This is an old story but it just caught my attention.

I haven't seen a thorough answer to the questions some of you have asked to those who have actually played it, so I will do my best to let you know what the game is like.

For those of you expecting a game where you can build things with Lego and run around in an environment experiencing others creations you will be sorely disappointed with this product. Of course, this is what Lego Universe was SUPPOSED to be about.

Instead Lego Universe is a simplistic corridor "action game" which feels like a simplified version of the Lego console games. Yes, it's even more simple than those... There is no quest dialogue really... in fact its basically a once sentence "Go here and build this." Only the building is, of course, all predetermined. You mash a button and throw bricks at something.

What free building you DO get to do is off on your own little private instanced parcel and while others can visit, it matters frak all in the grand scheme of the game. Also... your builds are completely static, meaning no building cars or rockets or airplanes that work.

Also, while I totally get that the game is geared for kids, it features an EXTREMELY annoying chat system that blocks 99% of whatever you might want to say. A simple bad language filter WOULD HAVE SUFFICED. Instead you get a system that will block the message,"Where is the green brick I need for this quest?"

Make no mistake this game is not for those of us who are teens to adults now who loved Lego as a kid. It's not even really for older kids who love Lego (I'm looking at the 10-12 year olds the game is supposed to be marketed to...) Really the game feels like it's aiming for the Duplo crowd, as if 10-12 year olds are too stupid to figure out quests with dialogue or having more complex gameplay mechanics.

Having said that... I can't see why ANY parent would spend $15/mo so their kids could play this game. Parents that want to play with their kids are looking at $30/mo, money that could be better spent buying ACTUAL Lego sets to build with their kids.

Oh and one more thing... Lego didn't listen to testers during the development of this game. The beta forums were HEAVILY moderated, more so than the game chat. You would make a post and someone had to read it before it was even posted. This meant 90% of all posts were never posted to the boards, 90% of all feedback for the devs was never heard by the devs. All because Lego has some warped-ass view of kid safety. Even the main Lego forums weren't moderated like this, which I find highly suspect.

I gave up on the beta a few months ago, it was clear that this game wasn't meant for anyone over 8 years of age. That said, I simply can't see parents paying that much per month for a game their kids will get bored with in one sitting. The gameplay is the same thing rinse and repeat zone after zone.

Adult fans would be better to look at games like Blockland or Minecraft which let you build things and do so in a multiplayer environment for a small one-time fee.

I was invited to the beta, but never got to try it since I heard the game is really simple and boring. Is the beta still happening and when does it end? Maybe I should try it?

Cabezone wrote on Sep 2, 2010, 16:23:
I am unsure what the target audience is for this game. It's too basic to appeal to the normal MMORPG fan I'm thinking. I don't see too many parents of young kids shelling out a monthly fee for the game.

This. My kid would love this game, and I've thought about playing it with him while it's in beta, and I don't have to pay for it. I don't really want to pay for a subscription though. If they were selling this as a $20 game with no subscription (maybe an item mall or something), I'd buy this.

The game was actually fun for a while.

LOC wrote on Sep 2, 2010, 16:18:

Saturated fat wrote on Sep 2, 2010, 14:51:
Hmmm... Only a closed Beta was utilized prior to going gold.
Not sure that instills confidence.

The game "has surpassed quality standards."
Since it was developed by NetDevil would those quality standards be the same as Auto Assaults?

Don't you dare dis Auto Assault! I'm still in mourning

^^ Ditto.

Though your right about one thing. The fact is has gold and not gone to an open Beta is not a good sign.

I am unsure what the target audience is for this game. It's too basic to appeal to the normal MMORPG fan I'm thinking. I don't see too many parents of young kids shelling out a monthly fee for the game.

Saturated fat wrote on Sep 2, 2010, 14:51:
Hmmm... Only a closed Beta was utilized prior to going gold.
Not sure that instills confidence.

The game "has surpassed quality standards."
Since it was developed by NetDevil would those quality standards be the same as Auto Assaults?

Don't you dare dis Auto Assault! I'm still in mourning

Collect several pieces of my LEGO penis and get a hat!

Dev wrote on Sep 2, 2010, 15:09:
I like the look of the screenshots, but I need to hear from people who have tried it before I seriously consider getting it. And if its a pay monthly, I'm very unlikely to get into it at all.

I tried the beta several months ago, it didn't really appeal to me, it was extremely basic gameplay and the graphics were blah. It is possible it has improved greatly, I haven't played it in quite some time. I was excited for this, but I remember not playing the beta for very long, and I think I recall it giving me a headache.

I like the look of the screenshots, but I need to hear from people who have tried it before I seriously consider getting it. And if its a pay monthly, I'm very unlikely to get into it at all.

Hmmm... Only a closed Beta was utilized prior to going gold.
Not sure that instills confidence.

The game "has surpassed quality standards."
Since it was developed by NetDevil would those quality standards be the same as Auto Assaults?