Details: When I wrote about LEGOWORLD 2009 previously, I briefly mentioned the large NXT-based recreation of the machines in the LEGO company's warehouse. After nearly two months of waiting, we finally have found video of this phenomenal Mindstorms NXT set-up. While we still can't see quite everything, we can see a substantial amount of the layout in action, and we even get a decent close-up of a few sections of layout (specifically the carrier robots on the road).
Details: I've previously mentioned my feelings about the changing Space Police saga, and many longtime LEGO fans have similar complaints about the lack of Blacktron in the current line. Longtime-fan-turned-company-set-designer Mark Stafford has been occasionally sharing with the public some of his designs recast to fit better with more traditional (and in some cases, more realistic) designs and themes that are less kid-oriented. Not that there's anything wrong with LEGO making kits that are aimed towards kids, but it always helps a set to look attractive if it has great parts and a clever design in addition to play value. Personally, I was thrilled to see that the set designers behind the current Space Police line incorporated graffiti in a way that brought continuity with other LEGO lines (Look closely at some of the ships for stickers that say "Blacktron!" and "I love Insectoids"). This particular model takes the vehicle driven by the "Skull twins" in the current series and replaces them with a Blacktron operative (and enhances the colors and look of the ship appropriately).
Some of my complaints about Blacktron being swapped out for aliens have been rectified in the 2010 line - one new set that's finding its way into stores now features an alien with a torso that cleverly combines classic Blacktron torso designs in the sort of print quality we've gotten used to seeing in kits in recent years (double-sided torsos and slightly heavier printing than when I was little).
Mark Stafford was interviewed not too long ago on The Brothers Brick.
Details: Although no one informed me far enough in advance to announce it here or add info about it to the BrickJournal Shared Calendars (the main webpage for them appears to be down currently), there was a new show called LEGO Kidsfest two weeks ago. How an official show run by the company can go under the radar, I don't know, but we have photos from the event now.
As previously noted, LEGOWORLD was this past weekend in the Netherlands. Here is our belated attempt at the obligatory photo round-up (and as usual, we'll be adding more links to this page as we find out about them):
Judging by the copious amounts of fun that was had in 2008, 2009 is looking to be even better.
I'm eagerly awaiting photographs from the convention to see what kind of fun/craziness is taking place. And Brickcon always seems to have alot of that.
And yes, Steve Witt will be there in all of his Nerf gun wielding glory. He was in Atlanta catching a flight to Seattle earlier today.
Sadly, I have to report that Nannan will not be at Brickcon this year. Something to do with DNA and splitting I'm told.
Details: Looking at the Bionicle universe, it's hard not to notice that LEGO has chosen not to release many civilian characters. It's a world of heroes and villians, Toa, masks and whatever came after the Toa (I lost track of the plot fairly early on, and started deriding it openly after they announced that the planet of Mata Nui is itself a giant Toa that would star in the 2009 line). Wounded Toa are something that LEGO simply hasn't accounted for. Part of this might be expense - the sheer size of some of these Bionicle characters means that properly scaled vehicles and buildings are generally too expensive to build or for the company to sell (to their credit, though, LEGO has created a few Technic-based vehicles that seem to be roughly to-scale).
On to this model, now - this is a builder after my own heart, clearly trying to mesh disparate parts from a wide variety of LEGO themes. "Arctic" treads and "X-Pod" lids (two parts largely ignored as "useless") take on a whole new context when used together and combined with Star Wars droid arms and Explorien octagonal elements to form wheels. The studs of log bricks have been connected directly into studless Technic beams (a simple but surprisingly underused technique) to create a comfortable looking back for the chair. Bionicle elements are used both in the chair's structure and as accents. Triangular Technic propellers (sparsely used now but widely available in the '90s) hold the footrest at just the right angle - and of course, the footrest can be retracted using the Bionicle ball joints. Finally, there's the spectacular color scheme - dark blue and yellow. I had no idea that some of these parts were even made in these colors before.
Photos from this past weekend's toy industry trade show in New York (better known as Toy Fair) are now online in a variety of places. I've already received more links than this, but feel free to send yours in if you have more Toy Fair coverage:
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