LEGO Digital Designer updates

vynsane

LEGO Digital Designer 4.1 was just released yesterday. Chief among the changes are the removal of the 'Creator' tab (and subsequently, that 'building mode') in the opening screen, and its replacement by the 'LEGO Universe' tab.

• The LU tab is now a less feature-packed version of the LDD Universe Mode in ver. 4.0, intended to build models from the game. It's unclear whether or not the intention is to build items that can be imported into LU, but some of the 'starter templates' are apparently items that appear in-game. It would be cool to see this become somewhat integrated with the game as improvements to both LU and LDD come down the pike - but this is merely conjecture.
  
• 
  The LDD Universe Mode from ver. 4.0, in turn, has been replaced by 'LDD Extended' mode. In 'LDD Extended', not only do you have access to a much larger palette of pieces, but you also have access to 'legacy' or out-of-production colors (like the original grays). To activate 'LDD Extended', check out the instructions over at EuroBricks (credit where credit is due). It will show up as a fourth tab on the opening screen, if done correctly.
  
• 
  There are new HERO Factory pieces available in DbM mode, as well as two new Pirate ship hull pieces and a bunch of Technic bits. The addition of Chrome Silver and Chrome Gold for Universe/Extended are the most notable additions to the color palette, but the palette itself has been refined for greater usability across all building modes.
  
• 
  New printed pieces are available, including (for the first time) printed legs (with mostly CMFs1 prints to choose from in Universe/Extended modes. DbM allows mainly Kingdoms prints) - apparently these prints were in the code in ver. 4.0, but the legs weren't set up to accept printing yet, so the change has been made to the legs, not the prints.
  

devilhead

Several pieces are also no longer availabe. The most notable being the base plates.

Matthew

Several pieces are now available. The most notable being the Coast Guard minifigure torso, 8x16, 16x16 plates and the horse. :-)

vynsane

Several pieces are also no longer availabe. The most notable being the base plates.

I hadn't noticed that - is that true even in 'LDD Extended' mode? I don't really use baseplates in my digital MOCs (dMOCs?) so it doesn't really effect me one way or the other, but I'm curious to see if it's only in certain 'themes'.

vynsane

I also noticed the addition of some new canopy pieces, including the new cool looking one from the Imperial V-Wing Fighter.

brickmatic

Thanks for posting this. I installed the software and the link to enabling LDD Extended mode was most helpful.

SonOfTheShire

If only it worked for Ubuntu...

bluemoose

^ have you tried running under WINE?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_(software)

SonOfTheShire

^ have you tried running under WINE?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_(software)

I've never been able to get Wine to work.

atkinsar

I've never been able to get Wine to work.

Strange, it works fine for me. How much are you drinking?

SonOfTheShire

I've never been able to get Wine to work.

Strange, it works fine for me. How much are you drinking?

Wait, you're supposed to drink the stuff?
That certainly explains a lot...

jwsmart

There have also been some palette changes to PAB - adding the Trans. Blue Bar 4L (Light Saber Blade), for one.

The official announcement of the palette update should show up here: http://designbyme.lego.com/en-us/news/default.aspx when they get around to it...