Blocks Magazine

CCC · July 2014

Venunder said:
Sorry Blocks.
But to be honest, the only reason I would buy a magazine about Lego would be some exclusive Lego brick content. Like Chima Mag and now the Friends Mag.
Why would I pay £6 for a magazine when I could spend £6 on Lego instead?

There's the problem though. If they get unique content you can be sure it will either be leaked before publication or published online by a reader the day the mag comes out.

BooTheMightyHamster · July 2014

It's an interesting point.
I bought a copy of Blocks, and I'm reading through it at the moment. Apart from the typos and grammar errors, which are putting my teeth on edge, it's not bad. But I do think to myself 'There's not much here that I couldn't find on the internet.'

And yet every month, I'll quite happily buy Cycling Active, Cycling Plus, Evo, Classic Rock and often one or two others that catch my eye.

So what's the difference? Certainly with Evo, it's the quality of the writing and the quality of the photography - I can find any number of 'reviews of fast cars' on the web, but Evo is in a class of it's own.

The Cycling mags... because bikes tend to be rather more expensive than Lego, you're less likely to find 'amateur' reviews online. I, and thousands like me, do online Lego reviews of the sets I buy, but I can only afford one bike, so I'm not about to start doing group tests.

And Classic Rock tends to be more about the articles than the reviews.

So (IMHO) if Blocks is going to have a long(er) term future, then they need to rely less on set reviews, which we can find here on Brickset, and in a million other locations on the web, and provide more 'original content'. Which relies heavily on recruiting interesting writers.

I really do hope they succeed - I'll quite happily fork out £6 a quarter for something interesting about one of my favourite hobbies, but if it's just a re-hash of something I can find elsewhere - albeit with pretty pictures - then I'll probably save my money and spend it - as other have pointed out - on Lego itself!

Legoboy · July 2014

Venunder said:
Sorry Blocks.
But to be honest, the only reason I would buy a magazine about Lego would be some exclusive Lego brick content. Like Chima Mag and now the Friends Mag.
Why would I pay £6 for a magazine when I could spend £6 on Lego instead?

I can sort of understand that but for me, I just like glossy pages. I have thousands and thousands of pounds worth of books and all contain information I either knew already or learnt from various websites. But there's nothing like turning the glossy pages of a book to learn it all again. :o)

Huw · July 2014

Another thing to consider when commenting on the content and how much is available elsewhere is: how many of Blocks readers are hardcore LEGO fans who read the likes of Brickset, and how many are dads, kids or other casual fans who don't and thus won't have seen reviews of, say, the VW camper and indeed may not even know it exists.

The magazine has to strike a balance to keep both sets of readers happy I agree but I think it's unreasonable to expect it to be full of exclusive content.

cheshirecat · July 2014

Given how hard it was to find I doubt many non-hardcore lego fans just 'stumbled' upon it.

I hope its a success as theres clearly lots of people that would like it to become regular. I'm just not sure that the content is out there though beyond mocs and reviews and even that would max out at quarterly I suspect.

drdavewatford · July 2014

Huw said:
Another thing to consider when commenting on the content and how much is available elsewhere is: how many of Blocks readers are hardcore LEGO fans who read the likes of Brickset, and how many are dads, kids or other casual fans who don't and thus won't have seen reviews of, say, the VW camper and indeed may not even know it exists.

^ This.

The comments about how hard it is to find are entirely valid, but that's a different problem altogether.

CCC · July 2014

What would sell much better is an authorised magazine, one that can legally use the lego logo. Just having that on the cover would make it stand out and get it sold. It would also get it onto shelves in the first place.

BrickSun · July 2014

Here's en email I received from Blocks magazine today:

Blocks magazine is going monthly from autumn 2014. The first issue of this exciting new magazine written by Lego enthusiasts, for Lego enthusiasts, is due to hit the shops on Thurs 23rd Oct.

Subscriber Benefits
Get the first issue of Blocks before it goes on sale in the shops.
Subscribe now and you will receive the first issue free.
Never miss an issue of Blocks.
Delivered direct to your door.

If you really have an eye for a bargain why not subscribe
for two years and get three issues FREE.
That's 24 issues for the price of 21.

To subscribe visit to www.blocksmag.com, go to the subscription page, click the SUBSCRIBE CLICK HERE button, then choose from the EU or REST OF THE WORLD subscription options.

We hope you enjoy the magazine,

The Blocks team
Michelle Leaper
Blockhead Media Ltd

BrickSun · July 2014

These are the prices:

12 issues
UK £54,88
Europe £83,88
World £98,88

24 issues
UK £104,77
Europe £162,77
World £192,77

BrickSun · July 2014

This comes down to approx. £7,-/€9,- per issue with a one year EU subscription.
While I really, really enjoyed the first issue I wonder if a monthly schedule is the best way to go in terms of awesome content and allround juiciness.
Bi-monthly or even quaterly would be more appealing to me.

Legoboy · July 2014

Completely agree. I'd be interested in subscribing but I'm not sure decent content can be sustained for 24 issues over so many months.

Weeks can go by in the cyber world without decent news so I'm intrigued to know what different a paper magazine can come up with on a month basis.

Quarterly no problem. Monthly? Not so sure.

cheshirecat · July 2014

^ totally agree.

legomatt · July 2014

Yep. I'll maybe buy the first one or two, just to see the direction they're taking with it, but after that, if it's all a bit 'more of the same' with no originality or personality, that'll be me done. I'll certainly not want to buy it if I end up feeling I could write better myself...

Hmmm, that gives me an idea... maybe I'll publish my own underground brick-based leaflet, priced 1 Groat, or whatever you've got loose in your pocket.

Roll Up! Roll Up! Get 'em before they're chip paper!

Inside this issue:
Headline: Shock as bricks forced to separate!

Sport - Heavyweight Boxing; An 'At-At' Box goes up against an 'ISD' Box. Whose seals will burst first? Let's find out! Ding-Ding.

Elementary My Dear Watson: For those of a cerebral nature, Dr Dave investigates ABS (with a magnifying glass and deerstalker hat) - he assures us it's nothing kinky, speaking of which...

Illegal Connections: How many positions have you tried? ;oP (stop that sniggering at the back!). We look at new and unusual ways to get your bits together (I said stop it!).

Find the Sausage. (You're thinking we just did it, but you'd be wrong) we've hidden a sausage in a famous image. Can you spot it? Useless Prizes to be won (somewhere)... i'd imagine... go find a competition.

Psychic Previews: We look into our crystal ball element for a sneak peak at what TLG might be making next. Expect complete b1locks. < (I think a typo sneaked in there).

Story Time: Sit back and relax as JK Rowlingcourtcasepending doesn't write a story for us, so we get our resident word-wranglers to make one up as they go along instead. We're promised Lego puns galore! Paid by the published word, so it'll never end! Enjoy!

ENJOY IT!! I said, or so help me, I'll cross you with my gloved hand!

And much, MUCH more! So much in fact, it's too much. They made us cut it out!

Exclamation!

(You won't find this content on the interwebs).

legomatt · July 2014

Oops. *Watford (not Watson)... Good job i didn't charge you six quid, just now. ;oP

CCC · July 2014

There is still a copy on the shelves of WHS in York, I saw it earlier today.

JayEm · July 2014

I never got around to buying the first issue. How easy would it be to obtain for a reasonable price now?

margot · September 2014

Just saw that Blocks is going to be sold in the US at Barnes and Noble.

Natebw · September 2014

Cool, @margot‌. I doubt I'd subscribe, but I would get a copy every now and then.

prevere · September 2014

Kudos to any new successful print magazine these days.

drlmiles1 · March 2017

(I thought I'd revive this thread, as there does not seem any other more recent one dedicated to this magazine)
My subscriber issue of issue 30 arrived yesterday, and I find myself eagerly waiting for each new issue. It has (in my opinion) an excellent balance of reviews, MOCs, building tips, and historical articles, and I'd encourage others to look at at if you have not already. I noticed that this issue has 4 pages less than previous ones (not a great loss), but seems to have higher quality paper for the outside 4 sheets of paper (i.e. the 8 pages front and back), and wondered why this had been done. Anyone any ideas?

MattDawson · March 2017

Might be to do with being displayed in stores, extra strength when on shelves? Or maybe it's to do with storage/shipping.

sunnie505 · May 2021

For anyone who subscribes from the US - is it worth it? I wish they offered a digital-only subscription because the postage makes it pretty expensive (Blocks magazine, Porsche 911, or Medieval Blacksmith?).