LEGO Bricks (video game): Difference between revisions

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| developer = Cobra Mobile
| developer = Cobra Mobile
| publisher = [[Wikipedia:Hands-On Mobile|Hands-On Mobile]]
| publisher = [[Wikipedia:Hands-On Mobile|Hands-On Mobile]]
| released = 10 July 2006<ref name="Bennallack"/>
| released = {{vgrelease|EU|10 July 2006<ref name="Bennallack"/>|NA|27 November 2006<ref name="Davis"/>}}
| genre = [[Wikipedia:Puzzle video game|Puzzle]]
| genre = [[Wikipedia:Puzzle video game|Puzzle]]
| modes = [[Wikipedia:Single-player video game|Single-player]]
| modes = [[Wikipedia:Single-player video game|Single-player]]
| platforms = [[Wikipedia:Mobile game|Mobile]] ([[Wikipedia:J2ME|J2ME]])
| platforms = [[Wikipedia:Mobile game|Mobile]] ([[Wikipedia:J2ME|J2ME]])
| director = Rick Marazzani<ref name="Dredge"/>
}}
}}


'''''LEGO Bricks''''' is a 2006 [[Wikipedia:Puzzle video game|puzzle video game]] developed by Cobra Mobile and published by [[Wikipedia:Hands-On Mobile|Hands-On Mobile]]. It was the first LEGO video game for mobile phone platforms
'''''LEGO Bricks''''' is a 2006 [[Wikipedia:Puzzle video game|puzzle video game]] developed by Cobra Mobile and published by [[Wikipedia:Hands-On Mobile|Hands-On Mobile]].  
The player manipulates falling LEGO bricks to align bricks of the same colour.
It was the first LEGO video game released for mobile phone platforms.
The game
mixed reviews
commercially successful.


== Gameplay ==
== Gameplay ==
''LEGO Bricks'' is a [[Wikipedia:Falling block puzzle|falling block]] [[Wikipedia:Tile-matching video game|tile-matching game]]. Groups of three [[LEGO bricks]] in a row fall from the top of the screen; each brick in the group can be coloured red, yellow, green, or blue. While falling, the brick groups can be moved left or right, rotated, or sped up. Once placed, matching lines of three or more bricks of the same colour will be cleared from the screen. Matching lines of bricks increases the player's score, and reaching certain scores increases the player's level. Each new level causes bricks to fall slightly faster; in some versions of the game the background image of the playing field changes too. If one of the columns under where bricks are dropped reaches the top of the playing field, the game ends.<ref name="Bricks help"/><ref name="Maddox"/>
[[File:LEGO Bricks J2ME (240x320).png|thumb|left|Screenshot showing a falling brick group and an ice block row]]
 
''LEGO Bricks'' is a [[Wikipedia:Falling block puzzle|falling block]] [[Wikipedia:Tile-matching video game|tile-matching game]]. Groups of three [[LEGO bricks]] in a row fall from the top of the screen; each brick in the group can be coloured red, yellow, green, or blue. While falling, the brick groups can be moved left or right, rotated, or sped up. Once placed, matching lines of three or more bricks of the same colour will be cleared from the screen. Matching lines of bricks increases the player's score, and reaching certain scores increases the player's level. Each new level causes bricks to fall slightly faster; in some versions of the game the background image of the playing field changes too. If one of the columns under where bricks are dropped reaches the top of the playing field, the game ends. The top five highest scores achieved are saved on the high scores table.<ref name="Bricks help"/><ref name="Maddox"/><ref name="Dredge"/>


Besides the four basic colours, there are a few special bricks as well. Groups will sometimes contain danger bricks, marked with horizontal or vertical lines. When matched, danger bricks will destroy all bricks in their row or column regardless of colour any other danger bricks in their destruction path will also be set off. There are also ice bricks, which fall as only a single light blue brick. Ice bricks create a line of ice filling the row they land on, blocking all other bricks until they eventually melt.<ref name="Bricks help"/>
Besides the four basic colours, there are a few special bricks as well. Groups will sometimes contain danger bricks, marked with horizontal or vertical lines. When matched, danger bricks will destroy all bricks in their row or column regardless of colour any other danger bricks in their destruction path will also be set off. There are also ice bricks, which fall as only a single light blue brick. Ice bricks create a line of ice filling the row they land on, blocking all other bricks until they eventually melt.<ref name="Bricks help"/>
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''LEGO Bricks'' was developed by Cobra Mobile. The company was founded in 2005 to develop mobile games for the [[Wikipedia:J2ME|J2ME]], [[Wikipedia:Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless|BREW]], and [[Wikipedia:Symbian|Symbian]] platforms. The developers spent six months creating internal tools and developing prototypes to test game concepts. In early 2006 Cobra started pitching their game prototypes to mobile publishers. Although their titles recieved positive feedback, publishers did not want to sign off on anything without an established brand name attached to it. One of their game prototypes was noticed by the LEGO Group, however, and Cobra was asked to rebrand it as a LEGO title, which became ''LEGO Bricks''.<ref name="Cobra about"/>
''LEGO Bricks'' was developed by Cobra Mobile. The company was founded in 2005 to develop mobile games for the [[Wikipedia:J2ME|J2ME]], [[Wikipedia:Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless|BREW]], and [[Wikipedia:Symbian|Symbian]] platforms. The developers spent six months creating internal tools and developing prototypes to test game concepts. In early 2006 Cobra started pitching their game prototypes to mobile publishers. Although their titles recieved positive feedback, publishers did not want to sign off on anything without an established brand name attached to it. One of their game prototypes was noticed by the LEGO Group, however, and Cobra was asked to rebrand it as a LEGO title, which became ''LEGO Bricks''.<ref name="Cobra about"/>


The game was announced on 28 April 2006 in a press release from publisher Hands-On Mobile,{{efn|Although Hands-On Mobile had been renamed from Mforma in April 2006,<ref name="IGN MFORMA"/> it is still credited as Mforma in ''LEGO Bricks''.<ref name="Bricks about"/>}} which had signed an agreement with [[TT Games Publishing]] to market mobile LEGO products; it was the first mobile game published under this agreement.<ref name="Handson press"/> ''LEGO Bricks'' was available for preview in Hands-On Mobile's stand at [[Wikipedia:E3 2006|E3 2006]] in May. The game was launched on 10 July 2006.<ref name="Bennallack"/>
The game was announced by publisher Hands-On Mobile,{{efn|Although Hands-On Mobile had been renamed from Mforma in April 2006,<ref name="IGN MFORMA"/> it is still credited as Mforma in ''LEGO Bricks''.<ref name="Bricks about"/>}} at the [[Wikipedia:CTIA (organization)|CITA]] conference on 5 April 2006. It was to be the first game published under an agreement Hands-On Mobile had signed with [[TT Games Publishing]] to market mobile LEGO products in Europe, the United States, and the Asia–Pacific.<ref name="RTM News"/><ref name="Handson press"/> During April 5–7 the game was demonstrated at the CITA trade show in the [[Wikipedia:Las Vegas Convention Center|Las Vegas Convention Center]]; Hands-On Mobile was stationed at Booth 2653-V in the M-tertainment Pavilion.<ref name="RTM News"/> In May 2006 ''LEGO Bricks'' was available to play in Hands-On Mobile's booth at [[Wikipedia:E3 2006|E3 2006]].<ref name="Dredge"/> The game was launched in Europe on 10 July 2006,<ref name="Bennallack"/> and in North America on 27 November 2006.<ref name="Davis"/>


== Reception ==
== Reception ==
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}}
}}


Chris Maddox of ''[[Wikipedia:Pocket Gamer|Pocket Gamer]]'', playing on a [[Wikipedia:Nokia 6280 Series|Nokia 6280]], gave ''LEGO Bricks'' a score 6 out of 10. Maddox praised its gameplay and its "clear and colourful" visual presentation, but felt that it lacked depth and originality, concluding that the game was "best used for five to ten minute bursts of boredom busting".<ref name="Maddox"/>
Chris Maddox of ''[[Wikipedia:Pocket Gamer|Pocket Gamer]]'', playing on a [[Wikipedia:Nokia 6280 Series|Nokia 6280]], gave ''LEGO Bricks'' a score 6 out of 10. Maddox praised its gameplay and its "clear and colourful" visual presentation, but felt that it lacked depth and originality, concluding that the game was "best used for five to ten minute bursts of boredom busting".<ref name="Maddox"/> ''Pocket Gamer'' also frequently compared the game to ''[[Wikipedia:Tetris|Tetris]]'', with one writer doubting it would play any differently from ''Tetris'' prior to Maddox's review.<ref name="Bennallack"/>


By April 2007, ''LEGO Bricks'' was still considered a best-selling mobile title, along with Cobra's other launch title ''[[Wikipedia:Sensible Soccer|Sensible Soccer Skillz]]''.<ref name="Cobra Mind"/>
By April 2007, ''LEGO Bricks'' was still considered a best-selling mobile title, along with Cobra's other launch title ''[[Wikipedia:Sensible Soccer|Sensible Soccer Skillz]]''.<ref name="Cobra Mind"/>
== Additional screenshots ==
<gallery>
LEGO Bricks J2ME (128x128).png | 128×128 resolution
LEGO Bricks J2ME (128x160).png | 128×160 resolution
LEGO Bricks J2ME (176x220).png | 176×220 resolution
LEGO Bricks J2ME (240x320) danger column.png | Danger blocks can blast through ice
LEGO Bricks J2ME (176x220) menu.png | Main menu (176×220)
LEGO Bricks J2ME (240x320) menu.png | Main menu (240×320)
</gallery>


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
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<ref name="Cobra Mind">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cobra-mobile-releases-mind-games |title=Cobra Mobile Releases Mind Games |date=April 25, 2007 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |publisher=[[Wikipedia:Eurogamer Network|Eurogamer Network Ltd]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241223041857/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cobra-mobile-releases-mind-games |archive-date=December 23, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=December 23, 2024}}</ref>
<ref name="Cobra Mind">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cobra-mobile-releases-mind-games |title=Cobra Mobile Releases Mind Games |date=April 25, 2007 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |publisher=[[Wikipedia:Eurogamer Network|Eurogamer Network Ltd]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241223041857/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cobra-mobile-releases-mind-games |archive-date=December 23, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=December 23, 2024}}</ref>
<ref name="Davis">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/mobile-hands-on-mobile-launches-i-lego-bricks-i- |title=Hands-On Mobile Launches Lego Bricks |date=November 27, 2006 |first=Justin |last=Davis |website=[[Wikipedia:Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]] |archive-url=https://archive.ph/52N4C |archive-date=December 23, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=December 23, 2024}}</ref>
<!--I can't find this on Gamasutra, if you find an old archive please replace this with that-->
<ref name="Dredge">{{cite web |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/001076/hands-on-with-erm-hands-on-mobile-games/ |title=Hands on with, erm, Hands On Mobile games |first=Stuart |last=Dredge |date=17 May 2006 |website=[[Wikipedia:Pocket Gamer|Pocket Gamer]] |publisher=Steel Media |location=[[Wikipedia:Bath, Somerset|Bath, Somerset]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021065308/https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/001076/hands-on-with-erm-hands-on-mobile-games/ |archive-date=21 October 2019}}</ref>


<ref name="Handson press">{{cite press release |url=http://www.kiloo.com/corp_pressrelease_28-04-2006.html |title=Hands-On Mobile to Distribute LEGO |author=<!--none given--> |location=[[Wikipedia:San Francisco|San Francisco]] |date=28 April 2006 |publisher=[[Wikipedia:Hands-On Mobile|Hands-On Mobile]] |via=Kiloo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061127074654/http://www.kiloo.com/corp_pressrelease_28-04-2006.html |archive-date=27 November 2006}}</ref>
<ref name="Handson press">{{cite press release |url=http://www.kiloo.com/corp_pressrelease_28-04-2006.html |title=Hands-On Mobile to Distribute LEGO |author=<!--none given--> |location=[[Wikipedia:San Francisco|San Francisco]] |date=28 April 2006 |publisher=[[Wikipedia:Hands-On Mobile|Hands-On Mobile]] |via=Kiloo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061127074654/http://www.kiloo.com/corp_pressrelease_28-04-2006.html |archive-date=27 November 2006}}</ref>
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<ref name="Maddox">{{cite web |url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Mobile/Lego+Bricks/review.asp?c=1382 |title=Lego Bricks |first=Chris |last=Maddox |date=3 August 2006 |website=[[Wikipedia:Pocket Gamer|Pocket Gamer]] |publisher=Steel Media |location=[[Wikipedia:Bath, Somerset|Bath, Somerset]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20060810144015/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk:80/r/Mobile/Lego+Bricks/review.asp?c=1382 |archive-date=10 August 2006}}</ref>
<ref name="Maddox">{{cite web |url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/Mobile/Lego+Bricks/review.asp?c=1382 |title=Lego Bricks |first=Chris |last=Maddox |date=3 August 2006 |website=[[Wikipedia:Pocket Gamer|Pocket Gamer]] |publisher=Steel Media |location=[[Wikipedia:Bath, Somerset|Bath, Somerset]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20060810144015/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk:80/r/Mobile/Lego+Bricks/review.asp?c=1382 |archive-date=10 August 2006}}</ref>
<ref name="RTM News">{{cite web |url=https://www.toymania.com/news/messages/8058.shtml |title= LEGO Games on Your Mobile Phone |author=<!--none given--> |date=April 5, 2006 |website=Raving Toy Maniac |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241223090730/https://www.toymania.com/news/messages/8058.shtml |archive-date=December 23, 2024 |url-status=live |access-date=December 23, 2024}}</ref>
}}
}}


Revision as of 12:19, 23 December 2024

LEGO Bricks
Promotional artwork
Developer(s)Cobra Mobile
Publisher(s)Hands-On Mobile
Director(s)Rick Marazzani[1]
Platform(s)Mobile (J2ME)
Release
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player

LEGO Bricks is a 2006 puzzle video game developed by Cobra Mobile and published by Hands-On Mobile. The player manipulates falling LEGO bricks to align bricks of the same colour. It was the first LEGO video game released for mobile phone platforms. The game mixed reviews commercially successful.

Gameplay

Screenshot showing a falling brick group and an ice block row

LEGO Bricks is a falling block tile-matching game. Groups of three LEGO bricks in a row fall from the top of the screen; each brick in the group can be coloured red, yellow, green, or blue. While falling, the brick groups can be moved left or right, rotated, or sped up. Once placed, matching lines of three or more bricks of the same colour will be cleared from the screen. Matching lines of bricks increases the player's score, and reaching certain scores increases the player's level. Each new level causes bricks to fall slightly faster; in some versions of the game the background image of the playing field changes too. If one of the columns under where bricks are dropped reaches the top of the playing field, the game ends. The top five highest scores achieved are saved on the high scores table.[4][5][1]

Besides the four basic colours, there are a few special bricks as well. Groups will sometimes contain danger bricks, marked with horizontal or vertical lines. When matched, danger bricks will destroy all bricks in their row or column regardless of colour any other danger bricks in their destruction path will also be set off. There are also ice bricks, which fall as only a single light blue brick. Ice bricks create a line of ice filling the row they land on, blocking all other bricks until they eventually melt.[4]

Development and release

LEGO Bricks was developed by Cobra Mobile. The company was founded in 2005 to develop mobile games for the J2ME, BREW, and Symbian platforms. The developers spent six months creating internal tools and developing prototypes to test game concepts. In early 2006 Cobra started pitching their game prototypes to mobile publishers. Although their titles recieved positive feedback, publishers did not want to sign off on anything without an established brand name attached to it. One of their game prototypes was noticed by the LEGO Group, however, and Cobra was asked to rebrand it as a LEGO title, which became LEGO Bricks.[6]

The game was announced by publisher Hands-On Mobile,[note 1] at the CITA conference on 5 April 2006. It was to be the first game published under an agreement Hands-On Mobile had signed with TT Games Publishing to market mobile LEGO products in Europe, the United States, and the Asia–Pacific.[9][10] During April 5–7 the game was demonstrated at the CITA trade show in the Las Vegas Convention Center; Hands-On Mobile was stationed at Booth 2653-V in the M-tertainment Pavilion.[9] In May 2006 LEGO Bricks was available to play in Hands-On Mobile's booth at E3 2006.[1] The game was launched in Europe on 10 July 2006,[3] and in North America on 27 November 2006.[2]

Reception

Chris Maddox of Pocket Gamer, playing on a Nokia 6280, gave LEGO Bricks a score 6 out of 10. Maddox praised its gameplay and its "clear and colourful" visual presentation, but felt that it lacked depth and originality, concluding that the game was "best used for five to ten minute bursts of boredom busting".[5] Pocket Gamer also frequently compared the game to Tetris, with one writer doubting it would play any differently from Tetris prior to Maddox's review.[3]

By April 2007, LEGO Bricks was still considered a best-selling mobile title, along with Cobra's other launch title Sensible Soccer Skillz.[11]

Additional screenshots

  • 128×128 resolution
    128×128 resolution
  • 128×160 resolution
    128×160 resolution
  • 176×220 resolution
    176×220 resolution
  • Danger blocks can blast through ice
    Danger blocks can blast through ice
  • Main menu (176×220)
    Main menu (176×220)
  • Main menu (240×320)
    Main menu (240×320)

Notes

  1. ↑ Although Hands-On Mobile had been renamed from Mforma in April 2006,[7] it is still credited as Mforma in LEGO Bricks.[8]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Dredge, Stuart (17 May 2006). "Hands on with, erm, Hands On Mobile games". Pocket Gamer. Bath, Somerset: Steel Media. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Davis, Justin (November 27, 2006). "Hands-On Mobile Launches Lego Bricks". Game Developer. Archived from the original on December 23, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Bennallack, Owain (10 July 2006). "LEGO Bricks drops Tetris style onto mobile". Pocket Gamer. Bath, Somerset: Steel Media. Archived from the original on 10 August 2006.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cobra Mobile (2006). LEGO Bricks (J2ME) (1.1.3 ed.). Mforma Group. Scene: "Help" menu.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Maddox, Chris (3 August 2006). "Lego Bricks". Pocket Gamer. Bath, Somerset: Steel Media. Archived from the original on 10 August 2006.
  6. ↑ daiashi (April 2013). "Game Zone: iBomber Attack". The PCLinuxOS Magazine. Vol. 75. p. 16. Archived from the original on 23 December 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
  7. ↑ IGN Wireless (April 6, 2006). "MFORMA Becomes Hands-On". IGN. Archived from the original on April 8, 2006.
  8. ↑ Cobra Mobile (2006). LEGO Bricks (J2ME) (1.1.3 ed.). Mforma Group. Scene: "About" menu.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "LEGO Games on Your Mobile Phone". Raving Toy Maniac. April 5, 2006. Archived from the original on December 23, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Hands-On Mobile to Distribute LEGO" (Press release). San Francisco: Hands-On Mobile. 28 April 2006. Archived from the original on 27 November 2006 – via Kiloo.
  11. ↑ "Cobra Mobile Releases Mind Games". GamesIndustry.biz. Eurogamer Network Ltd. April 25, 2007. Archived from the original on December 23, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
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