CES 2010 kicks off tomorrow at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and NetDevil has announced that the convention will mark a major milestone for LEGO Universe. According to a press release, "LEGO Universe is coming to life at CES 2010 with hands-on demos, beta sign ups, and the debut game trailer." This is the first time that the hands-on demos will be made available.

In case you missed it, we recently got the chance to check out a demonstration of LEGO Universe, and it definitely looks like fun. You can check out our in-depth preview and key facts article for more information. The MMO is scheduled to launch in the second half of 2010. Keep reading after the jump for the full CES press release.

BILLUND, DENMARK - January 5, 2010

LEGO® Universe is coming to life at CES 2010 with hands-on demos, beta sign ups, and the debut game trailer. Booth visitors can also meet LEGO fans helping to co-create the game alongside the professional development team. The first MMOG – massively-multiplayer online game – based on the LEGO play experience, LEGO Universe will launch on the PC during the second half of 2010.

CES takes place in the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 7-10, 2010, and LEGO Universe will be in North Hall, booth #5421. This is the first time that hands-on demos will be made available.

With a creative and building focus, LEGO Universe invites players to explore, battle, make friends, and flex their imaginations with the brick in a vibrant online world. Developed by The LEGO Group and NetDevil, LEGO Universe is a family-friendly online game, appropriate for players aged eight and above. The LEGO brick lies at the center of the experience, and several levels of building are available, from simple gameplay-oriented challenges all the way up to sophisticated brick-by-brick building.

Co-creation with the LEGO fan community is an important element of the development process, and a group of adult fans known as LUPs (LEGO Universe partners) are working alongside the professional team to build content for LEGO Universe. Representatives from the LUP program will be in the CES booth to discuss co-creation and demonstrate building tools.

To learn more about LEGO Universe, please visit www.LEGOuniverse.com.