THE BRICKPICKER LEGO SET REVIEW/BLOG ARTICLE CONTEST IS HERE!!!

Jeff and I are proud to announce this contest for all registered BrickPicker members. It will be based on LEGO set reviews, Evalution Corner and Blog articles. We will judge the winners on several aspects, such as overall quantity, content and quality. We will take into consideration the quantity of reviews and articles you submit and the content and quality of those reviews/articles/blogs. Just because you pump out more reviews than other members, if your content and quality are subpar or very average, we can elect someone else the winner.

The basic BrickPicker Set Review will be accepted at 1000 characters. No less. Unlike the earlier Set Review version, you will be required to submit content for each of the 10 basic categories below:

First Impression(WOW Factor) & Introduction

An introduction and first impression of the LEGO set. Does the LEGO set "WOW" you? Is it or will it be an "iconic" LEGO set? When you see this set, you say to yourself, "I just have to have one!?

Unique Parts/Minifigures

Does the LEGO set have rare or unique minifigures? Are there rare parts/colors in the set? Does the set have a large amount of minifigures or parts that make it more desirable?

Playability/Build Experience

Does the set have elements that make it an extremely "fun" set to play with or to build, thus affecting it's popularity and future viability as an investment?

Value for money(new)

Is the set a bargain? Does the set give you a "bang for your buck" when considering piece to price ratio or is the price of the set extremely high priced for the amount of pieces included? This rating also plays into LEGO collectors/investors who like to "part out" LEGO sets to make money...Could the set be used to "part out for a profit"?

Theme Popularity

Is the LEGO set from a popular LEGO theme that sells well in the primary retail LEGO market and will most likely translate to positive growth in the secondary LEGO market?

Exclusivity

Is the set an "exclusive" set and is marked accordingly so? Is the set limited in production in any way? Is the set from a Toy Fair or Comic Con or other LEGO trade show that has limited production runs?

Packaging

Does the set have unique packaging that makes it stand out from the typical LEGO set? Does the set have special markings on the box that differentiate it from other LEGO sets?

Growth Potential

What is the potential growth of this set in the secondary LEGO market? Will this set appreciate or depreciate after being retired(EOL)?

Display Attributes

Does this set when built display well? Is it a topic of conversation when built and displayed in a office or den? Does it make for an impressive or unique set when compared with other LEGO set

Final Analysis & Conclusion

Your overall final impression of the set, taking into consideration all the above factors. A final synopsis or conclusion about the LEGO set. The numerical rating is for the entire set, with a 10 being the ?perfect? LEGO set, a 5-6 being about average and a 1 being the bottom of the barrel.

Each category can range from a sentence to several paragraphs if necessary. The combined total for all the category content needs to be 1000 characters to be accepted. You will be asked to leave a numerical 1 to 10 rank for each category as well, with 4,5 and 6 being considered "average" LEGO set rankings. You do not have to own a set to review one, but it would help and this will be noted on each review. Here is a sample of a REVIEW I did for the 10227 UCS B-Wing Starfighter. It is a 5000 character review and I would consider it an above average review. You can do more or less, but proper grammar and spelling is also important.

We will take a snapshot of the current review totals and start from there. A BrickPicker member can look over their personal reviews in our new REVIEW LOG. You will have the ability to resubmit an older review and improve it, with it counting towards the contest. Jeff and I will approve or disapprove each resubmission. What is neat about the new review system is that Jeff and I will be able to award BONUS BRICKPOINTS for above average and special reviews. A basic 1000 character review will be awarded 10 Brickpoints, but we can give up to 500 Brickpoints or more for some in depth and special reviews.

The contest will start immediately and conclude at 11:59 PM(Eastern Time) on July 3rd, 2013. There will be three main prizes:

1ST PLACE: 10228 HAUNTED HOUSE or $200 LEGO GIFT CARD

2ND PLACE: 10232 PALACE CINEMA or $150 LEGO GIFT CARD

3RD PLACE: 9516 JABBA'S PALACE or $100 LEGO GIFT CARD

We will adjust all prizes to the winner's country and situation. Jeff and I understand that some members have to pay more for LEGO sets and we will adapt to each situation. We have the right to change the prizes to equivalent LEGO sets if these become retired or out of stock.

There will also be four $25 LEGO GIFT CARDS given out to those exceptional reviews in which I can convert to content for the EVALUATION CORNER. One person can win them all. Look at my reviews for an example of what I am looking for. You do not have to go through the normal review processor if it is easier to produce a large and quality review and analysis on a word processor like OPEN OFFICE(which I use). If you are doing a "special" review, you can contact me. I can guide you. What I don't want is something I have to rewrite. It needs to be quality content and properly written. I can tweak it and help with data and charts, but the overall written content needs to be very, very good.

Depending on the response, we can throw in some other prizes along the way. Maybe some "Honorable Mentions" or some other prize for some review or content that tickles my fancy. This is a serious competition and Jeff and I want the content of the LEGO set reviews to become a very important part of our site. Unlike the quality reviews on top sites like Brickset or Eurobricks, I want our reviews to focus on aspects of LEGO sets that will affect its "investment" potential and value. You can discuss anything you want, but you should have a serious investment correlation in your reviews when discussing many of the categories. The basic categories are set up like an essay, with an introduction, body & content and then a conclusion. Think of the reviews in proper English class terms and you will do well.

That's about it. Good luck with your reviews and any questions can be posted below. Winners will be announced on July 4th, 2013. Thanks.

Ed Mack

EDIT: JEFF AND I WILL ALSO ACCEPT EVALUATION CORNER/BLOG ARTICLES TOWARDS THE CONTEST AS WELL!!!

Last for the contest I mean. I'll keep writing them, just at a slower pace with no pressure lol. I knew you were probably holding a lot of reviews to submit today. Good job!

Unfortunately not. I pride myself as a skilled procrastinator (I often do huge school projects the morning before ), but I think I might have waited a bit to long this time I'm basically going to be at my computer for the next 14 hours LOL

Best of luck to everyone sending in their last minute reviews, and best of luck to the Macks reading all of them!

I'll be pressing the the "submit for review" button at 11:58:59

I'll be pressing the the "submit for review" button at 11:58:59

And then you'll lose your connection and miss the chance to submit them lol. Be careful.

And then you'll lose your connection and miss the chance to submit them lol. Be careful.

True. I hate my internet. Actually I think my computer is the problem. It ruined a review before it was auto-saved awhile ago with the blue screen of death ;-; Darned technology!

My goodness, you guys really pulled all the the stops for your last couple reviews! Great reads FCBarcelona and Grolim! I should just give up LOL

It's going to be tough.  There is a nice mix of quantity vs quality.  At some point tomorrow morning, Jeff will give me a character count total and total for top reviews and we will go from there.  I will announce the Review Contest winners sometime tomorrow night most likely.

It's going to be tough.  There is a nice mix of quantity vs quality.  At some point tomorrow morning, Jeff will give me a character count total and total for top reviews and we will go from there.  I will announce the Review Contest winners sometime tomorrow night most likely.

Exciting! Although I think I can already guess the winning trio 

 

C'mon people final push just write a couple more reviews!

The wait is going to be the worst part...

Exciting! Although I think I can already guess the winning trio 

 

C'mon people final push just write a couple more reviews!

Who do you think is going to win the review contest.

This is 110% speculating, but for quantity, we have Blackjack, Mikeur86, MartinP, and Fcbarcelona101.

 

For quality, my unbiased guess is that I would win.   Just kidding I haven't even read everyone's reviews so I got no clue.

Who do you think is going to win the review contest.

I have a pretty good idea of who is probably going to win. Not sure we should go around announcing it in this public forum though; if someone we don't mention wins, they may feel hurt or something. Plus, I would feel bad if I doubted someone and they won. *shrug* But yeah, I think everyone is just looking at the top quantity of reviews at this point.

I have a pretty good idea of who is probably going to win. Not sure we should go around announcing it in this public forum though; if someone we don't mention wins, they may feel hurt or something. Plus, I would feel bad if I doubted someone and they won. *shrug*

 

Good point, Brian.  I will be using this advice as well.

Putting together a last minute review, and am wondering... How do you insert an image into the review?

Putting together a last minute review, and am wondering... How do you insert an image into the review?

First, upload the picture to a photo sharing site such as flickr or photobucket (both are free). Then right click where you want to put it in the review and click "insert/edit image". You will be asked to make an image title and put in the link for the image. The picture will now show (pushes red staples button ).

 

Jeff also added some nice features like the ability to put a border around the image and resize it. I recommend that you don't make the image too large (I try to keep mine around 600/400). Good luck!

I have a pretty good idea of who is probably going to win. Not sure we should go around announcing it in this public forum though; if someone we don't mention wins, they may feel hurt or something. Plus, I would feel bad if I doubted someone and they won. *shrug* But yeah, I think everyone is just looking at the top quantity of reviews at this point.

I'm not looking at quantity, because FCB has lots of big, quality ones, and Grolim has also been going full throttle with his polybags! I honestly have no idea who will win besides FCB.

I know there is already a topic for award suggestions but I thought this would be more relevant here... just a little idea for an award for all participants in the review contest, regardless of whether they win anything or not. Even if a person only did one review, they still contributed and should get at least some recognition for that.

 

Anyway, my dad is going to be home soon and I'll probably get punted off the computer so I'll just say good job and good luck to all right now. Thanks Ed and Jeff for running the contest, it was what really got me involved in the community and was a lot of fun. Bye for now!

 

These are the articles and blogs that have been submitted for the Content Contest ending August 1, 2013.   The color designations are as follows:

 

• green(Evaluation Corner article)
• orange(Brickvesting Blog article) 
• blue(Personal/Community Blog)
• red(articles ready to be published)
• purple(ideas for potential articles)

 

Veegs: EC article on Creator Houses(500 BrickPoints)

Quacs: EC article on Legends of Chima(500 BrickPoints)

Strylr: BB article on Parting Out sets(500 BrickPoints)

Mikeur86: Avengers EC article(500 BrickPoints)

Quacs: LEGO Truths and Myths Blog  BB article(500 BrickPoints)

Fcbarcelona101:  Personal Blog  on December price swings(200 BrickPoints)

Quacs: Personal Blog on Sydney Opera House(150 BrickPoints)

MartinP: Personal Blog on 10240 X-wing(50 BrickPoints)

Alcarin: Personal Blog on Europe LEGO price difference(150 BrickPoints)

Quacs: Beginner

Thanks for all these updates Ed. One question, how will you be judging the review contest. It end tonight.

Thanks for all these updates Ed. One question, how will you be judging the review contest. It end tonight.

As Ed has stated several times in this thread, judging will be done based on quantity (character count), the quality of the reviews (how useful they are), with extra points going to the reviews he has marked as "special".  Him and Jeff expect to be finished tallying up the results by the end of tommorrow. In addition to the three top prizes, they also have some honorable mentions and possibly viewer's choice awards for special reviews. I hope that cleared up things for you.

Thanks, i did not see that thread before. must have missed it.

Thanks, i did not see that thread before. must have missed it.

?

You just posted in "that thread" (yes, I'm talking about this thread, "updated review features contest")

We will take a snapshot of the current review totals and start from there. A BrickPicker member can look over their personal reviews in our new REVIEW LOG. You will have the ability to resubmit an older review and improve it, with it counting towards the contest. Jeff and I will approve or disapprove each resubmission. What is neat about the new review system is that Jeff and I will be able to award BONUS BRICKPOINTS for above average and special reviews. A basic 1000 character review will be awarded 10 Brickpoints, but we can give up to 500 Brickpoints or more for some in depth and special reviews.

The contest will start immediately and conclude at 11:59 PM(Eastern Time) on July 3rd, 2013. There will be three main prizes:

1ST PLACE: 10228 HAUNTED HOUSE or $200 LEGO GIFT CARD

2ND PLACE: 10232 PALACE CINEMA or $150 LEGO GIFT CARD

3RD PLACE: 9516 JABBA'S PALACE or $100 LEGO GIFT CARD

We will adjust all prizes to the winner's country and situation. Jeff and I understand that some members have to pay more for LEGO sets and we will adapt to each situation. We have the right to change the prizes to equivalent LEGO sets if these become retired or out of stock.

There will also be four $25 LEGO GIFT CARDS given out to those exceptional reviews in which I can convert to content for the EVALUATION CORNER. One person can win them all. Look at my reviews for an example of what I am looking for. You do not have to go through the normal review processor if it is easier to produce a large and quality review and analysis on a word processor like OPEN OFFICE(which I use). If you are doing a "special" review, you can contact me. I can guide you. What I don't want is something I have to rewrite. It needs to be quality content and properly written. I can tweak it and help with data and charts, but the overall written content needs to be very, very good.

Depending on the response, we can throw in some other prizes along the way. Maybe some "Honorable Mentions" or some other prize for some review or content that tickles my fancy. This is a serious competition and Jeff and I want the content of the LEGO set reviews to become a very important part of our site. 

Right here...first post. 

All the young members are coming out to help the old people understand the contest! ;)

I think Martin is pretty young too