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!!!

I'm handing out Brickpoints like crazy. Heck, some people might get a STAR WARS polybag before the competition ends...

I didn't realize you could get 80 BP for a review! Thanks!

Would this apply to revising previous reviews...?

I designed it with you in mind Blackjack...LOL

Is that a jab about my longwindedness in describing minifigures!

No. You did a good job with your reviews, but they were geared towards a site like Brickset...which is fine...for Brickset. Their reviews are excellent, but I don't want to be Brickset. I want the reviews to be not only on the set itself, but how set qualities affect its worth and future performance as an investment. We are about LEGO sets, but money as well and I want people to relate the two in their reviews. How does one set quality or characteristic affect another.

Jeff tweaked the main Set Reviews page to show all the recent activity and contest leaderboard(no character count)... http://www.brickpicker.com/reviews/index.cfm

I just want to say again what a great job all of you are doing. Seriously, we are EXTREMELY happy with the quality of these and this is just Day 1 srm_520 just did a wonderful job reviewing the Super Star Destroyer http://www.brickpicker.com/reviews/review.cfm?id=350

I also want to ask and see the interest any of you might have in submitting video reviews. Basically you would give your scores, but also be allowed to submit video (wmv, quicktime, mp4) to us to upload to a youtube channel and as long as you touch on all the points that are required. We would like some good quality stuff that people would want to watch, not shaky cam, too dark to see, cant hear.. Something like what the brickshow does where they show you the set and then hit all the points we require.. Its just an idea that we were talking about since I know there are also creative people out there that prefer that method over writing.

I just want to say again what a great job all of you are doing. Seriously, we are EXTREMELY happy with the quality of these and this is just Day 1

srm_520 just did a wonderful job reviewing the Super Star Destroyer

http://www.brickpicker.com/reviews/review.cfm?id=350

lol I am just working on my review for that same set. Should be done in a couple minutes.

Thanks again guys, this update has really motivated me and makes it really fun to produce as many quality reviews as possible!

#nolife ;)

#nolife

lol just finished my internship and I practically done with college for now, just 2 more finals!, so I find myself with some extra time on my hands.

Said I would be done in a few minutes that ended up being more than a few too lol.

EDIT: On that particular review, the 10221, for some reason my chart on the Growth Potential section looks different than when I was formatting it on the actual review. Some of the data appears to have shifted places and the 1st four sets appear on a single line, not like the others.

lol just finished my internship and I practically done with college for now, just 2 more finals!, so I find myself with some extra time on my hands.

Said I would be done in a few minutes that ended up being more than a few too lol.

EDIT: On that particular review, the 10221, for some reason my chart on the Growth Potential section looks different than when I was formatting it on the actual review. Some of the data appears to have shifted places and the 1st four sets appear on a single line, not like the others.

We are working on that. Nice review.

lol just finished my internship and I practically done with college for now, just 2 more finals!, so I find myself with some extra time on my hands.

Said I would be done in a few minutes that ended up being more than a few too lol.

EDIT: On that particular review, the 10221, for some reason my chart on the Growth Potential section looks different than when I was formatting it on the actual review. Some of the data appears to have shifted places and the 1st four sets appear on a single line, not like the others.

We are working on that. Nice review.

No rush, just making sure! Thanks!

Said I would be done in a few minutes that ended up being more than a few too lol.

Dude I was just working on a revised review for barrel escape but need to go to bed. I have 3,983 characters just describing the five figs, so I don't want to rush the rest of the review and finish tonight. I'm really trying to make this one great!

Dude I was just working on a revised review for barrel escape but need to go to bed. I have 3,983 characters just describing the five figs, so I don't want to rush the rest of the review and finish tonight. I'm really trying to make this one great!

That's probably a wise choice. Your mind will be fresh tomorrow and the review will benefit from that!

Ok guys, I was just talking with my mom tonight about this review thing and showing her some examples, and she said I might be able to combine this with my writing curriculum to a certain extent! So watch out for clausal openers, parallelisms, correlative conjunctions, anadiplosis, dual adjectives, and polysyndetons! :D

So watch out for clausal openers, parallelisms, correlative conjunctions, anadiplosis, dual adjectives, and polysyndetons!

......I have no idea what the heck you just said.

Smarty pants. ;-P

In the spirit of "here goes nothin'..." I just posted my first review for consideration. I chose to begin with an older set. With me being older, it seemed appropriate. Also I hope to add something to the mix by bringing a little bit of historical perspective to things. Or maybe I'm completely off-track. (If I am, would somebody please let me know? Thanks!)

This new review system attracts many mambers to write and express their thought about many different sets. Great job you have done here Mack bros! I will do some more reviewing of sets soon... I just need the time :)

......I have no idea what the heck you just said.

Smarty pants. ;-P

I don't know what half of them mean by name... I just loooked them up in my book.

lol I am just working on my review for that same set. Should be done in a couple minutes.

Thanks again guys, this update has really motivated me and makes it really fun to produce as many quality reviews as possible!

Nice. Way to one up me only minutes after my review! Nice job 101, you broke the set down very well!

This competition is going to be tougher than I thought!

lol I am just working on my review for that same set. Should be done in a couple minutes.

Thanks again guys, this update has really motivated me and makes it really fun to produce as many quality reviews as possible!

Nice. Way to one up me only minutes after my review! Nice job 101, you broke the set down very well!

This competition is going to be tougher than I thought!

Great minds think alike lol.

I agree, we are only on day 2 and there are many high quality reviews out there already. The tougher this is, the more we all benefit since we will eventually be able to go straight to the review section for the set we want and see what other investors/collectors think of the set in a well thought out manner. This can make decision making easier and get deeper into the details than what we can usually get if we only post a question on the forum.

Thanks for the compliment, your review was excellent as well, keep them coming !!

Just finished a 10,698 charcter review... Maybe the Macks are just trying to kill us competitive ones off from exhaustion...

Maybe the Macks are just trying to kill us competitive ones off from exhaustion...

It is getting pretty tiring. Insomnia and coffee only goes so far! Ha ha.

It is getting pretty tiring. Insomnia and coffee only goes so far! Ha ha.

lol I agree. Things were so much easier and relaxing before haha.

It is getting pretty tiring. Insomnia and coffee only goes so far! Ha ha.

Remember, thats why I wanted to have that save feature in there. You don't have to do it all in one sitting. You will also see the benefit to such high quality reviews in other areas of the site soon. So your hard work will be available for visitors of Brickpicker to read in more places..

I also want to ask and see the interest any of you might have in submitting video reviews. Basically you would give your scores, but also be allowed to submit video (wmv, quicktime, mp4) to us to upload to a youtube channel and as long as you touch on all the points that are required. We would like some good quality stuff that people would want to watch, not shaky cam, too dark to see, cant hear.. Something like what the brickshow does where they show you the set and then hit all the points we require.. Its just an idea that we were talking about since I know there are also creative people out there that prefer that method over writing.

Maybe people skipped by this post or maybe no one cares about it, but just wanted some overall thoughts on it.

Maybe people skipped by this post or maybe no one cares about it, but just wanted some overall thoughts on it.

I would love a feature like this, unfortunately I am just not the kind of person to be on screen lol. Not being a native english speaker complicates things more than I would want. But I am sure other members are perfect candidates for this and would definitely be willing to submit video reviews. It may take a while, but eventually...