All this week companies have been demonstrating, boasting and bluffing at the Consumer Electronics Show in Los Vegas. Steve Bronack has been there all week, looking around and I have not.

Yesterday Lego revealed some more about their long-delayed multiplayer online world. It is now promised to launch “sometime in 2010″. What’s more, they have released a series of screenshots, and a very impressive trailer, so there are reasons to believe that it will actually launch this year.

The trailer, and the complete range of screenshots are available at Joystiq, who declare themselves to be very impressed.

If this works as planned then it really should give Club Penguin, Tootsville and friends a run for their money. For one thing it includes an overall narrative. In an answer to a faq on the official site, Lego say,

Yes, the game features an overarching epic storyline about the origins of LEGO Universe and the minifigures that inhabit it. In the story of LEGO Universe, the minifigures can team up to quest together. If the teams are successful, they’ll uncover new game zones featuring original characters, more building opportunities, and undiscovered creative challenges!

At the same time, the usual children’s-world features are present and correct. You can make your character, build things, collect things, and socialise.

On the other hand, the release of the game has been promised every year since 1837, and it still remains in closed beta.