Minifigure mania
by HML
This summer Thing Two started to collect Lego minifigures. For those who haven’t seen these yet, Lego has come up with sets of sixteen unique minifigures, individually wrapped in opaque packages. Like the packs of Star Wars cards back in the day, these goodies pack both a cool minifigure and the thrill of mystery. We like ThinkGeek’s name for these mystery treats: Schrödinger’s collectible.
That said, after a run of bad luck with the random choice, resulting in a soccer team, an artist colony and not much else, we wondered if there were some way to stop choosing artists and soccer players.
The very helpful folks at Math N Stuff guided us through the art of detecting each minifigure’s unique pieces inside the bag, which has worked almost perfectly. (One notable recent incident we were sure we had found a figure we didn’t already have, but when we opened the bag, we found … a soccer player.)
If scrunching the packages isn’t good enough (or if you are looking for any excuse to play with a smartphone), yes, there is an app for that. Mini Collector uses a combination of bar and dot codes to detect which minifigure is in the package.
We like Mini Collector because not only can we keep an inventory of the minifigures we already own, but then if the app detects a minifigure we don’t have, you can opt to keep its identity a secret, and preserve the excitement of the surprise.
Mini Collector is free to download and the support for the first three series of minifigures is included. Series 4 (currently in our local stores) and Series 5 (coming soon) can be unlocked for $0.99 and $1.99 respectively. We love The Oatmeal’s take on buying apps because we too are guilty of spending an unholy sum for our iGadgets, then balking at paying a whopping $1 for an app. (N.B.: Depending on your family, The Oatmeal’s content is not entirely family-friendly; consider yourself warned.)
After seeing his big brother at work, Thing Two set up his own Trading Post in his room, complete with an open/closed sign which he carefully turns at bedtime and when he returns from preschool. Unlike other trading posts, the customer may choose a minifigure, but the storekeeper both assembles and keeps it. Thing One may have to teach him a few lessons in customer service.
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Tags: geekery
August 16th, 2011 17:13
I see how you spent the afternoon–playing soccer, posing and picture taking. Cute. I like the minis being pursued by the viking, monster and werewolf. All the pictures are great.
August 16th, 2011 22:50
AWESOME!!!!! At the LEGO Store in Bellevue, you can build your own minifigure. But your family’s approach is much more fun
August 17th, 2011 08:25
Oh, Lego, you’re so clever! I think I’m relieved that the sprogs at our house have moved on from Lego obsessions.
Except now I want to go buy minifigures! At least when I had lego-obsessed progeny, I could pretend it was for them.
August 17th, 2011 09:08
PS Lego minifig taxonomy and nomenclature! It makes my geeky heart sing!
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/08/for-the-love-of-lego-the-unofficial-lego-minifigure-catalog/#more-79724
August 17th, 2011 10:01
Lego is diabolical and brilliant. I’m surprised they haven’t thought of doing this before now. As the GeekDad article says, Thing Two (and Thing One before him) knows I can’t resist a clever Lego set. If that’s wrong, I don’t want to be right.
The HIT lab NZ! We know the main professor at the lab! Way cool! And what a crazy cool book.
Val, you know you want these. You need a set when nieces and nephews come to visit: repeat as needed.