Should Auld Kiosks Be Forgot … Posted by Mark on December 31, 2003 at 09:43 PM CST:
As we bid farewell to the year 2003, I also bid farewell to my local LEGO Kiosk.
Holidays Not So Jolly For Toy Merchants Posted by Mark on December 31, 2003 at 02:40 AM CST:
MasterCard Advisors is reporting that retailers saw a modest gain of 6.45% in holiday sales from November 28th to December 24th this year over last, but that toy merchants suffered a 7.7% decline. And in more bad news, Executive Vice President and COO of The LEGO Company Poul Plougman told the Danish financial newspaper Børsen on Monday that "the trend throughout the year was unexpectedly bad, nearly catastrophic."
Little Green Man Posted by Purple_Dave on December 28, 2003 at 08:10 AM CST:
Lately added to the BioniWars series, this little character was first unveiled at the Novi Toy & Hobby Expo running this weekend. It's still not too late to drop by and check him out in person!
*Urp* Posted by Purple_Dave on December 27, 2003 at 09:27 PM CST:
The third and final BOHROKAMENT is a few days late, but I bet most of your families haven't taken down their Christmas trees yet, so we'll call it close enough. Then again, some of you might be feeling his effects even now...
Novi Toy & Hobby Expo, & The CHRONICLER TOOL Posted by Purple_Dave on December 26, 2003 at 11:29 PM CST:
This weekend I will be displaying again with MichLUG at the Novi Toy & Hobby Expo. My portion of the exhibit will include the newly expanded BioniWars series, the Dragon of Fire and NUI-KAPOWAI dragonfly, all three Bohrokaments, NOAOKE, the three basic BioCycles, both Blacktronicle mechs, and my new Moonbase module.
I also recently received a stock of the elusive CHRONICLER TOOL. Nineteen, to be exact. Whoops, did I say nineteen? I meant nineteen pounds. We have not yet decided how all of these will be distributed, but the first batch will be handed out at the Novi Toy & Hobby Expo. (Don't worry if you can't possibly make it, we should have vast hordes leftover afterwards) Those of you who can will want to head to the Novi Expo Center in Novi, Michigan (11-7 Sat, 10-5 Sun).
Market Watch: Buy Five, Get One Free Posted by Mark on December 26, 2003 at 11:29 PM CST:
LEGO® Shop At Home Online is touting their new "Matoran Villagers Kit". The kit includes KOPEKE, MATORO, HAHLI, HEWKII, HAFU, and MACKU. At the current price of $19.95, that is the same as buying five sets and getting one free.
Market Watch: Half-Price KRAATA At Wal-Mart Posted by Mark on December 26, 2003 at 11:16 PM CST:
Overcome by temporary insanity, I ventured into one of my local Wal-Mart stores today. My big surprise was finding five unopened KRAATA canisters all marked down to $1.00 each. My bigger surprise was actually pulling one of the KRAATA I was still looking for out of one of the canisters.
Ho Ho Ho! Posted by Purple_Dave on December 25, 2003 at 10:40 AM CST:
Not every rendition of Santa Claws is jolly, happy, and not out to get you. In the spirit of Santa Bot from Futurama and Alien DNA Santa from Sluggy Freelance, I present to you SANTAHU CLAWS! Merry Christmas!
LALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALALA! Posted by Purple_Dave on December 24, 2003 at 11:55 PM CST:
At times I've been asked if I sell (or even give away) my MOCs. The answer is no. Usually. I gave away MAIA for a worthy cause. I gave one of my best friends a PAKU-JAGA fire scorpion because it was thematically appropriate (and easy to replicate). And I donated an exact copy of this little guy to the MichLUG tree in this year's 19th annual Detroit Festival of Trees (I'd really hoped to have this posted prior to the event, but I didn't realize it was taking place in November until it was too late). I present to you...MUHZAK. (You might want to cover your ears for this one)
Santa and BIONICLE® Posted by Mark on December 23, 2003 at 08:53 PM CST:
KVAL-TV in Eugene, Oregon spoke with Santa Claus at the Valley River Center there, and "Santa Claus says Bionicle Legos (sic) … are popular." If Santa said it, it must be true! You can read the story for yourself here.
Cartoon Network SST Winners Announced Posted by Mark on December 23, 2003 at 12:00 AM CST:
The Winner's List has been released for the Cartoon Network's "LEGO®: Search For The Seventh Toa" sweepstakes back in mid-October. Our congratulations go out to the Grand Prize winner and the many Second Prize winners too.
Market Watch: BIONICLE® At Target Posted by Mark on December 22, 2003 at 08:38 AM CST:
Target's Sunday flyer lists the BIONICLE® PC CD-ROM at a sale price of $14.99.
Market Watch: Last Minute Sales Posted by Purple_Dave on December 21, 2003 at 10:09 PM CST:
TRU has been running a BOGOHO (Buy One, Get One Half Off) sale, good on all LEGO sets except Clikits, 2004 World City, and Star Wars. No mention of any BIONICLE sets being excluded, however, and the MoLTORAN sets have just started showing up at local TRU stores, so it's worth checking out. Sale prices continue "while supplies last", but I doubt they'll last beyond the end of the year.
Kay-Bee is doing 20% off lowest sale price on all LEGO sets, with no exclusions. Lucky shoppers might be able to net a few of the RAHI sets for cheap. I believe this one also runs "while supplies last", but I could be misremembering.
Finally, Meijer stores just started a new sale starting today (the 21st) and running through the 27th (Saturday). This is the first ever LEGO BOGO sale that I can recall them running, and it's limited to "Bionacal" sets like "Turok & Rurok". Fortunately, it also includes the six RAHKSHI sets, since I don't remember ever hearing about the other two (must be some wacky store-exclusive short-packed chase sets). There's nothing quite like seeing LEGO sets ring up for $0.00 to make your day...
Starting Lineup Posted by Purple_Dave on December 20, 2003 at 11:57 PM CST:
Before there were TOA NUVA, there were TOA. Before there were TOA, there were TOA METRU. Before there was MATA NUI Island, there was METRU NUI.
First Peek At Sweet 16 Posted by Purple_Dave on December 19, 2003 at 09:55 PM CST:
VAKAMA wasn't the only as-yet-unreleased goodie to be found within the METRU NUI press kit. While not as extensive as the last one, a preview of Comic #16 was slipped inside.
First Look: TOA VAKAMA Posted by Mark on December 19, 2003 at 04:32 PM CST:
Included in the METRU NUI Press Kit is set 8601, TOA VAKAMA. Here is your first look at this new set.
METRU NUI 2004 Key Graphic Posted by Mark on December 19, 2003 at 02:25 PM CST:
This is the Key Graphic image for 2004, taken from the cover of the folder included in the Press Kit (see below). If you don't want to wait for our analysis of the Press Kit to get to the rest of the images, click on the Key Graphic above or click here and you will have access to the other images as they become available. I will be updating it continuously.
METRU NUI Press Kit Arrives! Posted by Mark on December 19, 2003 at 01:09 PM CST:
Just a quick note that the METRU NUI Press Kit has arrived. We'll be revealing its contents just as quickly as we can open the box. The image above is of the outside of the box, still sealed in the plastic. The lenticular map of METRU NUI is also a map of MATA NUI!
KANOKA, KRAATA, and Kalculations Posted by Mark on December 19, 2003 at 03:24 AM CST:
How many KANOKA disks are there? How hard is it to collect all 264 KRAATA? And once I have all of those KRAATA, how am I supposed to display them?
Market Watch: Cheaper By The Dozen Posted by Mark on December 18, 2003 at 10:07 PM CST:
If for some reason you still do not have TURAGA VAKAMA, you can now find him for a just-over-$2 "Buy It Now" price on eBay, shipping included. The catch? That is the average per item price for a lot of twelve, so you will have to get a dozen if you want any.
Poster of the Day: Mouse Mat Posted by Mark on December 18, 2003 at 11:43 AM CST:
This computer mouse mat was originally available at LEGOLAND UK but quickly became scarce. I was anticipating possibly getting one with the original BIONICLE™ PC CD-ROM game (back when PC software came in boxes big enough to accommodate mouse mats), so I did not buy one when they first became available on the secondary market.
By the time the original PC game was cancelled, mouse mats were nowhere to be found. The above mouse mat is the culmination of two years of waiting and searching.
… And Continue Posted by Mark on December 16, 2003 at 08:49 PM CST:
Add Comic #15 to the list of updates on BIONICLE.com. Thanks go to MoD readers Ero, ScoobyDufus101, Takanuva, Reaper, and BDavila4.
BIONICLE.com Updates Continue Posted by Mark on December 15, 2003 at 09:49 PM CST:
The updates to BIONICLE.com just keep coming. This time around, the Kohlii Championship has finally come to Ta-Koro in the Mata Nui Online Game 2. Also, there is a new blurb over at "The Buzz" promoting the UK Burger King Mask of Light promotion.
Thanks go to MoD readers PG13 and Ero.
Market Watch: SHADOW KRAATA RAHKSHI On Sale Posted by Mark on December 15, 2003 at 09:45 PM CST: Target is advertising its exclusive SHADOW KRAATA RAHKSHI in this past Sunday's flyer with a sale price of $6.74. It also says that "other selected" LEGO® BIONICLE™ are also on sale.
Market Watch: RAHKSHI Watch on eBay Posted by Mark on December 13, 2003 at 11:29 PM CST:
There is a new RAHKSHI Watch up for auction on eBay. It appears to feature a movie-style KRAATA for a hand and a RAHKSHI mask for a face cover, much like the original BIONICLE™ watch featured a HAU for a face cover. The most exciting feature for me are the studs on the watch band.
The seller is located in Florida, so perhaps these are available at some or all of the various LEGO® Stores. Forum Link
Market Watch: METRU NUI TOA Tags Posted by Mark on December 12, 2003 at 09:52 AM CST:
As you may know, Advent is a season of preparation. MoD reader DragonMaster2050 writes in that his Wal-Mart is already preparing for the arrival of the METRU NUI TOA, as he found four shelf-tags for them.
MaskOfLight.com Completed Posted by Mark on December 11, 2003 at 07:45 AM CST:
The Official BIONICLE™: Mask Of Light web site has finally reached completion with the addition of the "Trading Card Game" and "Site Map" links. The Trading Card Game link takes you to the Disney TOKENZONE® where you can collect up to 48 images from the BIONICLE™: Mask Of Light movie. You will need a Disney UserID and Password to take part. Registration is free.
Thanks go to MoD reader Ero for the news. Forum Link
Small, Blurry, Dutch METRU NUI TOA Posted by Mark on December 9, 2003 at 11:08 AM CST:
MoD reader Ero points us in the direction of www.NedLUG.tk for some scans from a Netherlands 2004 LEGO® Retailers' Catalog, including pictures of the upcoming METRU NUI TOA and their combiners.
Market Watch: BIONICLE™ At Target Posted by Mark on December 8, 2003 at 02:47 PM CST: BIONICLE™ for the PlayStation®2 is currently marked down to $34.88 (about 12% off) at Target, according to page 13 of their Sunday flyer.
Market Watch: 20% Off Everything At LEGO Kiosk(s) Posted by Mark on December 7, 2003 at 08:21 PM CST:
I swung by my local LEGO Kiosk this weekend and they were having a 20% off sale on everything. That includes RAHKSHI, KRAATA, TOA NUVA, and TAHU's foam fire sword. I don't know if that sale is just local or at all of the kiosks, but it is probably worth a look.
REVIEW: METRU NUI MATORAN Posted by Mark on December 6, 2003 at 12:00 AM CST:
NUHRII, VHISOLA, TEHUTTI, AHKMOU, ORKAHM, and EHRYE await you in the
Poster of the Day: METRU MATORAN Kaita Posted by Mark on December 5, 2003 at 12:00 AM CST:
Not wanting to be left out, 8608 VHISOLA, 8609 TEHUTTI, and 8612 EHRYE combine to make what looks to be a large flightless bird. Here again, the instructions (and this poster) are spread across the three sets. Forum Link
Poster of the Day: METRU MATORAN Kaita Posted by Mark on December 4, 2003 at 11:35 PM CST:
Take some 8607 NUHRII, a bit of 8610 AHKMOU, and add a dash of 8611 ORKAHM and you have … um, I don't really know. Another scorpion with an enormous tail, perhaps? Whatever it is, the instructions are actually included this time and spread across the three sets.
Update: Reports are also saying that the sets are on separate LEGO displays in the walkways, not necessarily anywhere near the other BIONICLE™ sets or even the toy section.
Market Watch: Seeing Shadows Posted by Purple_Dave on December 3, 2003 at 11:26 PM CST:
MoD reader Capyberra has found the Target exclusive SHADOW KRAATA RAHKSHI, priced at $7.99, and including the previously promised mini-CDs. Target is notorious for getting twitchy about product that sits on the shelves too long, especially exclusives (not that I expect these to collect much dust), so if you want to collect them, you better keep your eyes peeled.
Burger King BIONICLE In The UK Posted by Mark on December 1, 2003 at 09:21 PM CST:
MoD reader Rayman8d points us in the direction of www.BurgerKing.co.uk for information about the BIONICLE™: Mask Of Light promotion going on there. If you click on the billboard, you can see the box (with "not one, not two, but three secret compartments") and you'll have options to view the commercial or get a closer look at the six TOA NUVA toys.
