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Lego Harry Potter magically appearing in 2010

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jun 1st 2009 at 11:00AM }

Warner Bros. and Traveller's Tales have finally announced that Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 is coming to all major platforms, including 9 3/4. (That's some tragic Hogwarts humor for y'all.) The game will release on "next generation console and handheld" consoles sometime next year.

We'd go into more detail, but who hasn't played a Lego [fill in major franchise name here] yet? Seriously, we need a picture of a Lego cow's shriveled and dry teat.

Blizzard tops list of 2008's 'most successful' game devs

by Jason Dobson { May 11th 2009 at 8:30AM }

The game industry's annual popularity contest has begun making the rounds, and among game developers in 2008 there was none more in vogue than Activision stepchild Blizzard. According to Develop 100, a list of "the world's most successful games developers," the dev WoW-ed its peers from atop a mountain of money with more than a billion dollars in revenue each year from retail and online sales.

Other notables on the list include 2007's top company, Nintendo, which was forced to settle for second, followed by GTA's Rockstar North in third. LEGO everything manufacturer Traveller's Tales ranked 12th on the list, while LittleBigPlanet's Media Molecule came in at a respectable 18th, the highest among indie UK studios. The complete list can be found on the official Develop 100 website. Check it out, and let us know if your personal favorites made the cut.

Animator confirms Lego Harry Potter, Lego Indy Crystal Skull games

by JC Fletcher { Mar 13th 2009 at 9:57AM }

Charlotte Parker, a cutscene animator at Traveller's Tales, has confirmed to VG247 that both Lego Harry Potter and Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull are on the way. "But they're not confirmed," Parker said. "I can't really talk about them." That means, of course, that Parker didn't provide any details of release plans for either game, including dates or platforms.

Parker's CV reportedly listed the two Lego series game titles, though they were removed. According to GamesIndustry.biz, the CV also listed work on a demo of a Hobbit game, intended to be pitched to Peter Jackson.

Disney and Lego team up for Prince of Persia toys

by Alexander Sliwinski { Feb 16th 2009 at 6:10PM }

Disney and Lego have announced a partnership to bring constructable versions of Toy Story, Cars and Prince of Persia to retail by next year. The Lego Prince of Persia will be based upon the upcoming movie and not the Sands of Time video game.

Indulging pure speculation, we received this tip with the idea that the partnership means a Lego Prince of Persia video game could happen. Despite Warner Bros. ownership of developer Traveller's Tales, it has used licenses from other movie studios, so anything is possible. We're still holding out hope for a Lego Harry Potter game first, considering that magical universe is far more evolved than the Prince's, with numerous notable characters to unlock and play.

[Thanks, Matt]

[Image]

Activist group finds LEGO Batman 'oppressive,' 'destructive' to kids

by Jason Dobson { Jan 23rd 2009 at 8:30AM }

It's difficult to imagine a property as insidious as Lego Batman. Go ahead, try. Labeling the game a "symbol of commercialized childhood," an activist group calling itself the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood has called out TT Games' cubic take on the Dark Knight. Wait, is this a joke? A riddle? A two-faced lie?

The game was included among a handful of other toys as a finalist for the organization's inaugural TOADY (Toys Oppressive And Destructive to Young Children) Award. Other playthings, including Hasbro's poop-happy Baby Alive and a Barbie tarted up as a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader, are also up for the dubious honor. But how many of these were also included in Happy Meals, one of the chief complaints of the Boston-based group? Only you can put the Caped Crusader over the top by voting for the "winner". Won't someone please think of the children?

Rumor: No Lego Harry Potter in '09

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jan 5th 2009 at 5:20PM }

A Eurogamer source claims that Traveller's Tales isn't making a Lego Harry Potter game this year. This follows rumors that a brickitized Potter title was in the works, courtesy of the folks behind Lego Star Wars and Lego Indy. Said rumor has been floating around ever since Warner Bros., which holds the wizard's movie rights, bought TT in 2007.

The Eurogamer source also claims a new installment of Lego Indiana Jones is likely to arrive this year. At this point, we're willing to believe almost any franchise can be turned into a TT Lego game. Well, that Lego Rock Band rumor is still a bit weird.

Rumor: LEGO Rock Band in development

by Dustin Burg { Jan 4th 2009 at 9:00AM }

According to videogaming247 and their super secret "source", LEGO franchise developer Traveller's Tales is currently hard at work on their latest brick game: LEGO Rock Band.

Supposedly, during a Radio One interview, a UK Traveller's Tales employee confirmed that they're working on a new LEGO game and that it's releasing in 2009, but exact specifics were withheld. That game being LEGO Rock Band, or so says videogaming247 and their sources who claim their information is "100 percent correct." LEGOs and Rock Band? It's an odd mix, but it could be tasty. Kinda like potato chip and peanut butter sandwiches.

[Via Joystiq]

Rumor: Traveller's Tales working on Lego Rock Band

by Griffin McElroy { Jan 3rd 2009 at 5:00PM }

We usually save our statements of incredulity for the end of our rumor posts, but we think this story warrants one up front -- we'd have an easier time believing that Lego Halo is in development, and we know that one's not true. Videogaming247 reports that one of their sources is "100 percent" certain that Traveller's Tales is working on a Lego-fied version of Rock Band for Electronic Arts.

Now, we know that Traveller's Tales is currently working on further Lego titles, but when last we heard, these unannounced games are being based off of Warner Bros. IPs -- it's a lot more likely that a Harry Potter game or follow-up to Lego Indiana Jones is in the works. As it stands now, we're fairly certain that VG247's source is either extremely confused, or they're jumping the April Fools' gun by a few months.

Rumor: Lego ... Rock Band?

by Alisha Karabinus { Jan 3rd 2009 at 1:09PM }

Lots of people have been speculating that the next entry in the Lego games franchise, to follow up Batman and Indiana Jones, would be something to tie in with the release of the next Harry Potter film. However, gaming site videogaming247 claims a source let slip to them that, instead, the next Lego game by developer Travellers Tales would be Lego Rock Band. Let the chorus of "what???" begin.

While this one is a tough rumor to swallow, for reasons of rights, viability, and silliness -- and we're always mistrustful of these anonymous sources, no matter who they're talking to -- Lego Rock Band would be both hilarious and completely awesome, so we're going to cross a few fingers.

Gallery: Rock Band

Metareview - Lego Batman

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 24th 2008 at 7:00PM }

It's time again for another Lego [fill in the blank] title from Traveller's Tales. This time the blocky series follows the Dark Knight and his ward as they attempt to recapture the criminals of Gotham City who've escaped Arkham Asylum. The reviews seem to either take comfort in the familiarity the TT Lego franchise has brought so far, or squarely takes aim at Lego Batman for falling into the same pitfalls that the entire series has been plagued by.

GamePro (90/100): "Full of surprises, humor and an all-star cast of playable characters, it's yet another solid reinvention of an established license. Plus, it has Batman in it!"
GameDaily (80/100): "If you're sick and tired of LEGO games, then LEGO Batman: The Videogame probably won't change your mind. However, if you enjoy them as much as we do, then you shouldn't hesitate to shine the Bat-Signal and answer the call."
IGN (77/100): "LEGO Batman is good fun, but it's really just the same thing we've seen before. I don't think the LEGO formula needs much of a change, but certainly the common issues with the series should no longer exist. If you're looking to have a laugh with a buddy or you want something kid-friendly, this is your game."
Game Informer (75/100): "The charm of LEGO blocks is exploring your creativity and building new things, so Traveler's Tales' habit of sticking to one formula stands in stark contrast to the entire LEGO philosophy. We've had fun with this series, but it's time to dump the franchise out on the floor and start piecing it back into something new."

Lego Batman PS2 bundle available now for $150

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 23rd 2008 at 10:00PM }

The PS2 Lego Batman bundle is now available, which was originally announced at E3 2008. The package will retail for $150 and includes the slim PS2 console with Lego Batman and Justice League: The New Frontier DVD.

Next bundle we'd like to see from Sony: PS3 bundled with PS2. Or the return of backwards compatibility ... just sayin'.

Warner Bros boss says LEGO Batman is 'the best TT game ever'

by David Hinkle { Sep 2nd 2008 at 7:08PM }

Warner Bros. boss guy Martin Tremblay loves Traveller's Tales. And we would think so, with his company having shelled out quite a bit of money for the UK-based development studio. "We're very, very happy with LEGO Batman," said Tremblay. "It's going to be the best TT game ever and will be our first big step in games for sure."

We wouldn't go so far as to say that ourselves, even after we had quite a bit of time to check it out back at E3. But, we will say that it certainly looks like a great game, as it contains a ton of options and replay value, thanks to its large roster of controllable characters and their unique abilities and skills.

Gallery: LEGO Batman

[Via Go Nintendo]

Traveller's Tales assembling more Warner Bros. LEGO titles

by Randy Nelson { Aug 6th 2008 at 8:00PM }

Speaking with Variety, Traveller's Tales president Jon Burton revealed that his company – which created LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Indiana Jones, and the upcoming LEGO Batman – is working on more block-tastic titles based on Warner Bros. IPs. "We've gotten started doing some LEGO games on the Warner IP," Burton confirms, stating that they are "down the line." That's games plural.

In the piece, Burton is also quoted as saying: "To be able to dabble around in CG and film would be interesting," and that, "Warner allows me to push in those directions without 'quitting the day job,' so to speak." We reckon that games based on movies are definitely one way to fulfill that interest, but which WB properties (other than the Caped Crusader) could be LEGO-worthy? We'd be interested in seeing how Traveller's Tales would tackle such anticipated Warner projects as Watchmen, Terminator Salvation, and Superman: Man of Steel. Let's just hope it passes on The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2. Which Warner flicks would you like to see LEGO-fied?

Traveller's Tales talks more LEGO games

by David Hinkle { Aug 6th 2008 at 7:22PM }

Ever hear that expression "if it ain't broke, don't fix it?" Traveller's Tales has, as the company has become quite the cash-earner with its LEGO line-up of games, so why change? "We've gotten started doing some LEGO games on the Warner IP... down the line," says Traveller's Tales' Jon Burton. Also, he wants to dabble in films and the like, while also keeping his "day job" in games development. What a multi-tasker!

"And for me personally, I think further in the future we're making a kids' TV show... using some of the tech we've developed for games," Jon said. So, what kind of kids' show? He wouldn't name anything specific, nor would he comment on what the next LEGO game from them will be (well, aside from the soon-to-release LEGO Batman). Looks like we'll just have to wait and see.

What kind of LEGO game would you like to see next?

Man-Bat is one ugly LEGO villain

by Candace Savino { Jul 28th 2008 at 9:00PM }

Those of you who've seen The Dark Knight probably still have Batman in your systems, so hopefully news on the superhero in LEGO form is enough to sate your batty cravings. Warner Bros. is certainly trying to indulge in your wants by revealing more news about the upcoming LEGO Batman video game.

Today, the company brings word of a new villain, one that Batman fans will be familiar with -- Man-Bat. Man-Bat is actually a scientist named Kirk Langstrom, who injected himself with a bat-based serum in order to gain sonar powers and aid his worsening deafness. Obviously, bad results ensue, and he turns into a bat-looking monster that attacks Gotham City. Fun!

For some Man-Bat related screens, just click on our gallery below.