The Brick Rat

Here in Charlotte, NC I found series 3 at TRU on Tuesday. By Wednesday they were all gone. This is exactly what I did too - with 100% accuracy (it just takes more patience than the barcodes).

Just Imagine. That's what I first thought too, but as I posted several pages back - is this fig really a pilot? Others have noted that he appears to be wearing a backpack, but that doesn't make sense to me. But what is that's a rocket-pack on his back? If this fig turns out to be an Adventurers style "Rocketeer" I'll be very happy indeed. Yes, but a great little parts pack. She does look good, but I am a little disappointed because when I first heard that there was going to be a female snowboarder with pink headgear, I envisioned a pink version of the series 2 Skier with a snowboard instead of skis. Now I want to see a pink version of the skier in a future series.

At the Targets around me, I've found 30031 hanging on the pegs near the cash registers. No idea why they're keeping 30031 and 30032 in different sections.

It's always good to see a new series of collectible minifigs, but I must admit to finding this batch a bit disappointing. There are at least six figs that I would make changes to. Hula Girl: Like many others have noted she needs a ukelele, not maracas. Otherwise she's perfect. Tribal Chieftain: Although it's nice to get more Spartan spears, they just don't look right with this fig. I'll probably display him with the old style spear and some clip-on feathers. Fisherman: One of the most disappointing figs for me. He looks a mess: the Santa style beard looks tacked on, he needs a proper fishing hat instead of the knit cap and the new fishing pole looks horrible. Alien: I already have two versions of Squidtron from the Space Police III line, I don't need another. Give this alien a green minifig head with bug eyes, an enraged 'destroy all humans' expression, and a clear domed space helmet and I'd be happier. Mummy: White bandages? They need to be tan or grey for that ancient look. As Oky noted, this guy looks like someone wrapped him in T.P. Gorilla: I guess TLC was going for a gorilla costume (could be a kids TV show character) look, but I was hoping for more of a 'real gorilla in the wild' type thing. There are also six figs that really standout for me: The Elf, Tennis Player, Rapper, Race Car Driver, Samurai Warrior and Baseball Player. They all look fantastic. Finally, a thought about the Adventurer Pilot. I'm going to go out on a limb here and speculate that he's not a Flying Ace at all, but rather a Lego Adventurer meets the 'Rocketeer' type guy and that the thing on his back is actually a rocket pack. If he's just a pilot (wearing a backpack?) he'll still be a nice fig, but if that's a rocket pack on his back he could turn out to be one of my favorites in this series.

I'll stick with my original guess of a Diagon Alley set, although I'd be equally happy with Matn's suggestion of a village of Hogsmeade in winter set. That should be easy to integrate with last years Winter Toy Shop and the upcoming Winter Bakery set.

I'd love to see a Diagon Alley set done in the style of the Medieval Market Village - only a bit larger.

A gorilla is one of my most wanted figs, but I hope they don't go with a molded head. I would much rather they use a normal minifig head with gorilla face printed on (esp. a double-sided face: one a normal face and the other an angry face) and a gorilla hairpiece to top it off. That way you could put a helmet and armor on the fig to make a gorilla warrior, or put the gorilla head on another minifig to make all manner of fun figures (a gorilla astronaut, a gorilla jester, etc.).

They are $2.99 at Borders.

Series one has appeared in the USA. Tuesday evening I stopped at TRU here in North Carolina and found two boxes on a Lego display in the main aisle near the cash registers. Cost: $1.99 per pack. I picked out 16 packs with different barcodes to make a full set (the USA barcodes do not match the European ones). Think I'll go back and get more tomorrow - TRU has a nasty habit of initially selling Lego at MSRP and then jacking up the price about a week later. I have no proof that they'll do that with these collectible minifigs - I'm just sayin'...

This pretty much sums up the whole thing. There's a serious shortage of common sense in the world today.

I have no idea what will be in the second assortment, but here's a lineup I wouldn't mind seeing: 1)Bishop (1) 2)Boxer 3)Cat Burglar 4)Cavewoman 5)Cheerleader (with different team colors) 6)Circus Strongman 7)Deep Sea Diver (with diving helmet) 8)Elven Warrior (2) 9)Gorilla 10)Life Guard (female) 11)Lumberjack 12)Minstrel (with lute or handheld harp) 13)Musketeer 14)Roman Legionnaire 15)S.W.A.T. Team Member 16)Sherlock Holmes (3) (1)I know LEGO steers clear of this kind of thing, but this type of limited edition product could be a way for them to slip in the occasional religious themed minifig. As a Castle builder, I'd like to see a monk and nun also. I know, don't hold my breath. (2)If we can't have Elves in the Castle line then this would be a great way to get them to fans. (3)If the forestman in the first assortment is actually Robin Hood and LEGO continues to release more waves beyond the first two, then I would like to see each assortment have one literary minifig included. Sherlock Holmes, King Arthur, Zorro, Tarzan, Captain Nemo, etc.

LEGO does pursue legal action against companies like this, but it's not easy and takes time. Here's an article about a past success.

I did a search for this but did not find anything, so here goes: After hearing about the new LEGO sets hitting TRU shelves this weekend, I went to my local store to check it out (last Sunday). When I entered the store I encounted a woman handing out Santa minifig keychains with a coupon attached for $5.00 off any LEGO purchase of $20.00 or more. Turns out TRU is doing this twice this month. Sunday the 15th was the first time; they will also be handing these out this Saturday (Nov. 21). More info here: Free Santa Minifig Keychain

Perhaps the Discovery series will focus on architecture from the ancient/medieval world - the Parthenon, the cathedral of Notre Dame or the Mayan pyramid at Chichen Itza, for instance.

Like others have pointed out, the average shopper is more likely to buy a hundred dollar set in a large box than they are in a smaller box. Even though the box art and piece count are the same, a larger box 'feels' like a better value. Basically the same reason that the hundred dollar set isn't priced at $100.00 but rather $99.99.

1)The new parts (and old parts in new colors) that are part of the new LEGO games line. 2)More doors and windows. 3)A full selection of roof bricks (especially 45 degree slopes) in colors other than red and black.

Batman, with his vehicles, gadgets and great rogues gallery was the perfect licensed superhero theme for LEGO and I don't really think there is another that could be better. If LEGO wanted to do another superhero theme I believe that a non-licensed in-house theme would be the way for them to go. Think something similar to the Agents theme but with superheroes instead of secret agents.

For those in the Charlotte, NC area I found the following on the Charlotte Observers website: ***** July 6, 2009 Two new stores are opening at Concord Mills, the mall's owner announced Monday: a Lego store and a Coach Factory store. The Lego store will open at the end of July with 4,520 square feet, across from the Nike Factory store. It will include a Lego Education Center, which will offer several classes to teach people to become better Lego builders. ***** I'm excited, as I've wanted a LEGO store here for years now. Next on the wish list: A Charlotte LUG.

I should probably don my flame retardant suit before I say this, but I'd ditch yellow minifigs and produce them all in flesh tones.

There is also a magnet set with SpongeBob, Patrick and Sandy in their spacesuits (including Sandy's bubble helmet). Edit: Striker beat me to it.

I can bring this fig for you Ricecracker. The one I have has been modified in the past so he is sporting fleshie hands instead of yellow (and I don't know where the original head is) - but since you stated that you were going to put a fleshie head on it I think that should suit your needs. Do you also need the knit cap or do you have different headgear in mind for him?

Two quotes from the linked article: "The range, based on the Ben 10 Alien Force adventures, is expected to launch globally in Spring 2010 and promises a new twist on the Lego building system." "Ben 10 Alien Force is the perfect property on which to base a new way to build and play with Lego elements.” A new building system for a license that features lots of weird creatures? Has Lego already forgotten Galidor? I'll have to reserve full judgement until I actually see what they come up with, but for now I have a bad feeling about this.

I'm now signed up and paid in full. Brickworld '08 was great fun and I'm looking forward to returning this summer.

Nor have I.

Found this posted on Lugnet: LEGO® Universe Won’t Arrive This Year (2009) By Brian Crecente- Feb. 17, 2009 Online multiplayer game LEGO® Universe won’t be coming out this year as planned, the LEGO Group told Kotaku this morning. “Within the company we have made a strategic decision within LEGO to make a delay of LEGO Universe. It will not be coming out in 2009,” said Mark Hansen, director of business development for the LEGO Group. “The reason is, we have a luxury right now, the business is going good. We have products launching that are not digital, the physical products, with them going so well we don’t want to take focus away from them.” While Hansen couldn’t say if the game would come out even in 2010, he was adamant that LEGO Group remains committed to the online multiplayer game being developed by NetDevil. “This is something LEGO is very committed to,” Hansen said. “We see it as a major growth.” It’s likely that LEGO Group’s annual earnings report next Monday might shed a bit more light on which project they don’t want overshadowed by LEGO Universe. It’s possible that more details about eventual timing for the game could be hinted at then as well. The delay means that NetDevil will have more time to both work on the original concept and also potentially add new ideas to the game before it ships, Hansen said. “There will be additions,” he said. “But we are holding exactly to the plan we had when we started game development. (NetDevil might) create more content and alignment with the products we have on the shelf.” At least initially that won’t include the LEGO bricks that use different IP like Batman, Star Wars and Indiana Jones, Hansen said. But that’s not totally off the table. The hang-up would be getting the owners of those properties to sign off on the rights, he said. Something that’s often a difficult proposition. Hansen said that while the game has been delayed, development is progressing nicely. In fact LEGO Group released two new pieces of art to Kotaku that were created using 100 percent game assets. One shows pirates the other shows a robot of sorts being attacked by people with swords and spears. “We like the results very much,” Hansen said. “The NetDevil relationship is very, very strong. The commitment to bring it out is as well.” http://kotaku.com/5155014/lego-universe-wo...rrive-this-year -end of report-