The Lego Group has enjoyed ample success with its line of Traveller's Tales-developed, Warner Bros. Interactive-published Lego games. However, the entertainment factor of those games relies on the tongue-in-cheek handling of the licensed properties, and not so much the hallmark fundamentals of Lego building-block construction.

　　That approach will change with Lego Universe, the NetDevil-developed massively multiplayer online game devoted to the toy. Unfortunately, Lego purists will have to tide themselves over with the tangible toys longer than previously anticipated, because the Lego Group today announced that its family-friendly MMOG will not launch this year.

　　"Previously scheduled for 2009, the launch of Lego Universe has been delayed due to strategic optimization within The Lego Group," a Lego Group representative confirmed for GameSpot. "We are in a fortunate position of having many outstanding product launches scheduled for 2009, and have therefore made a decision to postpone the release of Lego Universe."

　　As described by Lego VP of business development Henrik Lorenson at last year's Leipzig Game Developers Conference, Lego Universe will give players a ranging variety of building blocks to create their own constructions. Players will also be able to create and share their own minigames using the virtual Lego bricks, and Lorenson said the game's ultimate goal would be for gamers to develop their own Lego-built worlds.

　　The Lego Group did not reveal an updated release window for Lego Universe. However, a representative did tell GameSpot that the in-development MMOG will be shown in greater detail at this year's Game Developers Conference, which runs from March 23-27 in San Francisco.