In a surprising twist that reveals what can happen in a post-CUUSOO world, LEGO is today unveiling a full LEGO Minecraft theme, beginning with two new sets, The Village and The Nether. Both sets look to be compatible with the original four-section microscale LEGO Minecraft set from the CUUSOO project, and will retail for the same $34.99 price. They’re due out on September 1, 2013.
The Village includes a pig, Villager, and Zombie micromobs.
The Nether features the Obsidian Portal, and includes two Ghasts and a Zombie Pigman micromob.
Here’s the press release from LEGO with all the official details:
THE LEGO GROUP EXPANDS MINECRAFT COLLECTION
– Two additional models based on the popular virtual 3D world make their debut at Comic-Con International and will be on shelves this September-
COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL: SAN DIEGO (July 17, 2013) – Delighting LEGO® and Minecraft fans across the globe, The LEGO Group today announced it is extending its relationship with Swedish game developer Mojang to build on the blockbuster success of its first LEGO Minecraft building set to add two new models that will be released September 1, 2013.
LEGO Minecraft provides the opportunity to build, reconfigure and create new Minecraft micro-worlds in a physical LEGO way. The two new 3”x3”x3” models, The Village and The Nether, are on display for the first time at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Fans can also enjoy and take pictures with a large interactive 3D mosaic complete with Micromob character props at the LEGO booth (#2829).
“LEGO Minecraft is a perfect example of how people’s passions can be amplified when digital and physical interests are combined, and there couldn’t be more synergy between the engine that drives the Minecraft gaming experience and the creative fuel of a LEGO building experience,” said Michelle Wilson, senior brand manager for LEGO Systems, Inc. “We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with Mojang to create new Minecraft characters and environments in LEGO form so that fans can get as creative as they’d like in their physical world as in their digital one.”
“There’s no doubt about the connection between LEGO building and Minecraft – not only the design similarities, but the immense creativity that our fan bases share,” said Lydia Winters, Mojang’s director of fun. “Given how well received the first model was last year, we can’t wait to see what fans think of these new designs.”
LEGO Minecraft New Product Highlights
The Village
With this model, fans can create and customize their own Minecraft village with LEGO bricks. Just like the game, fans can build houses, grow crops and beware the mines in their own micro-world as well as play out their own storylines with Pig, Villager and Zombie constructible Micromob figures.The Nether
Builders can create the Minecraft Obsidian Portal and The Nether to explore the newest biome with this micro-scale LEGO model, complete with Netherrack, gravel, flowing lava and bedrock. This model includes two Ghasts and one Zombie Pigman constructible Micromob figures.The new LEGO Minecraft micro-scale models can be split into four sections and reconfigured for different play experiences. They will be available beginning September 1, 2013 with a suggested retail price of $34.99.
Considering that they couldn’t keep the original set on the shelves for more than a few hours, I’m not surprised that they are expanding the theme a little bit. These things will sell like hotcakes.
While I haven’t had the opportunity to pick up the original set, I still intend to. And these new sets seem like excellent additions.
My one complaint is the scaling of some of the included features. I know there will be some creative license to fit everything in, but what really sticks out to me is the abandoned mineshaft. It just looks very large compared to everything else.
Aside from that, though, I think these look like very fun sets. I look forward to building them with my 8 year old daughter, who also happens to be a huge Minecraft fan.