Joystiq

PSA: Lego Universe free trial begins today

JC Fletcher — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:15:00 EST

] There's no longer a financial barrier blocking your access to Lego Universe. The block-rocking MMO's free-to-play trial offer has opened, allowing players to experience a chunk of the game, including one "property area" to build as you see fit, and two "adventure zones."

If you decide you like the interconnecting world of Lego Universe, you can upgrade to the $10 monthly membership at any time, and open up the rest of the world, comprising five "property worlds" and 15 adventure zones. There's also a Ninjago expansion coming this year for paid users. You wouldn't want to miss that.

Gallery: Lego Universe (Free-to-play)

Continue reading PSA: Lego Universe free trial begins today

PSA: Lego Universe free trial begins today originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free-to-play trial version of Lego Universe coming in August

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST

The world of The Lego Group's blocky MMO, Lego Universe, will expand to include a brand new, thriftier audience this August when a free-to-play version of the title will open its plasticky doors. Users of the free version will have unlimited time to romp around a specific zone that features a limited set of features from the full game, and will be able to upgrade to a full-blown, $10-per-month membership at any time.

The Lego Group has elected to make the game's client a free download rather than a retail product, alongside this free tier. This may upset those who previously purchased the game for real, tangible currency, but think of it this way: You were basically just paying a premium to get a head start on picking up the best bricks. These freeloaders will have to settle for those sticky bricks, most of which have all manner of bric-a-brac lodged into their hollow undercarriages.

Continue reading Free-to-play trial version of Lego Universe coming in August

Free-to-play trial version of Lego Universe coming in August originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lego Group purchases Lego Universe and dev team from Gazillion

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:02:00 EST

The Lego Group has acquired Lego Universe -- and most of the NetDevil developers who were part of the project. A Gazillion representative explained to Joystiq that before Gazillion's acquisition of NetDevil, NetDevil had already begun Lego Universe as a work-for-hire project, and now Lego has bought the rights from Gazillion for Lego Universe itself.

"The transition of members of our team to the Lego Group allows us to conclude the work-for-hire segment of NetDevil's business and lets us expand our internally-published, free-to-play game businesses," said David Brevik, President and COO of Gazillion. "We're proud of the Lego Universe game that our team built, and we are certain that it has a bright future."

Gazillion notes there was a "minor staff reduction" at NetDevil, but that most of the staff was retained by Lego. Lego System A/S is expected to take over the space that NetDevil is currently occupying, and the remaining non-Lego-aligned NetDevil staffers are moving to a new building. NetDevil is currently working on Fortune Online, with Gazillion unable to comment on the status of Jumpgate Evolution due to the current legal entanglement.

Update: Following up on NetDevil's "minor staff reduction," a Gazillion rep told us: "Less than a quarter of the Lego Universe team was let go with the transition."

We weren't able to obtain NetDevil's prior or current head count, but we were told that 40 people are working on the Fortune Online project, which is the studio's key focus.

Lego Group purchases Lego Universe and dev team from Gazillion originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gazillion's 'Fortune Online' is Diablo-esque, closed beta begins

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 02:00:00 EST

Gazillion Entertainment had an announcement one-two punch with Fortune Online today, not only revealing the game, but also the start of its closed beta. The multiplayer browser-based, free-to-play dungeon crawler looks to be the latest game that's happy as sin to dole out that Diablo fix while Blizzard's sequel takes the hellishly long road to market.

Company COO David Brevik, who was part of the team that made the original Diablo and Hellgate: London, says that Fortune Online is a great example of Gazillion's focus on free-to-play, console-quality games for browsers.

Check out a video of the Flash-based title after the break, which is looking like a decent descent into familiar loot-obsessed dungeon exploration. Head on over to FortuneOnline.com if you're interested in testing out the beta.

Gallery: Fortune Online

Continue reading Gazillion's 'Fortune Online' is Diablo-esque, closed beta begins

Gazillion's 'Fortune Online' is Diablo-esque, closed beta begins originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Codemasters sues NetDevil over Jumpgate Evolution delays

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 19:00:00 EST

Codemasters is apparently sick of waiting on NetDevil to finish Jumpgate Evolution and has sued the developer, along with its parent company Gazillion Entertainment, over breach of contract [PDF link]. The publisher claims to have spent over $1.4 million on the interminably delayed project, which included $1.1 million in advances and $300,000 in "art assets." The suit states that NetDevil was to complete the project for "commercial release on or before February 24, 2009."

Law of the Game on Joystiq columnist Mark Methenitis explains, "Codemasters wants their money back, in short, for a product that was never delivered. In a contracts case like this, it's one of your only two options given the fact scenario: Everyone gets back what they put in to act like the contract never happened (rescission) or the court forces everyone to complete the contract as written (specific performance). I doubt Codemasters wants the product at this point, so they're asking for what amounts to a refund."

Jumpgate Evolution warped back into development in May 2009 after NetDevil's "Friends & Family" testing brought up issues. A Gazillion representative informed Joystiq that the company has nothing to report on the status of Jumpgate Evolution or its release window at this time, and that the company doesn't comment on legal matters.

Codemasters sues NetDevil over Jumpgate Evolution delays originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lego Universe is live for pre-orderers, full launch coming October 26

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

If you got on the Lego Universe bus early by pre-ordering the kid-friendly MMO from "Lego sales channels", you can now get busy with the bricklaying. NetDevil has launched the game for a special, two-week "Founders Release" for these early adopters, giving them access to the online DIY adventure before Lego Universe's proper October 26 U.S. launch.

Perhaps even more newsworthy than the game's early debut and launch window is that its launch trailer, posted after the jump, is so super hot. Not only does it do a great job of setting up the Lego Universe ... universe, it features the vocal talents of Patrick Stewart, who's beginning to reach Nolan North-esque levels of video game ubiquitousness. (Not that we're complaining!)

Continue reading Lego Universe is live for pre-orderers, full launch coming October 26

Lego Universe is live for pre-orderers, full launch coming October 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lego Universe's childhood innocence-preserving measures outlined

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 02:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Let's face it, when hand-delivering the faceless, twisted corners of the internet a set of tools which are renowned for their capacity to create anything ever, things are going to get ... bad. Like, boners, we mean. Fortunately, NetDevil recently outlined the measures the developer has taken to protect the MMOs younger-skewing target demographic: Content moderation for player-made objects and names, combined with a privacy-ensuring "Lego Universe ID" system for in-game friends.

The first measure is pretty straightforward -- both player's names and the objects they create must be moderated before anyone else can see them. However, to lighten this substantial workload, NetDevil's made it so in-game friends can see each other's creations before they get moderated. Friends, however, have to exchange their personal ID codes outside of the game in order to achieve this level of acquaintance. Sounds hauntingly familiar to Nintendo's Friend Code system -- but we suppose it will help protect the childrens. That's what it's all about, isn't it? The childrens?

Lego Universe's childhood innocence-preserving measures outlined originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lego Universe closed beta now available on Mac

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Hey, fans of Apple products love stacking things on top of other things to make bigger things too, you know. That's why NetDevil recently opened up Lego Universe's closed beta process to Mac users. Potential stackers and builders can hop on the wagon by going to the game's official Beta Center and applying to join up.

These new players are getting in at an opportune time -- though the beta's currently only playable on certain days of the week, the game's official site promises that "it won't be long before the game servers will be open 24/7, which means non-stop playtime - woohoo!" That was their woohoo, not ours, though we can certainly see why that's cause for celebration.

Lego Universe closed beta now available on Mac originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chew on these Lego Universe 'Gnarled Forest' screens

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:20:00 EST

We've seen a few of the bright and generally welcoming environments of Lego Universe -- today, we get a look a few screenshots from the MMO's Gnarled Forest area. We never would have assumed a game about toy heroes could contain such ominous imagery. Check out the images after the break.

Gallery: Lego Universe (8.11.10)

Chew on these Lego Universe 'Gnarled Forest' screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dire Wolf Digital is building a Lego Universe trading-card game

David Hinkle — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Dire Wolf Digital and NetDevil have signed an agreement that will see the creation of a LEGO Universe trading-card game, due in 2011. (The Lego Universe MMO is set to launch on October 26.) What makes this deal interesting is the potential to create products outside of just the TCG.

The agreement gives Dire Wolf Digital "a license to produce physical TCG products as well as digital products for PC, Mac and mobile devices." This could portend the TCG will come to digital spaces or it could simply refer to additional products outside of the card game -- as soon as we know something, we'll be sure to pass it along.

Head past the break for the full press release.

Gallery: LEGO Universe (Comic-Con)

Continue reading Dire Wolf Digital is building a Lego Universe trading-card game

Dire Wolf Digital is building a Lego Universe trading-card game originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lego Universe trailers rebuild our capacity to love

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:05:00 EST

If you feel like dedicating around 10 minutes of your day to media from NetDevil's upcoming MMO Lego Universe, you'll find everything you need here. Check out a ton of screens in the following gallery, or watch videos featuring in-game pets, factions and the "partners" who helped create the game.

Continue reading Lego Universe trailers rebuild our capacity to love

Lego Universe trailers rebuild our capacity to love originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 05:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Preview: Lego Universe

Mike Schramm — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:40:00 EST

There's no question at all: Lego Universe is a game built for children. Creative Director Ryan Seabury says the primary audience of the game is ages 8-12, and the interface is very clearly young user-friendly, with big, brightly colored buttons, and easy-to-use UI widgets. The game centers on collecting "imagination," and while there is combat in the game, it's simple and trouble-free, more fun than strategic.

But here's the thing: good game design is ageless. And Lego Universe seems like a tidy summation of everything both developer NetDevil has learned about making MMOs, and Lego has learned over 75 years of making classic toys.

Gallery: LEGO Universe (E3 screenshots)

Continue reading Preview: Lego Universe

Preview: Lego Universe originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lego and Warner Bros. partner on Lego Universe distribution

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 09:25:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

In an attempt to further expand its digital Lego empire, Warner Bros. has partnered with the iconic brick manufacturer and NetDevil to act as the retail distributor for their upcoming family-friendly MMO, Lego Universe. According to the press release announcing the partnership, Warner Bros. will be responsible for distributing the game "outside of LEGO channels." We assume they're talking about Lego Stores, and Legoland, and the underground Lego black market which operates in the shady corners of most metropolitan cities.

Lego and Warner Bros. partner on Lego Universe distribution originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lego Universe pre-orders now available

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 16 May 2010 11:30:00 EST

Somehow -- and we don't know how -- pre-orders for Lego Universe kicked off this past Friday and, again, we don't know how, there's no "special edition" that includes some actual Legos. Some of you Legomaniacs may already know, but boxed copies of the upcoming Lego MMO from Netdevil are now available for pre-order at Lego retail outlets, the online shop, the amusement park (Legoland!) and on LegoUniverse.com.

Dropping your 39.99 USD/EUR or 29.99 GBP on a copy will net you not just the game itself on DVD, but also a month of free play (30 days, to be precise), a "story leaflet," and a user guide -- some folks will also get an "exclusive Minifigure" and a code to redeem said Minifigure in-game ("while supplies last"). Though the game has been in closed beta for some time now, the game has yet to receive an official launch date. That said, we have to imagine that Netdevil is building towards that announcement, right? You know, with Legos? Isn't that what they do over there?

Lego Universe pre-orders now available originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 16 May 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LEGO Universe beta constructed, signups begin

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST

If we've learned anything about LEGO Universe, it's that the game should not be dismissed. Yes, it's an MMO aimed at younger gamers, but did you see the trailer? Whether you did or not, you need to watch it right now. We've embedded it directly above this post. There should be a play button right in the middle. Click it. We'll wait.

Now, having seen that, know this: The LEGO Universe beta is now accepting signups. We suggest you head over to the signup site and sign up immediately. Unfortunately, no one is guaranteed a slot in the beta so, while you're waiting on confirmation, why not check out some footage of the actual game in action? After that, you can start refreshing your inbox like mad.

[Via Massively]

LEGO Universe beta constructed, signups begin originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lego Universe trailer looks unexpectedly thrilling

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:30:00 EST

We know we've built a permanent establishment in our cheek in which to house our tongues, but we're being completely sincere when we say that the above trailer for Lego Universe is one of the coolest trailers we've seen in a long time. Who knew that a kid-friendly MMO in which colorful, stackable bricks are collected could cause our adrenaline to rise in a way we only thought really intense episodes of 24 were capable of? We certainly did not know that.

Check out the trailer above, then check out a fresh batch of screenshots below. They're considerably less awesome than the trailer, but they can't really be blamed for their stationary nature.

Gallery: Lego Universe (CES 2009)

Lego Universe trailer looks unexpectedly thrilling originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Lego Universe shots revealed, no assembly required

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:20:00 EST

Things have been fairly quiet on the Lego Universe front since the game was first announced over two years ago. Developer NetDevil finally broke radio silence today, releasing a handful of screenshots which depict, in no particular order, the game's login screen, a character creation menu and a spiky-haired block-man running away from ninjas and pirates. Mind you, those two groups are pictured in completely separate images -- history has taught us that they wouldn't be caught dead intermingling.

Our innate fondness for meticulous bricklaying and level grinding has set our anticipation for this title ablaze -- unfortunately, with a nebulous "2010" release window, we've got no clue as to when said flame will be doused by the cool waters of satisfaction.

Gallery: Lego Universe

[Via Big Download]

First Lego Universe shots revealed, no assembly required originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jumpgate Evolution beta snags 250K sign ups

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:00:00 EST

After jumping back into the slipstream of development this past May, NetDevil announced today that the latest beta for Jumpgate Evolution has had 250,000 sign-ups. The game is currently in the "friends and family testing phase," but it plans to go into full beta ... um, somewhere in the future.

Jumpgate Evolution's development is in an interesting place at the moment. All we know officially is that the game missed its June release, and that feedback during the current stage of testing of the "feature complete" game caused the team to rethink some stuff.

Jumpgate Evolution beta snags 250K sign ups originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jumpgate Evolution jumps back into development, won't make June release

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:00:00 EST

Jumpgate Evolution will not be making its scheduled June release. What, you've nova heard of a delay before? Anyway, following three years of development, NetDevil noted on its forums that the game is going back into the darkness of development to emerge at some point in the future. The company doesn't even plan on announcing a new release date until it has "established [its] road map for the next few months."

The delay was caused after response during the "Friends & Family" phase of testing brought up a lot of feedback. Considering how competitive the MMO market is now, the company is probably taking the wise approach by polishing the "feature complete" title to a shine before release. MMOs don't get a second chance to make a first impression anymore.

Jumpgate Evolution jumps back into development, won't make June release originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 May 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joystiq eyes-on: Jumpgate Evolution (PC)

Majed Athab — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:20:00 EST

click to gallery hyper-jump

Sci-fi fans who love the idea of galactic war and space-age dogfighting will want to have a look at NetDevil's Jumpgate Evolution. In this Massively Multiplayer Online game, players take command of their very own fully-customizable spacecraft in a war against a mysterious alien enemy. The developers describe the game as an MMO version of Wing Commander with the intensity of Battlestar Galactica's fast-paced fighter battles.

This war not only has to have grand action, but also has to be set on an equally grand stage. And in that, we can attest that Jumpgate fulfills those duties very well. The artistic direction will be the very first thing that will grab one's attention upon sitting down with Jumpgate. The diverse locales we've been shown are all very colorfully vibrant and lively; there's rarely a spot that's dull or fails to dazzle. Open space is accentuated with swirls of thematic nebulas, while cruising along the backdrop of beautifully rendered planets is an amazing sight on its own. There are various other places to visit including mining colonies, asteroid fields and debris-filled 'space graveyard.'

Gallery: Jumpgate Evolution

Continue reading Joystiq eyes-on: Jumpgate Evolution (PC)

Joystiq eyes-on: Jumpgate Evolution (PC) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lego MMO to feature real-world integration, legos

Scott Jon Siegel — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:25:00 EST

Filed under: PC, GDC, MMO

Wired's Earnest Cavalli had a chance to talk shop with LEGO Universe developer NetDevil at GDC, and came away with a few sparse but interesting details about the game, as well as some totally hardcore pieces of concept art.

While the game isn't expected out until 2009, NetDevil discussed what they hope to be the core features of the game, like having players living amongst LEGO's impressive backlog of building sets, able to construct vehicles, buildings, and more for their avatars. The game will also feature the standard MMO quests, based on LEGO sets like Knights vs. Dragons, and Sailors vs. Pirates.

Perhaps most interesting is LEGO Universe's proposed integration with real-world LEGOs, with players able to create anything they wish in-game, and being given the option to order the exact pieces required to assemble their creations themselves. With a concept like this, the game could not only become a fairly successful MMO, but also help to revitalize the LEGO empire (we're already tempted to dig through our old bins). Check out Wired's piece for more concept art and details.

[Via Penny Arcade]

Lego MMO to feature real-world integration, legos originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Codemasters looks to outer space for next MMO with Jumpgate Evolution

Jason Dobson — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Action, MMO, Business

Codemasters' love affair with all things MMO seems to have no bounds, with the company continuing to throw money and people at the genre like a kind of catapult gone mad. Though like a clueless homeowner who perpetually waters his plants into an early grave, Codemasters' track record with keeping the MMOs under its stead alive is spotty at best.

Its latest target is NetDevil's re-engineered space-combat MMO Jumpgate Evolution, which Codemasters announced today that it will publish across both North America and Europe in "late 2008." While the game's North American release will be handled by both NetDevil and Codemasters' online devision in tandem, the publisher/developer will be calling the shots all by its lonesome for the title's European debut. Given Jumpgate's lineage, the title tracing its roots all the way back to when dinosaurs roamed the earth in 2001, this is a game that many have been waiting to offer up subscription fees to play for some time -- though given Codemasters' history we predict that players may be playing the game for free before it's all said and done.

Codemasters looks to outer space for next MMO with Jumpgate Evolution originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Concept trailer for LEGO Universe: building, battling, bricking

Scott Jon Siegel — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:55:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Online, Video, MMO

Don't get too excited: this trailer is purely conceptual and merely reflects what the NetDevil boys are thinking about for their new MMO LEGO Universe. Still, it's pretty eye-opening. From customizing characters (is that Saiyan armor in there?), to building vehicles, to fighting winged LEGO daemons, Universe is already looking like a fun diversion from the WoWs and the LoTROs currently populating the massive genre.

[Via GamersInfo]

Concept trailer for LEGO Universe: building, battling, bricking originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LEGO MMO dubbed 'Universe,' bricks internet early 2008 [update 1]

Ross Miller — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:26:00 EST

Filed under: Online, MMO, Casual

The LEGO Group has announced today that their upcoming MMO will be called LEGO Universe. The game, in development by NetDevil, is slated for release in the first quarter of 2008.

According to the press release, the game is poised to "provide a child-safe alternative to other MMOGs on the market. As a player, you'll be able to customize your mini-figs and interact in the universe as any character you choose, providing unique opportunities for players to expand and explore with their creations."

We get the impression that there won't be an option to freely build with LEGO bricks in the world, given the possible NSFW imagery that one could (and undoubtedly would) create. The world of LEGOs has proved to be profitable in the games industry with LEGO Star Wars; also due in 2008 is LEGO Batman.

[updated to reflect newest information.]

LEGO MMO dubbed 'Universe,' bricks internet early 2008 [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LEGO MMO in the works by indie dev NetDevil

John Bardinelli — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Online, MMO

Independent game developer NetDevil (Auto Assault) announced today a partnership with The LEGO Group to develop a MMOG based on the colorful little building blocks. Few details apart from the brief announcement were given, but a representative from LEGO told Gamasutra the game would merge social interaction with physical play. A virtual community where you can build things with LEGO blocks? Yes, please.

The game will likely be aimed at children, but that won't stop us kids who have jobs from giving it a try. After all, everybody loves LEGOs.

[Thanks, Phillip]

LEGO MMO in the works by indie dev NetDevil originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Mar 2007 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massive Auto Assault in-game ads announced

Jennie Lees — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: PC, Driving, Online, MMO

Several Joystiq readers are anticipating NCsoft's upcoming cliché-busting MMO Auto Assault, but this news might come as a shock. NCsoft have teamed up with in-game advertising firm Massive Incorporated, who will be bringing "real-life advertising" into the post-apocalyptic world of Auto Assault.

While NCsoft's Dorothy Ferguson seems confident that the ads will fit within the game environment, the futuristic feel of the game doesn't immediately strike us as a suitable setting for modern-day adverts. No word has been released yet on this partnership's effect on pricing; it may drive the monthly subscription cost down, but don't bet on it.

For those interested in experiencing the world of Auto Assault ad-free, there's an open beta (US link) (European link) this weekend, marking the final phase of beta for non-preorder customers.

Massive Auto Assault in-game ads announced originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Mar 2006 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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