May » 2010 » X-tropia Lego Blog

Lego Universe Game Preorder Promotion

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The loooooong awaited Lego Universe game is finally ready to ship out. It is going to be released in stores this Autumn 2010 but you can preorder the game now from Lego.com.

lego_universe_game_preorder_03_box Plus, for those who preorder Lego Group is offering some extras. For $39.99 you get the game (once it ships) and an exclusive spaceman minifig and a code card.

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Does this make it worthwhile to preorder the game? It is a nice bonus but I think with games like this it’s a good idea to wait and see what the reception will be. For example, when the game Spore was coming out there was so much hype and publicity. Everyone was promoting it and it was gonna be this great thing. So I paid the 50 bucks for it when it first came out. But I was pretty disappointed with the gameplay and there wasn’t really that much of an online component. Had I waited and read more of the review after it released I probably wouldn’t have blew $50 on it.

Now the Lego Universe game may not be the same story. But I think the whole “preorder” trend in the gaming world is to get people to commit to buying a game before it comes out and people start talking about it. It is also a device that game stores use to ensure that you buy the game from them and not another competitor. Of course the Lego Universe is an MMOG (massively multiplayer online game) so even though the first month’s free, if you want to continue playing you have to get the paid subscription similar to World of Warcraft.

Here is the pricing grid for subscriptions divided by country.

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Lego also released some new info about the game. Apparently there will be a digital pet component where you can design and raise your own Lego animal. This kind of reminds me of Spore too.

Lego Pet

Also here are some new screen shots of the game play. It looks similar to previous Lego video games such as the Lego Star Wars games. I think the big difference is of course the online aspect and there will be a lot more ways to customize the world with building things out of bricks, etc.

lego_universe_game_preorder_screenshot_05 Hopefully it will be an appealing game for not just the youngest fans of Lego. I think they are including a little bit of everything so we shall see.

Learn more about Lego Universe here!

-Daniel

#8683 Lego Minifigures Mystery Bags!

I am very excited about the new Lego Minifigures Mystery Bags. But first, join me in swooning over the Lego Minifig for a second. People just love Lego minifigs! They are cute, small, poseable and come in nearly infinite varieties. Since they’re made up of switchable parts they are very customizable. They are highly collectible too, especially ones that are linked to licensed themes like Star Wars, Harry Potter or Sponge Bob.

There is a whole community developing of people whose main interest in Lego is the minifig. They like to collect and display them and many of them enjoy customizing them by sculpting their own homemade parts and accessories. These Lego minifig customizers use paint or decals to change the colors and textures of the minifigs. Then they can share their creations with other Lego enthusiasts, upload pics online, use them in special Lego scenes and MOCs and of course play with them.

Lego Group knows how much we all love Lego minifigs. The latest way they are bringing us what we crave is with the new Lego Minifigures #8683. Each bag comes with one mystery Lego minifigure. Series 1 includes 16 different minifigs you can collect, trade and customize. I have no doubt that this promotion will be a sell out.

Mysterious Mystery of Unsolved Mysteries!

I hear you asking, “What if I want a particular minifig from this series?” Well it is true that the Lego Minifigures are in bags that you cannot see what’s inside, but you can still feel what’s inside. So check out the different varieties below and see what accessories they come with and that may help you figure out what is inside the bag you select. Worst case scenario you buy two figures of the same variety. Not that big of a deal. Just trade it with one of your friends or use them in army building!

Here are the 16 types of Lego Minifigures available in Series 1 of the mystery bags.

Demolition Dummy

Forestman

Cowboy

Super Wrestler

Zombie

Ninja

Cheerleader

Skater

Tribal Hunter

Magician

Deep Sea Diver

Robot

Nurse

Caveman

Spaceman

There you have it chums, the first wave of minifigs. Let me know in the comment section which ones you are just dying to get!

-Daniel

Lego Shuttle Adventure Set 10213

Lego Space Shuttle Adventure 10213

“Blast off on an outer space mission!” That’s the tag line for this new Lego space shuttle set called Shuttle Adventure #10213 coming 30 June 2010. I must say I was glad Lego has this shuttle coming out now especially since here in the US they are pretty much scrapping our NASA Space Shuttle program. This set is a nice way to commemorate the historic space shuttle.

Start the count down!

This set comes with 1204 pieces, 3 minifigs (1 male and 1 female astronaut and 1 crewman) and some nice looking accessories. The shuttle itself is a great design with lots of functionality.

Detachable booster rockets

the satellite of love?

The booster rockets are detachable and the cargo bay doors open revealing a robotic arm and beautiful looking satellite payload. The shuttle’s landing gear is retractable and it also comes with a tiny ground vehicle.

One of my only complaints about the look of this shuttle is that the nose of it seems kind of choppy. I am surprised that this would bother me especially since I usually prefer sets that “look” like they are made of Lego. It bothered me how some recently released airplanes were made up of mostly smooth special pieces that made them look like a plastic airplane toy and not a LEGO airplane. But with this shuttle I think a smoother nose would have looked better.

Maybe it’s because I really liked the older shuttle sets Lego released.

Lego Space Shuttle set 1682 from 1990

For example, take a look at my favorite Lego Space Shuttle set 1682 that came out in 1990. It uses a tapered slope on the nose of the shuttle that gives it a really clean look. But it’s still angular and there are studs showing on this model that remind you, “Hey I’m a Lego Shuttle dangit!”

Also, I’m glad that this set from 1990 came with a working crane and launch pad baseplate that made it easy to incorporate it into your existing Lego town.

One big mutha!

In defense of the new choppy-looking shuttle set, it is a lot larger than the previous Lego sets of space shuttles. The new Shuttle Adventure 10213 Stands 17.5″ (44cm) tall and has a 10″ (25.5cm) wing span. That’s pretty big! It also looks much more realistic and has more features crammed in it. So I am a fan.

Even for the $99.99 price point I think Shuttle Adventure is a great set to add to your collection. So go buy it baby, cuz I always say every Lego town needs its very own space program.

Here are some of the other past Lego space shuttle sets for comparison and nostalgia. You can still find them on bricklink occasionally.