Info - Mega Bloks element reference

bluemoose

Just for reference purposes, there is an online Mega Bloks reference site; an interesting section is a catalogue of Mega Bloks elements -
http://bloks.hyperboards.com/index.php?action=view_board&board_id=43&start=1

vwong19

thanks for posting. interesting to see the other side.

Matthew

^^ We don't use language like that here :-)

jwsmart

This is the third post about non-LEGO building blocks in the last three days, maybe it's time for an "Everything else not LEGO" forum?

It seems as if there's enough interest for it, and it might make it easier for those that aren't interested to ignore it completely.

Maybe?

Huw

I wonder what they are modelling the parts in?

bluemoose

Ldraw, apparently ...
http://bloks.hyperboards.com/index.php?action=view_topic&topic_id=81
There are mega bloks parts libraries out ... there ...

LuciusMalfoy7

Language, language, language! Why the sudden interest on Brickset in these Mega*****?

pantenkind

It seems as if there's enough interest for it, and it might make it easier for those that aren't interested to ignore it completely.

Maybe?

the title didnt tip you off?

Enbric

Language, language, language! Why the sudden interest on Brickset in these Mega*****?

I don't understand why users censor Mega Bloks, it seems... juvenile. I don't buy or build with them, just like most of you, but it's silly to be so wildly discriminatory on any small mention of a competitor. If Lego fans are interested in Mega Bloks or talking about them, I don't see the issue. Just ignore the topic if you're not interested.

Not intending to start a fight, just my opinion.

jwsmart

the title didnt tip you off?

Wait, posts have titles? When did this happen?

I was actually referring to the (seemingly obligatory) "OH NO MEGABLOKS" post(s).
Instead of actual interest in the topic, there's more chatter on the pros/cons of if we should be discussing megabloks or not. If there were a forum/topic/category/whatever that was labeled "other brands", it might be avoided.

I'm also assuming that the people who censor megabloks are doing it out of jest - not because they think reading the brand name in it's entirety will cause emotional distress.

Besides, why does everybody always pick on MegaBloks, when we should all be picking on Best Lock?

pantenkind

I agree, at least megablocks seem to try.

Orthobotrex

Well, I don't think we'll be sanctioned by TLG if we talk about the competition. Heck, they should even ask that in their next survey!

But I do hope they get some pointers over the sentiments involved.

LuciusMalfoy7

Yes, we censor it jokingly... Nobody really cares if you say Mega*****.

prof1515

It's not a funny joke though. It's old and tired and sometimes, when taken too seriously, petty and immature. Let's put to rest this "joke" once and for all.

pantenkind

I second that Prof

richselby

Lego ran a picture of the stuff recently in the latest Lego Club Jr magazine. One of the kid-made creations was mostly MB bricks from what I could do. So if it's good enough the TLG to promote, we shouldn't be scared from taking an interest.

legoDad

^Gotta' check that out...yeah, if Lego doesn't mind.
I have to thank Megablocks for getting my son and I into Lego and we've used those older Megablocks as filler sometimes in our Moc's (usually not seen but within a larger model to ration other Lego elements).
There's a Megablock element that I like though...a 2x2 plate with studs top and bottom.

legoDad

Anyone into KRE-O? Is it good? I saw an Optimus Prime model kit. Looked good but am leary to purchase if it's of junk quality. Looks like it's all knockoff Lego elements. Probably could make the kit with Lego pieces and have a better look.

NeilJam

Being a Transformers fan, I am tempted by KRE-O. Though I am turned off by the fact that you have to rebuild characters to "transform" them from robot to vehicle and back.

Someone on a GI Joe message board I frequent discovered a logo on the KRE-O boxes for Oxford bricks, a company that had already been making building sets compatible with Lego bricks. http://www.hisstank.com/gi-joe-news/other-14/what-gi-joe-kreo-could-look-like-10541/

Si_UKNZ

It's interesting - If Lego would allow forums like this one to call themselves "Legoset" then it would seem less acceptable to talk about non-lego stuff. Because they dont allow any fan sites to use the word lego, it seems more OK that we talk about other brands.

I think we should talk about it more and more just to highlight the damage their over-aggressive policies can do.

sonsofsceva

My experience is that while LEGO is typically made of superior plastic and generally fit together, what really sets LEGO apart is that the engineering of most of their builds far surpasses those of the other brands.
The MB Black Pearl, for example, from Dead Man's Chest, is only about 100 pieces and has only two cannons. Some details are neat but it is closer to Playmobil than a building system. I was given some Dragon Krystal Wars sets and while the dragons are nice looking, they are pretty delicate. Many a broken wing. The sets were generally pretty gimmicky and parts either did not fit well or would break after some use.

When I was last in Hong Kong I picked up some of the Enlighten stuff. Some of the builds are decent but the plastic is fairly poor. One minifig hand broke after a little wear and tear and some longer pieces (2x8, 2x10, 2x12, for example) warp over time. Again, the engineering can be poor. They had a battleship that looked intersting (right down to officers with a big red star on their hats) but when it is complete the doors and other parts are too small in scale for the minifigs. Totally unplayable. My boys abandoned it after about ten minutes.

And then there's "Best Lock"...yeah...their own web site pretty much sums that one up.

In another topic there's a lot of flak, and somewhat deserved, for the new Echo Base set, but even that has a better design than most of those from competitors.

prevere

I've found the anti-MegaBlok thing a little funny as I got more into Lego. There's a guy or gal with a store on Bricklink called "Destroy All MegaBloks". I chuckle whenever I see that. I almost want to mail them all the MB stuff I find.

As anyone taken the Pepsi, er, Lego-MegaBlok challenge? See if you can hold a Lego in one hand and a MB in the other (same size) - can you tell the difference by weight? I bet most of people on this forum would pass...

kylejohnson11

I bet most of people on this forum would pass...

Bring it on, I'll dominate it :)

Yellowcastle

While I have nothing against the competing brands, I honestly don't see the attraction with M*G*B***S. Understanding that I've only looked at the boxes, it appears that there's very little building involved as the sets are full of BURPS, etc. And with such low piece counts and immutable sections, I see no room for expanded creativity which, for me, is the best thing about LEGO sets. As for censoring their name, I take the CANDYMAN approach....typing it three times probably won't hurt you, but as ol' Jack Burton always says, why risk it? :o)

jwsmart

@sonsofsceva - My niece got a best-lock castle for her birthday a while back. Just recently she decided she wanted to play with it, started trying to put it back together, got extremely frustrated and promptly started crying.

Off brand bricks just aren't worth it.

sonsofsceva

^ Yeah, those Best-Locks are a pretty big mess. I am always willing to give the underdog a chance, but those are a bit ridiculous.

Plauge

My daughter got a hello kitty "Lego" kit, made in Germany. Bricks are of good quality and fits perfectly with Lego bricks (duplo). I don't know about normal bricks though, I just don´t see my self buy then´m even though I was tempted to buy a Transformers kit.

Brickarmor

Kre-O's are fine. I/My son has got three sets and no complaints. But I also have no point of Lego comparison, say Hero Factory or Bionicles. I said this elsewhere so I'll risk the redundancy: Kreos are not competition for Legos, they're just different. Hasbro's got to be realistic enough to jettison dreams of muscling in on Lego's turf. The Transformers are a fine product for the price. I never have tried any other clones, however, and see no reason to.

Brickarmor

But yes, it was totally stupid for Hasbro to jump on the bandwagon with Transformers that don't, like, you know.... transform.

Redbullgivesuwind

I dont think lego will ever lose its dominance as long as it keeps on making good quality products. I think its why we have not seen the price of lego fall as was thought when they lost the patents.

I have a mate who has some megabloks stuff and it is not half bad. The quality has improved he said and for what you get they are cheaper than lego. But you pay for a brand and you know what you are gettting with lego.

Plauge

But yes, it was totally stupid for Hasbro to jump on the bandwagon with Transformers that don't, like, you know.... transform.

That´s why I did not buy those sets.

giraffefreckles

We have a Dora Mega Bloks set at home, and I did not know until recently that it was lockable with certain Duplo pieces. That expands its playability, as we have several Duplo sets.

At the doctor's office, though, we got a taste of the long-term usefulness of Duplo versus Mega Bloks. Basically, all the MBs (big brick pieces like the 2x4 on this page: http://bloks.hyperboards.com/action/view_topic/topic_id/6727) had lost their clutch power. I was digging through the box for the few Duplo pieces just so I could entertain my daughter with something that actually worked.

Bustin

I tried MegaBloks once for the Halo stuff. You can feel the difference as easily as you can see it. The plastic feels different, the pieces echo different when the pieces are put in a pile and they a terrible cheap sheen to it when looking at them. I threw the set away after an attempt to get it to stay together. The pieces were warped, colors were odd and had swirls in them and the parts would pop off from the warping.

vwong19

I enjoyed collecting their Marvel minfig blind packs... all 24 before that ended. Each came with a 2x4 brick with a unique color, many of which Lego doesn't produce. There is a place for competition and I have to believe that the reason why we have Lego Marvel sets is in part due to Mega Bloks.

Rainstorm26

I got about 20 lbs of Megajunk if anyone wants to take it off my hands. Maybe we could start a Megajunk marketplace forum. :)

dimefield

I just give it away free on Kijiji, usually gets snapped up pretty quick

tmpuser

Plauge said:

Brickarmor said:

But yes, it was totally retarded for Hasbro to jump on the bandwagon with Transformers that don't, like, you know.... transform.

That´s why I did not buy those sets.

Yes, because they never did that before.

I hope you never called yourself Transformers fan, since you clearly know nothing about them.

thebearcollector

I remember back when I was little a building brand called BTR had the transformers license I kinda of hate myself for saying this but the BTR bricks had better quality then mega bloks but then again I only had one of those sets