Celebrating LEGO’s 80th Birthday

It’s LEGO’s 80th Birthday. In celebration, here’s the official video celebrating 80 years charting their successes (and failures). It’s a moving 17 minute CG film that is beautiful, inspiring, and heartbreaking.

From the early days, through war, fire, loss; through determination, conviction, and faith – shows a family built to build.

The film does, however, make me dislike Mega Bloks, K’NEX, and KREO even more. LEGO created a path to change toys forever through passion and quality. Creating a toy system so uniquely theirs and through that vision they endured such tragedy. It’s so hard to justify any purchase to a company that would steal their very original idea.

It’s a definite must see.

Portal Project on Lego Cuusoo Reaches 10,000 Supporters!

The more than incredible “Thinking with Portals!” project on Lego Cuusoo Passed 10,000 supporters and has entered the review stage. Team Jigsaw has done an incredible job recreating iconic Portal/Portal 2 scenes in Lego. I really, really hope Lego works out a deal with Valve…

…and I really don’t want this cake to be a lie.

Lego Star Wars – Rancor Pit Revealed

Lego announced this amazingly epic Star Wars set at Comic-Con. The Rancor Pit is expected to be $60 and is realeasing January. It’s coolest feature other than the Rancor itself? It’s able to sit on top of Jabba’s Palace so you can drop minifigs down to the pit. Check out tons of pics from all angles in FBTB’s photostream.

Via FBTB.

Lego The Hobbit – An Unexpected Gathering Revealed

At Comic-Con Lego revealed the first set in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey line, An Unexpected Gathering. It looks just incredible. It’ll cost $59.99 and will be releasing with the rest of the series on December 1st. Dwalin, Bombur, Bofur, and Balin will be exclusive to this set. Check out tons of fantastic pics from all angles in FBTB’s Flickr photostream.

Via The Brothers Brick and FBTB.

Lego Collectable Minifigures Series 8 Images

There are now images of the Lego Collectable Minifigures Series 8 on Brickipedia. They will be releasing this September. The minifigures included are below.

• Ancient Thespian with a skull
• Bavarian Boy with a pretzel
• Conquistador with a rapier
• Cowgirl with a brown lasso
• Diver with a harpoon
• DJ with a disc and a disc case
• Enemy Robot with a laser gun
• Evil Female Alien with a laser gun
• Fairy with wings and a wand
• Football Player with gold trophy
• Pirate Captain with gold cutlass and hook
• Red Cheerleader with red pom poms
• Santa Claus with sack
• Female Skier with skis
• Tradesman with newspaper and suitcase
• Vampire Bat with bat wings

Via The Brothers Brick.

Greetings from Comic-Con 2012!

Jam packed days at Comic Con and Legoland. In GEEK heaven! I probably have a couple dozen posts I want to do, but I’m in the midst of too much awesomeness to stop and write about it!

Stay tuned though! I will start posting tons right after Con (assuming I’m not completely passed out on the couch from over geeking out). I’ll be doing posts on new Lego sets and minifigs, how inept Sony is with handling Human Beings, previews for new Nintendo games/products, and a WORLD EXCLUSIVE about something I got straight from the mouth of Mario.

Lego to Raffle off Bizarro, Phoenix, Shazam, and Venom Minifigs Friday at SDCC

Friday at Con, Lego will be raffling off minifigures of Bizarro, Phoenix, Shazam, and Venom. None of these minifigures will ever be available in a set. There will be 1000(Yes! Only 1000!) of each minifig. The raffle starts at 10:00 a.m. and ends sometime in the afternoon. Those who partake will have the chance of winning one of the 4000(OK, now I’m excited) minifigures available. Above and below are images of the Bizarro and Phoenix minifigures.

So curious as to why Lego didn’t announce these in their first official Comic-Con press release. Whatever the reason, I think whoever did write that original press release should be slapped.

Via FBTB.

Comic-Con 2012 Lego Exclusive: Darth Maul’s Mini Sith Infiltrator

So, I guess Lego is really bad at promoting stuff… either that or they just wanted to be elusive to us Comic-Con/Lego enthusiasts.

In any case, this year’s Lego Comic-Con exclusive is Darth Maul riding his mini Sith Infiltrator. It’s a $40 set with 84 pieces. It comes packaged in a really nice tin. Whether or not it justifies dropping that much dough on such a small set is probably solely dependent on how determined you are to leave Con with a Lego exclusive.

Before considering getting it, I highly recommend reading FBTB’s review (from which these photos are from). It gives a really in-depth look at the set.

Lego Announces SDCC 2012 Plans

UPDATE: Lego DOES have an exclusive this year, they just aren’t publicizing it. Read about it here.

 

ORIGINAL: Lego just announced their plans for Comic-Con and I must say that they are not exciting. Other than ONE small sculpture they are going to raffle off each day, Lego is not doing ANY exclusive this year.

I usually like to post things that I am excited about, looking forward to… but, like with Nintendo, it just seems like missed opportunities with your target consumer. Alas, I guess I’ll just have to go look at exclusives at other booths… how about an Invisible Bilbo?

Read the press release below and let me know if I’m missing something.

LEGO Systems Celebrates a New Theme Each Day at San Diego Comic-Con

-Surprises abound for fans as construction toy maker unveils new playsets, life-sized models, mystery builds, contests and one-of-a-kind giveaways in support of popular licensed properties-

SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON (July 11, 2012) – LEGO Systems, Inc., the world’s leading construction toy manufacturer, unveils its largest ever San Diego Comic-Con presence with a “theme of the day” calendar of events that celebrates its top licensed properties including LEGO® THE LORD OF THE RINGS™ and LEGO THE HOBBIT™, LEGO Super Heroes, LEGO Star Wars™ and LEGO NINJAGO. LEGO Systems welcomes show attendees with displays of life-size models, first-ever “reveals” of LEGO building sets and limited edition giveaways. In addition, attendees are invited to help “build” a section of its booth each day that features 7.5 feet tall mosaics of Comic Con favorites at booth #2829 of the San Diego Convention Center, July 12-15.

“Each year we’re overwhelmed by the excitement Comic-Con fans show toward the LEGO brand and the new playsets we introduce based on their favorite characters and storylines,” said Michael McNally, brand relations director, LEGO Systems, Inc. “As we celebrate our 80th anniversary this year, we’re pulling out all the stops in San Diego to show fans how the classic LEGO brick continues to build popularity among children and adults of all ages with a rotation of themes and activities for fans of all interests.”

LEGO The Lord of the Rings and LEGO The Hobbit- Thursday, July 12
Epic characters and scenes take LEGO form in the newly released LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGSTM collection, based on the popular THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. Additionally, to coincide with the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in December, LEGO Systems will introduce a collection of LEGO THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY™ building sets in December 2012.

The imaginations of fans attending the show will journey to Middle-earth when they catch a sneak peek of the first LEGO The Hobbit set in the upcoming collection, and a preview of short videos for LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS that are scheduled to air on Cartoon Network. The excitement continues with a hands-on Hobbit-themed scavenger hunt to build Bilbo Baggins in LEGO minifigure form. Attendees may pick up the first piece of Bilbo along with a special Middle-earth map at the LEGO booth, which will lead them on a show floor journey to collect the missing pieces to complete the Bilbo minifigure. The reverse side of the map includes instructions for a LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS contest that challenges fans to build any scene from THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy for a chance to win a trip to LEGOLAND® California along with a Warner Bros. studio tour. For those not attending the show, instructions can be found at http://thelordoftherings.lego.com. LEGO Systems will also host a raffle to award one lucky winner a custom 5-inch model of Bilbo made completely out of LEGO bricks.

LEGO Super Heroes – Friday, July 13
LEGO Super Heroes: DC Universe TM adventures soar to new heights with the public debut of 2013 LEGO Super Heroes minifigures.
To spotlight the collection that recreates famous DC Comic Super Heroes and Super Villains with a collection of sets and buildable characters, LEGO Systems will display a LEGO Super Heroes DC Universe 3-D mosaic featuring iconic images of Wonder Woman™, Batman™ and Superman™. One raffle winner will receive an exclusive 5-inch Batman model in LEGO form.

LEGO Super Heroes: MARVEL sets and buildable action figures bring scenes of great Marvel characters such as the Avengers, Spider-Man and X-Men to life, in addition to new characters unveiled for the first time in their 2013 LEGO MARVEL Super Heroes minifigure form. A life-size model of the Incredible Hulk in LEGO form will dominate the show floor, 2012 construction sets will be displayed and an exclusive 5-inch Spider-Man in LEGO form will be given away to one lucky winner who enters Friday’s raffle.

LEGO Star Wars – Saturday, July 14 
May the Force be with San Diego Comic-Con visitors as LEGO Systems unveils the new LEGO Star Wars Rancor Pit construction set, one of 20 new LEGO Star Wars sets launching in 2013 and a sneak preview of the latest LEGO Star Wars episode slated to air on Cartoon Network. To complete this day’s expedition, a one-of-a-kind 5-inch Luke Skywalker in LEGO form will be given away to one lucky winner who enters the raffle.

LEGO NINJAGO – Sunday, July 15
One of the most successful LEGO play themes ever, NINJAGO introduces a new chapter to a storyline that merges classic construction with social and virtual gaming experiences, anchored by 26 episodes of the NINJAGO: Masters of Spinjitzu animated television series airing on Cartoon Network. Devoted ninjas should gather at the LEGO booth at 2 PM PST on Sunday for a special Ninjago announcement that will further the excitement of this original story. An exclusive panel discussing all things LEGO NINJAGO takes place Sunday morning at 10:30 AM in room #8. A one-of-a-kind 5-inch green LEGO Ninja will be awarded to winner of Sunday’s raffle.

# # #

LEGO Systems, Inc. is the North American division of The LEGO Group, a privately-held, family-owned company based in Billund, Denmark, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of creatively educational play materials for children. The company is committed to the development of children’s creative and imaginative abilities, and its employees are guided by the motto adopted in the 1930s by founder Ole Kirk Christiansen: “Only the best is good enough.” Visit the virtual LEGO world at http://www.LEGO.com

LEGO, the LEGO logo, DUPLO, NINJAGO and TECHNIC are trademarks of the LEGO Group. © 2012 The LEGO Group.

DC Universe and all related characters are elements or trademarks of and © DC Comics.

TM and © 2012 Marvel and Subs.

© New Line Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY and the names of the characters, items, events and places therein are trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth Enterprises under license to New Line Productions, Inc. (s12)

© 2012 New Line Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and the names of the characters, items, events and places therein are trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Middle-earth Enterprises under license to New Line Productions, Inc. (s12)

© 2012 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved.

Via FBTB.

Lego The Hobbit Sets Teased – Full Reveal at Comic-Con 2012!

I AM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW.

Today in the Hollywood Reporter, Lego revealed that they will be showing off The Hobbit sets at their Comic-Con booth and teased the above image. From left to right (in case you don’t know): Gandalf, Dwalin, Bombur, Bofur, Bilbo, and Balin. Click on it for a higher-res pic and bask in its glory.

Via FBTB.