Category Archives: News

Stay current on the latest news and information about LEGO, from sales & deals to new set announcements. We also cover LEGO events and conventions all over the world.

StarWars.com interviews 7754 Home One Mon Calamari Star Cruiser designer Jens Kronvold Frederiksen [News]

We first saw prototypes of LEGO Home One at Toy Fair 2009 a couple months ago, but StarWars.com has an interview with Jens Kronvold Frederiksen, who designed the upcoming LEGO Star Wars set 7754 Home One Mon Calamari Star Cruiser.

The article also includes our first look at high-resolution shots of the box art and minifigs.

In fact, Jens tells StarWars.com that “all the mini-figures except the A-wing pilot are brand new!”

Read the full interview on StarWars.com. For those of you wondering what a “Toys R Us Exclusive” means, it just means that TRU is the only store other than the LEGO Shop online and local LEGO Stores that will carry the set.

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO Rock Band game confirmed for Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 3, & DS; due holiday 2009 [News]

LEGO Rock Band logo Although LEGO Rock Band has been rumored since January, with a major leak earlier this month, the game was nothing more than speculation. A press release today, however, confirms that LEGO Rock Band is very real.

LEGO Rock Band Guitarist

The console versions will be co-developed by TT Games and Harmonix, while the Nintendo DS version will be developed by TT Games, Harmonix, and Backbone — all for release during the 2009 holiday season.

Naturally, players will be able to customize their little plastic rock stars, as well as support staff like roadies, managers, and the ubiquitous entourage. Interpret “entourage” how you will, but I plan on making a bunch of minifig groupies that look like they staggered off of the Rock of Love bus.

The press release states that the game will feature “brilliant chart-topping songs and classic favorites suitable for younger audiences,” and goes on to list several:

Blur: “Song 2”
Carl Douglas: “Kung Fu Fighting”
Europe: “The Final Countdown”
Good Charlotte: “Boys and Girls”
Pink: “So What”

What, no Iron Maiden or Black Sabbath? Claims to suitability for “families, tweens and teens” makes me think we won’t see the same sort of set lists I love from Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, but I hope having TT Games involved will ensure the same level of excellence we’ve experienced in the LEGO Star Wars and LEGO Indiana Jones video games.

As alluded to in the press release, the list of parties involved in this game is mind-blowingly complex:

TT Games
The LEGO Group
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
MTV Games
Harmonix Music Systems
Backbone Entertainment
Foundation 9 Entertainment

Click the thumbnails below for larger versions of screen captures from the game:

: LEGO Rock Band Guitarist

: LEGO Rock Band Singer

: LEGO Rock Band Singer

: LEGO Rock Band Drummer

: LEGO Rock Band logo

You can read the full press release on Business Wire.

Via Joystiq, Kotaku, PC World, and just about every other tech/gadget site out there, with hat-tips to about five thousand of our readers. Hey, we can’t always be the ones to break major LEGO news. ;-)

First high-res pic of 8038 The Battle of Endor [News]

UPDATE: 8038 The Battle of Endor is now available from the LEGO Shop online.

Chuck Citrin has uncovered a high-resolution picture of the forthcoming LEGO Star Wars set 8038 The Battle of Endor on Kastor’s Korner:

When we say high-res, we’re talking 3666 x 2531, so there’s a lot to take in — not least of which is Leia’s new hair, printed Ewoks, and some very cool torsos on the Rebel troopers.

Hispabrick Magazine 004 now available in English [News]

The latest edition of Hispabrick Magazine is now available.

Hispabrick Magazine 004 includes:

Coverage of events like the Hispabrick expo and Japan Weekend in Barcelona.
How to build LEGO trees
Interview with Marta Tantos, Design Manager at LEGO’s Concept Lab
Interview with Steven Marshall
How minifigs shop for new clothes

Check out Hispabrick Magazine 004 on HispabrickMagazine.com today!

LEGO Star Wars Visual Dictionary now available for pre-order [News]

A new Dorling Kindersley book called LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary is now available for pre-order from Amazon.com.

Available September 21, 2009, the book will be 96 pages long, and will include an exclusive LEGO Star Wars minifig. Here’s the full description:

In true DK style, LEGO® Star Wars™: The Visual Dictionary elucidates, illuminates, and excites even the most discerning LEGO Group, Star Wars™, and minifigure fans around the world. Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Yoda, Luke Skywalker, and more are brought to life with dozens of little-known facts and hundreds of photos, as are accessories, vehicles, weapons, and even the Death Star! Learn about the history, manufacture, and construction of the minifigures of the Star Wars galaxy, and come away a LEGO® Jedi Master.

Amazon.com is selling LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary for 32% off the cover price.

Massive LEGO Shop sale includes LEGO Star Wars, Mars Mission, more [News]

Just in time to add regular LEGO sets to your reduced-price Pick A Brick order, the LEGO Shop online is holding a fairly huge sale, with many items 50% off or more.

LEGO Star Wars 10186 General Grievous™ is down to $30 from $90:

5587 LEGO® Basic Bricks with Fun Figures: The perfect gift for those friends and coworkers who constantly tell you, “It’s so hard to get LEGO sets without all those specialized parts these days!” ($10 down from $20.)
5598 Dino Valley: Perfect for all your meatpunk creations. ($20 down from $50.)
7646 ETX Alien Infiltrator and 7649 MT-201 Ultra-Drill Walker: Okay, so the Mars Mission sets weren’t perfect, but this is your chance to get some great minifigs (not the aliens), white, orange, and black elements on deep discount.

Sharks with frickin’ laser beams attached to their heads are $10 off in LEGO Agents 8633 Mission 4: Speedboat Rescue:

And don’t forget that there are some awesome new sets from the LEGO Shop, too. 10194 Emerald Night should be shipping soon, and 10195 Republic Dropship with AT-OT Walker is now available.

Check out all of the discounted LEGO sets now!

LEGO reduces online Pick A Brick prices [News]

Due to recent concerns over the drastic price hike of LEGO’s online Pick A Brick prices, the company has slashed the overmarked price tags while keeping the increased selection. Here is the official word from LEGO:

Dear LEGO fans,
Based on all the feedback over the past week regarding our new Pick A Brick elements and pricing we will reduce the pricing on LEGO Pick A Brick elements.

There were good reasons behind our decision to raise prices of this relatively operationally complex Pick A Brick service. However, over the last week we have realised, thanks to you, that it was unacceptable to raise the prices so steeply without notice. We have acted quickly and have taken the decision to reduce the pricing on LEGO Pick A Brick elements. The prices cannot return to the original 2008 level but the increases are now much smaller. We are pleased to now offer you the biggest, most comprehensive assortment ever including:
– More colours
– Most recent doors and windows are now available in PAB and MOD
– More longer beams to enable larger constructions
– More accessories (such as hats, wigs and mini figure tools)
– More mini-figs (now with girl and child (short legs))
– More cool tires and rims

We hope to welcome you back to Pick A Brick soon.

Your LEGO team

And with that, it’s time to shop!

New 2009 BrickArms items include Bazooka, MGL, machete, Lewis gun, Wild West revolver, & more [News]

BrickArms has just introduced the first wave of 2009 custom minifigure guns and accessories for sale in four different colors matching LEGO’s palette. Check out all 14 new items at brickarms.com!

We’ll be doing a full review of these new items shortly. In the meantime, you can read more about the 2009 BrickArms accessories and see pictures of prototype versions in our preview of the 2009 Brickarms Bazooka, MGL, Lewis gun, and more.

PLUG announces exhibition in Lourinhã, Portugal, April 27 – May 3

The Portuguese LEGO Users Group (PLUG) is planning an event called An Adventure in the World of LEGO, an exhibition held in Lourinhã, Portugal from April 27 – May 3.

PLUG (Portuguese LEGO Users Group) will organize a major Exhibition – “Uma Aventura no mundo do LEGO” (An Adventure in the World of LEGO).

It will be held in Lourinhã, 63km northwest of Lisbon, in a Hockey Club Pavilion (something like 8.600 sqf or 800 sqm), between April 27th and 3rd of May, 2009.
Lourinhã is also know for its Jurassic findings and is considered as the Dinosaurs capital in Portugal. Thus the inspiration for the event poster and some exposed dioramas.

From Monday until Thursday, between 9am and 6pm for schools – it is expected that the event will attract around 5,000 young attendees – and between 8:30pm and 11pm, for general public. Friday and Saturday, between 9am and 11:30pm. Sunday, between 9am and 6:30pm.
PLUG will present more than fifteen thematic tables of MOCs and LEGO Sets, including City, Town´80s, Star Wars, Western, Adventurers, Castle, Classic Space, Model Team, Creator, Bionicle and TECHNIC.

Besides the exhibition, there will be numerous activities, like several types Sets building and contests between PLUG members or visitors.
In the end, there will be also a trip to LEGOLAND Windsor for two adults and two children, to raffle among visitors.

Just for you to know, Portugal is a country on the Iberian Peninsula, the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south, and by Spain to the north and east.

LEGO Wants Fan input on the next City Set [News]

Big news for fans of the LEGO City line. The company is soliciting fan input on the upcoming line. It sounds pretty exciting to me. I’ve also tried the URL provided by LEGO, and it doesn’t work yet. They say we can start voting tomorrow, April 3. I, for one, will be there. Here’s the press release from LEGO:

The Future of LEGO® CITY Lies With the People

-Polls open for excited fans to vote on proposals for expansion of LEGO CITY in 2010-

LEGO CITY (April 2, 2009) – Architects and planners of LEGO CITY are at odds over which section of the booming metropolis should be developed next. After a Town Hall meeting was held on April 1, fraught with debate and indecision, CITY officials will open the polls to let residents solve the dilemma. The future of LEGO CITY is up for vote starting Friday, April 3 at Toysrus.com/LEGOvote.

Parks and Rec vs. D.O.T.
Sociologists and environmentalists are rallying around the LEGO CITY Parks and Recreation Board’s plans to create a new CITY SQUARE that focuses on encouraging active play, family togetherness, resident interaction and open green spaces as a means of making LEGO CITY attractive to potential residents and business owners. Details of the new City Square have not yet been released.

LEGO CITY’s Department of Transportation officials submitted two proposals for review and decision. The first, a PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION CENTER, fosters more use of public transit and reduces traffic on the roads. The second, a TRUCK STOP to provide rest and comfort for truckers, is badly needed as LEGO CITY’s industry and commerce growth rates are sending an increasing number of large trucks in and out of the CITY limits. Neither plan outlined specific details.

CITY officials believe all three of the proposals hold merit and could be implemented with great attention to detail and fun.

Call to Action
Anyone with a vested interest in the future of the LEGO CITY is encouraged to log onto Toysrus.com/LEGOvote to help select the next phase of development. From April 3 through April 24, voters will find information and instructions about casting their ballots. Once the polls are closed and a theme is selected, CITY officials and Toys“R”Us executives may foster dialogue with residents over the specifics of the winning proposal. In 2010, public opinion will reign supreme when the new set launches in August exclusively at Toys“R”Us and LEGO stores nationwide.

“Generations of children of all ages have been building cities since LEGO bricks appeared 51 years ago,” said Søren Torp Laursen, president, LEGO Systems, Inc. “To achieve our goal of incorporating more consumer insights and wishes to our LEGO products and experiences, we’re once again partnering with Toys“R”Us to collect public opinion and comments to pick a theme that will help inspire kids around the world as they continue the city building tradition.”

Power to the People
This is the second consecutive year that LEGO fans have been asked to help choose a theme for an exclusive set in partnership with Toys“R”Us. In 2008, fans chose the LEGO Star Wars™ The Home One™ Mon Calamari Star Cruiser™ set, which will be released later this year to mark the 10th Anniversary of LEGO Star Wars.

# # #

The LEGO Group is a privately held, family-owned company, based in Billund, Denmark. It was founded in 1932 and today the group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of play materials for children. The company is committed to the development of children’s creative and imaginative abilities through its products, which can be purchased in more than 130 countries. Visit www.LEGO.com
LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the LEGO Group. © 2009 The LEGO Group.

LEGO Pick A Brick price increases on LEGO Shop at Home [News]

The Pick A Brick at LEGO Shop at Home has increased its parts selection from 1000 to 1496. On the other side of the coin, prices for these parts have increased by up to 300%. Is this all a joke? For once I hope not, but see for yourself.

Pictures from BrickFest 2009

The big news from BrickFest 2009 may be more details about 10194 Emerald Night, but there’s more to come in the next few days. ;-)

In the meantime, attendees have begun uploading photos of displays and events.

Bill Ward already has 160+ photos online, while Mark Neumann and PurirideVry have uploaded quite a few as well.

The BrickFest pool is also getting refreshed with this year’s photos, so be sure to check it out — and add your photos if you haven’t!