If you have an extra $350 to spend, might I suggest a LEGO Helicarrier?

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LEGO SHIELD Helicarrier Marvel Super Heroes CriticalBlast.com

Over at Newsarama, I saw this:

The phrase "Avengers Assemble!" may never be more apt than when talking about products like these. On Thursday Marvel and LEGO Group announced new products on two fronts -- a new console video game and a lush new S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier playset.

LEGO Marvel's Avengers is an upcoming game available across all major gaming consoles, and picks up on the success of the previous LEGO Marvel Super Heroes game. LEGO Marvel's Avengers takes a cue from the Avengers movie franchise, featuring stories and characters from both films. It's expected to ship in fall 2015 and be availablw for Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS as well as Windows PC.

"This year will be the biggest yet for LEGO videogames with these incredible titles and several firsts for the series,” said Tom Stone, Managing Director, TT Games, who is developing the games.. “TT Games are crafting humorous LEGO adventures, based on new stories and characters across some of the most well-known and iconic worlds.”  

Additional games announced were LEGO Jurassic World, LEGO Ninjago: Shadow of Ronin, The LEGO Movie Videogame and a mobile version of LEGO Batman: Beyond Gotham.

For those wanting LEGO merchandise they can hold, the LEGO Group has announced a premium S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier set as part of their line of Avengers product line. Based on the original Avengers movie, this nearly 3,000 piece set measures over 31" long, 17" wide and 11" high, and includes a plethora of support vehicles ranging from Quinjets, fighter jets, forklifts and gasoline trucks.

And LEGO doesn't leave you un-manned, as it promises to contain 12 minifigures ranging from Avengers to S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. The rotors on the Helicarrier can even be turned manually -- which is something Iron Man had to do to save one in the original Avengers movie.

LEGO Group will be debuting this impressive set at Toy Fair, and plans to have it in stores shortly thereafter at a suggested retail price of $349.99.

Commentary: When I see stuff like this, my immediate question is, "Who has $350 to drop on a 3 foot long LEGO Helicarrier?"  I like LEGO as much as the next 35 year old guy, but if I'm dropping that kind of money, it needs to be something a little more functional.  I don't know...maybe I am just getting old. 

The article also talked about some upcoming releases for the LEGO video game line.  My kids and I play the hell out of those games, and I'm glad they announced Avengers Assemble for Xbox 360.  We will definitely pick that one up.  My kids also love playing LEGO BATMAN and LEGO HARRY POTTER on their Kindles, so hopefully they will do a Kindle version of the mobile release LEGO BATMAN: BEYOND GOTHAM.

Kind of buried in this announcement was also the release of a video game LEGO JURASSIC WORLD which will include all four movies!   There is huge potential there to make an awesome game!  And like most of the LEGO games, they seem like they will be releasing this one on Xbox 360 too.  I really appreciate the support for the older systems.   I still haven't seen anything on Xbox One or Playstation 4 that has interested me in upgrading.