Why LEGO Fans Should Learn to Love Resellers

There is a lot of frustration out in the LEGO fan community about resellers. When collectors see a classic LEGO set at a vastly inflated price, that puts it beyond reach, it can be frustrating. The target of this frustration is often the resellers who are profiting from this long retired set. But do they deserve to be labelled as the bad guys?

Why LEGO Should Not Change the Rules Now

Christmas is coming (in a few months anyway), and it’s time for a new Winter Village set to add to the collection. Except it’s not. It’s time for the Winter Toy Shop (10199) to be re-released with a few changes as 10249. Brilliant news for those who missed it originally? Superficially maybe, but actually this might completely muck up the concept of collecting LEGO.

Can LEGO Make Star Wars Leaks Disappear?

What will the new Millennium Falcon look like?

Images of Star Wars: The Force Awakens product have been revealed by the long running website From Bricks to Bothans, but the website was quickly asked to take them down by LEGO. Is it realistic to try and erase these images from the public consciousness? Did half the Star Wars and LEGO fan communities not just see them? Are they not now on the hard drives of thousands of computers around the world?

LEGO Angry Birds Launches in 2016: No, not a joke

In 2016 the Angry Birds movie will be coming to cinemas, and it has been announced that LEGO will be providing the accompanying construction toy line. LEGO is for children, so why get frustrated and ranty over the announcement that LEGO Angry Birds is to become a reality? Surely as long as it’s for children it fits with LEGO? Read on to find out why it has the potential to be a theme that does more harm than good…

All Change for the LEGO VIP Program?

Having some sort of VIP reward scheme is better than not having one. That’s pretty much a given, and most LEGO fans shopping through LEGO directly would agree. But it isn’t perfect, most will also agree. It turns out that LEGO are looking to make improvements, as they have recently been soliciting opinion to shape the future of the VIP Program.

Adult LEGO Sets: How Many is Too Many?

This year has kicked off with several expensive, LEGO exclusive sets released and even more announced. LEGO are increasingly chasing the AFOL dollar, and some fans are feeling that the hobby is becoming harder to keep up with. But are there really more adult targeted sets being released than before? And where does saturation point come?

Awesome All About Bricks Awards 2014

Especially re-named for one year only, it’s time for the Awesome All About Bricks Awards (taking alliteration to unnecessary lengths, and not guaranteeing awesomeness).  There are the usual awards and some fun ones, so let’s round out 2014 with a bit of reflection on the year in LEGO.

Greenpeace Pressure Ends Partnership Between LEGO and Shell

LEGO have relented to pressure and are to end their relationship with Shell, which has goes back to 1960s. After an emotive video from Greenpeace, playing a subdued version of “Everything is Awesome” over LEGO scenes being submerged by oil, LEGO initially said that Greenpeace must take issue with Shell. Since then they have changed their position and stated that they will no longer collaborate with the energy giant.

Is LEGO Improving When it Comes to Gender?

I have written before and commented on the lack of female representation in LEGO, and supported articles that call on the company to re-balance its products for both genders. But for all the faults that LEGO has, and of course there are faults, LEGO does not exist in a vacuum and has actually improved in terms of appealing to both genders. So this article will be approaching the issue in support of LEGO, pointing out where they have improved and why aspects of the attacks are unfair.

Confused.com Have Some LEGO Fun

Just to be clear before going forward, this is in no way an endorsement of any product or service from Confused.com! That said, Confused.com have been having some fun to tie in with The LEGO Movie. Check out the advert below, which is a recreation of a regular advert but in LEGO form.

All About Bricks Awards 2013

Despite an irregular schedule over the past couple of months, a third batch of completely meaningless awards is here to finish off 2013 at All About Bricks. Find out which are the best themes and sets of 2013 as a way to reminisce about the last year in LEGO. Of course these are completely subjective, so please use the comments to argue how wrong the choices are.

LEGO Polybags Available in the UK

Image courtesy of Brickset.com

Polybags have been a fun part of the LEGO hobby for years, available at various times as promotional ítems. In the USA big chains have been selling them for years, and now polybags are available to buy in the UK. This will hopefully see more of the polybags released here in the UK and make it easier for collectors to track them all down.

LEGO CUUSOO: Vote for the Women

It's time to jump on a CUUSOO bandwagon. This was not a project that was on my radar, however it just hit 9,000 supporters. Having now looked around the web, it seems like other folk were aware and have been spreading the word about this excellent project. So why should this be the next LEGO CUUSOO project to become a reality?

Exclusive Interview with Steve Lettieri of Killer Minnow

Steve Lettieri is a name that few LEGO enthusiasts will be familiar with. But nearly every LEGO fan will have seen the work that he and the team at Killer Minnow do. From print adverts and web shorts, to designs and story ideas, Killer Minnow work closely with LEGO to create the content that supports the sets. To share more about what Steve and his team do, he kindly took the time to answer questions about their work with LEGO.

No More Free LEGO with the Sun

The Guardian revealed this week that LEGO will be ending their promotional partnership with the high-quality, fact based journal known as the Sun. Anti-Page 3 campaigners are claiming success, as they felt that the intellectual publication’s love of topless women is at odds with the values of an iconic toy brand like LEGO. Do LEGO accept their social responsibilities?

The Profit Keeps Coming for LEGO

LEGO have released their Annual Report, which shows that in 2012 the company sold nearly three times as much product as in 2007. The numbers, once again, are impressive and it is great news for LEGO.  Product lines singled out as success stories are Star Wars, City, Ninjago and Friends.

UK Toy Fair 2013 Report

2013 is the 60th year that the UK has played host to a national Toy Fair, where those in the toy industry get together to plan for the year ahead. The event ran from the 22nd to 24th January 2013 at the Olympia Grand Hall. LEGO were present, as were some other companies showcasing licensed LEGO products. Over the past few days All About Bricks has released lists of the sets that were shown, but for interesting titbits, reactions to the new product and what on Hoth The Yoda Chronicles is, read on...

All About Bricks Awards 2012

Another year has passed, with more LEGO sets released than have ever been before. We approach the time of year when BAFTAs, Oscars and Golden Globes dominate the airwaves - but who needs a star studded ceremony and TV coverage? The awards that really matter are here at All About Bricks.

Deep sea LEGO themes always bubble back up

LEGO never like to let a good, or successful, idea go to waste. Fans are often disappointed when a theme is only available for a year and then disappears, but at least there is the comforting knowledge that it will probably be back. Renamed, changed a bit, but back none the less.

A Rant: Where's the Customer Service?

 As Christmas approaches, there are lots of special deals on LEGO. When running up a huge LEGO bill each year it’s important to make savings where possible to afford all of the awesome sets that are available. Unfortunately, here in the UK, many big high street names don’t value the customer enough to make buying those LEGO sets a very pleasant experience.