Lego Universe to save our imagination

Rosie Khdir discovers the online Lego game and how this latest release can save children’s imagination the world over.

Most people have played with Lego at one point in their life and have fond memories of these colourful building blocks and mini yellow people. These block have now gone digital and have given children a less violent and more imaginative way of gaming.

Going against the grain

Gaming developer NetDevil has created the long awaited Lego Universe MMO (massively multiplayer online) game and it’s a one with a difference. Most battle orientated modern games involve human-like characters who have to shoot people to pieces in order to success.

Games like Grand Theft Auto involve murder, robbery and destruction and other such as Halo are just as violent. These games can be fun, let’s face it they are sold in their millions but sometimes I feel as though games should be more hopeful and inspiring.

I know what you’re thinking, that’s a lame and naïve thought, right? Well apparently Net Devil had the same view. Lego Universe has been created with children in mind but will no doubt have the older generations hooked.  The strap line for the game is “Answer the call, save imagination”. How sweet!

A universe of imagination

Lego Universe is all about being creative right from the word go as players get to design their own minifig, complete with eyes, mouth and illustrations on the chest. Once the game begins, that’s when you really see the imagination come the life on the screen

The plot is as follows. Lego Universe is inhabited by Lego minifigures (that’s you) who all have to club together to fight the dark forces of the Maelstrom who seek to rid their world of imagination!

Game play is similar to that of previous Lego games as the Star War video game and Indiana Jones, and there will be several worlds to explore, accessible via rocket ships built by players.

Players can chose to either fight in Player vs. Player mode that will put you against other players or against yourself, or in Player vs. environment, which sees you battling creatures of the various lands.

A game for children…for once!

This game, which was showcased at this years CES in Las Vegas, is admittedly aimed at young boys, considering the classic Lego themes included: pirates, spacemen, ninjas and medieval knights.

I don’t mean to go all parental, but we keep on wondering why our world is so violent and although some may disagree, promoting such acts on video games that many kids play everyday, is bound to have an effect.

Lego Universe is less gory than you average fighting gaming. There will be some classic swash-buckling and when player defeats an opponent the Lego pieces simply fall apart, no blood, no guts, just Lego bricks.

It is so nice to see a game that is bringing the child-like fantasies back to into play.

The details

Believe me, this game is going to cause quite a stir, and become quite addictive I might add. If you want to see what all the fuss is about, simply have a look at the game trailer on YouTube…it will get your gaming fingers twitching.

Lego is a name that will appeal to both adults and children, so everything built by players will be vetted by a system of algorithms and moderators before appearing in the public domain.

The game will be based on a monthly subscription model and is set to be released later this year.

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Image credit:  TriplePointPR