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The game's new logo
The game's old logo
55000 LEGO Universe, also called LEGO Universe Massively Multiplayer Online Game, is a LEGO video game that was released in a Massive Multiplayer Online Game (or MMOG) format. It was initially scheduled to be released in 2009, but the LEGO Group pushed it's publication date to October 26, 2010, due to the game needing more work and/or to create a larger fanbase. It features customizable LEGO Minifigures as the controllable characters and LEGO environments as the surroundings. Players are able to build their own objects or vehicles, and display them in the game.
Story
Four explorers (Duke Exeter, Dr Overbuild, Hael Storm, and Baron Typhonus) set out to find a source of rare power. They find this power on a cube-shaped planet called Crux. This power was the long lost essence of pure imagination, that could create anything you imagined. Hael imagined a pirate ship, Duke imagined a large fortress, and Dr Overbuild imagined a robot dog. But the Baron had become chaotic during the long travel, and imagined a creature of pure evil. The imagination makes it so, but the Baron's attempt to rule the universe through chaos failed, and the creature dragged him inside the pure imagination. With all that evil inside, the imagination was corrupted, and mutated into a strong and destructive Maelstrom. Dr Overbuild sealed the imagination, but the pressure inside Crux made the planet explode. The smaller chunks were colonized but the biggest ones turned into the locations in the game. The three remaining explorers founded the factions of Sentinel, Assembly, and the Venture League. The Paradox faction was founded by the Baron's assistant, Vanda Darkflame.
Planets and places
- Venture Explorer
- Avant Gardens
- Gnarled Forest
- Forbidden Valley
- Pet Cove
- Nimbus Station
- Starbase 3001 (LUP worlds)
- Club Station Alpha
- Frostburgh
- Property Worlds
- Crux Prime
- Nexus City
- Nexus Tower
Background
LEGO Universe started production around the time of 2007. It was chosen to be created through the collaboration of NetDevil, a famous MMOG creator, and the LEGO Group. The game would be the next step in LEGO gaming, as it would allow countless people, up to the thousands, to interact with each other simultaneously in game-space, hence the title of Massive Multiplayer Online Game.
The game will allow players to create their own Minifigures and control them through the world of LEGO Universe. These minifigures can build in several ways: Quick-building, where a minifigure can quickly build a pre-determined model, Modular Building, where a minifigure can build a model by using different pre-built pieces of it. The pieces have different variations, which allows for different combinations. The final type of building is Free Building, where minifigures can use bricks to create whatever they like, but only in a certain areas. The worlds in the game are said to be persistent, always evolving by the players actions and creations.
One of the biggest missions for the LEGO Group in this game is to create a safe environment for children, due to LEGO having a large target audience of children. It has been said that the game will allow players to create, build, quest and socialize together in a safe environment.
The game has been Alpha Tested by the employees of LEGO, their families and the LEGO Kid's Inner Circle. These testers had to sign a Declaration of Secrecy to play it, which meant they could not reveal any information about it other than say they were testing it.
During the course of production, the LEGO Universe Website has been updated with Challenges, Videos, Blogs, and pictures about the game for LEGO Club Members.
There has also been some kind of story/promotion on the website in the form of LEGO Pods landing on Earth at LEGO Retail Stores. The Bradford Rant Institute of Cosmis Kinesis' (it's initials spell out BRICK) website is all about the LEGO pods. The Pods contain information about the minifigures from LEGO Universe. Their website contains several screenshots from the game and a message from the minifigures. All 7 pods have landed and they contain letters of a message from the minifigures, which has been recently deciphered. The message says, "Answer the call to save imagination." The website can be found below or by clicking on this link. This has evolved into several games on the LEGO Universe LEGO.com site called "The Great Minifig Mission." This revealed story items about the game.
The game has now been launched. The release date was October 26th, 2010, with early access available for those who pre-ordered the game on October 8th, 2010. The pre-order item number 2855133 has been changed to 55000.
Characters Known
Teaser poster
- Creation Lab
- Evil overlords
- My LEGO Network
- Others
Factions
Assembly
Assembly-Guided by construction specialist Doc Overbuild, they battle the maelstrom using various creations. The Assembly Faction is the first of the 4 Nexus Force alliances. Their members believe that the act of creation naturally sets back the chaotic destructive nature of the Maelstrom. And they are challenged to push the limits of imagination, exploring new styles and new ways of construction. They consider themselves to be the foundation of the Nexus Force. And even though they may not be as brave as the Sentinels or as daring as the Venture League, they are brilliant architects and clever engineers who are highly respected for their skills.
Their leader the eccentric Doctor Overbuild is genius and very intelligent – like a true copy of Einstein. His passion is building and pushing the uses of imagination. He spends months at a time locked in his building laboratory, creating the visions in his head. They look like construction workers and robotic implants (like Doc Overbuild's robotic arms) and their symbol is an orange, upside-down recyling symbol.
The Sentinels
The Sentinels - Legendary warrior Duke Exeter leads the Sentinels in the fight against the maelstorm. The Sentinels are the third alliance of the Nexus Force and their mission is to protect the weak, defend the good and serve justice to all. Integrity and Honor are the core of their operations and their heroic performance overshadows all evil. Members of The Sentinels are the most forceful Minifigures of the Nexus Force. What they lack in pure imagination, they make up with strength and courageous will power. They are known and respected as the most honorable warriors in the Universe.
Their leader, the charismatic and brave Duke Exeter, is an inspiration to everyone around him. He refuses to compromise his principles, and so far he has always found a way to achieve victory with honor. Always trusting that the right will win, he's big on giving everyone second chances. And he is always prepared to take on challenges like a true boy-scout. They are the warrior group consisting of knights and samurai. Their symbol is a bird, possibly a blue eagle.
Venture League
Venture League - Space pirate Hael Storm's Venture League are a group of explorers that solve mysteries and look for answers. The Venture League is the second alliance of the Nexus Force. Its members are a composition of adventurers and explorers who want to get to the bottom of all of the mysteries filling up the Universe. No matter if it's exploring long-lost civilizations of the First Builders or going where no Minifigure has ever gone before, the Venture League has always been the first to discover it. They're simply on a mission to unravel every mystery the Universe has to offer.
Their leader, the cheerful Hael Storm, has a great sense of humor and is always ready with a wisecrack. He's a born problem solver and in times of danger, Storm will always rise to the challenge. He's a fun, adventurous pirate with an attitude. His specialty is the sea and he is a seasoned explorer of all the oceans in the Universe. They are an adventure group of daredevils and pirates and their symbol is a skull in front of a compass.
Paradox
Paradox - Ninja warrior Vanda Darkflame leads her group in using the maelstrom's power against itself. Their group looks like ninjas and dark wizards Paradox is the fourth and last alliance of the Nexus Force. Paradox members closely study the Maelstrom power in an effort to find the evil within it. They believe that the battlefield is no place for honor and use whatever means are necessary to achieve victory. Paradox has got a reputation for being secretive about their operations. They are sneaky in their attacks and highly effective in all their disciplines. Though Paradox has never broken the trust of the other Factions they are still looked at with an eye of suspicion.
Their leader, the mysterious ninja warrior Vanda Darkflame, believes that to defeat an enemy you must understand it and, if possible, turn its own power against it. She is cynical, selfish, decisive, and always fights for what she feels is right, no matter what anyone else may think about her heartless methods. They are a group of space marauders and dark sorcerers and their symbol is a slanted eye with a spiral behind it.
Notes
- The game originally was scheduled to be produced in 2009 but was stalled untill 2010.
- In a LEGO Club Magazine a game code is given away, however the game code was incorrect and an apology was added in the next issue.
- The game used to be priced $39.99 but was changed to $19.99 because of low sales.
Prices
Release
The game was released as a DVD, and also as downloads from the LEGO Universe Official Website. The cost of the game will be based on a subscription model. The packages are US $9.99 for 1 month, $49.99 for 6 months ($8.35 per month), and $89.99 for 12 months ($7.50 per month). The game is now available for order here. The North America release date was October 26th,the European release date was October 22nd with early access on October 8th for "pioneers", or "Founders" those had who pre-ordered the game. Those who pre-ordered the game also received an exclusive astronaut minifigure and an astronaut costume in-game. Pre-Order ended on September 27th for North America and on September 23rd for Europe.
Additional sets
Three promotional sets promoting the game were released so far:
- 2853944 Astronaut, which was given out to those who pre-ordered the game in October. The polybagged set included a card with a code that would enable the astronaut uniform in the game itself.
- 55001 Universe Rocket, which was also given out in October. This set contained a code card which enabled the rocket in the game too.
- LEGO Universe Promotion 2008
Additionally, a guide to the game was released:
