Funcom: LEGO mmo in open beta

[Nadia]

beta signup
http://www.playminifigures.com/

Gamespot overview
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/lego-m ... 0-6415949/

Gamespot youtube overview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4b3T_uOtb4

[Nadia]

open beta has started
http://www.playminifigures.com/en

[Nadia]

preview
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game ... 631/page/1

LEGO Minifigures Online taps into the real-world Minifigures madness, a trading card-like phenomenon in which collectors buy unmarked LEGO grab bags that contain random LEGO Minifigures. Though LMO is free-to-play, its clever use of this collectible mechanic will no doubt help Funcom rake in the cash. I mean, who can resist collecting bags until they've added the chicken suit guy or roller derby girl to their collection? Cool as this is, it isn't Funcom's only money-making strategy.

The other involves offering a paid membership (prices range from $7.99 per month to $69.99 per year) that rewards players who buy it with perks such as (among other things) shorter respawn times, access to special “pocket adventures,” and the ability to use the game's chat function. Clearly, membership is the way to go, as my beta experience confirmed.

Due to preview time constraints, Funcom provided me with membership access and 7500 diamonds (the currency used to buy grab bags). This enabled me to get a timely taste of different Minis. Each bag costs 675 diamonds, which sets the cost of each Mini at around $2.50. Eagerly, I purchased all the bags my stash allowed and ended up with a motley array that included Medusa, a Gypsy Fortune Teller, a Skydiver, a Decorator, a Legionnaire, and my favorite – a Grandpa. Each of these had a different balance of three main stats: Power, Defense, and Creativity (the last determines how fast the Mini can build) plus a primary and secondary attack