Brand new for 2011. I think Lego has another hit on its hands with the Alien Invasion series.
This set is very good value. It's quite challenging to build but without being frustrating, so you start to get you money's worth as a parent from the minute the box is opened. My son was kept busy with this for quite a while but there were no tantrums!
As for actually playing with it, there's enough in the box to keep any child occupied for hours. Great for sharing with friends of brothers/sisters too, since one can play the alien and the other can play the earthlings.
Speaking as a parent, having Lego break its product line into diffferent series these days has its pluses and minuses. On the minus side, I honestly think you pay through the nose for often pretty skimpy playsets that are based on certain very popular film series that shall remain nameless. On the other hand, Lego's in house series- for which there are no expensive royalties to pay- are comparitively good value. The City series is always a winner, Atlantis was great, and now this Alien Invasion series is up to that standard.