LEGO Universe Expandable by Users with "Plastic" Currency

We already know that LEGO Universe will give users the chance to take their designs from the virtual world back into the real, expanding LEGO's collection of patterns and sets. Now it seems like users will have fairly strong options to expand the virtual world as well. In a "Behind the Scenes Interview," Design Director Brian Booker explained that "Players’ imaginations are the only limit on how big LEGO Universe can grow. Over time, it will be entirely possible for teams of minifigs [LEGO avatars] to keep opening new areas, or even entirely new worlds…"

Users will have to collect bricks and the virtual currency "plastic," though to create their vision. Users will begin with nothing and earn bricks and currency through "completing challenges, defeating enemies, gathering goods, discovering treasures and unlocking secrets."

Plastic can be used in various stores to buy and sell virtual goods that customize the minifigs. It can also be used more directly.

"Since LEGO bricks are actually made of plastic, your minifig can also use it to create the bricks they need for their models or pets," said Booker. "But you could also trade with other minifigs for the bricks you need —so you can conserve your currency by cooperating!"

It sounds like LEGO Universe will have a fairly contained economy--at least until the inevitable gray markets pop up. The world is targeted at kids, but with an already healthy interest from older players, it seems like it would make sense to make it easier to purchase currency. Even many kids worlds are seeing success in tying virtual currencies to pre-paid cards or physical toy purchases, which seems like an easy fit for LEGO.

Though with a subscription model already announced for the virtual world, it may be that the company wants to avoid the surrounding hassles of supporting real-money transactions. And, as discussed yesterday, there are plenty of other reasons to want to avoid additional purchases in kids worlds.

[via LEGO]