New beta site on LEGO.com!

| Nov 6, 2010

WELCOME TO LEGO OCTOPUS CLOSED BETA

This site is in development and is currently not open for general use. If you have received an invitation to join the Closed Beta, please click the link in your invitation mail message.

Octopus.lego.com is the link to the page.

What is it? Anyone have an idea?

51 comments:

Eragon.Saphira said... [REPLY]

Wow. This looks exciting! How did you find this Sim533?
This is pure speculation, but could be a new social networking site? Similar to MLN but with fewer restrictions?

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

It seems to be an extranet.

An extranet is a computer network that allows controlled access from the outside, for specific business or educational purposes. An extranet can be viewed as an extension of a company's intranet that is extended to users outside the company, usually partners, vendors, and suppliers. It has also been described as a "state of mind" in which the Internet is perceived as a way to do business with a selected set of other companies , in isolation from all other Internet users. In contrast, business-to-consumer models involve known servers of one or more companies, communicating with previously unknown consumer users. An intranet is like a DMZ in that it provides access to needed services for channel partners, without granting access to an organization's entire network.

This can be something like LEGO Club pages, MLN, indeed.

But I hope I missed, I don't want MLN to be replaced.

Gatanui said... [REPLY]

Remember what The Brick 2010 said about ways to customize one´s online LEGO.com experience with the site upgrade? This could be it somehow. How have you found it? Have you got an invitation yourself?

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

From "I am sure this is it." to "This could be it somehow." LOL... :P

Gatanui, can I have a link to the article?
You're starting a new way, which I will check.

Did somebody received an survey by email lately from the LKIC? A possible answer can be in it.

Gatanui said... [REPLY]

LOL. :P I know, I did realize afterwards that if it were that, I don´t think it would have a seperate IP address from LEGO.com (which makes it even more crazy).

You can read the article on aboutus.LEGO.com. Just search the PDF document for "LEGO.com".

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

@Gatanui

Hmm, it seems like a possible way.

However, they are talking about making subwebsites available for more languages.

Gatanui said... [REPLY]

Wait a moment, Sim. How can you post an image with "maintenance" in the file name even though I can only see one called "noaccess" with another construction worker?

Gatanui said... [REPLY]

@Sim533
Yes, and they did that (most of the announced languages), but who says there is not more but they just don´t have it ready yet? It also talks about a general site upgrade with ways to customize the own online LEGO experience or something like that, anyway. And there has been a website upgrade.

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

The site seems to have a lot of secret images.
Those images could be found in the CSS page, http://octopus.lego.com/css/Octopus/Standalone.css

http://octopus.lego.com/images/StandAlone/Invitation.png

http://octopus.lego.com/images/StandAlone/Maintenance_447x470.png

http://octopus.lego.com/images/StandAlone/noaccess.png

http://octopus.lego.com/images/Layout/Octopus_topbar_logo_270x108_transp.png

That brought me of an idea.

--

The site CSS files are made by http://www.netmester.dk/, which could probably close the LU path.

--

This CSS file is giving me more information.
http://octopus.lego.com/css/Octopus/Elements.css

It gives me that the extranet or webservice has a
- generalText
- welcome
- welcome_invitations
- welcome_unreadMessages
- welcome_notificationList
- welcome_bookmarks
- http://octopus.lego.com/images/layout/link_arrow.png
-http://octopus.lego.com/images/layout/link_arrow_hover.png
-http://octopus.lego.com/images/buttons/greybutton_left.png
-http://octopus.lego.com/images/buttons/greybutton_left_reverse.png
-http://octopus.lego.com/images/buttons/greybutton_left_hover.png
-http://octopus.lego.com/images/buttons/greybutton_left_reverse_hover.png

And a lot of more in that CSS. Take a look in the CSS by yourself and you see the link somewhere. I will do a page analysis, to let you know about how to layout looks like.

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

-http://octopus.lego.com/images/buttons/GrayButton_Capture_100x28.png
-http://octopus.lego.com/images/buttons/GrayButton_Next_80x28.png
-http://octopus.lego.com/images/Buttons/GrayButton_Save_90x28.png
-http://octopus.lego.com/images/Buttons/GrayButton_Cancel_90x28.png

-hiddenPanel
-inputError
-admin td
-writeNewMessage td
-adminListDetails
-writeMessageButtons
- - */BOOKMARK LIST/* -

- /* My Octopus */
profileView
profileViewLeft
http://octopus.lego.com/images/layout/Follow_head_25x25_transp.png
addRemoveFollowList
profileViewShare
profileViewShareImage
myWebsiteRight
removeFromFavoriteList
pagingShowMyFollowers
http://octopus.lego.com/images/layout/feedbackImg.png


Conclusion
It is something like MLN, where you can make your own "website", users can bookmark this website, can remove them from there list.
Can upload images to there website.

A new social place, is my opinion. An updated club page like we had earlier. (Everything needs to be moderated)

That is my opinion.

Gatanui said... [REPLY]

Very interesting. I always read the HTML and XML files (if there are any), but for some reason never or rarely the CSS. :P Netmester seems to offer web solutions (like Intranet!) but it is possible that they only designed the CSS and nothing beyond that.

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

I'm going to start my page analysis, which could probably give you a little hint on the layout of it. :)

Gatanui said... [REPLY]

I have just read your new post. It seems to be so secret that they even have the site hosted in a Danish municipality with even fewer inhabitants than Copenhague. :O Your theory sounds very interesting, though. So something like MLN 2.0 in your opinion?

Gatanui said... [REPLY]

Perhaps it is a service pictures related to LEGO, similar to Brickshelf, but an official version with moderation. You still have not told us how you found it, anyway. ;)

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

Possible, but there is a sort of mail system included. I guess we are getting where we need to be. The analysis page will be done in a day. Yeah that takes alot of time... :(

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

Whoops, I found the site because friends were hinting me. (Thanks Hobino. )

Joshua Taipale said... [REPLY]

You're a genius, Sim. XD

I really like the theories here... It looks like it *could* be an MLN 2.0. What seems odd to me is that they never finished MLN 1.0, with Haul and such.

Vanderdecken12 said... [REPLY]

@crackers5 I know. They are both geniuses.

Gatanui said... [REPLY]

How did you find it, Hobino? ;)

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

Genius, hmm???
I'm not sure, but Gatanui helped alot!

Page analysis: (It got faster done)
It seems that it isn't done yet at all. The colors are very dark and grey. Probably it will not have much color.

Again, it's an opinion on basic of the CSS file...

Herochild said... [REPLY]

I didn't know about the images! I'll have to check them out.

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

@Herochild

The images didn't told me what it will be, it was the CSS file. That have hinted me what the webservice will bring!

Gatanui said... [REPLY]

@Sim533
No false modesty, Sim. :P You did almost all of the work!

It did not look as if it would have much colour anyway. Very interesting. It seems to me like this service is not really supposed to be used by kids.

mysterygoo said... [REPLY]

@Gatanui

You're right; it says you have to be 13 or older to acess the site.

Anonymous said... [REPLY]

Actually, I saw a post of herochild on the LKIC, and I got to talk with Sim533 about it.

The thing of a MLN 2.0 as the most chance for now. But if we can get some answer from LEGO, that would be great. And, could the name "octopus" mean anything that could be a hint?

Gatanui said... [REPLY]

If you can only visit the website being 13 or older, I doubt this is going to be something like MLN 2.0. But it also proves that it cannot be something exclusively for LEGO employees, so I believe the extranet possibility is unlikely.

C-Fish said... [REPLY]

@Gatanui I agree 100%.

CheshireCat150 said... [REPLY]

Whoa. This is very interesting.

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

In any case, if Octopus is for anybody that is 13 years or older. That means that they will also have something for kids, this is MLN, or something new for them too.
If there is nothing new for the kids under 13 year, then MLN will probably stay, and if there is something new, then MLN will probably be replaced.

However, with this, the one community that Gatanui told us about will dissapear.

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

From on the LMB's

By Sim533:
CreativeIve, for what is this site used or for what will it be used?
(link taken out by mods)

Official answer by a sheriff:
Hi Sim, great find!
but nothing to share around on the MBs I think...
To be honest, I haven't got a clue! It's likely that it is (or going to be as we can't see anything really) something internal, nothing for users.

MKM

FDH said... [REPLY]

to being honest he answer of MKM is unrealstic. Because they made a web site for it, it has an beta, there are invitation mails etc... if it just something internal it would be a bit to much work on it.

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

Indeed, FDH. You are right, and I also replied back to her comment.
She answered directly (she didn't waited like she always does) to my comment, that is a way of telling us that we need to shut up about this. The comments from on the blog are telling me more and I know that she is holding information back.

Anonymous said... [REPLY]

Its obviousley a tribute to the world cup octopus that unfortunatley passed away recentley.

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

@Anonymous

Not sure, I don't think that LEGO will make something with closed beta for that.

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

So, you hadn't the choice to log in at all?

Anonymous said... [REPLY]

I asked kingsley about Octopus, he told me he had never hear about it. As we already said, it wont be something LU.

LEGOVerse said... [REPLY]

There are a lot of interesting observations here. It does sound a lot like a new version of club pages or MLN, but as some people have pointed out, MLN is fairly new and incomplete.

I do get the feeling, however, that the name "Octopus" is just a development codename. If that is true, and the fact that they are trying to keep people quiet about this, may lead one to believe this is either a new product or a very new and original online game/network. The reason why I say "very new and original" is that if this was just another MLN, from which they get no profit, they probably would not be so concerned for its secrecy.

I find it unlikely, though, that a LEGO employee would directly lie to cover it up. The fact that MKM mentions that it could be something internal could mean it is not necessarily an exclusively online thing; maybe it is going to be integrated into a theme park attraction or LEGO store feature?

Either way, this is quite intriguing...

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

@Hobino We can close this way already, the LU game will be not related in any way.

@LEGOVerse
Why should they have 2 networks? Getting a new extranet online costs alot.
Though it can be something related to a theme park. Good opinions, LEGOVerse. :)

Gatanui said... [REPLY]

I have come up with an entirely new idea: Maybe it is going to be an official marketplace, similar to Bricklink? Children would be able to add articles from other sellers on their shopping cart, but the payment itself would have to be done by a parent, as in LEGO UNIVERSE.

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

@Gatanui
It can, but I find the name then not that good choosen.
But that is all possible!

mysterygoo said... [REPLY]

@Gatanui

Nah, it would be a bit too complicated for the likes of LEGO as far as being "kid friendly" or something like that. But anything is possible i guess.....

Gatanui said... [REPLY]

@Sim533

Why not? Why would it be well-chosen for the other suggestions we have had?

By the way, have you noticed the text at the bottom is different from the text on all other LEGO websites?

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

I don't see why they pick that name for a sort of Brickself.

That is because it is a standalone page. It will change as soon as the beta project will start.

LEGOVerse said... [REPLY]

@Sim533

I meant to imply that it probably is not a replacement for MLN, as MLN has plenty of room for expansion.

@Gatanui

That is definitely an interesting idea, but I'm not sure that's something that LEGO would do. As we have already established, kids 13 and up are permitted to use it, and I think in order for it to be appropriate for kids that age (having parental oversight), it would be too similar to the existing LEGO Shop. As far as a concept, however, that is definitely a unique and possible idea...

FDH said... [REPLY]

all is looking normal in the source. i'm just confused about this piece of it "

input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" id="__VIEWSTATE" value="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"

"

Unknown said... [REPLY]

Ok, I haven't posted on this blog before, but this got my attention. Good work, Sim533! I'm not totally sure what it is, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was for MLN what MLN was for the Club Pages. Are there any known people who got invitations to test?
jamesster

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

FDH, that's normally the access code for your personal account.

Jamesster. Hey, welcome to our blog! I hope you enjoy our blog, take a look around if you wish. Invitations weren't send out yet.

Eragon.Saphira said... [REPLY]

Don't you have to be 13 to have a FaceBook account because of privacy laws? I think this Octopus is LEGO's version, why else would they have a 13+ rating? The rating might also only be temporary, having young children beta test might not produce the feedback that LEGO wants.
Octopus could replace the message boards, allow videos to be posted and allow users to interact more, while still under LEGO's strict control. It don't think it would replace MLN though. For the younger kids that play MLN, it is really hard especially if they don't have siblings or friends who can help them gain ranks. Parents don't want them on blogs where anything can be posted, so by creating a safe environment for kids to interact with others on the web parents are happy and LEGO gets even more traffic. Also with a 'FaceBook' style account LEGO could monitor what products are being viewed in which account and then specifically target ads to that account; the kid who likes Technic sets gets Technic ads but not Creator ads.

Sim533 said... [REPLY]

http://octopus.lego.com/Invitation.aspx

tombomdoodle said... [REPLY]

I haven't been on here for ages, so I haven't read all the comments, but has anyone received an invitation about this yet? I wonder if they'll be merging the message boards into this, and they are developing a more advanced forum system...

Anonymous said... [REPLY]

this thing has been in beta for half a year now!

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