The LEGO Bricktober 2022 VIP rewards are starting to get into collectors’ hands and there’s one major difference between them and the original Bricktober sets that were available in the Asian/Canadian markets.

The original sets had a much more premium feel with the flip open box, however, the VIP set uses the standard yellow cardboard box which we’ve seen before with previous GWPs and rewards. It wasn’t mentioned with the Dragon Adventure Ride that it would come in the yellow box and everyone expected the other. The Pirate Adventure Ride did specify that it would be the yellow box version.

LEGO didn’t mention why they switched to the more plain version. I suspect that they didn’t know that it wasn’t going to be an APAC/Canada exclusive and the rest of the world would get them as well. Also it would’ve cost a lot more to roll out the harder flip top boxes than to use the cardboard ones.

There is still the Fantasy Adventure Ride (6427893) and Space Adventure Ride (6427896) left to be released but there’s no mentioning of when those will go up in the VIP Center.

For those who like doing the LEGO Build-a-Minifigure in-stores, LEGOLAND Japan has revealed some of the new ones that will be released in the first quarter of 2023. These were released early today in Japan but stores around the world should see them trickle in starting in January.

As usual with the Build-a-Minifigure stations, you can find parts that have been recolored or redecorated into new ones or even some exclusive parts. As you can see from the images, a lot of parts are now in colors that aren’t found in your typical sets yet.

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本日、12/10(土)～
ビルド・ア・ミニフィギュアに
新パーツが登場！
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キミだけのオリジナル・ミニフィギュアを組み立てよう！#レゴランド #ミニフィギュア pic.twitter.com/K3ZZZwgKQ0

— 【公式】レゴランド･ジャパン･リゾート LEGOLAND Japan Resort (@LEGOLAND_Japan) December 10, 2022

BrickLink has announced that the BrickLink Designer Program will be returning as a permanent program as of right now. Series 1, as they dubbed it, will be similar to the Invitational back in 2021 but with some changes to support the new program. The main thing is that all sets that the five designs that get 3,000 pre-orders will be produced and up to 20,000 sets will be made. Submissions will start in about 53 days from this post. Below is the estimated timetable for what will be going on for BrickLink Designer Program Series 1.

• Create your designs (December 9, 2022 — February 2023) – Design your models in Studio. Follow the Submission Guidelines.

• Open Submission (February 1 — 28, 2023) – Submit your models during a 4-week window to be considered before the deadline on February 28, 2023 at noon Pacific US time.

• Crowd Support (March 7 — March 31, 2023) – We invite all BrickLink members to vote for their favorite submissions. This crowd vote weighs in alongside the BDP’s internal selection criteria and influences the designs chosen for crowdfunding.

• Review (April — May 2023) – Our team checks every design for building experience, brand fit, and crowd favorites.

• 5 Designs Announced (Late May 2023) – We’ll reveal the five Series 1 designs. Then we’ll collaborate with fan designers to prepare them for production.

• Crowdfunding (February 2024) – BrickLink members may pre-order their favorite sets, with a limit of 2 of each set per household. All sets … Continue