LEGO Universe Latest Online Game to Adopt Free-to-Play Business Model

Massively multiplayer online (MMO) game.

Originally launched as an in-store retail PC game on October 26, 2010 by distributor Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) for $50, starting this August the game will be available for free via digital download. Sales of the retail PC game, which currently sells for $20, will be discontinued permanently.

Rather than generating revenue from micro-transactions, the LEGO Group will continue to rely on monthly subscriptions for the game. Players will be able to access two adventure zones and one player property area for free for as long as they want. Access to the rest of the world’s 15 adventure zones and five player property areas will remain $9.99 per month. Gamers will also be able to purchase six months of gameplay for $49.99 and 12 months for $89.99.

“The LEGO Group remains committed to success in the digital space and to LEGO Universe

In February of this year, the LEGO Group purchased NetDevil, the development team that created LEGO Universe, from Gazillion Entertainment. That team, based in Louisville, Colorado, continues to work on expansions for the game world. Later this year, Ninjago, the next big expansion for the game, will launch.

Michael Pachter, video game analyst, Wedbush Morgan Securities, said the LEGO Group is likely targeting tens of millions of players with this new business model.

“With the LEGO brand, that’s possible, especially since Sony Online Entertainment’s Free Realms , Sony Online Entertainment has gathered over 17 million registered players for its free-to-play game across PC, Mac, and PlayStation 3 since 2009. The game’s the first free-to-play MMO on Sony’s PlayStation Network. Sony has targeted the same family audience with its game world, which features mini-games like go kart racing and the ability to socialize with gamers of all ages in a cartoon-style 3D virtual world. The game relies on micro-transactions to generate revenue and offers players a $5 monthly subscription option to gain additional content.

SOE also has had success with its most recent partnership with LucasArts, Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures . Players can pay a $5.99 monthly subscription or buy in-game items as they explore the Cartoon Network’s hit computer-animated TV series from George Lucas. This virtual world includes activities like Starfighter races, droid puzzles and tower defense mini-games.

Play Lego Games Online - News


LEGO Universe Latest Online Game to Adopt Free-to-Play Business Model
LEGO Universe Latest Online Game to Adopt Free-to-Play Business Model

The LEGO Group is the latest video game publisher to venture into this free-to-play business with its LEGO Universe massively multiplayer online (MMO) game. Originally launched as an in-store retail PC game on October 26, 2010 by distributor Warner



'Age of Conan' relaunches as free-to-play

Lord of the Rings Online, another massively multiplayer game based on fantasy fiction, experienced significant success since becoming free-to-play in September 2010. Subsequently, Champions Online, Pirates of the Burning Sea and APB (in the form of



The Top Ten Nintendo 3DS Games So Far

LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean received the LEGO treatment, and this enjoyable game is almost on par with the console titles. You'll play as over 70 characters and explore locations from all four movies



Four Player Co-op 06.29.11: Free-to-Play Games, PS3 Price Cuts, Star Wars ...

QUESTION ONE: Looks like the future of gaming involves a lot of free to play games supported by microtransactions, and we're not just talking about Facebook games. Many MMOs, including Champions Online and LEGO Universe are either already free to play



World of Warcraft goes free to play for first 20 levels
World of Warcraft goes free to play for first 20 levels

Lego Universe will go free in August and, while not an MMO per se, Valve's Team Fortress 2 went free to play earlier this month, meaning the game is now sustained on an entirely hat-based economy. You can grab your World of Warcraft Starter Edition for




Lego Supersonic RC - Play Lego Supersonic RC Online - Doll Games

Lego Supersonic RC is a supersonic jet plane popular game where you control your LEGO RC race car! Make sure all the yellow star of the checkpoints in time to earn maximum points and win the race. Use the up arrow key to accelerate, down arrow to brake and reverse. Steering the car with the left and right arrow keys. Press the space bar to brake hard into the sharp turns. Drive your way through the toy store and follow the yellow arrows for directions. Get some serious air when you hit the jumps in this great flash game!


Play Lego Games Online - Bookshelf

Growing up online, young people and digital technologies

Growing up online, young people and digital technologies

Spatial elements such as topographies, maps, and architectures also shape games and play — from Lego and dolls houses to board games and theme parks. ...

Lego Mindstorms NXT hacker's guide

Lego Mindstorms NXT hacker's guide

For example, in 2004, X-Pod Play Off Game Pack (65535) tried to instill some excitement into the tiny egg-shaped X-Pods. According to the LEGO Group, ...

Mac Life

Mac Life

The two bundled CDs (Midway Games and the Atari Anniversary Edition) aren't Mac ... Unfortunately, however, you can't play online. LEGO STAR WARS II Feral ...

The Place of Play, Toys and Digital Cultures

The Place of Play, Toys and Digital Cultures

The cheating bots designed for the The Sims Online game discussed in the fourth ... an official LEGO set was a way to control the fans indicate that a play ...

European culture and the media

European culture and the media

and make use of these genres' design of game play, conflicts, solutions etc., thus, some of the games are to a large extent a LEGO version of a computer ...

Day-after-day Posts Directory


LEGO.com Play
LEGO games, comics, movies, downloads, and more.

LEGO
Official LEGO Company site with products and services, Legoland, company history, and recent press releases. Includes online shopping for LEGO products.

Play lego games online!
Enjoy the coolest Lego games online. Joint the mini figures on expeditions with bricks and live in your own Legoland! Rating: stars!

Free online games to play, flash games online free
Play over 1000 free online games! Big collection of free online games: arcade games, sport, puzzles, racing, kids games, boys&girls games on Free-Online-Games-to-Play.net

Creationary | LEGO Games | LEGO Shop
Introducing LEGO® Games, the world's first collection of games that you build, play and change. With the unique buildable LEGO Dice and changeable rules, LEGO ...