News
November 8, 2004
A quick update. These are some preliminary animations Mike did a while back. I didn't post them because I wanted to wait until the website got remade, but I finally decided that they're too cool to keep hidden away.
On the left is a flexible model, on the right is a rigid model. Which one do you like better?
October 25, 2004
So, Half-Life 2 is gold. Finally. Its release will be only one year and 47 days late, which isn't too bad, I suppose. According to PC Gamer's December issue review, Half-Life 2 is "arguably the best game ever made." PCG's previously highest-rated game was Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, and they were spot-on with that review. SMAC and HL2 are now tied at 98%.
Although there hasn't been an update on this site since New Year's Eve, the mod isn't dead. It was just stalled. A big website overhaul is coming, including the addition of new team members (sorry, Rich!), so check back every once in a while to see if it's up yet. And please keep sending name suggestions. I'm going to make a poll for the ones I like the best, and that will come with the rest of the site updates.
December 31, 2003
I wanted to post something before the year ended. Hopefully Valve will finish the game by the end of the first quarter next year, but they probably won't. The mod really really really needs a new name to avoid potential legal problems. Please suggest some here.
Coming next year the site will be slightly different. Most of the changes will be invisible to you, but you'll see some different colors and more content. It may even be hosted elsewhere, since this student account is very limited.
August 19, 2003 - Project Update
Since the LUGNET announcement, Mike Rayhawk, the creator of BrikWars, has joined the team. Ideas have been discussed extensively, and the gameplay is starting to take form. We do not want LEGOLAND to be a FPS with "a LEGO paint job slapped on," as Mike put it. The best aspect of LEGO is of course building things, and this mod will emphasize the building part of LEGO more than the combat part of a FPS. But don't worry, you'll still be able to blow your opponents apart.
Mike has also done some proof-of-concept modeling work in Maya, the results of which can be seen to the right. One of the ideas we've been debating is whether to allow LEGO pieces, specifically minifigs, to be deformable. The purists would argue "No! That's a terrible idea!" but we'd like your input. Tell us what you think.
Also, check out the Concept page, which has been updated yet again now that the gameplay is more solid. In fact, look at the entire site all over again, because almost every page has been updated.
June 30, 2003 - Some Thoughts
Is this game BrikWars on the PC? No. But it shares some of its concepts. Credit will be given whenever I take ideas from something like that, as in the Charts page. So what is this game? A mixture of the stuff I love in all sorts of games, combining elements of real-time strategy games, tabletop wargames, role-playing games, first-person shooters, and more. Because of this, I'm having difficulty deciding exactly how to classify this game, or how its actual gameplay will turn out. But I'm hoping that now that I've announced the project on LUGNET, LEGO fans from all over the world will be able to comment and help solidify my ideas.
June 15, 2003 - Weapons & Armor Chart Posted
Visit the new Charts page to see what weapons and armor you'll be able to use in the game.
June 7, 2003 - Site Improved
Thanks to all those at Ars Technica who helped me improve this site and fix things. I think I've gotten the home page pretty much how I want it for a while, so I'll be adding the rest of the site. I'll start first with the Concept section, since that will talk about the mod in great detail. I'll have to add an archive of the news posts, too. But not until after I have more than two posts. Heh.
June 4, 2003 - Site Launched
Welcome to the LEGOLAND Half-Life 2 modification webpage.
LEGOLAND will be a modification to the upcoming Half-Life 2, using LEGO bricks and elements as the world and LEGO minifigures as the playable characters. This mod was inspired by the pretty crappy Counter-Strike "Legoland" level I saw my brother playing, and I thought to myself that I could do much better. Then E3 2003 came along, Half-Life 2 was announced, and I decided to make a completely new mod instead of a simple level for CS.
Read more on the Concept page . . .
More stuff will be added to this site in the future, such as the obligatory disclaimers regarding Todd Lehman's always fantastic background image and the LEGO Group. The Half-Life lamba thing is also probably trademarked (I'm sure it is, since I cut it right out of the new Half-Life 2 logo . . . heh heh). Even the mod's name is probably in violation of all sorts of things. And I spent so long on that cool header graphic -- I really don't want to have to change that!
I'd like your comments and suggestions, and even some volunteers. There's not much a volunteer can do right now, since no one outside of Valve has used the Source engine, but if you're serious about helping, let me know. My address. At least you can get the word out.
Specific questions I'd like answered:
- Do you like the website? How can I improve it?
- Do I need any other links besides the four given (yes, I know that some
go to blank pages -- they're not done yet).
- Do you have any cool alternative name suggestions so I can avoid legal troubles?
I know I'll get those troubles if this mod works out and becomes popular.
Again, my address.
Thanks for visiting!
-Jordan Bradford
