In an interview with Massively, though, NetDevil's Mark Hansen did not entirely dismiss the suggestion that some of the licensed properties from the Traveller's Tales games might make an appearance in the future.

When asked if this was the case, Hansen said, "No, not at all. I think you will ... yeah. (laughs)"

It might be a nice extra but you have to hope that this doesn't distract from the basic Legoiness that the game seems to offer. It is always more fun if you make it yourself, after all.

Lego IPs interview pt. 2 [Massively, via Joystiq]

5. Lego Digital Designer

Not so much a game as it was the updating of Lego to the digital age, allowing you to use your Mac or PC online to create your own Lego design and then order the blocks online, bringing your virtual creation to life. For those of us who can't afford the millions of Lego bricks it would take to build their own Lego home, this is as good as it gets.

4. Lego Racers (PC)

Number four would have to be sublime mixture of racing and building that was Lego Racers. While some reviewers thought it rather average, for me it was a lovely combination of two of my favorite pastimes, allowing me to build my own car and driver and then run them through a rather impressive series of tracks. Simple, sure, but I was pretty simple back in 1999 too.

3. Lego Chess (PC)

Oh sure, it's pretty much just Battlechess with Legos, but I'm a big fan of any game that mixes my deep love of strategic thinking with the torturing of tiny Lego beings.

2. Lego Island (PC)

The closest you're ever likely to get to my dream game, Grand Theft Lego, Lego Island was an open-ended PC game that allowed you to customize an entire island to your liking and explore using any number of vehicles you found or created to explore what your inventive mind had wrought. While it didn't let you stab prostitutes, you could always imagine it...Lego is all about using your imagination.

1. Lego Star Wars: The Video Game

You knew this was coming, didn't you? I wouldn't be the geek I am today if not for both Lego and Star Wars, so the combination of the two is almost like merging my parents together into one amazing, half-dead parental unit, which while creepy really is the essence of the Lego brand. Putting things together using your imagination. I choose the first game because it was the success of it that led not only to the sequel and repack, but Lego Batman, Lego Indiana Jones, and - if I had my way - Grand Theft Lego.

A short list you might not all agree with, but that's the beauty of lists now, isn't it? Honestly the franchise has had a rather rocky start in the video games industry, but with Lego Batman, Lego Indiana Jones, and the upcoming MMO Lego Universe on the way, things are looking brighter every day for those little clickable building blocks. Happy 50th, Lego!

I feel bad in pointing out that the Wiimote's lack of relative motion sensing is probably making the job a programming nightmare. And if developers don't nail the project, it's tough to predict who will look worse: Nintendo or LucasArts. On a lighter note, we're getting Wii Lightsabers! Hooray!

More Motion-Sensitive Lightsabers Coming to Wii [via maxconsole]

But when I saw these awesome Lego Star Wars costumes, they instantly won my heart and I hereby award them Best in Show.

While the Nintendo DS version is an entirely new creation, built by Traveller's Tales "brick by brick from the ground up", the home console versions are essentially collections of the two previous LEGO Star Wars titles. However, they'll be upgraded with some nice bonuses in the form of new playable characters Watto, Zam Wessell and Boss Nass, as well as additional levels. The PS3 and 360 versions also contain online co-op play and upgraded graphics.

Say, this reminds me. Anyone going to the Star Wars Celebration in LA this weekend? I might wanna nerd out hard with some Stormtroopers. Michael McWhertor

LEGO Star Wars The Complete Saga [LucasArts]

According to the CD Universe listing the game will arrive in November.

I never got around to playing either of these and will probably throw this collection on my Christmas wishlist. Michael McWhertor

Retail Radar: Lego Star Wars for Wii and PS3 [Gamespot]

Simply donate any amount, and you'll be taken to a page where you'll find the code that makes the humorous take on the first three Star Wars films just a bit more funny. Not sure if the code is universal or only works on the PAL versions of the game, but I am sure our commentors will quickly let us know one way or another. I believe in them. Michael Fahey

TT Games and Comic Relief!

It's interesting to see what impact review scores have on sales—critical darling Okami netted 200,000 unit sales, nabbing the 100th spot—versus the weight licenses carry—the poorly reviewed Over The Hedge landed at 27th. The data also illustrates how clearly EA dominates sales charts with its sports and racing titles.

This is a good read for anyone remotely interested in what shapes the make-up of our industry. Don't miss it. Michael McWhertor

The Games People Buy [Next-Gen]

Traveller's Tales have announced the purchase of fellow UK developers Embryonic Studios. Traveller's Tales is responsible for what could arguably be called the most successful use of a movie license ever, the Lego Star Wars series, the second of which is included on countless best of 2006 polls. Incidentally they also developed my favorite Amiga game ever, Leander.

Embryonic was founded in 2005 by Nick Elms, formerly of Warthog and Digital Anvil, and went on to create original IP such as Privateer, Brute Force and Starlancer.

Either way, both studios have done extensive work on licensed games, so expect even more innovative licensed work to come out of the newly extended Traveller's Tales family, hopefully involving Legos. Michael Fahey

Traveller's Tales buys Embryonic

LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (DS, GBA, GC, PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox 360, Xbox)
Luke! Leia! Legos! Kid friendly.

Company of Heroes (PC)
WWII RTS from Warhammer team.

NHL 07 (PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360) and NHL 2K7 (Xbox, Xbox 360)
This year's hockey roster update.

Mega Man ZX (DS)
2D side-scrolling double-screen fun.

Mario Hoops 3 on 3 (DS)
Square's Mario b-ball tap fest.

Rule of Rose (PS2)
Creepy Sony horror girly adventure.

Harvest Moon DS (DS)
Farming, role-playing... um.... chickens?

Cooking Mama (DS)
Wacky recipe game from Taito.

Since I have a 14 hour flight this Friday, I'm going to pick up some new DS games. Maybe Cooking Mama and Mega Man ZX. How about you? Let us know in the comments!

LucasArts sends word that Lego Star Wars II will include both the original 50 characters from the first game, plus more than 50 new charactrers. The sequel will allow you to import all of your unlocked characters from the first game with a save file.

The characters will feature new abilities and you will also be able to customize them, according to the LucasArts press release.

Some enterprising netheads have been digging around in their PC versions of Lego Star Wars, and have unearthed what looks like a bunch of unused artifacts: figs and character models, plus seemingly some unused cut scenes.

The pic shows a "hidden" Jawa model mapped onto a Protocol Droid - apparently it all works just fine (even if the Jawa has legs).

This has generated much excitement, naturally. Read the forum chatter here.