Lego Universe construction delayed

NetDevil-developed MMOG based on Danish building-block toys no longer expected to arrive in 2009; no new release window announced.

The Lego Group has enjoyed ample success with its line of Traveller's Tales-developed, Warner Bros. Interactive-published Lego games. However, the entertainment factor of those games relies on the tongue-in-cheek handling of the licensed properties, and not so much the hallmark fundamentals of Lego building-block construction.

That approach will change with Lego Universe, the NetDevil-developed massively multiplayer online game devoted to the toy. Unfortunately, Lego purists will have to tide themselves over with the tangible toys longer than previously anticipated, because the Lego Group today announced that its family-friendly MMOG will not launch this year.

"Previously scheduled for 2009, the launch of Lego Universe has been delayed due to strategic optimization within The Lego Group," a Lego Group representative confirmed for GameSpot. "We are in a fortunate position of having many outstanding product launches scheduled for 2009, and have therefore made a decision to postpone the release of Lego Universe."

As described by Lego VP of business development Henrik Lorenson at last year's Leipzig Game Developers Conference, Lego Universe will give players a ranging variety of building blocks to create their own constructions. Players will also be able to create and share their own minigames using the virtual Lego bricks, and Lorenson said the game's ultimate goal would be for gamers to develop their own Lego-built worlds.

The Lego Group did not reveal an updated release window for Lego Universe. However, a representative did tell GameSpot that the in-development MMOG will be shown in greater detail at this year's Game Developers Conference, which runs from March 23-27 in San Francisco.

23 Comments

  • Killingspree303

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 1:26 pm GMT

    @diggyman

    LEGO and Marvel... That would've made a horrible combination. LEGO and Marvel are two completely different companies. LEGO is a toy company, and Marvel is a comic book company.

    And by the way, the best LEGO game ever created is LEGO racers 1. No doubt about that.

  • diggyman

    Posted Feb 19, 2009 2:59 am GMT

    I think LEGO should link up with the MARVEL UNIVERSE... Imagine that...

  • armynavy123

    Posted Feb 18, 2009 3:53 pm GMT

    *&#$% I am going to scram!! %^$#&^ you lego!

  • CanalNoises

    Posted Feb 18, 2009 3:18 pm GMT

    Tonicmole (and wahyudil), it's obviously the combination of the two that made it successful. LEGO was the world's 4th largest toy company last I heard. Combining Star Wars with one of the world's most popular toys is what made it good.

    "That's why there is a huge Convention cirtcuit for Star Wars,....not Lego."
    There's actually three LEGO conventions in the US alone- BrickFest, BrickWorld, and BrickCon.

  • wahyudil

    Posted Feb 18, 2009 7:35 am GMT

    I think Lego Star Wars was successful because of Star Wars......not Lego..... agree with that ...

  • S2333

    Posted Feb 18, 2009 5:05 am GMT

    I like this idea. I want to see how it turns out.

  • CoricidinDXM

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 7:10 pm GMT

    are u serious tonicmole? The Lego trademark is just as popular as the star wars franchise. Lego has it's own freakin amusement park for god's sake, something star wars does not have.

  • jrabbit99

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 6:35 pm GMT

    I haven't seen a lego game in years

  • tonicmole

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 5:30 pm GMT

    Ummmm, I think Lego Star Wars was successful because of Star Wars......not Lego. That's why there is a huge Convention cirtcuit for Star Wars,....not Lego.

  • turb06

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 5:03 pm GMT

    the concept sounds very good if you can infact build your own city from lego, but i cant see a lego MMO dragging the hardcore away from games like WoW and will it be to difficult for the little ones to grasp the concept. I wait in anticipation as i love lego. Have quite a few of the massive star wars kits.

  • ChristopherPB

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 4:37 pm GMT

    You could always play Blockland while you wait....

  • enix165

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 3:43 pm GMT

    @Superdude475:The amount of Legos you can get from this game is definitely cheaper than getting actual Lego sets, trust me. XD A small set(And I'm talking three Star Wars people and a hoverbike or something) is $15, and they go way up from there. There was some $400 sets, last time I checked(mind you, they're like 3000 pieces, but still...XD)...

  • SuperGamer911

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 3:15 pm GMT

    Now I have to wait until 2010

  • Superdude475

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 3:10 pm GMT

    Why not just build with real legos? If you want to have massive lego battles just get a handful and throw them a little kids.

  • Flat_Line_____

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 2:38 pm GMT

    For those that haven't heard of it before there is a website here http://www.roblox.com/ That lets you build and create pretty much whatever you want. It is also free, Kinda reminds me more of Mega blocks than legos but there is a online community that you can play with in in-game servers with mods and all other kinds of custom playtypes.

    It's actually pretty fun at times.

  • -Squirrel-

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 2:29 pm GMT

    AstroChimp83, I guess you'll have to settle for building more phallic stages in Smash Bros Brawl.

  • AstroChimp83

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 2:12 pm GMT

    I didn't even know this was in the works but I'm bummed that it's on hold... Now how am I supposed to build giant phallic objects for all the world to see?

  • GodsPoison

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 2:04 pm GMT

    Put it on ps360, then we can all build crazy contraptions and have massive lego wars!..............Please?

  • enix165

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 1:54 pm GMT

    O_O They were making this? Aw, I never even knew...and Daabulls23, they made that already. It's called Lego Digital Designer. It's been out for a LONG time...XD I'm pretty sure you can get it free from the main site...

  • daabulls23

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 1:48 pm GMT

    Legos are awesome. I've always thought it would be cool if they would come out with a program where you could design any kind of set with all kinds of pieces available.

  • Darth_Nater307

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 1:44 pm GMT

    Crud. And I was looking forward to this one too

  • hbnmrsmiley

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 1:40 pm GMT

    i love legos. this could be fun as long as there's an actual purpose and plot aside from just building stuff.

  • DarkEclipse533

    Posted Feb 17, 2009 1:07 pm GMT

    sounds interesting

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