LEGO Digital Designer Editor's Review

Achieve the highest level of LEGO design with this intelligent program.

With the LEGO digital designer, users can play with LEGO without the hassle of actually buying it. Really, this nifty little program links to the online store, providing a complex and engaging way to design and build. The digital designer is a graphics-rich, feature-filled program which doesn’t leave you bored for a minute.

The package includes basic bricks, infrared sensors and model jet engines. The user feels in control of his creation as he zooms in and out freely and with ease. You can place bricks together, rotate them, and generally master the object you are, bit by bit, piecing together. All bricks are held together in the Brick Palette – providing an easy way to keep track of your building materials. On top of this, there are included seventeen prebuilt models for those just starting out.

When you’re happy with your design, you have the option of taking a screenshot of the finished piece – with the extra-fun bonus of placing it in front of the background of your choice. You then have the option of submitting it and sharing it with Lego.com, taking it apart in seconds, or watching a detailed video of how to build/rebuild whichever design you wish.

Pro's: the digital designer is absolutely free, the user interface is fantastic, providing a wide selection of easy-to-use controls.

Con's: It takes up a lot of your RAM, resulting in older computer slowing down noticeably -- which shouldn't be enough to detract from the unbelievable fun in store for you with this program.

Conclusion: This program makes for a highly effective online alternative to LEGO bricks. The program's complexity is a delight. As an added bonus, it's entirely free, meaning that it's definitely the best decision if you're not looking to pay for the unique designing experience of LEGO.