Mega Bloks

[prateek]

I got this huge Mega Bloks Motor Sport Build and Race when I was a kid and I absolutely loved it. Back then, I knew there was a difference between Lego and Mega Bloks but that set I loved it as a child. My cousin got this Planetoids set after I got my Motor Sport thing. He had it setup also and liked it but later gave it to me as he got older. I never got around to building the Planetoids set for myself but when he had it at his house, the thing was pretty cool. I believe these are the only 2 Mega Bloks sets I own. I do remember the blocks not holding onto each other that well even back then but didn't prevent me from having fun with it. I haven't bought Mega Bloks again simply because their sets do not really appeal to me. The Halo sets do look half-decent though.

I remember those sets. Good times. I remember those cool little aliens and funky coloured pieces.

I'm pretty sure they would've better memories if they were Lego instead though

[iamded]

I haven't owned any Megabloks that I haven't later sold to buy more Lego.

~Peace

[Connect-A-Owen4000]

Just because Mega Bloks is a ripoff of LEGO doesn't mean it's bad. Mega Bloks is totally FINE!

[Sirius Black]

I picked up the old Kittyhawk aircraft carrier from Megablocks about five years ago, and while the quality was poor (bad gripping, STAMPS everywhere , and the annoying tendency of the model falling apart in the middle of the build), it looked fairly good. The only thing that I like about Megabloks is their bricks with studs on both sides. Those have been invaluable for a few of my projects. Of course, any other mega****s besides the ones mentioned early are taken care of .

Edited March 23, 2011 by Sirius Black

[Dreamweb]

I did own some clone-brand bricks, but I never had anything made by Mega Bloks. How old is this brand anyway? I wasn't even aware of it in my KFOL years, I've seen other clone brands here and there but no Mega Bloks - perhaps they weren't available/popular in Poland? As of now, they do have Mega Bloks sets in shops here, but obviously I'm not interested in them. So yeah, not everyone used them at some point...

[vexorian]

Megabloks is Canadian, its best market is the US in there, they were able to appeal a lot of parents because their real megabloks are much larger than Duplo and thus actually better for toddlers, this created some trust on the brand which is passed once the kids want smaller blocks. In Europe, and specially Poland it is harder for them because LEGO and Cobi have more of a following.

They are also unseen of around here. Bootleg brands dominate this sector and the only serious brand that is recognizable (even more than LEGO between adults) is Rasti. Which is sad because I would have probably actually bought some of MB's HALO sets if I were able to find them.

Edited March 25, 2011 by vexorian

[dr jones]

I don't know about you guys but I 've enjoyed some MB products. Like the Black Pearl they made in the POTC line. I know it doesn't have alot of building fun and I cursed at some pieces that wouldn't stick together. But when it was finished it was sturdy and looked good.

I'm planning to use this ship with the new Lego POTC sets and nothing you can do will stop me, muahahaha

But the direction their minifigs/action figures are taking is wrong. At first I liked the new action figure style, but after some minor play I notice how there were cracks coming in the Ball joint sockets. That sucked.

This is my opinion about MB, of course I prefer the Good ole' Danish bricks.

Edited March 30, 2011 by dr jones

[Fives]

Ok, I never knew about MB being Canadian! That makes me feel

On the other hand, when I was younger I got a bunch of the Dragons MB stuff. I thought t was cool then, but now I see it is just plain crapola. I also got a bunch of the POTC MB stuff. I actually went a bit crazy (two Black Pearls and one Dutchman, along with most of the rest ). I am SO happy LEGO has got the license, 'cause that is what I wanted back then, but I had to settle for MB

[Aanchir]

I had some Mega Bloks in my childhood. Some of the sets were actually pretty good... there was a castle I remember with a griffin (this predated the Dragons theme by a loooong time, so I don't know where I'd find more information).

Mega Bloks strikes me as a clone brand with a sense of decency. They know that LEGO bricks are subject to intellectual property laws, so they don't just straight-up copy brick geometries from LEGO beyond the basic brick and stud proportions (which it seems, in this day and age, are necessary for the survival of a building toy given the number of intercompatible LEGO knock-offs companies have to compete with). Instead, they come up with their own specialized part designs. Some seem a bit overspecialized, but at least there isn't the same sort of plagiarism as with the Transformers toys that we heard about at ToyFair.

Also, I ought to point out that there's another clone brand called Super Blox by a brand called Cra-Z-Art showing up in Wal-Mart stores in the US whose part designs are downright plagiarism. There are part geometries copied from LEGO as well as other clone brands, as far as I can tell (often including specialized part designs). Observe the geometries of the curved slopes in this set. Overall, I consider Mega Bloks a completely legitimate business compared to this brand.

[The Crazy One]

I have to say, Mega Blocks' quality has improved a lot from 2009-2010. It's actually worth buying...and it takes a lot for me to say that. I am only referring to the Halo line though.

[smittyfan]

I don't know about you guys but I 've enjoyed some MB products. Like the Black Pearl they made in the POTC line. I know it doesn't have alot of building fun and I cursed at some pieces that wouldn't stick together. But when it was finished it was sturdy and looked good.

I'm planning to use this ship with the new Lego POTC sets and nothing you can do will stop me, muahahaha

Suddenly I don't feel so bad about keeping my bucket of Mega Blocks...

When I was little i had a mix of LEGO and Mega Blocks, and only the LEGO's have survived all these years later... I've never once bought any Mega Blocks as it didn't take long to learn of their cheaper quality.

LEGO is like twice the price, but lasts like four times longer...

[Plastic Nurak]

they don't just straight-up copy brick geometries from LEGO beyond the basic brick and stud proportions (which it seems, in this day and age, are necessary for the survival of a building toy given the number of intercompatible LEGO knock-offs companies have to compete with).

Aanchir, I don't realize why until just a few years ago, incompatible building toys continued surviving after decades with success (TENTE bricks were on sale until 2005, Italocremona Plastic City produced until the end of the Nineties, etc.). Why, in a little bunch of years, the trend has changed? Plastic City in Italy was still very popular at the beginning of Nineties, when Italocremona produced the then new Power Rangers line; Spanish TENTE had a lot of popularity still in the beginning of this century. Cobi was uncompatible to date. Has this new trend begun because of the Chinese cheap sets invasion that imposed this new way of planning the building toys market? Maybe not, beacuse Tyco and then MB began to produce clones earlier. So, why?

Edited May 1, 2011 by Plastic Nurak

[Aanchir]

Aanchir, I don't realize why until just a few years ago, incompatible building toys continued surviving after decades with success (TENTE bricks were on sale until 2005, Italocremona Plastic City produced until the end of the Nineties, etc.). Why, in a little bunch of years, the trend has changed? Plastic City in Italy was still very popular at the beginning of Nineties, when Italocremona produced the then new Power Rangers line; Spanish TENTE had a lot of popularity still in the beginning of this century. Cobi was uncompatible to date. Has this new trend begun because of the Chinese cheap sets invasion that imposed this new way of planning the building toys market? Maybe not, beacuse Tyco and then MB began to produce clones earlier. So, why?

Well, for starters, here in the United States I've never heard of most of these brands. It wasn't until joining this site that I learned about them. The United States is a big market, and it could be that over here buyers are more insistent on intercompatibility. In K'nex's case, it would be especially advantageous to gain the appeal of the U.S. market because K'nex is produced in the U.S.

It could also have something to do with LEGO's success. Remember that LEGO sales were suffering during the 90s, and thus it wouldn't necessarily be the best idea for their competitors to follow their model. Turn the page to today, when LEGO is phenomenally successful and well-known. Suddenly, companies have more difficulty competing with LEGO, and take up the maxim "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." By offering similar products to LEGO at a lower price, companies can ensure that they remain on toy store shelves despite not having a huge advantage over their main competitor. The unfortunate side effect of this is that the more building toy companies become "clone brands", the harder it is for non-clones to survive. If everyone has intercompatibility at their disposal, then those companies that don't will be at a distinct disadvantage.

Edited May 1, 2011 by Aanchir

[Plastic Nurak]

Yes now I understand and I agree with your analysis.

Well, for starters, here in the United States I've never heard of most of these brands.

Strange. Spanish TENTE was released under licence in the US (and Japan) by Hasbro, between the end of the Seventies and big part of the Eighties.

Edited May 2, 2011 by Plastic Nurak

[Omicron]

Yes now I understand and I agree with your analysis.

Strange. Spanish TENTE was released under licence in the US (and Japan) by Hasbro, between the end of the Seventies and big part of the Eighties.

That is beyond our time. :P

-Omi

[Brickdoctor]

I have to say, Mega Blocks' quality has improved a lot from 2009-2010. It's actually worth buying...and it takes a lot for me to say that. I am only referring to the Halo line though.

Really? In all the pictures they still have that mottled milky-shiny look that makes them look...well, not very good as compared to LEGO.

I was actually looking at some MegaBlok forums the other day just to, um, scout out the enemy, ( ) and the MegaBlok fans treat LEGO like it's just another part of a single building system. There's no hating of LEGO like we hate MegaBloks. (or maybe I just didn't dig deep enough) EDIT: Correction: They do sometimes hate LEGO, but mostly they hate FOLs for hating MegaBloks.

Edited May 2, 2011 by Brickdoctor

[Fives]

Really? In all the pictures they still have that mottled milky-shiny look that makes them look...well, not very good as compared to LEGO.

I was actually looking at some MegaBlok forums the other day just to, um, scout out the enemy, ( ) and the MegaBlok fans treat LEGO like it's just another part of a single building system. There's no hating of LEGO like we hate MegaBloks. (or maybe I just didn't dig deep enough)

Hmm... I guess we just have more prejudice to lesser quality. That makes LEGO fans sound like building toy Nazis!

[Peppermint_M]

Hmm... I guess we just have more prejudice to lesser quality. That makes LEGO fans sound like building toy Nazis!

Indeed.

Me, I'm a BrickAnarchist

[Omicron]

Really? In all the pictures they still have that mottled milky-shiny look that makes them look...well, not very good as compared to LEGO.

You shouldn't be comparing the actual product to it's pictures. Lego doesn't look amazing in pics either.

-Omi

[Brickdoctor]

You shouldn't be comparing the actual product to it's pictures. Lego doesn't look amazing in pics either.

Looks better than MegaBloks in pics to me. It has a smooth, consistent look to it. A nice glossy shine and color. Not a waxy shine like MegaBloks have in a lot of pics.

[Omicron]

It has a smooth, consistent look to it. A nice glossy shine and color.

But do the sets ever look like that?

-Omi

[Brickdoctor]

But do the sets ever look like that?

Um, LEGO? Yes. In both pictures and for real. It really depends on who took the pics, though, admittedly. mostlytechnic's reviews have amazing pics. But while most of us aren't expert photographers, LEGO never looks waxy or mottled in our pictures. Edited May 2, 2011 by Brickdoctor

[Zeya]

Mega Brands makes more than just brick-based (Lego clone) toys. My girlfriend likes Thomas the Train, so I started buying her a little train periodically, partly because I would feel guilty buying myself Lego and not having something for her. The Mega Bloks company makes these Thomas trains, too.

Here's a link:

http://www.megabloks.com/Shop/MEGA_Bloks/

Hmm, looks like they have a license with Marvel. Which is strange because TLG puts out Disney sets (POTC, POP, Cars, Pooh) and Disney just acquired Marvel! Maybe that license agreement will run out and Lego will have Marvel stuff again.

More on topic, I never had any MegaBloks as a kid. I remember there was K-Nex, which I'm pretty sure is still around. There was also "Tinker Toys" which were made out of wood, kind of like K-Nex but much larger. And when I was old enough, I got an Erector Set, which was a bunch of beams and metal parts and tiny bolts and screws. Good times.

[Roodaksta]

Well I have collected 2-3 Mega-fail Mega-Blocks from a very low age since I didn't know the difference between them. But ever since I could tell the difference never I had collected Mega-Blocks! A horrid thing about Mega-Blocks is that the bricks don't contain that glossy structure but more of a blank structure. Which makes the model "Boring." Other than that Mega-Blocks has been a true disgrace. Never will I collect those heathens!

[Canada_7]

Just a quick bump I guess...I've made a lot of recent Lego purchases but at the same time, I got probably the 3rd Megablocks set I have ever had (last time I got one I was probably 8 or 9 years old). This is what I got, some sort of ultimate build Porsche GT3 RS from their Need For Speed series (I'm guessing partnership with the video game series):

I haven't gotten around to building it yet but this flikr link shows the set in good detail, with the packaging and the car itself:

Sure, the body uses a lot of specialized pieces but IMHO it still looks great. Also, the retail price for this was $54.99 Canadian at TRU but happened to be on sale 40% off for around $37, tax included already.

Edited November 4, 2011 by Canada_7