LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary

[Gooker1]

Well it's complete until x date.

Yea, these books are a steal for a never before released figure. I mean, look at the chrome stormtrooper. That's $11 (tax included) at the Lego Store, and you can get the book for $15 with free shipping at Amazon. I decided to buy two of them. Can't wait until October!!

[Master Fetty]

PIG, where does it say Complete in the title? Besides, I think you're being a tad pedantic there, don't you think?

[IndyJones]

And apparantly there's some sort of database coming on the LEGO Star Wars website, perhaps about sets released in the past.

[LEGOscum]

There certainly is, but it's a WIP and currently broken at the moment.

I'm surprised no-one has posted the link or started a discussion thread yet:

http://starwars.lego.com/holobrick

[bigospedros]

thanks to www.Jedinews.co.uk



nice

[HothTrooper]

StarWars.com has another Sneak Peek article up. This time the page spread features vehicles of the Republic Army. The layout looks very nice again, but despite Jeremy's assurances, I'm still seeing very little LEGO information among the deluge of rehashed "in-universe" information other than those tiny product boxes. This book is looking less like "LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary" and more like "Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary (Now with LEGO Photographs)". I'm disappointed that LEGO missed an opportunity to add some interesting, LEGO-related book content for AFOLs and kids alike and instead chose a gimmicky, exclusive minifig as their tactic for cross-marketing to AFOLs. With all apologies to Jeremy and his excellent photography and hard work, I'm leaning heavily towards passing on this.

[Joedward]

I'm begining to agree. The only appeal that really remains is the fig, but actually, that doesn't seem as great as when it was first announced. I'm wondering whether or not to cancel my pre-order for this on Amazon.

[Gooker1]

Wow, that screenshot is definitely a disappointment as i was hoping to hear more about the Lego process of that too, not just a generic SW description with Lego photos.

Hopefully there's more to it than that. I'll still get the book for the minifig, so I'm crossing my fingers that's not just it, but just a small portion of it.

[LEGOscum]

This book is looking less like "LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary" and more like "Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary (Now with LEGO Photographs)".

LOL. That's what it is supposed to be. The LSW book follows the same format as the others. When you open a SWVD you don't expect to see notes about what materials were used by the prop masters to make the lightsaber do you?

[Joedward]

I do... Or at least hope. I know most of that stuff can be found on the net, and maybe some DVD extras, but I've always found that stuff interesting.

[Mister Ed]

This book is looking less like "LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary" and more like "Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary (Now with LEGO Photographs)".

LOL. That's what it is supposed to be. The LSW book follows the same format as the others. When you open a SWVD you don't expect to see notes about what materials were used by the prop masters to make the lightsaber do you?

Then why make it at all? Seriously, if it is really supposed to be the same as the usual SWVD, with the same info, only with LEGO photos, what's the point? The usual versions are focused on the Star Wars universe. This one, one would ASSUME, is focused on the LEGO Star Wars product line, otherwise why make the distinction? Sure, in-universe info is fine, but wouldn't it be logical to assume that anybody that buys this, as opposed to the usual SWVD, is actually expecting more LEGO-specific content? Why buy it, otherwise?

[HothTrooper]

This book is looking less like "LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary" and more like "Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary (Now with LEGO Photographs)".

LOL. That's what it is supposed to be. The LSW book follows the same format as the others. When you open a SWVD you don't expect to see notes about what materials were used by the prop masters to make the lightsaber do you?

No, I don't. Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary is about Star Wars as its name implies. LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary should be about LEGO Star Wars as its name implies.

I was looking forward to this, but I guess I was a bit naive in my expectations. I was hoping that an $14.95 LEGO book would have more LEGO-related content than a free Shop@Home catalog. I'm sure the kids in the target demographic will eat it up for the pictures and the completists and BrickLink sellers will go crazy over the exclusive minifig, but I'll pass on this one.

[LEGOscum]

I'm afraid I didn't create the Visual Guide style so I can't comment on why they chose one form of content over the other, but I know that the pages I worked on did have some LEGO comments mixed in with the Star Wars content. The saying "don't judge a book by its cover"doesn't quite fit this situation so how about "don't judge a book by the two sample pages you've seen"?

[Mister Ed]

I'm afraid I didn't create the Visual Guide style so I can't comment on why they chose one form of content over the other, but I know that the pages I worked on did have some LEGO comments mixed in with the Star Wars content. The saying "don't judge a book by its cover"doesn't quite fit this situation so how about "don't judge a book by the two sample pages you've seen"?

Actually, in this case I was reacting more to your statement that implied that this was SUPPOSED to just be a SWVD with LEGO photos. Seeing the preview pages just kind of raised the possibility, but that statement, by somebody that worked on the project, seemed like a disheartening confirmation of it. If that's NOT the case, then I am relieved.

[batsamd]

Have to admit that I have never owned a Star Wars Visual Dictionary, so when I first heard of this book I was expecting something along the lines as what HothTrooper describes, something with more LEGO behind the scenes info.

From the sample pages shown, the verbage is nice filler, but I really like the thought of having a book full of LEGO Star Wars sets photos that are clear and nicely printed.

Of course the exclusive fig helps, too, but in the end I think the photos of the sets are really what's going to sell this book.

Overall I'm happy I've preordered this book and can't wait to flip through it, and even read it when I've run out of sets to build.

[LEGOscum]

There is behind the scenes info. It's just that no-one has seen it yet. Like I said, only two pages have been revealed so far.

I think my earlier statement has been mis-understood. I was just saying that the Star Wars Visual Dictionaries don't contain behind the scenes annotations, but notations about the Star Wars universe. The LSWVD follows this format, but does contain notes about the sets themselves. As well as some bonus content that I don't know if I can reveal.

Glad you like the photos. They really do pop out.

[fredjh]

Huh... I don't want to jump on LEGOscum's case; I've preordered the book (a while ago), and I'm sure it'll be worth it... especially with the figure, and I have no intention of canceling it.

But releasing pages like that... that's like a movie trailer, it's supposed to make more people interested, not less. Usually they show the funniest things, the most exciting things, etc...

Like I said, I don't want anyone to berate LEGOscum; either you like the format or you don't, but asking us not to judge the book based on the content released to, I would assume, help us judge the book... that doesn't sound right.

[LEGOscum]

I'm not defending the format, I'm sticking up for the content. Which I suppose isn't fair of me because I know what's coming. You were willing to listen when you had questions but I guess that's changed. I'll bugger off now and leave you to discuss it amongst yourselves.

[Mandalorian Candidat]

Like the format or not, I at least learned one thing from the book...what that magnetic box thing is that comes with the Republic Gunship. I had no idea it was a portable cell. I just thought it was a cool extra, like the Battle Droid Zamboni that came with the original Naboo Fighter.

[banthafodder]

I did notice that Overstock.com had this listed at 13.75 for the presale price. I know this should be in the deals section but I didn't want to start another thread.