Minecraft CUUSOO Project Passes LEGO Review

 

  • Minecraft CUUSOO Project Passes LEGO Review

    Posted by Huw, 25 Jan 2012 03:28. Filed under New sets.

    What with all the Toy Fair excitement yesterday I didn't get a chance to mention the other big news story that broke on the Cuusoo blog:

    "We're happy to announce that the Minecraft project on LEGO CUUSOO has passed the LEGO review and we are now developing a concept that celebrates the best aspects of building with the LEGO system and in Minecraft. We can’t wait to show it to you—but it isn't ready just yet. These things take time, so we appreciate your patience. More details are to come."

    Thanks to everyone that emailed!


    56 comments, latest one posted 16 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
    1475 views


 
 

Comments

Posted by yys4u in United States, 25 Jan 2012 03:57

@Huw So the other Cuusoo projects that passed were exclusive to Japan right? Is that the case with this one too?

Posted by richselby in United Kingdom, 25 Jan 2012 04:08

No, this is for the rest of us. From the international Cuusoo site.

Posted by The Green Brick Giant in United States, 25 Jan 2012 04:47

Wow...

LEGO has completely lost their mind.

Posted by legoguy2805 in United Kingdom, 25 Jan 2012 05:12

In my opinion Minecraft will make an awesome theme. The two are incredibly compatible and I can't wait to see what the sets look like.

Posted by OuterRimTradingCo. in Australia, 25 Jan 2012 05:13

wow! Make a game, then sell your licence to LEGO! Dreams can come true!

Posted by tiberium_blue in United Kingdom, 25 Jan 2012 05:29

Ugh...

Posted by AVCampos in United States, 25 Jan 2012 05:33

It seems AFOL opinions are all either "this will be great" or "this will suck": I don't remember seeing a so polarising LEGO subject before!

As for me, I'm in the "this will suck" camp: I can't see what kind of new sets or parts can be made that anyone can't make with a tub of 2x2 and 2x4 bricks and a few minifigs. Maybe we get new decorated elements, like this year's 1x2 brick with engraved brick pattern...

Posted by Markey in Belgium, 25 Jan 2012 06:07

Thanks to the minecraft fanboy invasion on cuusoo this set got picked, while there are so many nicer sets to choose from...

Will this come in a basic bricks bucket?

Posted by Mr. Mini Man in United States, 25 Jan 2012 06:25

^^I was one of the ones who emailed brickest about this, and I really don't see what the big deal is.
To all of you who think this won't do well, it will. From pictures I've seen, the sets have printed 2x4 bricks, many 1x2 tiles, and many 2x2 tiles. This stuff SELLS. Minecraft has over 2 million fans, and if each one bought a $10 Minecraft set, that'd be 20000000 in LEGO's pocket. Maybe this will be the next Minifigures, or Ninjago.
Try to argue with that.

Posted by Nerd in United States, 25 Jan 2012 07:26

Wait... do the project creators of these sets get a part of the money made from it?

Posted by cheshirecat in United Kingdom, 25 Jan 2012 07:50

Yes, 1% royalty irrespective of if its unlicensed or licensed. I couldn't quite tell but it also seems like you get a fee for designing any new parts that are used.

However, the winning Minecraft item actually came from the Minecraft team them selves rather than an individual. They've also said that 1% will go to charity. Didn't say where the other %age they'ld get for the IP will go???

I fail to see how anyone could really criticise this idea. Since they've upped the number of supporters an idea gets (some of those early ones were a little, umm, odd) and made it worldwide its just a good way to look for potential new markets or just release the occasional niche item.

Posted by Corellian Engineering in Belgium, 25 Jan 2012 08:47

So, let me resume this.. someone takes the basic Lego concept (building things from little bricks) and turns it into an electronic version.. So far ok... even brilliant..
But then this guy propose to turn his electronic bricks back into plastic ones... and a million fanboys consider it as a big novelty???
Sorry, I fear I gost lost somewhere... because I still don't get it. Last time I checked brickbuckets were already available in the stores...

Posted by Si_Dorking_Surrey in United Kingdom, 25 Jan 2012 08:49

They should just buy minecraft and Lego-ise it.

Posted by sarlacc98 in United Kingdom, 25 Jan 2012 09:07

Creeper out of lego. Awesome!!!

Posted by Joefish in United Kingdom, 25 Jan 2012 09:23

Tech support Barbie.
Snakes on a Plane.
'Save Mr Splashy-Pants'.
LEGO Minecraft.

Thanks, people of the information superhighway.

I'm just thankful for the secret internet, you know, the one without all the idiots.

Posted by DocDanCan in United States, 25 Jan 2012 09:53

If it gets kids playing with bricks and building their own creations, I am all for it. If it's just going to be another "here, build this" line of sets, why bother? Isn't the point of bricks - Lego or Minecraft - to be able to explore your imagination? I agree that Minecraft brick exist in essence already in the form of brick buckets, but if these two mega-popular idea factories join forces, it could be good for the Lego community. I think this is just an extension of what Lego was trying to do with the Lego Academy - return kids to a time when they could take the same set of bricks and make multiple creations out it over and over again. I know I buy sets these days for display purposes and collector's satisfaction, but I also buy the boxes of bricks because I know just how valuable they are. (I personally will not be buying Minecraft sets, not being a fan of the game, but more power to the ones who do.)

Posted by Be-Burger in Israel, 25 Jan 2012 10:15

This is retarded...

Posted by lovaquero in United States, 25 Jan 2012 11:13

Given the popularity of minecraft (which I understand, and I don't at the same time), Lego will probably do quite well with this partnership. That is a 'plus' in my book as it simply furthers the longevity and viability of one of my favorite things.

OTH, I simply am blown away at (1) the popularity of MineCraft and (2) that there are people out there that think Lego Minecraft is so innovative and 'new'. Lego was Minecraft before Minecraft was Minecraft. Lego is the physical embodyment - the original.

But really - do we care as long as it sells more Lego (we're talking basic elements here)? I can take or leave Minecraft anything but as long as it gives Lego capital to work on the stuff we do like, I'm all for it.

Posted by iefdb in Belgium, 25 Jan 2012 11:20

I do not understand it. Can anyone explain to me: what exactly is minecraft, is it like LDD an then you can order the the moc you have designed? I have no clue and i like to know what exactly minecraft is. Can anyone help me?

Posted by KillDeer in Canada, 25 Jan 2012 11:50

@iefdb Its a "game" that the world is made up of large blocks which can be removed or placed.

Posted by The Green Brick Giant in United States, 25 Jan 2012 11:56

Minecraft is LEGO in a video game form, which is why I think this whole thing is silly.

Posted by KillDeer in Canada, 25 Jan 2012 12:05

But Minecraft has horrible character design (chunky block shaped malformed creatures that would never work in a minifig scale setting) and the blocks are all perfect cubes which can also be attached on their sides horizontally or even placed without support (lol no gravity).

It might be an idea if the game had any sort of substance to it. But the creators are too stupid or lazy and the whole thing just became a "build your own entertainment because we cant be bothered". Imagine Star Wars if George Lucas just designed all the characters but they never spoke or interacted with anyone. The whole game is very 1 dimensional.

It's popularity is based on little kids who want to play with "blocks" and build things. The problem is, if those kids were so interested in building and playing with real physical blocks they would already be buying Lego.

Posted by DocDanCan in United States, 25 Jan 2012 12:46

I guess there might be another upside to this: COLORS. Even for those of us who are not interested in these sets per se there might be a silver lining. More plates and bricks in different colors might be good for those who (like the crowd anxiously awaiting the release of the Town Hall set) are always looking for new shades to build with. Also, might be good making great display and play environments for minifigs and other sets.

Posted by Joefish in United Kingdom, 25 Jan 2012 13:12

@ Mr Mini Man:
"Minecraft has over 2 million fans, and if each one bought a $10 Minecraft set, that'd be 20000000 in LEGO's pocket. Maybe this will be the next Minifigures, or Ninjago. Try to argue with that."

OK, I'll have a go. To cover costs and turn in a profit, whatever LEGO produce is going to cost 3-5 times what anyone has paid for Minecraft itself, and even by LEGO Star Wars standards is going to offer dubious value for money. And if the parts are all printed the price will be ludicrous. Minecraft players might think it's great that they can swamp someone else's website, but by its very nature, big spenders is exactly what they are not.

Posted by yys4u in United States, 25 Jan 2012 13:20

@richselby thanks for clarifying that.

I think the idea would work only if they used printed bricks to show the dirt texture and other things (like lava and granite etc) I don't think basic color bricks would have the same effect. However, if all the bricks were painted, then I imagine the costs of the sets would skyrocket...

I remember part of the game being something about fighting zombies, or monsters, not really sure what they were, but that could make a cool minifigure?

Posted by Ypres in Canada, 25 Jan 2012 14:03

*Flush*

A waste of time and money.

When I'm on Cuusoo I beg ideas like Minecraft to just show me something that worked... they never did. Now that Lego has stupidly chosen to waste resources on this I'm asking them to show me something great. My hopes aren't any higher....

Posted by legomaniac in United States, 25 Jan 2012 14:36

Don't like it then don't buy it. I know I won't, unless there is a good bit of standard bricks really cheap.

Posted by d.brick in United States, 25 Jan 2012 14:50

Its okay, but there are so many more ORIGINAL ideas, I am worried about cuusoo's future. The major reason minecraft won is because of the fan base. What about the completely original Ideas? With no fan base, They may not pass, because everyone votes for what they already like!

Posted by Krivorn in United States, 25 Jan 2012 15:01

I really can't imagine this working, but I hope it does.

Posted by copperwonder96 in United States, 25 Jan 2012 15:23

Put me in the "This will Suck Camp"!
I didn't understand Lego Universe concept and mindcraft is just box shapes. All i see is an expensive brick bucket that I will wait to get on clearance.

Posted by TheKingOfBuilding in United Kingdom, 25 Jan 2012 15:34


I agree that Lego shouldn't waste time creating sets that
1. can already be made out of normal bricks and plates
2. will be way too overpriced because of licences and printing
3.have no posibility of playability (after all, every Lego set has to have at least one play feature/function nowdays)
4. will be unstable - how are you supposed to make a stable structure by just stacking 2x2 bricks (or whatever they'll be)? On the computer you can, but with real Lego bricks, you can't.
5.will only be popular with one small target market - you say there are millions of Minecraft fans but compared to the number of sets Lego sell, a couple of million doesnt seem like such a huge number and in reality, minecraft fans are the only people who would buy the sets.

Also, I think one of the reasons minecraft is so popular is because of the price. Kids want to build massive constructions and buildings but just don't have the money to buy physical Lego bricks. For £17.99, kids can build as much as they want on Minecraft instead of buying just one Lego set with a limited amount of bricks. Minecraft fans love the idea at the moment but once they see the price of the sets, they'll work out they might as well just continue to play Minecraft and build as much as they want instead of paying alot of money for something they have to take to bits every time they want to create something new.

In short, bad idea Lego, bad idea :-(

@DocDanCan "I think this is just an extension of what Lego was trying to do with the Lego Academy - return kids to a time when they could take the same set of bricks and make multiple creations out it over and over again."

Are you saying kids can create multiple creations just with 2x2 bricks and they'll never get bored with them?

Posted by jonbuddy in United States, 25 Jan 2012 15:42

This will fail, because the design is off from true Minecraft. And because it is more redundant than redundant reduntancy.

Bad idea LEGO.

Posted by KillDeer in Canada, 25 Jan 2012 15:44

Every single person ever to live knows what a City is or the history of Castles. Only 4 million people bought Minecraft.

Posted by Sabrejimmy in United States, 25 Jan 2012 15:46

Here's one of the problems I can see from this idea. Take a look at that minecraft set. If no one told you it was from minecraft, would you've even have known it was from a game? Unless you were looking extremely close at the model, you probably couldn't even tell it was from minecraft. Maybe the square looking trees give it away, but I can easily make those with the bricks I already have. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice looking little moc. But there's nothing distinguishable about this set.

Posted by LinkBrick in United States, 25 Jan 2012 15:57

@KillDeer

Nobody said that the MineCraft sets are going to be mini-figures.I suppose they are going to make an exact replica of the character in MineCraft and it will be customizable to your liking like in the game.

Posted by legoswanted in United States, 25 Jan 2012 15:57

Crazy that this got enough support

Posted by LinkBrick in United States, 25 Jan 2012 15:58

Also this is going to be a huge hit.MineCraft is one of the biggest MMO games in the history of the world.Like seriously guys.All you haterz need to play MineCraft and experience the joy yourself then you'll realize its the greatest game on Earth

Posted by ncbarrett in United States, 25 Jan 2012 16:00

just a random thought...

What if Universe was cancelled because LEGO is buying Minecraft?

chew on that!!

Posted by TheKingOfBuilding in United Kingdom, 25 Jan 2012 16:02

@LinkBrick

I don't hate Minecraft, its just I don't see how Lego would make any profit out of overpriced sets with simple bricks (see my previous post).

@ncbarrett

THERE IS NO WAY Lego cancelled Universe to buy Minecraft. Lego Universe had build areas with unlimited bricks (very similar to Minecraft) AS WELL AS other areas of gameplay so if Lego bought and converted Minecraft to a Lego form, they would in fact be downgrading Lego Universe.

Posted by copperwonder96 in United States, 25 Jan 2012 16:14

I apologize for being passionate about this but we're all building in real time. That is why Lego doesn't get it. TIME is the factor on what sells. I guarantee you I save money on Lego playing Modern Warfare because I don't have time to buy and build. If I'm playing minecraft which is hundreds of hours per year, when will I build? when will I buy. Why didn't Lego Universe catch on? Because we were busy building with real bricks. I am stunned by Lego's naivety on this subject. Stick to the model that works!

On a side note, I wonder if they had these types of arguments when they added facial hair to the minifig!

Posted by Ypres in Canada, 25 Jan 2012 17:19

If Lego wants to extend an arm to invite a new group of builders, let them. If you ask me, it's like they're trying to market their product to the people who'd be happier chewing on their pens than intuitively constructing something. Lego is just going to lose a few fingers gesturing to the online crowd, and frankly they deserve it.

I tolerate increasing Lego costs... but Lego crosses a line when they choose to gamble their extra profits on something the majority of us here are against. It's people who poor thousands of dollars a year into Lego that should be doing the voting, not Joe-blow using his computer while picking his nose.

Posted by Thomson & Thompson in Canada, 25 Jan 2012 17:46

Interesting. Will it be available in Canada?

Posted by Bobszaar in United States, 25 Jan 2012 17:51

Me and my friend are extremely thrilled by this move by Lego; the game is great, as are Legos. This will most likely be internationally sold.

Posted by Mr. Mini Man in United States, 25 Jan 2012 18:20

@Killdeer
But whats wrong with minecraft? Look, most of teh fanbase, is adualts. I disagree with everything you said, this mostly,
"It might be an idea if the game had any sort of substance to it. But the creators are too stupid or lazy and the whole thing just became a "build your own entertainment because we cant be bothered". Imagine Star Wars if George Lucas just designed all the characters but they never spoke or interacted with anyone. The whole game is very 1 dimensional."
Oh really? too stupid or lazy? How is someone too stupid or lazy to build a fanbase of over 2 million people, haters being a speck of dust compared to it.
To everyone whos posting this hate, I fell sorry that we can't respect eachother's opinions and interests. You don't like the game? Then don't nag at us on how and how we shouldn't feel about LEGO minecraft products.
Like I said, wait, just wait, we all hated the Minifigures idea and Ninjago, but wait, and see how great this will be.

Posted by itsaturkey in United States, 25 Jan 2012 20:21

I don't play Minecraft, but I do play Total Miner: Forge which is an Xbox 360 Indie game very similar to Minecraft. But seriously people, have we lost all tolerance for each other? Yes, everyone who uses the internet is someone who, "be happier chewing on their pens than intuitively constructing something." I mean, really?! You are using the internet if you posted that! I hate how people stereotype gamers as lazy and stupid with no imagination, while also saying that anything that is a block came from Lego. Look, Lego came from the block, not the other way around. Lego simply popularized the block. Who said Minecraft 'stole' from Lego? What if they 'stole' from the original brick! Games that include building isn't, "someone takes the basic Lego concept (building things from little bricks) and turns it into an electronic version." Would you rather them not use their imagination at all because 'They aren't using Lego's?' WE HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN PICTURES OF SETS YET, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! All we have is one set, that looks like a very fun little set that I'd buy and build on. Maybe getting your little Square Inch of land to build something on. Its great to jumpstart young children who want to learn how to build in the very least. Also, it's expanding Lego's reach. If a Minecraft maniac see's Minecraft Lego's, he/she might say, "Whoah, those are like Minecraft!" Then they might buy a set a see how fun Lego's truly are. Boom, one more customer for Lego. It isn't hard to comprehend. I apologize if I seem very, erm, 'emotional' :P About this, but it's something that really irritates me.

Posted by yys4u in United States, 25 Jan 2012 21:10

Yea there's a little TOO much hate. I don't think it's a necessarily GOOD idea, but I'll give it a shot. I mean if lego DIDN'T do this, what a lot of people say? That Cuusoo is rigged, that ultimately lego decides what gets built? It would be bad on their project because when a set reaches the limit, lego decides not to do it. So I feel like they kinda had to. Plus its not that much of a gamble on their side. Doesn't seem like a lot if any new molds will have to be made, just some creative set designs, a little money on marketing, sell to minecrafts fan base and be done with it. Seems like a quick return for them so why not?

Posted by LinkBrick in United States, 25 Jan 2012 21:33

@itsaturkey
YOU DESERVE A REWARD FOR 2ND BEST SPEECH EVER (next to Abe Lincoln).PLUS I AGREE WITH YOU!

Posted by Ypres in Canada, 25 Jan 2012 21:40

Its a little embarrassing for any of you to be surprised by the amount of negative feedback Lego's partnership with Minecraft is getting. Stop wasting your time trying to condone people like me for posting their opinions. No remark here seemed personally aimed at anyone else so there's no need for the "emotional" walls of text. Not only did I find most of what Insaturkey said incoherent, but for the most part it was irrelevant.

Moderators would probably prefer we harass each other on the Forums not the Comment sections.

Posted by sitkawitka in United States, 25 Jan 2012 22:44

I have looked at the lego cuusoo site and one idea I personaly don't want to see is lego phineas and ferb if this one made it im pretty worried about this happening

Posted by Dlakii in Australia, 25 Jan 2012 23:28

Looking at some of the comments here, I have never been more ashamed to be part of this, or any, fandom. Having reservations about how well this will work out? A completely reasonable response -I admit I can't quite see how it'll work as a unique product either, but I'm confident that LEGO and Mojang can think of something. Not going to buy it because Minecraft doesn't interest you? Okay, sure, everyone probably considers things like that all the time. Demeaning fans of Minecraft as being of lesser intelligence? Abusing the creators of Minecraft and the effort they put into the game by way of showing a clear lack of understanding of what the game is? Attributing this to LEGO losing it? Just disgusting, and very much beneath the standard of conversational quality I've come to expect and appreciate from the Brickset community.

I don't play Minecraft either, and the extent of my knowledge on the matter is limited to what I know from my brother's fondness for the game, but come on - /the sets haven't even started being designed yet/. It's way, way, WAY too early to write this off as absolutely going to suck. LEGO and Mojang are both rather creative companies; again, I'm confident they'll be able to think of something that at the very least is a good parts pack.

Posted by brankell5566 in Canada, 26 Jan 2012 00:23

Well said, @Dlakii.

Posted by copperwonder96 in United States, 26 Jan 2012 06:10

Why are people angry about the minecraft?
I don't know that it is minecraft rather than being disappointed that something seemingly obscure is picked to represent our collective voice when so many other themes have been ignored for years.
I speak from my own experience having "invested" 20 years of buying lego that when it's time to pick an idea be it organic or organized we have been begging, BEGGING for certain themes and Lego ignores us.
We want steampunk, we want more classic space, we want monorail, we want 9V trains, we want a chrome pack of bricks, etc but they ignore us. Cussoo was supposed to address this or at least suggest it but instead we get what statisticians call a variance or and unexpected result. 2 Million players is a nice statistic but pocket change to the 1 Billion Star Wars Fans, and Lego listened to the masses, but the masses are divided on this subject because there is a laundry list of incomplete(s) and high expectations for Cussoo. I rest my case and hope that Lego is listening when the larger minority of 5 million people shout "Give me a Tardis"!

Posted by Mr. Mini Man in United States, 26 Jan 2012 06:22

^Very Well said.
I like minecraft, I like the idea, I want Minecraft LEGO, but howcome the other ideas are just ignored?
I'm sure we'd be ignored if we started a petition for less juniorized sets, and the idea reached over 10,000, but why Minecraft?
I like the idea, I love the game, but howcome this was chosen OVER ideas like classic space, steampunk, and 9V?

Posted by Joefish in United Kingdom, 26 Jan 2012 07:40

What CUUSOO needs if it is to take an honest opinion is a 'downvote' button as well as an 'upvote' button.

I have nothing against Minecraft as a game or its userbase, but the idea that someone who paid a one-off $20 fee for an on-line unlimited multiplayer game also wants to pay $60-$100 for a limited LEGO momento is frankly ridiculous, no matter how many times they click a button on a web page.

What is so galling is that LEGO's fanbase are in the most part trying to tell LEGO that this is a bad idea and won't sell, and LEGO are ignoring them - exactly the opposite of what CUUSOO was supposed to be about.

Posted by itsaturkey in United States, 26 Jan 2012 17:10

Ypres- Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and to state their mind. So I apologize if I offended anyone for thinking what they think. But saying that, that doesn't mean I can't defend Lego or CUUSOO. And I am not 'condoning' anyone, just the stereotype of 'lazy gamers'. I don't know much about what CUUSOO vote thing is, but Minecraft was picked by popular vote, and Lego went a long with it. Have some patience, if Minecraft will do so terribly as some are saying then it won't be long until another vote with Minecraft 'Out-of-the-way' so to speak. Also we haven't even seen any pictures of the sets yet, just one preliminary pic. I hate to see things die before they even start, lets give Lego the benefit of the doubt. Also if you could please state what I said that was 'Incoherent'. I understand that 'irrelevant' as I did rant quite a bit about the stereotype, but I find that nothing of what I said to be incoherent. And if I had picked I would have honestly not picked Minecraft, but it is what it is, so we're going to have to deal with it for the remainder of time.

Posted by Balthazar Brannigan in United States, 26 Jan 2012 18:32

I agree with @itsaturkey (and by extension @LinkBrick). Minecraft, unlike Legos, is essentially infinite, while Legos are quite expensive. Minecraft also has aspects Legos inherently cannot have, namely mechanisms and circuitry (far more advanced than could be done with Lego, and I say that as a major Mindstorms fan, too) and the "challenge" of building caused by the opposition of various monsters and the value of certain materials (due to their rarity or skill needed to acquire them). Minecraft builds off (haha) the same basic idea of blocks and creativity that Lego uses, but does so in a very different way. I first got into Legos because I liked trains and got a Lego train set, and I think the opportunity to draw in (or draw back) people who haven't played with Legos or, more likely, no longer play with Legos is great. The reason Minecraft has such a huge and dedicated fanbase (such that it can get 10,000 votes so quickly) is because of its target audience: one has to have a tremendous amount of dedication and focus to play Minecraft, as building things in it (as with Legos) can take quite a while to do accurately. Typical (dare I stereotype FPS) gamers would quickly bet bored with it. No, a Minecraft gamer is 99% of the time someone who grew up with Legos and loves the infinite scale of the creative opportunity Minecraft offers. I think you would be hard pressed to find a Minecraft fan who didn't at some point love Lego and who doesn't still love it deep down. Even if you did, I doubt they would have supported the CUUSOO project just because they're a "fanboy." They do it because they're as much a Lego fan at heart as you or me, and Lego Minecraft is a dream come true. It also broadens the scope of awareness for CUUSOO as a whole, increasing the ability of other projects to gain the support they need.

Commenting has ended on this article.