BrickCon 2013: Thoughts

My wife and I decided that we'd attend BrickCon this year -- it's been one convention that has been running a long time, that we have not attended yet.  From what I understand, next year will be it's 13th years.  We have heard from friends that it's one of the nicest cons to go to, but honestly, each con we've been to has it's own different flavor, and I really think it depends on what you like in a con (ie. size, quality/quantity of MOCs, venue, city traffic, local food, etc.).  Each having it's own pros and cons... to make a really bad pun.

We didn't bring a MOC with us; we were planning to take in a little bit of the sites/city since we've never been to Seattle before.  We also wanted to enjoy a con without the hassle of trying to ship a MOC across country.  And we also wanted to get to know some new people and make new friends.  All of which we got an opportunity to do.

The creations themselves were impressive, although I've seen a few of them on-line before.  And from what I overheard, a few had been at BrickCon in years past -- no matter, we hadn't seen them in person before & they're still impressive.  My favorite was Rivendell and the castle area; which was front stage as you walked in & rightly so.  Being a castle guy, it made me proud.  The only problem with the area, it was hard to find time to look at the details of Rivendell, because there were constantly film crews hovering around it -- before and after the public.  Here's my quick video... It looks a little strange... I don't know if it's video from the iPhone or if YouTube processed it funkily:



What I found surprising/interesting about the con, was the lack of large 9v train displays.  Rivendell has as much details in it as a large 9v train display would have in the Mid-West, the difference is, large train displays are the product of a LUG with many members, Rivendell from what I understand was a creation by 2 people.

All-in-all, I've enjoyed the con and really enjoyed the keynote speakers.  I'm hoping a video will be posted of both speakers soon.  I've been waiting for fan reaction to the changes LEGO has implemented this year -- to which I'm a little surprised there hasn't been more public outrage at cons -- but Hillel Cooperman did a wonderful job of summing up my feelings... a little bit to Kevin Hinkle's dismay.

Goodbye, 2012!

So back in 2009, I wished the LEGO Group "And here's to TLG, may you have the wisdom to make better products and resist the temptation of corporate greed -- that have plagued so many other companies and brought us to the brink of economic ruin in the first place!" -- I added the emphasis.

So "better products" in 2012? I my mind, the clear winner was Friends. The number of licensed products is staggering -- Star Wars, SpongeBob Squarepants, DC Comics/Marvel Comics, Disney Cars 2/Princesses, Lord of the Rings/Hobbit, & Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles. The price-per-piece is growing across the board... It's more noticeable in licensed sets, but compare price-per-piece of a parts bucket from now to about 10 years ago -- I spotted the #10662 LEGO Creative Bucket at the LEGO Imagination Center last weekend, it's $0.0494/pieces, compared to $0.02/piece -- not a terrible deal, but the Basic Bricks and More sets are around $0.16/part now (if it includes a minifig), compared to $0.06/part a few years earlier.

Grab bags are no longer a option at a LEGO store. Damage set discounts are around 10% instead of 20%. Christmas clearance was abysmal; didn't find many sets on sale, just products that LEGO licensed their brand out to, like containers. And the release of this article doesn't help AFOLs; it just drives up after-market prices.

Speaking of which, I've been the admin to Facebook group, called Bricklink Worldwide Buyers and Sellers... I don't mind talking about buying/selling of LEGO talk, just don't like Shoe spam!

But the thought that the LEGO Group "(we) don't closely follow after market activity," is silly. Considering LEGO has decided to re-release sets at the current (after) market value, instead of the original price (see: 3451 @ $50 vs. 10226 @ $100; 10152 @ $75 vs 10155 @ $120)... I have a theory that the only people willing to buy the high-priced LEGO sets will eventually all be market speculators, not fans.

The last few years have been the most profitable years for The LEGO Group, but it's in the process of cutting back on (AFOL) community out-reach. Instead of thanking those that help pushed LEGO into the main-stream, it is cutting back in support.

So with 2013, as far as the hobby is concerned, I think my focus will shift to not put money into TLG's pockets and focus more on building with the parts I have on hand and becoming more organized... I know, an empty New Year's resolution, but I can try. :)

Bricks on the Brain: Rail

I've been sitting on this one for awhile... Speaking with Jake McKee, I offered to bring "Bricks on the Brain" back from the dead.  The original web-site was written in ColdFusion... a language I'm not familiar with, but I have enough experience with PHP and other programming language, it wasn't hard to figure out how it works.  I've decided to tackle a smaller sub web-site called Bricks on the Brain: Rail, that features some of Jake's 9V train creations with instructions.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

Over the next few weeks/months, I'll try to bring back Bricks on the Brain (BotB).  I need to convert the database, rebuild the page templates, then at some point, add a way to submit new content... seems like an easy task, but I'm cleaning the HTML up in the process, simplifying the data stored, and trying to maintain the integrity of the web-site, whilst looking down the road on how to better integrate it with BrickBuildr.

I have a few problems to consider... There are links (URLs) in the database to locations that are now defunct; which is not surprising considering the nature of the web and the age of BotB.  Second, BotB maintained a user list and BrickBuildr has a separate/different user list.  I could start over from scratch, but there are some good information already contained in the old BotB database that I don't want to loose... Once I merge the two user lists, I'll need to write some web-pages to add/modify/delete creations from BotB.

Looking for Feedback

As many of you already know, Legoland Florida will open its doors on Oct. 15th, 2011.  Most of GFLUG has talked about going opening day & most of us have annual passes so we'll be there for the preview days as well.  I expect it to be crazy, so I'm mentally preparing myself now for it.  :)

I'm curious to know how many people are planning to be there for the grand opening and how many of you are planning to hold off a few weeks before coming down?

In the back of our LUG's mind, we've been thinking that we'd like to host an informal get-together -- maybe see if the park will give fans a back-stage tour of the park..  maybe have a build/Q&A session with a Model Builder from the park, focusing on what it took to open the park... maybe asking the park for a small space to display fan LEGO creations... maybe organize a few after-hours activities for fans... something casual, not crowded, or fast paced... something that could happen a few weekends after the grand opening or after the major holidays, after some of the craziness has died down... So we're looking at a few possible dates.  Oct. 29 & 30 -- Brick Or Treat Weekend -- or something after the first of the year.

I'm not looking for commitments, just throwing the idea out and seeing what the fan community would like to see/do at such an event, if our LUG was to help plan one.  I love to hear what everyone thinks.

Thanks,
--Mike.

xposted: http://news.lugnet.com/general/?n=55710

Brickshelf mentioned on XKCD

Brickshelf made the XKCD 2010 Online Community map... look south-west of YouTube Island, near Tumblr... You'll need to really zoom in. :)

BrickFair

BrickFair,
originally uploaded by ((Primus)).

So BrickFair is this weekend in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, we can't make it -- no vacation time and GFLUG has a little event of our own soon called Star Wars Celebration V, here in Orlando, the following weekend.

If you happen to be going to Celebration V, drop me a line or swing by our display and introduce yourself.

The 5th Edition of the Great Game in Review 0937

I don't understand Portuguese, but thanks to Google's help, I see the 5th Edition of the Great Game in Review 0937 has been released.

To quote:

Organizers of the latest edition of the Great Game 0937 Community created a PDF with more information about this issue. A place you can only find information such as: the winners of a given proof, see the images of the MOC, check the differences in race, etc..

You can download two versions:
High resolution (70mb): http://rapidshare.com/files/272196642/5E GJ_0937.pdf
Low resolution (4.5 mb): http://rapidshare.com/files/272196644/5E GJ_0937_web.pdf

Video from Festival of the Masters '08

Festival of the Masters '08
Originally uploaded by mhuffman

So I was off-loading some pictures from our digital camera earlier today and found a short video that I took from GFLUG's display at Festival of the Masters (Nov. 2008) out side the LEGO Imagination Center in Orlando, FL. It give you an idea of the crowd, and how large our display is... and to be honest, it was a light crowd; last year was much bigger.

It's a great show. Most people are there on vacation & are amazed at our "art". Our theme that was "Transportation: Past, Present & Beyond", so we have jet packs, trains, planes, cars, ships, tanks, spaceships, etc.

Enjoy!

English Edition Hispabrick Magazine

English Edition Hispabrick Magazine
Originally uploaded by car_mp

Hispabrick Magazine #003 is out! My Spanish is a little rusty, but with issue number 3, there's a version in English!

There's a nice interview with Tormod that I'm looking forward to reading.

LEGO Club Magazine Subscription

Just received an e-mail from a business partner about a FREE 2 Year Subscription to Lego Club Magazine. Which is a little surprising, considering out-side of co-workers, I don't let too many people know that I build creations out of LEGO. :)  Anyway, if you haven't signed up, do it.  Even though you hear about new sets on the internet months before they're "officially" revealed through LEGO's news channels, there's coupons, information about cross-promotions (ie. Kellog LEGO fruit snacks), and neat stories inside.  In this issue, it seams LEGO is spinning off another magazine called LEGO Club Jr for the 6 and younger crowd.

My only complaint about the magazine (and I know it's geared towards kids, so enough complaining that the magazine is too dumbed down), it really needs to focus a little more on the company & events at LEGO retail stores (ie. where will the LEGO master builders be next 2 months? the Obama's inauguration display in Legoland CA?) and at the LEGO community at large (Brickfest PDX anyone?)

Happy New Year

Nuclear Lego Man
Originally uploaded by bixentro

With the new year, I bought a #10193 Medieval Market Village... I haven't had time to put it together yet, but I'm looking forward to it... And from the time images of 2009 sets started to leak onto Eurobricks and Flickr, I'm really looking forward to this year's line up.

It feels like there's been a renaissance of sorts, that we've collectively have emerged from a dark age of product design & bad business decisions by the LEGO group. It seems like new life has been breathed back into themes like Town and Castle, we're seeing the resurrection of Pirate, and with the new year, there's rumors of a new Space line. I just got my new 2009 LEGO catalog; I'm seeing sets in it that I want to buy and build for the sake of the set & not buy because it sucks and I just want the parts -- this is saying something, I haven't felt this way about many sets in a long time.

I only have a few warnings/complaints for the LEGO group, but because the company is turning profitable, I don't see these things changing any time soon: (1) not everyone can afford $200+ sets; make more $3, $7, $12 sets; (2) stop producing sets that cater to the "collectors" market, then frown upon it when you see it's ugly side at LEGO conventions; by making these collector sets, you're feeding the monster; and finally, (3) don't make the mistake of treating all fans and collectors as being the same, we're not!

Anyway, here's to a new year! May this be a better year for you than last!

BrickCon 2008

Beer
Originally uploaded by Dunechaser

Pictures from BrickCon 2008 are starting to show up in people's Flickr photo streams. So far, I've seen pictures of an amazing Titanic, an army of Cyclopean Virtues, and people having fun. If you're in the Seattle area and are a fan of LEGO, you should check the event out.

Shared LEGO Calendars on BrickBuildr

Shared LEGO Calendars on BrickBuildr
Originally uploaded by mhuffman

So a little background on this feature... Joe Meno and I were talking the other night about the idea of 'shared' calendars. I was explaining to him about my 'Central Florida Tech' calendar, that I had invited a person or two to add events to it & before I knew it, there were 10-15 people that were adding events to the calendar -- it grew beyond my expectations & took on a new life of it's own.

Joe was talking that his LEGO calendar was getting hard to maintain with all his editorial jobs with BrickJournal and would like to see something like that for the LEGO calendar. So last night we came up with 5 different types of LEGO calendars: (1) LEGO Club Events, (2) LEGO Conventions, (3) LEGO Contests, (4) LEGO Displays, (5) LEGO Mindstorms & FLL Events -- I had a shared LEGO calendar for GFLUG/GFLTC anyway, so Joe merged all of his events into my calendar, then we started moving events into the different types of calendars (we still have more work to do, but it's looking better).

Anyway, if you maintain a web-site, or a part of a LEGO group that would like to get the word out about your events, or would like to contribute to the shared calendar, send me a e-mail or Flickr mail me & I'll send you an invite, so you can start adding events.

2008 NMRA/ILTCO Anaheim, CA Convention

SCLTC Yard

Here's a few pictures from people who have tagged their photos with LEGO NMRA 2008 (YMMV) -- from the 2008 NMRA/ILTCO Anaheim, CA Convention that took place July 18-20, 2008 at the Orange County Convention Center in Anaheim, CA. The show report was posted on LUGNET -- the size was 65 x 70 feet with 8 ILTCO clubs.

10 Year Anniversary

So last weekend, I was asked to join James Wadsworth and Tim Courtney on LAML radio episode #43 to talk about LUGNET...

It was a good show... and it's got me thinking... and then I realized that I've been with the on-line LEGO fan community for 10 years now. My anniversary was Feb. 16th, 1998, the date of my first rec.toys.lego post. Pirate LEGO was being clearanced out at my local TRU & offered to buy sets for anyone looking. Steve Jackson ended up taking me up on my offer...

Call for Participation: Disney-Themed LEGO Display

A little back story first: GFLUG/GFLTC decided last year that a few of us will try to make it to NMRA in Anaheim in 2008 -- the attraction of making side trips to Legoland & Disneyland is just too great to stay away.

Being a Disney-geek as well as a LEGO-geek, doing a little research on-line, there will be a NFFC (National Fantasy Fan Club) convention in Anaheim around the same time as the NMRA convention -- Disneyland’s 53th anniversary will be July 17th, 2008 btw. If you don’t know anything about the NFFC, it’s a national Disney fan club, please check their web-site out.

I’ve been in contact with the NFFC convention planning committee, and have managed to secure a few display tables for a Disney-themed LEGO display for Sunday July 20th, 2008 during the public Disneyana Show and Sale event -- set up should be sometime Saturday or Sunday before the event.

So this is a call for participation; if anyone is interested in displaying Disney-themed MOCs and would be in the area during this time, please contact Joe Meno and myself. If you won’t be in the area, but would still like to participate, let us both know, we’ll try to make arrangements.

In the next few weeks, there will be some on-line brain storming of ideas for the display. Send me an e-mail and I’ll invite you to the Yahoo planning group.

BrickShow 2008

So BrickShow 2008 has been announced. If you're following LEGO events, it's the weekend directly following BrickFair in DC. Which BrickFair is over Labor Day weekend... The events will be about 6 driving hours apart -- I should know, I've driven it a few times -- so if you live in the north-east United States, you might be able to attend both events, time and money permitting.

I'm not going to bad mouth Dan. I admire his gumption, but I think his energy can be better channeled. I can understand his "bigger picture" view -- to promote his museum -- but I think he's putting the cart before the horse in this case. I don't think I'll be going to BrickShow, but I wish him well with his venture.

WTF? Heavy Load?

So I got this message trying to go to LUGNET today:

Server temporarily unavailable due to heavy load.  Please try again in a few minutes.

Since when is LUGNET ever busy? The forums is like a graveyard lately -- everything is pretty much dead. What strangeness is this?

WE LOVE TO BUILD™ isolated communities

WE LOVE TO BUILD™ isolated communities
Originally uploaded by chezrump

Been thinking about what has become of the LEGO community over the past few years & this photo best sums that up. Enjoy.

BrickBuildr

I created a web-site called BrickBuildr using Flickr's API (via phpFlickr). I read a few post on Lugnet about people found it hard to find AFOL's LEGO pictures on Flickr, that their LEGO pictures were mixed in with their personal photos. It was hard to browse, etc.

So far, I've asked 20+ people to join. An small cross-segment of LEGO photos total. From those photos, I created a tag-cloud from people's photos -- I think the cloud is a neat idea, btw. You're able to figure out what people are building & taking pictures on based on how many photos are tagged the same.

The only thing frustrating about it, Flickr seems to be having problems the last few days... It's been making indexing of pictures hard. And there seems to be a lag between adding a tag to a photo and for it to show up in the Flickr API. I spider out people's photos then add some of the information to a database. I plan to change it where instead of signing up for an account on BrickBuildr, you just authroize it via the API & this will created the enough information in the BrickBuildr database to start indexing a person's pictures. Maybe I'll get that finished next...