Articles

Science experiment leverages best-selling LEGO product to study outer atmosphere, proving play and learning go hand-in-hand

Brian Davis presenting one of his robots at Brickworld, a LEGO fan event, earlier this year.

RENO, Nev. (July 29, 2008) – College professors, middle school students and robotics hobbyists unite today to launch seven robots into the Earth’s stratosphere to collect data, explore conditional effects and to set a world record as part of the High Altitude LEGO® Extravaganza.  Joining The LEGO Group to support the science experiment are Nevada Space Grant, the University of Nevada-Reno, Energizer and National Instruments in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the LEGO MINDSTORMS® robotics platform.        The MINDSTORMS robots will be launched from a desert location 30 miles east of Reno, Nevada into near space on an atmospheric weather balloon that will reach an altitude of more than 100,000 feet (30km).  Once it reaches

maximum altitude, the balloon will burst and the robots will parachute back down to the Earth individually or as a group depending on the robot’s desired experiment.  Results from the experiment will be posted online at www.mindstorms.com.

For more information on the HALE Project:

The HALE Project Homepage

The HALE Project Report on The NXTStep blog

The first set from BrickStructures, the Sears Tower.

-Leading construction toy maker further explores consumer and fan driven product development with debut of first line of models developed by brand enthusiast- CHICAGO (July 14th, 2008) – Continuing to explore the ways in which fans can drive innovation to the LEGO business, The LEGO Group today announced partnership with Adam Reed Tucker of Brickstructures Inc. to launch LEGO® Architecture. LEGO Architecture leverages the legacy of the classic LEGO brick’s 50 years of inspiring young builders and budding architects to express their own design ideas to take the experience further, making it possible for children of all ages to build and collect their favorite worldwide architectural sites through amazing replica models. Initially, LEGO Architecture will feature a pair of Chicago’s most famous landmarks: The Sears Tower and The John Hancock Canter.  In the future, the line will offer other famous landmarks from around the world celebrating influential architects and movements that have shaped cities and cultures. With models developed in collaboration with architects, LEGO Architecture will work to inspire future architects, engineers and designers around the world with the LEGO brick as a medium.

“My main objective with LEGO Architecture is to celebrate the past, present and future of architecture through use of the LEGO Brick. With products such as the line of souvenir sets and educational events, we wish to promote an awareness of the fascinating worlds of architecture, engineering and construction in a new and unexpected way,” said Adam Reed Tucker, president of Brickstructures, Inc.  “The possibilities of the LEGO play experience are the perfect medium in which to drive and engage that awareness and excitement.”

“LEGO Architecture is a milestone for LEGO Group, as it is the first new business launched together with a member of the LEGO community using the LEGO bricks as part of the business,” said Paal Smith-Meyer, head of new business group at the LEGO Group. “After years of development, this niche business stems from our exploration of new business areas outside traditional retail toy markets. LEGO Architecture exemplifies our philosophy that everything big starts small and our aim to build new businesses with entrepreneurs like Adam, who are passionate about the LEGO idea and our mission to inspire the builders of tomorrow.” LEGO Architecture models can be found at specialty stores in the Chicago area including Love from Chicago at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg and Yorktown Center in Lombard, The Chicago Architecture Foundation Shop and in gift shops at the Sears Tower and John Hancock Center. For more information and a complete list of retail locations, visit www.brickstructures.com

About Brickstructures, Inc.
Brickstructures, Inc., is a privately held company established to promote the use of LEGO Bricks in relation to Architecture. Established by architect Adam Reed Tucker from Chicago, Brickstrucutres, Inc, will act as creative developer and exclusive distributor for LEGO Architecture. Brickstructures will also arrange events and explore educational activities in conjunction with architectural firms, institutions and landmarks.

The LEGO Architecture Team wishes to extend a thank you to all parties who have participated in the foundation test throughout the city of Chicago.

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 4,500 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. ©2008 The LEGO Group.

A LEGO fan building contest announcement from Fine Clonier's site:

Arealights' Magnificent Motorcycle Mayhem Shop is needing to break ground and he needs your help. He has loads of inventory waiting to be delivered to the AMMMS for the mid-year Scoot-a-bration. Everything must go go go go!!! In order for your favorite figure to drive a scooter off the lot, there has to be a lot to drive it off, so help him by building a store front and lot. This would be like most car/motorcycle lots for his scooters to be sold from (figuratively speaking). So it is up to you to construct the Motorcycle and Scooter Bike store. Why is Arealight so crazed about an AMMMS? Well he is wanting to highlight his scooter, which he is bringing back after popular demand.

You can construct it in any style you desire, be it hard core biker, weekend resort, European getaway, or whatever.

*The scenes appearance need a shop with a motorcycle on the property (so to speak), and it must be to minifigs scale.

*LEGO and custom motorcycles are welcome, at least one is required.

More information, including rules and prizes, can be found at this page.

LEGO® Collector`s Guide Publishing date: 26.06.08 / LEGO Collector – Premium Edition beginning of August 2008 

We are happy to announce that the LEGO Collector’s Guide is about to be launched by Fantasia Verlag GmbH. The confirmed launch date will be the 26.06.08. 

This bilingual (English/German) catalogue is for the fan and collector alike. It is a high quality product full of details. It comprises around 800 pages presenting nearly all sets produced by the LEGO Group since 1958. 

Further, there will be a LEGO Collector - Premium Edition which will be very limited to 3.333 continuously numbered copies. The Premium Edition will be published at the beginning of August 2008 for a price of 39,90€. This high quality catalogue has a hardcover and is presented in a very decorative packaging with exclusive LEGO gimmicks.

The news release is attached.

Designing General Grievous
By Joe Meno

Jens with his other big set, the Millennium Falcon

The designer of the General Grievous set is Jens Kronvold Fredericksen. To those who are Star Wars LEGO set collectors, he’s a familiar name — he’s created more than a few sets, most recently the Ultimate Collector’s Series Millennium Falcon. Since then, he became Design Manager to the LEGO Star Wars theme so he oversees the design of the new and upcoming sets. Conversing with him on the phone, we discussed this set. The inspiration of the set, according to Jens, is a coincidence – some human character models were considered, but did not work well, as organic curves are very hard to do with LEGO elements. However, mechanical characters worked very well, and were done in previous sets. General Grievous is a combination of organic and mechanical, and with the available colors in the LEGO palette, it was very easy to decide on making a set. Besides, as Jens notes, “I was inspired by the scene in Revenge of the Sith where General Grievous duels Obi –Wan Kenobi. That was very cool.” The inspiration can be seen in the pose of the model, as Grievous arms are set in an attack pose. The legs however, are in a parallel standing pose. Jens explains, “I wanted to do an attack pose with one foot in front of the other, but the waist twisted too much and made the model unstable.” In fact, the biggest challenge was overall stability. “The set was designed to look like a LEGO system (brick) set, but it used Technic parts to create the frame,“ notes Jens.  As a result, the Technic elements are for the most part hidden, although some parts in the shoulders and legs are used to enhance the mechanical look of Grievous. System bricks and plates were used in the creation of Grievous’ head, and Jens recalls the challenges he had with it: “I worked a long time and did a lot of versions of the head. And it seems like…if you just move one single brick the feeling of the head changed dramatically and then suddenly, the head just looked right! I have to call it coincidence, I guess, as it was so hard just to imagine the head shape to build. I’m quite happy with the result. ”

There were some other parts used too. Jens used some Bionicle parts for Grievous’ internal organs, as well as an unconventional part for the heart. Jens comments, “ I looked through all the LEGO elements to find some organic parts, and I used the newer Bionicle tentacle elements and for the heart, I used a minifigure hood element.” The contrast in organic versus straight, mechanical parts is a very unique touch on this set.

Overall design and production of the set took around two or three months — with all the projects Jens is working on, it is hard to determine a real amount of time.  The idea for the set was sent to Lucasfilm for initial concept approval, then the design went through the usual approval steps and, if needed, changes from Lucasfilm.

So what’s coming next for the Star Wars LEGO theme? When asked, Jens only answers, “I can’t tell you – you’ll have to wait like everyone else!”

Sometimes it’s tough to be a LEGO fan.

You can read a review on the set here!

Tom Williamson, an AFOL and  "somewhat a filmmaker" (as he puts it) submitted a video in the Lipton Free Your Y contest onYouTube. You can see the video here:

You can vote for this video in the Free Your Y contest by going http://www.areyouyoungenough.com/freeyoury/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S80KPfhp-ckhere.

From the LEGO Group:

Hi all, Due to a safety accident with another toy producers product, the LEGO Group is expecting a ban of small parts that contain magnets in the USA and the EU in 2009. As a consequence, the LEGO Group has decided to stop selling products which contain magnets in small parts to already follow thenew rules and not compromise product safety. This affects mainly 2 products – the LEGO refrigerator magnets and the LEGO train magnet couplings. The train magnets will be re-designed as you can see on the pictures and we expect the new magnets in the boxes from August. LEGO Train sets packaged before August will still contain the existing magnets. The new LEGO train magnet element will be visually different from the existing train magnet element but due to that the magnet can rotate in the plastic cover and the clutch power will be as strong as at the old element. The function will be identical and fully compatible with the existing train magnet elements. The LEGO refridgerator magnets will also be re-designed and the new version is expected to be available for sale end of 2008. Jan Beyer, LEGO Community Development

From Julie Stern, LEGO Brand Relations

The LEGO Group and Toysrus.com want you to help pick one of the new Star Wars products for 2009.  Go to www.Toysrus.com/LegoStarWarsVote from May 10 at 12:01 am to May 18 at 11:59 pm to vote for one of three classic Star Wars scenes that you'd like to see transformed into a LEGO set.

Results will be released in February 2009, and the product will be available only at Toys"R"Us stores nationwide and online at www.Toysrus.com in September 2009! 

From the LEGO Group:

Hello LEGO Enthusiasts,

You may have noticed already that the selection process for the LEGO Ambassador Program will be slightly different this year.  In the past we’ve selected LEGO Ambassadors based on individual applications, which meant that the program was built on a very individual basis.  Now we would like to make the process more broad reaching and transparent for all members of the AFOL community.  Therefore the selection of LEGO Ambassadors will be based on nominations from your clubs.  In this way we give more people an opportunity to have a say in who’s name gets put in the pot for the selection process.

Who’s allowed to nominate?

- Any AFOL Community Group (online or on the map) will have the opportunity to submit nominations from their group (up to 3 people if they so choose).  Not everyone can be selected for the program as we’ll still only have around 30 people when all is said and done.  Each club can only have one person selected from that club.

- If you choose to submit a nomination it does not mean that your candidate will be chosen, but it does mean that your group will have just as much an opportunity to get involved in having a direct representative in the LEGO Ambassador Program. We will try to get a diverse group of people who are able to represent the whole AFOL community as good as possible.

- Groups can certainly nominate someone already in the Ambassador Program, but from now on the program will have a two term limit in order to have more room for people to be involved.

After a term out of the program, a previous Ambassador can be re-nominated.

- A group that submits a nomination for the LEGO Ambassador program should be established and known within the LEGO Community.

What should a nomination have in it?

- Name and age of the nominee. 

- Where is the nominee from?

- Which Group does this nominee represent?

- Does this person consent to being nominated (Please do not submit a nomination on behalf of someone you have not discussed with beforehand).

- Explanation of who the nominees are, what their activities are, and why they would be a good representative of their community (at least 3 testimonials from members of nominating group are required)

- Key interests of the nominee (themes, building styles, and some examples of their building)

When are Nominations Due?

May 24, 2008 by midnight GMT. If a nomination is received after this time it will be automatically rejected.

Who should the Nominations be sent to?

nominations@LEGO.com

What might a LEGO Ambassador be committing to?

- In-depth discussion with other like-minded LEGO Fans.

- An opportunity to speak with LEGO Group representatives on what is important to the AFOL community.

- Occasional opportunities to give feedback on upcoming ideas for different parts of the LEGO Group (require NDA).

- A chance to submit their own ideas and ideas from the communities they represent on what they would like to see from the LEGO Group.

- Participation in projects which support the community like helping rebuild LEGOfan.org and many other community related projects.

From the 2008/09 cycle, LEGO Ambassadors will not be required to sign an NDA to join the program, but in the interest of the community, LEGO Ambassadors will be invited to give feedback on development projects which will require signing of an NDA. Discussions related to development projects will happen in a separate “top secret forum” for those who decide to sign an NDA. All discussions in the general LEGO Ambassador forum can and should be shared with the community.  The decision on whether or not to take part in secret projects is up to the individual Ambassadors.

Another new aspect in the process will be that starting with this next cycle Ambassadors will only be able to serve for two consecutive terms.  Current Ambassadors will not have their previous terms counted against them, and if chosen by their communities to apply for the program can serve for two more terms.        

Thank you all. Your nominations are very valuable for helping the LEGO Community Team choose the next round of LEGO Ambassadors. 

Tormod, Jan, Steve

Brickarms, provider of custom-made building-toy compatible weapons and custom minifigs, is proud to announce the addition of several new weapons and accessories to its line-up.  All of Brickarms accessories are custom-designed and manufactured with exacting precision to achieve the highest possible quality, and these welcomed new additions to the Brickarms family of products are no exception!

In the continuing tradition of Brickarms accessories based on the weaponry of World War II, Brickarms is now proud to offer the service rifle that saw the US Army through the war: the M1 Garand.

Will Chapman, owner of Brickarms and designer of all its custom weapons, also remains committed to providing detailed and accurate modern weaponry on the cutting-edge of technology. In this latest set of accessories, Will adds two great new modern weapons to the Brickarms line-up: the MP7 and MK48.

MP7	MK48 with bipod (sold separately)

Fans of sci-fi weaponry also have reason to be excited  as these new items include a number of eye-catching pistols and rifles that would be perfect for any futuristic MOC. Each weapon is a unique design of Will Chapman inspired by the world of science fiction.