At Brix by the Bay 2019, the LEGO Group showcased an impressive collection of modules at their convention center. The collection, which includes over 46 individual modules, was carefully curated to demonstrate the versatility and creativity of the LEGO Group's modular design system.

The modules on display ranged in size, with some being as small as a mini coal behind, which is actually made up of nine individual units. For example, the Great Ball Contraption, also known as GBC, featured ten standard modules that have been around for about ten years. In the early days of GBC, Steve Hansen and Blake wrote a series of rules that defined the size of the input, the rate of ball flow, and other parameters.

These six rules provide the foundation for building any structure with the LEGO Group's modular system. With a little bit of technical knowledge and imagination, builders can create anything they can envision using the available modules. The use of motors or gears is often necessary to achieve mechanical motion, but beyond that, the possibilities are truly endless. As one builder explained, "it's like it obviously helps if you have a little bit of technical knowledge because usually you're using a motor or you're using some gears for mechanical motion."

Beyond the technical aspects, GBC has also become a popular platform for creative expression and community engagement. Builders often gather at conventions to showcase their creations, share ideas, and learn from one another. The diversity of themes and designs on display is staggering, with everything from Minecraft-themed modules to more technical focus areas like Technic bills.

One of the standout aspects of GBC is its kinetic energy. When you watch a well-designed module in action, it's mesmerizing to see the balls moving, gears turning, and levers clicking into place. The diversity of modules on display is truly remarkable, with everything from 40-yard step modules that are programmable to other mechanical contraptions that defy explanation.

When we spoke to one of the builders, Laurie, she shared her own experience with GBC. She explained how she was initially going to build a simple mini-golf course but ended up creating a full nine-hole course instead. Each module is still counted as an individual unit, even though they're part of a larger design. This attention to detail and commitment to the rules is what makes GBC so appealing.

Laurie also discussed the challenges of building a GBC contraption. She noted that one of the biggest hurdles is keeping the balls moving and preventing them from getting stuck. To overcome this, designers often use clever mechanisms like pyramids or water gutters to redirect the ball flow. The design of the loop itself can also change depending on the event or convention.

The diversity of modules on display at Brix by the Bay 2019 was truly impressive. From Train designs that are unique and new to counter mechanisms that are still under development, there's something for everyone to appreciate. If you're looking to get started with GBC, Laurie recommends beginning with a simple set of instructions or building a kit using standard LEGO parts.

One such kit is the "Chain with Mechanism," which features less than 200 parts and is considered one of the simplest kits available. Alternatively, builders can try their hand at creating their own designs using online resources and community forums. With patience, practice, and a willingness to learn, anyone can become a skilled GBC builder.

In conclusion, Brix by the Bay 2019 was a celebration of creativity, innovation, and community engagement all rolled into one. The LEGO Group's modular design system is truly remarkable, and it's amazing to see what builders have created using this versatile platform. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, there's no denying the appeal of GBC and its ability to inspire and delight.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: eneverybody's gone from tested I'm here atBrix by the bay 2019 and here withLaurie who's one of the people who'sbrought a what do you call this a moduleit's a collection of modules so this isLEGO Group or contraption there isaround 46 modules on the table and theycan range in size it really depends onthe individual builder so for examplewe've got this mini coal behind usthat's actually a collection of nineindividual modules yeah so for a greatball contraption standard about tenyears ago a couple of people actually achap named Steve Hansen Blake wrote up aseries of rules that we are that definedthe size of the input size the rate ofthe ball flow and a couple otherparameters and with those sort of sixrules it basically allows us to buildeverything on the table behind useven with us exposed the options arelimitless it feels like especially withLego yeah it really is a question ofimagination like it obviously helps ifyou have a little bit of technicalknowledge because usually you're using amotor or you're using some gears formechanical motion but beyond that likeif you can imagine it and you canimagine it in the Lego space then youcan you can build it into GBC it's aRube Goldberg machine that every singledifferent convention you go to it'sgonna be a different arrangement yeahabsolutely like it's like some of thelike some of the machines obviously goaround or fewer conventions like some ofus do go to a few different areas butyeah every convention there's going tobe different creations depending on thegroup of people you might get a lot ofthemed modules like Minecraft theme orthings like that this one's kind of moretechnical focus there's a lot of niceTechnic bills and stuff like that with alittle bit of theming it really dovaries from convention to convention andwith a technical focus it really feelslike there's gonna be trouble shootingnon-stop or people running aroundlooking at their modules and tweakingand tune what you'll see to the left ofus these people fixing something so GBCis how you know it's it's hard work butit's fun likeit's we when we run this during thepublic we will we will be at thisstation for the whole time fixing tuningkeeping balls moving picking up also thefall nowyou said yeah this mini-golf one whichis so striking it says it's your modulesright here's your year or nineyeah the mini-golf is actually somethingI built originally I was just going tobuild the one and my wife said that tobe boring so I ended up building a fullnine hole mini golf course but each oneis still counted as a individual moduleit meets the rules so when I bring it itstill counts as nine modules towards thecount on the day and because it is minigolf and you have the little the puttersmoving it's every every hit is differentright like yeah yeah I'm sorry it's oneof the challenges of great ball is likeyou do need to keep moving the balls onso even with every random hit it stillneeds to make it to the next hole solike there's a couple of modules thatlike like there's a there's a pyramidone here where the ball can travel downthe center path or it can fall in acouple of like water gutters but italways has to go to the next hole tokeep the flow balls moving you neverwant to build up yeah that's yeah onceyou get to build up the balls and it hasa sort of a snowball effect on the endof the loop in terms of it the design ofit being a loop there's a shape of theloop does that change from event toevent or is it it can so this really isactually a figure eight just because ofthe weight end up getting stucktypically it's running in ER and in anyanti-clockwise direction so it'll butsometimes like if you know if you ifyou've only got a few modules you mightjust run a line of modules on a tableyou might run around a corner once youget a bit bigger than you'll be runningfull sort of rectangular or circularloops yeahit's a very evocative of like miniaturetrain sets of people building modulesfor that and connecting them and doingmeetups but it's so much kineticmovement and and the diversity andbuilds and that the colors it's trulywonderful yeah that's that's one of thethings I really like about like tripodcontraption is its kinetic so of the40-yard step modules that are on thetableonly to use programmable brickseverything else on this table ismechanical motion and and all thedifferent varieties you can do with thatso there's some really clever stuff onthe tableawesome awesome are there modules hereyou've never seen before that for thefirst time you're meeting up with theseteams and you're seeing how those workyeah quite a few actually because I'msort of based on the East Coast so Ihave chatted with a few of these peopleonline but a lot I haven't seen inperson so there's some really cool stufflike the Train designs are really uniqueand new there's a really cool counter onthe table and there's some other clippermechanisms I've kind of sitting aroundthat it's like it's really it's fun towatch them online but it's even betterto kind of see them in person and seesome of the interest sees in themechanism and and the clever tips andtricks are done in that kinda stuff anyrecommendations real or just gettingstarted want to participate yeah look Iwould say start with a simple set ofinstructions there are a handful ofgreat book contractors you can buildfrom your listing Lego kits they're notalways meeting standard rows reliablebut there are quite a few instructionson lines for simple to build kits likeless than 200 parts one of the simplestis like a chain with mechanism and ifyou're like if you're in the Lego andyou're up to the Technic building agessort of around eleven twelve although Ido have kids that are already buildingat eight then they can get straight intojuvie so my kids you know if you canbuild a build a car that has some gearsin it out of Lego kit then you can builda Lego GBC kit it's great still cometogether it's pleasure to meet you Larrythank you so much thank youyou\n"