unforum

[morbus]

So, there's a rather hilarious finale to this, which leaves me with a rather large grin on my face. In short: it was an April Fool's joke. I started suspecting this a few days ago (and I had an IRC conversation about it with a friend this morning). Some things that worried me:

* I could find no other LEGO site talking about, or receiving information about, this promotion - not only were there no mentions on any of the other well-known LEGO fan sites I watch, but Google searches for "scavenger sites", the questions being asked by "John@LEGO", and similar relevant keywords all came up with nothing, even when John@LEGO indicated that multiple sites would be partaking. When I contacted TLG myself to try and track this person down, they indicated no knowledge of any existing promotion like this, but would get back to me.

* It appeared that the administrators of the blog were never in contact with John@LEGO through email. Through various comments, it became apparent that John@LEGO was asking questions through the commenting system, asking them not to be published, but then wanting the /answers/ to be published (likely because they could deliver the answers no other way). I dunno if the administrators ever tried to get John@LEGO's email address or similar credentials, or if they just slavishly latched on to the "we're special!" vibe, defending it at all costs (by banning me, by admonishing people not to talk about it, etc.). It appears the only thing their fervency accomplished was limiting their embarrassment.

* John@LEGO mentioned legal terms that he had to abide by. IANAL, but I suspect any promotion that required legal terms for the marketer must also have similar terms for the end-users, which naturally were never made blatant, obvious, or were posted.

* The questions being asked by John@LEGO were getting progressively lamer and lamer. Since I subscribed to The Clue Room post by email (which has since been removed, see below), I have logs of 'em, but as the days wore on, they began drifting into things like "What do you like most about the MLNBlog?" (why would TLG care?), "Question 4: How important do you feel it is for LEGO to get feedback from fans? Should it be an exclusive group, or anybody?" (this has long ago been established through various LEGO Ambassador programs, why ask again? why didn't John know?), "Which is more important: the participation in this promotion, or the fact that this community was brought together in some meaningful way?" (w. t. f.?).

* We originally knew that there was something happening on April 2nd, due to the minifig countdown. Something was posted yesterday indicating that something new would happen today, which compared with all of the above, seemed even odder.

* Today, the following comment was posted from John@LEGO. Shortly thereafter, The Clue Room post was taken down (though you can still see some of the comments in the sidebar). Again, I only have a copy of this because I was subscribed to the post via e-mail:

[idk]

hmm

[Angry Fish]

I don't understnad this latest mission, I click on the Darklings, but they just go back. Am I supposed to do something else?
-ANGRY fish

[jayko543]

[Tinox]

Mission 13 is up.

[Tinox]

Aaand by that I of course meant 14. Gah.

It seems pretty interesting at first glance, though I'm sure I'll find the solution incredibly obvious when I finally find it.

[Jayko543]

Oh really? http://mylegonetworkblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/mission-14.html

Here's the answer, but I don't see how the numbers correspond with the letters.

[Jayko543]

Doh! It is simple! I didn't find it though, Its on the LEGO message boards

[catsrnice]

stuff

[cpu]

Missions 16+17

[jayko543`]

Yeah, LOL! Pre-order is out now for $40!

[morbus]

For onlookers, this "board" (thread) is slow (dead), because the purpose of the thread (the BRICK ARG) is now irrelevant (a series of regularly released minigames does not an ARG make).

[Jayko543]

Yea, I see what you mean. Lets let it sleep in peace . . .