New iPhone Lego Game App Combines Virtual and Reality
LEGO has unveiled an iPhone app that lets users build small models using LEGO bricks and take pictures of them using the device's camera.
The name of the game is titled Life of George. It features a collection of 144 LEGO bricks and 12 levels based around the game's iOS application. Users will be tasked with crafting the images seen on the iOS app by building them with real LEGO bricks. Once finished, they will then be ready to place it on a special pad and take a photo of it with their iPhone. The total time taken to build the model, as well as the model’s accuracy to the given image will determine the user's final score.
“Creation” mode differentiates itself from the “Game” mode by letting users create their own models. This feature is also referred to as "My Life" and Lego spokesperson Kristin Greene said it will not be possible to share such models with friends, but the plan is to eventually allow it to work via Facebook.
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George is the main character of the game. Greene depicted George as a fictional technology worker who lives a secret life traveling the world. His travels will take the form of the game's many levels. She goes on to say that Lego expects that players will take about 20 minutes to finish each level.
The retail box will come with 144 Lego blocks, which will be sold for $30. Small models of board shorts, pineapples, a crab and many more can be constructed with the set. Lego incorporated pattern recognition technology into the game by working with a company called Uiecue for the game's capturing and scoring elements.
This game is LEGO's first attempt at a mobile game that involves aspects of physical building and smartphone technology. LEGO has previously worked with other types of computer technology before this project. That last project was called LEGO Mindstorms and its robotics feature set combined LEGO blocks with programmable modules that let users build working robots.
The company also created LEGO Digital Designer, a PC program that let users model LEGO sets in 3D for free and then let them order all the blocks needed to build that model.
The app is currently available on iOS-compatible devices such as the iPhone and iPod Touch. An Android version is reportedly in development.
