Last Friday the video announcement for the Exo-suit was posted, and now you can see the photo of the box art for the set and a comparison shot with Peter Reid’s original model. The set retails for $34.99 and is available August 1st. There is a highly limited supply, which means LEGO will not make more once the initial production sells out.
My fellow ‘Murrricans! We at The Brothers Brick hope you have all been enjoying a relaxing and safe Independence Day. As you digest your fine barbequed meats and drink some approximation to beer in preparation for the Final Detonation, let’s take look at some of the better holiday-themed LEGO creations that appeared today. America is known for its rich cultural diversity and freedom of speech, and today’s builds certainly reflect that…
On this day, some like to take a more serious stance, and look back at our nation’s founding:
Tyler Clites (legohaulic)
While some prefer to look a little less far back, and go the more popular route:
Chris McVeigh (powerpig)
While others decide to just be brutally honest:
Brailey (That WWII Guy)
And as an immigrant to this fine nation of ours, let me just close by saying: “God bless America, and oh crap I can’t understand your language and everything here scares me!”
The annual Fairy Bricks charity raffle has begun! For £1, you can purchase a raffle ticket through PayPal to win Lego products from autographed sets to the newest exclusives like the 10242 Mini Cooper. Fairy Bricks is a UK based charity that donates Lego sets to children’s hospitals across the world. Check out photos of their donations and learn more about this awesome charity on fairybricks.org.
It’s time again to get building for BrickCon in Seattle, Washington. Registration is now open for the this annual Pacific Northwest party, over the first weekend in October.
This year’s theme is Invasion. While LEGO themes are known to invade each other from time to time, this year it’s an outright expectation. In the upcoming weeks, we’ll be revealing more about what this theme means and how you can participate!
Please note that Early Bird registration runs through August 1–so get registered now to get the early bird price! You’ll of course be able to register after that at the regular price.
It’s not really a secret that our favorite LEGO convention is our home LEGO convention, so get yourself registered and come join us October 2-5, 2014!
With the announcement of 10242 Mini Cooper, we missed covering LEGO Idea’s announcement of their next set: 21110 Research Institute, based off of Ellen Kooijman’s Female Minifigure set.
LEGO sent Ellen an advance copy of the set, which she has revealed on her blog. She takes us step by step through the box art, the construction, and includes observations about her profession and the stories the vignettes tell.
I wanted to highlight, too, this fantastic telescope design for the astronomer. I am so excited for this set to come out!
There doesn’t seem to be word yet on pricing or when it will be available, though it appears to be on target for an August release.
LEGO has announced the release of a new product line called LEGO Fusion, which is a series of sets containing Lego pieces and a special Fusion brick that works with the camera on a mobile device to capture the creation and import it as a virtual model that one can play games and interact with. Each set retails for $34.99 and will be released in August 2014. Learn more fro the press release:
NEW YORK (June 19, 2014) – LEGO Systems, Inc., makers of the world’s leading construction toys, today introduced LEGO® FUSION, a play experience that combines traditional LEGO brick play with familiar app-based game themes. LEGO FUSION leverages new technologies—and children’s fascination with them—to create an entirely new way to engage in LEGO brick building and app game play for children ages 7 and up. Available later this summer, the LEGO FUSION collection will include four distinct titles: LEGO FUSION Town Master, LEGO FUSION Battle Towers, LEGO FUSION Create & Race and LEGO FUSION Resort Designer.
Each LEGO FUSION experience consists of a distinct set of LEGO bricks, a corresponding free downloadable app and the new FUSION capture plate, a small brick building plate with a printed design that enables a smart phone or tablet’s camera to identify the size and colors of the LEGO bricks built onto it. In response to game prompts, children build vertically in 2-D on the FUSION capture plate, enabling the app to ‘see,’ import and transform the creation into 3-D in the digital world.
“Children have always imagined their LEGO creations as immersive worlds which come to life for hours of role-play and adventure,” said Ditte Bruun Pedersen, senior design manager, LEGO Future Lab. “Recently, smart phones and tablets have become a popular platform for empowering game mechanisms that kids love. LEGO FUSION brings these two favorite play patterns together in an experience where real-life LEGO builds come to life in a virtual game, inspiring creativity, strategy, and the pride of creation.”
To Win, Step Away from the Screen
Once a child’s creation has been imported into the game, a series of challenges and interactions requires that players turn away from the device and return to the real world to use their LEGO bricks to build new solutions in order to move game play forward. Each game encourages this back-and-forth between physical and virtual, keeping children engaged in both worlds.
“In our research, we heard repeatedly from parents that they are constantly battling ‘zombie gaze,’ the experience when their children are immersed in their device screens for large blocks of time,” said Pedersen. “We developed LEGO FUSION with this challenge in mind, creating a play experience that keeps children entertained with the kind of app gameplay they love while giving real reasons to return to the brick pile to creatively build.”
Each LEGO FUSION product offers a distinct play experience. The four products launching this year are:
LEGO FUSION Town Master
In this simulation game, players create and rule their own LEGO town, first by building it with LEGO bricks, then by capturing it and importing it to the game. Children build everything from houses to a pizzeria, fire station and bike shop while completing errands and missions like catching robbers, fighting fires and skateboarding. To keep the minifigure citizens happy, players solve problems through physical building and earn points to gain access to more structures, and even run additional towns.
LEGO FUSION Battle Towers
Players build a tower and defend it against attack so they can rule the kingdom. First, players design the Battle Towers with real LEGO pieces, then capture them and import them to the game. Next, players choose tower defenders like wizards and archers and battle against evil warriors, skeleton armies, and more. If a tower is damaged in battle, players can repair the damage with a timed build with the game’s real LEGO bricks.
LEGO FUSION Create & Race
In this racing game, players get behind the wheel and virtually drive the cars that they create with real LEGO bricks. Once a custom vehicle is digitally designed, physically built, and imported to the game, it can be optimized for success in racing, demolition or stunts. Players learn that every brick shape and color on the vehicle matters for performance. Three themed courses offer endless challenges unlocked by physical LEGO builds, and children can even ghost race against friends to top the leaderboard.
LEGO FUSION Resort Designer
Players help the LEGO Friends design new vacation houses, shops and activities for Ambersands Beach. After building 2-D facades, capturing them and importing them to the game, players can design the interiors of 3-D digital structures, such as an aquarium, surf shop and beach houses. Children can unlock new levels and build more resorts by completing missions like rescuing dolphins, riding horses, surfing and other resort activities.
Beginning in September, LEGO FUSION will incorporate the ability for players to access their digital LEGO creations and game play anywhere. Using their LEGO ID, players can sign in on any compatible device and access their gallery and game play from within the LEGO FUSION app.
Developed by TT Games, makers of the best-selling LEGO video game franchise, the LEGO FUSION Town Master, Battle Towers, Create & Race, and Resort Designer app games are free for download from the Apple, Google or Samsung App Store for Apple iOS and Android.
LEGO FUSION Town Master, LEGO FUSION Battle Towers, and LEGO FUSION Create & Race will launch in August 2014; LEGO FUSION Resort Designer will launch in September 2014. Each will be available for $34.99 in LEGO Stores and Toys”R”Us stores in the U.S., as well as online at shop.LEGO.com and at toysrus.com.
A follow up to their fantastic 10220 Volkswagen T1 Camper Van, LEGO has unveiled the newest “little” brother (sister?) in their car family. Meet 10242 MINI Cooper. This little green beauty enjoys long drives on winding country roads and romantic picnics by sunset.
I absolutely loved the Camper Van, so I’m super stoked for this beauty. Gorgeous color aside, the model looks simply amazing!
Check out more photos on Flickr!
Here’s the official press release:
10242 MINI Cooper
Ages 16+. 1,077pieces.
Take this MINI Cooper for a nostalgic drive down memory lane!
US $99.99 – CA $119.99 – AU $149.99 – DE 89.99€ – UK £74.99 – DK 799.00 DKK
*Euro pricing varies by country. Please visit shop.LEGO.com for regional pricing.
Experience the iconic MINI Cooper first hand, with its classic lines, detailed interior and fun picnic theme.
Take the iconic MINI Cooper for a drive! This beautifully crafted LEGO® brick replica of the classic MINI Cooper Mk VII is full of authentic details, from the classic green and white color scheme with white wing mirrors and racing stripes, to the opening doors, hood and trunk, sporty fog lights, detailed engine and separate spare tire compartment. You can even remove the roof to access a tan colored interior with patterned seats, veneer-style dashboard, turning steering wheel, and moving gearshift and handbrake. And of course, no MINI Cooper would be complete without a picnic basket and blanket, the perfect accessories for a cozy day in the countryside!
• Features opening doors, hood and trunk, spare wheel in separate compartment, detailed engine and 2 fog lights.
• Accessories include a picnic basket, bottle and blanket for nostalgic picnic theme.
• Authentic replica of the MINI Cooper Mk VII.
• Classic green and white color theme with white wing mirrors and racing stripes.
• Lift the hood to reveal the detailed engine.
• Remove the roof and access the detailed interior.
• Go on a countryside picnic with this iconic classic!
• MINI Cooper measures over 4” (11cm) high, 9” (25cm) long and 5” (14cm) wide.
Watch one of the LEGO designers show off some of this set’s unique features and construction:
The winter 2014 LEGO Ideas results have been announced, and the next set will be the female minifigure set, which will be named “Research Institute.” Check out the video announcement below or read the full announcement on the LEGO Ideas blog.
In two weeks, AFOLs from around the world will be converging on the state of Illinois for Brickworld Chicago 2014 – the biggest, baddest, brickiest LEGO convention in the known universe!
The event takes place at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. The private AFOL convention runs from June 11th – 15th, while the public exhibitions are on Saturday 14th (10am – 4pm) and Sunday 15th (10am – 3pm). Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Kids 3 and under get in free.
For AFOLs attending the event, there is a wealth of fun and games lined up for you as always. But for those only visiting during public hours, don’t be downhearted, you’ll have access to tons of vendors ready to sell you all kinds of sweet LEGO-related goodies (custom parts, custom sets, the list is endless). Or while you’re in the Schaumburg area, pay a visit to the LEGOLAND Discovery Center.
Our good friends over at Beyond the Brick will be on site to film all the action, including builder interviews and a walkthrough of the entire display. If you’d like to get a copy of their DVD as a keepsake, and perhaps score some other one-of-a-kind goodies as well, go support their Kickstarter project right now! $20 is all it takes to secure your copy.
In fact, as a run-up to this year’s event, Joshua and Matthew recently interviewed Brickworld founder Bryan Bonahoom. Check out the episode below to find out about the amazing story behind how the Brickworld franchise got started, and how Bryan and his team pull off four conventions in four cities every year!
The Brothers Brick will also be in attendance at Brickworld Chicago this year. Brothers Chris, Simon, Carter and Iain (that’s me!) will be there to take your abuse. I will also be live tweeting all of the shenanigans and goings-on, for your amusement. And we’ll be giving away some swag! But to get it, you’ll have to find us first, and then say the secret pass phrase ;-)
Amazon is currently having a buy one get one 40% off promotion that includes Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, Star Wars and Castle themes. The promotion includes items already on sale. To qualify for the sale, you have to check out with just 2 items in your cart from the qualifying themes. The sale price will show up on the last page of check out. Below are some items worth noting and their sale price with the promotion applied:
LEGO Castle Forest Ambush ($6.39)
LEGO Star Wars Clone Troopers vs Droidekas 75000 ($8.63)
LEGO Star Wars AT-RT 75002 ($13.85)
LEGO Star Wars A-wing Starfighter 75003 ($15.35)
LEGO LOTR 79006 The Council of Elrond ($17.67)
LEGO Lord of the Rings 79012 Mirkwood Elf Army Building Kit ($20)
Lego Castle Dragon Mountain – 70403 ($34.63)
LEGO LOTR Battle at The Black Gate 79007 ($35.99)
LEGO Lord of the Rings 79014 Dol Guldur Battle ($41.26)
This weekend saw the grand opening of the Legends of Chima water park at LEGOLAND California. The layout and design of the park looks awesome. But instead of having to pore over a mere 2D map of the place, wouldn’t a brick-built 3D version be even more awesomer-rer? Well that’s what LEGOLAND master builder Joel Baker thought, so he designed one!
Joel was actually pool-side as he relayed some cool facts to us about the creation:
“This was built in one week by myself and four other master builders. It weighs 60 lbs and has roughly 55,000 pieces. It is currently part of a media tour and has made it’s way through several cities including New York, Boston, Texas, and Arizona. I hope it ends up in the park, as it would be our first brick built map – I believe the kiddos would enjoy figuring out where they are and where they want to go by pointing at LEGO instead of the usual (but still cool) paper!”
The next set from LEGO Minecraft depicts the dimension known as The End. It will be released in June and retails for $34.99. Here’s the product description:
Once you’ve equipped yourself for the ultimate battle, you’re ready to enter The End. The Ender Dragon is a fearsome foe, and you’d better be prepared for anything when you enter his domain. Now you can relive the adventure of The End with this LEGO micro-world set. The set also includes the Buildable Ender Dragon and Enderman Micromob figures.
Via The Brick Fan