The LEGO Group today announced a unique, interactive experience for budding designers to be able to create their own creations with LEGO City Missions. Below is the press-release with all the information.
Time to roll up your sleeves and forget about traditional LEGO building instructions – this new experience will take you on a story-led building journey – putting imagination and creative experimentation to the test. It’s the latest innovation from LEGO City that lets children dive into an awesome world of interactive adventures and missions to be solved through instruction-free building challenges and engagement with on-screen characters.
LEGO City Missions launches with three new sets based on animal rescue, space exploration, and police detective mysteries. Each model is accompanied by an interactive story, with each story containing eight distinctive missions. Children will be given inspiration for core model builds, which they will then be encouraged to constantly rebuild and adapt to the different scenarios, prompts, and missions they encounter throughout each story.
“The team behind LEGO City Missions wanted to explore a new route to celebrate children’s imagination and let their creativity flourish during LEGO building. We know from talking with children and their parents that creative confidence is key to children’s wellbeing and with this new product our aim is to help every child recognize and be proud of their unique creations”. Says Lillie Ann Talbott, Design Strategist, Creative Play Lab at the LEGO Group.
Mikkel Lee, Story Innovation Lead, Creative Play Lab at the LEGO Group adds: “We want every child to know that there is no right or wrong and that only their imagination sets the limit to what they build. With LEGO City Missions we’ve worked hard to ensure a strong balance of storytelling to get children started on their builds but also to give them open tasks to complete and allow for individual interpretation. Throughout our testing, we’re constantly reminded that children are creative geniuses, and so we really can’t wait to see what they come up with!”
Using a QR code inside the box, the interactive stories are accessed via the LEGO Digital Building Instructions app.
Children looking for new ways to build and challenge their inner design skills will love these new products, mastering endless hours of creative play where only the imagination sets the limit to the models built for each mission.
The #60353 LEGO City Wild Animal Rescue Missions set lets children build and create to save the day. Utilizing the core model, the rescue pick-up truck, kids will be able to rebuild and accessorize their set as they solve missions throughout the story. Through the digital stories, kids will play the lead by interacting with onscreen characters such as Westbrook, Jessica Sharpe, and Fendrich to solve challenges throughout their build experience and rescue animals around town from sticky situations.
The #60354 LEGO City Mars Spacecraft Exploration Missions build launches children on a thrilling adventure aboard the space shuttle to explore Mars! Grab the spacecraft to customize and complete fun missions through the digital story provided. Featuring Astronaut Lt. Rivera and Dr. Wexler, children will find endless joy and excitement as they work with these in-app characters to explore space and Mars.
The #60355 LEGO City Water Police Detective Missions gives children an opportunity to join the LEGO City Police team and solve the ocean mystery. Children will customize the police boat with accessories like a camera, trophy, diver mask, handcuffs, walkie-talkie, and more to play detective and work with favorite characters like Chief Wheeler and Gracie Goodhart to accomplish tasks at hand. And don’t forget to grab your favorite furry pal to help with the job.
With each adventure chosen by children, featuring different missions, there is ample opportunity for them to be the heroes of the story. Using the power of storytelling to ignite the imagination, with the LEGO bricks provided, children can extend the physical play experience as they build and rebuild continuously.
These new sets will be available at select retailers from June 1st globally, excluding China with a recommended retail price of 29,99 EUR/ 39,99 USD / 24.99 GBP / 49.99 AUD. A smartphone or tablet with the LEGO Building Instructions app installed is required to play LEGO City Missions. You can check out the sets at the LEGO City section of the Online LEGO Shop.
What do you think? How do you like the idea of the LEGO City Missions experience? Are you planning to give it a try? And how do you like the sets? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below!
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Sounds like they are trying to thread the needle between somebody’s continuing insistence that kids want an app to go along with their physical toys (despite previous attempts not ending well), and somebody’s else’s insistence that kids are better off with a bin of Lego bricks and no instructions (which already exists in the form of the “classics” line).
My prediction? The sets look decent, and most kids will quickly lose interest in the app and just play with the bricks. Some may do the opposite.
Hmm, is there a premium pricing for the app, or is the app just some sorta icing on the cake?
Otherwise, I might possibly buy 60354 LEGO City Mars Spacecraft Exploration Missions for the parts. At least if the set would receive a discount.
I want to get the spaceship. That’s it. No interest in the app, but might check it out once out of curiosity.
Same. I like the space set. The app is yet another endeavor by Lego that won’t last. They should include alternate instructions and inspirational ideas like in the 3-in-1 sets.
Just finished the Water Police Mission with my 4 year old twins. They absolutely loved it. The girl hasnt been that interested in Lego but she went wild this genious idea. It leaves room for creative building as well so this is just brilliant.