Digital Trends

The Lego Group announced details about the upcoming MMO along with a time frame for its release.

Kids everywhere can finally pick up the living room floor and keep their parents from stepping on crunchy pieces: the Lego universe is going digital as a massive multiplayer online game. The Lego Group announced Lego Universe as the official name of the upcoming MMO in a press release on Thursday, along with some details about the game.

No gameplay specifics were outlined, but character advancement will play a central role to the game (as it does in most MMOs), and each player will be able to fully customize the mini-figure they play as. “Expansive social and community features” were promised, but that kind of language doesn't give us much to go on.  Players will know for sure in the fourth quarter of 2008, when Lego has planned its release.

One of the biggest development challenges for the game might be keeping up with Lego's claim that it will be “child-safe,” despite taking place in an infamously unpredictable MMO environment. We're guessing a heavy-duty profanity filters along with strong moderation will the company's weapons of choice.

Lego Universe is being built by NetDevil, a small Colorado development house that specializes in MMOs, with around 60 full-time employees. Previous titles include Jumpgate, Auto Assault and Warmonger.