LEGO Universe Lands on TODAY Show, Tech-Savvy Parents Take Note

LEGO bricks aren’t just for building. Anyone who has ever clicked together a LEGO model of their own can tell you… the real satisfaction comes from sharing your creations with someone else. LEGO inevitably has the power to inspire everyone around it, to build something – anything they might dream up – and the only limit is having enough LEGO bricks to build it. Usually…

But not in LEGO Universe (a TriplePoint client). Here, you can snag all the virtual building blocks your imagination can handle. That’s if you even decide to build – what with all the new worlds to explore and baddies to beat. That, and quests, missions and  minigames to tackle, challenges to overcome, problems to solve… Did I mention LEGO minifigures to customize!? You get the idea – there are a ton of ways to play, build and connect with other players in the MMOG – all in a vivid online playground that adheres to top-notch LEGO safety standards.

So you can understand, then, why the TODAY Show would list LEGO Universe as one of their top tools for tech-savvy parents to connect with their kids. Yahoo’s web life editor, Heather Cabot showed TODAY’s Natalie Morales what’s what earlier this week – check it!

From “Cyber parenting: Tech-savvy ways to connect with kids” on TODAY, Monday April 4

[LEGO Universe ~2:10 minute mark]

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LEGO Universe is awesome like bacon

In part two of today’s LEGO MMO media buzz blitz, we take a peek at chatter around the web and beyond, as journalists enter LEGO Universe and report back for the first time…

Check out part one for more fun – behind-the-scenes, in the spotlight and on the brick road along the way. The LEGO Group and developer NetDevil are anxiously counting down the days to LEGO Universe launch in mass retail, nationwide on October 26th!

Early Reviews

Long burnt out on playing massively multiplayer online games, I was a bit surprised how much fun I was having checking out LEGO Universe. Its whimsical mix of LEGO elements, humor and collecting is a powerful combination. More surprising, though, is that my 9-year-old son has just as much fun playing the game as I do. Creating a game that is equally fun for children and adults could help NetDevil find some piece of World of Warcraft’s immense, though elusive success. – Kotaku

All in all, I think NetDevil has done an amazing job with Lego Universe… I think it’s a game that kids will enjoy, but adult fans of Lego will really love — particularly because NetDevil has permission to introduce Lego pieces that aren’t available in the real world. The combination of Lego platforming, online multiplayer gaming, collecting bricks and building has enormous potential. – Wired GeekDad

Following an impressive take-home of E3 awards earlier this year, LEGO Universe is already proving to be a holiday 2010 favorite too. The game was recently featured in FUN! Online Games, IEEE Spectrum and EDGE magazines, and has also been selected for the “Video Game Hot Dozen” in the Holiday 2010 issue of FunFare Magazine.

Full Previews

You know? I’m damn impressed by NetDevil… All in all I am getting a really good vibe from Lego Universe. There’s been serious work put into it and more importantly, more than just a little love. This is more than just a game.OnRPG

When I first logged into the LEGO Universe closed beta, I immediately felt like the game was built using physical LEGO bricks. That’s the best way to describe it. From creating a mini-figure to running through the zones, it honestly seemed like every piece was pulled from a huge box of assorted LEGO pieces. The level of detail in the game is perfect… it certainly succeeds in offering a fun LEGO world that fosters creativity in players of all ages.ZAM

It’s pure user-generated creativity, the kind of in-game feature that might seem at home amongst other pseudo-level design games but stands out in full force inside an MMO. VideoGamer

The LEGO Universe story is simply brilliant… It summarizes a conflict and provides a reason for the game world to exist, while at the same time offering players the opportunity to overcome the enemy NOT with direct conflict and combat (though plenty of that exists), but rather by creating things and using their imagination. If that’s not the perfect set-up for a LEGO-based story, then I don’t know what is. With such a simple premise, NetDevil has simultaneously reinforced the best aspects of a toy created to inspire with a reason to seek out and embrace that inspiration. I’d like to offer my personal kudos to the team for this marvelous bit of writing… I have, on the whole, had an extremely enjoyable time adventuring and creating in LEGO Universe.TenTonHammer

The game features more than three million options for character selection, including trousers, shirts and hair pieces that can all be decorated with brightly colored patterns and stickers. The character creation is also where the “huge commitment to child safety” starts. By using a “really cool programming language” and a simple User Interface (UI), Lego Universe also enables players to make their creations come to life. Any items that have been built can be made to move, such as a lift being programmed to go up and down or the wonky sheep being made to hop around.Digital Spy

Gnarled Forest & Forbidden Valley

The Gnarled Forest is my perfect world–pirates have been marooned in a forest (a pirate’s least favorite place), cornered by cursed treasure, angry gorillas, and a first mate monkey with a trigger finger… I sincerely enjoyed all of my time in the LEGO Universe beta. The achievements and pet systems offer a lot of “carrots” to chase after.PC Gamer

The LEGO Universe Beta has been a blast. We truly can’t wait for this came to come out because not only is it a very easy game to pick up for anyone with an imagination, but also super kid safe.Pixelated Geek

In some games it might seem like major overkill to have wide-ranging gameplay elements together in such a tight space — and indeed often together in the same quests. However, in LEGO Universe, they make sense. As opposed to just giving you the quests and expecting you to run five feet to talk to an NPC, the quests incorporate obstacle courses, requiring you to stop and think about how you’ll accomplish the task.Massively

I honestly love how this game looks, and The Forbidden Valley mixes it up with dark colors that contrast much of the rest of the game to create a great looking area for players to explore and quest in. I think that developer NetDevil has done a great job at capturing what makes Legos great…which of course is that they are fun to play with, and Lego Universe is certainly a fun experience. – Games Are Evil

I wanted to know if the game could match my memories of that castle from my childhood. So far, it seems to be doing a pretty good job… I’m impressed by the level of detail that NetDevil, the developer, was able to pack into the game, giving each zone a distinct feel through its quests and setting. Gnarled Forest is full of trees, apes and pirates while the Forbidden Valley is dark and brooding, creating the perfect mood for a world full of ninjas. The zones contain a lot of replay value, and you’ll be constantly revisiting them as you obtain new gear and begin new quests. ZAM

LEGO Universe Pre-Launch Press Bonanza: If you build it, they will come…

LEGO Universe launched last Friday for a special fans-only release period, and boy has the PR team been busy! Over the summer and into fall, we’ve been across the country and back again with the LEGO Universe developers – and that’s not even counting pre-E3 and international happenings. From E3 in Los Angeles, Comic-Con in San Diego and PAX in Seattle, to press meetings in New York and family media day in Colorado, LEGO Universe has amazed and inspired everyone who sees it.

The LEGO Group (creative brick-building toy icon) teamed up with NetDevil (supernaturally talented development team), and collaborated with some of the most imaginative and passionate fans in the world (LEGO Universe Partners, or LUPS for short)… It’s taken 5 years to get here, and the real works just begun, but together this LEGO trifecta has created one helluva MMOG.

TriplePoint couldn’t be more thrilled (or proud) to work with the brightest minds in toys and technology, and finally help launch LEGO Universe this month. It’s been a while since we shared media feedback, so today is a double whammy – first, here are highlights from recent press events and releases. Then check out part two this afternoon, for the latest previews, reviews and such. You can find more LEGO Universe coverage from E3 and earlier in the archives. Continue reading LEGO Universe Pre-Launch Press Bonanza: If you build it, they will come…

LEGO Universe Demo Debut Reactions

Last week we conducted the very first preview press demos for LEGO Universe at the TriplePoint offices in San Francisco. Journalists were invited to check out the game, snag some new screenshots, talk with the development team, and get answers to all their LEGO MMO questions.

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Ryan Seabury, the game’s Creative Director from NetDevil was on hand with an in-depth gameplay demo – the first peek for journalists into myriad challenges and worlds awaiting players when LEGO Universe releases next year.

Continue reading LEGO Universe Demo Debut Reactions