Lego Island
 |
This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (February 2008) |
| LEGO Island | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | Mindscape |
| Publisher(s) | Lego |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release date(s) |
|
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Media/distribution | CD |
| System requirements
Required: 16 MB of RAM, 120 MHz Pentium, 20 MB hard drive space, Soundcard, CD-Rom drive, Directx 5 (included on disk) Optional: 3D accelerator Compatibility: The game works perfectly on Windows 95, NT 4.0, 98, 2000, Me and XP. It also works perfectly on Windows Vista and Windows 7, except for exiting.[citation needed] |
|
LEGO Island is a Lego-based action-adventure computer game developed by Lego and Mindscape. Released for the PC on October 2, 1997, the game is the first in the Lego Island series (and the very first Lego software title), followed by Lego Island 2 The Brickster's Revenge, Island Xtreme Stunts, and Lego Island Xtreme Stunts Lego sets.
Contents |
[edit] Gameplay
Lego Island is a non-linear game with a first person perspective. The game features a series of missions including pizza delivery, jet ski racing, and putting the Brickster back in jail. It also features a variety of playable characters that each have unique abilities that can help the player throughout the game.
[edit] Plot
There is no necessary objective to Lego Island. The player can choose to roam around customizing the island or do missions. The primary mission is getting a call from a criminal named the Brickster and thinking it's a police officer, a pizza must be delivered to the jail using the character Pepper, which will in turn let the Brickster out of jail. The only way for him to get out, however, is if the player is not only controlling Pepper, but also have built the helicopter (he escapes in it). After the Brickster escapes, Pepper must go around the Island and do certain missions to get him back in before he disassembles the entire island. After this the player can still roam around the Island.
[edit] Customization
It is possible to customize the game. When playing as Pepper, players can change plants and change hats. Pepper can also change Mrs. Post's house. When playing as Nick, players can change colors of things. When playing as Laura, players can change walking animations, or "moods." Laura also can change the way plants and houses that can't be entered react. Players can also build various vehicles and customize colors and textures.
[edit] Development
"Lego Island" was co-created by Scott Anderson, Dennis Goodrow, Wes Jenkins, Paul J. Melmed, and Dave Patch.[1] Wes Jenkins was the only one who worked on any sequels (Lego Island 2 as writer).[2]
Each one served in a specialized field of the game's production & design: Anderson served as executive producer & led the project,[1] Goodrow was the lead programmer & director of development,[1] Jenkins was creative director & writer,[1] and Melmed served as director of education & research.[1] Melmed's contribution was working with Jenkins on designing characters based on psychological research.[3] Dave Patch was the Art Director with a staff of great animators and artists.
Jenkins had previously worked on such games as Mario is Missing & Mario's Time Machine, 20th Century Alamanac, Wings. He would go on to work with Lego Island 2, Lego My Style and Mindscape's Star Wars Chess.[4]
The original title was to be "Adventures on Lego Island"; evidence of this still exists in the game.[5][6]
When they began, technology was so limited that they considered making the game with a custom 3-D engine, which was used in several id Software titles of the day. In the end, DirectX was chosen.[7]
The actual concept of a 3D game was originally questioned, debated and argued about by the administrators of Mindscape.[8]
Originally, the game was to be part of a series—only one other title was planned and scrapped before production on it could begin: Beneath the Phanta-Sea (the Phanta-Sea was the sea where Lego Island was located).[9] Jenkins later worked on a pilot for a Lego TV series which included some Lego Island characters.[4]
Additionally, various features were planned but not included, several of which were actually referenced by the game; e.g. remodelling buildings.[10]
Several famous voice actors were included in the cast; such as June Foray and David Lander.[1] Jenkins also provided some voice talent.[1]
New software was created to automatically lip-sync the faces to the voice recordings, and the eyes animations were then made manually. The software was designed so that one could easily alter the software configuration so as to make lip-synching in other languages possible.[6]
A contest was held in which winners would become beta testers on the game.[1]
Near the end of production, time ran out, and an unfinished version was released.[8]
[edit] Setting
Lego Island takes place on a relatively small remote island consisting of roads and Lego buildings. Most of these buildings are based on real Lego sets in circulation at the time of release for the game.
[edit] Reception
LEGO Island was a commercial success, selling over 7 million copies and was the only "kids' game" among the top ten best-selling PC games of October 1997.
In addition to strong sales, the game also received a high amount of critical acclaim from Family publications and children. They praised the game for its interactive, customizable environments, simple pick-up-and-play gameplay mechanics, quirky humour and for retaining the cute, colourful feel of the toys the game was based on. Some even praised the game's soundtrack. In a review at Dinoden inc's website, the game got a score of 10/10. It also won a Smithsonian Institute Innovation Award.
The success of LEGO Island convinced Lego to release more games based on their products (including the now popular LEGO Star Wars games) as well as releasing two sequels to the game: Lego Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge in 2001 and Island Xtreme Stunts in 2002.
[edit] Awards
Lego Island won "Family Game of the Year" at the Interactive Achievement Awards in 1998 and won a few awards from Family publications.
These awards included Family PC's top-rated virtual toy award, Family Life's "Critic's Choice" award and Home PC's kid testers' "Reviewer's Choice" stamp of approval.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Lego Island Credits
- ^ Lego Island 2 Credits
- ^ Lego Island Manual
- ^ a b [1]
- ^ Dr. Clickitt in Lego Island: "... we should have our own title: Adventures in Lego Hospital!"
- ^ a b Lego Island at MobyGames
- ^ [2]
- ^ a b Private E-Mail conversation with Mr. Jenkins; he can confirm this
- ^ [3] -- Excerpt from Original Manual Script From Site
- ^ Buck Pounds: "Terribly sorry, but the store is closed for remodelling. You could help us decide though! Go ahead, click on the store." Clicking on the store has no remodelling effect.
[edit] External links
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
