Bricks/Bricks Culture launch
Posted by Huw,
Bricks and Bricks Culture magazines were launched with much fanfare in London yesterday. Around 100 people gathered at Old Billingsgate market for the event which was a lot of fun and an excellent networking opportunity. The guest list read like a 'Who's Who' of the LEGO community in the UK, with people from LEGO UK (and Kim from the CEE team), DK books, Bright Bricks, Brickish, Fairy Bricks, Minifigs.me, MinfigForLife, Firestar, Brickset, Jedi News and Brick Fanatics as well as a host of contributors to the magazines and other notable figures from the LEGO world.
Most importantly, the magazines were launched successfully and all attendees were given copies to take away. It's incredible to think that at the end of January they were nothing more than an idea in Mark's head and now, just 8 weeks later, two very high quality publications have materialised.
Thanks to a broken down freight train at Micheldever I had an arduous journey home, which took 4 hours instead of two, so I had plenty of time to read Bricks from cover to cover. On the surface, the mix of articles is similar to that in Blocks but the presentation and content have been taken up a notch: the writing seems better, there are far fewer typos and it looks much more polished thanks to the perfect binding (flat spine), the typography and much cleaner layout.
I've not yet read Bricks Culture but a quick glance through suggests that it too is fantastic, maybe even better than Bricks due to the nature of the articles that are unlike anything that has been put into print before. Editor Tim Johnson has done a fantastic job in near-impossible timescales.
I believe that both titles start shipping over the weekend so if you've ordered them you should receive them early next week. I'm not going to write reviews of them myself (I'd be too biased), instead I'll be looking for someone else to do so. If you're interested, please get in touch.
You can pre-order both titles at the publisher's website.
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18 comments on this article
I watched the link you posted to Mark Guest's Beyond the Brick interview. Mark's vision of them sounds good. I've ordered both, so looking forward to next week.
I watched it whilst on the train going up to London. It's a good interview, isn't it.
You will not be disappointed. They are frickin' awesome. :-)
Hi Huw, If you still need a reviewer, I'd be more than happy to review these, they do seem quite interesting.
@Huw
You could add them to the database and interested users could submit reviews there. Then you could cherry-pick ones you like :)
I was fortunate to be a guest. To be clear, they are two distinct magazines, with two distinct editorial policies. Just a very similar title and layout. I've flicked through my copies, and can confirm they are by far and away the best printed Lego magazines I've ever encountered. They both have lots of content, and not rehashes of stuff you'd find on the web.
Massive best wishes to Mark Guest, Timothy Johnson and the rest of the team.
Glad to hear they were well-recieved. :) What was the general reaction to Bricks Culture? Did the two magazines appeal to everyone?
I wish these weren't so darned expensive to get in the USA.
Well done all involved - though I find it slightly amusing that in reference to Bricks compared to Blocks, 'the writing seems better, there are far fewer typos and it looks much more polished'. Effectively the same editorial and writing team responsible for those issues at Blocks is now with Bricks. Maybe everyone is taking it more seriously this time around?
Again, well done. Blocks has made it to a national book store chain here in NZ - would be good if Bricks could as well.
Maybe they just found the spell checker ;-)
Are they available in Australia yet?
I'm really impressed with both magazines, they're stunning to look at, and the content is very considered. My other half got to go to the launch (yes I'm a bit jealous!), and it sounds like a great event, with a lot of support from the community. I really hope they succeed, they deserve to!
Digital is the same price? Sorry. Not gonna happen. All they have to do is email a download link, which will probably automated. Saves material and shipping and handling costs. They done have to give it away. And add on shipping costs to the US. Sorry. Hope it's successful but I'll spend my money elsewhere.
Which UK shops can I buy these in, or is it online order only?
^ It's online only. And their website is shockin' :-O
Tried to register a new account but all it would do is make the list of credit cards accepted flash.
I have purchased a subscription for 12 printed issues. It has been more than a week it is launched ... still nothing in my mailbox :(
@Kennywest : I have also purchased the printed issues on April 3rd and have not received anything in my mailbox up to now ;)...However yesterday I received a link for the digital issue?!? I understand they are facing an enormous demand, so I will be patient. But I am a bit disappointed for the moment, and I'm not even talking about the bizarre website!
@DeSaintEtienne: I signed up somewhere in March, when the first article on Brickset about this new magazine appeared. I really hope I receive these printed issues, because the digital version is rubbish :(