In a deal that was initially seen as a coup for the Canadian toy company, MEGA Brands Inc. recently announced a licensing agreement with Microsoft Game Studios to produce MEGA Bloks building toys based on the extraordinarily popular video game series, Halo.
However, Halo fans (some of ’em, anyway) are up in arms to see their only semblance of a hobby licensed out to a company best known for making the poor man’s LEGO .
News that Mega Brands inked a deal to release Halo Wars-themed toys is causing rumblings on gamer blogs and forums, with serious attacks on the oversized block maker.
“How can you apply such a thing to mega blocks [sic], meant for toddlers,” writes one commenter. “Oh, fuck Mega Bloks. They can’t even spell the word ‘block’,” added another.
These online complaints may be sour grapes from fans once duped by Electronic Gaming Monthly, who last year sure got them good, with an April Fools’ Day joke (see image above) announcing the arrival of a Halo LEGO video game. Halo fans seem to have desperately clung to this dream, and are fuming that LEGO didn’t score the licensing deal in real life. ‘LEGO my Halo,’ so to speak.
LEGO, current holder of the Star Wars toy license, has earned plaudits from many gamers for its funny and whimsical LEGO Star Wars video games, as well as Batman and Indiana Jones games produced in the same style.
We suggest those caused anguish by the MEGA Bloks announcement may want to get over themselves. A blok by any other name is still a block, no?
Anyway, MEGA Bloks will not be the first to produce Halo-themed, LEGO-influenced toys. The boutique toy manufacturer Brick Forge has been producing “Space Marine” armour, helmets and weapons since mid-2008, and Brick Arms, a similar operation, is known for making science fantasy weapons that will be familiar to any Halo player.
Regardless, this is one toy controversy that may prove difficult to master, chief.
[...] DRIVEN magazine has a roundup of the reaction from around the gamer community, but what does this mean to LEGO fans? What affect will this have on BrickForge (and their “Space Marine” armor) and BrickArms (with their sci-fi weapons)? [...]
Wow. I honestly cant believe this. I personally have been Halo to be make into LEGO. This feels like a slap in the face to both Halo and LEGO fans. Halo does not deserve to me made into a product by a cheep rip off.
Although i hate Mega Bloks getting this i also wouldn’t expect lego get it either because it encourages guns and tanks and stuff like that. But oh my god! Why does mega bloks get the deal? Its for frickin toddlers!
This whole thing just makes me feel so…violated.
WHY, WHY, WHY!?! I’ve been a Halo fan for so long and now this! I am now betraying Lego and buying from Mega Bloks. Which four year old will play with toys from an M-rated Video Game?
I’m sorry, I made a mistake, I meant to say I am not betraying Lego, NOT I am now betraying Lego.
I think its disappointing. Mega Bloks aren’t know for good character renderring, making proportion drastically out of whack, kind-of-close modelling and lackluster design. I expect that the Mega Blok models will look like crap and could possibly open up venues for corporate persecution of folks that make Halo models out of legos. I don’t begrudge Mega Bloks for grabbing hold of an exciting license and running with it but I would have hoped that Microsoft Games would have had more restraint.
[...] DRIVEN Magazine | Geek Storm: Halo fans won’t stand for “toddler” blocks In a deal that was initially seen as a coup for the Canadian toy company, MEGA Brands Inc. recently announced a licensing agreement with Microsoft Game Studios to produce MEGA Bloks building toys based on the extraordinarily popular video game series, Halo.However, Halo fans (some of ’em, anyway) are up in arms to see their only semblance of a hobby licensed out to a company best known for making the poor man’s LEGO . Related Items: The Inauguration of Barack Obama on CNN Barack Obama Moment Poster Albuquerque Isotopes Extreme Neon Baseball Albuquerque Isotopes Neon Baseball The Inauguration of Barack Obama: A Moment in History (ABC News) [...]
Seriously? ive always been a halo fan. ive bought almost every halo product ive ever seen made. but i REFUSE to buy Halo MEGABLOKS. Megabloks are just knock off legos. they’re just… awful. im sorry bungie, if you megabloks sells halo theme products i will not buy them. but i would be 100% sure to buy any lego equivalent.
Mega Bloks are for ages 2-8 and last time I checked Halo in rated M as in 18+ even Halo Wars which is rated T (13+). So, my point is that Lego (age 8+) is the obvious choice age wise and DON’T even get me STARTED on details, quality, etc. LEGO > MEGA BLOKS