BrickJournal

The LEGO Group Promotes The Yoda Chronicles with the Largest LEGO Model Ever Built!

The invite I received gave me no clue as to what I was going to, just a hint: Would you like to see the world’s largest LEGO model? For me, that’s a question I tend to regard with a little skepticism, but this invite came from the LEGO Public Relations. That made things a little different - the LEGO Group has the resources to make a big model. This was also built to promote the upcoming show The Yoda Chronicles on Cartoon Network. My curiosity got the better of me, and a couple of weeks later, I flew to New York City to see this, along with a few other press outlets.

The final destination, as well as my trip, was to be kept quiet. I was told that I was going to be shuttled out to a hangar somewhere, but that was all the information that I had before I was picked up at my hotel. From there, things got interesting.

Our group ended up about 45 minutes later at MacArthur Airport, at Long Island. We were farther out from the city than I thought, but it turned out to be a perfect place to hide something big. And aside from the LEGO logo on the door, you wouldn’t think anything is different, until you go inside.

A forward view of the model.

Our group was greeted by Ashley Edwards and Amanda Santoro of LEGO Public Relations, and LEGO Master Model Builders Erik Varszegi and Dale Chasse, who led led us inside the hanger.

Side view

And there it was. It was clearly a model of an X-Wing set...but sized up to life size! “42 times the size of the set,” Erik stated, with an understated excitement in his voice. We were led around the X-Wing, which took a few minutes to completely take in. I have seen many large models, including those at LEGOLAND, but nothing of this scope. To give you an idea of the scale, one LEGO stud sized up 42x is very close to the size of a gray baseplate and larger than a green or blue baseplate. And that is just one stud!

Even the rubber bands are duplicated!

and if you look close, you'll see the upsized Technic pins!

The length of this X-Wing is 43 feet long, 44 feet wide, and 11 feet tall. Erik took most of the initial questions and also told the group that the model weighs 45,800 pounds, has over 5 million bricks (and yes, the elements were mostly bricks - there weren’t many plates used) and was built in the LEGO Model Shop in Kladno, Czech Republic. From there, the model was shipped to the hangar for reconstruction and setup.

Dale Chasse with the X-Wing.

Inside the cockpit there is a photo station so 'pilots' can take photos and load them online to Facebook.

And that's me in there!

There were some other models too that were on display. A minifigure of Luke Skywalker dressed in his flight suit, as well as R2-D2, and R5-D8 were nearby, as was a figure of Yoda wearing a NY I LOVE shirt, first seen in the 2013 New York Toy Fair’s Collector’s Exclusive. All of these were also sized up in the same scale as the fighter. The star of the show, however, was the X-Wing. And after an hour of looking, learning and photographing, our session was over.

Luke and R2-D2.

R5-D8.

Yoda.

The X-wing will be on display at Times Square for three days, then will be displayed at LEGOLAND California for the rest of the year. BrickJournal will take a look in an upcoming issue at the story behind this model, and how it was made! Following are fact sheets and press releases to the X-Wing and The Yoda Chronicles.

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The LEGO Group Unveils World's Largest LEGO® model To Delight LEGO Star Wars™ fans across the galaxy

-More than five million LEGO bricks used to create life-sized X-Wing starfighter in celebration of new LEGO Star Wars animated TV special “The Yoda™ Chronicles” premiering on Cartoon Network-

NEW YORK CITY (May 23, 2013) – The LEGO Group today unveiled the world’s largest LEGO model, a 1:1 replica of the LEGO® Star Wars™ X-Wing starfighter, in New York’s Times Square. To celebrate the upcoming premiere of The Yoda Chronicles on Cartoon Network on Wednesday, May 29 at 8:00 p.m. (ET, PT), the massive replica took 32 master builders, five million LEGO bricks and over 17,000 hours to complete. The model weighs nearly 46,000 pounds, stands 11 feet tall and 43 feet long, with a wingspan of 44 feet. The Model will “take off” for a summer landing at LEGOLAND® California Resort where it will be installed through the remainder of the year.

“Just as kids love to test and hone their LEGO building skills and imaginative storytelling, our LEGO Master Builders are always testing their creative skills to top their last larger-than-life sized creations,” said Michael McNally, Brand Relations Director for LEGO Systems. “The size and structural complexity of a freestanding model 42 times the size of one our retail sets was a challenge they could not resist.”

LEGO Star Wars is the original and most successful licensed product collection in The LEGO Group’s history and remains among the best-selling global toy lines. The theme’s evergreen strength comes from its appeal across generations to fans of all ages and a steady introduction of digital content such as The Yoda Chronicles to compliment the building experience.

“Much the same way that fans can build the Star Wars universe with our LEGO sets, we are fortunate to work with Lucasfilm to build new stories, characters and vehicles through one-of-a-kind content such as the new “Yoda Chronicles” miniseries launching on Cartoon Network,” said Nicholas Hort, LEGO Star Wars brand manager.

LEGO Star Wars X-Wing Starfighter Model Fun Facts
Contains 5,335,200 LEGO bricks
Weighs 45,980 pounds
Height: 11 feet / 3.35 meters
Length: 43 feet / 13.1 meters
Wingspan: 44 feet / 13.44 meters
32 builders spent 17,336 hours to construct – about 4 months
Built in the LEGO Model Shop in Kladno, Czech Republic
Is a one-to-one replica of LEGO Star Wars set #9493; The model is 42x the size of the retail building set
The model was heavily engineered to withstand all the transportation, setup/break down and to ensure it was safe for Times Square given the subway system below and California’s seismic requirements for the LEGOLAND California Resort installation.

How to Celebrate From a “Galaxy Far, Far Away” with Cool Content and LEGO Bricks
“The Yoda Chronicles”
The Yoda Chronicles is an exciting, funny and action-packed new LEGO Star Wars story told in three animated TV specials. “The Phantom Clone” will premiere on Wednesday, May 29 at 8:00 p.m. (ET, PT) on Cartoon Network with specials two and three airing later this year. In the first of three specials, a brand new character, Jek 14 will enter the Star Wars universe. Created by the LEGO Group, Jek 14 is a clone who has been ‘enhanced’ by the Force.
LEGO Star Wars Red Five X-Wing Starfighter™
The most detailed and realistic version of the construction set, the LEGO Star Wars Red Five X-Wing Starfighter, is now available as the ultimate collectible. This exclusive model that contains over 1,500 LEGO bricks comes with a special display stand and data sheet label, is available at LEGO® brand retail stores and shop.LEGO.com for $199.99 USD.

For more information, visit LEGO.com/StarWars

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X-Wing Facts

This LEGO® Star Wars™ X-wing Starfighter model is the world’s largest LEGO model built to-date, 11-feet tall and 43 feet long with a wingspan measuring 44 feet. It is a 1:1 model 42 times the size of a detailed building set currently available for children of all ages. After three days in New York City’s Times Square, the Model will “take off” for a summer landing at LEGOLAND® California Resort where it will be installed for the remainder of the year.

An international team of designers, builders, engineers, mechanics and logistics experts spent over a year bringing this model from brainstorm to reality using the same bricks and elements featured in the general LEGO retail collection.

Key Model Specifications
Contains 5,335,200 LEGO bricks
Weighs 45,979.61 pounds (including bricks and steel infrastructure)
Height: 11 feet / 3.35 meters
Length: 43 feet / 13.1 meters
Wingspan: 44 feet / 13.44 meters
32 builders spent 17,336 hours (about 4 months) to construct
Built in the LEGO Model Shop in Kladno, Czech Republic

Is a one-to-one replica of LEGO Star Wars set #9493; The model is 42x the size of the retail construction set
The model was heavily engineered to withstand all the transportation, setup/break down and to ensure it was safe for Times Square given the subway system below and California’s seismic requirements for the LEGOLAND California Resort installation.

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The Jedi Master Returns In LEGO® Star Wars™:The Yoda Chronicles
30-Minute Special Premieres Wednesday, May 29 at 8:00 p.m. (ET, PT)
Two Additional Specials To Air In 2013

LEGO®Star Wars™ returns in epic style with The Yoda Chronicles, an exciting, funny and action-packed new LEGO Star Wars story told in three animated TV specials. “The Phantom Clone” will premiere on Wednesday, May 29 at 8:00 p.m. (ET, PT) on Cartoon Network with specials two and three airing later this year. In the first of three specials, a brand new character, Jek 14 will enter the Star Wars universe. Created by the LEGO Group, Jek 14is aclone who has been ‘enhanced’ by the Force.

Set in the prequel Star Wars era, The Yoda Chronicles features the one and only Yoda -- the Jedi Master who has seen it all, done it all and taught generations of Jedi Knights. With help from a fresh class of Padawans, Yoda leads the Jedi in a desperate fight to stop Darth Sidious and his minions from creating a new super-weapon that could crush the Republic and win the war for the forces of evil.

In “The Phantom Clone,” under the orders of Darth Sidious, Count Dooku sets out to create the new ultimate weapon for the Sith. It is now up to Yoda and the Padawans to prevent Dooku from carrying out his plan but will they be too late? Tune-in on Wednesday, May 29 at 8:00 p.m. (ET, PT) for action, suspense and comedy in this all-new LEGO Star Wars special.

The LEGO Star Wars specials have quickly become fan favorites on Cartoon Network. Last year’s The Empire Strikes Out premiered as the #1 telecast of the week among boys 9-14, and the #1 telecast of the day among kids 6-11 and key boy demos, according to Nielsen Media Research.

LEGO Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles is written by Michael Price (The Simpsons) and produced by Threshold Animation. This special marks the first time entirely new Star Wars characters and vehicles have been created specifically for LEGO Star Wars. Building sets related to The Yoda Chronicles and featuring Jek 14 will be available in August.

Cartoon Network is consistently the #1 U.S. television network among boys 6-11. Currently seen in 99 million U.S. homes and 194 countries around the world, Cartoon Network is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for kids and families.

In addition to Emmy®-winning original programming, industry-leading digital apps and online games, Cartoon Network embraces key social issues affecting families with solution-oriented initiatives such as Stop Bullying: Speak Up and the Move It Movement.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

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Posted On: 2013-05-23 11:00am

Build the The Lord of the Rings® Trilogy must-have model!

10237 Tower of Orthanc
Ages 14+. 2,359 pieces.

US $199.99 CA $249.99 DE 199.99€ UK 169.99 £ DK 1699.00 DKK

Finally, collect one of the most instantly recognizable and iconic buildings of The Lord of the Rings trilogy: The Tower of Orthanc! Build all 6 highly detailed floors filled with fascinating movie-related details including the attic, library, alchemy room, Saruman’s throne room, entrance hall and dungeon. This exclusive model stars in some of the most iconic scenes from The Lord of the Rings movies. Swoop down with the Great Eagle and rescue stranded Gandalf the Grey from his tower-top prison after his defeat at the hands of the white wizard, Saruman. Build the powerful, tree-like Ent, with poseable limbs and cool swinging arm function, then attack the Uruk-hai and Orc Pitmaster while Saruman and his servant Grima Wormtongue take refuge high in the tower. The Tower of Orthanc is a must-have model for any The Lord of the Rings collection! Includes a Great Eagle, buildable Ent figure and 5 minifigures with weapons: Saruman with kirtle outfit, Grima Wormtongue, Gandalf the Grey, an Uruk-hai and the Orc Pitmaster.

Gandalf with two faces

Grima Wormtongue with two faces

Saruman with two faces

Uruk-Hai with Two faces

• Includes a Great Eagle, buildable Ent figure and 5 minifigures with weapons: Saruman with kirtle outfit, Grima Wormtongue, Gandalf™ the Grey, an Uruk-hai™ and the Orc Pitmaster

• Features 6 highly detailed floors with lots of functions, including a folding staircase, LEGO® light brick palantir, opening entrance doors and a trap door

• Weapons include 5 staffs, knife, sword, shield and a long axe

• The attic features a folding staircase, the 3 staffs of the missing wizards, the 2 keys of the Two Towers, 2 maps and an Uruk-hai helmet, shield and sword

• The library features 2 books, 2 torches, 2 maps and 2 skulls

• The alchemy room features 2 torches, a bomb (being produced for the Battle of Helm’s Deep™), 2 potions, bottle, skull, gunpowder keg, pot, cauldron and a long axe

• Saruman’s throne room features lamps, 2 bookcases with 3 potions, map, letter and the powerful palantir with a LEGO light brick

• The entrance hall features opening doors, trap door, 2 large banners, chandelier, statue and 2 axes

• The creepy dungeon features a chain, 2 bones, 2 skulls and a rat

• Buildable Ent features poseable limbs for holding a minifigure and a cool swinging arm function

• Attack the tower with the cool buildable and poseable Ent!

• Swoop to the rescue with the Great Eagle!

• Activate the LEGO light brick and make the palantir glow!

• Set the trap door and banish unwanted guests to the dungeon!

• Prepare the bomb for the Battle of Helm’s DeepTM!

• Swing the Ent’s arms to smash or grab things with the poseable fingers!

• Measures over 28" (73cm) high, 8" (21cm) wide and 6" (16cm) deep

• Ent stands over 9" (23cm) tall

Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning  July 2013 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone:

US Contact Center            1-800-453-4652
CA (English) Contact Center        1-800-453-4652
CA (French) Contact Center        1-877-518-5346
European Contact Center        00-800-5346-1111

Posted On: 2013-05-02 9:49pm

Build the ultimate LEGO® Star Wars™ X-wing Starfighter!

10240 - Red Five X-wing Starfighter™
Ages 16+. 1,558 pieces.
US $199.99 CA $249.99 DE 199.99€ UK 169.99 £ DK 1699.00 DKK

Collect and create the most highly detailed LEGO® Star Wars™ X-wing Starfighter ever produced. This iconic starfighter is featured in many of the most exciting Star Wars battle scenes, including the decisive battle scene above planet Yavin™. Recreate the moment when Luke Skywalker’s X-wing delivered the proton torpedo that led to the destruction of the Imperial Death Star! With 1,558 pieces, this realistically detailed model features opening wings and cockpit, a special display stand, data sheet label and R2-D2.

• Includes R2-D2 atromech droid

• Features highly authentic detailing, and opening wings and cockpit

• Includes 1558 pieces

• Measures over 10" (26cm) high, 20" (52cm) long and 18" (46cm) wide

• Includes display stand and data sheet label!

Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning  May 2013 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone:

US Contact Center            1-800-453-4652
CA (English) Contact Center        1-800-453-4652
CA (French) Contact Center        1-877-518-5346
European Contact Center        00-800-5346-1111

Posted On: 2013-02-15 4:00pm

Build a grand premiere at the Palace Cinema!

10232 Palace Cinema
Ages 16+. 2,194 pieces.
US $149.99 CA $199.99 DE 139,99€ UK 119.99 £ DK 1,099.00 DKK

It's premiere night at the Palace Cinema! Illuminate the night sky with the spotlights as the child star arrives in a fancy black limousine! Gather the crowd on the star-studded sidewalk, then head into the detailed lobby with a concession stand and ticket area! Take the grand staircase into the theater with a large screen, movie projector and reclining chairs for 6 minifigures. Introducing the latest addition to the LEGO® Modular Buildings series, the highly detailed, 2-story Palace Cinema corner building. This collectible model features a sidewalk of the stars, brick-built entrance doors, posters, sign frontage, a tower with spires and rooftop decorations. Includes 6 minifigures: child actress, chauffeur, female guest, male guest, photographer and cinema worker.

• Includes 6 minifigures: child star, chauffeur, female guest, male guest, photographer and cinema worker

• Features brick-built entrance doors, posters, sign frontage, tower with spires and rooftop decoration, lobby, concession stand, ticket area, staircase, big screen, projector and reclining seats for 6 minifigures

• Vehicles include classic-style limousine
• Hard-to-find elements include a red baseplate and dark tan, dark red, and gold pieces

• Seat a 6-minifigure audience in the reclining seats!

• Play on the star-studded sidewalk, in the detailed lobby or in the big-screen theater!

• Collect and build an entire town with the LEGO® Modular Buildings collection: 10224 Town Hall, 10218 Pet Shop and 10211 Grand Emporium!

• Palace Cinema measures 15" (38cm) high, 10" (25.5cm) wide, and 10" (25.5cm) deep
• Limousine measures 1.6" (4cm) high, 5.9" (15cm) long, and 1.9" (5cm) wide

Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning  March 2013 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone:

US Contact Center            1-800-453-4652
CA (English) Contact Center        1-800-453-4652
CA (French) Contact Center        1-877-518-5346
European Contact Center        00-800-5346-1111

More detail shots:

Posted On: 2013-01-18 6:00pm

LEGO® ROBOTS BEGIN WORLDWIDE MARCH: NEW SMARTER, STRONGER LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 UNVEILED AT CES

Robotics Pioneer Releases More Accessible yet More "Hackable" Platform
in 15th Anniversary Year of the Original Smart Toyâ€�

Includes Firstâ€�Ever Native Language Editions for Russia, China and Koreaâ€�

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW, LAS VEGAS (January 7, 2013) – Today The LEGO Group announced LEGO® MINDSTORMS EV3, a new platform for consumer robotics designed to introduce a younger generation to the excitement of building and programming robots while adding new flexibility for its devoted following of robotics enthusiasts. Unveiled for the first time at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 is the result of three years of product development by an international team of LEGO designers, MINDSTORMS userâ€�enthusiasts and leading technology experts. LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3, available in summer 2013, will be previewed to members of the global media at Digital Experience! on January 7 and will be demonstrated to CES attendees during the Kids@Play Summit, January 8â€�11, 2013, in the Venetian Hotel.

When LEGO MINDSTORMS first launched in 1998 it was regarded as the first real "smart toy." Fifteen years later, The LEGO Group has redesigned MINDSTORMS to excite and challenge an audience of children who have grown up with technology, many of whom are more proficient in commanding and controlling mobile devices and other technology than their older siblings and parents. Furthermore, the audience for consumer robotics has grown considerably, leading the team to focus on simplifying the experience for a younger user while making it more flexible and powerful for hobbyists and other enthusiasts.

The entire MINDSTORMS system is powered by the new EV3 Intelligent Brick. Stronger and faster with more memory and a larger processor, the EV3 Intelligent Brick now unâ€�tethers robots from the computer by providing users expanded onâ€�brick programming and tighter integration with smart devices. A new infrared sensor will give builders more control over their robots than ever before, adding more personality to the robot as it follows the builder or other devices. New Linuxâ€�based firmware, a USB port and SD expansion slot will offer nearly unlimited programming and expansion capabilities. Additionally, LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 will also include full iOS and Android compatibility out of the box.

At launch, LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 will include building instructions for 17 different robots such as "Everstorm" a Mohawkâ€�sporting humanoid that shoots miniâ€�spheres as it walks, "Spiker" a scorpionâ€�like robot that searches for an IR beacon "bug" or "Reptar", a robotic snake that slithers, shakes and strikes, all designed to excite and inspire children with the endless possibilities of consumer robotics. To jumpâ€�start the fun, The LEGO Group has created a series of "modular builds" designed to help children begin programming and playing within minutes. Builders can then add LEGO Technic® pieces, additional motors or sensors to change the functionality of the robot. A "mission pad" included with the box adds a new element of game play and encourages children to compete against themselves in a series of obstacle courses for the robots they build and program. Marking another first in the company's history, MINDSTORMS EV3 is the first LEGO playset to incorporate 3D building instructions, made possible through collaboration with Autodesk. An innovative spin on The LEGO Group's hallmark nonverbal, stepâ€�byâ€�step building instructions, the new 3D instructions app, powered by Autodesk Inventor Publisher, allows builders to zoom in and rotate each step in the building process, making it easier than ever to assemble even the most sophisticated robot.

"Fifteen years ago, we were among the first companies to help children use the power of technology to add lifeâ€�like behaviors to their LEGO creations with the MINDSTORMS platform," said Camilla Bottke, LEGO MINDSTORMS project lead at The LEGO Group. "Now, we are equipping today's techâ€�literate generation of children with a more accessible, yet sophisticated robotics kit that meets their tech play expectations and abilities to truly unleash their potential so that they may surprise, impress and excite the world with their creativity."

LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 is the most international robotics platform the company has ever developed. In response to a growing demand from emerging markets, for the first time MINDSTORMS will be released with native language editions for Russia, China, Korea, Japan, Spain and Denmark in addition to the English, French, German and Dutch language versions available today. The company assembled a multinational team of product designers and enthusiasts to create the new MINDSTORMS platform; product designers from across Europe and the U.S. worked together to develop the software and hardware for three years while a core team of 12 userâ€�enthusiasts from Greece to Canada have been testing the limits of the platform and working on apps, models, and hacking environments.

LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 will be available at most toy and discount merchandise retailers and online stores in the second half of 2013 and will have a suggested retail price of $349.99(USD), €349.99(EUR) and $399.99(CAD).

For educators interested in bringing the engagement of robotics into STEMâ€�related curriculum in middle school and high school classrooms, a new version of the MINDSTORMS platform optimized for school and institutional use will also be released this year. The LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 platform includes customizable curriculum; engaging, handsâ€�on models and an easyâ€�toâ€�use programming platform. More information on LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 can be found at www.LEGOeducation.us/MINDSTORMS.

Gallery:

The main computer brick, withARM 9 processor, 16 megabytes of embedded flash memory, 64 megabytes of random access memory, an expansion slot, USB 2.0, four input ports, four output ports, a matrix display, loudspeaker, button-based user interface, on-brick programming, and Bluetooth 2.1. No partridge in a pear tree though.

Large motor - two of these are included in the set.

Medium motor - one of these is in the set.

Ultrasonic sensor, included in educational version

gyrosensor (included in educational version)

color sensor

touch sensor

IR beacon - the set has an IR sensor so this can be used as a remote also. Included in retail version.

Brick with color sensor

Set up as a box mover.

Educational set with sensors and motors attached.

color sorter (with educational set)

Puppy!

Roboarm

elephant (using educational set and expansion set)

Posted On: 2013-01-07 2:29am

LEGO Unveils Bats, Spiders, Hobbits and Turtles at New York Comic Con!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The LEGO Group is expanding its partnership with Nickelodeon to create construction toys based on the newly re-launched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles television series. The collection is slated to launch in North America on January 1, 2013 and will launch in other global markets later in the year. The companies have a long-standing relationship and first partnered together in 2006 to create LEGO SpongeBob Squarepants.

LEGO Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brings the action-packed adventures of Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael and Leonardo to life in LEGO form with a series of vehicles, well-known scenes and iconic LEGO minifigures. One playset and select minifigures from the forthcoming line will be unveiled at the LEGO booth (#TK) at New York Comic-Con at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center from October 11-14.

*Fans will also have a chance to win an exclusive minifigure character in a special raffle beginning on Thursday at 4 p.m. and again Friday and Saturday at 11 a.m.

About The Shellraiser Set to be revealed at NYCC:

79104 The Shellraiser Street Chase, which includes a pizza truck.

$59.99
Five Minifigures
Exclusive Villain
Exclusive Michelangelo & Donatello

Characters in their minifigure form:

Donatello

Mikey

Raphael

Leonardo

Kraang

DogPound

Splinter

Shredder

Foot Soldier

Exclusive minifigure characters we’re giving away at New York Comic Con:

The Hobbit:

Following the first set reveal of the LEGO The Hobbit™ collection at San Diego Comic-Con, LEGO Systems will debut more LEGO stops on the “unexpected journey”, showing fans two additional LEGO The Hobbit sets on Friday, October 12th in advance of the entire collection launching this December. An exclusive minifigure giveaway will take place Friday and Saturday at 4 p.m.

Info on two sets we're revealing on Friday, October 12:

* Riddles for The Ring- Features Bilbo & Gollum in the cave. $9.99, 105 pieces

* The Goblin King Battle - Features Dori, Nori, Ori, Gandalf, Goblins, Scribe and Goblin King in Goblintown. $99.99, 841 pieces

LEGO Super Heroes:

Following the wildly successful 2012 launch of LEGO Super Heroes: DC Universe™, fans will preview the first construction set in the 2013 line as well as have a chance to see a LEGO Super Heroes: DC Universe 3-D mosaic featuring iconic images of Wonder Woman™, Batman™ and Superman™. Also the grand prize winner of the LEGO Super Heroes: DC Universe video contest will be announced on Saturday at 1 p.m. with a premiere of the video that garnered a prize package of $15,000 and a trip to New York Comic-Con premieres.

Attendees will also get a peek of a new LEGO Super Heroes: MARVEL™ set that launches in 2013, while a life-sized LEGO model of the Hulk™ – standing 7-feet high – will dominate the show floor. The grand prize winner of the LEGO Super Heroes: MARVEL™ video contest will be announced on Saturday at 5 p.m. with a premiere of the video that garnered a prize package of $15,000 and a trip to the show.

LEGO Star Wars™

Fans will have a chance to purchase one of only 1,000 limited edition, individually numbered New York Comic-Con LEGO Star Wars™ exclusive items – a tin that features all the pieces and instructions to assemble a Chibi Landspeeder and a Luke Skywalker minifigure. A quantity of the limited edition collectible will be available for sale each day of the show on a first-come-first-served basis. A life-sized LEGO Darth Maul model will also be on display throughout the course of the show.

Posted On: 2012-10-11 9:00am

Exclusive LEGO® Technic Design Competition: You design it - We make it!

You are invited to take part in the most exciting competition in LEGO® Technic history!
Design a special top for our new 4x4 Crawler!

You can do it!

New to LEGO Technic? Or a seasoned veteran builder with a basement full of elements? Not important. We’ve got the chassis, so if you have a great idea for an awesome design to go with it, don’t let anything hold you back!
Upload a picture of your design to the LEGO Technic Co-Creations Gallery. You can draw a model, use paper, sticks and glue, LEGO, or something completely different.

The prize
If you win, you can call yourself an honorary LEGO Technic Designer! We help you get the complete Technic design and building experience perfect. And the best part? We produce 20,000 of your unique model as exclusive collectibles!
You can find all the details on how to enter, tips and inspiration, and pictures of the chassis you need to use on www.lego.com/technic

The competition is open until midnight, December 31, 2012. But hurry - - you need time to get enough votes to make the top 100 and be considered for the final!

We can’t wait to see your creations!
The LEGO Technic design team

Posted On: 2012-10-02 6:47pm

Build the Ultimate High-Speed LEGO® Passenger Train!

10233 Horizon Express
Ages 14+. 1,351 pieces.

US $129.99 CA $149.99 DE 99.99€ UK 79.99 £ DK 899.00 DKK

Fly down the track in the Horizon Express! Collect this highly detailed LEGO® interpretation of a modern, high-speed electric passenger train! The detailed body features black train windows, brick-built chevron detailing, extendable pantographs, printed windscreen and brick-built doors. Remove the roof to play inside 2 detailed passenger cars! Steer from the front engine car with, a control panel and brick-built electrical box! Then take to the tracks in luxury with the first-class car’s seats, luggage, newspapers, computer screen and even a bathroom with sliding door!

The rear car features a bar with hinged counter, tables for the passengers with seats, a coffee machine, cups and bottles. For the ultimate high-speed experience, attach a second Horizon Express model, or motorize it by adding LEGO Power Functions! Hard-to-find elements include orange LEGO bricks (including 6x28 chassis plate) and printed tiles. Includes 6 minifigures: train engineer, train steward, and 4 passengers.

• Includes 6 minifigures: female train engineer, male train steward, 2 female passengers and 2 male passengers

• Features 3 train cars, detailed engine room, printed windscreen, black train windows, brick-built chevron detailing, extendable pantographs, seats, a bathroom with sliding door, bar with hinged counter and tables with seats

• Accessories include luggage, newspapers, computer screen, coffee machine, cups and bottles

• Discover sideways building techniques!

• Ride the rails in high-speed LEGO® style!

• Upgrade your model by adding LEGO Power Functions 8878 Rechargeable Battery Box, 8887 Transformer 10V DC, 8884 IR Receiver, 8879 IR Speed Remote Control, 88002 Train Motor and 8870 Lights

• Train measures 31" (79cm) long

Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning  January 2013 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone:

US Contact Center            1-800-453-4652
CA (English) Contact Center        1-800-453-4652
CA (French) Contact Center        1-877-518-5346
European Contact Center        00-800-5346-1111

Posted On: 2012-09-29 3:48pm

THE FORCE IS COMING TO LEGOLAND® FLORIDA

LEGO^® Star Wars^TM Miniland Cluster Announced as Newest Expansion

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (September 6, 2012) – The Force is coming to LEGOLAND^® Florida with a new expansion to the park, LEGO^® Star Wars^TM Miniland Cluster. The expansion plans revealed the new LEGO Star Wars Miniland Cluster will include a scene from each of the six live-action Star Wars movies, as well as a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ all created from more than 1.5 million LEGO bricks and built in 1:20 scale. Following a chronological path through the Star Wars™ timeline, guests will retrace the major events of the beloved Saga. Some of the 2,000 LEGO^® models will be more than 6-feet-tall. Interactive buttons will allow children to activate animations throughout the scenes.

“Today, less than a year after our grand opening and only three months after opening the all-new water park, we are thrilled to announce yet another expansion this November. This new LEGO Star Wars Miniland Cluster will add to our 150-acre family theme park, which already features more than 50 rides, shows and interactive attractions,” said General Manager Adrian Jones.

During the event, Jones also outlined the many successes of the park since its opening. Among the achievements include the successful grand opening of LEGOLAND Florida, surpassing attendance projections, opening the LEGOLAND Water Park, setting a World Guinness record and making a huge economic impact with creating more than 1,300 new jobs. In addition to the amazing LEGO models found in the park, Central Florida’s newest theme park provides a full two-day experience for families with children ages 2 to 12. The latest expansion of the LEGO Star Wars Miniland is scheduled to open in November.

Also present as a guest was LEGO Darth Vader.

The centerpiece of the event was the Miniland scale Millennium Falcon, which will be in the Episode IV scene escaping from Mos Eisley. Visitors will be able to 'launch' the Falcon by pushing a button. There will be other interactive features throughout the cluster.

Inside the cockpit are Miniland versions of Chewbacca and Han Solo.

The new LEGO Star Wars Miniland Cluster experience will be included with park admission. The best way to experience LEGOLAND Florida for the best value is with the Premium Pass. Premium pass holders receive unlimited admission for 12 months to LEGOLAND Florida and seasonal admission to the all-new LEGOLAND Water Park with no black-out dates. Plus, free parking, discounts on food and merchandise and a complimentary subscription to LEGO^®Club Magazine are also included. Guests can purchase the Premium Pass at the front gate or online. To purchase tickets, visit www.legoland.com.

Posted On: 2012-09-07 11:27am

Get cozy in the Winter Village Cottage!

10229 Winter Village Cottage
Ages 12+. 1,487 pieces.
US $99.99 CA $129.99 DE 99.99 € UK 89.99 £ DK 899 DKK

Continuing the winter series, build the Winter Village Cottage for a perfect holiday home. Seat Grandpa snugly by the fireplace with his newspaper as you help Dad to put up the tree, then bake a feast in the kitchen with Mom! When it’s time to stock up the storage shed with firewood, bring the kids for a ride with Dad on the sled watch him cut the wood with his chainsaw deep in the forest. When the snow gets really deep, clear the road with the snowplow, take all of the kids skiing or build an igloo to play in. There’s no cozier place to spend long, frosty nights!

• Includes 8 minifigures: mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, 3 children and snowplow driver with assorted accessories

• Features cottage, storage shed, igloo, streetlamp, sled and snowplow

• Accessories include kitten, owl, fireplace with LEGO® light brick function, chandelier, Christmas tree, wreath, gifts, armchair, kitchen appliances and bed

• Storage shed features tools and firewood elements

• Igloo features fireplace and removable roof

• Detach the snowplow to store it in the back of the truck!

• Make the fireplace glow with the LEGO® light brick!

• Decorate the cottage!

•   Fetch firewood with the sled!
•   Drive the snowplow!
•   Cottage measures 6.7” (17 cm) high, 9.8” (25 cm) wide and 5.5” (14 cm) deep
•   Storage shed measures 4.3” (11 cm) high, 2.7” (7 cm) wide and 2.7” (7 cm) deep
•   Igloo measures 2.7” (7 cm) high, 2.7” (7 cm) wide and 2.7” (7 cm) deep
•   Snowplow measures 2.7” (7 cm) high, 7” (18 cm) long (with plow attached) and 2.3” (6 cm) wide
•   Add the new Winter Village Cottage to other LEGO® Winter Village series models like the 10199 Winter Toy Shop, 10216 Winter Village Bakery and 10222 Winter Village Post Office.

Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning  October 2012 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone:

US Contact Center            1-800-453-4652
CA (English) Contact Center        1-800-453-4652
CA (French) Contact Center        1-877-518-5346
European Contact Center        00-800-5346-1111

Posted On: 2012-08-02 1:30pm

Take on the Empire in the Ultimate Collector Series B-wing Starfighter!

10227 B-wing Starfighter™
Ages 16+. 1,486 pieces.
US $199.99 CA $249.99 DE 199.99€ UK 169.99£ DK 1699 DKK

Now you can experience the ultimate B-wing Starfighter from the Star Wars galaxy like never before. This fantastic model features everything you would expect from our premium collector range, including rotating, self-levelling cockpit and realistic wing configurations for landing and flight. And when you're finished battling in the skies above Endor or helping to restore freedom in the galaxy, place this highly detailed B-wing Starfighter on its own dedicated display stand and fact plaque. Measures 26” (66 cm) wide and 15” (38 cm) high in flight configuration, and 17” (43 cm) high on display stand.

• A highly detailed Ultimate Collector Series B-wing Starfighter model

• Features rotating, self-levelling cockpit

• Features realistic wing configurations for landing and flight

• Includes display stand and fact plaque

• Model can be detached from display stand
• Measures 26” (66cm) wide and 15” (38cm) high in flight configuration, and 17” (43cm) high when mounted on display stand

Designer's video:

Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning  October 2012 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone:

US Contact Center            1-800-453-4652
CA (English) Contact Center        1-800-453-4652
CA (French) Contact Center        1-877-518-5346
European Contact Center        00-800-5346-1111

Posted On: 2012-07-09 3:16pm

Issue #20: Preview

84 Pages - July 2012

BrickJournal #20 (84 full-color pages, $8.95), the magazine for LEGO enthusiasts, takes a look at LEGO Superheroes, and goes behind-the-scenes at the creation of the DC and Marvel Comics sets that are hitting the stores—including a feature on Greg Hyland, the artist and LEGO builder behind the superhero comic books included in each box! We'll also be showing off other superhero work from top LEGO builders like Alex Jones (better known as Orion Pax online), and our cover artist Olivier Curto. Plus, there's Jared K. Burks’ regular column on minifigure customization, building tips, step-by-step "You Can Build It" instructions, and more! So get ready for action in BrickJournal #20! Edited by Joe Meno.

Click here for a preview.

Posted On: 2012-07-01 12:00pm

Enter the Haunted House at your peril!

10228 Haunted House
Ages 14+. 2,064 pieces.
US $179.99 CA $199.99 DE 149.99 € UK 119.99 £ DK 1499 DKK

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

Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning  September 2012 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone:

US Contact Center            1-800-453-4652
CA (English) Contact Center        1-800-453-4652
CA (French) Contact Center        1-877-518-5346

Posted On: 2012-06-09 1:53pm

Issue #19: Preview

84 Pages - June 2012

BrickJournal #19 (84 full-color pages, $8.95), the magazine for LEGO enthusiasts, takes a look at the events of 2011, starting with our own BrickMagic LEGO Festival, and going through the year with Brickworld, Brickfair, and Brickcon, plus a look at some events outside the US. From BrickMagic, we'll have interviews with the winners of the BrickMagic Challenge competition, spotlighting the award winning models (and including instructions so you can build a few yourself). We'll also have Jared K. Burks’ regular column on minifigure customization, building tips, step-by-step "You Can Build It" instructions, and more! So take a look back at the best LEGO of 2011 with BrickJournal #19! Edited by Joe Meno.

Click here for a preview.

Posted On: 2012-06-01 12:00pm

Official Team GB LEGO Minifigures Launch in July!

To celebrate the London 2012 Games, the number one selling toy in the UK market* is back with an exclusive special edition line of Team GB LEGO Minifigures.
With less than 71 days to go until the UK’s biggest sporting event of the century, for the first time in history LEGO has launched a special edition range of Team GB Minifigures. The collectible range will only be available in the UK to commemorate this once in a lifetime event for the nation.

The Team GB LEGO Minifigures spark the sporting imagination, so you can stage your very own Games.
At just £1.99 each, the Team GB LEGO Minifigures will be in stores from 1st July 2012 in John Lewis and other good high street retailers.

There are nine exclusive Team GB LEGO Minifigures in the line-up, including:

Brawny Boxer
Punching his way to the top, this lean machine in blue is ready to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee for Team GB!

The Stealth Swimmer
Like a fish in the water, the Stealth Swimmer is ready to torpedo through the water into to pole position.

Relay Runner
Sprinting to reach the winning line, could this give Team GB a relay team victory?

Judo Fighter
Taking down her opponent’s one at a time, this mistress of martial arts knocks down anything in her way to grasp that gold medal.

Tactical Tennis Player
First on the court in his gleaming whites, this tennis ace will knock the white socks off of any competition.

Flexible Gymnast
Balance and co-ordination is the name of the game for this agile Olympic contender.

Wondrous Weightlifter
Powerlifting his personal best, the crowd looks on as this burley guy weighs up his chances of going for gold.

Horseback rider
Riding her way to the last hurdle, this athlete won’t be horsing around when it comes to winning!

Agile Archer
Complete with bow in hand, let’s hope this little fella will be on target on the day!

LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2012 The LEGO Group.

Find out more about LEGO Minifigures at minifigures.LEGO.co.uk.

The Team GB LEGO Minifigures will be in available from July 2012 in the following stores: Argos, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Hamleys, WH Smith, John Lewis, Smyths, and Toys R Us.

Posted On: 2012-05-21 10:55am

A Korean Landmark Recreated as LEGO® Architecture

BILLUND, Denmark – LEGO® Architecture, which uses the LEGO brick to interpret the designs of iconic architecture around the world, has added its first Asian landmark - the Gate of Exalted Ceremonies in Seoul, better known as the Sungnyemun.

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.

Posted On: 2012-05-14 1:57pm

Relive a classic era of aviation history with the Sopwith Camel biplane!

From Andrew Arnold of the LEGO Group:

BILLUND, Denmark –The legendary Sopwith Camel, the aircraft flown by WWI aces and one of the most recognisable British aircraft to take to the skies, has been recreated as a LEGO® Exclusive model.

The biplane that took on the Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen and his flying circus has been turned into an authentic model with moving parts that captures the Sopwith Camel’s classic looks.

“Getting to design it was a real treat,” says Jamie Berard, Lead Designer for LEGO Exclusives. “We made a Sopwith Camel in 2001, but that was more of a visual model, beautiful to look at but without any functionality.”

Just like the real aeroplane, the joystick in the cockpit can move the ailerons and elevators using string rather than gears or levers. “The string goes up over the wings and can operate the ailerons on both wings at the same time. It was a real challenge to work on,” says Jamie.

The powerful rotary engine that gave the Sopwith Camel its distinct look has also been recreated and features a rotating propeller and rotating engine cylinders.

The model has 883 bricks and includes rare dark green, dark tan and metallic silver elements. It measures over 15” (40cm) long and has a wingspan of over 19” (50 cm).

The scale was carefully chosen to take account of the size of the large, powerful engine that drove the plane and so that the string could function properly with ailerons. “That allowed us to make a bigger wingspan more true to the original aircraft and a wider body that makes it easy to hold as you fly it around.”

In addition the Sopwith Camel has many sought-after parts including some metallic parts on the cowling and new 1x1 round tiles. “We’re also introducing the 1x1 brick in dark tan, which was on our top ten list of elements that our fans want and we give you quite a few of them,” adds Jamie Berard, Set Desigher to the Sopwith Camel.

“We have tried to avoid stickers wherever possible and have a brick-built rudder in the characteristic red, white and blue of the original. Also included are dark green 8x16 plates and 1x3 tiles in the same colour.”

_____

10226 Sopwith Camel
Ages 14+. 883 pieces.
US $99.99 CA $129.99 DE 89.99 € UK 79.99 £ DK 799DKK

Recreate your very own piece of aviation history with the historic Sopwith Camel. This detailed replica of one of the most recognizable British single-seat biplanes ever to have graced the skies. Features include a realistic rotating propeller and engine cylinders, hinged tail rudder, realistic tension wires, functioning wing ailerons and tail flaps that can be controlled from the cockpit – just like the real plane! The detail doesn’t stop there; this authentic model has over 880 bricks, including dark green, dark tan and metallic silver elements.

• Features include a rotating propeller and engine cylinders, hinged tail rudder, functioning wing ailerons and tail flaps that can be controlled from the cockpit

• Includes dark green, dark tan and metallic silver elements

• Recreate a piece of aviation history

• Turn the propellers and see the cylinders rotate

• Model measures over 15” (40cm) long and has a wingspan of over 19” (50 cm)

Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning  June 2012 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone:

US Contact Center            1-800-453-4652
CA (English) Contact Center        1-800-453-4652
CA (French) Contact Center        1-877-518-5346
European Contact Center        00-800-5346-1111

Also being released this summer will be a promotional set that will be available in the LEGO Store and LEGO Shop at Home.

Posted On: 2012-05-07 9:47am

DK Book's Lego Harry Potter Characters of the Magical World Exclusive Minifigure Revealed!

LEGO® Harry Potter™: Characters of the Magical World

Expecto patronum!

Meet the magical minifigures of the LEGO® Harry Potter™ world in DK’s latest addition to our new series, LEGO® Harry Potter™: Characters of the Magical World!

From the multiple variations of Harry and Ron to the unique characteristics of Snape and Voldemort, readers can learn about each minifigure and the magical sets they star in while learning fun and interesting LEGO Harry Potter facts! In-depth profiles alongside dynamic photography will help you to increase your LEGO Harry Potter knowledge and perhaps encourage young readers to conjure up a few spells of their own!

A close up of the exclusive minifigure in this book:

Posted On: 2012-04-26 10:52am

LEGO® Big Ben celebrates Victorian London's greatest landmark

From Andrew Arnold of the LEGO Group:

BILLUND, Denmark – Big Ben, one of the UK’s most recognizable buildings and a global symbol of Victorian London and the Gothic Revival style, has been recreated as the latest set in the LEGO® Architecture series.

Big Ben, officially known as the Clock Tower, has stood at the north-eastern corner of the Palace of Westminster in London for more than 150 years. It was designed by the unlikely team of Classical architect Charles Barry and Gothic Revival pioneer Augustus Pugin and completed in 1859.

Big Ben is the fourteenth model in the LEGO Architecture range, which uses the LEGO brick to interpret the designs of iconic architecture around the world. It is the first model to be designed by Rok Zgalin Kobe from Slovenia who joins Adam Reed-Tucker as a LEGO architect.

“The most challenging in creating this model was representing the richness of 19th century Gothic Revival architecture in a scale usually more appropriate for modern or contemporary architecture of smooth surfaces and clean lines,” said Rok Zgalin Kobe.

Charles Barry won the competition to build the new Palace of Westminster in January 1836. His initial designs were without the clock tower that would become known as Big Ben. As his own style was more Classical than the increasingly popular Gothic Revival, Barry asked for assistance from Augustus Pugin, a leading light of the movement that left its indelible mark on the Victorian era around the world. The design of the interior of the palace and the clock tower are thought to be his work.

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

The LEGO 21013 Big Ben is 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 Big Ben. Recommended retail price is $29.99 or €29.99.

For more information about LEGO Architecture visit http://architecture.lego.com/

Posted On: 2012-04-18 7:04pm

New Exclusive Set Available at Store Grand Openings!

3300003 LEGO Brand Retail Store
Ages 7+ 280 pieces

New LEGO Stores Are Opening Soon!

Celebrate the opening of a brand new LEGO Store in your area with the new, exclusive LEGO Brand Retail Store model! Not available for purchase, this set is only given out to a select number of customers with a qualifying purchase during the Grand Opening Celebration. We are proud to announce 10 new locations in North America opening in 2012:

Nashville, TN
Victor, NY
Vancouver, BC; Canada
Wauwatosa, WI
The Woodlands, TX
Peabody, MA
Overlard Park, KS
Elizabeth, NJ
Seattle, WA
Alpharetta, GA

Stay tuned for details on the Grand Opening Celebrations, featuring the new exclusive, limited-edition LEGO Brand Retail Store set and T-Shirts! For more information, please visit stores.LEGO.com.

Offers will be available during the Grand Opening Celebration only, while supplies last. Phone orders will not be accepted, to qualify purchase must be made at store location.

Posted On: 2012-04-04 9:18am

The Ultimate Collector Series R2-D2™ the best-loved droid in the Star Wars™; galaxy!

Presenting the iconic R2-D2 as you’ve never seen him before. Everyone’s favourite droid from the Star Wars galaxy is now part of the Ultimate Collector Series. The model features fantastic detailing, such as retractable leg, front panels that open to reveal a universal computer interface arm, a circular saw, rotating head and two fold-out front spacecraft linkage control arms. With the included fact plaque and R2-D2 minifigure, this diminutive model is the perfect addition to your LEGO® Star Wars™ collection.

• Features retractable third leg!

• Front panels open to reveal a universal computer interface arm and circular saw!

• Features realistic rotating head!

• R2-D2 features 2 fold-out front spacecraft linkage control arms!

• Includes fact plaque and R2-D2 minifigure!

• Measures over 12” (31 cm) high and 7” (18 cm) wide!

Available for sale beginning May 2012 only at shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone:

US Contact Center            1-800-453-4652
CA (English) Contact Center        1-800-453-4652
CA (French) Contact Center        1-877-518-5346

10225 R2-D2™
Ages 16+. 2,127 pieces.
US $179.99 CA $229.99 UK£ 149.99 DE€179.99 DK 1499 DKK

Posted On: 2012-03-16 12:19pm

Hayabusa Set to Launch on LEGO Shop at Home and LEGOLAND Florida Hosts Friends Weekend

BILLUND, Denmark – The Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa, the second LEGO® CUUSOO release, has gone on sale in Japan, while a limited number of Hayabusa sets will also be available exclusively online via shop.LEGO.com later in the year. No release date has been set yet.

The original Hayabusa model on LEGO CUUSOO was built by Daisuke Okubo and achieved 1,000 supporters on the Japanese-only version of LEGO CUUSOO in the spring of 2011. LEGO model designer Melody Louise Caddick designed the final model, refining earlier concept models based on Daisuke’s original project.

The model is priced at ￥ 4,118 in Japan, USD49, EUR49

LEGO CUUSOO is a website where LEGO fans can submit their ideas for new LEGO products and collect votes to make their ideas become a reality. They can also vote for other users’ ideas. It can be found at http://lego.cuusoo.com

LEGO CUUSOO began in 2008 with a Japanese site that attracted hundreds of ideas and saw thousands of votes cast by a 35,000-strong community. It was launched globally in October.

The first Japanese product, the Shinkai 6500 submersible, went on sale in Japan in February 2011. A project backed by Minecraft developer Mojang became the first user-sponsored project to be approved on the global version of LEGO CUUSOO.

Ideas supported by 10,000 votes are examined by a LEGO jury to check the models meet LEGO standards of safety and playability and support the LEGO brand. Consumers who have their ideas chosen for production will earn 1% of the total net sales of the product.’

Hayabusa (“falcon” in English) is an unmanned spacecraft built by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), designed to travel to a small near-Earth asteroid named Itokawa and return sample material to Earth. Hayabusa’s mission began in 2003 and ended successfully in 2010.

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN - AND BUILD - AT LEGOLAND®FLORIDA
Central Florida’s Newest Theme Park Hosting LEGO® Friends Weekend – March 24-25, 2012

Winter Haven, Fla. (March 5, 2012) – The newly introduced LEGO® Friends - Olivia, Andrea, Stephanie, Emma and Mia –are coming to LEOGLAND® Florida to host a weekend of fabulous fun geared to girls March 24-25, 2012. A first-ever event, LEGO Friends Weekend is a daytime party that includes a LEGO Friends building event, live entertainment, games and activities. This event celebrates girls and their personal individuality, just like the LEGO Group’s newest line of construction toys.

Event details include:

Olivia’s Girls Just Wanna Build
o   Girls can get empowered and inspired to build masterful LEGO creations with an opportunity to meet Master Model Builder, Adora.   Once the building bug has taken hold, girls (and boys!) can build a portion of a Heartlake City LEGO model.
Andrea’s Heartlake Café
o   The Market Restaurant will be transformed into the iconic Heartlake Café. In front of the restaurant guests will be able to sing their heart out with a karaoke performance.
Stephanie’s Lakeside Party
o   Guests will be able to dance till dusk at the end-of-day LEGO Friends dance party.
Emma’s That’s So You Fashion Show
o   Saks Fifth Avenue is putting on the glitz to show ways to transform girls into their favorite LEGO Friend.
Mia’s Mad About Animals Scavenger Hunt
o   Kids will hunt through the historic Cypress Gardens using clues to find Mia’s favorite animals. Once completed, guests will turn in their list at the LEGO Friends Shop to receive a prize.

Participation in LEGO Friends Weekend is included in park admission. The best way to experience the entire LEGOLAND Florida special event series and cool off at the LEGOLAND Water Park attraction is with the LEGOLAND Premium Pass, $179 for adults, $149 children. You can go to www.legoland.com for more information.

Posted On: 2012-03-06 12:44pm

Issue #18: Preview

84 Pages - March 2012

BrickJournal #18 (84 full-color pages, $8.95), the magazine for LEGO enthusiasts, goes to Japan with articles on BrickFan Castle and BrickFan Town, two Japanese LEGO fan events in 2008 and 2010. We also take a look at Japan's Sacred LEGO Land, Nasu Highland Park—the site of the BrickFan events and a pilgrimage site for many Japanese LEGO fans. Other articles include a feature on Japan's TV Championship of LEGO, as seen by one of the contestants, and a look at the ClickBrick LEGO shops in Japan (they are MUCH different than the LEGO stores in the US and Europe)! We'll also show you how to get into TECHNIC building, provide a little LEGO Education, plus our regular columns on minifigure customization, building tips, and step-by-step "You Can Build It" instructions! Edited by Joe Meno.

Click here for a preview.

Posted On: 2012-03-01 12:00pm

Feel the Force at LEGOLAND Windsor's Star Wars Miniland Experience!

LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience Event Weekend at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort
Saturday 24 March and Sunday 25 March 2012

Stormtroopers manning the turnstiles, Droid workshops and Jedi training camps are just some of the activities in store for guests as the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort celebrates the official opening of the new LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience on the 24 and 25 March.

Stormtroopers march into Miniland London to prepare for Star Wars Miniland!

The indoor fully themed LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience will painstakingly recreate seven of the most famous scenes – six from the beloved Star Wars™ films and one from the smash hit animated series: Star War: The Clone Wars™, using around 1.5 million LEGO® bricks. Following a chronological path through the Star Wars™ timeline and featuring around 2,000 LEGO® models in 1:20 scale from the planets Naboo, Geonosis, Kashyyk, Mustafar, Tatooine, Hoth, Endor and Christophsis, the area will also feature authentic Star Wars™ sounds, actions and lighting effects further immersing visitors into the Star Wars™ saga and bringing the experience to life.

Ben Kenobi at Big Ben?

And for one weekend only you can also enjoy the opportunity to climb aboard a life-size Landspeeder for a photo. Would-be Jedi juniors can hone their lightsabre skills at Jedi training camp, and all can enjoy the spectacle of a battalion of Stormtroopers marching through the park as they search for their Star Wars™ heroes; Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, and Chewbacca, who will be roaming the Resort.

Miniland London's guests are give the royal treatmeny

The event is included in the normal LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort ticket price, FREE for under threes and to Premium Annual Pass Holders. Pre-booking is advised to guarantee entry at www.legoland.co.uk. Booking online means you enjoy a 10% discount on day ticket prices and you can print your tickets at home for quick entrance on the day: adult ticket from £38.88 and child (3-15) from £30.78.

Find out more at www.legoland.co.uk

LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort – the Bricktistics

• It took almost 8,000 man hours and over 1.5 million bricks to create the 1,122 models in the new LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Experience.
• The largest vehicle in Miniland is the Clone Turbo Tank in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith™ - Kashyyyk and Mustafar. Made up of 10,180 bricks, it weighs 44kg and took 350 hours to build.
• The design and development of the Millennium Falcon in the scene from Episode IV: A New Hope™. A New Hope took 143 hours and was the most challenging model to build – Star Wars™ fans know every detail! It is made up of 15,000 LEGO® bricks, weighs 37kg and is 1.8m long and 1.3m wide.
• The largest of all the Star Wars™ models is a 2.5m tall Crystal Building, inspired by the scene from Star Wars: The Clone Wars™. Weighing in at 120kg, it is made of 45,000 bricks and stands at exactly 2.65m high.
• The smallest model is Yoda, made up of just 30 LEGO® pieces – he appears twice in Miniland.
• The LEGO® model of the Geonosis arena is 1.3m x 1.3m wide and 1.2m high, and was built with 30,000 LEGO® bricks.
• 39 Ewoks can be spotted in the final scene from Episode VI: Return of the Jedi™, set on the planet Endor.
• The Palace of Naboo weighs 63kg and is made of 25,000 LEGO® bricks.

Scene by Scene

Episode I: The Phantom Menace™ - Naboo
• It took 1,285 man hours to create the 237 models in this scene.
• 100 Gungans go head-to-head with 100 Battle Droids.
• Theed Palace took 350 hours to build and weighs 63kg.

Episode II: Attack of the Clones™ - Geonosis
• This is the most populated scene with 247 models in this scene, taking almost 1,000 man hours - the arena alone took 290 hours to build.

Episode III: Revenge of the Sith™ - Kashyyyk and Mustafar
• 152 models, including 30 Wookiees, 30 Scout Troopers, 40 Battle Droids and 15 Dwarf Spiders appear in this scene, taking 1,418 man hours and weighing in at 125.5kg.

Episode IV: A New Hope™ - Tatooine
• A world-first, the Millennium Falcon takes off! Controlled by a pulley and counter balance system the Millennium Falcon takes 40 seconds from take off to landing.
• 126 models, 1,098 man hours weighing 130kg – the heaviest of all the scenes. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back™ - Hoth
• 81 models, 1,210 man hours, 129kg.

Episode VI: Return of the Jedi™ - Endor
• The Shield Generator took 220 hours alone to build and weigh in at 72kg - one of the heaviest models in the attraction.
• Each tree in this scene took 3 days to create – and are molded from a real oak tree.
• 83 models, 941 man hours and 152kg.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ - Christophsis
• The largest model in the attraction, the Crystal Building can be found here alongside 70 Battle Droids, 40 Super Battle Droids and 50 Clone Troopers.
• 196 models, 99 man hours and 158kg.

Find out more at www.legoland.co.uk

• STAR WARS™, STAR WARS™:THE CLONE WARS™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

• LEGOLAND® Deutschland and LEGOLAND® Billund opened STAR WARS™ Miniland displays in 2011.

• MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment, and has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years. Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates nearly 80 attractions, six hotels/two holiday villages in 17 countries and across four continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 44 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 17,000 employees. Merlin Entertainments operates the following attractions - SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The EDF Energy London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, THORPE PARK, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Blackpool Tower, Heide Park, Earth Explorer, Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney, Sydney Tower Eye and SKYWALK, Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter Underwater World, Oceanworld Manly WILD LIFE Hamilton Island. All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative – and which have great potential for growth in the future. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

Posted On: 2012-02-28 11:07pm

Sydney's Revered Opera House Immortalized in LEGO® bricks

BILLUND, Denmark – The Sydney Opera House™, a masterpiece of late-modernist architecture that is admired internationally and treasured by the people of Australia, has had its famous sculpted curves recreated by LEGO® Architecture.

Sydney Opera House was created by Jørn Utzon, a young Danish architect who understood the potential provided by the site against the stunning backdrop of Sydney Harbour. The massive concrete sculptural shells that form the Sydney Opera House’s roof appear like billowing sails filled by the sea winds. Utzon envisaged it as a Gothic cathedral that people would never tire of and ‘never be finished with’.

The LEGO version of the Sydney Opera House seeks to capture the essence of this grand building in a small scale. The LEGO Architecture range, which now features 13 models, uses the iconic LEGO brick to interpret the designs of iconic architecture around the world. Like the other models in the range it was created by Adam Reed-Tucker

Sydney Opera House is not only a building with great beauty but it has also become known throughout the world as a symbol for not only a city, but a whole country. “For us it was an obvious choice to include it in our collection, both because of its significance in the architectural world and its importance within Danish Architecture,” says Daiva Staneikaite Naldal, Senior Business Manager LEGO Architecture.

Since its opening in 1973 over 45 million people have attended more than 100 000 performances and it is estimated that well over 100 million people have visited the site. It is one of Australia's most visited tourist attractions.

“Sydney Opera House is thrilled to partner with one of the world’s leading toy manufacturers to produce the Sydney Opera House LEGO Architecture set,” says Sydney Opera House’s Commercial Development Director, Andy Lown.

“Sydney Opera House strives to take people on a journey from the ordinary to the extraordinary, whoever and wherever they are, and this licensed range is a great example of how we can deliver our brand to a global audience. We’re delighted people from around the world can now build a LEGO brick replica of the House.”

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

For more information about LEGO Architecture visit http://architecture.lego.com/

The LEGO Sydney Opera House™ is available for purchase from March 1 in LEGO brand retail stores, LEGOLAND Stores and online at http://shop.lego.com/. The product is designed for ages 12+ and will include a content-rich booklet with facts and history of Sydney Opera House™. Recommended retail price is $39.99 or €39.99

Posted On: 2012-02-21 12:28pm

LEGO® Minecraft™ Micro World Details Unveiled, Available for Pre-Order

From the LEGO Corporate Newsroom:

BILLUND, Denmark –The LEGO Group and Mojang have released purchase details and pictures of the LEGO® Minecraft™ Micro World today.

The new set, which was the first to receive 10,000 votes of support from users on the global LEGO CUUSOO idea collection platform, will be available for purchase in summer 2012, but can be pre-ordered from today, exclusively through Mojang retail partner Jinx.com for $34.95 €34.95 at http://www.jinx.com/LEGOMinecraft. The sets will also be sold in select LEGO brand retail stores and the LEGO online shop from summer 2012.

“LEGO Minecraft Micro World is designed to celebrate the essence of the LEGO concept and the Minecraft gaming experience,” said Paal Smith-Meyer, Head of the LEGO New Business Group. Each set features four cubic modular vignettes that can be connected to recreate the Minecraft experience in LEGO bricks. One Minecraft block is represented as one 1x1 LEGO plate with a tile on top - not a perfect cube, but the best approximation at the chosen scale.

LEGO Minecraft Micro World includes two of Minecraft's most iconic characters, Steve and a Creeper, represented as "Micro Mobs." The model presents a standard for building a Minecraft world that can be configured any way the builder likes.

The surface of the modules comes off to reveal mines and hidden resources beneath. Fans can build their own landscapes, stack cubes on top of each other, to build the world of Minecraft as they wish.

The product was developed in collaboration with four LEGO fans: Chris Malloy, Michael Thomas, Kyle Tingey, and Bjarne Panduro Tveskov. These fans developed concepts alongside LEGO designers and helped shape the product into its final version.

Upon seeing the physical model the first time, Mojang founder Markus “Notch” Persson exclaimed: “Woohoo!”

LEGO CUUSOO is a website where LEGO fans can submit their ideas for new LEGO products and collect votes to make their ideas become a reality. They can also vote for other users’ ideas. It can be found at http://lego.cuusoo.com.

Ideas that are supported by 10,000 votes have a chance of being selected to become part of the LEGO Group’s product portfolio. Consumers who have their ideas chosen will earn 1% of the total net sales of the product.

Mojang will donate the 1% proceeds from LEGO CUUSOO to charity.

For more on the co-creation process for LEGO Minecraft Micro World, see the LEGO CUUSOO blog at http://legocuusoo.posterous.com.

Posted On: 2012-02-16 10:01am

10224 Town Hall Set Announced!

10224 Town Hall
Ages 14+. 2,766 pieces.
US $199.99 CA $249.99 DE 179.99 € UK 149.99 £ DK 1499 DKK

Keep the wheels of commerce turning with the authentic Town Hall!

This classic 3-story town hall building is the latest addition to the LEGO® Modular Buildings series. This highly-detailed model features large entrance-way columns and coat of arms, a tall bell tower with clock and a large skylight giving a view inside the building. On the ground floor, the large hall, tax office and auditorium are perfect for servicing the town’s citizens. Take the working elevator up to the secretary and mayor's offices on the second floor, furnished eloquently with desks, chairs, paintings and even a frog sculpture. There’s even a balcony for addressing the town's citizens. On the third floor, a spacious meeting room features a large conference table, chairs, globe and plants. Includes 8 minifigures: mayor, secretary, bride and groom, press woman, janitor and 2 children.

• Includes 8 minifigures: mayor, secretary, bride and groom, press woman, janitor and 2 children

• Features painting, desks, chairs, sculpture, lamp, conference table, globe, plants and bench

• Functioning elevator with space for 2 minifigures and ladder access to roof

•   Bell tower features bench and maintenance ladder
•   Roof features skylight with view inside the building
•   Measures 10” (25.5 cm) wide and 20” (50 cm) high

• Address the citizens from the balcony!

• Combine with other LEGO® Modular buildings like the 10218 Pet Shop and 10211 Grand Emporium!

Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning  March 2012 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone:

US Contact Center            1-800-453-4652
CA (English) Contact Center        1-800-453-4652
CA (French) Contact Center        1-877-518-5346
European Contact Center        00-800-5346-1111

More photos:

Posted On: 2012-02-16 9:32am

LEGOLAND® FLORIDA MINILANDERS IN LOVE

Miniland Inhabitants Find Love Among Bricks

From Emily Kruse at LEGOLAND Florida:

Large image here

Love is in the air, even at LEGOLAND® Florida! Nearly 100 Minilanders have found love throughout Las Vegas, Washington DC, Florida, New York City, California and Pirates in Miniland USA. From weddings to first dates, the 48, four inch tall Valentine couples inhabit the ultimate artistic expression of LEGO®.

Large image here

Central Florida’s newest family theme park is home to 15,000 Minilanders. These citizens of Miniland USA are made of just 60 bricks and come in all shapes and sizes – just like their human counterparts!

Large image here.

Miniland USA Fun Facts:
• 20 million LEGO bricks comprise Miniland USA at LEGOLAND Florida
• The models are created in 1:20 scale
• The smallest model is a pigeon made from 6 bricks
• Famous faces in Miniland USA include Elvis, Darth Vader, the cast from the Jersey Shore & actor Atticus Shaffer

Posted On: 2012-02-14 12:04pm

LEGO CUUSOO Minecraft set to be Revealed at LEGO World Copenhagen!

More info to come in just over a week!

Posted On: 2012-02-09 8:33am

Brickworld Builds the City of the Future!

Welcome to the World of Tomorrow, where cars fly, everyone’s happy, and life is glorious.

This year in Chicago we’re bringing together builders from all themes, be it train, town, space, scifi, etc. and creating a idealized city of the future. This means flying cars, jetpacks, crisp white architecture, and anything else you can think of. We want this collaboration to be one of the greatest any convention has ever seen and we need your help to do it!

What’s it supposed to look like?
There are a lot of ideas of what the future may be like. We encourage you to explore the different ideas and have created a Pinterest page with various pieces that may inspire you.

http://www.pinterest.com/nickdean/city-of-the-future/

If you find or think of something you are not sure applies, contact Nick Dean mail.nickdean@gmail.com).

General Rules:
The layout will be based on 32 x 32 baseplates. Buildings can be built on any number of plates if one 32 x 32 is too small. Smaller buildings upon 16 x 16 baseplates are also welcome and will add to the intended cramped feel of the outer rings.
Violence is to be toned down. We’re not looking for military vehicles in this layout. Criminal Activity in the outer rings is welcomed, but we don’t need tanks rolling down city streets. If you’re interested in designing military-esque vehicles, make them police vehicles.
The style and layout of the City Center district is to be strictly controlled and approved on a MOC to MOC basis.

Layout: The City will be built in three concentric rings…

City Center: The City Center will serve as a focal point for the layout. It will have crisp and clean buildings rising above the rest of the layout, a large green park bisecting it, and sleek and futuristic vehicles driving above and on its streets.

Rules:
The rules for the innermost ring are the strictest of all the sections. This is done in order to achieve the most idealized “city of the future” feel. If you are interested in building this section, please contact Nick Dean (mail.nickdean@gmail.com). We’re looking for builders with large amounts of brick (especially white and tan) to design and build the central towers.
We welcome all builders to make vehicles, street vendors, etc. for this section. Please try to keep things new-looking and clean.

Middle District:
   The middle ring will be the urban sprawl of the city. Here any building is welcome, any style is welcome, and any theme is welcome. This area will be the down and dirty part of the city, with a Blade Runner-like feel, though modern clean buildings are welcome as well. There are few rules regarding the design of things here. We want tons of pieces making this area feel cramped and crowded.

Do’s and Don’ts:
Do use the 32 x 32 baseplate standard.
Don’t build derelict buildings. Those fit bitter in the outermost district.
Do build dirty buildings. This section is supposed to be well-used and abused.
Do build any sort of architecture
Do build roads into your creations. Depending upon the number of contributors, road plates may not be in this section
Don’t include excessive violence.
Do include criminal activity and sleazy underworld deals.
Do include vehicles. The city should look busy and crowded
Do bring as many figures as you can pack. Cities are population centers, not just paved areas with buildings!

Outer District:
The outermost ring will be the slum of the city and the borderlands. Here we’re looking for almost a post-apoc feel. Derelict buildings, lawlessness, and anything of the sort is allowed. Please no tanks or other military vehicles though.

Do’s and Don’ts:
You do not have to use the 32 x 32 baseplate standard
Do build derelict or abandoned buildings
Don’t include excessive violence. No tanks or large armored vehicles that are not Police vehicles
Do include criminal activity and sleezy underworld deals

Other information:
Do’s and Don’ts regarding vehicles:
Do build flying cars, driving cars.
Do build spacecraft, airplanes, etc.
Don’t build tanks or heavily armored military vehicles
Do build sleek vehicles
Do build dirty-looking vehicles

Tips and Tricks for building:
       1.   Don’t build interiors if you don’t have to.
       2.   Do any landscaping with filler brick
       3.   Make simple buildings. The more buildings the better.
       4.   Add detail only where people will see it
       5.   Use concept art, photographs, and other sources for inspiration
       6.   Go crazy
       7.   Ask questions.

If you have any questions, concerns, ideas, etc, leave a comment below (Only on Flickr!) or please contact Nick Dean (mail.nickdean@gmail.com) if you have any questions regarding the layout, what is allowed, sources for inspiration, etc.

Posted On: 2012-02-03 10:26pm

LEGO Lord of the Rings Posters and Minifig Lineup

The LEGO Group just released the latest Lord of the Rings poster to BrickJournal.

Additionally, there is now art of the minifigures coming in the sets:

The good guys, and

This is a followup to the previous poster of Legolas.

which was a followup to the poster of Aragorn:

which was a followup to the initial poster of Frodo:

You can download the posters below:

Frodo (1.9 MB) Aragorn (2.0 MB) Legolas (1.9 MB) Gollum (544k) Good Guys (1.7 MB) Bad Guys (1.8 MB)

Posted On: 2012-01-10 2:31pm

Issue #17: Preview

84 Pages - January 2012

BrickJournal #17 (84 full-color pages, $8.95), the magazine for LEGO enthusiasts, launches a special SPACE WAR issue, as we hurtle into hostile territory, LEGO-style! There's a lesson in starfighter building by Peter Reid, a look at why Space Marines are so popular by Mark Stafford, and a trip behind the scenes of Alien Conquest, the new LEGO theme that hit the shelves earlier this year! Plus, there's our regular column on minifigure customization, building tips, event reports, our step-by-step "You Can Build It" instructions, and much more, so set your course for BrickJournal! Edited by Joe Meno.

Click here for a preview.

Posted On: 2012-01-01 12:00pm

LEGO GROUP DECLARES NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION FOR 2012: DELIVER MEANINGFUL PLAY TO GIRLS WITH NEW LEGO® FRIENDS

City Park Cafe

Company brings classic construction play to the girls’ aisle with first-of- its-kind LEGO® mini-doll figure, three new brick colors and detailed interiors that reflect four years of research in play needs of girls

BILLUND, Denmark (December 19, 2011) – The LEGO Group, the world’s leading construction toy brand, today announced LEGO® Friends, a new play theme that tailors the iconic LEGO construction experience especially to girls ages five and up. LEGO Friends delivers on a girl’s desire for realistic role-play, creativity, and a highly-detailed, character-based world with the core values of LEGO building.

The LEGO Friends collection of 23 products ranges in price from $5.99 to $99.99 USD and the first 14 will be available for sale in select toy, discount merchandise, specialty and online stores beginning December 26, 2011 in the United Kingdom and January 1, 2012 in the United States. A rolling International launch will follow in the spring, with the remaining nine sets launching in the summer months.

Olivia's House

“We felt it was time to test assumptions that girls aren’t interested in building and to breathe fresh air into a toy category filled mostly with pre-fabricated play experiences for girls,” said Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, CEO, LEGO Group. “We focused on creating a play experience centered on the joy of creation, while heeding the way girls naturally build and play. We are incredibly proud of the solution we deliver with LEGO Friends, and are resolved to build this platform for years to come.”

LEGO Friends is the first 100 percent LEGO building experience fully optimized to girls’ tastes and interests. Thousands of girls and their mothers worldwide participated in intensive research that validated the desire for more beauty, realistic details, accessories and interior building and role play opportunities in a LEGO offering.

Size Comparison

Introducing the LEGO mini-doll figure
Anchored by the introduction of a new mini-doll figure, LEGO Friends introduces a new LEGO minifigure platform tailored to girls’ requests for a more realistic, relatable and stylized figure. Designed to the same scale of the classic LEGO minifigure, the mini-doll figure stands roughly 5 millimeters taller than its minifigure sibling, yet features similar constructability, shares the iconic “claw” hand to hold the same accessories, can wear the same hair and headpieces, and is compatible with all LEGO building sets. A total of 29 different mini-doll figures will be introduced in 2012.

“LEGO Friends is one of the most researched LEGO projects ever and is a culmination of years of anthropological research with girls around the world to understand what they expect from a construction toy,” said Nanna Ulrich Gudum, senior creative director, LEGO Group. “In talking with girls and their moms, we understand that girls really want a LEGO offering that mirrors what the boys experience, but in a way that fulfills their unique desire for remodeling and redesign, combined with realistic themes in community and friendship.”

Olivia's Inventor's Workshop

“Unlike previous LEGO toys for girls, LEGO Friends, at its core, does not apologize for being a construction toy and delivers, for the first time, a building experience in the same scale as our classic offerings,” Nanna Ulrich Gudum continued. “What LEGO Friends does differently is deliver the beauty, details, accessories, real world themes and need for strong interior play that the research revealed would make all the difference for girls ages 5 and up.”

Welcome to Heartlake City
The LEGO Friends story centers on the everyday lives and personalities of five girls in a fictional hometown called Heartlake City. Each of the friends—Olivia, Mia, Andrea, Stephanie and Emma—has a distinct personality and interests, such as animals, performing arts, invention and design, that are reflected in the models. Building sets reflect different parts of town where the girls’ adventures take place—downtown, suburbs, beach, camping grounds and mountains.

From Olivia's House

The Product Collection
Half of the launch collection includes construction sets themed to introduce girls to each of the “Friend’s” personalities, including: Stephanie’s Outdoor Bakery, Emma’s Splash Pool, Andrea’s Stage, Olivia’s Inventor’s Workshop, Stephanie’s Pet Patrol, Mia’s Puppy House and Emma’s Design Studio. Girls are also invited to construct the Friends’ favorite locations in Heartlake City with larger building sets, including: Stephanie’s Cool Convertible, Olivia’s Tree House, Heartlake Dog Show, Butterfly Beauty Shop, City Park Café, Heartlake Vet, and Olivia’s House. The remaining nine sets launching later in the year deliver the same range in price and theme.

From City Park Cafe

Immersive Brand Experience
Children will be immersed in the new world they can create with LEGO Friends through a variety of brand experiences planned for 2012. In addition to providing product information, the LEGO Friends website will allow children to explore the personalities of each of the five Friends and the different spots in Heartlake City. The site will also feature an avatar creator, mini-movies, games, video building tips, story extensions, contests, news and an events calendar. Also planned are Interactive building events and road shows, promotions, magazines, digital content, a mini movie, in-store experiences, books and more. Check www.LEGOFriends.com for more information.

Posted On: 2011-12-19 8:55am

Warner Bros. Consumer Products and The LEGO Group Build on Partnership to Produce Construction Toys for THE LORD OF THE RINGS

Building Sets Based on Epic Film Trilogy and Forthcoming Theatrical Release Slated for 2012

BILLUND, Denmark and Burbank, CA – December 16, 2011 – Warner Bros. Consumer Products and The LEGO Group announced today a partnership that awards the world’s leading construction toy brand exclusive rights to develop build-and-play construction sets based on THE LORD OF THE RINGS™ trilogy and the two films based on THE HOBBIT™. The multi-year licensing agreement grants access to the library of characters, settings, and stories for THE LORD OF THE RINGS property, as well as films The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again. LEGO® THE LORD OF THE RINGS construction sets are slated for a rolling global launch beginning in June 2012 in the United States, with LEGO THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY scheduled for later in the year.

“Only LEGO, with their expertise in the construction category, is capable of doing justice to the incredibly imaginative environments depicted in the world of THE LORD OF THE RINGS and the two films based on THE HOBBIT,” said Karen McTier, executive vice president, domestic licensing and worldwide marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “These films give life to amazing worlds and characters and we are thrilled to bring fans these products that deliver an imaginative play experience befitting of these beloved properties.”

The LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS collection will translate into LEGO form the epic locations, scenes and characters of Middle-earth as depicted in all three films, including The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

In late 2012, LEGO THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY will give fans of all ages a chance to build and play out the fantastical story and new characters of the legendary Middle-earth adventures depicted in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey from Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson, slated to premiere December 14, 2012.

“Our collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products has delivered numerous worldwide successes in the construction toy aisle with lines like LEGO HARRY POTTER and LEGO BATMAN, introducing us to loyal audiences who love great stories, strong characters and the toys that they inspire,” said Jill Wilfert, vice president, licensing and entertainment for The LEGO Group. “It’s particularly exciting to now be able to create sets based on the fantasy worlds and characters from THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and the two films based on THE HOBBIT, not only because we know they will foster collectability and creative play, but also because these are two properties that our fans have been asking us to create for years.”

Information about the sets and collectible minifigures from both collections will be unveiled at a later date at http://thelordoftherings.lego.com/en-us/default.aspx

Posted On: 2011-12-16 9:25am

BrickPad, a Free iOS LDraw App, is Released in the iTunes App Store

By Joe Meno

A few weeks ago, I answered a call for beta testers for an LDraw app. What started as a curious project became a fun romp with an app that is a foundation for more development. The developer is Ken Drew, who took time out to answer a few questions about the app and himself after app launch.

So what do you do?
By day, I'm a software engineer and by night I'm a software engineer working on BrickPad. In between that, and LEGO I try to squeeze in family, kids. ;)

Are you an AFOL, and if so, how long?
I grew up with LEGO and have had a few eras of "Dark Ages", but since 1997 I have been collecting LEGO as an AFOL.

What inspired you to develop this program?
About the time that I was coming out of my Dark Age in 1997 and finding the online AFOL community and LDraw, I tinkered with writing a Unix LDraw viewer. It was more of a hobby than anything else. However when the iPhone and later the iPad came out, I waited and waited for someone to write an LDraw app. I thought that the mobile device would be perfect for sitting on the floor and building with LEGO. As well, I wanted to view the models I saw on the web without having to go to a laptop/desktop computer. After a while, I thought that I would write one myself.

How long did it take?
I started in August of this year with a proof of concept and it just snowballed from there, albeit a bit slowly. I usually found a few hours a night (at best), and I just kept adding things. The past month or so, I have been doing some beta testing with some of the LDraw.org Forum members. The beta testers were a great help and I can't thank them enough. Then, on to the App Store.

What would you like to see happen with BrickPad?
Hopefully people will find it useful by being able to view models they see on the web while using their iOS device. As well, perhaps people won't need to drag their laptops to their LEGO building areas.

Any interesting information about the program you would want to point out?
You can format links to open models directly in BrickPad by using the form: 'brickpad://www.yoursite.com/yourmodel.ldr'

Something that I found interesting was that it only took Apple 27 minutes to review the app before approving it. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing...

This is an ongoing project, so what are you working on in your program for the future?
I'm fixing a few known issues, transparency being one of them. As well I want to improve the app as a viewer. Once I feel I have a solid viewer, I plan to start work on the capability to edit and build models. Given the device constraints it will be a challenge, but I think that it can be done.

The App

BrickPad is a free universal app for the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. The iTunes link is here. The LDraw parts catalog is loaded automatically. Upon installation, you'll have a few files to demo:

No, there are some new ones here - but tap on the names, and the model rezzes up!

You can import models from iTunes File sharing or by either online link, as mentioned above, or by e-mail. When an e-mail with a .ldr or .mpd file is opened you can tap on the file and open directly:

the prompt will change to this:

This will launch the app and save the file automatically.

Tapping the edges of the screen will take you to the various views - left, right, top, bottom. Double tapping and holding on center will give you the default view of the model. Unpinching will zoom the view, and moving the bottom status bar will move the model through its construction step (submodel steps are not defined at this time)

The iPhone screen loks like this:

well, a bit smaller, but you get the idea.

And to announce the launch of BrickPad, here's a file to open on the app:

White Mecha

Posted On: 2011-12-14 11:30pm

Minecraft project hits 10,000 votes on LEGO® CUUSOO

BILLUND, Denmark – A project backed by Minecraft developer Mojang has become the first user-sponsored project to reach the 10,000 vote threshold on the new global version of LEGO® CUUSOO, opening the way for a LEGO set featuring Minecraft to become a reality.

It took the project only 48 hours to gather votes from 10,000 fans of the project from around the world.

“We’re really excited to see the fantastic enthusiasm of the Minecraft community. This is what LEGO CUUSOO is all about, connecting people’s passion to the LEGO brick,” says Paal Smith-Meyer, Head of the LEGO New Business Group. “It is still too early to say whether a Minecraft play set will become a LEGO product as it still needs to go through a review and approval process to ensure it meets our usual LEGO standards, but it is certainly a lot closer.”

A go/no-go decision should be reached within the next few weeks. Assuming it is given a “go,” then development on any new sets will begin. During this time, LEGO model designers refine the product, while packaging, instructions, and marketing are developed ready for a production run. This will take several months.

A preliminary model. Photo courtesy of the LEGO Group.

LEGO CUUSOO is an idea collection system that asks the Danish toy manufacturers’ consumers to submit and vote for their favourite ideas for new LEGO products. It can be found at http://lego.cuusoo.com . The site is currently in "open beta" and has been well received by fans and niche interest groups eager to see their ideas become official LEGO products.

CUUSOO, which means 'imagination' or sometimes ‘wish’ in Japanese, has been developed with CUUSOO SYSTEM, a subsidiary of Japan-based Elephant Design that has worked with open innovation and crowd sourcing for more than 10 years.

The LEGO Group has worked with CUUSOO since 2008 on a Japanese site that has attracted hundreds of ideas and seen thousands of votes cast by a 35,000-strong community. Now the time has come to test the concept internationally.

The first Japanese product, the Shinkai 6500 submersible, went on sale in Japan in February 2011. The next Japanese LEGO CUUSOO model will be the Hayabusa unmanned spacecraft launched in the first quarter of next year.

It took the Shinkai 6500, 420 days to reach 1,000 votes in Japan. Hayabusa took 57 days to 1,000. With the launch of the LEGO CUUSOO worldwide site the threshold was raised to 10,000 to reflect the larger audience.

On LEGO CUUSOO, ideas that are supported by enough votes will be examined by a LEGO jury that will check that the models meet LEGO standards of safety and playability and support the LEGO brand. Consumers who have their ideas chosen for production will earn 1% of the total net sales of the product.

In the case of the Minecraft project, Mojang and the collaborators have offered the 1% CUUSOO royalty to a charity of Mojang's choice.

Posted On: 2011-12-07 11:00am

LEGOLAND® FLORIDA – JUST ADD WATER!

Central Florida’s Newest Theme Park Announces Water Park Details and Unveils All-New Premium Annual Pass

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (November, 28, 2011) – Just six weeks after its official grand opening, LEGOLAND® Florida today released details of its first expansion – LEGOLAND Water Park. Scheduled to open in time for summer 2012, the water park will feature a wave pool, Build-A-Raft lazy river, tube slides, body slides and an interactive water-play structure - DUPLO® Safari.

“We’re very excited to share plans for this amazing new attraction,” said LEGOLAND Florida General Manager Adrian Jones. “True to our mission, the water park attraction has been designed for families with children ages 2 to 12 and will add hours of water play to an already full day and move LEGOLAND Florida into a multi-day experience for vacationers. The additional also adds another great value proposition for our Annual Pass members.”

Admission to the water park attraction is included with an all-new LEGOLAND Premium Pass, which offers 12 months admission to LEGOLAND Florida and seasonal access to the LEGOLAND Water Park. Single-day LEGOLAND Florida guests may upgrade to a water park attraction ticket for an additional $12 per person (children under 3 are $3). The Premium Pass is now available for purchase at www.LEGOLAND.com or select AAA Auto Club Group branches.

Key areas of LEGOLAND Water Park attraction include:
·         LEGO Wave Pool – Families can catch a gentle wave or simply cool off in this perfectly sized wave pool where the waves are just big enough for all ages to enjoy
·         Twin Chasers – Friends ride tubes 375 feet down an intertwining pair of enclosed water slides before plunging into a refreshing pool below
·         Splash Out – The thrill seekers of the family can ascend to the tallest point of the water park attraction and choose from one of three unique slides, then speed down a 60-foot drop and “splash out” into the water below
·         Joker Soaker - A fun, interactive playground with various lengths, heights and types of slides that offer something different for every member of the family. Guests can wade in the surrounding pool and be surprised with a torrential spill from a 300-gallon bucket
·         Build-A-Raft River - Families can imagine, design and build a unique LEGO vessel and set afloat on a maiden voyage around the 1000-foot-long lazy river, set amongst playful LEGO Friends, flowering vegetation and palm trees
·         DUPLO® Splash Safari – Toddlers will rule at this water play area with shorter slides and interactive, larger-than-life DUPLO creatures

“This newest attraction is just one of many ways we will continue to evolve LEGOLAND Florida over the next several years,” said Jones. “Creating a multi-visit proposition for families adds another dimension to the LEGOLAND Florida offering. Adding the water park attraction will fulfill this criteria as well as offering a unique attraction in Central Florida. ”

**Important: Please check operating schedule at www.LEGOLAND.com for park days and hours.

LEGOLAND® Florida is a 150-acre interactive theme park dedicated to families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. With more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, LEGOLAND is geared towards family fun! There are currently four other LEGOLAND Parks in the world – LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, LEGOLAND Billund in Denmark, LEGOLAND Deutschland near Günzburg, Germany and LEGOLAND Windsor outside of London. The LEGOLAND theme parks are a part of Merlin Entertainments Group, the second largest attractions operator in the world. For the most current information, log on to www.LEGOLAND.com.

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment, and has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years. Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates nearly 80 attractions, six hotels/two holiday villages in 19 countries and across four continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 44 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 17,000 employees. Merlin Entertainments operates the following attractions - SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The EDF Energy London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, THORPE PARK, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Blackpool Tower, Heide Park, Earth Explorer, Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney, Sydney Tower Eye and SKYWALK, Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter Underwater World, Oceanworld Manly WILD LIFE Hamilton. All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative – and which have great potential for growth in the future. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

Posted On: 2011-11-30 12:00pm

LEGO Christmas Events

Here's information from some LEGO press contacts about some Christmas events that are happening soon!

From LEGO Brand Retail USA:

San Francisco Bay Area Families are invited to Help LEGO® Master Builders Construct a 12-foot tall by 10-foot wide LEGO® Star Wars™ Santa Yoda out of LEGO bricks! This is a three-day community build where families will help LEGO® Master Builders to create a 12-foot tall by 10-foot wide LEGO® Star Wars™ Santa Yoda made entirely of LEGO® bricks to kick-off a countdown to the holidays found at www.legosantayoda.com. Children and parents will be invited to build a portion of Santa Yoda which LEGO® Master Builders will then add to the larger than life model.

The event will take place Friday, November 18th to Sunday, November 20th, 10am-6pm daily (or until completed) at Union Square (next to the seasonal ice skating rink), San Francisco.

From LEGOLAND Florida:

CELEBRATE LEGOLAND® FLORIDA’S FIRST CHRISTMAS
Christmas Bricktacular Makes the Holidays Come Alive

Winter Haven, FL (Nov. 15, 2011) -- LEGOLAND Florida is getting into the holiday spirit with the first annual Christmas Bricktacular. Festive decorations and sounds of the season will fill The Beginning and Fun Town through the holidays, Dec. 8-31, followed by Kids’ New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31. With more than 50 rides, shows and attractions all dedicated to families with children age 2 to 12 and one of the widest selections of LEGO® products available, LEGOLAND Florida is the best place to celebrate the season and pick up the Christmas gifts that are on every child’s wish list – LEGO!

The Beginning is home to a truly spectacular, Bricktacular sight - a more than 30-foot-tall LEGO Christmas tree made with a combination of 270,000 forest green LEGO and DUPLO® bricks. The park’s first-ever tree lighting ceremony takes place on Dec. 5 with a special master of ceremonies. Through Dec. 31, a special family will be chosen to help light the Bricktacular tree each night.

Santa Claus even makes special daily appearances in the historical botanical gardens making a picture perfect spot to capture family memories sure to be treasured for years to come.

Kids’ New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31 let’s kids rock out and watch the sky explode with LEGO fireworks at just the right time for them, midnight KST (Kid Standard Time) - otherwise known as 7 p.m. EST.

Holiday events are included in park admission. Tickets and Annual Passes for LEGOLAND Florida are available at www.LEGOLAND.com

From LEGOLAND California:

Enjoy family fun at LEGOLAND Holiday Snow Days! November 19 - January 2, with real snow! Build a snowman with LEGO accessories, throw snowballs at Snowball targets, see the world's largest LEGO Christmas tree, LEGO Santa and reindeer, and the festive entertainment, including "Let it Snow" the musical, November 19 through December 31! THere's a nightly tree lighting ceremony December 1 through 24 and nightly fireworks December 26 through 31.

From LEGOLAND Windsor (closed for the season, except for the Big Store):

LEGOLAND Windsor is supporting the Windsor Observers Christmas annual Toy Appeal. You can drop off any toy donations, big or small at our LEGO Big shop on any of our Christmas Shopping days* to help bring some festive cheer into the lives of local children. For more information please see: http://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2011/11/12/55272-its-a-fantastic-cause/ 

*Christmas shopping days every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11th November to 4th December from 10am to 5pm.

LEGOLAND® Florida is a 150-acre interactive theme park dedicated to families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. With more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, LEGOLAND is geared towards family fun! There are currently four other LEGOLAND Parks in the world – LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, LEGOLAND Billund in Denmark, LEGOLAND Deutschland near Günzburg, Germany and LEGOLAND Windsor outside of London. The LEGOLAND theme parks are a part of Merlin Entertainments Group, the second largest attractions operator in the world. For the most current information, log on to www.LEGOLAND.com.

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment, and has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years. Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates over 78 attractions, six hotels/two holiday villages in 17 countries and across four continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 43.6 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 15,000 employees. Merlin Entertainments operates the following attractions - SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The EDF Energy London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Heide Park, Earth Explorer, Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World, Sydney Tower Observatory and Skywalk, Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter Underwater World, Oceanworld Manly and Hamilton Island Koala Gallery. All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative – and which have great potential for growth in the future. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information

Posted On: 2011-11-16 12:00pm

Building the Best LEGO® Brand Experience with Interactivity

BILLUND, Denmark – A ground-breaking interactive window that gives children the opportunity to star in a game as a LEGO® Minifigure will be unveiled at the LEGO Group’s brand retail store at Water Tower Place in Chicago, Illinois on Tuesday, November 15 at 2pm.

Children visiting the store window will be able to watch as they are magically changed into a LEGO Minifigure. The hungry LEGO Dragon Brickley then pops out from the side of the window and encourages the children to feed it with virtual apples lying on the ground.

The interactive shop window uses a motion-sensing camera to ‘see’ the child standing in front of the shop. This information is processed by specially developed software and a powerful Intel® CoreTM i7 processor to convert the child’s motions into a LEGO Minifigure that is then projected on to a thin film screen applied to the back of the window.

The child can then control the Minifigure’s actions by moving arms and legs in a similar way to motion-sensitive controls use in console games.

The window is a further development of the thinking behind the popular augmented reality Digital Box that is in all LEGO brand retail stores. The aim of the interactive window and the Digital Box is to bring the LEGO brand experience to life in a new, exciting and immersive way.

The Digital Box allows customers to see what is in selected LEGO sets using a camera and a screen. When the customer holds a set up to the Digital Box’s camera, a 3D animation of the contents is shown on the screen, superimposed on top of the set.

The installation in the Chicago store is a pilot that will be used to gather information about the interactive window. No decision has been taken about putting the window into other stores.

The window has been developed by LEGO Digital Business in collaboration with Danish production company GreatHouse and with hardware powered by the Intel® Core™ i7 processor.

Posted On: 2011-11-15 12:00pm

LEGO Design byME to close in January 2012

From the LEGO Group:

The LEGO Group is closing the part of the Design byMe customization service that allows consumers to order digital models in real bricks. We will be accepting orders until January 16, 2012.

The HERO Recon Team Hero Creator will be unchanged and consumers will still be able to build and buy their own customized Hero. Bricks can be bought separately, using the Pick a Brick service http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Pick-A-Brick-ByTheme.

This is not the end of customization for the LEGO Group, but a revision. We believe in the future of customization, but the service we offer has to be right for our consumers and Design byME has proven to be too complex for children.

The original Design byMe vision was for a unique customization service, where consumers could design whatever they imagined, display it and get the model sent to in their own LEGO box. Design byMe as a concept attracts several million people each year to build a huge range of amazing creations using the LEGO Digital Designer (LDD) software. Despite this success, the overall Design byMe experience has struggled to live up to the quality standards for a LEGO service.

Over the years, we have also added other simpler customized building experiences like Hero Recon Team. However, the overall Design byMe experience has struggled to live up to the quality standards for a LEGO service. The feedback from Design byMe users has taught us that we would need to rebuild the entire setup of Design byMe to fix this. This would only make the service too expensive.

Consumers will still be able to design what they want with LEGO Digital Designer and upload models into a public gallery as before. All existing models will be transferred to a new gallery on the LDD website. Consumers will also be able to download the instructions generated from LEGO Digital Designer.

Posted On: 2011-11-09 11:00am

LEGO® Universe to Close in 2012

Online game will close on January 31, 2012. The LEGO Group’s digital offerings will continue to develop over the coming years.

November 4, 2011 – The LEGO Group today announced that it will close LEGO® Universe, an MMOG (massively-multiplayer online game) that has been in operation since the autumn of 2010.

In spite of very positive player feedback and a large number of players in the free play zone, it has not been possible to convert a satisfactory number of players to paying subscribers. It has therefore been decided to close the game as of January 31, 2012.

“The LEGO Universe team can take pride in having developed and launched a great LEGO experience that many players will miss,” said Jesper Vilstrup, Vice President, LEGO Universe. “Right now, we have almost 2 million players in LEGO Universe, and we get extremely positive feedback from players. Unfortunately, we have not been able to build a satisfactory revenue model in our target group, and therefore, have decided to close the game.”

Despite the change, the ambition to develop and run a digital business remains. In future, it is the intention to further pursue cooperation with partners. The LEGO Group has a strong and continuing partnership with TT Games & Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to create digital LEGO experiences within video games. A further expansion in the digital area will mainly be based on similar partnerships.

“The development of our digital offerings continues to be a very important element in our strategy,” said Mads Nipper, Executive Vice President, LEGO Group. “We have more than 20 million visitors on www.LEGO.com every month, and LEGO video games are among the bestselling children’s video games with sales of more than 60 million units in the last five years. Through our experience developing and running LEGO Universe, we have gained a lot of valuable insights, and we have a very strong foundation for future development in the digital area.”

As a consequence of the closure, the LEGO Universe staff has today been informed that the ‘Play Well Studios’ in Louisville, Colorado and the game’s marketing function in Billund, Denmark will be closed. This will affect 115 employees. All affected employees will be offered assistance in finding new jobs inside or outside the LEGO Group.

Posted On: 2011-11-04 12:00pm

Issue #16: Preview

84 Pages - November 2011

BrickJournal #16 (84 full-color pages, $8.95) continues our fan theme features, this time focusing on Steampunk! Feature editor Guy Himber will give you a tour of the them with a look at his work, as well as Dave DeGobbi, Nathan Proudlove, and others! There's also a look at the history of LEGO Steampunk building, as well as instructions for a Steampunk plane by Rod Gillies! Then, look for our regular columns on minifigure customization, building tips, event reports, our step-by-step "You Can Build It" instructions, and much more. Edited by Joe Meno.

Click here for a preview.

Posted On: 2011-11-01 12:00pm

Build a Comic Scene and be Seen in BrickJournal 20!

To celebrate the LEGO Superheroes line and to coincide with San Diego Comic-Con, BrickJournal 20 will be a Superheroes issue! With the assortment of articles that we will have, I wanted to also have the LEGO fans participate in a more personal way. With the support of the LEGO Group and their Superhero contest, DK Books, and some other groups I am contacting,we are hosting this contest.

What is it? It's a building contest. Build with your LEGO parts a scene inspired by superheroes. You can build a diorama based on a comic book cover or layout, or build a sculpture of Batman or design a set you would think could be a part of teh LEGO superheroes theme. DC or Marvel heroes are fair game for this contest, but these HAVE to be photographed scenes, as the best scenes will be included in a section in BrickJournal! There will be prizes given out, with the best scene getting a full page spread and a LEGO Batman and Green Lantern minfigure that were given out at San Diego Comic-Con. Other prizes include the Ideas Book and the LEGO Star Wars Character Encylopedia by DK Publishing, and more will be announced as the contest continues!

Deadline for entries is Black Friday, November 25, 2011. All entries must be primarily be in LEGO bricks and elements, however, third party parts and props are allowed. Minifigure modification is also allowed in depicting heroes and villains. Send photos of entries to admin@brickjournal.com, title line: I have a Superhero Scene! Final photos will have to be high-resolution (2400x3300 pixels approximately), but for the contest, web resolution is allowed. The smaller the photo size, the smaller it will be in the magazine.

So good luck and build your best comic scene!

Posted On: 2011-10-31 1:00am

LEGO-Built Explorer Begins Trip to LEGOLAND Florida

CHICAGO, Sept. 2011 – A unique Ford Explorer rolling off the line at Chicago Assembly Plant will feature the model’s trademark eye-catching craftsmanship with one notable distinction. This Ford Explorer is created from more than 380,000 LEGO bricks and marks the beginning of a long-term alliance between Ford and LEGOLAND® Florida theme park.

The bright red LEGOLAND Florida edition Explorer, created by 22 designers, weighs 2,654 pounds and is supported by a 768-pound interior aluminum base.

Click below to see time-lapse video of the build of the unique Explorer.

The completely reinvented Ford Explorer is a head-turner on its own, of course, blending style, capability and technology with class-leading fuel efficiency. It delivers an EPA-certified 28 mpg on the highway with an all-new EcoBoost® engine.

After its debut at the historic Chicago plant, which produces the Explorer, the vehicle will be loaded onto a trailer with transparent sides so motorists can see the LEGO Explorer as it makes its way to the new 150-acre LEGOLAND Florida theme park just outside Orlando.

There it will be featured in front of one of the park’s attractions, the Ford Driving School for children.

“Ford is excited to support the alliance between LEGOLAND Florida and the Southeast Ford dealers. The LEGOLAND Florida Explorer and the Ford Driving School attraction are great opportunities to showcase our products and safety messages to families and visitors in a unique way,” said Tracy Magee, Ford Experiential Marketing manager.

LEGOLAND Florida, which opens Oct. 15, will cater to kids ages 2 to 12 with more than 50 family-focused rides, shows and attractions and a historical botanical garden.

The park, which features exhibits using more than 50 million LEGO bricks, is divided into 10 themed entertainment zones for kids. It allows them to experience different adventures, including the empowering thrill of getting behind the wheel and learning to drive their own vehicle.

“We’re less than a month from opening and the anticipation level is incredibly high,” said LEGOLAND Florida General Manager Adrian Jones. “This is the only park of its kind in the world built exclusively for kids ages 2 to 12, and it will be a total departure from anything families with young children have seen before. It’s a completely immersive experience, engaging kids’ imaginations and their sense of adventure through interactive play.”

Driving through LEGOLAND Florida
The driving school is divided by age. There’s a Ford Junior Driving School for children ages 3 to 5 years old and a Ford Driving School for those ages 6 to 12. The children watch a video with driving instructions and safety tips – starting with the basics like safety belts and the difference between the accelerator and the brake – and move on to stoplights and stop signs. Children then have the opportunity to drive in their own electric vehicles on curbed roads with maximum speed limits of 3 mph.

With its detailed LEGO theme, the attraction is designed to give children the experience of driving in a real-world neighborhood.

While the children are behind the wheel, park employees known as “model citizens” are nearby to ensure the experience stays positive. After the drive is complete, the children are issued their own Ford Driving School license.

The school was the brainchild of Florida-area Ford dealers that worked with LEGOLAND Florida management, and is designed to introduce the fun and responsibility of driving skills to children.

# # #

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

LEGOLAND® Florida opens October 15, 2011 and will be a 150-acre interactive theme park dedicated to families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. Located midway between Orlando and Tampa, just 45 minutes from either city center, the park features more than 50 rides, shows and attractions. There are currently four other LEGOLAND Parks in the world – LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, LEGOLAND Billund in Denmark, LEGOLAND Deutschland near Günzburg, Germany and LEGOLAND Windsor outside of London. The LEGOLAND theme parks are a part of Merlin Entertainments Group, the second largest attractions operator in the world. For the most current information, log on to www.LEGOLANDFloridaResort.com.

Merlin Entertainments is the leading name in location-based family entertainment and has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years. Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates over 74 attractions, six hotels/two holiday villages in 17 countries and across four continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 43.6 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 15,000 employees. Merlin Entertainments operates the following attractions: SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The EDF Energy London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Heide Park, Earth Explorer , Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World, Sydney Tower Observatory and Skywalk, Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter Underwater World, Oceanworld Manly and Hamilton Island Koala Gallery. All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative – and have great potential for growth in the future. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

Posted On: 2011-09-28 1:00am

Mini Modular Sets Announced!

10230 Mini Modulars

Ages 12+. 1,356 pieces.
US $79.99 CA $99.99 DE 69.99 € UK 59.99 £ DK 649.00 DKK AU $119.99

Available only to our LEGO® VIP Program Members, this exclusive mini modulars set is an authentic miniature representation of the first 5 buildings in the Modular Building series: Café Corner, Market Street, Green Grocer, Fire Brigade and Grand Emporium. Featuring highly detailed design, each building can be displayed as a stand alone piece or connected to the others buildings in the set. The mini Café Corner includes details like a fan above the doorway and printed hotel signage, while the mini Market Street includes transparent bricks and a unique brick construction. The quaint mini Green Grocer also features transparent bricks and a fire escape at the rear, while the mini Fire Brigade includes a brick bell and white arch wall elements. Finally, the mini Grand Emporium has a rooftop sign, skylight and window washing platform. With fantastic detailing and a huge variety of elements in a range of rich colors, this exclusive mini modulars set is the perfect addition to every VIP Member's collection.

Exclusively available to LEGO® VIP Members!

Authentic miniature representation of first 5 Modular Buildings: Café Corner, Market Street, Green Grocer, Fire Brigade and Grand Emporium!

Each building can be displayed individually or connected to the other buildings in the set!
All buildings feature fantastic detailing and a wide variety of elements and colors!
Completed model measures over 5" (14.5 cm) tall, 12" (32 cm) long and 2.5" (6.5 cm) wide!
Each individual building measures 2.5" (6.5 cm) long and 2.5" (6.5 cm) wide!

Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning  January 2012 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone:

US Contact Center            1-800-453-4652
CA (English) Contact Center        1-800-453-4652
CA (French) Contact Center        1-877-518-5346
European Contact Center        00-800-5346-1111

Posted On: 2011-09-24 4:00pm

Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House Joins LEGO® Architecture Series!

BILLUND, Denmark- (August 31, 2011) - The LEGO Group today announces the LEGO® Architecture Robie House, an interpretation of Wright’s most famous Prairie style work. Designed by architectural artist Adam Reed Tucker, Robie House is a model of the Frederick C. Robie House located in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighbourhood.

The model will be available in LEGO Brand stores and online at www.LEGO.com from September 1, priced $199, €199.99 or £169.99.

With models developed in collaboration with architects, LEGO Architecture aims to inspire future architects, engineers and designers as well as architecture fans around the world. Fans of all ages can collect and construct iconic architectural sites, including: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum and Fallingwater, the Space Needle in Seattle, the Willis Tower and John Hancock Center in Chicago, New York’s Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center, The White House in Washington, D.C., Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Each LEGO Architecture set contains a booklet featuring step-by-step building instructions that is prefaced by history, information and photographs of each iconic building, its design origin, its architect and its architectural features.

LEGO Architecture: Robie House is recommended for ages 16 and older and includes 2,276 pieces and a booklet with details on Robie House’s design and history.

About Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House sparked a revolution in residential architecture that still reverberates today. The Robie House was the first historic property to be declared a National Historic Landmark based solely upon its architectural merit. Designated by the American Institute of Architects as one of the 10 most significant structures of the 20th century, the impressive home features dramatic overhangs which appear to defy gravity and continuous bands of stunning art glass which dissolve the barrier between interior and exterior. It is an American treasure and celebrated as one of Chicago’s most important buildings. The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust presents guided tours of this architectural masterpiece located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, offering a first-hand experience of its amazing contemporary spaces and interpretation of Wright’s innovative 1908 design.

About The LEGO Group
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, employing approximately 9,000 people globally. The LEGO Group is committed to the development of children's creative and imaginative abilities. LEGO products can be purchased in more than 130 countries.

LEGO and its logo are registered trademarks of The LEGO Group. ©2011 The LEGO Group. All rights reserved.

Posted On: 2011-08-31 12:00pm

The Volkswagen T1 Camper Van Arrives in October!

10220 Volkswagen T1 Camper Van

Ages 16+. 1,322 pieces.
US $119.99 (CORRECTED PRICE) CA $129.99 DE 99.99 € UK 79.99 £ DK 799 DKK

This authentic camper van is a replica of the classic Volkswagen Camper Van from 1962. Every iconic feature is here! On the outside, the terrific detailing includes 'V' shape three-way color split at the front, rounded roof and window frames, opening 'splittie' safari windshield, opening doors, iconic pop-up roof with textile curtain surround, roof rack, rear side air intake vents and lots more! The detailing is equally impressive on the inside, from the authentic VW air-cooled flat four cylinder boxer engine, front cabin bench seat, gear stick, angled dashboard and iconic spherical speedometer, to custom LEGO® features like folding rear bench seat, folding dinette table, closet with mirror and even a painting!

Features 11 windows, authentic plaid-print textile curtains and wing mirror!

Rear door opens to reveal detailed engine!

Interior also features rear bench seat that transforms into a bed, ‘Make LEGO Models, Not War’ T-shirt and rear shelf with plant!

Measures 11.8" (30cm) long and 5.5" (14cm) high!

A video about the set can be seen here

Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning  October 2011 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone:

US Contact Center	1-800-453-4652
CA (English) Contact Center	1-800-453-4652
CA (French) Contact Center	1-877-518-5346
European Contact Center	00-800-5346-1111

Posted On: 2011-08-13 3:00pm

Winter Village Post Office Announced!

10222 Winter Village Post Office
Ages 12+. 820 pieces.
US $59.99 CA $79.99 DE 59.99 € UK 49.99 £

Continuing the winter scene series, the Winter Village Post Office is the perfect snow-covered setting. In the cozy post office, the worker is hard at work sorting all the mail into containers and sacks, while upstairs, there's just time for the postman to take a break before setting off in the traditional post car with all the letters and gifts. From the pavilion outside, musicians fill the air with music, while children take in the wintry atmosphere by the park bench before throwing snowballs at each other - the musicians had better get ready to duck!

Includes 7 minifigures: female post office worker, male postman, female, 2 kids and 2 musicians and a dog!

Post office features dark-green split roof with snow, fireplace, light brick, table, coffee mug, and lamppost and mailboxes outside!
Also features evergreen tree and assorted minifigure accessories

Available for sale directly through LEGO® beginning  October 2011 via shop.LEGO.com, LEGO® Stores or via phone:

US Contact Center            1-800-453-4652
CA (English) Contact Center        1-800-453-4652
CA (French) Contact Center        1-877-518-5346
European Contact Center        00-800-5346-1111

Posted On: 2011-08-06 12:00am

LEGO® Minifigures on a Mission to Promote Space Research

From Andrew Arnold, LEGO Community PR:

BILLUND, Denmark – Three LEGO® Minifigures leave earth on the Juno deep-space probe today on a five-year mission to Jupiter to broaden awareness of the importance of planetary research.

The specially-constructed aluminium Minifigures are the Roman god Jupiter, his wife Juno and ‘father of science’ Galileo Galilei. The LEGO crew’s mission is part of the LEGO Bricks in Space project, the joint outreach and educational programme developed as part of the partnership between NASA and the LEGO Group to inspire children to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The LEGO Minifigures will help get attention for Juno’s mission to improve understanding of our solar system’s beginnings by revealing the origin and evolution of Jupiter.

Galileo

Juno and the Minifgures’ journey will be featured on http://www.LEGOspace.com, the website that gathers together educational and fun material about space. The site also houses a number of downloads, videos, a LEGOnaut game, and various facts about space exploration. Later this year it will also have videos of experiments conducted with LEGO Education models on the International Space Station.

Jupiter

In Greek and Roman mythology, Jupiter drew a veil of clouds around himself to hide his mischief. From Mount Olympus, Juno was able to peer through the clouds and reveal Jupiter’s true nature. The Juno spacecraft will also look beneath the clouds to help NASA understand the planet’s structure and history.

Juno

Juno holds a magnifying glass to signify her search for the truth, while her husband holds a lightning bolt. The third LEGO crew member is Galileo Galilei, who made several important discoveries about Jupiter. He used a telescope to confirm the phases of Venus and discovered the four largest satellites of Jupiter (named the Galilean moons in his honour). Of course, the minifigure Galileo has his telescope with him on the journey.

Juno and the Minifigures are scheduled to arrive in July 2016 and will orbit Jupiter for a year (33 revolutions) before crashing onto the planet’s surface.

Juno’s principal goal is to understand the origin and evolution of Jupiter. Underneath its dense cloud cover, Jupiter safeguards secrets to the fundamental processes and conditions that governed our solar system during its formation. As our primary example of a giant planet, Jupiter can also provide critical knowledge for understanding the planetary systems being discovered around other stars.

Read more about the Juno mission and Jupiter here. 

Posted On: 2011-08-03 6:00pm

LEGO Super Heroes Line Announced!

Warner Bros. Consumer Products Awards The LEGO Group License to Create LEGO® DC Universe SUPER HEROES

-Construction Toys Based on the Universe of DC Comics Super Heroes Slated for 2012-

from the LEGO Super Heroes website - www.legosuperheroes.com

BILLUND, Denmark – July 20, 2011 – Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) with DC Entertainment (DCE) and The LEGO Group announced today the extension of their successful partnership to translate some of the world’s most popular DC Comics Super Heroes into the world of LEGO® build-and-play adventures with LEGO DC Universe SUPER HEROES. The multi-year licensing agreement grants the world leader in high quality construction toys access to the entire library of DC Comics characters and stories to inspire LEGO building fun. Construction sets, minifigures and buildable characters and creatures inspired by the universe of DC Comics are slated to launch in January 2012.

The new LEGO DC Universe SUPER HEROES collection will feature 13 iconic super heroes in LEGO minifigure form, including: Batman™, Robin™, Catwoman™, The Joker, The Riddler™, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn™, Bane, Bruce Wayne, Superman™, Lex Luthor™ and Wonder Woman™. Buildable characters will include Batman, The Joker and Green Lantern. Select figures will be on display in the LEGO booth (#2829) at Comic-Con International at the San Diego Convention Center July 21-24.

“We have enjoyed a successful, longstanding relationship with The LEGO Group and this agreement enables the vast universe of DC Comics to inspire an array of incredible offerings,” said Karen McTier, executive vice president, domestic licensing and worldwide marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “Fans of our legendary Super Heroes and villains will be delighted with the uniquely imaginative creations which only LEGO Group can create.”

The company will revisit their previous successful collections like LEGO BATMAN™ that also inspired the best-selling LEGO BATMAN: The Videogame, published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, which has sold more than 12 million units worldwide since its launch in 2008.

“Given the fan enthusiasm for previous LEGO BATMAN collections, we couldn’t be more thrilled to continue the build-and-play adventures with new LEGO BATMAN play sets and the addition of other DC Comics properties,” said Jill Wilfert, vice president, licensing and entertainment for The LEGO Group. “This partnership gives builders a chance to recreate the characters, vehicles and worlds of some of the most iconic Super Heroes, so they can relive the action and even customize it – a proven and winning formula in LEGO construction.”

At San Diego Comic-Con, 3,000 exclusive Batman and Green Lantern LEGO minifigures will be distributed to kick off a promotion that will take place from August to December in advance of the launch. Fans are encouraged to use their collectible minifigures and existing LEGO collections to create original LEGO DC Universe SUPER HEROES adventures through video, photography or illustration, then share their submissions on www.LEGOSUPERHEROES.com. Entrants have a chance to win monthly prizes or a grand prize trip to California for exclusive tours of Warner Bros. Studios, WB Animation and LEGOLAND® California.

# # #

About The LEGO Group
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, employing approximately 9,000 people globally. The LEGO Group is committed to the development of children's creative and imaginative abilities. LEGO products can be purchased in more than 130 countries.

LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of The LEGO Group. © 2011 The LEGO Group.

About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.

About DC Entertainment
DC Entertainment, home to such iconic DC Comics properties as Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash, MAD Magazine, and Fables, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating across Warner Bros. and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its superheroic characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, and interactive games. Publishing over 1,000 comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world.

DC SUPER HEROES and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.

Marvel Entertainment and The LEGO Group Announce Strategic Relationship in Construction Toy Category

-LEGO SUPER HEROES Marvel Branded Collection to Launch at Retail 2012-

BILLUND, Denmark – July 20, 2011 – Two of the world's most iconic brands are joining forces as The LEGO Group, world leader in high quality construction toys, and Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a global character -based entertainment company, announced a wide ranging strategic licensing deal. Through the multi-year agreement starting as of January 1st, 2012, Marvel has granted LEGO Group the rights to develop a distinct Marvel branded construction toy collection -- LEGO SUPER HEROES -- which will bring the characters, vehicles and action of Marvel's renowned universe to the world of LEGO® build-and-play adventure. The LEGO SUPER HEROES Marvel collection's initial construction sets, minifigures and buildable characters are scheduled to launch in May of 2012.

The LEGO SUPER HEROES Marvel collection will spotlight three Marvel franchises – Marvel’s The Avengers movie, and X-Men and Spider-Man classic characters. The LEGO Marvel’s The Avengers movie line brings such ever popular Marvel characters as Iron Man, The Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Hawkeye, Loki and Black Widow to LEGO minifigure form. The LEGO X-Men collection includes minifigure comic versions of Wolverine, Magneto, Nick Fury and Deadpool, while the LEGO Spider-Man sets offer minifigure comic versions of Spider-Man, and Doctor Octopus. The first buildable characters in the LEGO SUPER HEROES collection are highlighted by Captain America, The Hulk and Iron Man. Select figures will be unveiled in the LEGO booth (#2829) during Comic-Con International at the San Diego Convention Center July 21-24.

“Our partnership with Marvel helps us continue to deliver some of the best and most constructible Super Hero stories of all time,” said Jill Wilfert, vice president, licensing and entertainment for The LEGO Group. “We’re thrilled to partner with Marvel to create creative, constructive play sets for builders, fans and collectors alike.”

Joann Mclaughlin, Executive Vice President Toys & Hardlines, Marvel Entertainment, commented, "The partnership with LEGO Group furthers Marvel's strategy to align our brand with the best in class leaders across various industries who have the global marketing expertise and distribution clout to stand out in the retail environment. This deal solidifies the already robust presence of our characters and the overall Marvel brand in the ever important toy category."

The retail debut of the Marvel-inspired LEGO SUPER HEROES collection is timed to coincide with the highly anticipated Summer 2012 blockbuster movie release of Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Pictures feature film Marvel’s The Avengers.

# # #

About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit www.marvel.com. Super Hero(es) is a co-owned registered trademark.

Posted On: 2011-07-20 10:00am

BrickJournal

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