Lego Hidden Side
View on Wikipedia| Subject | Ghost, supernatural, and mystery solving with interactive augmented reality |
|---|---|
| Licensed from | The Lego Group |
| Availability | August 2019–December 2020 |
| Total sets | 32[1] |
| Characters | Jack Davids, Parker L. Jackson, Dr. J.B. Watt, El Fluego, Spencer and TeeVee |
| Official website | |
Lego Hidden Side (stylized as LEGO Hidden Side) is a discontinued Lego theme that was first introduced in August 2019.[2][3] It took place in the fictional city of "Newbury" and linked Lego playsets to an app of the same name (for iOS and Android), which was used to hunt, capture and collect ghosts via augmented reality.[4][5] The series came on the market in 2019 and, after the discontinued Lego Dimensions and Nexo Knights series, represented another attempt by The Lego Group to link digital and real game worlds. It was accompanied by the Lego Hidden Side webisode series and a television special, which was released on the Lego YouTube channel, and on Cartoon Network. The product line was discontinued by the end of 2020.[6]
Overview
[edit]Lego Hidden Side was a Lego product line that was designed to provide an experience that combines both physical and digital play. This has been described by The Lego Group as "fluid play".[7] The Hidden Side theme involved traditional brick built playsets, but combined them with augmented reality. This involved the use of a smartphone app that brought the sets to life and revealed a hidden digital world that offers various challenges. The digital world represented the "hidden side", a hidden world that is populated by virtual ghosts. The app provided the interactive aspect of the experience when a smartphone was held up to the physical sets.[8]
The augmented reality play experience focused on the main characters Jack and Parker who begin ghost-catching in Newbury. Players explored the various haunted locations of Newbury through these characters, with clues about the city's history of paranormal activity revealed within the sets.[9]
Development
[edit]Lego Hidden Side began with a brief given to the company's Creative Play Lab to develop a concept for a "Play-Theme 2.0", a theme that would include augmented reality to enhance physical Lego play. The team at the Creative Play Lab came up with many concepts and tested them with children to assess their reactions. Senior Design Manager Sven Robin Kahl commented, "It was clear they needed to create a ghost theme, as that concept worked so well with the digital layer. Digital ghosts that can only be seen with the phone!"[10]
The theme was also the result of an extensive investigation by The Lego Group into augmented reality gameplay with the use of advanced hardware. To implement the functionality, the theme required ARKit for iOS users and ARCore for Android on mobile devices. This was a capability that could be accessed by most children in the primary market.[11] The theme was developed as a team process between the model designers and the app developers. Senior Product Lead, Murray Andrews commented that the integration of the app functionality offered certain challenges stating, "a simple example is you are holding the phone in one hand and you have to interact with the model, you have only got the other hand to do it. So they had to simplify some of the functions to be able to use one hand rather than two handed functions. That was just an interesting journey that we went on with this project, with the designers having to learn new ways of making things work."[12]
The sets were designed to appear like existing Lego urban buildings but, when used in conjunction with the app, were interactive. The augmented reality placed a graphic overlay on the image of the sets that transformed buildings, vehicles or Lego minifigures into paranormal creations. Roberto Marchesi, lead digital creative explained, "We didn't want to have a really cool game that was working in isolation from the sets. We wanted to create a holistic experience with AR." The process of developing an augmented reality game was particularly challenging for the design team and required an investigation into what good augmented reality really meant. Marchesi explained, "When we started this process, we didn't even know what good AR play was because no one had good AR play where you go back and forth between the digital and physical interaction. There was a lot of exploration and learning based on the simple mechanics involved of looking through your phone, taking stock of what you see, and then acting accordingly."[9]
Launch
[edit]The Lego Hidden Side theme was launched in August 2019.[9] As part of the marketing campaign, The Lego Group engaged The Mill to create an event that was designed to create awareness of the theme. The event invited five YouTube influencers to take part in an interactive ghost hunting experience, which involved the characters from the storyline. The event was subsequently broadcast on YouTube.[13]
Characters
[edit]- Jack Davids: He is a "cool YouTuber" who recently moved to Newbury and used to be the new kid along with his mother, who is the principal of his high school and is unaware of her son's ghost hunting life. He usually wears a hoodie and a baseball cap. Voiced by Corey Krueger.[14][15][16][17]
- Douglas Elton / El Fuego: He is the school caretaker, sports teacher and stuntman. It is revealed that he wanted to be stuntman but got hurt every time he tried to do a stunt, leading him to be a school caretaker at Newbury High until ghosts arrived in town. Jack, Parker and J.B. recruited him as their own stuntman called "El Fuego". He used to be human in Season 1 but got turned into a skeleton when he sacrificed himself in the episode titled Skeleton in the Closet. Voiced by William Kasten.[18][19][20]
- Parker L. Jackson: She is Jack's classmate and is described as an outsider in school. Her parents are always busy and they are oblivious about her life as a ghost hunter. She is the great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Vaughn G. Jackson, Newbury's original ghost/monster hunter. Voiced by Amelia Clover.[21][22][16][23]
- Dr. J.B. Watt: She is Newbury's scientific authority, who discovered how to manipulate and capture the ghosts using the app and mostly operates from her research laboratory. She used to have a bus named "Sweet Sally" and she never gets it dirty despite having a messy lab and having high tech ghost hunting gear on it. She sacrificed her bus to trap Lady E. in the Season 2 finale titled The Lighthouse but replaced it with a fire truck called Sweet Sally Jr. Voiced by L.C. Curci.[24][25]
- Spencer: He is Jack's "ghost dog" who used to be alive until he died.[26][27][17]
- TeeVee: J.B.'s robotic assistant.[16]
Construction sets
[edit]According to BrickLink, The Lego Group released 32 playsets and promotional packs based on the Hidden Side theme.[1]
First wave sets
[edit]
On 14 February 2019, it was officially announced by The Lego Group that the first wave sets[28] of Lego Hidden Side theme was launched at the New York Toy Fair on 1 August 2019.[29][30][31] The eight sets[32][33][34] being released are J.B.'s Ghost Lab (set number: 70418),[35] Wrecked Shipping Boat (set number: 70419),[35][36] Graveyard Mystery (set number: 70420),[35] El Fuego's Stunt Truck (set number: 70421),[35] Shrimp Shack Attack (set number: 70422),[35][26][37] Paranormal Intercept Bus 3000 (set number: 70423),[35][38] Ghost Train Express (set number: 70424)[35][39] and Newbury Haunted High School (set number: 70425).[35][17][40][41] Later, Newbury Juice Bar (set number: 40336)[42][43] is an exclusive set only available on September until October 2019[44] as a promotion.[45][46] Each of the sets that allow the player to download the App in their smartphone and find the hidden ghosts.[47][48][49] The sets were designed primarily for children with an age rating of 7+ or above.
Second wave sets
[edit]On 27 November 2019, it was announced that the second wave sets[50][51][52] would be released on 1 January 2020.[53][54][55][56] The six sets released were Welcome to the Hidden Side (set number: 70427),[57] Jack's Beach Buggy (set number: 70428),[16][57] El Fuego's Stunt Airplane (set number: 70429),[57] Newbury Subway Station (set number: 70430),[57] The Lighthouse of Darkness (set number: 70431),[57][58] Haunted Fairground (set number: 70432).[16][57][59][60][61] Also included Drag Racer (set number: 40408)[62][63] is an exclusive set only available in January 2020 as a promotion.[64]
Third wave sets
[edit]Later, the third wave sets[65][66] would be released on 1 June 2020. The five sets being released are J.B's Submarine (set number: 70433),[67] Supernatural Race Car (set number: 704234),[67] Abandoned Newburry Prison (set number: 70435),[67] Ghost Fire Truck 3000 (set number: 70436)[67][68][69] and Mystery Castle (set number: 70437).[16][67] In addition, the two polypag sets have been released as a promotions are Chef Enzo's Haunted Hotdogs (set number: 30463)[37][70][71] and El Fuego's Stunt Cannon (set number: 30464).[70][72]
The product line was discontinued and all sets were retired by the end of 2020.[73]
Web episodes
[edit]The product line was accompanied by a series of animated short films that was released on YouTube. The series followed the story of Jack, Parker and their friends who aim to clean up the ghosts in Newbury. This series was created by Mikkel Lee and executive produced by Tommy Andreasen, Robert Fewkes, Sanjee Gupta and Joshua Wexler. It was produced by Pure Imagination Studios, written by Lila Scott[74] and directed by Zac Moncrief.[75]
Cast
[edit]- Andy Alberto: Bawa Bat, Biker Joey (ep. 8), Lighthouse Keeper (ep. 19)
- Lindsey Alena: Lady E, Linda (ep. 11)
- Mike Anthony: Clown Boss Ghost (ep. 12)
- Bruce Baker: Nibbs
- Amelia Clover: Parker
- LC Curci: JB, Nanny Mamali
- Eric Emery: Dale Trucker Boss Ghost (ep. 14)
- Paul Edwards: Dr. Drewell
- Michael Johnson: Spewer (ep. 6), Biker Dwayne (ep. 8), Mr. Clarke (ep. 11)
- William Kasten: Douglas, Captain Jonas (ep. 3), Chief Silento (ep. 4), Bob (ep. 11), Weather Boss Ghost
- Corey Krueger: Jack, Archibald, Jonas Jr. (ep. 3)
- Deborah Marlowe: Rose (ep. 11)
- Christopher Molinari: Mason
- Paige Mount: Worker Nana (ep. 6)
- Ben Rausch: Conductor Boss Ghost (ep. 15)
- Wally Wingert: Vaughn
Season 1
[edit]In the first season, 11 web shorts were released on YouTube.[76]
| # | Title | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Face Your Fears[77] | October 16, 2019 | LEGO Hidden Side computer-animated series |
| 2 | Vlog Hog[78] | October 23, 2019 | |
| 3 | Sink or Swim[79] | October 31, 2019 | |
| 4 | Don't Choke Now[80] | November 6, 2019 | |
| 5 | Bat Crazy[81] | November 15, 2019 | |
| 6 | Potty Mouth[82] | November 20, 2019 | |
| 7 | Gloom and Doom[83] | November 27, 2019 | |
| 8 | Life in the Ghost Lane[84] | December 4, 2019 | |
| 9 | Good Chemistry[85] | December 11, 2019 | |
| 10 | Skeleton in the Closet[86] | December 18, 2019 | |
| 11 | Parents Just Don't Understand[87] | January 30, 2020 |
Season 2
[edit]In the second season, nine web shorts were released on YouTube.[88]
| # | Title | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnival of Doom[89] | February 6, 2020 | LEGO Hidden Side computer-animated series |
| 2 | Flying Lessons[90] | February 13, 2020 | |
| 3 | Doom Buggy[91] | February 20, 2020 | |
| 4 | Oh, Rats![92] | February 27, 2020 | |
| 5 | Grave Situation[93] | March 5, 2020 | |
| 6 | Haunting 101[94] | April 2, 2020 | |
| 7 | The Great Escape[95] | April 9, 2020 | |
| 8 | The Lighthouse, Part 1[96] | April 16, 2020 | |
| 9 | The Lighthouse, Part 2[97] | April 23, 2020 |
TV special
[edit]Lego Hidden Side: Night of the Harbinger Halloween Special is a 44 minutes television special in Lego animation, based on Lego theme of Lego Hidden Side, produced by Pure Imagination Studios. The special premiered on Cartoon Network in the US on 31 October 2020.[98][99][100] Also included the voice cast are Amelia Clover, L.C. Curci, William Kasten, Corey Krueger and Wally Wingert.
Video game and app
[edit]Lego Brawls
[edit]A crossover mobile fighting game named Lego Brawls was developed by RED Games. Lego Brawls was released exclusively for Apple Arcade on September 19, 2019, for iOS devices, and made available for PC and Consoles in June 2022.[101][102][103][104] It includes Jack Davids and Parker L. Jackson as playable characters.[105][106]
App
[edit]The Lego Hidden Side app was released on 29 July 2019, and was the mobile app for the Lego Hidden Side theme, available for the operating systems iOS and Android.[107][108][109][110] The app had since received several updates that increased the game options. Players were able to choose between playing the game in ghost mode or in ghost hunter mode. In ghost mode, the player was haunted by other players in a first-person shooter,[111][112] in a location not unlike Newbury. In ghost hunter mode, the player had the task of catching as many ghosts as possible. To do this, the player scanned a set that was supplemented by additional elements on the screen via augmented reality. Depending on the set, different ghosts would've appeared - including a set-dependent boss spirit - which could then be caught. Captured ghosts were then collected and could have been viewed in the app, including their short biographies.[113][114][115] The Lego Hidden Side app was discontinued in 2023.[116][117]
Awards and nominations
[edit]The Hidden Side Haunted Fairground (set number: 70432) was the overall winner of the Editor's Choice Awards at Toy Fair 2020 at Olympia, London, which is an annual awards event organised by the British Toy and Hobby Association.[118]
The Hidden Side Paranormal Intercept Bus (set number: 70423) was listed as one of the "10 best Lego sets 2021" by official website Pocket-lint.[119]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "BrickLink Reference Catalog - Sets - Hidden Side - Items Inventoried". www.bricklink.com. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
- ^ Lego Group (14 February 2019). "The LEGO Group introduces LEGO HIDDEN SIDE™, combining building with augmented reality to create a new way to play". Lego.com. Lego. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
- ^ Stuart Miles (February 14, 2019). "Lego Hidden Side sets add augmented reality to create a whole new, spooky world". Pocket-lint.com. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ "LEGO unveils new Hidden Side product line with eight haunted augmented reality sets [News]". brothers-brick.com. February 14, 2019.
- ^ "LEGO Group Introduces LEGO Hidden Side™, Combining Building With Augmented Reality To Create A New Way To Play". PR Newswire. February 14, 2019.
- ^ "Four of the scariest LEGO themes for Halloween". Brick Fanatics. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Bits N' Bricks Season 1 Episode 2: Fluid Play" (PDF). Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- ^ Curtis, Sophie (2019-07-18). "Lego Hidden Side 'haunted' sets combine brick building with augmented reality". mirror. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
- ^ a b c Brown, Luke (2019-02-20). "Uncovering the hidden side of LEGO's new augmented reality set". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
- ^ "Senior Design Manager Sven Robin Kahl on his 10 years at LEGO, the secrets of Hidden Side and what creativity needs…". Mojo Nation. 2020-02-17. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ^ "Interview with Murray Andrews, Hidden Side Designer". Brickset.com. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
- ^ Graham (2019-02-19). "LEGO Hidden Side: Exclusive Brick Fanatics first look interview". Brick Fanatics. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
- ^ Hyatt, Jeff (2020-01-31). "LEGO Engages The Mill for Launch of Hidden Side – Its First Venture Into AR (MESA)". Media & Entertainment Services Alliance. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ "JACK". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
- ^ "Jack Davids (13) - LEGO Hidden Side Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB". www.lego.com. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
- ^ a b c d e f Farshtey, Gregory; Lipkowitz, Daniel; Hugo, Simon (2020-10-01). LEGO Minifigure A Visual History New Edition. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 248. ISBN 978-0-241-50202-0.
- ^ a b c Dolan, Hannah (2020-10-13). LEGO Minifigure Handbook. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-241-45823-5.
- ^ "DOUGLAS". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
- ^ "Douglas Elton (deceased) - El Fuego - LEGO Hidden Side Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB". www.lego.com. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
- ^ Dolan, Hannah (2020-10-13). LEGO Minifigure Handbook. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-241-45823-5.
- ^ "PARKER". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
- ^ "Parker L. Jackson (13) - LEGO Hidden Side Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB". www.lego.com. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
- ^ Dolan, Hannah (2020-10-13). LEGO Minifigure Handbook. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-241-45823-5.
- ^ "JB". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
- ^ "J.B. Watt (22) - LEGO Hidden Side Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB". www.lego.com. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
- ^ a b "Inside LEGO Hidden Side 70419 Wrecked Shrimp Boat". Brick Fanatics. September 13, 2019.
- ^ "Spencer - LEGO Hidden Side Characters - LEGO.com for kids - GB". www.lego.com. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side –a new spooky, AR connected theme – announced". Brick Fanatics. February 14, 2019.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side sets unveiled at New York Toy Fair". Brick Fanatics. February 16, 2019.
- ^ "New Theme – LEGO Hidden Side Available August 2019". toysnbricks.com. February 14, 2019.
- ^ Stuart Miles (December 4, 2019). "Here are all the Lego Hidden Side sets you can buy today". Pocket-lint.com. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ "Hidden Side: set images". BrickSet.com. March 1, 2019.
- ^ "Hidden Side official images!". BrickSet.com. May 9, 2019.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side Official Set Images". thebrickfan.com. May 8, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "2019 August Summer LEGO Hidden Side Sets Official Images". toysnbricks.com. June 19, 2019.
- ^ Dolan, Hannah (2020-10-13). LEGO Minifigure Handbook. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-241-45823-5.
- ^ a b Dolan, Hannah (2020-10-13). LEGO Minifigure Handbook. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-241-45823-5.
- ^ "Five kinds of LEGO set we'll never see again". Brick Fanatics. 11 August 2022.
- ^ Dolan, Hannah (2020-10-13). LEGO Minifigure Handbook. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-241-45823-5.
- ^ "Behind the scenes of LEGO Hidden Side 70425 Newbury Haunted High School". Brick Fanatics. October 7, 2019.
- ^ LEGO Hidden Side Newbury Haunted High School Designer Video - 70425. October 7, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ "40336 Newbury Juice Bar revealed!". BrickSet.com. July 24, 2019.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side Newbury's Juice Bar (40336) Revealed". thebrickfan.com. July 24, 2019.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side Newbury's Juice Bar (40336) Promotion Back Again for Halloween". thebrickfan.com. October 31, 2019.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side Newbury's Juice Bar (40336) Promotion Coming in September". thebrickfan.com. August 18, 2019.
- ^ "Free LEGO Hidden Side 40336 Newbury Juice Bar deal is back". Brick Fanatics. October 27, 2019.
- ^ "LEGO launches wave of first AR infused play-sets with LEGO Hidden Side". ToyNews. February 14, 2019. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020.
- ^ "LEGO Systems Redefines Creative Learning And Self-Expression With Key 2020 Launches". PR Newswire. February 21, 2019.
- ^ "Parents embrace 'Phygital' play as benefit to children's future, says LEGO study". ToyNews. November 5, 2019.
- ^ Lego Group (6 December 2019). "LEGO Hidden Side™ introduces new sets for 2020 and a multiplayer game mode". Lego.com. Lego. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ "2020 Hidden Side sets officially revealed!". BrickSet.com. November 14, 2019.
- ^ "LEGO to launch multiplayer mode and six new Hidden Side sets in 2020". ToyNews. December 9, 2019. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019.
- ^ "All New 2020 LEGO Hidden Side Sets Revealed". Bricksfanz.com. November 14, 2019.
- ^ "Take On The Hidden Side With Friends In New Sets". Bricksfanz.com. December 6, 2019.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side 2020 Sets Officially Revealed". thebrickfan.com. November 14, 2019.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side 2020 Official Images!". Brickfinder.net. November 14, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "2020 LEGO Hidden Side Official Set Images Revealed". toysnbricks.com. November 14, 2019.
- ^ Dolan, Hannah (2020-10-13). LEGO Minifigure Handbook. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-241-45823-5.
- ^ Haunted Fairground 70432 Designer Video - LEGO Hidden Side. February 15, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Hidden Side Haunted Fairground Designer Video". Brickfanz.com. February 15, 2020.
- ^ Dolan, Hannah (2020-10-13). LEGO Minifigure Handbook. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 188. ISBN 978-0-241-45823-5.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side Drag Racer (40408) Promotional Set Official Images". thebrickfan.com. January 15, 2020.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side 40408 Drag Racer revealed". Brick Fanatics. January 17, 2020.
- ^ "Get A Free LEGO Hidden Side Drag Racer Set Now". Bricksfanz.com. January 24, 2020.
- ^ "New LEGO Hidden Side Summer Sets Revealed". Bricksfanz.com. April 27, 2020.
- ^ "LEGO Summer 2020 Box Art Images Revealed". thebrickfan.com. April 27, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "LEGO Hidden Side Summer 2020 Set Images". thebrickfan.com. April 27, 2020.
- ^ "LEGO HIDDEN SIDE 70436 PHANTOM FIRE TRUCK 3000: DESIGN PROCESS WITH NIEK VAN SLAGMAAT". New Elementary. 22 May 2020.
- ^ "The development of LEGO Hidden Side 70436 Ghost Fire Truck 3000". Brick Fanatics. May 23, 2020.
- ^ a b "Free LEGO Hidden Side Polybag Promotion Now On". Bricksfanz.com. October 26, 2020.
- ^ "Seven of the greatest LEGO set names of all time". Brick Fanatics. October 23, 2022.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side El Fuego's Stunt Cannon (30464) Promotion Live on LEGO Shop". thebrickfan.com. October 25, 2020.
- ^ "The best 2020 LEGO kits to buy before they disappear forever". 9to5Toys. 2020-11-11. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ^ "Hidden Side: Face Your Fears!". YouTube. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
- ^ "Lego Hidden Side: Check Out Wave Three of These Spooktacular Building Kits". SuperParent. Archived from the original on 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ^ LEGO Hidden Side Mini Movies 2020 Compilation - Full Animated Episodes 1-9. April 26, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ LEGO Hidden Side: Face Your Fears. October 16, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Vlog Hog – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 1. October 23, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Sink or Swim – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 2. October 31, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Don't Choke Now – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 3. November 6, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Bat Crazy – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 4. November 15, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Potty Mouth – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 5. November 20, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Gloom and Doom - LEGO Hidden Side Episode 6. November 27, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Life in the Ghost Lane – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 7. December 4, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Good Chemistry – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 8. December 11, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Skeleton in the Closet – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 9. December 18, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ Parents Just Don't Understand – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 10. January 11, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ LEGO Hidden Side Mini Movies 2020 Compilation - Full Animated Episodes 10-20. June 13, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ Carnival of Doom – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 11. February 6, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ Flying Lessons – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 12. February 13, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ Doom Buggy – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 13. February 20, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ Oh, Rats! – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 14. February 27, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ Grave Situation – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 15. March 5, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ Haunting 101 – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 16. April 2, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ The Great Escape – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 17. April 9, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ The Lighthouse, Part 1 – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 18. April 16, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ The Lighthouse, Part 2 – LEGO Hidden Side Episode 19. April 16, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side Night of the Harbinger Halloween Special Coming to Cartoon Network". thebrickfan.com. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side to air Halloween special". Brick Fanatics. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ Lego Hidden Side: Night of the Harbinger Halloween Special. November 3, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ "LEGO Brawls". Metacritic. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ "LEGO Brawls Coming to Nintendo Switch". thebrickfan.com. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- ^ "LEGO Brawls brings the fight to more platforms later this year". Brick Fanatics. 11 February 2022.
- ^ "The next season of LEGO Brawls is a free-for-all". Brick Fanz. 10 May 2022.
- ^ Brown, Shelby. "Apple Arcade launches updates for Lego Brawls and 3 other games". CNET. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
- ^ "LEGO Brawls has everything from NINJAGO to Alien Conquest". Brick Fanatics. 15 June 2021.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side app gets mixed response". Brick Fanatics. February 15, 2019.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side SDCC 2019 Short Film and Gameplay Trailer". thebrickfan.com. July 20, 2019.
- ^ "On the road again? These mobile video games add fun to summer journeys". USAtoday.com. August 3, 2019.
- ^ Horwitz, Jeremy (February 14, 2019). "Lego Hidden Side uses 'haunted' toys to advance AR on Android and iOS". Venture Beat. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ Whyte, Alexandra (October 10, 2019). "LEGO unveils new AR-enhanced playset". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ Tuchow, Ryan (February 14, 2019). "LEGO & Apple team up to keep kids gaming". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ "Review: Hidden Side App". BrickSet.com. September 8, 2019.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side combines the real world and the hidden world". AndroidCommunity.com. February 15, 2019.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side App Now Available". thebrickfan.com. July 31, 2019.
- ^ "The LEGO Hidden Side App is disappearing in 2023". Brick Fanatics. September 20, 2022.
- ^ "LEGO Hidden Side's app has been officially discontinued". Brick Fanatics. January 6, 2023.
- ^ toyfair_admin (2020-01-22). "Hidden Side Haunted Fairground by LEGO wins Toy Fair 2020 Editor's Choice Award". Toy Fair. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
- ^ Grabham, Dan (June 26, 2021). "10 best Lego sets 2021: Our favourite Star Wars, Technic, City, Frozen II sets and more". Pocket-lint. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
External links
[edit]- Official website Archived 2019-12-23 at the Wayback Machine
Lego Hidden Side
View on GrokipediaOverview
Concept and theme
Lego Hidden Side is a discontinued Lego construction toy line that ran from 2019 to 2020, featuring a series of buildable haunted playsets integrated with augmented reality (AR) technology for interactive ghost-hunting experiences.[6][1] The theme's premise centers on players exploring paranormal mysteries in a haunted environment, where physical Lego models serve as portals to a digital realm teeming with ghosts that must be captured to restore normalcy.[1] The "Hidden Side" refers to a parallel ghostly realm that overlaps with the everyday world, revealed and accessed exclusively through the companion mobile app when scanning the built sets.[1] This spectral dimension is set in the fictional town of Newbury, a once-ordinary community now plagued by supernatural occurrences, where everyday locations like schools and graveyards become hotspots for otherworldly activity.[1] Designed for children aged 7 and older, the theme emphasizes a seamless blend of traditional Lego brick-building creativity with modern digital interactivity, encouraging imaginative play that bridges physical construction and virtual exploration.[1] A key unique selling point of Lego Hidden Side is that the sets function effectively as standalone toys with detailed, functional builds and minifigures, while scanning them with the free app unlocks immersive AR adventures, including cooperative multiplayer modes for ghost-trapping challenges.[1][7]Setting and gameplay mechanics
The LEGO Hidden Side universe is set in the fictional coastal town of Newbury, a seemingly ordinary American community featuring everyday locations such as schools, diners, fairgrounds, and subways that conceal ghostly portals and supernatural hauntings.[1] Ghosts in Newbury possess buildings and people, creating paranormal disturbances that blend the mundane with the eerie, prompting players to uncover hidden dimensions beneath the surface.[8] Gameplay begins with constructing a physical LEGO set, which players then scan using the companion mobile app to activate augmented reality (AR) elements and reveal virtual ghosts haunting the model. Interacting with specific "points of possession" on the build—such as movable parts or interactive features—releases these ghosts into the AR environment, where players solve puzzles in a first-person perspective to trap them, earning points that unlock upgrades like enhanced ghost-hunting tools.[1] The experience includes a single-player story mode following protagonists Jack, Parker, and their ghost dog Spencer as they investigate mysteries, alongside multiplayer modes for cooperative ghost hunts or competitive battles against friends' ghost teams.[9] Physical manipulation of the set dynamically alters the digital layer, and vice versa, creating a seamless interplay between tangible building and virtual exploration. However, the companion app was discontinued in early 2023, rendering all AR features inoperable as of that date.[1][5] Sets are designed as multi-layered builds with transforming mechanisms, such as day-to-night conversions or modular sections that reveal hidden compartments for storing minifigures, tools, or surprise elements, encouraging physical exploration and role-play even without the app.[1] These features add depth to the construction process, allowing discoveries like secret rooms or pop-out portals that tie into the AR narrative.[8] The progression system escalates through increasingly difficult ghosts, starting with basic apparitions and building to boss-level entities like the harbinger Nehmaar Reem, whose defeat often requires combining multiple sets to access advanced puzzles and unlock overarching story chapters.[4] App updates introduced randomized challenges and new spectral threats to maintain ongoing engagement across play sessions.[1]Development
Announcement and design process
Lego Hidden Side was announced on February 14, 2019, during a press event ahead of its public showcase at the American International Toy Fair in New York City from February 16 to 19. The theme was introduced as an augmented reality (AR)-enhanced play experience set in the haunted coastal town of Newbury, where players build physical models that interact with a companion app to reveal ghosts and mysteries. This debut marked Lego's push into mixed-reality play, with eight initial sets planned for release in August 2019.[1] The design drew inspiration from ghost-hunting media, evoking the paranormal investigation style of films like Ghostbusters, while building on Lego's prior experiments in digital-physical hybrids such as the Lego Dimensions theme. Creators aimed to create a self-contained story world of hauntings in everyday locations, like schools and graveyards, to foster immersive, evolving narratives through AR. This approach sought to innovate beyond screen-based play, emphasizing "fluid play" where physical builds influence digital elements and vice versa.[10][11] Development involved close collaboration between Lego's model designers, AR team, and game developers to ensure seamless integration between sets and the app. Led by figures like Senior Product Lead Murray Andrews and overseen by Tom Donaldson, Senior Vice President of the Creative Play Lab, the process treated the theme as a unified mixed-reality project rather than separate physical and digital components. Emphasis was placed on modular builds with transforming features, such as haunted structures that shift states, to enhance replayability and encourage creative rebuilding.[11][1] Early prototyping focused on app accessibility across iOS and Android devices, with sets engineered for one-handed manipulation to accommodate holding a smartphone during play. Tests prioritized reciprocal interactions, where physical actions like rearranging bricks alter the AR environment in real-time, while avoiding over-reliance on screens by layering digital elements atop core Lego building experiences. This ensured the theme remained accessible and true to Lego's tactile roots, promoting play that bridges the physical and virtual without requiring constant device use.[11][1]Production challenges
Integrating augmented reality (AR) with physical Lego bricks presented major technical hurdles for the Hidden Side theme, necessitating advanced scanning technology to enable precise detection and interaction between built models and the companion app. Developers had to define what constituted effective AR play from scratch, as no established precedents existed for such seamless physical-digital fusion, leading to extensive exploration of phone-based viewing mechanics and real-time responses. Ensuring compatibility across diverse smartphone platforms from multiple manufacturers proved especially demanding, requiring robust systems to handle variable hardware while maintaining set durability under repeated play.[12] The AR technology itself was inherently unreliable in suboptimal lighting or movement conditions, prompting the inclusion of user-friendly features like loading screen tips and iterative redesigns to mitigate failures. Balancing ongoing app updates with backward compatibility for existing sets demanded meticulous coordination to preserve the interconnected play experience without rendering older models obsolete. These challenges were compounded by the need for one-handed set manipulation during app use, which influenced the simplification of building functions and interactive elements.[13][11] Manufacturing the theme's components involved producing eight core building sets for the initial 2019 wave, expanded by additional sets across two subsequent waves in 2020, alongside promotional polybags, for a total of over 20 main constructions. Specialized elements, including translucent neon green, blue, and purple pieces to evoke ethereal ghosts, along with select glow-in-the-dark components like minifigure parts and accents, required precise molding techniques to achieve the desired luminous effects without compromising structural integrity.[14][4] The production effort relied on a multidisciplinary team comprising Lego's internal set designers, digital specialists for AR implementation, and external contributors handling app UI/UX design amid evolving project specifications. Early prototypes and playtesting, including sessions with children, informed refinements to enhance fluidity between physical building and digital exploration, while Toy Fair 2019 demonstrations showcased the theme's innovative potential to industry audiences.[15][13][10]Release and discontinuation
Initial launch
The Lego Hidden Side theme debuted on August 1, 2019, with the release of its first wave of construction sets worldwide, accompanied by the launch of the free companion app on July 29, 2019, for iOS and Android devices.[1][16][17] Lego's marketing efforts emphasized the theme's augmented reality (AR) integration to blend physical building with digital ghost-hunting gameplay, featuring promotional trailers that showcased the AR fun and interactive elements. A key highlight was the unveiling of a dedicated trailer at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2019, where targeted advertising and displays aimed to engage fans of sci-fi and adventure genres. Additionally, partnerships with YouTube creators helped amplify visibility through promotional content, positioning Hidden Side as an innovative entry in Lego's tech-enhanced toy lineup.[18][19][20] The sets became available globally in major markets including the United States, Europe, and Asia, with prices ranging from approximately $20 to $150 depending on the kit's size and complexity. Initial reception praised the theme's novel AR mechanics, with reviewers highlighting its immersive gameplay and seamless app integration as a fresh evolution for Lego products.[1][18][21][22]Theme conclusion and app shutdown
The Lego Hidden Side theme concluded production at the end of 2020 after releasing three waves of construction sets, marking the end of new physical products for the line.[23] This discontinuation followed the theme's launch in 2019 and was influenced by challenges in integrating the augmented reality app, which required compatible high-end devices and limited accessibility for younger or less tech-savvy players.[24] The heavy emphasis on digital interaction also contributed to underwhelming commercial performance, as the app-dependent gameplay alienated portions of the traditional Lego audience who preferred standalone building experiences.[25] Despite the theme's end, the Hidden Side app remained operational for over two years, receiving its final update in September 2022, at which time users were notified that servers would shut down.[26][27] The app was fully discontinued on January 1, 2023, rendering multiplayer features and new game starts inaccessible, though offline single-player modes could still be accessed on existing devices.[5] This extended support period was mandated by European Union regulations on digital content longevity, similar to other Lego app-based themes like VIDIYO, but ongoing maintenance costs for server infrastructure ultimately proved unsustainable.[26] Following discontinuation, no additional content—such as app updates, web episodes, or new sets—was produced, leaving the theme without official post-2020 expansion.[23] Existing Hidden Side construction sets continue to be available through secondary markets like online retailers and resale platforms, allowing fans to acquire them for display or limited offline play.[25] The shutdown highlighted broader issues in Lego's digital experimentation, including competition from simpler AR toys and the difficulties of sustaining app ecosystems amid evolving technology standards.[24]Construction sets
First wave (2019)
The first wave of LEGO Hidden Side sets launched on August 1, 2019, introducing the theme's core concept of haunted builds integrated with augmented reality (AR) gameplay through a companion mobile app. These sets, targeted at children aged 7 and older, featured modular constructions of vehicles, buildings, and scenes from the fictional town of Newbury, each designed to "come alive" when scanned by the free Hidden Side app on iOS or Android devices. The app unlocked specific ghost-hunting missions, allowing players to interact with physical models to reveal digital ghosts, solve puzzles, and progress in a narrative-driven adventure. Priced between $19.99 and $129.99 USD, the sets were exclusively available through major retailers including the official LEGO Shop, Amazon, Walmart, and Toys "R" Us, with the polybag offered as a promotional item with qualifying purchases.[1][28] The eight main sets and one polybag emphasized hidden mechanisms like pop-out ghost traps, glow-in-the-dark bricks, and transforming elements to simulate hauntings, encouraging both traditional building play and app-enhanced exploration. Minifigures included protagonists like ghost hunters Jack Davids and Parker L. Jackson, alongside allies, civilians, and translucent ghost figures for role-play. Each set's AR component tied directly to its build, such as scanning a vehicle to initiate a mobile chase mission or a building to access location-specific hauntings, fostering replayability as app updates introduced new ghosts and challenges over time.[29]| Set Number | Name | Pieces | Minifigures | US RRP | Key Build Features and AR Ties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40336 | Newbury Juice Bar (polybag) | 127 | 2 (Parker L. Jackson, Rocky) | Free promotional (GWP with $50+ purchase) | Compact juice bar stand with stools and signage; scans to unlock introductory AR ghost encounter in a street-level mission.[30] |
| 70418 | J.B.'s Ghost Lab | 174 | 3 (J.B., Jack, Spencer the ghost dog) | $19.99 | Mobile lab trailer with equipment racks and a ghost trap; AR activates basic ghost detection tutorials and early app onboarding.[31] |
| 70419 | Wrecked Shrimp Boat | 310 | 4 (Jack Davids, Parker L. Jackson, Captain Jones, Jones Jr.) | $29.99 | Splitting boat hull, rocky cliff, and kayak; AR reveals underwater ghosts and a boss-level shrimp-themed haunting mission.[29][32] |
| 70420 | Graveyard Mystery | 335 | 4 (Jack, Parker, groundskeeper, ghost) | $29.99 | Mausoleum with opening doors, crooked tree, and graves; AR enables nighttime ghost hunts with emerging spectral figures. |
| 70421 | El Fuego's Stunt Truck | 428 | 4 (stunt performers, ghosts) | $39.99 | Armored stunt truck with launching ramp and flames; AR integrates stunt sequences to distract and capture performing ghosts. |
| 70422 | Shrimp Shack Attack | 579 | 5 (cook, customers, ghosts) | $49.99 | Waterfront shack with kitchen, dock, and small boat; AR simulates a chaotic attack by seafood-obsessed spirits. |
| 70423 | Paranormal Intercept Bus 3000 | 689 | 5 (team members, ghosts) | $59.99 | Customized bus with deployable lab, haunted restroom, and roof access; AR supports on-the-go hunting with vehicle movement affecting digital pursuits.[33][34] |
| 70424 | Ghost Train Express | 698 | 6 (passengers, conductor, ghosts) | $79.99 | Derailment-ready train with three cars and platform; AR triggers high-speed ghost chases along virtual tracks. |
| 70425 | Newbury Haunted High School | 1,474 | 8 (students, teachers, ghosts) | $129.99 | Multi-level school with classrooms, gym, and secret rooms; AR unlocks extensive school-wide mysteries, including boss ghosts in assembly areas.[8][35] |