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New LEGO Minecraft sets now available!

by Thita (admin) on November 15, 2014

in LEGO Exclusives

Just a quick note that the minifig-size LEGO Minecraft sets have been officially released and are now available at the Online LEGO Shop. We have discussed the sets previously (see links at the end of this post), so I won’t talk about the sets in great detail, but I would highly recommend you check them out. Even if you are not a Minecraft fan, the parts-selection of these sets is excellent with some unique pieces and really nice colors. 🙂

➡ #21113 LEGO MINECRAFT THE CAVE – Join Steve on his quest for vital resources in The Cave! Venture into The Cave on a dangerous quest for vital resources! Wield the iron pickaxe to dig and battle against hostile zombie and spider mobs. Blast out valuable ores and minerals with the TNT and combine the flowing water and lava to create precious obsidian! When you’re done battling and mining, restore your energy levels with the chest of bread. Proceed with caution! Rebuild the set for more LEGO Minecraft creations! Includes 2 minifigures with assorted accessories: Steve and a zombie, plus a spider. 249 pieces. Price: $19.99 – BUY HERE

➡ #21114 LEGO MINECRAFT THE FARM – Nurture vital crops and supplies at The Farm! Yield renewable resources with The Farm! You’ll need food to survive, so fence in the livestock and channel the flowing water to nurture the crops. Harvest pumpkins, wheat, sugar cane and carrots. Use the crafting table to create a pumpkin helmet or jack-o’-lantern. But watch out for the skeleton with his bow and arrow after nightfall! Rebuild the set for more LEGO Minecraft creations or combine with 21115 The First Night and other sets in the series for an even bigger Minecraft adventure! Includes a Steve minifigure with an accessory, plus a skeleton, cow and a sheep. 262 pieces. Price: $29.99 – BUY HERE

➡ #21115 LEGO MINECRAFT THE FIRST NIGHT – Help Steve survive the hours of darkness with the The First Night! Use the daylight hours wisely to survive The First Night! Build a shelter and enclosure to protect your livestock, craft a bed, oven and a chest, but make sure you’re finished before nightfall if you wish to avoid the hissing Creeper! Rebuild the set for more LEGO Minecraft creations or combine with 21114 The Farm and other sets in the series for an even bigger Minecraft adventure! Includes a Steve minifigure with weapons and assorted accessories, plus a creeper and a pig. 408 pieces. Price: $39.99 – BUY HERE

➡ #21116 LEGO MINECRAFT CRAFTING BOX – Expand your imagination with the LEGO Minecraft Crafting Box! Set your imagination free with the LEGO Minecraft Crafting Box! Create your own Minecraft models, build from the 8-in-1 instructions or follow the inspirational pictures and scenarios to complete other awesome Minecraft biomes. Use the periodic table poster to identify the LEGO Minecraft elements. You can even try out a diamond pickaxe! This set really boosts your creative potential! Includes a Steve minifigure with an accessory, plus a skeleton and a mooshroom. 518 pieces. Price: $49.99 – BUY HERE

➡ #21117 LEGO MINECRAFT ENDER DRAGON – Slay The Ender Dragon at the End dimension! Enter the End at your peril! Don your diamond armor and helmet, grab your weapons and step into this dayless dimension that floats in the void beneath starless skies. Seek out the dangerous Endermen that dwell in the darkness. Wield your diamond sword and bow to defeat the enemy. Then summon all your powers to confront the mighty Ender Dragon that hovers above the regenerative Ender Crystals. When you’ve slain the dragon, collect the dragon egg to create an exit portal. Prepare yourself for the ultimate battle! Rebuild the set for more LEGO Minecraft creations. Includes a Steve minifigure with assorted weapons and accessories, plus 3 Endermen and the Ender Dragon. 634 pieces. Price: $69.99 – BUY HERE

➡ #21118 LEGO MINECRAFT THE MINE – Jump aboard the minecart and enter the darkness of The Mine! Enter The Mine at your own risk! You’ll need to don your iron armor for this dangerous expedition. Grab your iron pickaxe and venture into the darkness, keeping an eye out for hostile mobs that lurk deep in the mine. Plant the TNT and activate the explosion function to blast away the rock face. Then load up the precious ores, jump aboard the minecart and hurtle past the Creeper, zombie and skeleton, using the iron sword to keep them at bay until you’re safely above ground. All in a days work for a LEGO Minecraft hero! Rebuild the set for more LEGO Minecraft creations. Includes a Steve minifigure with weapons and accessories, plus a skeleton, zombie, spider and a Creeper. 922 pieces. Price: $109.99 – BUY HERE

A very interesting selection, isn’t it? You can check out the reviews on all of the sets, listed at the end of this post. Also, now that they sets are officially released, they should also be available at LEGO retailers, they have been already listed on Amazon in case you prefer to shop there, and of course at official LEGO stores and the Online LEGO Shop.

So what do you think? How do you like the minifigure scale LEGO Minecraft sets? Do you like them better than the micro versions? Or no? Are you planning to get any of them? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below! 😉

And you might also like to check out the following related posts:

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Best LEGO sets 2014 Christmas shopping guide

by Thita (admin) on November 14, 2014

in LEGO Sales & Deals

With the holidays fast approaching it is time to start thinking about gifts for friends and family. If you have a LEGO fan on your list, you know what they want for Christmas; more LEGO! The fact is that LEGO has been an incredibly creative, educational and timeless hobby for children, teens and adults for many generation. And shopping for LEGO fans is actually quite easy. It is not like buying a sweater; if you get the size, style or color wrong, it is all wrong. When it comes to LEGO to know what is on the recipient’s LEGO wish-list is a bonus, but even if you don’t know, there is no such thing as a bad LEGO set. For a LEGO fan any LEGO set will be greatly appreciated. Even if you buy a duplicate of something they already have, they will love to get the extra parts for free-building! 🙂

The only thing to look out for is making sure you are not buying a “clone-brand” instead of LEGO. There are many companies making inferior quality products that are imitating the LEGO brand, hoping that uninformed parents and grandparents will accidentally pick those up instead of genuine LEGO. In fact, they go as far as imitating the color-scheme and box design of real LEGO sets, and their products are often placed in the same isle right next to LEGO! Many LEGO fans despise these brands and would be quite disappointed. The only thing you need to do in this regard is check the box for either the LEGO or DUPLO logo (DUPLO are larger bricks for children under 3 years of age). These are the only two brands LEGO makes. Of course LEGO has sub-themes like LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Super Heroes, LEGO Technic, LEGO Friends, etc., but you will always see the red square LEGO logo displayed on the box.

So now that you can relax and know that all LEGO is good LEGO (as long as it is real LEGO), let’s look at what is available this year that you might consider getting for the LEGO fan in your family or for your LEGO-crazed friends. Below you will find helpful links to recommended products.

➡ THE BEST LEGO SETS FOR FAMILIES: “The family that builds together stays together.” For many people LEGO is a family affair. This is especially true where the parents also grew up with LEGO and they appreciate the educational and creative aspects of LEGO, along with the family bonding experience. If you are Christmas shopping for a family like this, you probably already know what aspect of LEGO they are into; perhaps they have a giant LEGO City layout in the basement, or LEGO Star Wars sets all over the living room, or a huge LEGO castle is taking up their dining-room table, or they set up a LEGO village and train around the Christmas tree every year. If your budget allows it, I would recommend getting a larger LEGO set for this family that everyone can enjoy. Good candidates are:

LEGO Christmas Village sets (cute winter sets Thomas Kinkade style)
LEGO Creator sets (3-in-1 sets with many possibilities)
LEGO City sets (one of the oldest and most popular LEGO themes)
LEGO Train sets (motorized options available)
LEGO brick buckets (loose bricks for free building)

➡ THE BEST LEGO SETS FOR BOYS: If you know their wish-list, or the LEGO theme they like to build, get something that would fit that. For a lot of boys LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Chima, or LEGO Ninjago is the rage, so any set within that theme would make a great Christmas gift. Also, the LEGO Creator line is excellent for kids who like to build and design on their own. These sets are mostly priced in the $10-$50 range, so they are quite affordable:

LEGO Star Wars sets (small and big sets for fans of the movies)
LEGO Legends of Chima sets (for fans of the TV show)
LEGO Ninjago sets (a perennial favorite)
LEGO Creator sets (3-in-1 sets with many possibilities)
LEGO Master Builder Academy (a systematic way to learn building)

➡ THE BEST LEGO SETS FOR GIRLS: LEGO started a brand new theme just for girls called LEGO Friends. If you are Christmas shopping for a girl who is already into LEGO Friends, you can’t go wrong with any of the currently available sets. There is a great selection available in the $10-$50 range. Please note though that not all girls are into LEGO Friends. Some prefer the more traditional LEGO themes. If you know what they like, get something from their favorite LEGO theme, or you might still want to surprise the with a LEGO Friends sets as they come with many interesting colors and accessories not available in other LEGO sets. Girls also tend to like the LEGO Creator houses and other sets that are not centered on conflict:

LEGO Friends sets (specifically developed for girls)
LEGO Disney Princess sets (also developed for girls with a magic twist)
LEGO Creator sets (3-in-1 sets with many possibilities)
LEGO Advent Calendars (City, Friends, Star Wars themes)
LEGO Christmas Village sets (cute winter sets Thomas Kinkade style)
LEGO Master Builder Academy (a systematic way to learn building)

➡ THE BEST LEGO SETS FOR TEENS: LEGO shopping for teens is a bit more challenging (I guess shopping for anything for teenagers is challenging). First of all, make sure they are still into LEGO. Even kids who have been building with LEGO all their life, once they hit their teens other pursuits will likely take up their interest. However this is not true for all teens; many of them will continue the LEGO hobby, and in fact take it much more seriously with designing their own LEGO creations with astounding skill and creativity. This in fact can lead them to a future career in architecture, engineering, design, robotics, art, programming, or even landing a job at LEGO. If the teen you are shopping for is on their way out of the LEGO hobby I would suggest one of the excellent LEGO books available from No Starch Press that may rekindle their interest, or if they are still deeply involved with LEGO there are many LEGO sets specifically designed for teens. Good candidates are:

LEGO Creator Expert Builder sets (very detailed high-end models)
LEGO Technic sets (realistic cars and other vehicles)
LEGO Robotics sets (used by many schools for teaching robotics)
LEGO Ideas sets (fan suggested LEGO sets)
LEGO books by No Starch Press (amazing selection!)

➡ THE BEST LEGO SETS FOR ADULTS: As more than one generation grew up with LEGO and continued the hobby in their adulthood, it became obvious that LEGO is not just a childhood toy, but can become a lifetime hobby. The many adult LEGO fan-sites, blogs and forums with thousands of members, and LEGO conventions all over the world, are a testimony of the thriving adult LEGO fan community. LEGO has responded to their adult fan-base by releasing LEGO sets specifically targeting adults. These are usually very large sets with complex building techniques and intricate details – things that would be too overwhelming for a child to build or pay attention to. Adult oriented LEGO sets are more expensive too, in the $100-$400 range, however there are also smaller sets that adults would appreciate:

LEGO Creator Expert Builder sets (very detailed, high-end models)
LEGO Technic sets (realistic LEGO cars and other vehicles)
LEGO Modular Buildings sets (very detailed City-style buildings)
LEGO Ideas sets (fan suggested LEGO sets)
LEGO books by No Starch Press (amazing selection!)

➡ THE BEST LEGO SETS FOR GRANDPARENTS: Yes, LEGO has been around long enough that there are fans of the brand who are grandparents themselves. And grandparents deserve gifts too! Especially if they are fun grandparents who are into LEGO! They would likely appreciate the same LEGO sets as adults, but there is also something else I would recommend for them; LEGO books. Older LEGO fans have likely seen it all, built it all, even have it all, but they can still get inspiration from LEGO books that share amazing LEGO creations or delves into LEGO’s long history:

LEGO Creator Expert Builder sets (very detailed, high-end models)
LEGO Modular Building sets (very detailed City-style buildings)
LEGO Architecture sets (realistic replicas of real landmarks)
LEGO Architecture Studio set (free building for professionals)
LEGO books by No Starch Press (amazing selection!)

➡ THE BEST LEGO SETS FOR CO-WORKERS: You may be working with someone who is a LEGO-nut. Perhaps you have not seen their whole LEGO collection and know exactly what LEGO theme they are into, but you can get them something funny and LEGO related that fits in the office:

LEGO gifts (business-card holders, pencil holders, notebooks, etc.)
LEGO minifigures (individual minifigs with accessories)
LEGO keychains (a great variety to choose from)
LEGO holiday sets (small sets, ornaments, stocking-stuffers, etc.)

➡ THE BEST LEGO SETS FOR YOUR BOSS: Yes, your boss may be into LEGO too! Or perhaps you are the one who is known as the LEGO geek, and you want to surprise your boss with something from your hobby:

LEGO gifts (business-card holders, pencil holders, notebooks, etc.)
LEGO minifigures (individual minifigs with accessories)
LEGO keychains (a great variety to choose from)
LEGO Architecture sets (realistic replicas of real landmarks)
LEGO Architecture Studio set (free building for professionals)

➡ THE BEST SMALL LEGO SETS (UNDER $20): If your budget is small but would still like to surprise a LEGO fan, or you are just looking for LEGO stocking-stuffers here are some ideas:

LEGO gifts (magnets, holiday ornaments, notebooks, etc.)
LEGO minifigures (individual minifigs with accessories)
LEGO keychains (a great variety to choose from)
LEGO holiday sets (small sets, ornaments, stocking-stuffers, etc.)

➡ THE BEST LARGE LEGO SETS (OVER $100): These are the best of the best LEGO sets, mostly recommended for teen and adult builders, although some younger kids may like them too. If money is not an issue, any LEGO fan would be very happy with these sets. Here are the best of the currently available large LEGO sets:

#10234 LEGO Architecture Sydney Opera House
#75059 LEGO Star Wars Sandcrawler
#42030 LEGO Technic Remote Controlled VOLVO Wheel Loader
#10234 LEGO Lord of the Rings The Tower of Orthanc
#10243 LEGO Modular Parisian Restaurant

Again, as I have mentioned, there is no such a thing as a bad LEGO set, and LEGO fans would appreciate any gift that would enhance their hobby. These are just some guidelines, in case you don’t know where to start. I hope it helps out in your Christmas LEGO shopping! Also, if you have your own suggestions, feel free to share in the comment section below! 😉

And you might also like to check out the following related posts:

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New LEGO Minecraft sets now available!

Best LEGO sets 2014 Christmas shopping guide

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