LEGO Alpha Team Alpha Team press release from NDL

[lol username]

Found this on archives of the website for NDL, the company that made the NetImmerse/Gamebryo engine, which Alpha Team runs on. (Fun fact: LU runs on it as well.) Nothing too interesting but I thought I'd post it anyway.

http://web.archive.org/web/20010201192800/http://www.ndl.com/LEGO.htm

http://web.archive.org/web/20010406143344/http://ndl.com/news/0011a.html

November 2000 -- Numerical Design Ltd.'s NetImmerse 3D game engine was a key factor in the development of the recently released LEGO computer game, LEGO Alpha Team. Published by LEGO Media International and developed by Digital Domain, the real-time 3D puzzle game features a crew of special forces construction experts led by Tee Vee, the team's robot sidekick.

LEGO Team Alpha emphasizes traditional LEGO construction in a virtual world with a gripping story line. The game requires players to construct and manipulate machinery in order to defeat the evil Ogel and the mind-control orbs created by his D.O.O.M. (Device for Ominous Orb Manufacturing) Machine. Although LEGO Alpha Team is a struggle of good versus evil, it engages players without violence, making it appropriate for players of all ages.

Realizing the Vision 
The biggest challenge for Digital Domain and LEGO Media was to sustain such a high level of interaction within a true 3D environment. "LEGO Alpha Team's interface allows for complete navigation within the 3D environments as well as direct manipulation of objects," says Daniel Rismann, the game's producer. "NetImmerse provided us with all the key engine components we needed to achieve this high level of interaction in a relatively short time frame."

The game engine enabled LEGO Alpha Team developers to combine physically realistic 3D problem-solving and well-defined interactive characters, according to Robert Soper, lead programmer at Digital Domain. "There was a clear concept of what this game would be about and NetImmerse helped the developers realize that vision," says Soper. "Without NetImmerse, we would have had to produce something very different because it would have been impossible to ramp up our production tools so quickly building from scratch. The resulting game would have been considerably more simple and less satisfying to produce, as well as to play."

Best of Breed 
If initial reviews are any indication, LEGO Alpha Team is definitely a satisfying game. In a review on the Adrenaline Vault web site, Bob Mandel writes, "LEGO Alpha Team is consistently intriguing, constantly introducing new elements to make the game play fresh and enjoyable. I consider this, without question, the best action-puzzle release (even with its strategy and adventure elements) of the year. If you want a really sustained good time in a virtual environment chock full of innovative play... you will love this game."

LEGO Media International was established in 1996 with worldwide headquarters in Hammersmith, London. LEGO Media is responsible for the development, publishing and marketing of media products for children between the ages of two and 16. As part of the LEGO Group, LEGO Media has access to unique brand recognition as well as strong marketing and distribution power in the children's market.

Digital Domain has clearly established a world-class worldwide reputation for innovation and artistry. The studio has received two Academy Award Oscars, for What Dreams May Come and Titanic, the highest-grossing film in motion picture history. The company's commercial advertising division is widely considered the premiere visual effects studio in the advertising industry. And the Software Council of Southern California awarded Digital Domain with the 1997 "Multimedia Company of the Year" Award.

NetImmerse is an exclusive product of Numerical Design Ltd. (NDL), with offices in Chapel Hill, N.C., and Silicon Valley, Calif. Founded in 1983, NDL has been responsible for major developments in 3D graphics technology incorporated into leading PC and game software. The NetImmerse engine is used by leading game developers worldwide, including Mythic Entertainment , OddWorld Inhabitants, AniVision, Mindscape, Headfirst Productions, Totally Games, Microids, and others.

[LimeKiller]

 "LEGO Alpha Team is consistently intriguing, constantly introducing new elements to make the game play fresh and enjoyable. I consider this, without question, the best action-puzzle release (even with its strategy and adventure elements) of the year. If you want a really sustained good time in a virtual environment chock full of innovative play... you will love this game."

I mean... the game is okay. That seems a little over the top. It's kind of boring playing it now, to be honest. Interesting read though, jamesster! 

[lol username]

Here's another press release from when LEGO and Digital Domain's partnership was announced - nothing really interesting about it besides it being from late 1998.

 

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/LEGO+Media+International+Goes+to+Hollywood%3A+Inks+Agreement+With...-a053058939

 

Quote

LEGO Media International Goes to Hollywood: Inks Agreement With Digital Domain to Develop Children's Computer Software.

 

ENFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 1998--LEGO Media International, a division of the LEGO Group, has enlisted Digital Domain - an Academy Award-winning industry leader in both computer visual effects and consumer software development - to develop computer and video game software for children, with one title currently in development for release in the year 2000. Digital Domain will be responsible for the development of the still unnamed title, while LEGO Media International will publish, distribute and market the title globally. 

 

"We're delighted to be working with a company of Digital Domain's caliber," says Mark Livingstone, Worldwide Managing Director of LEGO Media International. "In addition to their Academy Award-winning visual effects work on the movie Titanic, Digital Domain is also a world-class developer of interactive software. Their dedication to excellence and innovation has been well demonstrated and is consistent with the emphasis we place on quality anavailable in the year 2000 for Windows 95/98 CD a whimsical way. 

 

"We're proud to be workficant technology and art production assets lendrth American Director of Sales and Marketing for LEGO Media International. "Digital Domain adds yet another ren to a new level." 

 

About LEGO Media International (www.lego.com) 

 

LEGO Media International was estabeting of media products for children between thn the children's market. LEGO Media Internationin Billund, Denmark. The company is one of the reative and imaginative abilities, and its employees are guided by the motto adopted in the 1930s by the foullion units worldwide. 

 

Digital Domain also won the 1997 Academy Award For Best Visual Effects for its contribution to the highest grossing feature film in history, Titanic. At the same time, Digital Domain won the coveted British Academy Award for the international smash-hit, The Fifth Element. Digital Domain's commercial division also won the Gold Clio for Best Visual Effects for its work on "Giant" for Isuzu.

 

"and is consistent with the emphasis we place on quality anavailable in the year 2000 for Windows 95/98 CD a whimsical way."

 

... Yeah, uh, ok, gonna guess something got mangled there.

 

And a sort of edited down article about the press release:

 

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/lego-teams-with-titanic-maker/1100-2464999/

 

 

 

Oh, but there's more, from a month later:

 

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Industry+Veteran+Joins+Digital+Domain+Interactive+as+Executive...-a053188822

 

Quote

Industry Veteran Joins Digital Domain Interactive as Executive Producer of Technology; Ronald Fortier to Launch Recently Announced Lego Media International Project.

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Nov. 9, 1998--Building on the recent LEGO Media International agreement this month, Digital Domain Interactive President Debra Streicker-Fine announced that Ronald Fortier has joined the company as executive producer of technology to direct this and other projects in development. 

Fortier, formerly director of technology and producer at Virgin Interactive Entertainment/Westwood Studios/Electronic Arts, will assume all technical research and development duties including mergers and acquisitions as well as govern the technological aspects of all Digital Domain Interactive projects. 

Streicker-Fine and Fortier originally joined forces at Disney Interactive from 1992-1994 where she was head of marketing and he was technical director of product development. During their tenure, Disney launched such projects as the "Lion King Animated Storybook," "Aladdin Activity Center," "Lion King Screen Scenes" and "Lion King Print Studio." Fortier also had a hand in creating "Aladdin" SEGA, "The Lion King" SEGA, and SNES, the groundbreaking video game using Disney feature animation talent. 

"Ron is the consummate professional and, ever since I collaborated with him at Disney, I've wanted another opportunity to work with him," Streicker-Fine said. "He knows the PC and console technology, plus he's spearheaded blue-chip projects which were always delivered on time and on budget." 

Fortier's first charge is to direct the LEGO project which pairs the two companies to develop and market computer and video game software for children. The first of two titles in development will be set within real-time 3-D environments enabling children (and adults) to create fun LEGO SYSTEM contraptions that defy logic in a whimsical way. Both will release in 2000. 

Previously, Fortier was co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Mission Control Entertainment, which developed two titles for DreamWorks. Before joining Disney, he was founder and president of The Other Valley Software and software development manager and software engineer for Datasoft Inc. 

Digital Domain Interactive is a division of Digital Domain Inc., which was founded in 1993 by chief executive Scott Ross, Academy Award-winning director/producer James Cameron and Academy Award-winning character/creature creator Stan Winston. The company produces visual effects and artistry for motion pictures, commercials, location-based entertainment and interactive media. 

Capitalizing on the parent company's intellectual properties, creative leadership and technical expertise, the interactive division was established in 1995 to develop the highest-quality interactive consumer software products for all platforms. The company's first product, "Barbie Fashion Designer," a co-venture with Mattel Media, has sold 1.3 million units worldwide, ranking it as one of the highest-selling titles in CD-ROM history. 

The company creates products for PC CD-ROM, DVD, PC and TV appliance-based Internet browsers (WebTV, NCI, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Netscape Navigator), SonyPlaystation, Nintendo 64 and Sega Dreamcast. Currently scheduled projects include the production with LEGO Media International for a real-time, 3-D game for the PC, N64, SonyPlaystation and Dreamcast as well as continuing projects with Mattel Media and in-house developments. 

During the last three years, Digital Domain Interactive has garnered numerous awards including Southern California Software Industry Awards 1997 "Multimedia Company of the Year" and Newsweek Magazine's "Editor's Choice" award for "Barbie Fashion Designer." Additionally, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce recognized the company for its "Significant Contribution" to the city's burgeoning software industry.

 

Huh. I guess the other game they were planning on must have been one of the others they pitched? And the N64, Playstation, and Dreamcast were planned as platforms too.