Lego Island
Encyclopedia
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.
, 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.
There are also many other non-playable characters in the game.
Each one served in a specialized field of the game's production & design: Anderson served as executive producer & lead the project, Goodrow was the lead programmer & director of development, Jenkins was creative director & writer, and Melmed served as director of education & research. Melmed's contribution was working with Jenkins on designing characters based on psychological research. 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 on Lego Island II, Lego My Style, and Mindscape's Star Wars Chess.
The original title was to be "Adventures on Lego Island"; evidence of this still exists in the game.
Approximately 300 pages of script were written by Jenkins. The final draft was simply a Word document. 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.
The actual concept of a 3-D game was originally questioned, debated and argued about by the administrators of Mindscape.
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). Jenkins later worked on a pilot for a Lego TV series which included some Lego Island characters. At the very beginning, the door in the hidden cave on the island was to allow you to go to the next game.
Additionally, various features were planned but not included, several of which were actually referenced by the game; e.g. remodelling buildings.
Several famous voice actors were included in the cast; such as June Foray
and David Lander
. Jenkins also provided some voice talent.
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.
A contest was held in which winners would become beta testers on the game.
Near the end of production, time ran out, and an unfinished version was released. On the day of release, the entire development team was fired so that Mindscape would not have to pay them bonuses,.
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.
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.
Action-adventure game
An action-adventure game is a video game that combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres...
computer game developed by Lego
Lego
Lego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts...
and Mindscape. Released for the PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
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
Island Xtreme Stunts
Island Xtreme Stunts is an action-adventure computer game, and the sequel to Lego Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge, making it the third game in the Lego Island series, despite dropping the original "Lego Island" title and logo from the name.-Plot:...
, and Lego Island Xtreme Stunts Lego sets.
Gameplay
Lego Island is a non-linear game with a first person perspective. The game features a series of missions including pizza deliveryPizza delivery
Pizza delivery is a service in which a pizzeria delivers a pizza to a customer. Delivery is normally made with an automobile, motor scooter, or bicycle.- Ordering :...
, 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.
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.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.Characters
Lego Island has a diverse cast of characters. The characters of Nick and Laura Brick, Mama and Papa Brickolini, and Pepper Roni are all available as playable characters. The Brickster is the game's main antagonist, and the Infomaniac is the game's guide.There are also many other non-playable characters in the game.
Development
"Lego Island" was co-created by Scott Anderson, Dennis Goodrow, Wes Jenkins, Paul J. Melmed, and Dave Patch. Wes Jenkins was the only one who worked on any sequels (Lego Island 2 as writer).Each one served in a specialized field of the game's production & design: Anderson served as executive producer & lead the project, Goodrow was the lead programmer & director of development, Jenkins was creative director & writer, and Melmed served as director of education & research. Melmed's contribution was working with Jenkins on designing characters based on psychological research. 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
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
& Mario's Time Machine, 20th Century Alamanac, Wings. He would go on to work on Lego Island II, Lego My Style, and Mindscape's Star Wars Chess.
The original title was to be "Adventures on Lego Island"; evidence of this still exists in the game.
Approximately 300 pages of script were written by Jenkins. The final draft was simply a Word document. 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
Id Software
Id Software is an American video game development company with its headquarters in Richardson, Texas. The company was founded in 1991 by four members of the computer company Softdisk: programmers John Carmack and John Romero, game designer Tom Hall, and artist Adrian Carmack...
titles of the day. In the end, DirectX was chosen.
The actual concept of a 3-D game was originally questioned, debated and argued about by the administrators of Mindscape.
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). Jenkins later worked on a pilot for a Lego TV series which included some Lego Island characters. At the very beginning, the door in the hidden cave on the island was to allow you to go to the next game.
Additionally, various features were planned but not included, several of which were actually referenced by the game; e.g. remodelling buildings.
Several famous voice actors were included in the cast; such as June Foray
June Foray
June Foray is an American voice actress, best known as the voice of many animated characters...
and David Lander
David Lander
David L. Lander is an American actor, comedian, composer, musician, and baseball scout. David is also the Goodwill Ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.- Biography :...
. Jenkins also provided some voice talent.
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.
A contest was held in which winners would become beta testers on the game.
Near the end of production, time ran out, and an unfinished version was released. On the day of release, the entire development team was fired so that Mindscape would not have to pay them bonuses,.
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.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
Lego
Lego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts...
to release more games based on their products (including the now popular LEGO Star Wars
Lego Star Wars
Lego Star Wars is a Lego theme that incorporates the Star Wars saga. The first Lego Star Wars, released in 1999, included model 7140, the first Lego X-Wing. Star Wars was the first intellectual property to be licensed in Lego Group history . The first few sets based on the original trilogy were...
games) as well as releasing two sequels to the game: Lego Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge
LEGO Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge
LEGO Island 2 The Brickster's Revenge is an action-adventure computer game, it is the sequel to LEGO Island, and was followed by LEGO Island Xtreme Stunts...
in 2001 and Island Xtreme Stunts
Island Xtreme Stunts
Island Xtreme Stunts is an action-adventure computer game, and the sequel to Lego Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge, making it the third game in the Lego Island series, despite dropping the original "Lego Island" title and logo from the name.-Plot:...
in 2002.
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
Family Life
Family Life is a magazine published by, and primarily for, the Old Order Amish. The publisher is Pathway Publishers of Aylmer, Ontario, Canada. Unlike some Amish publications, Family Life is printed entirely in English rather than Pennsylvania Dutch or German.The magazine was founded in 1968 and is...
's "Critic's Choice" award and Home PC's kid testers' "Reviewer's Choice" stamp of approval.