Introducing Interactive LEGO SMART Play Sets

LEGO has long been established as one of the premier toy brands that children love to play with and parents actively encourage them to use. The creativity it involves in building and coming up with ideas, as well as the fine motor skills used in construction, have made it an educational tool that children and adults alike love to play with.

The question is then; how does a nearly 100-year-old brand bring its classic toys into the modern era without losing the essence of what makes it so special? Well, the answer seems to be LEGO SMART Play.

What is LEGO SMART Play?

LEGO SMART Play is a system of tech filled smart bricks, smart tags and smart minifigures that can sense movement, sound and light in order to react to your play. So imagine if you build a speedy race car, it will make an awesome “nneeeeEEEOOOOOOOoooww” as it races around the room, or a family of ducks might gently quack away together. These are just some examples, but you can now experience play like never before with LEGO that plays back!

Launching with LEGO Star Wars themed sets, iconic characters, starship battles, location sounds and more can be brought to life with the interactions you have during play. Smart Tags tell sets and minifigures how they are supposed to interact with you, depending on the build. Once the figures or bricks have passed by the tag, you’re ready to go!

There are two types of SMART Play sets which are the SMART Play All-in-One sets and compatible sets. SMART Play All-in-One sets come with 1x SMART Brick, 1x SMART Brick charger, and a number of SMART Minifigures and SMART Tags that varies with the sets. SMART Brick and SMART Brick chargers are only included in the All-in-One starter sets.

Compatible sets will have SMART Minifigures and SMART Tags that can then be used in conjunction with SMART Bricks and SMART Brick chargers from All-in-One sets. You can then mix and match sets (sold separately) for a wide array of cool and quirky play options.

Each box will indicate whether it is an All-In-One set or a Compatible set. Look for the colour-coded icon lozenge – yellow for All-in-One and purple for Compatible sets.

How does the LEGO SMART Play system work?

SMART Bricks respond to SMART Tags and SMART Minifigures that are nearby, telling them how to interact when they are being played with. Simply pass them by a SMART Brick before play and it will be activated and ready to play back.

With a built-in play engine, SMART Bricks can then respond with light and sound, when twisted turned or tapped, so that they play in real time to however you’re using your new LEGO SMART Play set.

You’ll need a SMART Brick, SMART Tag and SMART Minifigure to get started but once activated there’s endless ways to play. Simply add a SMART Tag to your whirly creation and then place a SMART Brick near to the Tag.

Now, the Brick becomes the helicopter, reacting to movement as it makes chopper sounds or flashing warning lights when turned upside down. Hear it take off and land, and add a SMART Minifigure pilot to get their reactions to what’s going on.

Try the interactive tool on the LEGO SMART Play brand page or any of the SMART Play product pages to see more about how these new bricks work.

Are all LEGO sets compatible with the SMART Play system?

In short, Yes. Every LEGO set that has been made or will be made will be able to be combined with the LEGO SMART Play system, evolving play as we know it.

You’ll need to buy a SMART Play set to get a hold of the elements that make it SMART but then you can combine these with other kits to add to the already immense building and play opportunity that LEGO has, but now you can get it to play back with you.

Do children need an app to use the SMART Play system?

There are no apps and no screens necessary for SMART Play. At the core of SMART Play is still the essence of imagination that has made LEGO the enduringly fun toy it is today, that promotes creativity and encourages interactive play.

There is, however, a SMART Play app for parents so that they can manage and maximise SMART Play features. Update settings and play features through it and get handy help guides should you need them. It’s not a necessity but it’s there for you should you need a little extra support.

What is a SMART Play All-In-One set?

These are the starter sets that will contain everything you need to start your SMART Play experience right out of the box.

Featuring SMART Minifigures, Smart Tags and the SMART Bricks, they also come with a wireless SMART Charger to keep your toys topped up with juice.

The SMART Brick is core to it all, being the main thing that responds to how sets move and are played with, and the other SMART items simply tell it how it should react and play…cool, eh?

Check out our selection of brilliant LEGO and LEGO Smart Play sets and find fantastic new ways to bring classic fun to life!

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