Initial release date 26 October 1998 Platform Microsoft Windows | Mode Single-player video game | |
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Genre Construction and management simulation Developers Lego Interactive, Superscape Publishers The Lego Group, Lego Interactive Similar Lego Interactive games, Construction and management simulation games, Other games | ||
Lego Creator is a sandbox game for Microsoft Windows, which involves building with virtual Lego elements. The game has no missions, objectives, challenges, or money constraints.
Contents
Gameplay
Lego Creator was initially conceived of as an 'Evergreen' replication of the physical toy. Starting with the 'Town' range, the game would expand at each release with the addition of further product themes. Functionality would also be enhanced with each 'content pack'.
Ultimately, individual ranges remained independent, and emphasis shifted to a play experience, with reduced emphasis on freeform construction. Originally, it had been hoped that sheer scale of unlimited bricks might offset the loss of tactile merit, but such hope was compromised by the computers of the day. Plans included being able to build content, which could be seamlessly dropped into separate Lego video games. This was dropped as the complexity of doing so was further explored.
By the time the Harry Potter theme was introduced to the game, the series had shifted far from the original premise of freeform LEGO construction. Instead, the product moved toward a more limited build environment, but with superior gameplay.
In addition to the regular bricks in an assortment of colors, there are specified "Action Bricks", which move or make noise. Examples include the Hinge, Propeller, and Siren. There is also a "Destructa Brick", a 1x2 tile with an image of dynamite superimposed on it. This can be used to destroy models in Play Mode, although the player's creations will automatically rebuild when returning to Build Mode. Minifigures can also be used, and can stand, sit (for controlling vehicles), or walk, and can be set to drive vehicles set to a path or road. In play mode, environments can go from day to night. LEGO documented the means, and encouraged open editing of the sounds they made when bumping into others, or in random chatter. Their default speech was a form of jibberish, simplifying localisation.
Awards
Lego Creator received 4 awards: Computer Game Developers Spotlight Award, Best New Children's Game; CODIE Software Publishers Association Excellence in Software Awards, Best New Home Creativity Software (US); "Top 100 Family Tested", Family PC Magazine; and PIN Quality Mark Gold Award, Parents Information. It was also nominated at the 2nd annual interactive achievement awards for computer children's game of the year.
Sequels
Lego Creator was followed by three sequels. The first is Lego Creator: Knights' Kingdom, a medieval based world released in 2000. The second is Lego Creator: Harry Potter, based on the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The third is Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, based on Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.