As far back as 1999, a group LEGO product developers and engineers started thinking about letting people design their own LEGO products. They imagined people of all ages, anywhere in the world, being able create any design they could dream up – using an intuitive, free tool for digital design.
The first milestone was achieved in July 2003, when the Windows-only version 1.0 of LEGO Digital Designer was released. In February 2004, an online 3D Gallery went live, allowing designers to share their ideas via the Internet. By 2005, thousands of LEGO Factory enthusiasts were designing, sharing and ordering their own custom models – and the one-millionth copy of LEGO Digital Designer was downloaded on 25 September that year.
Now at version 1.6, LEGO Digital Designer features “Click-Stick” method of 3D modeling winning praise from children, parents, teachers and design enthusiasts everywhere. And, as the virtual design platform behind a growing number of LEGO products, LEGO Digital Designer is here to stay, LEGO says.
A host of improvements and new features are already in development, including an improved user interface, new connectivity, more life-like building, Technic compatibility and improved train building and animation.
If you haven’t tried LEGO Digital Designer yourself, download a copy today – now a simultaneous Mac and Windows release:
Minimum System Requirements for Mac:
• Mac OS X 10.3.9 or 10.4.6
• CPU: G4 or faster processor
• Graphics card:
• NVidia GeForce 5200/ATI Radeon 7500 or better
• RAM: 256 MB
• Hard Disk Space: 100 MB
More info and download link here.
MacDailyNews Take: Nice to see LEGO finally getting their act together on the Mac. Making software for discerning personal computer users with the most disposable income obviously makes good business sense.
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LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT goes Mac – January 09, 2006
Lego is the ultimate hacker’s toy. Lego learned from their exprience of having hackers mimick their software and control interface of Mindstorms on linux and OSX. Instead of fighting a battle of IP rights, they encouraged the building of such projects.
lego mindstorms NXT is the result, and when it’s released soon it willbe very popular.
SILLY BUSINESS MEN, LEG0S ARE FOR KIDS, SO ARE MACS. AND IPODS.
Wow – I had no idea Lego offered this service. That’s great. I grew up with Legos. My brother and I use to build Lego cars and smash them into one another to see whose car “survived” and whose received the most damage.
The generic kits were as much fun as the custom kits.
My mother recently found our Legos in her attic – she wants them out. My brother doesn’t want them. Planning on picking them up next trip to visit her in about a month.
Peace.
Cool, but i hope they offer more brick selections this time. It was too limited in the past.
BTW- I’m still working on my Lego Star Destroyer. The thing is frickin huge!!!