Welcome back. We'd like to start by apologizing for the long time between episodes: Life gets in the way sometimes. Jay is really excited about the LEGO Group's announcement of their ongoing partnership with Pokémon Company International from next year. He's been collecting the cards and playing the games since the first generation was released in 1996. https://jaysbrickblog.com/news/lego-pokemon-sets-officially-announced-coming-2026/

Richard is possibly a little too old to have cared when they first arrived, but his kids played Diamond/Pearl on their Nintendo DS despite his insistence in this episode that they played a different version.

Today, we discuss how Pokémon have evolved over the years, preexisting brick building sets, and their cross-generational appeal. We also speculate how the LEGO Group might put its unique spin on the world's largest franchise when they launch info the Pokemon 30th anniversary. https://jaysbrickblog.com/news/what-lego-pokemon-sets-could-we-see-in-2026-and-beyond/

Will Pokémon be the greatest thing to happen to LEGO® bricks, since the arrival of LEGO Star Wars?

We hope you enjoy the episode: if you do, be sure to leave a review on your favorite podcasting platform, and share it with your Pokémon loving friends. And we hope to see you soon.

We love your feedback. Please send us an email with your LEGO Pokemon Hopes and Dreams to extrapiecespod@gmail.com

Welcome back after the...’ break’. Well, it was a break from podcast recording, anyway. We hope you got some great LEGO®sets for Christmas. Pardon the quality of Richard's voice. It is getting much better!

While we are getting ready to attend Brickvention in Melbourne next weekend, we look at some of the January Releases.

The new modular building, 10350 Tudor Corner https://jaysbrickblog.com/reviews/review-lego-10350-tudor-corner-modular-building/ https://ramblingbrick.com/2024/12/12/10350-tudor-corner-rambling-review/

The revamped 10355 Blacktron Renegade set https://ramblingbrick.com/2024/12/22/10355-blacktron-rengade-construction-criticism-and-creative-prompts/ https://jaysbrickblog.com/reviews/review-lego-10355-blacktron-renegade-2025/

Richard has taken a closer look at some of the new Mario Kart-themed LEGO sets https://ramblingbrick.com/2025/01/01/lego-mario-kart-a-new-paradigm-with-72032-standard-kart/ https://ramblingbrick.com/2025/01/02/explore-the-interactive-features-of-72031yoshis-bike/

The new LEGO City soapbox derby vehicles and race ramp sets We have been having so much fun playing with them that we have failed to write reviews yet!

We also consider the recently announced LEGO Nintendo Game Boy set, and just what other things 2025 might hold in store for the LEGO/Nintendo collaboration. https://jaysbrickblog.com/news/lego-nintendo-game-boy-set-announced-for-october-2025/

Finally, this weekend (17-19 January) sees Brickvention 2025 in Melbourne. Jay and Richard will both be there. Come and tap us on the shoulder if you see us. Who knows, there may be merch!

We're approaching the End of the Year! Amidst the LEGO Insiders Weekend and Black Friday shopping madness, Richard and Jay discuss some of the big launches coming soon, including new 2025 sets!

Sets discussed include:

• 10335 The Endurance
• LEGO Minifigures Series 27
• Lunar New Year 2025 sets
• LEGO Ideas Minerals DIsplay revealed
• 10359 Fountain Garden
• and more!

We hope you enjoy the episode. We love your feedback: please leave a review or comment on your favourite podcast platform, or get in touch with us via @extrapiecespod