Age of Conan dev building Lego MMO

Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures and The Secret World developer Funcom has revealed its next project, a massively multiplayer online game based on the Lego minifigure line of toys. The developer has signed a licensing deal with the Lego Group that will see the studio build a "family-friendly" game focused on "maximum accessibility."

The Lego MMO game will be made available to gamers through unspecified online channels, and Funcom and Lego will work together to "provide a broad and enhanced experience."

According to the announcement, the game will play a "prominent" role in the already existing Lego minifigures online experience. Numerous Lego minifigures Flash games are available through the company's website.

“The market for family-friendly online experiences intended for children and youngsters is brimming with potential,” Funcom CEO Trond Arne Aas said in a prepared statement.

A Lego MMO game has been attempted before. In October 2010, NetDevil launched Lego Universe, but the game had a short life. In November 2011, the Lego Group announced it would be shuttering the game. It managed to attract 2 million users, but failed to set up a satisfactory revenue model, developers said.