BrandWikiReturn

Lego Minecraft

Lego Minecraft (stylized as LEGO Minecraft) is a Lego theme based on the sandbox game Minecraft. The theme was first introduced in 2012.[2]

Overview

The earlier "Micro World" sets feature a group of four interlocking scenes that can be rearranged, with two having a removable surface with caves containing ores, underground rivers, and a Minecart track, it also includes characters (referred to by Lego as Micromobs) which can be moved around like normal Lego.[3]

The later sets feature brick-built locations with simple pieces (in order to remain faithful to Minecraft's blocky aesthetics), often on base plates raised by bricks, to allow for inter-connectivity with other sets. These sets are all of a minifigure scale, with custom molds for the character heads, tools and certain body parts (for example the Creeper, which consists of primarily a single molded piece for its torso and legs).

Development

Microworlds

When asked about Lego Minecraft's beginnings, Mojang chief executive officer Carl Manneh stated that "it was one of the first things we talked about when we started Mojang."[4] Mojang started the project on the "Lego Ideas" program, which required ten thousand signatures for the project to be approved. With the strong support of the Minecraft community, the signature objective was achieved within 2 days,[5] and the development of the Lego Minecraft set commenced after Lego reviewed the project. The first Micro-World set was released on June 6, 2012. Portions of the sales proceeds went to a charity of Lego's choosing.[6] On July 17, 2013, it was announced that two additional Micro-World sets would be added to the Minecraft theme based on the "Nether" and "Village" areas of the game. They were first shown at San Diego Comic-Con and released September 1, 2013.[7] The fourth and final Micro-World set exploring "The End" region was released in summer 2014.[8]

Minifigures

Minifigure sized Lego sets were then later announced in 2014. The prototypes of Creepers, mine carts, and sheep were all being developed as part of a Co-Build Project announced after Minecon, a fan convention. The initial group of 6 minifigure-scaled sets including the First Night, the Mine, the Ender Dragon, Crafting Box, the Farm and the Cave were released from November to December 2014.[9] As of now, there are 43 Minifig-Scale that have been released with more on the way.

Bigfigs

In 2019, Lego introduced Minecraft Bigfigs which are Big brick built figures based on Minecraft mobs similar to Lego Construction figures like Bionicle, Knights Kingdom II, etc. So far there have been five Bigfigs released consisting of Bigfig Steve with Parrot, Bigfig Alex with Chicken, Bigfig Skeleton with Magma Cube, Bigfig Creeper and Ocelot, and Bigfig Pig with Baby Zombie, with a Series 3 unlikely to be released.

Launch

Following the released of Minecraft Micro World (set number: 21102) for Lego Cuusoo in 2012,[10] the Lego Minecraft theme revealed at San Diego Comic-Con and was launched in September 2013. As part of a marketing campaign, the Lego Group released two sets based on Minecraft.[11]

Toy line

Construction sets

According to BrickLink and Brickset, The Lego Group released 177 playsets and promotional polybags as part of the Lego Minecraft theme.[1][12]

Lego Ideas sets

Minecraft Micro World (set number: 21102) was released on 1 June 2012 with a Lego Ideas theme and based on the video game Minecraft.[34][35] It was the first set to start a new Lego Minecraft theme.

Lego BrickHeadz sets

Steve & Creeper (set number: 41612) was released in August 2018 as part of the Lego BrickHeadz theme and based on the Minecraft video game. The set consists of 160 pieces and 2 baseplates.[36]

On 1 April 2023, Alex (set number: 40624), Llama (set number: 40625) and Zombie (set number: 40626) were released.[37][38]

Web shorts

The product line was accompanied by a series of animated short films that was released on YouTube.

  • LEGO Stop Motion Animation Compilation - LEGO Minecraft - Funny Video 2017, 2018, 2019 was an official web short was released on YouTube on 23 February 2019. It features the Skeleton Gang, Bedrock Escape, Killer Bunny, the Sheep, Piggies, Mobs, Creepers and Steve.[39]

Reception

Mashable listed the first Lego Minecraft set as a creative gift for the 2012 Christmas season.[40] Forbes magazine noted in December 2012 that the original set was sold out due to its great popularity.[41]

In 2020, The Crafting Box 3.0 (set number: 21161) was listed in the "LEGO Christmas 2020 gift list for gamers" by Lego fansite Brick Fanatics.[42]

Awards and nominations

In 2015, The Nether Fortress (set number: 21122) was awarded "DreamToys" in the Build It And They Will Thrive category by the Toy Retailers Association.[43]

In 2022, The Mushroom House (set number: 21179) was awarded "DreamToys" in the Video Game Inspired category by the Toy Retailers Association.[44]

See also

External links

References

  1. BrickLink Reference Catalog - Sets - Category Lego Minecraft bricklink.com, retrieved 2021-04-12^
  2. Bits N' Bricks Season 1 Episode 1: Minecraft retrieved 16 December 2020^
  3. Stuart, Keith. Lego to launch Minecraft sets The Guardian, February 17, 2012, retrieved May 28, 2018^
  4. Carl Manneh, CEO of Mojang by NextMarket on Soundcloud SoundCloud.com, NextMarket, retrieved May 28, 2018^
  5. Totilo, Stephen. There Will Be Official Minecraft Lego Sets Kotaku, January 24, 2012, retrieved May 28, 2018^
  6. Cooper, Daniel. Lego Minecraft arrives, sudden drop in productivity expected when the UPS man gets here Engadget, AOL, June 6, 2012, retrieved May 28, 2018^
  7. Clark, Matt. LEGO Announces New 'Nether' and 'Village' Minecraft Sets at SDCC IGN, News Corporation, January 17, 2013, retrieved May 28, 2018^
  8. Good Guess March 14, 2014, retrieved May 28, 2018^
  9. Engen, Josh. The New Minecraft LEGO Sets Will Include Creepers And Mine Cars The Escapist, Alloy Digital, December 31, 2013, retrieved May 28, 2018^
  10. Keith Stuart. Lego to launch Minecraft sets The Guardian, 17 February 2012, retrieved February 17, 2012^
  11. The LEGO Group Expands Minecraft Collection PR Newswire, retrieved July 17, 2013^
  12. LEGO Minecraft Brickset.com, retrieved 2023-11-07^
  13. Steve - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  14. Creeper - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  15. Villager - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  16. Zombie - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  17. Pig - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  18. Zombie Pigman - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  19. Ghasts - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  20. Spider - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  21. Cow - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  22. Sheep - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  23. Ender Dragon - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  24. Iron Golem - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  25. Baby Pig - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  26. Cave Spider - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  27. Ocelot - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  28. Horse - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  29. Designer video now available for the LEGO Minecraft the Village Brick Fanatics, 15 April 2016^
  30. Mooshroom - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  31. Baby Mooshroom - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  32. Big Magma Cube - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  33. Small Magma Cube - LEGO Minecraft Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB lego.com, retrieved 2021-01-31^
  34. Daniel Lipkowitz. The Lego Book Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Incorporated, October 2018^
  35. Stephen Totilo. There Will Be Official Minecraft Lego Sets Kotaku, 2012-01-24^
  36. Lego Minecraft BrickHeadz 41612 Steve & Creeper revealed Brick Fanatics, 13 June 2018^
  37. LEGO Minecraft BrickHeadz prices and release dates revealed Brick Fanatics, March 10, 2023^
  38. LEGO shares teaser video for 200th BrickHeadz set Brick Fanatics, 23 March 2023^
  39. LEGO Stop Motion Animation Compilation - LEGO Minecraft - Funny Video 2017, 2018, 2019 February 23, 2019^
  40. Silverman, Matt. LEGO Minecraft Is the Creative Gift for Future Architects Mashable, November 8, 2012, retrieved May 28, 2018^
  41. Wolf, Michael. The Great Lego Minecraft Shortage of 2012 Forbes, December 1, 2012, retrieved May 28, 2018^
  42. LEGO Christmas 2020 gift list for gamers Brick Fanatics, 10 November 2020^
  43. 2015 Build It And They Will Thrive Toy Retailers Association, retrieved 9 November 2022^
  44. 2022 Video Game Inspired Toy Retailers Association, retrieved 9 November 2022^