LEGO Writing System ~ Dino Island Pen!

[@ZaneHern]

Wow! I can't believe you made a video on it, thank you! You're very welcome, have a marry Christmas soon, and it is so cool that you made this. Hoping you can get that pen working; it honestly never occurred to me that it wouldnt write lol.

[@RRSlugger]

Thanks again, Zane! Honestly, it didn't surprise me to learn that it wouldn't write - 20+ years is a long time, haha. It's all good though! 😊

[@WackoMcGoose]

@@RRSlugger I bet a bit of googling might find something compatible to replace the ink tube with... I'm assuming Lego _would have_ gone with something industry-standard rather than bespoke, for the pen-writing part 🤔

[@BKRandyful]

The audio clips from that minigame are going to live rent free in my head for a while...

[@RRSlugger]

Yup, I know the feeling. *Good dog, Sparky (woof woof)* 😆

[@omikron6218]

The what?!

[@TsundereSupreme]

Stop it! You’re mocking me…

[@when_the_]

1:40

[@clopec]

BIBIBIDODODIDIDI

[@Anfernyrocks]

I think I ate one of these pieces as a child!

[@carlosemilio5180]

🥰🥰🥰

[@bagea]

can we get this pinned

[@RRSlugger]

And you survived the encounter, thankfully! 😆

[@g-starthefirst]

@@carlosemilio5180bruuhhh what kind of reply is THAT

[@g-starthefirst]

WHYYYYYYYY

[@beartraptree]

Never thought I'd see the disembodied head of Johnny Thunder cackle like a demented chipmunk but well, here we are.

[@bumfricker2487]

I've definitely heard that exact sfx somewhere else, maybe mario Boo cackles?

[@ids5621]

The bionicle ones go crazy, mini kanohi and all

[@AdamantineCat]

"Stop it you're mocking me"

[@boxfoxscoot1614]

ah yes his iconic catch phrase

[@Maniac4Bricks]

Where do I begin?? This is a Slugger video I never expected, even for a channel of niche LEGO subjects! The Wayback preservation astounded me, and ending the matching game with "the what?" - I couldn't have said it better myself. Macro-lensing? Your preservation efforts should never go unnoticed! The material used for the bottom half of the pen always perplexed me - even after 2 decades, many of mine still have a smooth sheen to them, especially the Batman pen with a purple bottom. That Edward writing clip never gets old for me - always happy to see it.

[@RRSlugger]

Thanks so much, Joey! I appreciate your kind words and thoughts here! 😊

[@LISHAI94]

Kinda disappointing that LEGO Writing System does not refer to a Lego version of an undeciphered medieval manuscript written in an unknown language

[@beartraptree]

That's because they cancelled the Adventurers theme before Johnny got his hands on the Voynich manuscript.

[@MrHumbuck]

That weird laugh effect Johnny Thunder's head makes in the flash game sounds incredibly familiar, but I can't quite think where from. It might have been in a different kid's game I had. Maybe it was even in multiple games, I'm really not sure. Anyway, thanks for showing this off Slugger, it's really cool!

[@Nadiki]

I wonder if it's a stock sound effect? It sounds crazy familiar to me too. I think the one I remember is a bit higher pitched though. My guess is the Laffy Taffy temple Flash game from like 2008

[@LEGObowserYT]

It’s a VERY common sound effect used in a lot of content farm KZbin videos, but many other places around the web too

[@MrHumbuck]

@@Nadiki I don't know that game specifically, but that's very much the kind of thing I'm thinking of

[@autumn702]

It sounds like it could have been used in the Humungous Entertainment games from back then like Spy Fox, Freddy Fish and Pyjama Sam.

[@Nadiki]

@ omg yes you might be on to something!

[@JohnBainbridge0]

Triceratops is the best dino. He protec. He attac. And most importantly, you can ride upon his bac.

[@RRSlugger]

This is the best comment. 😂

[@JohnBainbridge0]

@@RRSlugger 💚

[@Kaastretch]

Stupendous video! I was concerned at first that you wouldn't show how the bead heads would work on normal figures, then was happily surprised by the picture at 5:02. Thank you!

[@RRSlugger]

I wish you could put it on them fully, but I did the best I could! ❤

[@Emithetaxi]

Chewing on those nice rubbery grips from the bionicle pens is a satisfying sensation I can still imagine to this day! Great work as always slugger.

[@masahige2344]

What really studs my bricks is that they inexplicably decided to create new, less accurate face prints for our Adventurer friends, almost as if they didn't have the rights, even though this is obviously an official product. Featuring Danny Lightning and Professor Liveroy!

[@RRSlugger]

Yeah! It's really interesting... honestly, I think it makes these products more desirable to me, just on account of how strange they are!

[@nbarber20]

Had one of these as a kid! It was well loved and slightly chewed on. I drew many wobbly pictures of dragons with it.

[@Autisticguywithacamera]

Every time I check your channel it seems like I discover a new piece of Lego Media, set or merchandise I never knew existed. Neat.

[@n00b1n8R]

As soon as I saw the carry case, I knew this was going to be a quality product of the 2000's 💯💯

[@rejectclone4504]

The prints of the various dinos are so clean cut and lovely! 😆 I think my favorite bead might be the pterodactyl block, as I love how the different zoomed-in body parts of that dino ‘wraps’ around the bead! 🟩

[@JackOfNone97]

Oh my god I remember going over to my cousins house and marveling at his Lego adventures sets because his parents made more money (and had less kids) than mine so he had way more sets, including this exact pen!!! Thanks for the blast from the past lol

[@lbricks7631]

Once again the wayback machine comes in clutch

[@edwardpulleyn2735]

Truly, the first Lego-type writing system

[@catfish552]

This video had everything I hoped to see: A close look at the pieces, one of the "heads" on a minifigure... and the pen inevitably not working after over 20 years! 😆

[@brycevo]

I love that the baby rex fits on the top

[@matejpelikan9754]

It´s interesting how such an obscure things like LEGO pen or LEGO clocks can have such an interesting story. Great job at presenting it!

[@toon10001two]

I have one of these pens that my aunt brought back from America when I was really young. I lost part of the dinosaurs when I threw them at my little brother when I was like 5. Along with my Grangemouth Bricks its probably the most treasured thing I have in my collection

[@empatheticrambo4890]

The Bionicle Pens were also super cool, and people have used them in really neat mocs...

[@bobertbolero]

Oooooh m g I had this pen!! Never liked how the plastic of the beads were slightly more transparent than Lego bricks... Also LOL at how they use the meme laugh sound for Johnny Thunder

[@M0torsagmannen]

thank you Zane!

[@StudframeAnimations]

The picture at 5:02 is now my favorite you've ever made. 🤣

[@topo8444]

These pens were always a curiosity to see on Bricklink for me, especially the Bionicle ones. Cool to see a detailed video on one of these!

[@cartkart1]

I HAD ONE OF THESE!! It was one with Peppa Roni, Johnny Thunder, and a soccer ball. I got it secondhand from my aunt but I was never sure how to take it apart, nor did it have any ink, but i still remember having fun with it

[@Maniac4Bricks]

Funny enough, some other pens do have facsimiles of minifigures included with them, but much cheaper and more hollow plastic than a standard figure of its time. Obviously to make a hole through each piece to fit it on the pen like a minifig shish-kabob. I even remember the cape for Batman feeling less clothy like the standard capes. That didn't stop me from trying them out on actual minifigures as a kid!

[@countravicchio1050]

This pen looks a lot more comfortable to hold than the modern lego pens

[@Alex_Ertl]

As a kid one year I got a couple Lego Star Wars pens in my stocking. A Yoda and a Darth Vader. I remember them writing very well and being my favorite pens to use in school.

[@realrealtortellini]

Slugger's "really impressed with the quality" of the pen that doesn't write anything

[@Perradocx]

I had (and still have?) a Darth Vader pen from this range! It had an entire minifig-shaped bead, with a head and helmet that fit on standard LEGO-manufactured minifigs.

[@ShallowVA]

I had one of these with a soccer theme back in the day! I guess it's a neat little toy in hindsight, but at the time I was just disappointed the beads weren't compatible with regular Lego bricks.

[@thecelestialtoygazer7816]

At last, a crumb of Adventurers!

[@EternityKingdomsHeadHoncho]

Slugger: *exists* Every Toa post-2004: “Stop it, you’re mocking me!”

[@RRSlugger]

Bahahaha! 😂

[@RaphaelWiggum]

You need to fix it now. This pen DESERVES ink!

[@empatheticrambo4890]

The SASS at the end there XD

[@Ricky-s4q]

this brings me back

[@betamaxblocker]

I remember seeing these and the Lego clocks on the inserts of Lego catalogs. A pity there doesn't seem to be a Rock Raiders one for you!

[@gamegnome486]

New Slugger video dropped, life is good.

[@kay_glo]

Nice! I still use my Alpha Team writing system pen! (You can replace the ink cartridge)

[@RRSlugger]

Do you know if the ink cartridge is proprietary? I didn't recognize it when I took it apart.

[@kay_glo]

@RRSlugger It's not, it's a 4C refill. I have a pack from the brand Zebra that I bought from ebay (I think) awhile back. Hope this helps!

[@RRSlugger]

@@kay_glo Whoa, awesome! Thanks - I will look into it!

[@rychat4687]

The cool slug speaks again.

[@camdencap4974]

Wooo r slugger is here !

[@s1mp50n4]

I'm surprised you didn't mention that the beads are system compatible meaning they can be used for some fun decorations in a build if you have access to them.

[@RRSlugger]

I didn't mention it because I visually showed it off in the video! Both with Dr. Kilroy's head and with the macro lens segment. 😊

[@s1mp50n4]

@RRSlugger Dang it, this is what I get for listening to KZbin videos while I'm working

[@RRSlugger]

@@s1mp50n4 Haha, all good! 🙂

[@spamhands6993]

I definitely had a LEGO Star Wars one as a kid. The Star Wars branded bead still is in my LEGO collection.

[@leftygurl]

yknow, actually getting a good look at these, they feel less like the weird cash-in merchandise they always felt like to me, and more something someone actually cared about. just look at that curved case under the paper box, the way it’s almost presented like a fancy watch or glasses case. and the name “lego writing system”, like, i can tell that somebody loved this, somebody really had faith in this idea, they wanted to make a product people would love. the printing quality is a bit iffy, but regular lego wasn’t really on much of a higher ground at this time, so i can allow a pet project bit of merchandise some slack on that front. i hope there were kids out there who loved these things, it’s what they deserved.

[@leftygurl]

related: i am now reinvigorated in my interest in the bionicle pens, it would be lovely to try one out styled after my favourite theme, would love to give one some hands-on appreciation

[@RRSlugger]

I agree, absolutely! Someone cared about this project, for sure. ❤️

[@infectedzombieguy]

Great stuff! I remember having a Harry Potter one of these as a kid. If memory serves, I remember mine having a Hermione head for the pen.

[@barragethree5047]

I can only imagine that Mr. Slugger will come into class in Monday with a new writung utensil

[@RRSlugger]

Ah, but like all good musicians, I only write with pencil! 😉

[@CarsSimplified]

Fun idea for a pen! As for the game, are those voices from some other Lego media? It seems like an odd detail to add (as opposed to entirely stock sound effects) to such a simple game.

[@RRSlugger]

Given the poor recording quality of them, I'm assuming Russell made them all himself. 😆

[@pipiferry]

That's was a great video. Those sound effects are so funny. BTW: I recently re-watched your spirius video, so when roboforce video? The 2024 is running out. XD

[@RRSlugger]

Haha, have faith my friend! 😉

[@Thinginator]

I had several Star Wars pens like that, with whole "minifigures" represented... in extremely poor quality. It always bothered me a little that they weren't quite regular LEGO quality. But I did enjoy the chrome pieces from my R2-D2 pen, which I used in a MOC or two.

[@Mischievous_Moth]

I had the vlaadek pen from knight's kingdom as a kid.

[@RockApeGaming]

So frickin based I love you Slugger Gotta track done a few of these for your music students ;)

[@RRSlugger]

Every good musician should be writing in *pencil* though! 😉

[@skraegorn7317]

Could you do a video on mid-late 90’s technic? The sets had a lot of charm to them. Love the color schemes and the different unprofitable gimmicks they were doing at the time.

[@RRSlugger]

I have a few of those sets! They might be a topic that I'll consider for the next Summer Of Slug. 🙂

[@RocketRidge]

no way the goofy laugh sfx was used by lego in the early 2000s...

[@TranscendentalAirwaves]

Oh man I wanted one of these back in the day. lol

[@HotDogTimeMachine385]

Obscure lego projects are Slug's jam!

[@RRSlugger]

Sure are! ❤️

[@studiobrickton4702]

Somehow I feel nostalgic for this pen despite never having owned one

[@RoachDoggJr2112]

Awesome stuff Slugger.

[@RRSlugger]

Thank you!

[@GameyRaccoon]

Hey roachdogg doesn't 1:39 sound like Zach Hadel?

[@MayoHosko]

I’ve heard of these pens but didn’t know they were themed

[@michaelgjrjvebs]

Holy crap i had this one!

[@Josh_Greathouse]

Hey! You said this was going away. Fun to see the other sides of lego

[@RRSlugger]

Well, I also uploaded a Heroscape video today to make up for it! 😉

[@BoardGamesBricksHobbies]

I tend to watch KZbin videos on 2x speed so those web ame voices really threw me for a loop 😂

[@RRSlugger]

Livin' life on fast forward there, man. 😅

[@CraftingCole]

Woah a new video I didn’t get this magazine yet

[@Nadiki]

I've always wondered what those weird giant heads in the BrickLink catalogue were for, and now I know! Are the beads fully Lego compatible? There could be some interesting uses for them in the system if so!

[@RRSlugger]

Indeed! They have studs and anti studs - I think the biggest difficulty would be acquiring enough parts to make something with them. 😅

[@mike.94]

That's just ❤ But I preffer these bizzare minifigure-pen ones 😊 PS I think that no many knows about speech bubble set with a race car driver from series 3!

[@Cronp_]

Cool

[@Ringtail]

these lego pens sets were really poorly documented some years back. I have a couple soccer ones and I remember them not being on brickset at all. dunno if that's changed now.

[@GeriatricFan1963]

"See? I told ya so!"

[@mihailos8701]

Nice video work

[@RRSlugger]

Thanks!

[@McSymilian]

It doesn't work, though it was unused for years; reminds me of the micromotor

[@connormaskell4192]

2.52 makes sense went you think about it. Unless you count the Lego Racers 2 version of Dino Island, aren't Johnny and the team the first people to show up on the island?

[@RRSlugger]

Oh man, it's been forever since I played that game! 😮

[@bagea]

not the cartoon giggle for johnny

[@skeletonghoulman8442]

Ready for another sluggtastic day 🔥😈

[@mileskosik472]

I had a lego pen as a kid, I wonder what theme it was? I asked my mom if she knows where it is, maybe Ill get my hands on it as a thanksgiving miracle!

[@Revok998]

Whoa Zane from Lego ninjago

[@cherryblossom512]

i’m curious if the ink cartridge can be swapped out to give these pens new life - rocking one of these in 2024 would be awesome

[@cherryblossom512]

ah just saw another comment, that’s unfortunate :(

[@RRSlugger]

Yeah... doesn't seem likely, unfortunately. ☹️

[@TheHylianBatman]

What a shame! If only the ink was refillable or replaceable. Still, it's very neat that LEGO supported their own writing system! I kinda wonder if they still offer pens...

[@RRSlugger]

It looks like it might be, but I fear the ink cartridge to be proprietary. It certainly doesn't look like any I've seen before. 😔

[@TheHylianBatman]

@@RRSlugger And that's why fountain pens are superior! ;)

[@Eddies_Bra-att-ha-grejer]

Huh, you can't put a ballpoint refill? It's just enclosed like that?

[@RRSlugger]

There's a refill spot for it, but I fear it may be of proprietary design. ☹

[@CathodeRayKobold]

I had the star wars pen as a kid. It sucked. The legs didn't stay on r2d2 and the studs weren't even compatible with other lego bricks.

[@InazumaDash]

Which bead was the tastiest?

[@brandonbordewyk]

I've always wondered since seeing these in stores, do the beads fit on minifigure torsos? If so, it's a crime that you didn't put them on their minifigure equivalents. 😆

[@RRSlugger]

Go back and check out 5:01 of the video! It might have snuck past you. 😉

[@brandonbordewyk]

How did I miss it? 😆 Must've looked away for a second. ​@@RRSlugger

[@GrahamBlack-f2y]

The box says the pen features replaceable ink cartridges, are they proprietary or would you be able to find new ones today? 0:57

[@RRSlugger]

It seemed pretty proprietary when I opened it up, but admittedly, I don't know much about pen design, haha.

[@LifeWKai]

With a title like "Lego writing system" for a moment I thought you were going to invent an alphabet and grammar rules for a Lego-based language or something

[@ggtwinbee]

Sluggin around as ever.

[@HYPERPUNKPEACHES]

First video to feel like “another slugger vid”, still really good though

[@RRSlugger]

Hopefully that's a good thing..! 😅

[@brickjawns]

That T Rex print looks like he has horse teeth instead of dino teeth

[@RRSlugger]

It totally does!! 😂

[@vincentwiddershoven2122]

This whas fun!!!!! 😂😂

[@skinkscat]

This reminded me I had a SpongeBob Lego pen! **Lego writing system

[@pelegocan4929]

Anyone else play the same game the other day while waiting to que into the Lego website for Insider's Weekend? (no sounds and different graphics)

[@slothfulcobra]

I wasn't into these when I saw them back in the day. Kinda just another barely-lego lego product, like the watch and clock. I guess if I were to design it, I'd want to try adding in some studs or antistuds to connect with proper lego, but maybe those would get in the way of writing. A normal pen is more fun to take apart, although maybe if there is a way to take it further apart you could replace the ink cartridge.

[@RRSlugger]

It looks like a proprietary ink cartridge to me, sadly. ☹️

[@slothfulcobra]

@RRSlugger Guess you'd have to use some kind of complicated process to revive the dried-up ink then. I've heard things about using rubbing alcohol and acetone. I only remember reviving dried-up markers as a kid by soaking them in water.

[@Eisenwald64]

These things are difficult to find listings of on Bricklink. If I could get the Life on Mars or Bionicle one... Can these be mixed with other bricks and sets?

[@RRSlugger]

Honestly, eBay seems to be a great place to find them! There are tons of them and they are quite cheap. I didn't see ones from either of those themes though... The beads are interchangable with other pens (I assume) and they have stud connections on the tops and bottoms of them. 👍

[@digadigado]

Have you gotten one of the watches yet?

[@RRSlugger]

Actually, no! Uncharted territory for me! 😮

[@nicheroni3452]

Slugtastic slugular video

[@AClassicBrick]

Why did I mishear bandit saying "stop it you're ****ing me"? Am I broken?

[@RRSlugger]

I believe "stop it, you're mocking me" is the line...! 😅

[@AClassicBrick]

@RRSlugger i think so as well 🤣

[@Lordodragonss]

WTF are these sound clips xD

[@malteandreasson]

# qeastion, wat is the best place to by galidor. 🤔 BS from Sweden 🇸🇪🇪🇺

[@RRSlugger]

Hello from Canada! I've found a lot of luck on eBay personally, but I'm not sure if that's a viable option in Sweden or not. You're not far from where all this stuff originates though, so I'd imagine it would have to be easier to buy Galidor where you are than where I am..! 🙂

[@malteandreasson]

Thancs! 👍😮