Blocks Magazine - What do you think?

AndyPol

I received my first issue today. There seems to be a mix of views on content, articles, etc so I'll just start the conversation off with my simple view - I love it (and so do my children).

Over to brickset forum users now......

Casper

Overall its a really good read and follows the same format as the pilot issue. Plenty of thought has gone into making sure that there is something in it for every fan a difficult challenge given that the Lego universe is so diverse. I'm really enjoying the showcase sections and the under £40 fillers feature was a nice addition rather than just focusing on the most expensive sets. If I'm being picky I would like to see a few more reviews on some of the more smaller sets or even polybags and also maybe a detailed look at a certain theme (e.g Hobbit), and a review of the better value sets within that theme. Also I do find the constant negatives about the number of stickers in a set a bit grating, I think specifying the number of stickers in a set will give us an indication of how bad it is. However, overall its a great magazine and glad that I took out a subscription.

TLG

Yeah, I would buy it if it wasn't so expensive for the rest of the world...

Thanos75

I looked into getting a subscription but when I saw the price I was shocked.

margot

I'm pretty sure I saw that it was going to be sold at Barnes and Noble.
Yes, just checked and saw it on FB.
"BREAKING NEWS!! We can now confirm that the 1st monthly issue of Blocks magazine will also be for sale in the USA! Barnes and Noble will be stocking us!"

Thanos75

Thanks @Margot .... Looks like a great read.

Crowkillers

I was looking forward advertising for this mag until they spammed me...

kor

Sounds like a trip to B&N will be in order soon.

TLG

kor said:

Sounds like a trip to B&N will be in order soon.

Yeah, I will probably buy it online though.

Huw

@Crowkillers, do you mean 'for this mag' or 'in this mag'? (you advertising them, or them advertising you??)

I wouldn't be too harsh on them. I've met the lady who's dealing with advertising and she's very much learning the ropes of the LEGO world which is totally new to her.

Having just seen that you are selling stuff from your website, why wouldn't you want to advertise, assuming the price is right?

AndyPol

Interesting. I thought that I would get some views on content and the like, but maybe those who didn't subscribe are waiting to buy next week?

I would agree with Huw, don't be too harsh on them. I have been in communication with them on an unrelated matter to the actual issue, and I can assure you they might be a small firm, but they do care and their customer service is second to none.

If I get a chance, although solid work for the next three days and an 8 year old party today is not the most conducive to think about comments, but I might try later.

cheshirecat

I think most people that aren't sure if it's for them etc won't have subscribed so won't have a view on content. Those that have subscribed are presumably fairly sure they'll love it before they do and probably won't be disappointed.

Once non-subscribers are able to flick through or pick up a single copy from in store there may be more opinions. Certainly once it's in store I'll try to see what's it's like and if it will interest me. I didn't try particularly hard to find the pilot in smiths and when I did look it was never there so no idea but I guess I'll be of the opinion that brickset is enough for me.

Crowkillers

Huw said:

@Crowkillers, do you mean 'for this mag' or 'in this mag'? (you advertising them, or them advertising you??)

I wouldn't be too harsh on them. I've met the lady who's dealing with advertising and she's very much learning the ropes of the LEGO world which is totally new to her.

Having just seen that you are selling stuff from your website, why wouldn't you want to advertise, assuming the price is right?

I was going to advertise for them at my site, at least that was what I was assuming that they wanted, but it turned out that they wanted me to pay them for a small place in their mag... I just assumed since they were new that they were looking for support from U.S. based builders with websites...

Crowkillers

If I were a new magazine and really wanted it to take off, I would contact people and offer them a free piece in my first issue to taste and see if it would be worth their while before they commit to paying to advertise in it... After you prove your worth that you initially projected to these people, you'll get their business permanently...

Not to mention advertisement can also be a 2 way street where both parties involved support each other...

mr_benn

I received my copy today (from an UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR which is quite strange, I hope this mystery person, who isn't my wife, has bought me a subscription!)

I really enjoyed it on first flick through - I was quite impressed that it has kept the momentum up from the pilot issue and I think that the quality of the pictures is fantastic - one of the main complaints about the magazine is that 'it hasn't got anything I can't find elsewhere online' but I really like having things in print format instead of looking at a screen, and in a few years/months I know that I will enjoy looking back on past issues.

A few typos here and there but given the sheer volume of content a relative handful people are writing this probably isn't a huge surprise. And where was the original UCS Star Destroyer in the Star Destroyer article?

Like the fact it contains reviews of both old and new sets, ongoing projects and also pictures from shows - I can never get enough pictures of custom models from shows! Loving the building challenge too...

Overall a really good mix of articles and features and reviews, I look forward to the next issue - well done to the whole team :)

andyscouse

margot said:

I'm pretty sure I saw that it was going to be sold at Barnes and Noble.
Yes, just checked and saw it on FB.
"BREAKING NEWS!! We can now confirm that the 1st monthly issue of Blocks magazine will also be for sale in the USA! Barnes and Noble will be stocking us!"

Whoo hoo! Maybe I'll take a toodle to B&N later ...

CapnRex101

@mr_benn - The UCS Star Destroyer was included in the original ISD article draft but we got rid of it since it is not easily comparable with the others. There is no internal detail and no Minifigures of course, so it was relegated to a box-out along the side.

mr_benn

@CapnRex101 - let it be said I very much enjoyed the article regardless :)

margot

I called my B&N and they don't have it so hopefully it is coming in the future.

margot

Blocks people said to look for it mid November. It will be about 3-4 weeks behind UK.

AndyPol

A sort of review of Blocks, although there are no specific details as I would hate to provide "spoilers" that could stop people buying it.

Magazine or Electronic? - I like magazines. They may take up space, they may get damaged and ripped, but you don't need a signal and battery power, and most important of all these days, you can still take it on holiday without having to scan it or prove it works at security!

Adverts - It is a pleasant surprise to see that the adverts have not taken over. LEGO content appears to be more important and there are is not a selection of junk mail that falls out as you open it. It is also pleasant to see relevant ads, i.e. LEGO based.

Photos - The photo quality and details are excellent. The close ups of peoples projects and set made are superb and give you a chance to examine the models without having to pause a video. The quality is very clear and the shots are well thought out in angle and aspect of what is shown.

60 minute challenge - A great idea and it gave my children hope! I won't say much more, but they (and I) were not impressed with the models made. This is not a criticism of the article, as I think it is a good idea, but my 8 year old complained he could, and has, done better!

Comparison of Star/Super Star Destroyers - Not a spoiler as you will have seen the pre-release photos. I found this article excellent. I have on of the models and thought reading the article, I am glad I had the one I have. It also reassured me that the SSD (whilst an excellent and accurate model) is a pile of over-expensive flat bricks (IMO). It was good to be able to see them totally compared from different views.

Blueprints - Great idea, reminded me of the Airplane magazines I collected in the 80s where there was a similar pullout in the middle of certain aircraft. (I won't spoil which LEGO models though)

LEGO talk - A great twist and something you can give the wife to help her explain the foreign language spoken in your family. I also learnt a couple of things!

LEGO ideas - I don't know if this will be a regular feature, but it was a good summary and insight into the models people have put forward (I'm bias as two of them I am supporting).

Blocks project - Again, great idea and although many AFOLs would be able to create the models already, I liked the fact that it saw hoe the models would look in the bigger diorama. It certainly gives would-be LEGO moc'ers of all ages a starter.

Reader's creations - You will have seen the Zulu, but there are two other great MOCs, one average size and one gigantic. Good descriptions of the models and I like the Q&A within the article.

This is a very brief summary and I am conscious it will be of limited help as I have tried not to spoil it before you buy it. I think the magazine is worth it and I will look forward to be able to read it anywhere, any place, with any technological interference (I am 44 and so there will be many youngsters who will argue that digital is best, but you won't convince me!)

Andor

The print magazine is awesome!!!!!!!!

AndyPol

Andor said:

The print magazine is awesome!!!!!!!!

I should have just said that, it sums it up nicely!

jon_k

I had the pleasure of a long chat with Mark at Steam and had a frank exchange of views over his magazine..

I for one think its a "nice" magazine and full of interesting and informative stuff as you would expect, and for me the first dedicated magazine for lego ( unless I have missed something) .. but then I feel its all very safe and cosy, with staff who have been picked from various sources, and all very nepotistic ( now before you sharpen your oner`s or the like) its an objective post and we all have our views and some of us don`t follow the flock!

I would want some left field views on lego ( yes I know the review on the train is fairly scathing,) but there has to be a balanced view and not the same old tat rolled out, so be brave and criticise bad lego sets, lego are a good company and constructive criticism wont affect them and you wont be sent to mega block hell!!!

I know some of you are great at building, good for you, a great skill, some know the in`s and out of a cats bum on sets etc , great, some run some great web sites, all a win win, but some of us just are into lego because ....

there is a danger its getting elitist, I would dare to say, I think it is already , and that mere collectors like me who have no rhyme or reason for what I like, don`t have a voice, I just see the same old faces involved in Blocks,and will have to read their nice views issue upon issue..

For the record I have subscribed for the year so I support Mark and what he has achieved, I have contributed to brickset via the forum and have been to steam etc..

So food for thought and no doubt I will get flamed for my post.. hey ho its a view , its mine.. perhaps if my mum and dad had bought me that train set in the 1960`s I might have turned out different

Huw

I'd say it's early days yet; this issue may appear 'elitist' but Mark had to recruit from somewhere, he couldn't go on writing it all himself, so where else would he look other than to known writers, bloggers and reviewers?

Next month there are articles contributed by others and also in issue 3, and, as you'll notice on page 35 there is an open call for contributors to try and ensure it's not just the same old faces writing.

If you, a 'mere collector', want to write something that's of interest to others of your ilk, get in touch with him!

BooTheMightyHamster

I'm half way through it at the moment, so I will send a review in as soon as poss (I'm supposed to be writing a piece about World of Warcraft for someone else at the same time, so spare time is limited).

Initial thoughts - great photography, but for crying out loud, employ a proofreader!

Shib

I've got nothing against MISB collectors, if thats what floats your boat good for you, but i find it hard to imagine content for a full article, except for a one off on the subject in general. @jon_k‌ you said yourself there is no reason or rhyme to what you like, so what type of article would cover that? I want to be clear I'm not having a dig, i'm genuinly curious as to what content you would like to see.
I agree with you there is an element of elitism in the hobby, but prior to the Lego movie i saw a lot of the elitism the other way, comments like "oh my god, you opened the box? What kind of idiot lowers the value like that?" But now the comments do go much more the other way, so i feel for you on that. It'd be a much better world if people respected the opinions of others a bit more.

I'm hoping I can pick up a copy this weekend, i enjoyed the pilot issue so curious to see how it continues.

msanders

BooTheMightyHamster said:

I'm half way through it at the moment, so I will send a review in as soon as poss (I'm supposed to be writing a piece about World of Warcraft for someone else at the same time, so spare time is limited).

Initial thoughts - great photography, but for crying out loud, employ a proofreader!

Our very own Huw was a proof reader!

msanders

jon_k said:

I had the pleasure of a long chat with Mark at Steam and had a frank exchange of views over his magazine..

I for one think its a "nice" magazine and full of interesting and informative stuff as you would expect, and for me the first dedicated magazine for lego ( unless I have missed something) .. but then I feel its all very safe and cosy, with staff who have been picked from various sources, and all very nepotistic ( now before you sharpen your oner`s or the like) its an objective post and we all have our views and some of us don`t follow the flock!

I would want some left field views on lego ( yes I know the review on the train is fairly scathing,) but there has to be a balanced view and not the same old tat rolled out, so be brave and criticise bad lego sets, lego are a good company and constructive criticism wont affect them and you wont be sent to mega block hell!!!

I know some of you are great at building, good for you, a great skill, some know the in`s and out of a cats bum on sets etc , great, some run some great web sites, all a win win, but some of us just are into lego because ....

there is a danger its getting elitist, I would dare to say, I think it is already , and that mere collectors like me who have no rhyme or reason for what I like, don`t have a voice, I just see the same old faces involved in Blocks,and will have to read their nice views issue upon issue..

For the record I have subscribed for the year so I support Mark and what he has achieved, I have contributed to brickset via the forum and have been to steam etc..

So food for thought and no doubt I will get flamed for my post.. hey ho its a view , its mine.. perhaps if my mum and dad had bought me that train set in the 1960`s I might have turned out different

I think I agree with @Huw‌ in that Blocks have to start somewhere and of course they have gone for the well known Lego experts. I think his suggestion of writing a report and submitting it is a great one. I think that it will be greatly welcomed and important for the success of the magazine. The magazine is evolving and they are listening (and have to listen) to their readers. Mark has always been open to feedback so I wouldn't hesitate to contact him.

I really like having a magazine to read in the flesh. I've read a lot of the current issue and I've really enjoyed it. There are a few things that I would like to see and I'll give Mark my feedback once I've read it all. One thing that I find difficult is reading about the building process of a particular set and imaging this in my mind. It was great reading reviews of some of the sets that I've built myself but I think for people that haven't, some photos of the building process would add to the reviews.

I really like the addition of sets for under £40 but I would like to see more of this. It is a monthly magazine so there's plenty to cover. I'm eagerly awaiting issue two already!!!

binaryeye

msanders said:

Our very own Huw was a proof reader!

If I read the news article correctly, Huw is an "editor". In publishing, this generally means the person is responsible for making decisions about what content should appear and how it should be organized and presented. Ensuring correct spelling, grammar, sentence structure, etc., is the responsibility of a copy editor.

On a small staff, I suppose the two responsibilities could be covered by the same person, but in general the skills needed don't overlap. I'm not suggesting anything about Blocks or Huw, here, as I haven't yet read the magazine. But I work in publishing and my wife is a freelance copy editor, so I know all too well that editors don't normally function as copy editors.

msanders

binaryeye said:

msanders said:

Our very own Huw was a proof reader!

If I read the news article correctly, Huw is an "editor". In publishing, this generally means the person is responsible for making decisions about what content should appear and how it should be organized and presented. Ensuring correct spelling, grammar, sentence structure, etc., is the responsibility of a copy editor.

On a small staff, I suppose the two responsibilities could be covered by the same person, but in general the skills needed don't overlap. I'm not suggesting anything about Blocks or Huw, here, as I haven't yet read the magazine. But I work in publishing and my wife is a freelance copy editor, so I know all too well that editors don't normally function as copy editors.

Whilst the title of editor may normally mean that they don't proof read, Huw wrote on the main website:

http://brickset.com/article/12765/blocks-magazine-issue-1-on-sale-next-thursday#comments

By Huw in United Kingdom, 18 Oct 2014 14:02


I received my copy today as well. I proof read (but not necessarily edited) most of the articles so I hope you'll find fewer errors than in the pilot issue. I've only found one so far, a missing full-stop in my column.

Speaking of which, I wrote it at the end of September with minor revisions a week or so later and time has already proven some of it to be incorrect, in particular the Greenpeace/Shell part, new information about which became available 9 days ago.

I guess that's one of the 'joys' of printed media production.

tedward

jon_k said:

... the first dedicated magazine for lego ( unless I have missed something) ...

Sadly for Joe Meno and all the hard work he has done for the last decade the first dedicated magazine was and remains BrickJournal which has been a print magazine for years. For some strange reason it appears to have been virtually unknown in the UK.

legomatt

Damn, i forgot this was out today.

Huw said:

...this issue may appear 'elitist' but Mark had to recruit from somewhere, he couldn't go on writing it all himself, so where else would he look other than to known writers, bloggers and reviewers?

Humbug! What people haven't realised yet is there are seventeen fart jokes hidden somewhere in the mag, and if you fold a page just so, you can see the Queen doing star-jumps. :o)

I'm loving it! And i don't even have a copy yet... in fact, for heightened drama, i'm now running the risk i'll miss issue 1 entirely! Now, I can't get that kind of excitement except from the most exhilarating of movies.

jon_k

Huw said:

If you, a 'mere collector', want to write something that's of interest to others of your ilk, get in touch with him!

excellent Huw .. stating the obvious there!!!

I am sure if you speak to Mark you will find I did the old fashioned thing and actually spoke to him about our interests in lego .

@shib the elitism is still very alive and healthy, as for what I would like to hear or read about is more of is the vintage stuff, who had what and sets that you would have loved but never got and how as I did, other toys tied in with lego.. as a 60`s child my first action man had plenty of "assistance " from creative lego building.

I am hoping that there will always be a nod to the lego of the past and a magazine not full of some very bland sets that are about now, its not always about the sets or building, its sometimes how lego shaped ones life..

AndyPol

There are some perfectionists out there! :-0

Give them a chance. This is the first mainstream magazine that you could buy off the shelf (correct me if I am wrong) that has been about something that I presume we all love i.e. LEGO?

If it was left to every AFOL to agree on content, write, proof-read and publish, it would never get off the ground! If it was going to have pleased everyone, it would have been 1589 pages long and cost £78.99 per issue!

Just enjoy it! BTW, I folded page 10 six ways and made Constables Haywain. :-)

Legoboy

1589 pages? If they're having trouble now, can you imagine trying to find someone to proof read that??

Huw

To clarify my role, I'm not an editor, more a 'consultant' that Mark bounces ideas off.

I do proof read articles sent to Mark by other authors. I didn't proof read Mark's or indeed my own, or the contents and similar pages.

If there are typos/spelling mistakes/misplaces apostrophes etc. in those I did read then it will be down to me but I'm not editing or copy editing, and I'm not the 'last stage of typographic production before publication.' [1]. It's still early days and processes are evolving, and I anticipate they'll improve over time. I believe there is another person involved at the traditional proof reading stage as well now.

@AndyPol, well said.

@jon_k‌, great idea. Articles about vintage LEGO would indeed be good, rather than the barely a decade old retrospectives we've had so far. To be fair though, issue 0 did cover Blacktron 1 which would have been childhood favourites for many.

legomatt

But if i were to be serious for a moment (yeah, it happens).

I think i recall saying before (about the pilot issue) that i'll be giving the first few issues a go to see what direction it's headed. But it appears currently there is no overall vision for the reader's experience, and it's still a 'i'd love to make a lego mag' for the creator, so i won't expect anything groundbreaking or new to appear for a while, as it looks like they're shaping the mag organically, as demand dictates. So i might need to drop in after 8 or so issues for a better indication of where its going.

From the review above, it seems that 'lego talk' is back again. I wasn't a fan of the pilot issue lego lingo bit at all, some of the phrases seemed forced, invented for the article, or perhaps just personal to the editor's immediate circle, and in my experience not in general use at all. Which meant that part felt like it was creating artificial terminology rather than reporting on actual usage within the mag.

One change i'd have made immediately (with the pilot) was replace the somewhat forced lego language piece, and replace it with a glossary of terms/lego-speak that actually appeared in the issue. i.e. terms that are being used, so a new to the hobby reader understands the articles.

I don't need (or want) to know that bricklink was being called cracklink by the editor (and others?), and knowing people might actually start calling it that as a result did nothing to service the hobby.

CapnRex101

@Huw - Is Dave not selecting vintage sets to discuss each month?

Huw

Actually, Mark asked me to go through the glossary and I removed a lot of the cringeworthy and never used (bignette, cracklink etc.) ones. Unfortunately my changes weren't made in issue 1 but should be for issue 2.

I think it was originally based partly on http://www.brothers-brick.com/lego-glossary/

legomatt

Glad to hear the obsolete/made-up stuff will be removed shortly.

(Slightly less impressed they actually lifted it from another source in the first place, though. Yeesh! Seems I gave them too much credit. lol). :oP

Is there a fancy pro-photographer piece again? I would imagine not, but if so, i hope they have the sense to make use of the centre-fold. That pilot issue missed a golden chance to make a few kid-friendly mini-posters from the photographer article.

Centre-most pages are always the ideal spot for any potential pull-out sections, be they photo spreads, games, or 'activity' pieces.

Huw

Don't know...

legomatt

^ Bit of an odd post... I'm not sure whether it's a response out of irritation (and not having a copy(?)) or just meant as a friendly 'perhaps' type lead, an unwritten 'might be...' sorta thing.

Either way, if i offended in some way, i didn't mean to. I'll be picking up a copy soon should i find it... And then i'll start being offensive ;oD lol

*joking*

Huw

Sorry, thought you meant issue 2. Issue 1 has a Star Destroyer pull out in the middle.

CHERUBboy

I've now had a proper look at issue two. It's an OK read, with a few naff bits (building race). I can't help feeling that the magazine is going to struggle without official co-operation from Lego. You can only go so far with set reviews and some nice photos. I just didn't find it particulary compelling because there's very little in the mag that I can't read online weeks beforehand.

obi_g

I enjoyed it. It turned up on Saturday, early, so it was even better. Noticed a couple of typos and there was a character labelling mistake on the Ultra Agents page, but i don't think that's a massive issue - I did have to double check! Can't wait for the next one. Or for the merch link to be up so I can get a tee shirt!

obi_g

Also, how about a tutorial / guidance / article on retr0bright or similar? I've got a #920 and #928 that need cleaning up... ;)

Steve_J_OM

For anyone here involved with the magazine: what are the chances of Irish distribution? We don't have a WHS anymore, but I think we share a few other newsagent outlets.

CapnRex101

@Steve_J_OM‌ - I believe the magazine is being distributed at Easons in Ireland.

bmwlego

I just want to echo @tedward and point out that there has been a LEGO Mag for AFOLs for a decade now that is up to issue 30 and that is available online at twomorrows.com

http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=78

Brickjournal! This magazine is edited by Joe Meno but it gives a voice to those in the hobby that are building, building LUGs and building the community. It is a great read and a great resource for fans.

As for Blocks, I am happy to read here that it will be available in the States. The BN coupons now exclude LEGO toys but hopefully they can be applied to LEGO magazines!

drdavewatford

bmwlego said:

I just want to echo @tedward and point out that there has been a LEGO Mag for AFOLs for a decade now that is up to issue 30 and that is available online at twomorrows.com

You hit the nail on the head in your description - it's a magazine for AFOLs, and at times I think it's pretty impenetrable to anyone but hardcore hobbyists. In contrast, Blocks is primarily targeting the more casual LEGO fan, and not just the grown-ups either.

There's more than enough room for both.