Mini review: 79000 Riddles for the Ring
Posted by Huw,
As reported yesterday, TRU in the UK were [1] stocking The Hobbit sets early. I picked up a couple, including this smallest one, 79000, Riddles for the Ring.
It features Gollum and Bilbo Baggins, a small boat covered with bones and a 'cave'. Both of the minifigs are unique to this set. Gollum has a different face print to that in 9490, with 'narrow eyes'.
The box helpfully reminds us that the 'Boat does not float'.
It's not immediately obvious when you see pictures of the set that the 'cave' is actually quite elaborate. The two front 'rocks' are on hinges that open to reveal the ring, which can be rotated from horizontal to vertical by means of the Technic axle on the side.
Like the Goblin King Battle that I reviewed in depth a couple of weeks ago a lot of effort and pieces have gone into making it irregular in apperance. Consequently, there are a lot of dark grey slopes which you're bound to have use for in your own constructions.
Bilbo sports a fantastically detailed torso print and has a double-sided 'normal/scared' head.
There's not much else to say about this set other than it's a great little impulse purchase and a good introduction to The Hobbit theme.
Jason over at The Brick Show has posted video reviews of all The Hobbit sets on YouTube, which brings me on to a question I have:
We get quite a few people emailing us about video reviews or other LEGO related video content that they've posted on YouTube. Personally, I can't stand the forced adverts and can't really be bothered to sit down and watch them for 5-10 minutes so I don't know if they are any good or not, or whether video reviews are worthwhile.
What do you think? Do you like video reviews? Are they the future, or do you, like me, prefer a few high quality photos and a couple of paragraphs that you can digest in seconds?
Footnote: [1] It seems that TRU pulled them from the shelves yesterday afternoon, which I can only imagine is a direct result of publicity here and at other LEGO fan sites about their early availability. The 'Brickset effect' strikes again :-)
2 likes
52 comments on this article
I prefer the text reviews, I never watch the review videos on Youtube, even though my adblocker manages to block he video-ads, too (at least I don't see any ads at all, not even in the videos).
The videos distract too much, I prefer to look at the (excellent) photos and come to my own conclusion, which in this case is - I will certainly buy it for the Bilbo minifig alone.
The designer vids from lego I really enjoy a lot. Other than that most video reviews usually don't quite hit my sweet spot.. too long or focusing on the "wrong" things. I.e. The Brick Show Hobbit set reviews are just way too long! 20min for a set? Really??
^^ I didn't mention it because it's not important: non-normal-minifig parts manufactured there are perfectly fine. It's only legs, torsoes, heads etc. that can be directly compared with parts that are not manufactured there that are a problem.
Definetly I prefer photos and text, just because for me it's easier and quicklier to read than to listen, and it's more comfortable since other people around you do not have to listen what you listen to.
What's about these photos from you, I really adore them! I've already ordered the set for minifigs and slopes, but I thought that the cave was ugly. But on your second photo with the ring it looks even enough beautiful for displaying on the shelf.
And I still don't know how many rings are there in 79000? Some reviews show two, other ones - only one thing, this year we had 3 rings in the Shelob set. Despite it's still the ONE ring, I want to get at least TWO from such a small set...
Video reviews - no thanks. Give me a high quality photo and well-written copy any day.
Text-reviews with quality photos are way better than video reviews, particularly when they are shakily-filmed, overly-long, and 'narrated'/ commentated.
I do like most of the Designer videos, though. It's good to see the folk that make the sets and hear them talk about the process. Some interesting facts and behind the scenes info, too. Note to video reviewers, Lego films their videos with a tripod/ stand...
@Zelyonii-Zaktan, There are two One Rings in the set: Gollum gets a spare just in case Bilbo manages to take one from him :-)
Text and crispy pics over videos. As said before, they need too much of my attention and time to filter out what I want to know. That's the beauty of something written, I can read and filter at my own pace. Also, nothing against the brickshow or others, but I feel these are mostly directed at teens and I cannot sit through them most the time.
I generally prefer text reviews with pictures to videos because those clips just reveal too much of a set. I've had the following effect a couple of times: Watched a video of a set I liked, bought it, built it and really didn't get that much fun out of it because I'd seen everything before. It also felt like somebody had the set before me and I just bought it later. Same effect as in my childhood when a friend of mine received a big set as a birthday present and I got it later, I guess. The only difference is it's in the virtual world and with strangers. Possibly weird, but that's how it is.
I prefer text review, is better than video
Like everyone else above: I really not a fan of video reviews. The vast majority are too long, taken on fuzzy/juddery webcams, and the reviewers tend to repeat themselves because they haven't planned what they're going to say about the set. I'm sure there are some great ones out there, but I wouldn't want to see Brickset open to a flood of mediocre ones!
Great review. I'd go for quality over quantity everytime. A couple of good photos and text tells me enough I need to know about a set without spoiling the build should I choose to buy it.
Most videos seem to be more about revealing something first than providing a quality (and concise) report on the set.
Designer videos are different as they provide insight into why they've done something, the inspiration etc.
I really like the videos that the brickshow do. There definitely better than a lot of the others on the web. I generally check brickset and the brickshow to get a feel for the sets before making a purchase. I think both have there place and choice is good.
The only video reviews I really like are the ones made by a guy named Artifex Creation (youtube.com/user/artifexcreation). They are these animated videos that only show you the minifigures and the set being built, and there's no commentary. Straight to the point, every time. If you did reviews in that style I certainly wouldn't mind, but the standard handheld/shaky tripod with lengthy rambling commentary approach is pretty terrible. I'll take a few nice photos and paragraphs over that any day.
@yamaki, I did wonder if it was an age thing: (I'm vastly over-generalising here) Maybe kids and teens brought up on a diet of TV and video games are are too lazy to read and thus prefer the passive, effortless, digestion of video reviews.
@Sebastian, you make some good points. Sometimes you don't want to see too much as it can spoil the fun when you get to build it yourself. That's one reason bluemoose didn't go into loads of details about the clever construction methods in his Horizon Express review recently, because if you see it all before you build it yourself, it spoils the surprise, as @Andhe says.
@Graysmith, I'm not planning on doing any video reviews, hence my question: should I worry about them becoming desirable and preferable? From what you've all said, probably not. And thank you for reminding me about Artifex Creation's videos. I've seen some of them before and they are indeed superbly made.
On that note then, I'll crack open another Hobbit set this afternoon and post another mini-review :-)
I am a fan of text and piccys. The Lego designer videos are the exception to that though as Derfazoid mentioned.
Can't wait for the next Hobbit review! :)
I like both text reviews and videos. Of the latter type, like Graysmith, I watch the Artifex Creation animated reviews. I also watch Brick Queen's reviews on YouTube. I'm not sure the preference to text vs video is age-related: I'm old enough to remember when three-brick, static minifigs with no printing were released - and we liked them. :~)
I like both text and video reviews as well. The youtube channel of Brickformula is worth a mention here as well, I think.
I much prefer text and picture reviews. Being able to read at your own pace, and stare and drool at the pictures, are what does it for me. That and I can still pretend like I'm working! =D
I can digest videos of a person's MOCs, but for the "official" sets, I have a strong preference for the written reviews with the pictures. The pics give you a better chance to really see the set, as opposed to an amateurish moving video, just my two cents . . .
I never watch video reviews. I'm here (or there) for material to read.
"What do you think? Do you like video reviews? Are they the future, or do you, like me, prefer a few high quality photos and a couple of paragraphs that you can digest in seconds?"
I prefer looking at some quality photos, and reading some short paragraphs about the sets. Watching video reviews annoys me since it takes longer, and i dont always wanna know what the reviewer thinks of the set.
I appreciate your effort for bringing us quality information so fast! Many thanks for your hard work!
Video reviews are an unwelcome trend which I hope don't last too long, as they are beyond tiresome. Give me a well written text and pictures one, any day!
I will always prefer a written review with images. In videos, even if the camera is steady, it can be a lot harder to make out detail, and things are often rushed. I like to look closely at the images and find all the little things and actually read all the good/bad aspects of the set rather than hear "This is awesome... yeah, this is awesome too... here's another cool thing..." The only exception I've found so far is Artifex (as so many others have agreed), his videos are just unique and very well done.
Thanks for this review. I'm considering picking this up - I can always use more rock pieces, plus I really like that Medium Nougat hair and the ring. Plus he torso has no fleshy print, which is great.
I seem to remember all the LotR sets came with 2 extras for some reason, is this the same or does it have just 1 extra?
Considering there's plenty of money to be made on YouTube (via ad revenue sharing) if you have a popular channel, video reviewers aren't going to go away any time soon.
^^ Just the one spare in this set.
^ Agreed. There is a place for them, and they do appeal to many. If the Brick Show guys and others can make a few bucks from them, then good luck to them!
I definitely prefer these written reviews.
Also Lego lotr game is released today with exclusive elrond (only in game i believe) great figure.
When the Brick Show first came out, I started checking it out fairly regularily. What I did enjoy was seeing the sets as they are and at mostly all angles to get a feel for them. Then, the personality of the show started to get to me.
I still get the email list each week, but I rarely if ever go on to check things out.
Text and pics do the sets justice, so do please comtinue on with them.
Text reviews although I do like the official Lego Designer intro vids.
I used to watch Brickshow reviews, but stopped when they reviewed a train and called it a plane throughout the video. A lot of their reviews seemed like they just turned on the camera without having a plan for what they were going to say. I'm not aware of any other video reviewers.
Text reviews are usually presented better and more intelligibly. And as others have stated, a few high quality pictures usually are enough to show the sets.
I actually really like video reviews because they reveal more of the set in terms of viewing it from all angles and watching how the features work. And by the way, its not out of laziness as I tend to watch videos AND read reviews of a set if I'm particularly interested in it.
I find that the reviewer in a video can say a lot more about a set than in a text review because they don't have to go to all the effort of typing everything they want to say. I really don't like the brickshow reviews though - as many have said, they are way to long and the reviewers get loads of stuff wrong which really bugs me and makes me wonder if they are truly fans of lego.
Text based reviews for me as well. As take less time and you find out all I need from them. Like its said above only video reviews I watch are from the lego designers
We understand that our show is not for everyone. Some like to read books, others like to watch movies, everyone is different. We've always tried to do our best and continue to innovate. It's really our long term goal to see our YouTube efforts as a TV Channel for the Brick World. Are we there yet? No. Video is very time intensive to create and it's not cheap buying every LEGO set on the market. We are not even 50% of the way to where we see our channel long term.
Have we made mistakes? Of course. Haven't we all?
We get hundreds of messages per month of people thanking us for all we do and we love our fans. Likewise we respect everyone's opinion.
I watch video reviews on YouTube and also read written ones on websites like here and Eurobricks and enjoy both a lot :)!
Definitely prefer a written review with inline pictures over a video every time.
My outdoor vignette version of this lovely set - http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiredforsound23/8180132327/
I enjoy video reviews (especially those of The Brick Show which are usually well informed and laid out), but I much prefer text reviews with or without images personally.
As or this set, it looks great to me, and I am delighted to see a different face print on Gollum which makes the model a bit more desirable from a Minifigure point of view.
Thumbs up to the Brick Show (and other video reviewers)! I agree that video reviews can be a bit of a "spoiler" sometimes, so I don't always watch them. But I want to give my support to The Brick Show - yes, there are some mistakes and I understand that their style isn't everyones cup of tea, but I still find their reviews very informative and also quite entertaining at times :)
^^^ Nice, but didn't you read the box? 'Boat does not float' :-)
speaking as someone who makes video reviews, I can say personally that it depends on the subject matter. for LEGO, I actually prefer a nice pictorial review. but for some of my other collections, I think the video offers a better scope of what I am putting my money into, which is why I started reviewing to begin with. I would have to agree with some of you here that I think it is the younger crowd that takes more to the video reviews of LEGO, and Brickshow certainly does their thing in a very child-oriented way, while I try to just get to the facts (we all know, however, that we can all spend at least 20 minutes looking at pictures and text, and that even just showing and explaining the basics of a set, it can hit the 20 minute mark very quickly!) so I would say I agree with both camps on this one, really. I wouldn't have continued with LEGO reviews if not for the requests, mostly from the younger crowd.
for anyone that actually finds video reviews offensive, I do apologize. I try and keep the build spoiler free, at least, as I know that I like to build to be a surprise.
anyone here that would like to see my videos, I will not leave a shameless plug, but I will happily send a link to any private messages.
thanks for hearing me ramble!
I generally lack the patience for video reviews. They take so long.
Is Bilbo really unique to this set? Isn't it the same one in 79004 Barrel Escape?
Also, I say NO to video reviews.
Hmmm; this set is a must-buy?
I agree; text reviews are easier to read, although video reviews can be helpful at times.
I love the quality of photo reviews. i simply don't ge the point of a video review.
Photo reviews, all the way.
The video reviews are sometimes good to watch, but only for the odd regional accents from around the world you get in them.
Photo reviews for me too.
PHOTO & TEXT! And the compact reviews Brickset usually run are appreciated. Gives a good insight without ruining the surpise. Official LEGO-video's are the only exception, but they are more like short presentations rather than review. So maybe they don't count.
two things: 9490 is Droid Escape and Bilbo is not exclusive to this set.
And to answer the question: BRICKSHOW is really good at reviewing sets, and it is really worth while watching their videos. also Artifex Creation is really worth taking a look at (his videos are stop motion building of sets which i can imagine takes a very long time).
I much prefer reading a well written article accompanied by some well taken detailed photos over my breakfast in peace to the videos! Keep up the good work!
I don't mind a video review of a large, complex and interesting set. A modular building would be good in a video review. But one thing puts me off videos: mouth breathing. Eugh.
So my vote: text and optional photos.
I picked this set up yesterday at TRU (London, Ontario), $12.99. They had the others as well. It was a small display, just an end cap. Maybe 8 of each.
i personally find the reviews made on video a little...disturbing, hahaha, plus you don't have the watch-for-detail advantage that photos can give =)
Official high quality pictures of the Hobbit sets from Grogall:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=507708