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Bionicle.com Just About Done

It's deadline week. BIONICLE.com's update is 98% complete... just a few things left to do, which will get done by end of day Wednesday. The new BIONICLEstory.com is getting there, it's gonna be done a week later. Then it's Juletime holidays and I can r-e-l-a-x for the first time in a long time. (I spent all weekend writing BIONICLEstory.com content.)    

Binkmeister

Binkmeister

Rough Cut Monday

Just saw a rough cut of what's coming for 2008 in January. For fans who've been with BIONICLE for a while, it'll be extremely cool. For newer fans - it'll knock your socks off. Lots of good stuff getting ready for '08.

Binkmeister

Binkmeister

Binky's Salad Days

Woo. The last few weeks have been somewhat intense work-wise, with lots and lots of stuff happening at once. It's like surfing a killer wave on a Pop-Tart sized board. Deadlines breathe down my neck like werewolves with halitosis, ready to rip me if I falter. Herds of butterflies rampage in my stomache when I think about all that's due and the very short timeframes in which to do them.   So here I am, working on a weekend, pounding away on a spreadsheet with all the content for the next site la

Binkmeister

Binkmeister

Coming Together

After some sweating, things seem to be coming together. Saw the graphics for BIONICLE.com's wallpapers, screensavers, building instructions, etc. today - they all look good. Saw the second round of comps for BIONICLEstory.com - much improvement over the first batch, which didn't capture the essence of what we're going for. The new design is much closer to what I expected, and it's very classy to boot. Finalized the new logotype for BIONICLEstory.com. Got most of the content for BIONICLE.com rea

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Binkmeister

Comics

I've gotten several PMs about comics on BIONICLE.com, so thought I'd answer that here.   It's been May since the comics have been updated - that's way too long. But ever since I've been here, I've been trying to get up to speed on the right processes, the right people to do things. By the time I found out who should do the comic conversion to Flash, he was already busy designing for BIONICLE.com and BIONICLEstory.com - priorities that come first.   So it's a resource and priority issue. My goa

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Binkmeister

Getting Some Traction

Well, it's been more than three months since I started working at LEGO as the Internet Content Manager for BIONICLE (and Racers and Technic). I've gotten to the point where I feel I actually know what's going on, what I'm supposed to do, and when I'm supposed to do it.   Not only that, it feels like I'm making a difference, too.   I've been lightly involved in the '09 movie, lightly involved with watching the development of the '09 sets, but more heavily involved and driving the 2008 web prese

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Binkmeister

Workin' On '08

One of the fun things about working here is getting to see some artwork that might otherwise not be released. One is of the Ignika, which I'm turning into a wallpaper. It's an excellent image, and I'm using it as my desktop wallpaper now - it'll be on BIONICLE.com downloads next year. But I thought you might like a little preview...      

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Binkmeister

Thanks For Your Votes On The Sets Database

I'd like to thank everyone who cast their votes in the Sets DB over the last week. The information was very helpful, and I've passed the rankings on to the BIONICLE development team. I think this will help everyone understand what the uberfans like, anyway.   The top 10: Toa Lhikan and Kikanalo Exo-Toa Muaka & Kane-Ra Lewa Mata Toa Norik Takutanuva Vezon & Kardas Keetongu Oohnorak Maxilos & Spinax  

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Binkmeister

Calling All Premier Members: Set Vote!

Are you a Premier member? Do you want to let the BIONICLE team know what sets you like best (or, alternately, dislike the most)? Now's your chance!   Go to the Sets Database and vote for as many sets as you like. In a week or so I'll get the full list and present the results to the BIONICLE development team.   Voting is limited to Premier members and staff (and OBZPM), and you can only vote on a set once.   I'd like to be able to present a fan's-eye-view of the entire BIONICLE line. This is a

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Binkmeister

At Long Last, Specs Done

Ever since I started at LEGO, one of the major responsibilities has been to create specification documents for the web site(s). In fact, those docs were due a few short weeks after I started, but I was busy getting up to speed on everything. So they languished, needing love but finding none. While I did other important things (like budgets), the unfinished specs for BIONICLE.com and BIONICLEstory.com loomed over my shoulder, begging for attention I couldn't afford to give.   Until today.   At

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Binkmeister

Back From Lego World

Got back from LEGO World today, after being buffeted by thousands of people a day. Since mere words are unable to describe that much brick, I present pictures - nearly two hundred of them, on my Brickshelf account.     There were a lot of BIONICLE displays, including a display that included most sets that have been released to date. Here are a few thumbnails (click for bigger pictures); view my main Brickshelf account for more.    

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Binkmeister

Off To Lego World Tomorrow

Tomorrow I'm off to Zwolle, The Netherlands, for LEGO World. They expect some 40,000 people to go through the gates over the course of the event, so it's a pretty big deal. This will be my first public event as a LEGO employee. Of course, I've been to plenty of US-based fan events, but they're more fan conventions than expositions, so LEGO World will be pretty different for me.   Since I couldn't go to NW BrickCon, I'll have to settle for LEGO World.   Back in the office, I'm just finishing up

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Binkmeister

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions in my PM box.   Q. When will BIONICLEstory.com be updated? A. Every two weeks.   Q. When will the 7th Mahri game come out? A. By the end of October.   Q. Somebody stole my MOC and put it on the BIONICLE.com gallery! Fix it! A. Can't, not my department. I'm working on a longer blog entry to more fully explain this.   Q. Tell us about the 2008 stuff! A. Sorry, can't talk about upcoming releases.   Q. What's your favorite color? A. G

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Binkmeister

Game 7

Just played the beta for Game 7, and it's tough. Can't wait to see what you guys think of it later this month.

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Binkmeister

Binky's Li'l Rules For Life

Everything tastes better with mustard. When in doubt, inflate your tires. BIONICLE 2008 is gonna be fun. Frodo lives. There are only three kinds of people: those who can count, and those who can't. Keep your ears warm, even if the hat makes you look like a dork. KP continues to rock, even after cancellation. I now know how much fun Greg has in watching the S&T forum. It's so much more satisfying when you've skipped ahead a few chapters. Walking is highly underrated as exercise. I highly reco

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Binkmeister

Toy Fair And Lego World

I just found out that I'll get to go to LEGO World for a couple of days - woohoo! It's being held (as usual) in Zwolle, The Netherlands. I've been to several US events (notably BrickFest and NW BrickCon - which is coming up) but never to the European ones. I just missed 1000Steineland, but I'm hoping to go next year.   LEGO World is a huge public event with thousands of visitors. It's more of a public expo than an AFOL convention, although there are elements of both. I'll get to go in my offici

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Binkmeister

Rough Week

Man, what a tough week.   I'm sure you don't want to hear a sob story - after all, I work for LEGO! How hard could that possibly be? But let's just say a combination of jet lag, tons of work, working outside of the office for several weeks, and an intense 2-day marketing meeting in Copenhagen have taken their toll. So even though I was supposed to visit Skærbæk for an AFOL event this weekend, I stayed in Billund instead, recuperating.   And doing laundry. Very important, that.   Anyway, even

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Binkmeister

Bumping Up Against My Afol Roots

There are times when my new job bumps up against years of being an AFOL. Today was one of those times, for a couple of reasons.   I'm currently working on what'll go onto BIONICLE.com and BIONICLEstory.com for 2008, and I just finished a design comp for BIONICLEstory. At the bottom is the legal disclaimer, of course, which I had to type in in Photoshop. So I started typing in the "standard" disclaimer, which I know by heart, having typed it into so many fan sites over the last half-dozen years.

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Binkmeister

Progress Of A Sort

It was a long week, but one in which I knew a lot more on Friday than on Monday. I've been learning a lot, getting my head around all the tasks and processes that I need to know to do this job, and there's a lot more than you might imagine.   But one part stands out - I pushed my first change live on the site. It was a small little thing, really... finding a song lyrics file that was too big (5MB for a one-page PDF), I sampled it down and went through the process of updating BIONICLE.com.   Wh

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Binkmeister

Week 1.5 At Lego

I just realized how negligent I've been with my blog. Bad Binky.   Second week at The LEGO Group of companies. Weather here in Denmark has been stormy at times, sunny at times - but more former than latter. Commuting by bicycle has been fun, and I think I'm losing weight. Which is only a good thing. (Although I've had homemade tacos for two nights in a row, so I might actually be packin' on the kilos [note the European weight measurement - I appear to be assimilating].)   I'm starting to get m

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Binkmeister

Week 1 At Lego

Well, it’s officially announced: I’m the new webmaster for BIONICLE.com and BIONICLEstory.com. Specifically, my job title is “Internet Content Manager” for Product Group 3. That means in addition to BIONICLE, I’m also ultimately responsible for the LEGO Racers and LEGO Technic web sites. But there are others working on those sites, which takes a load off me – at least to start.   The new job involves much travel. I’m currently in Denmark, and will be attending meetings in Copenhagen and Connect

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Binkmeister

Started My New Job Today

Actually, I started it yesterday, but only for a few hours. Really got into it today, but I'm still pooped. Long day. It's the usual start-a-new-job stuff... get the info on where to get info, get the computer set up, test the email address, get my desk arranged, the usual sort of first-day activities.   Nice place, nice people, great environment. I think I'll fit in. I hope.

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Binkmeister

Final Draft

One of the things I want to spend my new "free" time on is writing. Those familiar with the ol' BinkBlog will remember I've been doing some writing lately. And since "starving writer" isn't a vocation that particularly interests me, I'm going to try to move right into the "makin' a bathtub full of money writer" stage.   See, your average novel writer gets beer money and invitations to book signings at Borders, but not much more. Short story writers, not even as much as that. The big money, from

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Binkmeister

My Resignation As Admin From Bzpower

It's time.   For many reasons, some of which I can't really go into right now, I find it necessary to resign my position as an Administrator of BZPower, effective after this week. I hasten to add this is not due to any dissatisfaction or disagreement with the site, fellow staff, or members - you're all excellent... well, most of you, anyway .   No, it's not April Fool's, this is on the level.   The last couple of months as chief geek and server-burper have been very stressful, as you might im

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Binkmeister

Commemorative Bricks Shipped

I took advantage of BZP downtime to finish shipping all the Commemorative Bricks we sold. That was no mean task... I sold 140 of them (very close to my goal of 150), which was excellent. Thanks to everyone who bought one or two!   The International shipments should get there in a week to 10 days. The domestic US ones should mostly be delivered by now. I feel good about that project - it cost me a couple of hundred out of pocket, but the end result was very cool, and produced something that (app

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