Max Engel - the 8BitKid » lego

Announcing Brickd.com

8BitKid — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:05:45 +0000

I’m excited to introduce my latest web project: brickd.com. Brickd is a simple photoblog with the best Lego design work from around the web. I’ve found myself getting back into Lego building recently, and wanted to share some of the most impressive custom work that other builders create.

Please be sure to check out the site, subscribe to the RSS, follow Brickd on Twitter, and tell your friends.

Nausicaa and Her Glider in Lego

8BitKid — Fri, 28 May 2010 18:30:51 +0000

My favorite Miyazaki film is the classic “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind”. If you haven’t seen it, you should put the computer down and watch it now. So you can imagine my excitement when I found this amazing Lego undertaking inspired by the film on Brothers Brick. You can check out the entire Flickr set here.

New Space Lego Announced: 10213 Shuttle Adventure

8BitKid — Tue, 11 May 2010 17:58:32 +0000

Lego announced a new Space-themed set, the “Shuttle Adventure”, that will be available for sale directly from Lego this June for $100. I have a certain fondness for the Space Lego sets, because they were the ones I grew up building. If you want to see more photos, you can find them here.

Lego Releasing Series 1 of Collectable Minifigures

8BitKid — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:39:54 +0000

Lego has made another brilliant marketing move with their upcoming minifigure collection. They are building on the success of the vinyl toy collecting scene, where limited-run figurines are randomly sealed in the packaging so the buyer has no idea which specific figure they are purchasing. This appeals to the most visceral collector’s instinct, as completionists will spend gobs of money to ensure that they own every figure from a collection. Additionally, this creates a strong secondary market where collectors trade and buy the figures missing from their collection.

The first series is supposed to be hitting the shelves in June, and they should go for around $2.00. For the enterprising individuals, there a rumors circulating that the barcodes reveal which minifig you’ll find in the bag. You can find the instructions on how to decipher the packaging here.

Lego Star Wars Sale at Toys R Us

8BitKid — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:14:55 +0000

Toys R Us is having a buy-one-get-one half-off sale on all of their Star Wars Lego sets. This is a great opportunity to claim fiscal responsibility when indulging in the overlap of nerdiness that is Lego and Star Wars. You can find the entire collection here.

Lego Universe CES Trailer

8BitKid — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:27:55 +0000

I absolutely cannot wait for this game to come out. While I haven’t traditionally been an MMO player, I think this might strike the perfect balance for me. It evokes nostalgia, seems playful and fun, and will feature a more casual gameplay. The game will also feature a brilliant feature: the ability to bring your digital creations to life and have your in-game constructions mailed to you for assembly. The game is due out in 2010, but it can’t arrive soon enough.

Lego My Apple!

8BitKid — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:37:02 +0000

This awesome decal popped up in several places around the web, and I knew I had to pick one up. They have been selling out like hot cakes on Etsy, so I’d recommend following the store’s RSS feed to see when they are in stock. I was lucky enough to manage to score one, and I can’t wait to give my MacBook Pro some Lego love.

You can buy it here.

Furnishing an Apartment? Go Lego!

8BitKid — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:24:18 +0000

My love of Legos runs deep and true. When I moved into my new apartment last year, I tried to strike a better balance between my inner-geek and my quasi-adult life. In this spirit, I outfitted my place with practical accessories with playful touches. Many of the key players in this aesthetic came courtesy of Lego. I was able to find Lego coasters and Lego ice trays. You can find many of the accessories online, but I have had better luck at the Lego retail stores.

Building the Right MMO for Me

8BitKid — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:18:07 +0000

So I have yet to make the plunge into the world of massively-multiplayer online games. I find that they are too time-consuming and the scale and scope of the genre seems a bit overwhelming. On the flip-side, I don’t find open-ended virtual worlds like “Second Life” satisfying because they lack structure. I don’t have the patience or initiative for this kind of freedom.

However, the Lego MMO, being developed by NetDevil, may be the game that finally entices me into the genre. “Lego Universe” will encourage users to explore an online world that leverages what has always made the toys fun: free-form building. Legos were a key part of my childhood; pushing my imagination and creativity as I enjoyed building whatever I could think of. My brother and I spent countless hours sifting through bins of Legos just to find that perfect piece for our creations. Now, in “Lego Universe”, not only can you build online, you can actually have those digital Lego structures sent to you as real Lego sets. How cool is that?

This game could be a crossover smash hit, and I agree with the “Wired” blog post which suggests that this could be the Wii of MMO’s. Check out the trailer below for an idea of what is in store.

Happy Birthday Lego!

8BitKid — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:42:26 +0000

Today we celebrate the birthday of a toy very near and dear to my heart: Lego. It is time to put 50 candles on the cake and let the brick blow ‘em out to commemorate 50 years of pushing kids to explore their imaginations and make that always ciritcal decision: do I use the instructions or go rogue? You can find more information on the history of the Lego as well as a whole bunch of cool toys to buy at the Lego Anniversary site.

Check out some of my handiwork from the Lego pit at last year’s SXSW after the jump.