Posts by Dave Schefcik (TBB News Contributor)

LEGO Ideas launches 21322 Pirates of Barracuda Bay marking the return of classic pirates [News]

LEGO Ideas has revealed its latest fan-inspired set, 21322 Pirates of Barracuda Bay. The impressive 2,545-piece set features a shipwreck island teeming with eight minifigure pirates. As an added bonus, the set can be re-built into a fully working pirate ship. It will sell for US $199.99 | CAN $259.99 | UK £179.99 starting April 1st.

We’ve already gotten a hands-on look in our review of Pirates of Barracuda Bay. Continue reading this article for all the official product images and press release.

Click to get a closer look at the official images of Pirates of Barracuda Bay

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LEGO unveils three buildable Star War helmets including a TIE Fighter Pilot, Stormtrooper and Boba Fett [News]

LEGO has unveiled three new buildable Star Wars helmets inspired by “epic villains” from a galaxy not too far away. Two of the helmets featuring a Stormtrooper and Boba Fett were made public last week, and today LEGO is revealing a third in the set featuring a sleek black TIE Fighter Pilot’s helmet.

The sets are intended for adult collectors with a recommended age of 18+ with dark, upscale box art reminiscent of LEGO’s Ultimate Collector’s Series (UCS) line Star Wars products. The sets contain anywhere from 625 to 724 pieces, though each is priced the same at US $59.99 | CAN $79.99 | UK £54.99. The collectible helmets are available for preorders online in the US today (tomorrow for everywhere else), with delivery and general availability beginning April 19 ahead of the “May the Fourth” holiday.

Take a look at close-up photos of the new LEGO Star Wars buildable helmets

Everything you want to know about LEGO Super Mario [Feature]

LEGO and Nintendo have revealed their four-year partnership in the making, showing off LEGO Super Mario to the world. The product line, arriving later this year, features an interactive LEGO Mario figure who collects coins in levels created with physical LEGO bricks. But how did the partnership come to be, how does Mario work, and what Easter eggs are hidden throughout the buildable levels?

The Brothers Brick sat down with Jonathan Bennink, the Design Manager at the LEGO Creative Play Lab and Digital Design Lead for LEGO Super Mario. who gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming product line. We asked him the questions you wanted to know the answers to, so read on to find out all about LEGO Super Mario.

Read our behind-the-scenes interview with the designer who brought LEGO Super Mario to life

LEGO and Nintendo reveal new Super Mario product line [News]

LEGO and Nintendo have revealed a new Super Mario product line that features an interactive LEGO Mario figure who collects coins in levels created with physical LEGO bricks. The partnership with Nintendo was teased earlier this week and will bring an entirely new kind of game experience based on everyone’s favorite plumber. The oversized Mario figure contains a screen and speaker and reacts to the level built around it.

The press release from LEGO calls the new lineup “neither a video game nor a traditional LEGO brick-based set,” letting kids create their own gaming environment like Super Mario Maker except with physical bricks. LEGO Super Mario will be available “later this year” with no specific date mentioned. (EDIT: Read our exclusive interview with one of the designers of LEGO Super Mario for more info.)

Click to get a closer look at photos and video of LEGO Super Mario

Leaving LEGO Masters: An interview with the fourth team to leave [Feature]

LEGO Masters has aired its fifth episode last week where contestants built a mega city with a twist. The Brothers Brick had the opportunity to sit down with them and talk about their experience, the broader LEGO community, and if they ever went through a “dark age.”

In our interview, the team talks about which challenge they wished they could have done and how future teams can learn from failure. If you haven’t yet watched the episode, be warned that there will be spoilers!

Read our interview with these eliminated LEGO Masters contestants

Leaving LEGO Masters: An interview with the third team to leave [Feature]

LEGO Masters has aired its fourth episode last week where contestants had to mash-up movie genres, though sadly another team went home. The Brothers Brick had the opportunity to sit down with them and talk about their experience, how family experiences shaped their outlook on life, and what the reaction has been to appearing on the reality show.

In the interview conducted jointly with BZPower and True North Bricks, the team talks about which challenge they would have been awesome at and what they would have done differently. If you haven’t yet watched the episode, be warned that there will be spoilers!

Read our interview with these eliminated LEGO Masters contestants

Your guide to the 23 new LEGO sets for March 2020, including Dots, Fiat, Marvel and more [News]

A new month means new LEGO sets are now available, so here is your TBB New LEGO Set Guide for March 2020. There are 23 new items available (much less than the 153 sets from January but more than the 12 sets from February). New items include the entire new Dots lineup, Fiat 500, Marvel Black Window and Spiderman sets, a few minifigure accessory packs, an Easter seasonal set, and Mickey and Minnie key chains among others.

LEGO is also offering a unique gift-with-purchase to celebrate 40 years of LEGO trains: 40370 Steam Engine. The set will be available March 1st to 15th while supplies last with purchases more than US $99 | UK £99.

See the entire March 2020 wave of new LEGO sets now available

LEGO’s newest Creator Expert vehicle revealed as the Italian classic Fiat 500 [News]

One of the best things that have happened to the LEGO Creator Expert theme over the previous decade is the introduction of large scale vehicle sets. It all started with a fantastic 10220 Volkswagen T1 Camper Van set in 2011. Soon we got a taste of iconic British motorcars with 10242 MINI Cooper MK VII and even got behind the wheel of the charged version of 10265 Ford Mustang. Today, LEGO invites all car enthusiasts on a road trip down the Amalfi Coast with the newest addition to the Creator Expert garage, 10271 Fiat 500 set. The set consists of 960 pieces and will retail for the price of US $89.99 | CAN $129.99 | UK £74.99; it will be available directly from LEGO Stores & LEGO.com from March 1, 2020.

Click here to learn all the details about the new Creator Expert set…

Leaving LEGO Masters: An interview with the second team to leave [Feature]

LEGO Masters has aired its third episode last week, and sadly another team went home. The Brothers Brick had the opportunity to sit down with them and talk about their experience, how to maintain a positive outlook under stress, and what the reaction has been to appearing on the reality show.

In the interview conducted jointly with Brickset, BZPower and True North Bricks, the team talks about how all the contestants felt like a family, what challenge they would have been awesome at, and what advice they have for contestants on LEGO Masters Season 2. If you haven’t yet watched the episode, be warned that there will be spoilers!

Read our interview with these eliminated LEGO Masters contestants

Portland’s biggest LEGO convention, Bricks Cascade 2020, is next weekend [News]

Portland’s premier LEGO convention, Bricks Cascade, is returning to the Oregon Convention Center next weekend. On February 29th and March 1st, builders from around the country (including several LEGO Masters contestants) will showcase thousands of amazing LEGO creations. There will be activities for kids of all ages including play areas, car racing, and photo opportunities. Vendors will also be selling minifigures, rare LEGO sets, LEGO-themed jewelry, custom gifts, and more.

Tickets are $11 for an individual day pass or a $40 for a family four-pack day pass (kids under 3 are free). For the extremely excited LEGO fans out there, two-day passes are available online as well. Tickets are available either at the door, select Safeway locations or online. The show hours are 10am to 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

The Brothers Brick is a proud sponsor of Bricks Cascade.

LEGO Spider-Man 76151 Venomosaurus Ambush unveiled at Toy Fair New York, complete with Spider-Ham [News]

LEGO unveiled one additional set yesterday at Toy Fair New York, LEGO Spider-Man 76151 Venomosaurus Ambush. The 640-piece set features a Venomized tyrannosaurus, a Spider-Buggy, and four minifigures including Spider-Man, Spider-Ham, Iron Spider and Venom.

LEGO requested that pictures of the set not be published until today, hence the confidential marking on the box. The set will retail for US $79.99 beginning June 1st.

See all the close-up photos of the Vanomosurus Ambush

LEGO wins three Toy of the Year awards at Toy Fair New York 2020 [News]

Yesterday at Toy Fair New York, the prestigious Toy of the Year (TOTY) awards were handed out, and LEGO took away a total of three coveted prizes including Construction Toy of the Year, Specialty Toy of the Year, and STEM/STEAM Toy of the Year. The Brothers Brick wishes a heartfelt congratulations to The LEGO Group and especially to the designers, creative team and unsung heroes behind these sets.

The Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards (also known as the “Oscars” of the toy industry) are presented annually to the top toys, games, and properties of the year. Administered by The Toy Association, the awards program supports the philanthropic work of The Toy Foundation, which delivers new toys to children in need.

Click to see each LEGO set that won a 2020 Toy of the Year award