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 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 Minifigures Online Open Beta Released!

Yesterday, LEGO Minifigures Online closed beta testers (like myself) received emails saying that the Closed Beta was complete and that the Open-beta would be coming soon. I am happy to announce that Today, June 17, 2014, LEGO Minifigures Online Open Beta is out and you can now play the game. (Isn’t it strange how it came out the same day that The LEGO Movie was released on DVD and Blu-ray?). LEGO Minifigures Online is Free-to-play (sorta. Read below for more info). If you want to play, just go to www.playminifigures.com and log in with your LEGO ID.

Now, about the “Free-to-play” part. The game is Free-to-play, but if you don’t pay, you don’t get a lot of features. For example, you don’t get to play the game on a tablet. Only on the PC. There are many micro-transactions, which means that this free game has a lot of hidden fees. This game is completely unlike LEGO Universe (in more than one way, but you really cannot compare the games), which had a pay-for game and a free-to-play version and absolutely no micro-transactions.

LEGO Minifigures Online at GDC 2014

Last week, Funcom displayed LEGO Minifigures Online to the public at GDC 2014. Among other things, this demo featured the new Pirate World and a revamped GUI. You can check out some of the pictures and videos:

http://www.ign.com/videos/2014/03/27/5-unique-moments-in-lego-minifigures-online

We’re ready to show off #LEGO Minifigures Online for press at #GDC today. The venue is looking cool! http://t.co/y3KBgUfVSh

— Funcom (@funcom) March 18, 2014

LEGO Minifigures Online – February 2014 Report

On February 28th, Funcom released their Q4 2013 report. This report enclosed new details of LEGO Minifigures Online, which is currently in closed beta. Here are images from the report:

Here is the text-version of the report. I have put key points in bold text that you might want to notice.

• The development of the game is on schedule for Open Beta in summer 2014
• The team working on the game met all major deliveries during 4Q12, the first closed beta being the most important
• The Feedback from testers was good on game play, fun factor and visuals
• Feedback on usability, including user interface and how you interact with it was mixed, and the team has acted to address these issues in 1Q14. A revised user interface will be available in the next Closed Beta phase
• Focus for 1Q14 is to address the issues reported in the first closed beta phase and initiate a new round of closed beta inviting a few more to participate in testing the game
• In addition the team continued to deliver a significant amount of features and content  during 4Q13
• Tablet version of the game  will be available in 2014
• The current strategy is to launch this game as a “free to play” game in open beta summer 2014
• What defines a game in the ”Free to play” space is the free entrance to the game where you can play the whole game, or parts of it, for free
• The Company will for LEGO® Minifigures Online utilize a mix of business mechanics that is known for the ”Free to play” space. This can include different kinds of microtransactions, membership benefits, up-sale packs or a mix of this. The Company will for LEGO® Minifigures Online continuously evaluate different business mechanics and change according to market needs
• Typically a game in the ”Free to play” space will start soft with focused marketing in limited markets while constantly tweaking and even changing game and business mechanics for months and years after commercial launch
• Revenues will typically follow the same trend, starting soft for then to be grown constantly as the game evolves over months and years
• The Company strongly advise investors to seek more information about the game industry in general and the ”Free to play” space in terms of revenue expectations in particular

If you’ll notice, the game is going to be free (at least some of it) with microtransactions. Microtransactions are where people use real money to pay to access more of the game. Also, there will be an open beta in 2014.

-rioforce

Official LEGO Minifigures Online Website Launched

The new official website for LEGO Minifigures Online has launched! You can collect stars throughout the website, unlock minifigures, and check out the bio and in-game stats of the minifigures!

http://www.playminifigures.com/

Funcom also created a new trailer for LEGO Minifigures Online. You can view it on their website, or below.

LEGO Minifigures Online Beta Invites To Be Sent Soon

In Funcom’s Third Quarter Financial Report, they released some new information on the upcoming LEGO Minifigures Online game. You can read the entire report here:

http://www.funcom.com/investors/funcoms_third_quarter_financial_report_for_2013

Massively Interviews Developers of LEGO Minifigures Online

Today, massively.joystiq.com interviewed the Producer (Lawrence Poe) and Designer (Oscar López Lacalle) about the new upcoming MMOG, LEGO Minifigures Online. I have re-posted the interview here, but if you want, you can visit the original post:

http://massively.joystiq.com/2013/10/21/piecing-together-the-details-of-lego-minifigures-online-with-the

Massively: Funcom had a rough year with downsizing and a team merge that affected all three of its extant MMOs. What made Funcom think now was the right time to tackle a new MMO? What will the impact be on the other MMOs in Funcom’s stable?

Lawrence Poe: We announced and began preproduction on LEGO Minifigures Online prior to the launch of The Secret World. The team needs were outlined before the downsizing took place and were factored into those decisions. The other MMOs are being supported and updated by our talented Live Team in our North Carolina studio, while LEGO Minifigures Online is being developed in the Oslo studio. The biggest impact the projects have on each other is that we all work from the same tech base, which we’ve been building upon and fine-tuning over several years and has powered all of our MMOs, so any improvements one team does to the tech can be adopted by the other, which is a win-win for everybody.

It’s impossible to avoid comparisons to the now-defunct LEGO Universe, which initially sported a subscription fee that was prohibitive to the family audience. How will this new take on a LEGO MMO differ from the earlier on in terms of business model and creative design? On what points is it the same?

New Video – LEGO Minifigures Online

Shortly after the announcement of LEGO Minifigures Online this morning, Gamespot released a video of a developer talking about the new MMOG. You can watch the video here:

[U] LEGO Minifigures Online Information Revealed!

We’ve waited over a week and the information is finally here! Funcom has officially announced LEGO Minifigures Online! Instead of me rehashing all of the details, check it out for yourself!

Article

Get ready to meet the Minifigures! Collect them all and bring them with you on grand adventures in LEGO Minifigures Online – an epic online adventure where you get to explore colorful locations such as Pirate World, Space World and Medieval World!

Play together with thousands of other players and battle your way through monstrous riff-raff as you develop your Minifigures’ unique and powerful abilities. Smash, build and collect – thousands of exciting adventures are just a brick away in LEGO Minifigures Online!

LEGO Minifigures Online will launch for PC, iOS and Android during the second half of 2014.

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