LEGO Dimensions to be revealed later today

That's "UtarEmpire" to you - with an R ;D

That looks like it could go well.

Unfortunately, I don't have a Wii-U gaming console. :-\

But I thought there was something about this on PC (which I do have)? But that may have been a rumor.

While I don't have a Wii, the "Gateway" looks mighty appealing. Lovely parts.

Considering "Wizard if Oz" characters show up, I'm wondering how many licenses have gone/will go into this...

Just what we need!

Not.

Back to the Future has something to do with this too because a teaser was posted on their Facebook page yesterday.

^ Life must be hard when you hate fun.

I rather LEGO worry about making their bricks better quality again, fixing their website issues and keeping up with demand instead of more useless overpriced twos like Amiibos.

I wonder if the figs will be removable from the stands, or if they'll be stuck there like the magnets are. I can't imagine Lego limiting the use of the figs, but you never know.

If Gandalf is involved, could this be a sign that LOTR is not dead?

My interest is piqued. I'm waiting to learn more about this before any more decisions are made.

Man, now I really have to buy a new Wii. Can't wait for it. I really hope though, that you wont have to buy all the characters separately, they should sell them in 3 packs, not one by one.

Nightwing, in addition to Gandalf, there is Gimli, Legolas, and Gollum according to http://www.polygon.com/2015/4/9/8376101/lego-dimensions-release-date-back-to-the-future-wizard-of-oz

so are you supposed to play with the special packs, or as long as you build on that blue round plate thing, any brick can work?

No there are chips in the bricks with the in game information in it

Sad when a company that sparks imagination and creativity has to jump on the band wagon and be 4th to market. Lego has just crossed into Meg @Blocks territory - take someone else's good idea and try to profit from it.

Doesn't matter if it is good or not, this is a pass on principle. Really sad.

Warner Bros probably means no Marvel in this game....

Are they serious!?!???!!! £100 for the starter pack on the PS4 is that a joke???? I want this game so much but that price tag is ridiculous!! Is it just for the uber rich?? Game packs when you compare them to Skylanders do seem reasonable but the initial up front cost is just WRONG!

The website has been updated with the official press release and first video. The trailer is pretty funny, and the clips of the game look promising. The one thing i noticed is the inclusion of the Wizard of Oz, I wonder if we could see a set soon, although i know they had rejected the Lego Ideas set. And seeing Marty Mcfly made my day. I think everyone is being a little harsh, this looks to be pretty exciting, and the portal looks pretty cool.

I wonder if Lego will be making new sets based on the licenses in this game. Not super excited about the game because by all the extras will cost a fortune, but if they release new sets based on the licenses in game, that would be really great!

By the way this is also for the ps4 for those who think they have to buy a WIi to play the game.

And here you were saying that it would "probably have nothing to do with proper LEGO construction products". Turns out, both the starter set and all the expansion packs (http://www.thebrickfan.com/lego-dimensions-expansions-packs-announced/) include actual bricks to build the portal, figures, and vehicles. I figured LEGO would at least try to do something like that, seeing as the whole point of initiatives like this on their part is to create new ways of using digital experiences to enhance their traditional building play.

The minifigures in these sets mostly do not appear to be exclusive in any way, except of course for surprises like the Wizard of Oz figures that have not yet appeared in any theme (but might in the future, who knows?). It's also possible some of the figures might have new expressions, like so many of this year's LEGO Movie figures, but I have doubts about that since The Brick Fan's pictures all seem to show familiar expressions. So collectors of the themes in question will not be under any major pressure to buy these packs if they're not actually interested in the game.

Super lame that the game and portal does not meaningfully interface / interact with actual bricks / minifigures in any way. This just looks like Skylanders with LEGOs built on top. :(

It's a something innovative but doesn't surprise me that LEGO would do this. The major problem is that this technology could only interact with the toys that are exactly designed for this game, but we couldn't use the current minifigures and bricks we have on hand, like the Fusion case last time. This would somewhat violate the uncodified rule of LEGO bricks.

Also, as long as it hasn't ensured to cover all major LEGO themes and licenses, it doesn't seem right to give a certain theme/license better favor by having multiple toy packs while other themes has zero. Since selling physical minifigures isn't what this game is doing, I think it's more fair to give every theme a pack so that every theme lover could enjoy this game.
So far, the unannounced current LEGO major themes (by my standard) are Chima (arguably), Undercover (the WiiU predecessor), Friends, Elves, CMF series, Disney, TMNT, Simpsons and upcoming Scooby.

Ironically and weirdly, the choices of known themes also don't seem to reflect on certain decisions LEGO made recently. Rejected Ideas Oz and the second BTTF set, no 2015 LotR sets anounced. I'm not sure if LEGO is testing the market or just wants to hear more shouts from FOLs.

BTTF HOVERBOARD. nuff said!!! :D I hope Cusoo rejection of WoOz means it was already in the works, at least as an expansion pack...we'll see

I know people will have mixed feelings about this announcement but for me this is fantastic! I know this was suggested back to LEGO 4 years ago and there were plans to release with the LEGO movie so really happy it is finally happening!

£100 May seem steep but don't forget that Lego has to still cover the license fee cost (whereas Disney Infinity and Skylander, to the best of my knowledge, don't have to) plus the actual pieces themselves. If you took out the electronic elements etc, you could still be looking at £40-45. So I think it's an okay pricing. Don't forget that it's being released at the end of September, so Christmas shopping territory.

@Dorayaki: I'm not sure why it doesn't seem right to have the packs focused on specific themes? After all, not all themes are equal — some are considerably more popular than others. Also, there might be some licensing complications with some of those brands since this game is done by Warner Bros — Disney figures in particular are unlikely to happen since this game will be in direct competition with Disney Infinity.

It does disappoint me a bit that there's no LEGO Friends pack, considering that it's in the top three best-selling themes, but that can hopefully be corrected in the future (as with some of the other omissions). Chima figures might be unlikely to happen, though, since that theme is ending this year, so neither LEGO nor Warner Bros. has a vested interest in promoting it further.

Really want this however I don't have any compatible consoles. :-(
Can I just question whether the fact that there will be a Wizard of Oz pack means that it will be an official theme? (We live in hope)

So how is Fusion doing in terms of sales? That's Lego's most current foray into a bricks/digital interface. (I'd get a Fusion set if it turned up on clearance...)

@Aanchir Well, my point is that we're not buying for the figures, so I don't see think consumers have to get all figures from the same theme under this game and the current toy pack catalogue have problems with appealing a larger range of market. But perhaps the gameplay would determine it.
Yeah, that's what I mean, both TMNT and Chima aren't in LEGO's marketing plans currently. At least, I expect Laval to make an appearance.

Disney's problem seems to be more relevant with Warner. Otherwise, I think it wouldn't make the two games conflict while Disney could still get license fee.

Pictures of the add-on packs have now been released. More importantly there is a branded Wizard of Oz pack. What else does LEGO have planned for this IP?

Am I the only one thinking of how much of an opportunity this is and how FRICKING AWESOME it would be to have these http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111006044160/legouniverse/images/b/bf/Faction_Leaders.png as expansion pack characters :D
Please TLG, answer our call to save Lego Universe! ;-)

I can safely save my money for non-app bricks then. I watched my son's friends go crazy for Skylanders and convince their parents to buy lots of figures. Then the same thing again with Disney Infinity. And again with Amiibos. Now this. I don't know which is a bigger money drain: games where you buy the extra characters from a store in a pack or online stuff with microtransactions to bypass earning things. Either way, I am NOT the target audience for this!

European prices: http://www.amazon.de/b/ref=amb_link_187493247_3?ie=UTF8&node=6330449031&pf_rd_m=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF&pf_rd_s=hero-quick-promo&pf_rd_r=0F7BVTNARA93EZ3ZEM8X&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=606466687&pf_rd_i=B00VJWS3FC

It's on LEGO.com:

http://www.lego.com/en-us/dimensions

Does anyone with little kids have any insight on where this "interactive figures" fad is on it's lifecycle? Seems like just about every kids brand is throwing their hat in the ring, and I'm curious if it's on the rise or fall.

Is it just me, or is LEGO starting to feel like it's reverting back to the late 90's early 00's again...

If you notice, in the picture, on the right side, they are in Middle-Earth (The statues, Barad-Dur, the orcs) so it looks as though maybe this will have more Middle-Earth in it? I hope they get more LotR expansion packs with some new LotR minifigs!

Like the launch trailer: http://www.game.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HubArticleView?hubId=543782&articleId=543783&catalogId=10201&langId=44&storeId=10151&cm_re=home-_-takeover-_-LEGODimensions

They have sets for BTFT, Ninjago, TLM, LOTR, Superheroes, Wizard of Oz, etc...

Seems like we will get a Wizard of Oz set, if not a whole theme! Probably this Fall or Christmas at the latest! Much more excited about this possibility than the Dimensions line...

So essentially it is this:

Worst price per brick ever, and it can only interact with special bricks so no combineability with existing collection?

does this mean that they are getting Lego Wizard of OZ?

Oh, and if it works with RFID chips, one could easily clone those special bricks, right?

So its going to be released for Wii U, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One, but no 3DS or Vita announced yet:

Warner Bros. has now officially confirmed Lego Dimensions, which will launch in the UK for PlayStation 3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360 and Xbox One on 29th September.

Since the TT games are all based around the same engine it's hardly a stretch for it to mix characters from different licenses - so long as they're all under the control of Warner. It seems a bit weak though to supply a pack of parts to build portals and objects that do nothing themselves; just act as filler when the bases are what trigger everything.

At least it's a more realistic way of selling new content to kids than a subscription model. Every LEGO fan involved said that was a bad idea for LEGO Universe and they took no notice. It looks like they've finally learned from that disaster, though years too late to have a serious impact; now they're left trying to claw market share back from Skylanders and Disney when they should have led from the start.

Disappointing though that LEGO seem to lack the confidence in their own product lines, relying almost entirely on licensed characters (with the exception of Ninjago). What about City, Friends or something classic like Castle and Space?

Question is, are there any on-line features here (besides obviously downloading new content unlocked by the package you've just bought)?

Now what would have been interesting would have been a camera based system where you could build anything you liked with your existing bricks and import that into the game.

I'd play that...

@wunztwice: It's just you. The book "Brick by Brick" goes into a lot of detail about exactly WHAT the LEGO Group's mistakes were during that time and how they've come up with a game plan to innovate without repeating those same mistakes (as the book calls it, innovating "inside the brick"). LEGO is no longer trying to do digital initiatives like this completely in-house, nor are they rushing them to production without taking the appropriate time for development and testing, nor are they staking their financial success on new initiatives like this while letting initiatives that have been proven reliable fall by the wayside. LEGO's mistake in the late 90s and early naughts wasn't their decision to innovate, it was that they innovated the wrong way.

Seriously, to anybody who hasn't read "Brick by Brick" yet — read it. It's a fantastic book that explains a lot about how LEGO arrived at the brink of bankruptcy and then was able to turn it all around by innovating more responsibly.

Drakuhl: That's pretty much what LEGO Fusion does [not sure if it works with any bricks or only the assortment / colors / shapes included in the sets, though]. That strikes me as a much more "LEGO" concept than just toys-to-life with LEGO minifigures, but presumably it's not as monetizable [I wonder how sales of Fusion have been].

$15 for an Oz figure, no wonder why the Ideas set was turned down. Why give 1% of your project away when you can screw over fans with this game / theme / whatever.

Just watched the promo video with my 11 and 9 yr olds and enjoyed it but there is no game play footage. My boys have and still play Skylanders and they see this & Disney as a knock off. We love some of the micro builds though. Cost is way too high for me. Lego/WB wont see me buying any full price items. They may well market this as a 'must have' but IMO it's far from it. Feel ripped off and I haven't bought anything!

Never thought that Lego had the heart to copy others, but money is money, I hope this flops over as soon as its released. Enough of a disgrace that they could lose customers for standard sets, as well (not that Im going too but its still pretty crappy of them to do this)

Amazon prices are a bit better than Smyths. They have the euro price at 139 for Xbox one/PS4. Totally rule it out for me. Even the sky landers games and Disney infinity were 1/2 that

It looks as though the mini figures come off the bases. Here's Unikitty:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/LEGO-Dimensions-Pack-Movie-Unikitty/dp/B00VJWS7VC/ref=sr_1_5?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1428600631&sr=1-5&keywords=warner+bros.+interactive+entertainment+lego+dimensions

More non watermarked pre-oreders:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i%3Avideogames%2Ck%3Awarner+bros.+interactive+entertainment+lego+dimensions&keywords=warner+bros.+interactive+entertainment+lego+dimensions&ie=UTF8&qid=1428600811

for all of you who think its way to much (I agree) it may go down pretty cheap, I have every skylander and Disney toy to life, and every time I got them from walmart or target on black Friday for half prices.

I really like the looks of this.

You know I always praised how all the LEGO games let you play as sooooo many characters in them. All you had to do was unlock them in the game, it was fun to collect them all. Now we are tasked with forking over $300 for just the starter pack and 1st wave? I'll be cherishing the LEGO Jurassic Park game as it seems it may be our last chance to play as tons of characters without buying them at $15 a piece. This type of video game strategy saddens me, how long can it be before consumers have had enough...

Wow, the moaning and whining about this announcement in these comments is insane! Guess what people? if you don't like it, don't buy it.

I like the samurai mech in the Nya set. I don't have that hip piece, with the two technic balls connected to the cap.

@benjet: I don't know what you mean about "copying others". Yes, this is inspired by the technology used in games like Skylanders and Disney Infinity. But calling that a disgrace is like calling LEGO Technic a "disgrace" because it's similar in concept to Erector/Meccano, or calling 9V LEGO trains a "disgrace" because they're similar in concept to other toy train brands like Lionel, or calling LEGO Mindstorms a "disgrace" because it's similar concept to earlier robotics kits like Lynxmotion. In all of these cases, LEGO took existing toy concepts and technology and combining them with their own creative building system to turn them into something new. How, then, is this any different?

@kumasawa: It actually has three balls (two on the sides and one in the back). It's usually used in Technic sets for steering. Useful piece for mech-building!

New Back To The Future hover board piece! Wizard of Oz! This is so exciting!

I completely wasted way too much money on Skylanders V1 and Giants and then Infinity. Already been burned by these $400 video games. Sorry Lego, but Ive jumped off of that train and am left with 70 some odd "toys" that cant even be given away.

I wish Lego would have done this before the other ones, I would have much rather wasted my money with TLG (like I usually do).

It looks like that Unikitty could have another double-sided face as the face on the packaging differs to the image of the model. Both faces are new, too. That would bring the total number of Unikittys to 12 I believe.

The best news about this is that LOTR is front and center, hopefully they can release 1 or 2 sets a year based on fan and potential sales feedback.

lol, the only appropriate answer to this is noooooooooooooooooooooope.

@Aanchir: This is different because instead of taking an existing idea and creating new pieces that fit into the LEGO system (e.g. Technic, trains, Mindstorms), they're taking an existing idea and simply tacking on the LEGO brand.

Well, I just watched the official video for this and like the actor, I only understood about half of what I saw, but it looked cool :-)

The pricing for these fun packs is insane, essentially they are just DLC with a minifigure attached, yet each costs about 14.99, which is the price of a Lego set with 3-4 figures nowadays. The mini builds are nice and the figures are overall cool, but its not worth that price in my view.

Not really interested in the game aspect though, especially seeing as their doesn't appear to be a PC version... as such, this seems like a pass to me. Will probably find a way to get the portal as that looks like a cool build, but other than that its an easy pass in terms of the sets (Due to their price)

If there's anything LEGO related that is a complete and total mixed bag, it's this.

On the one hand, LOTR is back, I've played Disney Infinity and loved it, and I'm very impressed by the hoverboard brick.

On the other, we're paying $100 for the base, 270 pieces, and three special figures, retailing for fifteen bucks a pop. So... if the pieces are $25, figures are $30 in total, $10 for the base... that's basically a $35 license fee on three different figures. If the whole package was a bit cheaper, I'd strongly recommend this to my friends with a Wii U/PS4, but not at RRP.

@PicnicBasketSam
You know you also get what would probably be a $60 game as well as the stuff you listed, right?

@binaryeye: And how is making LEGO-compatible NFC chip bases not "creating new pieces that fit into the LEGO System"? Especially since we don't even know just what the gameplay will be like.

My brother has theorized that you might very well be able to build new vehicles in the game, save the new vehicle data to the NFC chip, and then rebuild the physical vehicles to match (note that the extended trailer shows the human builder rebuilding the Batmobile into a new design, and the NFC bases for the vehicles are generic instead of marked with any kind of identifier like the minifigure bases, so there's some grounds to believe that the vehicle data on them is not "fixed"). That would add a whole other level of integration to the gameplay experience and result in something quite unlike anything Skylanders or Disney Infinity has done.

@PicnicBasketSam: Are you forgetting the cost of the game itself in your calculations? These days a brand-new home console game generally goes for $50, which accounts for half of the starter set's cost. Also, reports so far are quite clear about the fact that unlike some brands like Skylanders, WB Games and LEGO plan to make all future expansion sets compatible with the original starter set — a really smart decision in my eyes.

Everyone complaining about the prices seems to have been comparing these to typical LEGO sets. I hate to burst your bubbles folks, but this is also involving brand new pieces that are technological in origin, meaning they have to interact with computer memory and stuff and have scanable bases. On top of that, they all have to be designed to interact with LEGO Bricks. Meaning studs and other elements to be compatible with the bricks included in the set.

I agree, the prices may seem unreasonable, however you aren't simply paying for LEGO items, you're paying for the technology as well. And technology costs a lot more than simple plastic bricks and characters.

I do hope that because the guy used the P.K.E. meter that we'll get to see the GB front and center in some expansion packs for the game, because that would be sweet. I think my entire budget for the fall LEGO buying scene will mostly involve this game and the kits to interact with it.

I look forward to seeing what LEGO and their partners have produced here. It's going to be a great game from the looks of it and fulfill many childhood fantasies. I mean Marty McFly, Batman and Gandalf are interacting with one another, and there'll be many more licenses incorporated probably, potentially. Definitely can't wait to see what this is going to be like.

Busting ghosts with GL and Supes would also be a hilarious idea. This AFOL is impressed.

Yay! A new toys for life game! Woo hoo...
I really hate to say this, but I am not looking forward to this game. The Toys to Life thing was cool when Skylanders did it, but it's just become a cash grab after that.

i don't understand how it's dongled. has every piece a NFC chip?

^Bahahahaha! Hey kids read this site, man. Watch your language. :)

On a serious note, given how popular the toys to life thing is right now, this seems like a good idea. I have a bunch of Amiibo, and even though I rarely use them in the games, I like having them because they look so nice.

But for kids, they love the interactivity these things provide. The only question now is whether I get this on the Wii U or my PS4.

@Odeinoichus
The Lego Agents sets have the AppBricks which serve almost an identical function allowing access to levels and games that one wouldn't normally have access to. While I can understand a small increase, the pricing is just insane.

I just find it odd anyone is willing to pay so much for so little Lego to play a DLC level or gain a DLC character for a game that is essentially the same quality as the $3.99 Lego games we see on Steam. I mean, the level packs are 1/3 the cost of the starter pack (which includes the game itself)

Portal = StargateRipoff. That's really all I'm here to say. :P

I dunno, the idea doesn't sound that bad. Am I to assume that, along with digital expansion packs, you also get some LEGO, too? At the very least, that's nice. I would be very disappointed, though, if the minifigs are glued or otherwise secured to the bases. Maybe they could do something like include an extra set of legs, if it's only the legs that are connected?

I dunno, I don't have a game system even capable of playing it (semi-considering an Xbox One, but probably won't spend the money unless Planetside 2 comes to the system), so it's sort of a moot point as far as I'm concerned.

Cool enough idea, though. Maybe this could even expand to bigger sets, i.e. bring an Imperial Star Destroyer into the mix?

Since I already waste my money on Skylanders and Disney Infinity I probably won't be buying this, the concept looks great but it's just another LEGO game

Just my opinion but Lego is the job for keeping kids away from tv screens,I cant bring myself to buy this.To basically but kids back in front of the TV screens.

@scarilian: Not really the same thing at all. The App Bricks are just a touch interface for the screen of a tablet computer. They include no electronic components whatsoever — the screen simply recognizes the shape of the conductive surface and the way the bricks are arranged. With four app bricks, you can ostensibly play any of the games, no matter which sets you got them from — it's just a matter of building them into the "widgets" that put them into the right orientation for the individual games.

NFC chips like the ones in Skylanders/Disney Infinity/Amiibo (and presumably, like the ones in these sets) work quite differently. They are effectively little wireless memory cards. Not only will the game be able to read the data on the chip, but it will be able to write NEW data onto the chip (for instance, if your character gains a new skill or if their stats increase). So if you spend a lot of time leveling up a character, you can load their data onto the base and bring the figure over to a friend's house to compete against THEIR characters. This would be impossible to do through simple DLC.

I'm not sure quite how LEGO Dimensions will implement this technology — we haven't seen a lot of details about the gameplay or whether it will feature upgradeable stats and skills. One thing my brother theorized is that you might be able to rebuild the vehicles in the game and load the new design data onto the vehicle chips for future use.

@nthbrick: There's no reason to think the minifigures are secured to the bases in any way, and I believe there have been comments on the official Facebook page for the game confirming that they are not. The Unikitty Fun Pack's package shows that the figures are attached to the bases by a pair of regular LEGO studs, so in the absence of glue there's no reason you couldn't separate the figures. In fact, that's probably the entire reason why the figure bases are decorated uniquely — so that even when the figure is detached, you can keep track of which base has which figure's data.

@davymoon Research is increasingly showing that in moderation, video games can actually be very good for mental development. I agree that it can be good to regulate kids' "screen time", but keeping them away from screens entirely would probably do more harm than good.

And to a certain extent this product is targeting kids who already enjoy video games. In that case, it's not really taking the place of time that would normally be spent playing with physical LEGO, but rather taking the place of time that would normally be spent playing other digital games.

@llamafarmer4: But unlike other brands like Skylanders and Disney Infinity that expect you to buy a new starter set every year just to be able to use the new figures, this starter set is supposed to work for years to come. That should make the price easier for many gamers and families to swallow.

Ugh! Not happy... I'm tired of these games that train kids into collecting to completion instead of having fun adding clutter and emptying pocketbooks. Was fun idea at first but now...

My only question is what console to get this for as I have 4/5 of them. Too bad they don't include all the discs with the minifigs & the portal which I assume is usb powered and all 5 consoles have. Unless of course they allowed you to download the game for free for each console and you could only play it if you had the usb portal which would essentially act as a dongle...

It's ok not to give TLG money...