 | | | | | |
From Bloomberg News, I read this blurb in Friday's San Francisco Chronicle,
business section, page 2, column 1:
LEGO TO MAKE BASKETBALL TOYS FOR NBA
New York - Lego A/S, the Danish maker of its namesake plastic toy building
blocks, will make National Basketball Association-related toys under a
multiyear agreement with the NBA.
Terms weren't disclosed. Closely held Lego will introduce a line of Lego
Sports toys that will include NBA-themed items and Lego Soccer products (DS
- huh?), company spokesman Michael McNally said. Product details will be
released later this year, he said.
Not sure what they meant by the Soccer products statement seeing as the line
has existed for years already, but that's what it said.
This brings a whole new meaning to the dis "BRICK!", doesn't it?
Danny
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.announce, Danny Sullivan writes:
> From Bloomberg News, I read this blurb in Friday's San Francisco Chronicle,
> business section, page 2, column 1:
>
> LEGO TO MAKE BASKETBALL TOYS FOR NBA
>
> New York - Lego A/S, the Danish maker of its namesake plastic toy building
> blocks, will make National Basketball Association-related toys under a
> multiyear agreement with the NBA.
> Terms weren't disclosed. Closely held Lego will introduce a line of Lego
> Sports toys that will include NBA-themed items and Lego Soccer products (DS
> - huh?), company spokesman Michael McNally said. Product details will be
> released later this year, he said.
>
>
> Not sure what they meant by the Soccer products statement seeing as the line
> has existed for years already, but that's what it said.
>
> This brings a whole new meaning to the dis "BRICK!", doesn't it?
> Danny
Great, just what we need, another type of minifig leg. I say we call them
"Longies"
Jude
x-post to .general
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.football, Jude Beaudin writes:
> In lugnet.announce, Danny Sullivan writes:
> > From Bloomberg News, I read this blurb in Friday's San Francisco Chronicle,
> > business section, page 2, column 1:
> >
> > LEGO TO MAKE BASKETBALL TOYS FOR NBA
> >
> > New York - Lego A/S, the Danish maker of its namesake plastic toy building
> > blocks, will make National Basketball Association-related toys under a
> > multiyear agreement with the NBA.
> > Terms weren't disclosed. Closely held Lego will introduce a line of Lego
> > Sports toys that will include NBA-themed items and Lego Soccer products (DS
> > - huh?), company spokesman Michael McNally said. Product details will be
> > released later this year, he said.
> >
> >
> > Not sure what they meant by the Soccer products statement seeing as the line
> > has existed for years already, but that's what it said.
> >
> > This brings a whole new meaning to the dis "BRICK!", doesn't it?
> > Danny
>
> Great, just what we need, another type of minifig leg. I say we call them
> "Longies"
>
> Jude
I guess the SF Chronical is a reliable source, especially when they are
quoting a company spokesperson. Kind of makes one wonder, though, when the
clip contains some obvious factual inaccuracies (soccer). Unless TLC is
planning to recreate the NBA of the 40's or something, it looks like we will
finally be getting minifigs of color. Can Mace Windu be far behind?
Aaron Dalan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
My vote is for tattoed arms and legs on the minifig arms!
Do you think they will be printed or or just stickers?
Todd
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.football, Todd Thuma writes:
> My vote is for tattoed arms and legs on the minifig arms!
>
> Do you think they will be printed or or just stickers?
Red hair, don’t forget the *red hair!!!
-R
*infer any other color that Rodman may have had during his career.
P.S. has anyone though of any other unique elements that may be
incorporated into the sets? I'm thinkin’ shorts, obviously a basketball
(similar to the preexisting soccer ball) a back board & net…and not
a whole lot else. :(
P.P.s. is it me, or does it seem as though Lego is tryin’
wayyyyyyyy too hard to appeal to the youth market?
(skateboards, basketball…what’s next Pokemon)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
Richard Noeckel wrote:
>
> In lugnet.football, Todd Thuma writes:
> > My vote is for tattoed arms and legs on the minifig arms!
> >
> > Do you think they will be printed or or just stickers?
>
> Red hair, don’t forget the *red hair!!!
>
> -R
>
> *infer any other color that Rodman may have had during his career.
I wouldn't count on too much in the way of trying to re-create specific
players, other than perhaps one (like they did with football).
> P.S. has anyone though of any other unique elements that may be
> incorporated into the sets? I'm thinkin’ shorts, obviously a basketball
> (similar to the preexisting soccer ball) a back board & net…and not
> a whole lot else. :(
Well, since football (soccer) players wear shorts also, and they didn't
do anything for them, I wouldn't expect anything for basketball.
Probably not a lot of new parts like you say (I wouldn't even count on a
new ball though it would be preferable of course).
> P.P.s. is it me, or does it seem as though Lego is tryin’
> wayyyyyyyy too hard to appeal to the youth market?
> (skateboards, basketball…what’s next Pokemon)
And why shouldn't they try hard to appeal to the youth market? They are
in the business of making toys after all.
Frank
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.football, Frank Filz writes:
<SNIP>
> And why shouldn't they try hard to appeal to the youth market? They are
> in the business of making toys after all.
>
> Frank
(directed to no one in particular)
Yes, but that is the exact reason we get galidor, bionicle, etc. The AFOLs
are a small minority. Sure, they buy alot more then kids, bet there so
many more kids. Kids tastes have changed, and probablly wouldn't like the
spaceships, houses, and castles of the past. Look at Lego's cataloges, they
are much more flashy, and practiccly every set has paragraphs about all the
cool and wonderfull things they have. Look at racers, look at bionice,
don't you see that Lego, in order to stay in the market, has to do things
that AFOLs (and younger FOLs) might not like? Lego has to strike a medium
between kids and adults, but kids outnumber adults and Lego sets lean alot
more to kids.
I could go on and on...
As for the basketball thing, I doubt Lego will change minifigs for race.
Lego said that yellow was chosen because of its neutrality. I belive it
will stay that way.
I wonder what gimmicks that Lego will make for basketball. I mean, minifigs
can't exactly throw balls, while minifigs can tilt to kick. I wonder.. is
this NBA series going to be like the soccer sets, or more of a model series
John Kruer (who by the way is 12)
John Kruer
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.football, John Henry Kruer writes:
> Lego said that yellow was chosen because of its neutrality.
Remember, yellow was chosen when the only other color choices were red,
blue, white, black, and maybe green. Now there are at least 66 colors
(based on Peeron's color chart) including tan, brown, pink, sand red, maybe
others that could conceivably be skin tones.
Bruce
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
"Richard Noeckel" <Shroud_of_kung_fu@hotmail.com> writes:
> P.S. has anyone though of any other unique elements that may be
> incorporated into the sets? I'm thinkin’ shorts, obviously a basketball
> (similar to the preexisting soccer ball) a back board & net…and not
> a whole lot else. :(
Turn that frown upside down! The last thing we need is more elements
that are useless for anything but the thing they were marketed for!
> P.P.s. is it me, or does it seem as though Lego is tryin’
> wayyyyyyyy too hard to appeal to the youth market?
> (skateboards, basketball…what’s next Pokemon)
Pokemon is (sadly) no longer as popular as it once was. And anyway,
Megablocks had the Pokemon license for construction toys.
--Bill.
--
William R Ward bill@wards.net http://www.wards.net/~bill/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMAZING BUT TRUE: There is so much sand in northern Africa that if it were
spread out it would completely cover the Sahara Desert!
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
> Red hair, don’t forget the *red hair!!!
> *infer any other color that Rodman may have had during his career.
¡Hey! We're talking LEGO here, I want a Rodman set with many colors/styles
of hair so I can change them at whim. Hmmm...purple flattop tody...
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
> LEGO TO MAKE BASKETBALL TOYS FOR NBA
> > In lugnet.football, Aaron Dalan writes:
> > Unless TLC is planning to recreate the NBA of the 40's or something,
LoL @ the 4O's!
(getting’ the old peach basket out!)
> > it looks like we will finally be getting minifigs of color.
This has controversy written -ALL- over it…
I'm surprised nobody had qualms with the
minifigs in the soccer sets. Quite a few
counties have notable ethnic players…
0penin’ a can of worms,
--==Richard==--
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
> --==Richard==-- wrote:
> Quite a few counties have notable ethnic players…
I would think *most* football/soccer teams are *mostly* people of color.
As much as I hate to see LEGO continue to dodge the color issue,
I suspect we'll get more non-ethnic yellow people for basketball also.
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=163265
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.announce, Danny Sullivan writes:
> From Bloomberg News, I read this blurb in Friday's San Francisco Chronicle,
> business section, page 2, column 1:
>
> LEGO TO MAKE BASKETBALL TOYS FOR NBA
>
> New York - Lego A/S, the Danish maker of its namesake plastic toy building
> blocks, will make National Basketball Association-related toys under a
> multiyear agreement with the NBA.
> Terms weren't disclosed. Closely held Lego will introduce a line of Lego
> Sports toys that will include NBA-themed items and Lego Soccer products (DS
> - huh?), company spokesman Michael McNally said. Product details will be
> released later this year, he said.
So much for the slogan "just imagine.....", Look's like Lego has used all
their imagination.
Maybe they'll make NBA dolls like the Galidor dolls.
Jonathan (still longing for bulk packs....)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
Here is a larger blurb from lego.com:
May 31 2002
LEGO COMPANY AND NBA BUILD COMPREHENSIVE GLOBAL ALLIANCE
NEW YORK, MAY 30, 2002 – The LEGO Company and the National Basketball
Association have reached an agreement for a comprehensive multi-year global
merchandising and marketing alliance that connects the world’s most
recognized sports brand among youth with one of the world’s leading toy
brands for children.
As part of the comprehensive agreement, the LEGO Company will use NBA league
and team logos and player attributes in communication materials, retail
promotions, products and packaging. The LEGO Company will launch a
comprehensive global marketing campaign that will incorporate many of the
NBA’s integrated marketing assets, and will have a feature area on NBA.com
called the LEGO Creative Play of the Week. The LEGO Company’s marketing
campaign also will include an interactive area at NBA All-Star Jam Session
and participation in NBA Jam Van – the league’s interactive traveling
basketball experience.
Based on the multicultural appeal of the LEGO® and NBA brands, the LEGO
Company’s various global market operations also will participate in
NBA-sanctioned events and grassroots activities internationally, utilizing
NBA logos, photography and footage in NBA-themed promotions and advertising.
As part of a strategy to become the world’s strongest toy brand among
families with children, the LEGO Company later this year will introduce a
new category of toys called LEGO Sports. The alliance with the NBA, who
represent the global appeal and popularity of basketball among today’s
youth, will lay the foundation for this new category. The LEGO Sports
category translates LEGO values of creativity, imagination and fun into
innovative build-and-compete sports games.
“The NBA is recognized around the world as one of the most popular sports
among today’s youth, so we are confident that this partnership will result
in an increased awareness of and enthusiasm for the LEGO brand,” says Henrik
Poulsen, senior vice president, global brand management for the LEGO
Company. “We are thrilled to work with the NBA, whom we see as a premiere
partner in helping us create the new LEGO Sports category, and believe this
combination of strong brands will create a major wave of excitement among
children,” Poulsen continues.
“LEGO is a very strong brand and we are pleased that our merchandising
business, which is experiencing healthy growth, will gain even more momentum
as a result of this partnership,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern. “We
welcome LEGO as a new NBA marketing partner and they are representative of
the interest the NBA is enjoying from global companies and powerful brands.”
Starting next season, LEGO products will be carried at The NBA Store on
Fifth Avenue in New York City and at The NBA Store on NBA.com.
With 29 teams in the United States and Canada, NBA games and related
programming are broadcast to 210 countries in 42 languages. The NBA is one
of the most popular and profitable sports or entertainment properties in the
licensing world with NBA league and team products in stores across the
globe, on the NBA Store on NBA.com, the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in New
York City, and NBA City in Orlando. The NBA is a recognized leader in sports
marketing maintaining a strong roster of fully integrated domestic and
global marketing partnerships with the most recognizable brands in the
world. For more information on the NBA, visit www.nba.com.
Based in Billund, Denmark, the LEGO Company, family-owned and privately-held
since its founding in 1932, is a world leader in providing quality products
and experiences that stimulate children’s creativity, imagination and
learning through playful activities that encourage hands-on, minds-on
creation, fun, togetherness and sharing of ideas. Company employees are
guided by the motto adopted in the 1930s by founder Ole Kirk Christiansen:
"Only the best is good enough." For more information, visit www.LEGO.com .
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
I see great potential here not only in the NBA agreement but with other sports
as well. Some thoughts...
If the NBA idea is fully exploited we could have all kinds of sets. The most
obvious that comes to mind is all of the teams could be represented. Each
mini-fig torso could be printed with the team logo on the front and the players
number on the back. Each year could see trading packs where as members are
traded from team to team you could upgrade. There's even historical packs like
the olympic teams and the "Dream Teams". You could have sets like different
stadiums and the celebrities (sorry players) cars; Lamborginis, Porsches,
Jaguars. (Maybe Bram will be the next enthusiast taped for a set).
You could have sets that follow the players from their college teams, even
expand to the colleges (theres a lot more college teams than pro teams). You
could have sets that model the homes the stars (sorry atheletes) live in.
When they get into trouble you could have jail and courtroom sets. There might
even be dresses for some of the players and different hair color options, but
that was really only for one player.
Just imagine all of the pieces that you could part the sets out for. If they
had a "signing bonus set" you could finally get all those money tiles you been
wanting (probably in one set). Or perhaps they would come out with a big 2 by 4
tile with a big "signing bonus" check printed on it. The tiles for the
basketball arena would be a great source of dark brown and tan tiles. Imagine
the Celtics parquet floor. Of course, different color tiles would be available
from all the "paint" areas of the court. Put I guess those will probably be
made out of giant BURBs or some other acronym with printing on them.
As for other sports, imagine football (American kind), hockey, baseball,
tennis, and golf. We could finally have sets that model Fenway Park or an ice
arena (that would go great with my artic sets). I have always wanted a brown
bat or a grey club to put in the hands of one of my mini-figs. I was really
tired of using the broom as a poor substitute.
I personnaly can't wait for the swimming sports agreement. I know, I know not
real popular and who do you sign with, but I can dream can't I. I have needed
mini-figs in bathing suits since the first mini-fig was created. And if they
can do swimming then why not water polo or synchronized swimming. Just imagine
a minifig with a swim cap.
Well, I have my fingers crossed that Lego goes all the way with this idea on
the NBA agreement. Hopefully it will lead to more great expansions of the LEGO
Trademark.
Todd
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Still I think that the best sport-sets by LEGO would be the NHL sets! With
all the NHL minifigs, arenas... WOW!
Rene
> If the NBA idea is fully exploited we could have all kinds of sets. The most
> obvious that comes to mind is all of the teams could be represented. Each
> mini-fig torso could be printed with the team logo on the front and the players
> number on the back. Each year could see trading packs where as members are
> traded from team to team you could upgrade. There's even historical packs like
> the olympic teams and the "Dream Teams". You could have sets like different
> stadiums and the celebrities (sorry players) cars; Lamborginis, Porsches,
> Jaguars. (Maybe Bram will be the next enthusiast taped for a set).
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.football, Rene Virsik writes:
> Still I think that the best sport-sets by LEGO would be the NHL sets! With
> all the NHL minifigs, arenas... WOW!
> Rene
YES!I would love to see the great winged wheelnand the JLA.GO WINGS beat the
avs!
>
> > If the NBA idea is fully exploited we could have all kinds of sets. The most
> > obvious that comes to mind is all of the teams could be represented. Each
> > mini-fig torso could be printed with the team logo on the front and the players
> > number on the back. Each year could see trading packs where as members are
> > traded from team to team you could upgrade. There's even historical packs like
> > the olympic teams and the "Dream Teams". You could have sets like different
> > stadiums and the celebrities (sorry players) cars; Lamborginis, Porsches,
> > Jaguars. (Maybe Bram will be the next enthusiast taped for a set).
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
I just want a minifig (American) football helmet you can paint at home to
make your favorite team.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
If they do these sets with minifigs I wonder if this will force LEGO to
address the "race" issue with the figs? If they try to make the figures
after real athletes then I would think so.
jt
In lugnet.announce, Danny Sullivan writes:
> From Bloomberg News, I read this blurb in Friday's San Francisco Chronicle,
> business section, page 2, column 1:
>
> LEGO TO MAKE BASKETBALL TOYS FOR NBA
>
> New York - Lego A/S, the Danish maker of its namesake plastic toy building
> blocks, will make National Basketball Association-related toys under a
> multiyear agreement with the NBA.
> Terms weren't disclosed. Closely held Lego will introduce a line of Lego
> Sports toys that will include NBA-themed items and Lego Soccer products (DS
> - huh?), company spokesman Michael McNally said. Product details will be
> released later this year, he said.
>
>
> Not sure what they meant by the Soccer products statement seeing as the line
> has existed for years already, but that's what it said.
>
> This brings a whole new meaning to the dis "BRICK!", doesn't it?
> Danny
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
I say keep all the minifigs yellow. Don't get into color. As soon as you do
then you will not have enough shades. The shade they use will not be dark
enough or light enough. Also most ethnicities are not color but facial features
as well. Do you print slanted eyes to depict Asians? How do you represent
American Indians or Indonesian people. Representing one or just a few and not
all would infuriate many.
Keep them yellow, way neutral enough for me.
Todd
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.football, Todd Thuma writes:
> I say keep all the minifigs yellow. Don't get into color. As soon as you do
> then you will not have enough shades. The shade they use will not be dark
> enough or light enough. Also most ethnicities are not color but facial features
> as well. Do you print slanted eyes to depict Asians? How do you represent
> American Indians or Indonesian people. Representing one or just a few and not
> all would infuriate many.
Of course, the three that you mentioned have been represented in the Ninja,
Western, and Pirate (Islanders) lines. Or perhaps you were being ironic?
I say make all kinds of colors for heads. They've done it with Duplo,
they've done it with those huge-headed figs from the early-to-mid-70's
(well, they had red ones for American Indians at least). Let's face it,
yellow dates back to the days when there were only 5 or 6 colors available.
Now they have all kinds of colors. Time to move ahead with things.
Bruce
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.football, Bruce Hietbrink writes:
> In lugnet.football, Todd Thuma writes:
> > I say keep all the minifigs yellow. Don't get into color. As soon as you do
> > then you will not have enough shades. The shade they use will not be dark
> > enough or light enough. Also most ethnicities are not color but facial features
> > as well. Do you print slanted eyes to depict Asians? How do you represent
> > American Indians or Indonesian people. Representing one or just a few and not
> > all would infuriate many.
>
>
> Of course, the three that you mentioned have been represented in the Ninja,
> Western, and Pirate (Islanders) lines. Or perhaps you were being ironic?
>
> I say make all kinds of colors for heads. They've done it with Duplo,
> they've done it with those huge-headed figs from the early-to-mid-70's
> (well, they had red ones for American Indians at least). Let's face it,
> yellow dates back to the days when there were only 5 or 6 colors available.
> Now they have all kinds of colors. Time to move ahead with things.
>
> Bruce
The "Yellow is neutral" line of argument is a total farce. Minifigs with
yellow heads look like white, European people. It is as obvious as the nose
in front of your face. Why does TLC make minifigs of every major star wars
figure, and many minor ones, but never a Lando Calrissian or a Mace Windu?
Yellow is not neutral, because think how ridiculous a Mace Windu figure with
a yellow head would be...
Anyway, after reading the extended press release (thanks for posting that),
I am not at all sure that the new NBA legos will have any minifigs as we
know them. My guess is something more like Galidor or more "realistic"
looking poseable sports dolls.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
>
> The "Yellow is neutral" line of argument is a total farce. Minifigs with
> yellow heads look like white, European people.
Last time I checked 'white' European people were not bright Yellow.
> It is as obvious as the nose
> in front of your face. Why does TLC make minifigs of every major star wars
> figure, and many minor ones, but never a Lando Calrissian or a Mace Windu?
> Yellow is not neutral, because think how ridiculous a Mace Windu figure with
> a yellow head would be...
About as ridiculous as the other main characters look in Yellow. Now when TLC
announced that they would be producing Star Wars sets I was hoping that they
would make the mini-figs flesh tones. Instead they chose to make them bright
yellow. I hate double standards. Either all the figs should be yellow or all
the figs should be flesh tones.
>
> Anyway, after reading the extended press release (thanks for posting that),
> I am not at all sure that the new NBA legos will have any minifigs as we
> know them. My guess is something more like Galidor or more "realistic"
> looking poseable sports dolls.
Ick. Why do they not just switch all figs to flesh tones.
-Mike Petrucelli
(Maybe my perspective is skewed. I have never seen minifigs as human, but
rather as aliens from the Plastics Universe.)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.football, Todd Thuma writes:
> I say keep all the minifigs yellow. Don't get into color. As soon as you do
> then you will not have enough shades. The shade they use will not be dark
> enough or light enough. Also most ethnicities are not color but facial features
> as well. Do you print slanted eyes to depict Asians? How do you represent
> American Indians or Indonesian people. Representing one or just a few and not
> all would infuriate many.
>
> Keep them yellow, way neutral enough for me.
>
> Todd
Okay, first of all, think "The Simpons"; Sure, people aren't really yellow,
yet they have designated three or so colors for different ethicities. Lego
should follow suit.
Second - as many colors as Lego currently has, I don't think it would
difficult to introduce three or so colors that can approximate a diversity
of ethicities. I don't even care if they're pink or blue; I mean, isn't
that what that children's show "Doug" does?
Third, I'm getting tired of hearing the whole"Lego yellow is neutral"
argument. That is complete denial. it's easy enough to introduce Steven
Spielberg minifigures or Harry Potter minifigures that are a "neutral"
yellow, but where are the Lando Calrissian or Mace Windu figures, or the
Pele soccer minifigures? Why weren't they introduced in a "neutral" yellow
color? What about The Galidor firgures and the Belville firuges? Are those
a "neutral" flesh tone color?
The fact is, as long as minifigures were simple, generic figures, the
neutral argument could be implemented. But as soon as lego started making
characters that represtented real people, I think even they realized that
yellow is not, in fact, neutral. For everyone who says that race shouldn't
be an issue in children's play, I say you probably haven't been around when
a child asks "Why are there no black minifigures?" It's been an issue for
the last 25 years; it 's just a matter of who you ask...
Chris
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.football, Christopher Snead writes:
>
> Third, I'm getting tired of hearing the whole"Lego yellow is neutral"
> argument. That is complete denial. it's easy enough to introduce Steven
> Spielberg minifigures or Harry Potter minifigures that are a "neutral"
> yellow, but where are the Lando Calrissian or Mace Windu figures, or the
> Pele soccer minifigures?
Well, to be fair, right here:
http://guide.lugnet.com/set/3407 (Spanish, Portuguese)
http://guide.lugnet.com/set/3406 (Brazilian, Mexican, Argentinian)
Even if they don't have a 'fig with Pele's number (which I don't recall off the
top of my head), it's clear that these are not predominantly caucasian teams.
This seems to refute your point above; clearly, these teams are designed to
represent different ethnicities, yet they use the standard yellow minifig.
Maybe producing a bus that comes with Cameroon, Nigerian, and Tunisian flags
would have made the point all that much clearer, but it seems that the yellow
'fig is, for the time being, supposed to represent any/all ethnicities.
-s
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.football, Shaun Sullivan writes:
> In lugnet.football, Christopher Snead writes:
> >
> > Third, I'm getting tired of hearing the whole"Lego yellow is neutral"
> > argument. That is complete denial. it's easy enough to introduce Steven
> > Spielberg minifigures or Harry Potter minifigures that are a "neutral"
> > yellow, but where are the Lando Calrissian or Mace Windu figures, or the
> > Pele soccer minifigures?
>
>
> Well, to be fair, right here:
>
> http://guide.lugnet.com/set/3407 (Spanish, Portuguese)
I'll never be able to understand what went through LEGO designers' heads
when they chose this colour scheme to depict Portugal and Spain: neither
team has this gear, nor even similar ones!
> Even if they don't have a 'fig with Pele's number (which I don't recall off the
> top of my head),
10? (wild guess :-)
> it's clear that these are not predominantly caucasian teams.
Predominantly, they are (I'm referring to .pt and .es alone). But not
exclusively. And it is odd to play a game with the portuguese team and not
include Abel Xavier!
> This seems to refute your point above; clearly, these teams are designed to
> represent different ethnicities, yet they use the standard yellow minifig.
> Maybe producing a bus that comes with Cameroon, Nigerian, and Tunisian flags
> would have made the point all that much clearer, but it seems that the yellow
> 'fig is, for the time being, supposed to represent any/all ethnicities.
(Would there be a considerable market for those teams? That is part of the
reason behind the non-existance of african football sets, IMO)
LEGO has dealt with the racial issue in a very light manner, but what might
have been a clever idea in the beginning has turned now into a source of
embarassment. From the day LEGO chose to do stuff based on "actual" people,
it would have been wise to at least give us the choice of using another
head-colour. I find a bit pointless to make all human fleshtones in ABS, but
I now regard the *option* between yellow and brown as fairly reasonable.
Heck, I'd use lots of them!
Anyway, what was once an Euro-centric toy (well, it *was*), has now evolved
to a much more global one. Globalization for minifigs has come, there in no
need for concern about "the end of the yellow standard".
Just my €.02,
Pedro
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
> Okay, first of all, think "The Simpons"; Sure, people aren't really yellow,
> yet they have designated three or so colors for different ethicities. Lego
> should follow suit.
This is the best example of yellow skinned people we have to date. Using
yellow for just about everyone and an occasional brown or light brown for
those that simply can't be depicted as yellow (ie. people of african
descent, etc) would be a GREAT IDEA! simple, easy, and no need to issue any
sort of statement or whatever.
gosh.
-lenny
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
I am fairly certain that Lego will not change from yellow faces. For one
thing, the yellow face is one of their most famous and endeared trademarks.
Everyone identifies with the smiling yello face. Second, if you look at
Lego.com where the press release is posted, the lego figure displayed on the
link, although computer generated, appears with a yello face. Lastly, I
think the final proof that Lego wouldn't change face color to denote race,
can be seen in evidence of what figures they have released: first, there
were the American Indian minifigs a few years back, all yellow. Then, just
this year, they released a Jango Fett minifig in the Star Wars line--also
yellow.
Granted, all this is supposition, but I really can't forsee Lego altering
face color.
KEith
In lugnet.football, James Trobaugh writes:
> If they do these sets with minifigs I wonder if this will force LEGO to
> address the "race" issue with the figs? If they try to make the figures
> after real athletes then I would think so.
>
> jt
>
>
> In lugnet.announce, Danny Sullivan writes:
> > From Bloomberg News, I read this blurb in Friday's San Francisco Chronicle,
> > business section, page 2, column 1:
> >
> > LEGO TO MAKE BASKETBALL TOYS FOR NBA
> >
> > New York - Lego A/S, the Danish maker of its namesake plastic toy building
> > blocks, will make National Basketball Association-related toys under a
> > multiyear agreement with the NBA.
> > Terms weren't disclosed. Closely held Lego will introduce a line of Lego
> > Sports toys that will include NBA-themed items and Lego Soccer products (DS
> > - huh?), company spokesman Michael McNally said. Product details will be
> > released later this year, he said.
> >
> >
> > Not sure what they meant by the Soccer products statement seeing as the line
> > has existed for years already, but that's what it said.
> >
> > This brings a whole new meaning to the dis "BRICK!", doesn't it?
> > Danny
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.football, James Trobaugh writes:
> If they do these sets with minifigs I wonder if this will force LEGO to
> address the "race" issue with the figs? If they try to make the figures
> after real athletes then I would think so.
>
> jt
> snip<
I think Lego sells a basketball pen with all yellow heads. I'd rather see them
stick to yellow heads, especially in minifig & technic scale. Belville, Duplo,
& the others' flesh colors don't matter to me-- I tend to think of the
Minifigs/Technic as their own "race", for lack of a better word.
Jeff
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
> LEGO TO MAKE BASKETBALL TOYS FOR NBA
>
> New York - Lego A/S, the Danish maker of its namesake plastic toy building
> blocks, will make National Basketball Association-related toys under a
> multiyear agreement with the NBA.
> Terms weren't disclosed. Closely held Lego will introduce a line of Lego
> Sports toys that will include NBA-themed items and Lego Soccer products (DS
> - huh?), company spokesman Michael McNally said. Product details will be
> released later this year, he said.
>
>
> Not sure what they meant by the Soccer products statement seeing as the line
> has existed for years already, but that's what it said.
>
> This brings a whole new meaning to the dis "BRICK!", doesn't it?
> Danny
EXCELLENT job AGAIN Lego with your marketing strategies (starting with eBay
auctions and now the NBA) . You continue to expand the Lego name in today's
ever-growing consumer society. eBay helped a lot and now with the expansion
toward the NBA and previously Major League Soccer and World Cup Soccer I
can't help but see the great potential this can have. You are getting more
and more audiences involved, which is great. I'm looking forward to seeing
what other major corporations you will end up joining with in the future.
Again, great job Lego. Very impressive! :-)
Brendan
Duck360198@aol.com
Brendan
| | | | | | |
