LEGO Media International: Difference between revisions

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'''LEGO Media International Limited''' was a British publishing company that was part of the [[LEGO Group]]. It published media, primarily video games, under several different names: first LEGO Media, then LEGO Software, and finally LEGO Interactive. It was shut down in 2003 and people from it formed [[Giant Interactive Entertainment]], which later merged into [[Traveller's Tales]].
{{Infobox company
| name = LEGO Media International Limited
| logo = LEGO Media logo (black text).svg
| logo_size = 255
| logo_caption = LEGO Media logo used until 2000
| former_name =
| type = [[Wikipedia:Subsidiary|Subsidiary]]
| industry = [[Wikipedia:Video game industry|Video games]]
| parent = [[LEGO A/S]]{{R|Annual 2004|p=53}}
| key_people =
| founded = {{Start date and age|1996}}
| defunct = {{End date|2004}}
| hq_location = 100 Hammersmith Road
| hq_location_city = [[Wikipedia:London|London]]
| hq_location_country = England
| website = {{ubl|[http://web.archive.org/web/20000301053119/http://www.legomedia.com legomedia.com] | [http://web.archive.org/web/20011024070156/http://www.lego.com/software/default.asp lego.com/software] | [https://web.archive.org/web/20050104010633/http://www.lego.com:80/eng/interactive/default.asp lego.com/interactive]}}
}}
 
'''LEGO Media International Limited''' was a British publishing company that was part of the [[LEGO Group]]. It published media, primarily video games, under several different names: first '''LEGO Media''', then '''LEGO Software''', and finally '''LEGO Interactive'''; under the third label the company worked with Electronic Arts and THQ.


== History ==
== History ==
LEGO Media International was established in 1996 in [[Wikipedia:London|London]].{{R|BNB 43|p=7}}<!--
LEGO Media International was established in 1996 in [[Wikipedia:London|London]].{{R|BNB 43|p=7}}
 
They were initially connected with [[SPU Darwin]].-->


On 10 February 1999 LEGO Media announced four new titles: [[LEGO Racers (video game)|''LEGO Racers'']], [[LEGO Friends (1999 video game)|''LEGO Friends'']], [[LEGO Rock Raiders (video game)|''LEGO Rock Raiders'']], and [[LEGOLAND (video game)|''LEGOLAND'']]. ''Racers'' and ''Rock Raiders'' were to be the first LEGO titles for [[Wikipedia:PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], and ''Racers'' the first (and only) title for [[Wikipedia:Nintendo 64|Nintendo 64]].<ref name="cdmag announces"/> In May 1999
On 10 February 1999 LEGO Media announced four new titles: [[LEGO Racers (video game)|''LEGO Racers'']], [[LEGO Friends (1999 video game)|''LEGO Friends'']], [[LEGO Rock Raiders (video game)|''LEGO Rock Raiders'']], and [[LEGOLAND (video game)|''LEGOLAND'']]. ''Racers'' and ''Rock Raiders'' were to be the first LEGO titles for [[Wikipedia:PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], and ''Racers'' the first (and only) title for [[Wikipedia:Nintendo 64|Nintendo 64]].<ref name="cdmag announces"/> In May 1999
LEGO Media presented the four new titles at [[E3 1999]] in [[Wikipedia:Los Angeles|Los Angeles]].<ref name="cdmag E3"/><ref name="IGN E3"/>
LEGO Media presented the four new titles at [[E3 1999]] in [[Wikipedia:Los Angeles|Los Angeles]].<ref name="cdmag E3"/><ref name="IGN E3"/>


<!--In May 1999 all four titles were displayed for demonstration at , at the LEGO Media booth #1524 in the South Hall. A large LEGO model of the ''Rock Raiders'' character [[Jet]] driving a [[Hover Scout]] was built by model designers from [[LEGO Systems]] during the event. Models of [[Rocket Racer|Rocket Racer's]] car from ''LEGO Racers'' and of [[Wikipedia:PlayStation controller|PlayStation]] and [[Wikipedia:Nintendo 64 controller|Nintendo 64]] controllers were also displayed at the LEGO Media booth; the controller models were given to the winners of a contest involving the car model.<ref name="cdmag E3"/><ref name="IGN E3"/> -->
In December 2001 [[Wikipedia:Electronic Arts|Electronic Arts]] signed an agreement with the LEGO Group to co-publish video games with LEGO Software. Electronic Arts would also provide marketing and support for over thirty LEGO Software titles for the next three years to promote LEGO games to older audiences. The agreement included titles from the ''[[Bionicle]]'', ''[[LEGO Island]]'', and [[LEGO Racers (video game)|''LEGO Racers'']] series, as well as the then-upcoming ''[[Football Mania|LEGO Sports]]'', [[Galidor (video game)|''Galidor'']], and ''[[Academy of Flight]]''.<ref>Ahmed, Shahend (10 December 2001). [https://web.archive.org/web/20030802112441/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/legoland/news_2831479.html "EA to copublish LEGO games"]. [[Wikipedia:GameSpot|''GameSpot'']]. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2 August 2003.</ref>


In December 2001 [[Wikipedia:Electronic Arts|Electronic Arts]] signed an agreement with the LEGO Group to co-publish video games with LEGO Software. Electronic Arts would also provide marketing and support for over thirty LEGO Software titles for the next three years to promote LEGO games to older audiences. The agreement included titles from the ''[[Bionicle]]'', ''[[LEGO Island]]'', and [[LEGO Racers (video game)|''LEGO Racers'']] series, as well as ''LEGO Sports'', [[Galidor (video game)|''Galidor'']], and the unreleased ''[[Academy of Flight]]''.<ref>Ahmed, Shahend (10 December 2001). [https://web.archive.org/web/20030802112441/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/legoland/news_2831479.html "EA to copublish LEGO games"]. [[Wikipedia:GameSpot|''GameSpot'']]. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2 August 2003.</ref>
On 16 March 2004 the LEGO Company Leadership Team and [[Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen]] announced a plan to financially stabilise the LEGO Company, following a pre-tax loss on earnings of [[Wikipedia:Danish krone|DKK]] 1.4 billion in 2003. The plan included shifting company focus to the production and sales of construction toys and away from other ventures that were not considered part of the company's "core business". Non-core projects, including the development of films and video games, were to be ended or transferred to licensed partner companies.<ref>Simonsen, Charlotte (16 March 2004). [https://web.archive.org/web/20040410211041/http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.asp?page=pressdetail&contentid=4805&countrycode=2057&yearcode=&archive=false "New action plan by LEGO Company will stabilise financial position"]. ''Press Releases''. The LEGO Group. Archived from the original on 10 April 2004.</ref>{{R|Annual 2004|p=9}} LEGO Interactive was working with [[Traveller’s Tales]] on the development of ''[[LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game]]'' when the LEGO Group pulled out of the video game industry. Jonathan Smith and Tom Stone, who had both been part of the senior management at LEGO Interactive, founded [[Giant Interactive Entertainment]] to continue production on ''LEGO Star Wars''.<ref name="Wallis">Wallis, Alistair (November 9, 2006). [https://web.archive.org/web/20080227143942/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/column_index.php?story=8479 "Playing Catch Up: Traveller's Tales' Jon Burton"]. ''[[Wikipedia:Gamasutra|Gamasutra]]''. [[Wikipedia:CMP Media LLC|CMP Media LLC]]. Archived from the original on 27 February 2008.</ref><ref name="Boyes">Boyes, Emma (9 February 2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20070210095617/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6165669.html "Q&A: Lego Star Wars producer Jonathan Smith"]. ''[[Wikipedia:GameSpot UK|GameSpot UK]]''. [[Wikipedia:CNET Networks|CNET Networks, Inc]]. Archived from the original on 11 February 2007.</ref> The new publishing company retained exclusive rights for the production of LEGO video games until 2012.<ref name="Maragos">Maragos, Nich (April 15, 2005). [https://web.archive.org/web/20070612183140/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=5308 "Traveller's Tales Acquires Giant Entertainment"]. ''[[Wikipedia:Gamasutra|Gamasutra]]''. [[Wikipedia:CMP Media LLC|CMP Media LLC]]. Archived from the original on 12 June 2007.</ref> Traveller's Tales co-founder [[Wikipedia:Jon Burton|Jon Burton]] saw potential in the LEGO license, and discussions were held as to whether the two companies would work well together as a "developer driven publisher".<ref name="Wallis"/> Traveller's Tales acquired Giant in April 2005, and the two teams became divisions of a new company called [[TT Games]].<ref name="Maragos"/> Giant was renamed to TT Games Publishing by 2006.


=== Websites ===
=== Websites ===
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|-
|-
| 2004
| 2004
| ''[[LEGO Knights' Kingdom (video game)|LEGO Knights' Kingdom]]'' (?)
| ''[[LEGO Knights' Kingdom (video game)|LEGO Knights' Kingdom]]''
| Razorback Developments
| Razorback Developments
| —
| —
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== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="Annual 2004">LEGO Group (14 March 2005). [https://www.lego.com/cdn/cs/aboutus/assets/blt07abb4b8a3da3f39/Annual_Report_2004_ENG.pdf ''Annual Report 2004'']. Stakeholder Relations. p. 53. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240311135352/https://www.lego.com/cdn/cs/aboutus/assets/blt07abb4b8a3da3f39/Annual_Report_2004_ENG.pdf Archived] from the original on 11 March 2024.</ref>
<ref name="BNB 43">Crecente, Brian; Vincent, Ethan (8 December 2021). [https://www.lego.com/cdn/cs/set/assets/blte53dbf634332aa73/bits_n_bricks_s04e43_feature_and_transcript.pdf "The LEGO Game That Unlocked True Digital Creation"]. ''[[Bits N' Bricks]]''. Episode 43. The LEGO Group. [http://web.archive.org/web/20231024000231/https://www.lego.com/cdn/cs/set/assets/blte53dbf634332aa73/bits_n_bricks_s04e43_feature_and_transcript.pdf Archived] from the original on 24 October 2023. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W92a0b_quU Audio version].</ref>
<ref name="BNB 43">Crecente, Brian; Vincent, Ethan (8 December 2021). [https://www.lego.com/cdn/cs/set/assets/blte53dbf634332aa73/bits_n_bricks_s04e43_feature_and_transcript.pdf "The LEGO Game That Unlocked True Digital Creation"]. ''[[Bits N' Bricks]]''. Episode 43. The LEGO Group. [http://web.archive.org/web/20231024000231/https://www.lego.com/cdn/cs/set/assets/blte53dbf634332aa73/bits_n_bricks_s04e43_feature_and_transcript.pdf Archived] from the original on 24 October 2023. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W92a0b_quU Audio version].</ref>
<ref name="cdmag announces">Fudge, James (10 February 2009). [https://web.archive.org/web/20021129091950/http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/017/161/lego_games.html "LEGO Announces 4 New Titles"]. ''[[Wikipedia:Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]]''. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 29 November 2002.</ref>
<ref name="cdmag announces">Fudge, James (10 February 2009). [https://web.archive.org/web/20021129091950/http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/017/161/lego_games.html "LEGO Announces 4 New Titles"]. ''[[Wikipedia:Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]]''. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 29 November 2002.</ref>

Revision as of 11:55, 13 March 2024

LEGO Media International Limited
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
Founded1996; 28 years ago (1996)
Defunct2004 (2004)
Headquarters100 Hammersmith Road,
London
,
England
ParentLEGO A/S[1]: 53 
Website

LEGO Media International Limited was a British publishing company that was part of the LEGO Group. It published media, primarily video games, under several different names: first LEGO Media, then LEGO Software, and finally LEGO Interactive; under the third label the company worked with Electronic Arts and THQ.

History

LEGO Media International was established in 1996 in London.[2]: 7 

On 10 February 1999 LEGO Media announced four new titles: LEGO Racers, LEGO Friends, LEGO Rock Raiders, and LEGOLAND. Racers and Rock Raiders were to be the first LEGO titles for PlayStation, and Racers the first (and only) title for Nintendo 64.[3] In May 1999 LEGO Media presented the four new titles at E3 1999 in Los Angeles.[4][5]

In December 2001 Electronic Arts signed an agreement with the LEGO Group to co-publish video games with LEGO Software. Electronic Arts would also provide marketing and support for over thirty LEGO Software titles for the next three years to promote LEGO games to older audiences. The agreement included titles from the Bionicle, LEGO Island, and LEGO Racers series, as well as the then-upcoming LEGO Sports, Galidor, and Academy of Flight.[6]

On 16 March 2004 the LEGO Company Leadership Team and Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen announced a plan to financially stabilise the LEGO Company, following a pre-tax loss on earnings of DKK 1.4 billion in 2003. The plan included shifting company focus to the production and sales of construction toys and away from other ventures that were not considered part of the company's "core business". Non-core projects, including the development of films and video games, were to be ended or transferred to licensed partner companies.[7][1]: 9  LEGO Interactive was working with Traveller’s Tales on the development of LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game when the LEGO Group pulled out of the video game industry. Jonathan Smith and Tom Stone, who had both been part of the senior management at LEGO Interactive, founded Giant Interactive Entertainment to continue production on LEGO Star Wars.[8][9] The new publishing company retained exclusive rights for the production of LEGO video games until 2012.[10] Traveller's Tales co-founder Jon Burton saw potential in the LEGO license, and discussions were held as to whether the two companies would work well together as a "developer driven publisher".[8] Traveller's Tales acquired Giant in April 2005, and the two teams became divisions of a new company called TT Games.[10] Giant was renamed to TT Games Publishing by 2006.

Websites

Write something here?

  • March 2000

    March 2000

  • January 2005

    January 2005

Media published

The following tables list the software and books published by LEGO Media International. The list only includes the initial releases of each product; many were re-released at various points by this company, as well as by third-party distributors.

Software

Year Title Developer Platform(s)
Computer Console Handheld
as LEGO Media
1998 LEGO Chess Krisalis Software Windows — —
LEGO Creator Superscape Windows — —
LEGO Loco Intelligent Games Windows — —
1999 LEGO Friends Ivanoff Interactive Windows — —
LEGO Racers (GBC) High Voltage Software
Climax Studios (GBC) 		Windows Nintendo 64, PlayStation Game Boy Color
LEGO Rock Raiders (PS) Data Design Interactive Windows PlayStation —
2000 LEGOLAND Krisalis Software Windows — —
LEGO Alpha Team (GBC) Digital Domain
Climax Studios (GBC) 		Windows — Game Boy Color
LEGO My Style: Preschool Stormfront Studios Windows, Macintosh — —
LEGO My Style: Kindergarten Windows, Macintosh — —
LEGO Stunt Rally (GBC) Intelligent Games
Graphic State (GBC) 		Windows — Game Boy Color
as LEGO Software
2000 LEGO Creator: Knights' Kingdom Superscape Windows — —
2001 LEGO Bionicle Saffire — — Game Boy Advance
LEGO Island 2: The Brickster's Revenge (GBA, GBC) Silicon Dreams Studio
Crawfish Interactive (GBC) 		Windows PlayStation Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color
LEGO Creator: Harry Potter Superscape Windows — —
LEGO Racers 2 (GBA) Attention to Detail
Pocket Studios (GBA) 		Windows PlayStation 2 Game Boy Advance
LEGO Print Creator The Bending Spoon Windows — —
LEGO Software Demo CDs various Windows — —
as LEGO Interactive, with Electronic Arts
2002 Bionicle: Matoran Adventures Argonaut Games — — Game Boy Advance
Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Qube Software Windows — —
Drome Racers Attention to Detail Windows GameCube, PlayStation 2 —
Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension Tiertex Design Studios — — Game Boy Advance
Football Mania (GBA) Silicon Dreams Studio
Tiertex Design Studios (GBA) 		Windows PlayStation 2 Game Boy Advance
Island Xtreme Stunts (GBA) Silicon Dreams Studio Windows PlayStation 2 Game Boy Advance
2003 Bionicle Argonaut Games Windows GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox —
as LEGO Interactive, with THQ
2003 Bionicle Möbius Entertainment — — Game Boy Advance
Drome Racers — — Game Boy Advance
2004 LEGO Knights' Kingdom Razorback Developments — — Game Boy Advance

Books

Year Title Author Illustrator Series
2000 Knights' Kingdom: Medieval Mischief and Mayhem Alan Grant Artworld UK comic strip storybook
Rock Raiders: High Adventure Deep Underground Robin Smith, LEGO Media International
Busy City Anne Marie Ryan (ed.) Lester Troughton Masterbuilders
Create N' Race Davey Moore Alexander Tomlinson, Sebastian Quigley, Jason Edwards
Mars Mission Anne Marie Ryan (ed.) Sebastian Quigley
Cool Cars ? ? Brick Tricks
Fantastic Fliers ? ?

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 LEGO Group (14 March 2005). Annual Report 2004. Stakeholder Relations. p. 53. Archived from the original on 11 March 2024.
  2. ↑ Crecente, Brian; Vincent, Ethan (8 December 2021). "The LEGO Game That Unlocked True Digital Creation". Bits N' Bricks. Episode 43. The LEGO Group. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Audio version.
  3. ↑ Fudge, James (10 February 2009). "LEGO Announces 4 New Titles". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 29 November 2002.
  4. ↑ Fudge, James (11 May 1999). "Lego Media at E3". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on 29 November 2002.
  5. ↑ IGN Staff (11 May 1999). "Lego Media's E3 Lineup". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023 (Older archive from 9 March 2000).
  6. ↑ Ahmed, Shahend (10 December 2001). "EA to copublish LEGO games". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2 August 2003.
  7. ↑ Simonsen, Charlotte (16 March 2004). "New action plan by LEGO Company will stabilise financial position". Press Releases. The LEGO Group. Archived from the original on 10 April 2004.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Wallis, Alistair (November 9, 2006). "Playing Catch Up: Traveller's Tales' Jon Burton". Gamasutra. CMP Media LLC. Archived from the original on 27 February 2008.
  9. ↑ Boyes, Emma (9 February 2007). "Q&A: Lego Star Wars producer Jonathan Smith". GameSpot UK. CNET Networks, Inc. Archived from the original on 11 February 2007.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Maragos, Nich (April 15, 2005). "Traveller's Tales Acquires Giant Entertainment". Gamasutra. CMP Media LLC. Archived from the original on 12 June 2007.

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