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.

Registration now open for BrickCon 2009: Imagination in Motion! [News]

BrickCon logo by Adam HallyRegistration is now open for BrickCon 2009! BrickCon is a private convention and public exhibition for adult fans of LEGO, and will be held October 1-4, 2009 in Seattle, Washington at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall.

BrickCon is the longest continuously running LEGO fan convention in the US. Last year’s convention drew more than 250 attendees from all over North America and Europe, with a significant contingent from Billund, Denmark.

As in years past, I’ll encourage those of you who haven’t been to a LEGO convention (or BrickCon specifically) to check out our past coverage of Brickcon here on The Brothers Brick and look through the photos in the BrickCon group pool on Flickr.

Highlights of last year’s BrickCon included the ChiefLUG BSG Viper Fly-In, the announcement of 10193 Medieval Market Village, and our very own Zombie Apocafest 2008.

Beer at BrickConFor me, BrickCon is all about the people. Even though we’d been blogging together for nearly a year, I met Josh in person for the first time at BrickCon 2006. Similarly, Nannan and I met for the first time at BrickCon 2008.

LEGO conventions are also a good place to learn that LEGO fans don’t all look like their sig-figs in real life.

With an emphasis on a relaxed fan convention experience, BrickCon is a great way to sit back and get to know all those fellow LEGO fans you’ve only met online — an opportunity to talk about something other than LEGO, in some cases. That’s not to say that the public exhibition isn’t an awe-inspiring spectacle. BrickCon 2008 drew over 7,000 visitors in the 8 hours open to the public on Saturday and Sunday!

This year’s theme is “Imagination in Motion!” and looks to be even bigger and cooler. So, what’re you waiting for? Register today!

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 Builders of Tomorrow contest on WIRED GeekDad [w00t!]

Many of you out there first became an adult fan of LEGO when you bought LEGO for your kids (while some of us just never stopped).

LEGO Builders of Tomorrow setFor LEGO fans like you, the GeekDad blog from Wired.com is currently running the perfect contest — the LEGO Builders of Tomorrow contest.

To enter, just add a photo of you and your kids building together to the GeekDad photo pool on Flickr. The contest ends next Thursday, April 30.

There’s LEGO to be won, of course, but the winning family also gets their picture featured on an upcoming LEGO set. In LEGO fandom, that’s pretty close to immortality.

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.

VignetteBricks, Microbricks, MinilandBricks recruiting co-bloggers

Bruce NH sigfigWhether it’s in my list of 10 favorite LEGO blogs or as examples of the best LEGO blogs, Bruce H. operates several of the most influential and long-running LEGO blogs on the Web.

With VignetteBricks, MicroBricks, MinilandBricks, and now GodBricks, Bruce is looking for a little help from his fellow LEGO fans.

If you think you have what it takes to contribute to one of these blogs, head on over to Bruce’s call for co-bloggers to find out more.

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.

BrickMania releases custom Panzer IV Ausf. G. LEGO tank kit [News]

LEGO Blacksmith ShopThe most frequent question we get from LEGO builders is How do I get blogged? But for all of you out there who read The Brothers Brick to see what we builders do, one of your most common questions is “Where can I buy that?” The answer is usually “You can’t.”

Daniel Siskind of BrickMania was one of the first LEGO fans to create and sell custom LEGO sets of his own design, way back in 1999 or 2000. After a five-year hiatus, Dan recently began producing new custom kits.

The Panzer IV Ausf. G. tank kit from World War II comes in Afrikakorps tan, with a unique BrickArms prototype MG42 machine gun.

LEGO Panzer tank

Dan’s Panzer tank kit includes 690 pieces and sells for $99.95 with instructions on CD.

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 Star Wars 2009 7753 Pirate Tank and 7778 Midi-scale Millenium Falcon revealed on StarWars.com [News]

Apparently, StarWars.com is getting all the exclusive details about the upcoming 2009 LEGO Star Wars sets. I didn’t notice when I blogged 7754 Home One Mon Calamari Star Cruiser, but the site also has articles about 7753 Pirate Tank and 7778 Midi-scale Millenium Falcon.

From the Clone Wars animated TV series, 7753 Pirate Tank could be at home in the 2009 LEGO Space Police theme.

LEGO Star Wars 7753 Pirate Tank

The pirate figs (Hondo Ohnaka and Turk Falso, apparently) look unlike any other LEGO Star Wars minifigs I’ve ever seen.

LEGO Star Wars 7753 Pirate Tank minifigs

7753 Midi-scale Millenium Falcon is the third fourth scale in which the Millenium Falcon has been released, following 7190 and 4504 at minifig-scale, 4488 at mini-scale, and 10179 at UCS scale.

LEGO Star Wars 7778 Midi-scale Millenium Falcon box art

Read the interviews with Jens Kronvold Frederiksen in the articles about the Falcon and tank on StarWars.com.

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.

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.

LEGO Star Wars 7754 Home One Mon Calamari Star Cruiser box art

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

LEGO Star Wars 7754 Home One minifigs

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 logoAlthough 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:

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. ;-)

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.

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:

iconicon

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.

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.

Hispabrick Magazine 004 now available in English [News]

The latest edition of Hispabrick Magazine is now available.

Hispabrick Magazine 004

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!

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 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.

LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary

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.

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.

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:

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

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 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!

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.