LEGO have just passed on a series of images promoting the new series of award-winning board games, including Ramses’ Pyramid by Reiner Knizia. The microfigures are utterly adorable and the tile with stud in center should be a great piece for all builders.
March is apparently the new December — at least in terms of the plethora of LEGO contests happening at the same time.
From Bricks to Bothans has just announced the Podracer Challenge. The challenge is to create an original podracer (not one featured in Episode I or in the Expanded Universe) like the Pre-Classic Space and 3vil podracers featured in the graphic above.
The prizes:
LEGO Pirates fan site ForbiddenCove.com has just announced the Whale of a Tale Contest. Build an outlandish tale on a base no more than 32×32 studs, though there’s no restriction in height.
You could win one of these 2009 LEGO Pirates sets:
Classic-Pirates.com is hosting a new contest that challenges you to build places and locations from the LEGO Pirates universe within a 24×24 base.
Here are the prizes:
Read more about the Captain’s Quarters Contest on Classic-Pirates.com.
As some of you may know, this March (you know, starting tomorrow) marks the 30th anniversary of LEGO space sets. A group of fans is celebrating this in a big way, by unveiling a new Neo-Classic-Space creation every day for the entire month. Check it out, and don’t forget to keep an eye out for my own contribution sometime during the month.
Here’s the press release:
March 2009 sees the 30th anniversary of the original Classic Space sets from LEGO. Now, three decades on, it’s time for a celebration of spacey goodness at www.neoclassicspace.com.
Neo-Classic Space is a reimagining of the LEGO Classic Space range, using modern building techniques and parts. More than just inspired by the Classic Space sets, Neo-Classic Space is an extrapolation of the line into the 21st century and beyond. We aim to follow a carefully thought standard, which we feel is in keeping with the original designs.
The culmination of a top-secret project planned over many months, www.neoclassicspace.com will present a new model every day throughout March, many from builders you already know and love, some from new talent you may not have discovered.
This is only the beginning. It is time to retake space. We hope you’ll come along for the ride!
Troy Cobb worked with the model builders at LEGOLAND California to arrange a special sign on the Eiffel Tower (part of the Miniland Las Vegas display), asking his girlfriend Lacey Williams if she’d marry him.
Troy and Lacey are both LEGO fans who took a special trip to LEGOLAND California to celebrate Valentine’s Day and Lacey’s birthday. Naturally, Lacey said yes, and they plan to have LEGO cake-toppers at their wedding.
Read the full story on coloradoan.com. Thanks to everyone who sent us the link!
We’ve just received some exciting news from LEGO. It seems that they will be selling a limited edition black Mindstorms NXT kit. Here’s the press release:
LEGO MINDSTORMS 10 Year Anniversary Exclusive: The Black NXT Limited Edition.
Now you can be the proud owner of one of the Limited Edition Black NXT micro-controllers that we have produced to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of LEGO MINDSTORMS.
The first LEGO MINDSTORMS products came out in the year 1998 and have since then continued to bring fun and active building and programming experiences to millions of robotic builders across the world!
Only 1998 exclusive units will only be available through our online shop www.legoshop.com
(or) www.amazon.com
Why a Black NXT? Because it is cool! And looking around in the MINDSTORMS community we noticed that a Black NXT was high on the wish list among users. Also, talking to the MINDSTORMS Community Partners, the closed web forum of adult fans collaborating with the LEGO MINDSTORMS development team, it was very well received and suggested as a must-have!
Once you have bought and received your new Black NXT you will get access to additional materials like a special-made program for the Black NXT, a personal certificate of ownership, wallpapers, building instructions for special models.
Please note that this is an exclusive item in a limited edition: only
10001998 produced! – so, if you want to secure yours go online at www.amazon.com (or) www.legoshop.comThe LEGO MINDSTORMS Team
I must say, I find this to be pretty cool news. I think that the LEGO Mindstorms Black NXT Brick
I’m not sure why their press release says there will be 1998 made in one spot, and 1000 in another, but I’ll try to get an answer on that.
EDIT (AB): I’ve confirmed with LEGO that it’s 1998.
The LEGO Universe massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) first announced back in 2007 as being due in 2008 has now been pushed out to at least 2010:
The LEGO Universe team has decided to delay the game’s launch so that it gets the full attention of our company and fans when it makes it’s public debut. We have a ton of cool new products planned for release in 2009, and want to continue developing the game to make sure that LEGO Universe becomes a truly great game and LEGO experience.
Read the full story (and see a few new images like the one above) on the LEGO Universe website.
As LEGO said to Kotaku last week, the reason is apparently not because the software development is behind schedule. Rather, LEGO’s traditional products — you know, those little plastic bricks — are doing so well that the company doesn’t want the game to distract from that success.
Works for me.
In surprising post-Toy Fair news, 10194 Emerald Night just showed up on the LEGO Shop website.
The set appears to include several new parts, including large wheels (drivers? Tim?) unavailable to LEGO Train fans for many years except in the form of custom elements from Big Ben Bricks.
It’s unclear (to my untrained eyes, at least) whether this set represents the promised evolution in LEGO Trains after the demise of both 9-volt and RC trains.
UPDATE: And here’s the official word from LEGO (missed it earlier):
February 18, 2009 – In acknowledgement of the many fan blogs and posts in the last week we are writing to confirm that The LEGO Company will be launching the #10194 Emerald Night Train in late March / early April via LEGO Shop at Home and LEGO Brand Retail.
The #10194 will first be unveiled simultaneously at Brickfest PDX in Portland, Oregon and Wunderwelt Modellbau in St. Pölten, Austria on March 27 & 28, 2009.
Attached are approved marketing assets from The LEGO Company that help depict the details for this great new product. Also listed below is some brief product information with pricing for the #10194.
And to think there’s more………but we’re saving that for the fan events on March 27 & 28 as mentioned above.
Look for more information on the #10194 Emerald Night Train in the March 30th issue of the LEGO Shop at Home Catalog and online at www.LEGOshop.com.
#10194 – Emerald Night
Ages 14+
1,085 pieces
Pricing:
US $ 99.99
CA $ 129.99
AU $ 149.99
UK £ 68.50
DE € 89.99
UPDATE 2: And here are some pictures:
Pic 1, pic 2, pic 3, pic 4, pic 5, pic 6, pic 7, pic 8 and more details.
With piston-powered wheels, this train is an all-new LEGO® classic!
Here comes the Emerald Night! Build this incredible classic-styled train with loads of amazing details, from the steam locomotive with furnace to the opening tender and dining car with removable roof, opening doors and detailed interior. Measures 68 cm (27.2 in) long! Includes three minifigures, elements in rare colors and all-new large train wheels with piston motion!
This classically-styled train features a steam locomotive with furnace, opening tender, dining car with removable roof, opening doors and detailed interior!
- Train measures 27.2 inches (68cm) long!
- Lots of authentic touches including elements in rare colors and all-new large train wheels with piston motion!
- Includes 3 minifigures!
Following quickly on the announcement at Toy Fair 2009, 10195 Republic Dropship with AT-OT Walker is now available for pre-order from the LEGO Shop online.
$250 for about 1700 pieces, with two clone pilots and six clone troopers.
(Hat tip to Sjaak. Thanks!)
UPDATE: Another recent addition, Vintage Minifigure Collection Vol. 2:
The Brothers Brick got an invite to the LEGO Preview at Toy Fair 2009, but we just couldn’t make it. :-( The good news is that our pals from FBTB and BrickJournal are covering this important event.
Although we’ve seen quite a few of the late 2009 LEGO sets from the earlier Canadian toy fair, there are still some surprises in store for LEGO fans.
The big news — particularly among LEGO Star Wars fans — seems to be the announcement of 10195 Republic Dropship with AT-OT Walker, here being shown off by Erik Varzegi:
Other major LEGO Star Wars news includes a playset of Admiral Ackbar’s Home One (the result of fan voting back in May 2008), with these minifigs:
Personally, I’m most excited about the new Space Police sets, including 5971 Gold Heist:
In other news, LEGO and Disney have announced a deal to release LEGO sets based on three Disney movies: Toy Story, Cars, and Prince of Persia. (What, no LEGO Wall-E?)
Check out more photos from Ace Kim, Mike Crowley, and Joe Meno.
There are a lot of photos to go through, so let us know if you see something particularly cool we should highlight.
I’m tempted. Aren’t you? In addition to the Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon
Given that the Sand Crawler isn’t even available from LEGO anymore, this could be your last opportunity to get Jawas. Just sayin’. Thanks for the tip, Wes!
