LEGO

[Jonas]

So basically my kids LOVE LEGO and this coming year they are releasing minifigs of Batman Superman, Spider-Man etc. Anyone else have kids (or themselves into LEGO)?

[thefreakytiki]

My Daughter is ridiculously addicted to Legos.  In fact, I am taking her and two of her friends to the Lego Building Club event this morning.   


The Tiki

[Steve Raker]

my now 7 y/o has been into Legos for a few years now....I was amazed at his ability to follow the in depth direction books to assemble vehicles, etc. at the age of 5.....I just wish they were a little less expensive, and that we had more room in our ranch style house to store/display them....we end up with bins full of Lego sets!

[Jonas]

We do have bins and bins of legos. I even had to add a half-wall blocking the stairs from the boys room because it just had a railing and legos would constantly fall onto the stairs. Thusly walking up the stairs at night was like ninja training, cause legos in the dark feel like caltrops, complete with muttered swearing and hobbled walking.

Lately they have been using the mini figs as game pieces for whatever we are playing, and we have set up a few display shelves so some of the creations are staying built.

We just missed the last building event TRU up here holds because we were headed out of town.

Oh yeah the price....nuff said.

[thefreakytiki]

Two words of advice when it comes to price:

- If you live near a LEGO store sign up for their VIP program.  You get points on every purchase that lead to kickbacks/store credit.

- LEGO sets are the same price everywhere (similar to Apple products).  BUT there is a unique agreement that LEGO has with Toys r Us that the chain has a buy one set, get one 1/2 off.  My Wife and I stumbled onto one of these sales 3 weeks ago... Christmas is done!   The store manager says that they do these sales about once every 6 weeks so keep your eyes open for them.   


the Tiki

[Wood]

Concur on all fronts.

Another great tip for those with LEGO addicted kids...buy bulk from eBay.

My sons love the sets, they do. But the reality is that half the sets end up used as pieces to build things of their own imagination. So I bought 50 pounds of random pieces off an eBay dealer two years ago and it's been awesome for them to have their way and just go crazy creatively.

[Chris Campbell]

I will be buying all of the cool superhero sets and minifigs for my boys.  I'll probably have to keep them in storage for another 2 years (per the wife), but once my oldest hits 2nd grade or so, my comic room is gonna turn into our comic/lego room.  We've already got a kid play table that is mean for train sets, but they don't play with the trains.  Perfect.

[leafinsectman (Dan)]

I saw a fun Lego documentary a month or two ago, soooooo much fun. And another show where James May (from Top Gear) builds an actual house using Lego and dishes out some Lego facts along the way. I love the things.

Another great tip for those with LEGO addicted kids...buy bulk from eBay.

This. I need to do this actually since my wife really wants some.

[Jonas]

@Tiki I will have to see if a LEGO store is anywhere near me. I do hit up the bogo sales whenever possible. The price thing seems strange since I know we price compare and their seems to be about a $5 dollar swing or so in prices depending on store.

@Wood bulk is something me and the wife are looking at. But to be honest we have a effin ton so its like odd stuff they want more of. Minifigs especially.

Glad to hear LEGO resonates with so many people here.
Also Lego Universe game is like warcrack for kids. just sayin.

[thefreakytiki]

But to be honest we have a effin ton so its like odd stuff they want more of. Minifigs especially.

At the NYCC Wood and I had an interesting discussion about the LEGO empire and I learned a few things about the company I did not know. 

Minifigs are the gateway drug for kids.  In my eyes, it was the key to most of their kid appeal whether it is via the minifig mystery pack or the video games that place a minifig squarely in front.


the Tiki

[Jeppe]

All this LEGO love makes my Danish heart swell 

[leafinsectman (Dan)]

I saw a fun Lego documentary a month or two ago

Found it!
http://www.austar.com.au/tv/whats-on/program-highlights-megafactories.aspx

And it looks like someone's posted it on Youtube. All you Lego lovers need to watch this.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vxqhi-EWYEk&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/Vxqhi-EWYEk&rel=1</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jov-QB27_Vs&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/Jov-QB27_Vs&rel=1</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/EfJEwNN10iw&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/EfJEwNN10iw&rel=1</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/dC86PtZ_0AE&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/dC86PtZ_0AE&rel=1</a>

[Jonas]

so awesome

[thefreakytiki]

FWiW, I just got back from the monthly Lego builders club with my Daughter and her two friends and in their Goodie Bags a lego comic was in it... published by DC comics. 

Lego + DC = the new Micronauts + Marvel  


the Tiki

[Jonas]

With all the easter eggs they put in their video games and LEGO signing to produce both DC and Marvel next year, we have a more solid shot of a crossover in LEGO's universe (or at least an easter egg of one) than in the comics.

If these lines both do well, I can not see either of them not following up with more LEGO video games. Which would be awesome.

Of course I could be totally wrong.

BTW umm shit I forgot what I was going to say.

[Steve Raker]

With all the easter eggs they put in their video games and LEGO signing to produce both DC and Marvel next year, we have a more solid shot of a crossover in LEGO's universe (or at least an easter egg of one) than in the comics.

If these lines both do well, I can not see either of them not following up with more LEGO video games. Which would be awesome.

Of course I could be totally wrong.

BTW umm shit I forgot what I was going to say.

there were at least 3 Lego video games in the last year (clone wars, harry potter, pirates)....I assume they'll keep 'em coming!

[Jonas]

I have not played HP but I have played the other two and they are both (especially CW) awesome. Kids lack interest in HP which I suspect is why we dont own it. They like the movies. But they LOVE Star Wars.

LEGO Universe...My kids so far love thee. Now I have to talk to the wife about them gettgina full account.

I just like the idea of having Spider Man and Superman made by the same company in one facet or another.
Wich HASBRO would sign DC for figs.

Daily Planet back-to-back with the Daily Bugle. Centerpiece for my Lego Town.

[MickeyRossi]

Lego has some neat, free software for digitally creating Lego stuff. My 6yr old spends as much time playing with the software as she does with the actual physical Legos.

http://ldd.lego.com/

You can even order custom kits of your digital creation directly from the software, tho they can get verrrry expensive.

[Wood]

In an attempt to distract ourselves from the lack of power at our house, we rolled to the mall yesterday and as it turned out they were doing a lot for Halloween. We went to the LEGO store with the plan of securing this year's Advent Calendars, but they also gave all three of my boys Max mini-figures, which had them super giddy. Max is the LEGO mascot that appears in the LEGO Club magazines.

 

[thefreakytiki]

Yesterday was the last day of double points at the Lego store so I went a little nutty. 

I bought:

http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Fire-Brigade-10197  AND  http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Grand-Emporium-10211

My Daughter and I are gonna build them together.  She is in complete shock that they are in our house and it's killing her that they are still in the package 24 hours later.



The funny thing is I thought my Wife would shoot me the "Are you fucking crazy" look for buying them, she actually bought one of the Christmas sets for her and my Daughter to build.   


the Tiki