Is there a MegaBlocks Adult Following?

[Forresto]

I want to start off by saying Eurobricks has become a large part of my Adult Lego experience. For a long time during my formative teenage years I lost interest in the plastic bricks all of us here love. I always intended on keeping my childhood Lego for when I had kids of my own down the road. However when I came here to these forums and saw that many many adults love Lego I began to realize that just because I myself was older didn't mean I could not enjoy building again. So I did and I continue to do so. To that end I want to thank the creators of this forum and the mods for so diligently running administrative duties and the like and especially for keeping this a high quality site for all of us.

Now two things happened recently that became the reasons for why I created this thread. One I watched the Classic Star Trek Episode where Kirk and crew get beamed to the Mirror Universe Enterprise and of course there are evil versions of all our favorite characters. Two I accidentally walked into the Megablocks aisle of Target with a good friend (He doesn't collect Lego but he does like the idea of them) and saw a few kids excitedly buying Walking Dead (or other clone brand) Megablocks sets.

Now needless to say Megablocks suck, big time, but they exist and they continue to exist. That means they must receive a steady amount of revenue. Not only that but because they have almost half an aisle in each Target i've been to, when they never used to have one, they must be growing as a company.

Are there communities on the internet or otherwise like Eurobricks but for Megablocks instead? A EuroBlocks if you will. Are there AFoMB's (Adult Fans of Megablocks) in the world? Let's not restrain this to just MB, what of other Lego clone brands?

[KlodsBrik]

Interesting question.. Besides that, "AFOMB´s" unfortunaltely sounds awesome !

Here in Denmark Ive never came across any MB or COBI in any toystores .... However Ive had some pieces here and there when i bought bags of "LEGO" from markets or on online danish sites. So they must be around here as well. ( Well only got some cobi pieces, never megablocks ).

I know this doesnt answer your question, but im curious as well. And I just wanted to share how spread these copy brands are here in Denmark afaik,.

Edited May 21, 2016 by KlodsBrik

[Exetrius]

Well, occasionally I see a MegaBlocks review on Jangbricks' channel, but I never watched one, since that goes against my principles . I have seen some D2C-like sets, so I assume there must be an AFOMB community, residing somewhere in the dark and violent corners of the web...

[Venunder]

I'm Not a fan of MB.

However I do have some COBI/Character Building, KREO and OXFORD sets.

These are part of my Foreign Lands, in my Lego layout.

Why would I want to mix bricks?

Well the world around us is not made from one brand of products and I feel that having several makers of my MOC worlds cars, ships, buildings etc. is more "realistic".

I am particularly fond of OXFORD as an off brand, because their minifigs are almost identical to Lego, except for having rounded toes and some have knee joints. The bricks are almost identical to Lego in feel and quality, but do not have the Lego symbol on the studs. It is generally about 50% of the RRP of Lego but I try and buy it even cheaper. :)

The best of Cobi and CB are a close third in my estimation. But again I try and buy this at less than 50% of the COBI/CB RRP.

In my view KREO is more similar to MB than it is to Lego so this brand is my last and least favorite. I only buy it for the Star Trek models and for the Transformers when it is less than 50% of RRP and hopefully less. Most has been bought at 25% of RRP.

[xboxtravis7992]

Honestly I think a lot of AFOMBs cone via interest in the licenses MB has. Ever noticed almost all of Jang's Megablocks reviews are Halo stuff? Noticed Jang's other channels and how one of them is chock full of videos of him just beast-moding it in Halo 5 multiplayer? Correlation? I think so. Example here:

I will be honest to, I've been tempted at the thought of Mega Blocks Halo line to... Ultimately though I figured it's better to do it myself in Lego (compromising by someday I will buy BrickForge and Brick Arms) than buy from Megablocks. But some people don't have those reservations, and if they want COD or Halo toys, Mega they go.

Edit: (Also worth noting in Jang's case (He is one of the few AAFOs I see talking about Megablocks) he has a lot more hobbies than just Lego, sometimes when he reviews stuff in other hobbies he even shows his face:

My mind is blown) Edited May 21, 2016 by xboxtravis7992

[sparkart]

Someone brought MegaBloks Minions mini-figures to our last LUG meeting, and somehow walked out unscathed.

I have to admit, that I when I check out the MegaBloks products lately, I like them. MegaBloks have a collector corner and forum on their web-site.

In Pasadena this weekend, there's a MegaBloks affiliated show being put on, Brick Boutique. They have generous gift bags w/admission and you get to keep the MegaBloks you play with in the play area, but there's not a large contingent of LEGO enthusiasts that show up.

[brickmasterben11]

The only good thing i see about MegaBloks is the Halo theme. This theme is where they get most of their money from.

[HawkLord]

I used to really like MB when they carried World of Warcraft material. Now with the new movie coming out, I'm surprised they haven't revisited it. That and I'm also surprised that they picked up Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles after Lego discontinued their line of them.

I tried the McFarlane stuff - Walking Dead, but found it was super boring. The figures also looked horrible and finding good paint apps was as hard as finding good paint apps on McFarlane action figures.

K'Nex isn't bad and I do like the Mario and Plants Vs Zombie stuff. I think it has caharacter from a figure standpoint, but none of the sets are super special.

I got into the Kreo stuff and was really pulling for the Star Trek series to continue. The blind bags were great and I really wish they released that last wave in the US - the one with Worf.

[Benylin]

I don't know of any adult collector of MB but I must admit I was impressed at their expo, "the world in megablock" ( http://mtltimes.ca/the-world-in-mega-bloks-at-the-grevin-museum/ )

If you know anyone buying them, I must have 30lbs of MB and other clone brand, from yard sale surprises boxes !

[TheLegoDr]

I have wanted to build some LEGO equivalents to some of the Halo vehicles. I don't know how many pieces actually transfer over from MB to LEGO, or if they use specialized pieces for some of the odd shapes. I hadn't thought about it too much, but I could understand the appeal for some people.

I will always hear people in the LEGO aisle, "oh look, they have Call of Duty LEGO now!".... but in reality, no they don't. But people don't pay attention to the details.

Either way, there is a market for it otherwise they wouldn't be taking over the LEGO aisle.

[dr_spock]

I am not aware of any adult Megabloks fan clubs like LUGs. You could start one. There are a few MegaBlok pages on Facebook.

[the_ref]

do you even get Children fans of MB? Think my kids were interested in them for about a 6 month spell in their development (admittedly progressed away from them quickly under "guidance" from me that Duplo was a better option )

Was delighted when I got to bundle them all up and dump them on the charity shop.

[Aanchir]

The Mega Bloks fanbase, among both kids and adults, seems to be built largely on their low price and their licenses these days. I went to the Mega Bloks website sometime in the past year to see what brands they had and it was almost entirely licenses or Mattel brands. Literally the only original theme listed there today is "First Builders", their preschool line. Kind of sad, since the only Mega Bloks sets that ever interested me as a kid were their original themes.

I don't know if there are any organized Mega Bloks fan communities on the Internet. I've honestly never really looked.

[Krikkit]

I am a fan of the brick. Whether this is Lego, Megablocks Oxford or Kreo... if there is a good design, like the Dr Who silence heads or optimum primes head that I can use to make my stuff look better... why not? As a toy and playability the usnc mech looks more like something that Lex Luther would build to fight Superman than the cartoony mechs that lego have made. So it is swings and roundabouts. I would like to see more people with a passion for the building and not just the brand. So if you find one,let me know!

[wilson3a10]

It is hard to buy non lego legit stuffs in the stores like megabloks, playmobil and oxford. Lego has dominated in the market so much.

[Borex]

Where does mb come from? K'nex is from the states is believe. We've had some mario kart bikes and karts from knex in the past in the netherlands, but only a few. Although the builds and clutch of the bricks were rather poor, i liked the mario figs and the special mario weaponry.

The only mb i saw here were war of warcraft and halo i believe. Never interested me because of the more detailed look. I just like lego design. But i do have to say that some figs are overdesigned in lego as well (the last tusken raider, the guys from the marketplace in tadokana)

[dr_spock]

MegaBloks started as a Canadian company. They are now owned by Mattel. They were made in Canada originally. Now they are produced in China as my MB Hello Kitty set has made in China on it.

[Hobo Fett]

Megablocks are poorly made with low grade plastic and should never touch anything Lego.

[Japanbuilder]

Not seen much on MB for adults. Granted I've only been collecting again since this past December so there is a lot I am still picking up on.

That said I see a lot of potential in MB. They license themes that "older" folk might like better.

I wish badly LEGO would do themes like Warframe or even 80s cartoons like Thundercats and stuff but that stuff is a pipe-dream. MB, however, given their products like Star Trek and Halo seems like they could do it. So far I have not bought any MB sets but if they ever release a theme like those I mentioned it may be hard to keep me away.

[Kalhiki]

Don't know of any well-organized adult followings for MB like Lego has. Not saying they don't exist, but... Y'know.

But I gotta be honest. MegaBloks was my childhood. I loved their Dragons line. I still have the sets... Somewhere. One of these days I'll dig them out.

Though the models definitely weren't Lego quality. Maybe it was my kid hands, but I recall the models having a hard time going together and staying together. And in my kid mind, I assumed all building block brands were the same. So it was a while until I actually got into Lego bricks (I was a Bionicle fan from the start, luckily). But I digress.

I think the last MB sets I got were some of the Neo-Shifters from around '06 or '07. They were pretty boss. Kinda sad that nowadays all they have are licensed properties. If they reintroduced Dragons or something similar to Neo, I'd be all over it.

[sparkart]

...I see a lot of potential in MB. They license themes that "older" folk might like better.

'zactly, MB seems to be doing all the right things, wresting TMNT from LEGO, getting interesting licenses, making Kubros figures that riff like LEGO + Funko Pops, leveraging the old favorite Mattel character lines...If I was MB, I would be wondering how we're not outright killin' it. But then, when you get into the LEGO fandom, the tools and support that the fans have created on their own, and the history of quality products, you understand...MB will always be 2nd fiddle to LEGO. But then, LEGO was at the brink of going out of business before the big comeback. You never know what's going to happen in the world. You know, I'm sure there IS an alternate universe where MB rules the building block industry, and Star Wars MegaBloks characters appear in the MegaBloks Movie.

[Jetrax99]

"needless to say Megabloks suck"

It's comments like this and the overall general bias against the brand that makes Adult MB fans avoid lego forums.

Lego might have been the superior back in our childhood days, but even back then I found MB's offerings more interesting. Today, I find MB to be the superior product.

Now, I'd personally like to own more brick based Lego sets, but currently the only Lego sets that interest me are their CCBS offerings.

Edited June 1, 2016 by Jetrax99

[kibosh]

I hope to be getting my first Mebabloks sets in the next few days through a trade for some of my older Star Wars toys. The Call of Duty sets look really nice. I ok forward to giving them a chance, and forming a new opinion of them. I am going into it with an open mind!

[Whiteagle]

Two I accidentally walked into the Megablocks aisle of Target with a good friend (He doesn't collect Lego but he does like the idea of them) and saw a few kids excitedly buying Walking Dead (or other clone brand) Megablocks sets.

Actually those are McFarland Toys, which are more a static display toy with Building Brick bases...

...Honestly I think they kinda suck...

MEGA BLOKS on the otherhand, have hit it out of the park with their SUPER ARTICULATED MICRO ACTION FIGURES!

Interesting question.. Besides that, "AFOMB´s" unfortunaltely sounds awesome !

I know I'd rather be called an "A-FOMB" instead of an "AFOL."

Well, occasionally I see a MegaBlocks review on Jangbricks' channel, but I never watched one, since that goes against my principles . I have seen some D2C-like sets, so I assume there must be an AFOMB community, residing somewhere in the dark and violent corners of the web...

Yeah, in fact their better stuff is specifically targeted to adult collectors.

Honestly I think a lot of AFOMBs cone via interest in the licenses MB has.

...

But some people don't have those reservations, and if they want COD or Halo toys, Mega they go.

Well COD and Halo is where they started with the SUPER ARTICULATED MICRO ACTION FIGURES, which is a good strong point they're playing to.

However...

The only good thing i see about MegaBloks is the Halo theme.

I think COD actually brings in the money from Children, I know my younger Nephew actually prefers them SPECIFICALLY because their CALLUFDOOTY!

I tried the McFarlane stuff - Walking Dead, but found it was super boring. The figures also looked horrible and finding good paint apps was as hard as finding good paint apps on McFarlane action figures.

I didn't even need to buy it, I knew from looking at it that I didn't want static figures and barely buildable scenery.

Megablocks are poorly made with low grade plastic and should never touch anything Lego.

No, this is clearly why they should fight in MASSIVE BRIKWARS!

Though the models definitely weren't Lego quality. Maybe it was my kid hands, but I recall the models having a hard time going together and staying together.

Yeah, their quality control has gotten a LITTLE better, but they're never going to approach Lego levels when it comes to the bricks themselves.

It's the newer FIGURES where Mega Bloks really stands out; The Collectors' Series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles actually HAVE MORE ARTICULATION AND DETAIL THAN THE PLAYMATES TOYS!

Edited June 1, 2016 by Whiteagle