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.

[News] LEGO to Try Their Hand at New MMO Based on Collectible Minifigs

Today Funcom announced that it has entered a partnership with LEGO to create a new massively-multiplayer-online game. This time around it’s based on the phenomenally popular collectible Minifigures, which LEGO has been licensing out with surprising frequency, with them now appearing on everything from suitcases to pencil carriers and lunchboxes. Funcom’s most recognizable game to date was the dubiously successful Age of Conan MMORPG, which like nearly all MMOs that are not owned by Blizzard, withered away quietly to the deserts of free-to-play a short time after release. Funcom touts that the game will “focus on maximum accessibility,” which doesn’t bode well for sustaining the long-term interest and depth required to support such an expensive endeavor as an MMO necessitates. I am curious, however, about what sort of plot and world Funcom intends to tease out of what is, essentially, simply a random collection of figures. The press release is scarce on details, but that’s to be expected this early in development:

LEGO® Minifigures are the inhabitants of an unimaginable number of spectacular creations put together by both kids and grown-ups over the past several decades. Whether it is a knight in shining armor, a brave firefighter or just an oddball in a gorilla suit, these figures breath life into elaborately constructed cities, castles and even space stations around the world.

I do sincerely hope that this game will be more successful than LEGO’s last ill-fated foray into the world of MMOs, but the MMO market is notoriously hard to get even a foothold in, much less create a rousing success.

See the full press release from Funcom here.

via RockPaperShotgun.

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Videos and interviews from Brickworld Chicago 2012

Josh from A Look at Lego posted several videos on YouTube containing interviews and builders talking about their creations. Below is one that showcases the larger displays at the convention. Check out the entire YouTube playlist to see what else is featured.

Brickworld 2012 Chicago Wrap Up

This past Sunday concluded this year’s Chicago Brickworld, and I’ve finally recovered and rested up a bit from the trip (and subsequent cold). This was only my second Lego convention, and I think it’s safe to say I’m hooked. The convention space at the Westin hotel was enormous. I’m sure many of you will have already seen the video walk-through that Nannan and I did of the three display rooms, which runs over 45 minutes and still isn’t comprehensive. Evidently they’re looking at moving to an even larger space next year that can accommodate all of the displays in a single room, which would be quite something. Unlike Brickcon, the other convention I’ve attended, the majority of the displays are arranged by builder, and not theme. I think there’s a lot of merit to both ways–while it’s awesome seeing huge tables full of sci-fi MOCs, it’s also quite fun to see all the different sorts of things a single person builds.

It was great fun getting to meet the people behind the avatars of so many great builders, such as fellow TBB’er Nannan and his counterpart in perpetrating unusually large dioramas Tyler Clites, LDM, and Si-MOCs, among many, many others. One of the highlights for me was a Saturday night unscheduled M-Tron building competition (generously organized and judged by a great guy whose name escapes me currently). After looking at so many terrific MOCs for three days straight, I was itching to build, and with 90 minutes and a large and hilariously haphazard collection of pieces, about a dozen of us sat down and pounded some mean MOCs out.

There were too many fantastic MOCs (including the one featured in the previous post) to possibly highlight them all, so I’ll just conclude by saying that you should definitely check out the Brickworld flickr pool, and even better, attend next year and meet lots of other great LEGO fans and see the stuff in person.

Canberra Brick Expo – July 14th-15th

A LEGO event for people in and around the Canberra region.

Canberra Brick Expo to start July 14th at The Hellenic Club in Canberra

Thousands of LEGO fans are heading to Canberra this July. The annual Canberra Brick Expo is on from the 14th to 15th July.

At Brick Expo this year:

See Australia’s tallest LEGO model built by Ryan McNaught, Australia’s LEGO Certified Professional

Witness an intergalactic Star Wars™ battle, LEGO slot car racing and a vast range of exhibits from around Australia

Mingle and connect with thousands of LEGO fans

Specialist authorised LEGO resellers on site with a large range of unique and hard to find LEGO sets

Catch inspiring LEGO movies in the brick cinema

Take part in an engaging and inspirational VIP dinner with LEGOLAND master model builder, Gary McIntire

“We have an amazing Brick Expo planned for this year, and are so excited to be able to share the fun and creativity of LEGO with the community, as well as raise money to help kids in need at the Canberra Hospital,” said David Boddy, President of Brick Expo.

Changes have been made to the 2012 event. “After such an overwhelming response in 2011, we have decided to sell tickets online in timed sessions” said Boddy. People wanting tickets should visit www.brickexpo.com.au and follow the link to the ticketing site. Proceeds from ticket sales go to support the purchase of much needed equipment at the Canberra Hospital children’s ward.

Further info at www.brickexpo.com.au

Brickworld 2012 Guided Tour

For those who couldn’t make it to Brickworld in Chicago this past weekend, Chris and I shot a video of us walking through the entire exhibit and highlighting some MOCs. Our goal was to bring you as close to the convention as we could, and we welcome your feedback to improve our future coverage of the events. Grab some snacks and enjoy!

Registration now open for BrickCon 2012 in Seattle [News]

Registration is now open for BrickCon 2012, October 4th through 7th, 2012 in Seattle (“our fair city”), Washington.

As always, the private convention runs a full four days, from Thursday through Sunday. The public exhibition happens on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for both are available through BrickCon.org.

And as we’ve done every year since 2008, The Brothers Brick will be organizing a collaborative display. Enough people said things like, “Oh, now I get it! You gonna do it again next year so I can contribute?” after seeing our Numereji 2421 layout that we’ve decided to say “Yes!” and try it again this year. More details to follow over the course of the next few weeks.

HURRY... HURRY... HURRY...

Brickfete

Janey “Red Brick” Gunning asked us to share this message about Brickfete :)

Last chance! Don’t delay. This means YOU!
You have just one week to register for the biggest and best (and only) CANADIAN AFOL Convention!

Aside from seeing all the cool LEGO creations and meeting all the
awesome builders… attending Brickfete gets you so SO MUCH MORE!!
Including access to all our games and activities!!!

You can look forward to our Auction, Build Challenges, Brick Trivia,
Various Contests (such as Sugar Pie, Pimp My Moose, Custom Fig,
Miniland Figure, Cube Dude, Life of George, Speed Build, Speed Sort
and Heroes), plus Dirty Brickster and his dirtier little brother,
Dirty MOCster.

You are invited to play in the “Look What I Made!” free build area or
enter (or watch) our Mindstorms & IR/RC Games (such as Fire Fighting,
Pit of Despair and Techball).

But THATS NOT ALL… we have raffles at both Opening & Closing
Ceremonies, presentations, our very own keynote speaker (Waves at
Kevin.)

Plus if you act now! Your very own Brickfete engraved brick and other
event bag goodies.

Don’t delay in booking, operators are standing by now!
www.brickfete.com/AFOL/event

New LEGO Exclusive – Monster Fighters 10228 Haunted House

This new addition to the Monster Fighters theme is due out from LEGO Shop at Home in September, and, frankly, I can’t wait. This model looks great! I bet you could plop it down next to the Cafe Corner series of buildings, and it’d fit in perfectly (though it might bring neighboring property values down). Not only is it a cool design, but it looks chock full of great parts, including zombie heads on the columns!

Without further ado, here’s the text from LEGO:

10228 Haunted House
Ages 14+. 2,064 pieces.
US $179.99 CA $199.99 DE 149.99 € UK 119.99 £ DK 1499 DKK
Enter the Haunted House at your peril!
The crooked Haunted House is home to the scariest ghosts and monsters. Tremble in fear as you open the gate, go weak at the knees as you step onto the porch and gasp in horror at the fireplace, kitchen, office, folding staircase, bedroom, potion room, music room and collection of other creepy objects. Dare you enter the Haunted House?!
• Add to your LEGO® Monster Fights Collection with the first officlal LEGO® Haunted House!
• Includes 6 minifigures: 2 glow-in-the-dark ghosts, Vampyre, Vampyre’s Bride, Zombie chef and butler
• Features unique ‘crooked’ design featuring boarded up windows and working front gate.
• Haunted House opens to reveal detailed interior with 3 floors.
• First floor features fireplace that swings open and displays a ship in a bottle on the mantle.
• Cook up a ghoulish meal with the Zombie chef in the kitchen complete with old-style stove, jars and table.
• Write letters from the Vampyre’s haunted office.
• Pull the lever hidden in the chimney to release the drop down staircase and access the top floor.
• Top floor features gramophone, records and newspaper LEGO® elements.
• Customize the Haunted House with new stickers for wall hangings, spider webs and curtains.
• Measures 15.4” (39cm) high, 9.4” (24cm) wide and 7.5” (19cm) deep

Real World Fighter Contest

TR Brownridge (.Tromas) is hosting a contest over at the Starfighters flickr group. Entries close August First. Check it out.

Bricks & Heroes at Memphis, Nov 9 -11

This fall, the 2012 Memphis Comic and Fantasy Convention will be featuring a section dedicated to Lego where you can see and and display creations. In addition there will be Lego vendors, brickfilm showings, and discussion panels. Click on the poster below for more info.

Seoul’s Sungnyemun gets the LEGO Architecture treatment [News]

I had the privilege of visiting Korea three times while growing up in Japan, but unfortunately I was too young to remember much. Which is a shame, because I would love to have seen the Sungnyemun, or “Gate of Exalted Ceremonies,” in Seoul. LEGO recently announced that this gorgeous structure — sadly destroyed by fire in 2008 — will be released on June 1st as part of the LEGO Architecture series.

LEGO Architecture Sungnyemun

Here’s the full press release:

Sungnyemun has stood in the heart of South Korean capital since 1398 as one of the most complete examples of Joseon Dynasty architecture. It is listed as the country’s foremost National Treasure.

“Sungnyemun survives as a symbolic marker of a lost place in time,” says the architect and designer of many of the LEGO models Adam Reed Tucker. In capturing the essence of Sungnyemun in LEGO bricks Adam looked at the aesthetics rather than engineering, especially the use of colours, patterns and materials that define the ‘spiritual DNA’ of a culture.

Construction of Sungnyemun started in 1396 and was completed two years later. Further alterations and renovations continued over the next 600 years. In 2008 the wooden structure was completely destroyed by fire and it is expected that the restoration – using traditional hand tools – will be complete at the end of 2012.

LEGO Architecture products feature well-known buildings, and the work of important architects. Aimed at inspiring future architects, engineers , designers and architecture fans around the world, the range contains a booklet featuring step-by-step building instructions prefaced by history, information and photographs of each iconic building, its design origin, its architect and its architectural features.

The LEGO 21016 Sungnyemun will be launched officially at the Danish Pavilion during the EXPO 2012 exhibition held in Yeosu, South Korea. It will be available for purchase from June 1 in LEGO brand retail stores, LEGOLAND Stores and online at http://shop.lego.com/. The product is designed for ages 12+ and includes a booklet with facts and history about Sungnyemun. Recommended retail price is $34.99 in the US and €34.99 in most European countries.

LEGO Lord of the Rings out + free Hulk minifig & new Kingdoms chess set [News]

The third-quarter LEGO sets are now officially out, led by both the new LEGO Lord of the Rings and Marvel Super Heroes sets. If you buy $50 from the LEGO Shop between now and the end of the month, you’ll get an exclusive Hulk minifig that’s not available in any set, for free. And you’ll get the original Frodo minifig movie poster with any LEGO LOTR order.

Having *ahem* cheated and picked up some of these sets at a local brick-and-mortar store on Sunday, I can attest to the awesomeness of a tiny Gandalf and even tinier Frodo — with suspenders! — in 9469 Gandalf Arrives.

Here’s the list of all LEGO LOTR sets that are out now:

9469 Gandalf Arrives: Comes with Gandalf, Frodo Baggins, and one of the new horses Chris covered in his review of 9471 Uruk-hai Army.
9470 Shelob Attacks: Includes Frodo, Samwise Gamgee, the One Ring, and Gollum.
9471 Uruk-hai Army: With Eomer, Rohirrim archer, four Uruk-hai, and a new horse.
9472 Attack on Weathertop: Has Aragorn, Frodo, Meriadoc Brandybuck, two Ringwraiths, and two of the new horses in black.
9473 The Mines of Moria: I picked this one up locally too, and it’s a pretty fun build that has lots of play features and cool minifigs — Legolas (resulting in the inevitable puns while I built the set, followed by swooning from my wife), Gimli, Boromir, Peregrin Took, two orcs/goblins, and a very large cave troll.
9474 The Battle of Helm’s Deep: The largest set in the theme at $130 and over 1,300 parts, this set comes with Aragorn, Gimli, Haldir, King Théoden, and four Uruk-hai (including the torch-wielding berserker).
9476 The Orc Forge: This set is exclusive to one of the big-box retailers if you don’t get it directly from LEGO, and has Lurtz, two orcs/goblins, and another Uruk-hai.

Here’s a closer look at Helm’s Deep:

Finally, just when you thought the current LEGO Castle theme was (mostly) dead, LEGO has just released a new 853373 LEGO Kingdoms Chess Set.

Main Hulk minifig offer link for US readers:

For our Canadian readers:

And for our UK readers:

Disclaimer: We do this to pay the bills, which are very real thanks to several hundred thousand wonderful readers like you out there who loyally visit Brothers-Brick.com every week. :-) Similar deals may or may not be available in other countries.