Apple Now Selling LEGO 'Hidden Side' Augmented Reality Building Kits

[MacRumors]

Apple is now selling LEGO's "Hidden Side" LEGO kits that are designed to offer a mixed physical and augmented reality experience.

Hidden Side is a new series of LEGO sets that are based on a "chilling, creative world of ghosts," providing kids with a building toy that comes to life thanks to augmented reality on a smartphone.

Kids can build up the sets and then view the sets on an iOS device for interactive augmented reality gameplay that varies based on the set. With the Wrecked Shrimp Boat set, for example, kids explore a sunken boat that has "strange, surreal secrets," and then engage in a boss fight.

All of the sets have unique interactions, with mysteries to solve, items to find, games to play, ghosts to collect, and a ghost boss battle. Apple is selling four of the LEGO Hidden Side sets:

[*]Newbury Haunted High School - $129.95
[*]Paranormal Intercept Bus 3000 - $59.95
[*]Wrecked Shrimp Boat - $29.95
[*]Graveyard Mystery - $29.95
Like traditional LEGO sets, all of these kits come with mini figures, animals, and other accessories that fit the theme along with all of the building materials to create the intended design.

All of the sets are available from the Apple online store as of today, and may soon be available in Apple retail stores as well.

Article Link: Apple Now Selling LEGO 'Hidden Side' Augmented Reality Building Kits

 

[DrJohnnyN]

Everything is awesome!

 

[Justanotherfanboy]

These look pretty cool.... I want to see some reviews of what children actually think of the experience though, before I pick them up for my girls.

 

[Cosmosent]

LegoLand in Carlsbad is one of the hidden gems of greater San Diego !

 

[rpat701]

Vuforia SDK probably.

 

[Doctor Q]

Who says they're for kids? I want to play with this!

 

[Naraxus]

Yeah no. My kids are going to play in actual reality and not this "virtue" or "augmented" nonsense.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Who says they're for kids? I want to play with this!

"WHERE WAS THIS WHEN I WAS A KID?!"

...oh wait. There weren't cellphones*, let alone smart phones, when I was a kid.

*Cellphones weren't prolific. Those big Motorola bricks were the only game in town, and only for rich people.


Also note, there are other sets that Apple isn't currently selling, per the Lego page.

 

[chfilm]

This could be pretty awesome actually! Can you imagine an entire “movie” as in story playing out around a lego set that you have to build? I mean, the figures coming to life and start walking around, and then they’re really going on a quest around your living room for 15 minutes or so?

 

[Classie]

Cool! Would love to try this for myself

 

[zifty]

As if kids need more screen time. Legos encourage creative, physical play without the need for a screen or app -- and that's what makes them still awesome today. Hard pass on this AR combo.

 

[Unity451]

Everything is awesome!

I see what you did there.

 

[mrothroc]

*Cellphones weren't prolific. Those big Motorola bricks were the only game in town, and only for rich people.

When I was a kid, a "mobile phone" was one that had an extra long cord.

 

[trusso]

Oh, for the days when LEGO and BRIO were simple blocks, and Apple sold server-grade hardware and software.

 

[repoman016]

As if kids need more screen time. Legos encourage creative, physical play without the need for a screen or app -- and that's what makes them still awesome today. Hard pass on this AR combo.

I am on the fence here. I agree with you 100% but I also feel like lego is just trying to keep up with the times. Hard to fault them for wanting to do something like this. It is a neat concept, but I feel like it kills the creativity of the child by doing all the imagining for them through a phone.

 

[theOmega]

If Lego are smart they are developing their own AR game ala Minecraft World

 

[iPhysicist]

Thank god my kids are virtual. If they where real they want this. Maybe because I would have wanted this and the new lego technic... this reminds me on my first, only and best lego technic. I loved it. My brothers helped me assemble it. What a nice Christmas this was thanks mom and dad!

 

[mi7chy]

Can understand the attraction to building with Legos but the AR aspect seems to be about as ho hum as the View-Master.

 

[Tech198]

Why must you use a phone with this ? Apple selling LEGO kits now ? It may be meant for AR but that doesn't mean you have to use it that way.. In fact, i'd buy it even if I didn't have a Iphone

 

[Aldaris]

I am on the fence here. I agree with you 100% but I also feel like lego is just trying to keep up with the times. Hard to fault them for wanting to do something like this. It is a neat concept, but I feel like it kills the creativity of the child by doing all the imagining for them through a phone.

LEGO and technology are a great pair, between robotics and AR! This is awesome to get kids engaged and want to learn more about how things work. This is awesome

 

[sakurarain]

It is great. My pocket is ready

 

[skys15]

There’s a reason this crap isn’t all that popular...it’s cumbersome and unintuitive using your phone for VR. Fun to see once or twice then it fades. Jobs would’ve picked up on that.

 

[krazzix]

Imagine this with AR glasses

 

[Veinticinco]

Picked up a couple of the smaller sets for my Lego-loving son earlier this week and he’s having a blast playing with the physical sets and app. The theme itself is lots of fun in the same vein as Scooby Doo, Monster Fighters and Ghostbusters.

It’s a great concept. Not quite sure why Apple are selling the sets (in the US at least, no sign online in Europe) but whatever. Still, Apple could learn a lot about innovation from TLG.

 

[kcaz507]

Why must you use a phone with this ? Apple selling LEGO kits now ? It may be meant for AR but that doesn't mean you have to use it that way.. In fact, i'd buy it even if I didn't have a Iphone

Buy away then. A phone is not required. You get a real physical LEGO set. If you want to use the app you can, it works on iOS and Android.