February 1999 Volume 80 Number 2 "serving the protectors"
IT Bits
By Mike horsfall (mich@picknowl.com.au)

THE WORLD OF LEGO

Lego is a name synonymous with quality, imagination and creativity. But can the range of tiny interlocking blocks be successfully transformed into a PC product. Lego Media International has attempted just that with the recent release of Lego Creator™, Lego Chess™ and Lego Loco™.

Lego Creator, part of the Constructive range, is based on the Lego System Town. It enables children to build almost anything imaginable - all without the clatter and inevitable spread of blocks.

Children can also switch their gameplay between build and play modes. Completed models (or those supplied with the product) can be driven or flown around from a variety of viewpoints, allowing children to get right inside their Lego world. Creations come to life with fantastic animations, sounds and features such as remote controls, Destructa Bricks, hinges, rotors and lights.

There are also features which allow children to share their experience with friends using e-mail, the Internet or by simply saving their worlds to disk or printing out building instructions.

Lego Chess, part of the Games range, features the classic strategy game. It is suited especially for children aged six to 12, but will also appeal to adults.

Based on the Lego System Wild West and Pirate themes, it uses miniature characters recast as chess pieces and sends them into battle. Children actually see their favourite characters come to life, moving around the chessboard capturing their opponents. As each piece takes another, the screen emerges into a unique cartoon animation. There are seven interchangeable backgrounds for children to select.

An innovative Story Game allows players to participate in one of two exciting adventures, told using full-motion video. At key dramatic points children are asked to play a game of chess, and their skill at the game affects the story’s outcome. A tutorial section teaches even the novice how to play the game.

Lego Chess allows for varied skill levels, and permits children to match skills with the computer or a friend, on the PC, over a modem, network or the Internet.

For the train enthusiast there’s Lego Loco, a fully functional train set for the Windows PC. Children can design and build railway networks using track sections, carriages, engines and bridges - complete with Lego commuter mini-figures who ride the trains and wander the towns.

The basic trains package includes three distinct trains, six types of carriage and a variety of track section with limitless track-building potential. Varied animation and spot sound effects give the environment a vibrant atmosphere with plenty of exciting animations.

System requirements vary slightly. For best performance you will want a Pentium 166, 8-speed CD-ROM, 32MB of RAM and a video card capable of at least 16-bit colour. An accelerated graphics card is highly recommended.

The range varies in price from $59.95 for Loco, to $69.95 for Chess and $79.95 for Lego Constructor. Both Chess and Loco are highly recommended. Creator lacks somewhat in the playing area, making it difficult at times to view constructions (even on a 17-inch monitor).

RIPPED FROM THE NET

Avid Net watchers may want to visit Microsoft Computing Central at http://www.computingcentral.msn.com/default.asp. As the URL would suggest the site is hosted by MSN. It contains all the latest information on Windows products, as well as downloads, news groups and chat pages. There is also information on year 2000 issues and other technical information.