox simply backed him up by mentioning it on their blog.

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“ROBLOX user 4Sci has recreated one of the most iconic places in ROBLOX as an interactive building set, complete with LEGO Minifig versions of some familiar ROBLOX faces.” Roblox Blog post

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CM4Sci (Lego Username) joined the LEGO site 3 years ago and has attempted several projects throughout the time it was possible. This is the most successful with 444 supports at the time I published this article.

The model was built with LEGO Digital Designer and then rendered with Bluerender.

“Play features include:

• Dual doors that can slide open by turning the knobs inside Thieves’ Den!
• Catapult the ROBLOXian off the trampoline!
• Knock the tree over with a hidden lever!
• Use dynamite to explode Blackrock Castle and reveal the hidden chest with the Battle Sword inside!
• Launch the Battle Bomb off the blue Tower!
• Attack from the top of the Thieves’ Den tower!
• Spawn your ROBLOXian on the white Spawn plates!

The model overall is a fun, giant playset full of fun features. ROBLOX is all about creativity, so, the model could be rebuilt into anything you imagine” ROBLOX Crossroads project

 

“Thank you for looking at my project, please check out my other submissions, and don’t forget to support! Let’s see LEGO ROBLOX happen! :)” CM4Sci (Bottom of project description)

So what’s NEXO Knights?

Official LEGO Nexo Knights site: http://www.lego.com/en-us/nexoknights/

 

Introducing new intellectual property that bridges physical and digital play with building sets, episodic content and digital gaming. New York Comic Con attendees get first-look at story, products and gaming app

The LEGO Group today announced LEGO® NEXO KNIGHTS,™ a new, original LEGO property depicting a medieval kingdom set in a futuristic world where five young, brave knights “download” special powers to their shields in order to battle the royal court’s evil Jestro and a cast of monsters to restore peace. The story comes to life through LEGO building sets, an episodic television and a digital gaming app that fuels story-driven gameplay. The property launches later this year, with products available starting January 1, 2016. LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS characters, story, app experience and two iconic building sets from the collection will be previewed to New York Comic Con attendees, Thursday, October 8 through Sunday, October 11 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (Booth #1436).

“Inspired by insights to meet the emerging needs of today’s kids, LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS juxtaposes a timeless world of medieval knights with a futuristic twist in a captivating story that invites children to explore LEGO play in a whole new way,” said Casper Thingholm of the LEGO Group. “LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS offers children the rewarding building experiences they know and love, amplified by digital enhancements that merge what today’s kids love: self-expression, strong characters, deep content-driven story and digital gaming.” http://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/news-room/2015/october/lego-nexo-knights-announcement

Did you guys catch the details? In case you need help, here’s the Summery of the above Quote:

New LEGO theme called NEXO KNIGHTS (Sci-fi Medieval)

There will be Building Sets, ‘Episodic Television’ series, and a Digital gamming ‘app’ for Mobile.

Launches January 1, 2016

Also the rest of the Announcement gives a few More details:

Building Sets and Consumer Products
Fourteen richly detailed building sets will be available in January 2016, ranging in price from $9.99 to $99.99. Additional building sets will launch in August 2016. The first two sets are being revealed at New York Comic Con.

Consumer products partners across key categories are also engaged in creating a merchandise program dedicated to LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS, such as publishing and soft goods.

LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS: MERLOK 2.0 App
To extend the story and increase playing fun, more than 150 unique LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS powers – represented as shields – have been scattered across the kingdom of Knighton. The powers can be found in building sets, online, in print and directly in the television content. Existing in both physical and digital form, children can discover, scan and collect varied powers using the LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS: MERLOK 2.0 app. Once added to a digital power collection, children can creatively and continuously find new ways to join the knights to defeat the enemy, in their gaming experience.

Available in late December 2015, the LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS: MERLOK 2.0 app will be available as a free download via App Store, Google Play, Samsung Apps and Amazon Appstore.

Television Series
LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS, a 20-episode, animated adventure comedy series, will debut on select global broadcast television networks as soon as late December 2015 and air throughout 2016. The core means by which children follow the story and get to know the characters, the series follows the constant adventures of LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS heroes and villains. Children will also be able to scan new LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS powers directly from their content viewing screen into their app games, further connecting their play experience. http://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/news-room/2015/october/lego-nexo-knights-announcement

Also See their Twitter page #UpgradeYourPower

Lego gets Toy of the Year in 3 categories!

Lego gets Toy of the Year in 3 categories!

(Source:http://www.toyassociation.org/TIA/Events/TOTY/Past_TOTY_Winners/Events2/TOTY_Awards/2015_TOTY_Winners.aspx#.VkpWlcuFPcs)

Those catagories are

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E-Connected TOY OF THE YEAR

The best toy that through play help children develop special skills and/or knowledge.

WINNER: LEGO® FUSION by LEGO Systems, Inc.

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EDUCATIONAL TOY OF THE YEAR

The best toy that through play help children develop special skills and/or knowledge.

WINNER: LEGO® Technic by LEGO Systems, Inc.

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PRESCHOOL TOY OF THE YEAR

For toys created for children of any age that have a considerable electronic component involved. This includes “plug ‘n play” and interactive videos.

WINNER: LEGO® Juniors by LEGO Systems, Inc.

Other Nominees:

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GO LEGO! 😛

May the Lord be with you!

NENEN

Funcom releases financial update for LEGO Minifigures Online

As reported back in May, Funcom announced an update to their LEGO Minifigures Online game, changing it to a buy-to-play model in addition to other changes, including a “strong narrative” and an overall story.

Last Thursday, Funcom released a financial update on LMO.

Funcom N.V. (the “Company”) would like to provide an update regarding the launch of the LEGO Minifigures Online game and the financial situation of the Company.

LEGO Minifigures Online launched three weeks and three days ago and the Company has gathered enough information on the initial sales to provide an update. The game is currently not meeting internal revenue forecasts. This is mostly due to low sales on the PC platform.

Sales on the iOS platform have performed better, mainly due to the featuring in the Apple Store during the launch week, but as the price point of the game on this platform is lower, these additional sales are not enough to compensate for the low sales on PC for the time being.

The article went on to state that while traffic to the game’s website and app store listing increased after the game update earlier this month, the expected conversion rate has not been met, though the upcoming Halloween LEGO Minifigure series “may have an impact on the sales of the game.”

Funcom contributes the lower-than-expected sales to more limited exposure to “gaming press” and “in traditional gaming outlets” due to “among other possible factors, the fact that the game has been available since last year.”

The article also interestingly states that revenue from all of Funcom’s current games “are not expected to cover both operational expenses and the debt repayment obligations” and are working with their principle creditor “to resolve the situation in a timely manner.”

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Personal observation and opinion here: it was only a matter of time before news like this came out. LMO has received much criticism and had large troubles since it’s launch in October 2014, from micro-transactions to boring gameplay and overall weak sales from the beginning. I, as well as many others, saw the buy-to-play transition as the nail-in-the-coffin for LMO, and with the undeniably massive success of LEGO® Worlds, I still feel it is only a matter of time before LMO, if not Funcom itself, is shutdown.

What is your reaction to this news? Surprised, excepted, indifferent? Let me know in the comments!

-le717

LEGO® Worlds Early Access Beta

Yesterday witnessed two events in LEGO video games. We first say farewell to Legends of Chima Online, which closed down yesterday, making it the second LEGO MMO to shut down.

Also yesterday, appearing out of the brick-built blue sky, was a new LEGO video game: LEGO® Worlds.

(Fan news) Bound – Brickfilm Epic Released

This is not official LEGO news, this is news of the LEGO fan community.

Monitogo Studios, a sibling-started LEGO film company, has officially released their first feature film, Bound. Bound is a 49 minute stop-motion epic. Read a synopsis below:

An incredible stop motion adventure following two children and an old man on a quest to rescue their brother from the clutches of a fearsome foe. Following Zathen’s abduction by his worst enemy, his two younger siblings must learn to face unknown fears and follow the guidance of a wiser man. Amidst harsh weather, villains, and twisted backstory, the trio’s dedication to their quest will be firmly tested. Climaxing at the enemy stronghold, Bound provides an interesting and fun adventure for the family in a format and scale never before seen in brickfilm. After all, there are no holds barred when someone’s soul is on the line.

Imagined and created by Greg and Monica Tull, Bound has been in the works since 2009, and was successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2013. The film debuted at the 2015 Christian Worldview Film Festival and is now available for purchase on Monitogo Studios’ website. Currently, only a DVD copy is available, but a digital download is coming soon.

 
Visit their website: monitogostudios.com

 
You can check out the film’s trailer below:

LEGO Minifigures Series 13

Coming soon to a store near you! LEGO Minifigures Series 13! Featuring the Disco Deva, Lady Cyclops, “Classic” King, Snake Charmer, and more, they are a whacky bunch of minifigures wrapped up in lime green bags!

Check them out on LEGO.com.

With 16 all-new, special minifigures in Series 13, the LEGO^® Minifigure Collection continues to grow.
Each Minifigure comes in a sealed “mystery” bag with its own special accessories, display plate and collector’s leaflet. Inspired by movies, sports, history and just everyday life, this collection includes: Alien Trooper, Carpenter, Classic King, Disco Diva, Egyptian Warrior, Evil Wizard, Fencer, Galaxy Trooper, Goblin, Hot Dog Man, Lady Cyclops, Paleontologist, Samurai, Sheriff, Snake Charmer, Unicorn Girl.

• Each Minifigure includes unique character accessories, a display stand with LEGO studs and a Series 13 collector’s leaflet
• A code that will unlock the character in the bag in the LEGO© Minifigures Online game.
• A surprise each time! You never know which Minifigure is hiding inside the sealed “mystery” bag.
• Collect and trade with your friends!

LEGO Elves

LEGO has recently announced a new theme. If you’re a fan of LEGO Friends, or of the LEGO Friends-themed characters, then this is for you. LEGO Elves. That’s right, girls (and guys, I guess, if they are in to this kind of thing) now have a second third LEGO line. Breaking away from the evergreen land of Heatlake City, comes a new and magical world full of Unicorns, elves, and strange portals. You can check out the teaser video below:

Here is my guess of what the storyline is, just from watching this video:

A girl steps through a portal from her home into the land of Elves, and there are four or five keys, each have to do with some element (like fire, water, wind, plants, etc.). Once they find those keys, they can re-open the portal and let the girl go back home. Each main character also has to do with an element. Hence the fire dress and the horticulturist boy.

If you are doing an epic facepalm right now, then please don’t hurt yourself. And look on the bright side, if you’re no interested in this theme, there are going to be some cool new hair-pieces created for it. I for one think this is a great thing. LEGO is not only making toys for boys now, they are branching out. I don’t like the Mini-dolls, but I think that LEGO should spread imagination as much as possible, and this is a great way to do it.

-rioforce