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Barely Related: Sailor Moon Crystal trailer, Luigi mean mug
Happy week before E3, everyone! Welcome to Barely Related, a conversational Friday column that presents the non-gaming news stories that we, the Joystiq staff, have been talking about over the past week. And no, we're not stopping our focus on industry and gaming news. Think of this as your casual weekly recap of interesting (and mostly geeky) news, presented just in time to fill your brain with things to discuss at all of those weekend shindigs. Grab a fresh drink, lean back in your armchair, and get ready to talk nerdy with us.
New LEGO Minifigures Online vid features Medieval World
Funcom's latest LEGO Minifigures Online video reveals the game's Medieval World. Players of the "brickalicious" free-to-play title will need to capture the Medieval World's "wicked Elementius the Pieromancer (wanted for pie-throwing) while facing pointy-teethed monstrosities such as trolls, ogres, and dragons." Click past the cut to have a look!
Funcom's LEGO Minifigures Online open beta coming in June
Funcom's LEGO Minifigures Online has been in closed beta for several months, but now the company says its free-to-play PC, iOS, and Android title will go into open beta this June. "This is an invaluable opportunity to collect feedback directly from players," says executive producer Lawrence Poe. "We'll be using that feedback over the summer to help us focus our efforts where they are most needed and deliver the best possible experience when we launch in the fall."
Funcom secures $1.6 million in additional equity
Funcom's website has published news of a move that gives the firm $1.6 million of additional equity as it prepares to launch LEGO Minifigures Online. In May of 2012, Funcom reached an agreement with US fund manager Yorkville Advisors and is now partially exercising the resulting option. "We are very pleased to have increased the company's financial flexibility with funds that will be used in preparing for the launch of LEGO Minifigures Online," explained CEO Ole Schreiner explained in a prepared statement. "We have several times expressed a need for additional equity and have considered different alternatives to secure this. This facility has been available to us since 2012, but the timing has not been right before."
Gadget Rewind 2006: Lego Mindstorms NXT
Lego, the popular toy brick maker, graduated from simple plastic playthings in 1998 when it released its Mindstorms Robotics Invention System (RIS). Born of a collaboration between Lego and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), these "toys" let users build a variety of interactive humanoid, animal and vehicular robots. Although the product underwent iterative revisions over the years, it wasn't until 2006 that the company decided to introduce its true next generation of Mindstorms kits, appropriately dubbed NXT.
Report: Lego: The Hobbit to add third movie's storyline via DLC
When Lego: The Hobbit debuts in April, the game will only feature content from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Desolation of Smaug, though the third film in the Peter Jackson-directed trilogy may appear later as DLC, according to reports from the London Toy Fair. Brick Fanatics, a UK site focusing on all things Lego, states that developer Traveler's Tales plans to launch a sizable downloadable addition for Lego: The Hobbit right around the same time that The Hobbit: There And Back Again rolls into theaters. The film is currently slated to debut on December 17, giving the developer eight months to cobble together its downloadable content. As Brick Fanatics points out, this will be a novel situation for the developer. Traveler's Tales has released DLC for its previous Lego games, though so far it's all been minor additions like characters and new costumes. On the other hand, Traveler's Tales has a long history of working with cinematic trilogies, so it makes a certain kind of sense that the developer would want to touch on the final Hobbit film, even if its game will debut eight months prior to the movie's launch. Lego: The Hobbit will reach the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Vita handheld, Wii U and 3DS on April 8. [Image: WB]
WildStar LEGO rocket house landing at PAX East
If the Venn diagram of your interests overlaps at "loves LEGO" and "looking forward to WildStar," then boy howdy will PAX East appeal to you. Carbine Studios has commissioned a LEGO artist (yes, that is a real thing) to create a massive 50,000-piece rocket house for PAX East's main lobby. This ship will be donated to Child's Play with $10,000 after the convention, and a smaller version of the LEGO rocket house will be given away to one fan who pre-orders WildStar while there. WildStar will be at booth #562 during the show. [Source: Carbine Studios press release]
LEGO Minifigures Online previews a world of pirates
It's a world of peg-legs and hooks for hands, it's a world of parrots and coastal lands. It's a giant pastiche on the wide-open seas, it's a pirate world after all. Yes, that's the obvious takeaway from the newest preview from LEGO Minifigures Online, showing off the game's nautical land of cutthroats and cutlasses for all to see. And as you might expect, it's playing the routine straight to the hilt. So what can you expect from the game's Pirate World? If you said "pirate ghosts, sea creatures, and gold," you've seen a movie within the last decade and you are entirely right. Still, it looks to be exactly the sort of broad-strokes swashbuckling that can provide plenty of fun. So if you're eager to slap on an eyepatch and say "arr" more than entirely necessary, hop on past the break to check out the full video.
Lego Star Wars Microfighters zooms to iOS
You won't need to use the Force to play Lego Star Wars Microfighters, the new top-down shooter from TT Games - unless "the Force" is what you've nicknamed your iPod, iPhone or iPad. The iOS game is based on the Lego toy line of the same name, and allows you to pilot iconic spacecraft from the Star Wars universe. Players can choose to strap in to a number of craft from the Clone Wars and Galactic Civil War eras. X-Wings? They're in there. Millenium Falcon? You betcha. Snowspeeder? Of course. For those megalomaniacal and evil enough, there's even a Death Star to be piloted. Ships are flown through 18 levels take take place on Endor, Hoth, Yevon and Geonosis. The cost for entry into this brick-and-pegs-filled wonderland is pretty micro as well: just $0.99 puts you in the pilot seat. Good luck, and may the Force - you know, your iOS device - be with you. [Image: Warner Bros Entertainment]
Build anything you want with Legos, in Chrome
Let's be honest: You're never too old to play with Legos. Thanks to the latest Chrome experiment (and a little help from WebGL) you can build whatever your heart desires directly from your browser. Using Maps, you're able to choose a location-specific plot before starting to build, brick by brick. As you might expect, creations can be viewed across Google+ circles with categories for sorting, and tutorials will help hone those plastic contractor skills. If you really wanna get hands-on, use your phone or tablet's touchscreen for a more tactile feel. Itching to get started? You can begin construction right here.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: doggie translator, full-size Lego hot rod and skyscraper cemeteries
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. Do you ever wish you knew exactly what your dog is thinking? A team of designers from the Nordic Society for Invention and Discovery is playing Doctor Dolittle -- they've developed a doggie headset that can read animal brainwaves and translate them into human speech. That's just one of the many amazing scientific breakthroughs we've witnessed this week. South Korean scientists developed the world's first nanobot that can both detect and treat cancer. Rawlemon unveiled a gigantic crystal ball that can magnify solar energy 10,000 times -- that's enough to harvest light from the sun, moon and clouds. For the first time, researchers at the University of Cambridge used an inkjet printer to print living retinal cells, which could be used to replace defective eye tissue. And this week, Inhabitat interviewed Natural Machine's Chief Marketing Officer Lynette Kucsma to talk about an amazing new 3D printer that can cook up edible designs.
Drivable 500,000 piece Lego car runs on compressed air, insanity (video)
If you're still stuck on that Lego Mindstorm EV3 project, then you might have a tiny inkling of how the folks from the Super Awesome Micro Project feel. They've just pieced together a car with 500,000 of the plastic blocks that can actually hit the road, thanks to four radial engines with 256 pistons that run on compressed air. It was designed and built by 20-year-old Romanian Lego savant Raul Oaida in 20 months after he and a partner raised "tens of thousands" of dollars from Aussie backers. It'll only cruise at 12-17 mph hour (since it's built of freaking Lego), but as shown in the video after the break, you probably wouldn't want to go any faster -- especially given the seats.
LEGO Minifigures Online puts together a new site, aims for summer 2014 launch
Anxious to know more about the adventures to be had in LEGO Minifigures Online? Curious about how the game's mechanics will play out? Just eager to see some of the sillier minifigures in play? The latest video update from the game will satisfy all of these needs right away. It's a top-level overview of the game as a whole, and it comes along with a full website overhaul to help potential players learn more about the game before its launch in summer 2014. The video shows off a small sampling of the many minifigures in the game, ranging from the obviously combat-oriented (such as the Knight and the Revolutionary Soldier) to the almost completely ridiculous (the DJ or that guy in the chicken suit). All of the figures will have a role and a purpose within the game, and each one has its own unique set of abilities the help allies and hinder opponents. Check out the trailer just past the break. [Source: Funcom press release]
LEGO 'Mac Classic' is a do-it-yourself iPad dock (video)
Have a pile of LEGO bricks, an iPad and a lot of time on your hands? You can create a cute little "Mac Classic" iPad dock like the one lovingly put together by Norwegian ad creatives Jason Kinsella and Charlotte Bakken. The team put together a scale model of the original Mac, then decided to include a slot so they could add in an iPad for movie viewing or just pretending that the 1984 Mac had a touch screen... The result isn't an exact replica, no more than a LEGO Apple Store is a scale model of a real Apple Store. It's still fun, though.
LEGO Star Wars travels to an iOS device not so far, far away
If you've yet to experience the adorableness that is LEGO Star Wars, or if you have but wanted to take the experience on the go without needing a dedicated handheld gaming device, good news: LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga is now available for iOS devices. Better news: it's free - kind of. The game features 120 characters and 36 levels, though only the story mode of Episode 1: The Phantom Menace is free to play. Other levels and features must be purchased in-game, either individually or in bundles. The Complete Saga is $14.99, while the Prequel Trilogy Bundle and Original Trilogy Bundles are $4.99 each. Whatever you buy, just be wary of anyone trying to sell you Death Sticks.
Lego The Last of Us video proves someone needs to make this game
Some properties are a bit too mature for it, but you still know they'd be great for the Lego game treatment. Animator Brian Anderson is a going a long way to proving that, following up his Lego Breaking Bad video with one for gritty PS3 hit The Last of Us. While we're at it, if you've not checked out Anderson's Bluthfighter video, you really should. It's as Ann as the nose on Plain's face that someone should be making these games.
Lego Star Wars - Complete Saga available for iOS
For you Lego and Star Wars fans, we offer some great news! As of today, you can download Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga from the iTunes App store. The game offers 36 story modes with more than 120 playable characters. You can even choose the dark or light side characters, but Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han Solo and Boba Fett must be unlocked to use. There is also unlockable special bonus content, such as Bounty Hunter missions and Arcade levels. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga also lets you create new character combinations, such as Lando Amidala. Your gameplay is enhanced with switchable "Classic" and "Touch Screen" controls, so that you can play in the most comfortable mode on each device. Episode I (The Phantom Menace) is free, but Episodes II through VI come at a price. The Complete Saga is US$14.99 and individual episodes and characters range from $0.99 to $4.99. The game is compatible with iOS 6 or later and the iPhone 4 and up, the iPad and iPod touch. We recommend you download Episode I to your computer and sync it to your iOS device because the direct-to-iPhone or iPad version is a whopping 1.44 GB, while the synced version uses less space and weigh in at only 735 MB. The Complete Saga had a 9+ rating. According to Apple's Application Ratings, this means it may not be suitable for children younger than 9 due to "infrequent occurrences of cartoon, fantasy or realistic violence... or mild mature, suggestive or horror-themed content." Users who have jumped on this purchase are generally thrilled with gameplay, but not the individual episode pricing. [via the Mac Observer]
Inhabitat's Week in Green: eco-friendly Christmas trees, Kingdom of Erebor Lego replica and a ring that translates sign language
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. At this time of year, you tend to see lots of cars with Christmas trees strapped to their roofs. But that could become a less common sight due to climate change -- extreme weather events are making life harder for tree farmers, causing tree shortages in the northeastern US. As an alternative, Inhabitat rounded up a list of this year's top eco-friendly faux Christmas trees. In New York, this year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is lit up with 45,000 solar-powered LED lights. In the spirit of the season, Russian photographer Alexey Kljatov took some stunning macro photos of snowflakes by hacking a cheap Canon PowerShot. Inhabitat also unveiled its annual green gadget gift guide, and we shared the real story behind the "design" of Christmas (hint: It involves Santa and 'shrooms).
Belkin's LEGO Builder Case for iPad mini arrives in time for Christmas
One of the more unique cases I've had the opportunity to review over the past year was the LEGO Builder Case for iPhone 5 from Belkin. The case literally turns your iPhone 5 into a brick -- well, a base for building LEGO brick-based creations for a totally customizable look. It might not be the most comfortable iPhone 5 case you've ever used, especially if you've made a LEGO creation with lots of pointy edges, but it's certainly different! Now Belkin is going big with the LEGO Builder Case with a version for the iPad mini (US$59.99). Coming in base colors of red, green and yellow, the LEGO Builder Case for iPad mini not only provides a fun play surface when you become bored playing LEGO Lord of the Rings, LEGO Batman or LEGO Harry Potter, but it's also quite protective. The case uses a Smart Case-like cover to turn the iPad mini on and off, and it can also fold over to provide a stand for watching episodes of LEGO Legends of Chima. Our review case is the beautiful green and blue model, featuring a bright green case with a blue cover and LEGO brick pad. As you'd expect, LEGO bricks snap right onto the case and turn your iPad mini into an anchor for your construction efforts. If there's one gift that you should consider for that LEGO-loving iPad mini user on your shopping list, it's the LEGO Builder Case for iPad mini. We might be able to even help you out with holiday gift-giving, as we're giving away our review case to one lucky TUAW reader. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before November 29, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Belkin LEGO Builder Case for iPad mini valued at $59.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Report: LEGO The Hobbit slated for 2014 release
The LEGO games series may build up a tribute to The Hobbit in 2014, according to alleged promotional materials posted by Brickset forum member sidersdd. The images suggest the adaption will involve series developer TT Games and will reach the Xbox 360, 3DS, Wii U, PC and PlayStation devices. The materials also include a link to LEGO's Hobbit website, but as of this time of writing, there is no announcement on the page that correlates with the posted materials.
