| |
Hello mecha friends. I have not seen anyone from build.mecha
(forgive me if someone did and I missed it) talk about the new
theme. I am digging a lot of the parts used but I am not sure
about the minifigs and the design. I am not pro or against it yet
so I would like to hear what my fello mecha builders think
I am picking up one for Christmas so I should be able to give more
of an opinion.
Lets take it to off-topic.
Regards,
David.
|
|
| |
In lugnet.build.mecha, David Rabadan wrote:
| |
Hello mecha friends. I have not seen anyone from build.mecha
(forgive me if someone did and I missed it) talk about the new
theme. I am digging a lot of the parts used but I am not sure
about the minifigs and the design. I am not pro or against it yet
so I would like to hear what my fello mecha builders think
I am picking up one for Christmas so I should be able to give more
of an opinion.
Lets take it to off-topic.
Regards,
David.
|
Errrr...I’d say any support from lego for mecha is good! The model out of the
bunch that I like the best is the transformable white flight type. Those wings
would be handy for building something like a Murasame from Gundam Seed Destiny.
The others, i’d say to pass on, but its whatever your into!
Howard
|
|
| |
(Impressions based on photos found at:
http://www.millionaireplayboy.com/toys/legoexoforce.php - I couldn't get the
Flash on LEGO.com to work properly)
I'm on the negative side on this one.
The models (in my opinion) are not that good - essentially a skeleton with some
weapons added, and a lot of printed pieces. The designs are pretty ugly too, but
your opinion may, of course, vary.
The bronze-colored figures look like cheap run-of-the-mill unpainted generic
plastic action figures made in China to pseudo-resemble and profiteer on the
latest kid fad. Yes, they're that horrible.
On the plus side, I do like the anime-styled minifigures a lot. I just wished
they could've made the models look more anime, too. It is completely possible,
I've seen a lot of awesome anime-looking stuff from fellow AFOLs.
I'll probably pick one up regardless, to see what I think.
As a side note, I noted that the chest gun on the 7702 Thunder Fury looks
awfully similar to this (by me...):
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=742276
I am secretely pleased. :) (ssh, don't mention that [insert AFOL] has done that
for years - let me bask in my percieved glory as inspiration for an official set
;) )
-- Tobias
In lugnet.build.mecha, David Rabadan wrote:
> Hello mecha friends. I have not seen anyone from build.mecha¬
> (forgive me if someone did and I missed it) talk about the new¬
> theme. I am digging a lot of the parts used but I am not sure¬
> about the minifigs and the design. I am not pro or against it yet¬
> so I would like to hear what my fello mecha builders think¬
> I am picking up one for Christmas so I should be able to give more¬
> of an opinion.¬
> Lets take it to off-topic.¬
> Regards,¬
> David.
|
|
| |
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Tobias Möller wrote:
> (Impressions based on photos found at:
> http://www.millionaireplayboy.com/toys/legoexoforce.php - I couldn't get the
> Flash on LEGO.com to work properly)
>
> I'm on the negative side on this one.
>
> The models (in my opinion) are not that good - essentially a skeleton with
> some weapons added, and a lot of printed pieces. The designs are pretty ugly
> too, but your opinion may, of course, vary.
>
> The bronze-colored figures look like cheap run-of-the-mill unpainted generic
> plastic action figures made in China to pseudo-resemble and profiteer on the
> latest kid fad. Yes, they're that horrible.
Just perusing these forums and this post caught my eye.
I'm in agreement with you concerning the models - it seems like lego hired
another crew of set designers to pull off this theme - the model designs look
rather generic and rushed, and the anime influence doesn't seem to pull it
together.
I think if they scrapped the pop-culture musings and went with something based
on reality (think real-world, military inspired designs, or something along the
line from what you would expect out of metal gear) then the designs would be
more attractive and believable. Also, some consistency on the color palette
would help (instead of five colours, stick with two.)
There seems to be an abundance of specialty pieces too - from what I've seen
here (and at school) is that the best designs are achieved through simplicity
and consistency - and lots of sketches : )
Overall, I am not impressed by this new theme. Lego needs to re-examine its
design work and look back to what the company was doing in the 80's in terms of
set design if they want to make their product shine.
No fads - they need to just deliver a high quality product.
They have not received my business for a couple of years because of this.
- Matt A. Hein
|
|
| |
Hello, David-
This is a great topic on which I’d love to hear what the Mecha HOFers think, but
this isn’t appropriate for OT.debate. OT.debate is for topics other than
LEGO-- such as politics, name-calling, and of course, the existence of God:-)
It is perfectly fine to bandy about the merits of a theme in its home NG-- that
is why it is there! If that is not satisfactory, .general is almost always a
safe haven for any LEGO topic.
You are welcome to participate here in OT.debate, just please stay on-topic
(by not mentioning the “L” word;-)
JOHN
In lugnet.build.mecha, David Rabadan wrote:
| |
Hello mecha friends. I have not seen anyone from build.mecha
(forgive me if someone did and I missed it) talk about the new
theme. I am digging a lot of the parts used but I am not sure
about the minifigs and the design. I am not pro or against it yet
so I would like to hear what my fello mecha builders think
I am picking up one for Christmas so I should be able to give more
of an opinion.
Lets take it to off-topic.
Regards,
David.
|
@@
|
|
| |
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, John Neal wrote:
| |
Hello, David-
OT.debate is for topics other than LEGO-- such as politics, name-calling
|
Or a colorful mix of the two, a la John Neal is a Conservative poopy-head.
Dave!
|
|
| |
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, John Neal wrote:
| |
Hello, David-
This is a great topic on which I’d love to hear what the Mecha HOFers think,
but this isn’t appropriate for OT.debate. OT.debate is for topics other
than LEGO-- such as politics, name-calling, and of course, the existence of
God:-) It is perfectly fine to bandy about the merits of a theme in its home
NG-- that is why it is there! If that is not satisfactory, .general is
almost always a safe haven for any LEGO topic.
You are welcome to participate here in OT.debate, just please stay on-topic
(by not mentioning the “L” word;-)
JOHN
|
Hi John. Thanks for the suggestions. I will take it back to build.mecha.
And, oh yeah, John is a conservative poopie-head.
LOL
|
|
| |
In lugnet.build.mecha, David Rabadan wrote:
| |
And, oh yeah, John is a conservative poopie-head.
|
Again I must remind you to stay on-topic: all poopie-head attacks belong in
off-topic;-)
JOHN
|
|
| |
In lugnet.build.mecha, David Rabadan wrote:
| |
Hi John. Thanks for the suggestions. I will take it back to build.mecha.
And, oh yeah, John is a conservative poopie-head.
LOL
|
Shouldn’t that be “Acting Admin John is a conservative poopie-head.“?
:)
a
|
|
| |
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Dave Schuler wrote:
| |
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, John Neal wrote:
| |
Hello, David-
OT.debate is for topics other than LEGO-- such as politics, name-calling
|
Or a colorful mix of the two, a la John Neal is a Conservative
poopy-head.
|
Hmm... No rebuttal in close to 24 hours. That sounds like an implicit
acknowledgement if ever I heard one.
Dave!
|
|
| |
Having found some of these sets already in my local Toymaster store I'd like to
comment on a couple of points raised.
> In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Tobias Möller wrote:
>
> The models (in my opinion) are not that good - essentially a skeleton with
> some weapons added, and a lot of printed pieces. The designs are pretty ugly
> too, but your opinion may, of course, vary.
Actually there are no printed pieces in any of the sets I've bought (7700, 7702,
7708 and 7711). It's all done with stickers. This may increase their usefulness
as a source of parts for Mecha builders.
> In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Matt Hein wrote:
>
> I'm in agreement with you concerning the models - it seems like lego hired
> another crew of set designers to pull off this theme - the model designs look
> rather generic and rushed, and the anime influence doesn't seem to pull it
> together.
Rushed is the word! Two of four sets I've got have additional errata sheets with
their instruction manuals. In the case of 7708, the two parts that are replaced
mean that is now impossible to build the alternative model as illustrated! I
might be persuaded to post some reviews and pics when I get some time.
As for me... despite all their flaws I'm still positive about this. As a long
time Anime fan I love the whole idea and the new minifigs. In my own mind I
never see a set just as it is, but always in respect of it's MOC potential. And
whatever you say about the nasty bronze robots, their arms make the most
fantastic Mecha fingers, as you can see if you look closely at the white mecha
in the Gate Assault set (7705).
Cheers,
Paul.
|
|
| |
In lugnet.off-topic.fun, Dave Schuler wrote:
| |
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Dave Schuler wrote:
| |
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, John Neal wrote:
| |
Hello, David-
OT.debate is for topics other than LEGO-- such as politics, name-calling
|
Or a colorful mix of the two, a la John Neal is a Conservative
poopy-head.
|
Hmm... No rebuttal in close to 24 hours. That sounds like an implicit
acknowledgement if ever I heard one.
|
lol This vicious attack somehow flew below my radar, Dave! What a cruel way to
say “Happy Birthday”.
JOHN
|
|
| |
In lugnet.build.mecha, Allister McLaren wrote:
| |
In lugnet.build.mecha, David Rabadan wrote:
| |
Hi John. Thanks for the suggestions. I will take it back to build.mecha.
And, oh yeah, John is a conservative poopie-head.
LOL
|
Shouldn’t that be “Acting Admin John is a conservative poopie-head.“?
|
That’s “Mister Acting Admin John is a conservative poopie-head” to you, pal.
Mind your F-Ups, Al;-)
JOHN
|
|
| |
In lugnet.off-topic.fun, John Neal wrote:
| |
In lugnet.off-topic.fun, Dave Schuler wrote:
| |
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Dave Schuler wrote:
| |
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, John Neal wrote:
| |
Hello, David-
OT.debate is for topics other than LEGO-- such as politics, name-calling
|
Or a colorful mix of the two, a la John Neal is a Conservative
poopy-head.
|
Hmm... No rebuttal in close to 24 hours. That sounds like an implicit
acknowledgement if ever I heard one.
|
lol This vicious attack somehow flew below my radar, Dave! What a cruel way
to say “Happy Birthday”.
|
LOL! To me, the funny part is that it must have seemed as though Dave Rabadan
and Allister were calling you a poopie-head for no obvious reason!
Happy 29th, by the way!
Dave!
|
|
| |
In lugnet.off-topic.fun, Dave Schuler wrote:
| |
In lugnet.off-topic.fun, John Neal wrote:
|
| |
| |
lol This vicious attack somehow flew below my radar, Dave! What a cruel way
to say “Happy Birthday”.
|
LOL! To me, the funny part is that it must have seemed as though Dave
Rabadan and Allister were calling you a poopie-head for no obvious reason!
|
Well, I admit that Dave’s initial, uh, assessment of my cranial contents sorta
surprised me. Al’s piling on wasn’t unexpected;-)
Thanks. Sheesh-- that’s almost a few decades late! :-/ :-)
JOHN
|
|
| |
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Tobias Möller wrote:
| |
(Impressions based on photos found at:
http://www.millionaireplayboy.com/toys/legoexoforce.php - I couldn’t get the
Flash on LEGO.com to work properly)
I’m on the negative side on this one.
The models (in my opinion) are not that good - essentially a skeleton with
some weapons added, and a lot of printed pieces. The designs are pretty ugly
too, but your opinion may, of course, vary.
|
Well, the germans are always late with LEGO. We’ll get the sets in february. So
I can only argue due to pics I’ve already seen in the net. I agree to Tobias,
the models are much worse than I expected, when I heard there would be a mecha
series.
But still I like the idea of an anime combined with Lego sets.
| |
The bronze-colored figures look like cheap run-of-the-mill unpainted generic
plastic action figures made in China to pseudo-resemble and profiteer on the
latest kid fad. Yes, they’re that horrible.
|
Here I totally disagree. The robots are my favs. All of the body parts should
give good pieces for small creations. And, hey they are robots!
| |
On the plus side, I do like the anime-styled minifigures a lot.
|
Yeah, they’re cool too. But the robots are my favs. Did I mention that before?
| |
I just wished
they could’ve made the models look more anime, too. It is completely possible,
I’ve seen a lot of awesome anime-looking stuff from fellow AFOLs.
|
I did a quick afternoon build of about three hours. Just trying to build what I
thought the mecha would/should look like. Used some unliked colores, because
they were at hand.
And this is the result:
Well it’s not very good, but still looks better than those skeletons from TLC,
IMHO.
| |
I’ll probably pick one up regardless, to see what I think.
|
Me too. I’m curious on the lightable brick for power up. And I want to have a
robot. Did I say, they’re my favs.
| |
As a side note, I noted that the chest gun on the 7702 Thunder Fury looks
awfully similar to this (by me...):
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=742276
I am secretely pleased. :) (ssh, don’t mention that insert AFOL has done
that for years - let me bask in my percieved glory as inspiration for an
official set ;) )
|
Praise to you, Tobias. But I saw that gun on several occasions. And even did it
myself from time to time.
It’s a good one!
Marco
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|
| |
snippage throughout
| |
Well, the germans are always late with LEGO. We’ll get the sets in february.
|
I just ordered mine through S/H. So I’ll probably get them sometime next week.
Germans are usually late with LEGO? That seems so, wrong.
| |
But still I like the idea of an anime combined with Lego sets.
|
Which is the one really huge selling point for me. I think that this first run
of Exo-force is rushed (seems so hastily put together) the models are not very
refined looking.
I think LEGO would do well to collect a few Mecha LEGO builders and ask for some
pointers. The robots look ok, but as per Marco’s rather fabulouso examples
below, awesome looking mechas can be easy to do, and not terribly part heavy.
| |
| |
The bronze-colored figures look like cheap run-of-the-mill unpainted generic
plastic action figures made in China to pseudo-resemble and profiteer on the
latest kid fad. Yes, they’re that horrible.
|
Here I totally disagree. The robots are my favs. All of the body parts should
give good pieces for small creations. And, hey they are robots!
|
Bah, I’m with Marco, the Robots, regardless of color, are some of the best parts
of these sets.
more snippage
Here are those righteous examples.
| |
I did a quick afternoon build of about three hours. Just trying to build what
I thought the mecha would/should look like. Used some unliked colores,
because they were at hand.
And this is the result:
Well it’s not very good, but still looks better than those skeletons from
TLC, IMHO.
|
No, not polished but much ‘mechier’ looking than the exo-force sets.
snip, snip, snip
I really, really hope LEGO moves forward with Exo-force.
Other thoughts:
The marbling parts have got to go. I got the big fans from the hover ship and
was rather dissapointed when they were marbled. Solid color please.
The real challenge is to seperate the Exo-force style from any prior competition
brand mecha sets (my memory seems to think these are somewhat similar to other
sets I’ve seen before). This is where I think enlisting help from mecha
community could be a massive help. Soren KNOWS, and I mean this, KNOWS his
mecha. He alone could keep LEGO from wandering into stylistic copyright
infringement territory. Others in the commuinty could help with tips on
what-makes-a-mecha-hot. Huge potential, refine, refine, refine.
The little robots are awesome. I predict space will have new greebling parts
very soon.
I like the anime hair. I’m just dissapointed that they’re kinda rare. I hope
the hair finds use as alien plants, lighting effects (trans?) or other
possiblities.
I’ll probably have more thourough feelings on Exoforce once I get the robot
sets. Ask again in about a week or two.
Mark
|
|
| |
(Posting to both .mecha and .debate now, since the post contains the L-word, but
it’s actually more of a .debate topic... follow-up as you see fit)
Another thing I wanted to comment on in my previous reply, but forgot to include
because I was busy constructing a long sentence declaring how awful I found
those little robots, was the abundance of weapons in these new sets. (by the
way, it’s the metallic plastic, not the design itself, which IMO makes the
minibots seem awful)
In the past, LEGO was quoted as saying something like “we will never make sets
with modern weapons of war” (thus excluding things like the Western rifles or
Pirate guns). Machine guns and rockets seem, to me, to break that “rule”, and I
don’t really like it.
LEGO has a history of making “peaceful” toys, and that is something I (and I
believe many others) have valued. To see them finally give in to some sort of
“demand” of violent toys is a bit sad. (I don’t consider things like police
stations - which obviously exist only because there are criminals in the LEGO
cities - to be “violent” in the same way as a rocket launcher)
On the other hand, I myself and countless others have built realistic weapons
out of LEGO, and I have never seen anything wrong with that. I have drooled over
some of the really awesome mechas and spaceships armed with huge, detailed
weapons. But then it’s the fans doing it, not the company itself.
I guess it just felt good to know that at least one company stood up and had a
more peaceful message than most other.
Any comments?
-- Tobias
|
|
| |
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Tobias Möller wrote:
| |
(Posting to both .mecha and .debate now, since the post contains the L-word,
but it’s actually more of a .debate topic... follow-up as you see fit)
Another thing I wanted to comment on in my previous reply, but forgot to
include because I was busy constructing a long sentence declaring how awful I
found those little robots, was the abundance of weapons in these new sets.
(by the way, it’s the metallic plastic, not the design itself, which IMO
makes the minibots seem awful)
In the past, LEGO was quoted as saying something like “we will never make
sets with modern weapons of war” (thus excluding things like the Western
rifles or Pirate guns). Machine guns and rockets seem, to me, to break that
“rule”, and I don’t really like it.
LEGO has a history of making “peaceful” toys, and that is something I (and I
believe many others) have valued. To see them finally give in to some sort of
“demand” of violent toys is a bit sad. (I don’t consider things like police
stations - which obviously exist only because there are criminals in the LEGO
cities - to be “violent” in the same way as a rocket launcher)
On the other hand, I myself and countless others have built realistic weapons
out of LEGO, and I have never seen anything wrong with that. I have drooled
over some of the really awesome mechas and spaceships armed with huge,
detailed weapons. But then it’s the fans doing it, not the company itself.
I guess it just felt good to know that at least one company stood up and had
a more peaceful message than most other.
Any comments?
-- Tobias
|
I agree 100% with you Tobias.
I am greatly disappointed that LEGO is caving in and selling toys that resemble
modern weaponry.
Some will think that I am a hypocrite for saying that, as I myself build nothing
but military-themed creations.
Nevertheless, as you said, Tobias, there’s a difference between what the fan
does and what the company does.
Also, another reason why this bothers me is because it takes the challenge out
of building military models. The day that LEGO starts making parts that look
like 120mm Rheinmetall cannons, or 20mm Vulcan gatling guns is the day that I
stop building military models.
I just love all the new uses LEGO builders (especially over at build.mecha and
.space) have found for relatively mundane LEGO parts.
Kotaro Ono’s guns, made
entirely of minifig tools and equipment, led me, like others, to re-examine what
was possible with parts. Subsequently, I came up with stuff like
this,
composed entirely of minifig tools.
It’s this kind of creativity that will be lost once LEGO starts churning out
1-piece, molded M16s and AK47s.
Hopefully it’ll never come to that. I sincerely hope TLG sticks to non-military
models.
Mladen Pejic
|
|
| |
In lugnet.build.mecha, Mladen Pejic wrote:
| |
I came up with stuff like
this,
composed entirely of minifig tools.
|
Hey, that’s pretty nifty. I’m curious, though--why did you go with the
odd-color minifig hand rather than a black one?
Dave!
|
|
| |
In lugnet.build.mecha, Dave Schuler wrote:
| |
In lugnet.build.mecha, Mladen Pejic wrote:
| |
I came up with stuff like
this,
composed entirely of minifig tools.
|
Hey, that’s pretty nifty. I’m curious, though--why did you go with the
odd-color minifig hand rather than a black one?
Dave!
|
Thanks Dave!
The minifig hand I used was from a C3PO. I found that the colour nicely
simulated the amber colour of translucent plastic magazines used by certain
armed forces nowadays.
For example, the Steyr AUG and
HK G36 are often seen with these types
of magazines. From what I’ve read, the advantage of these magazines over metal
ones is several:
1) they don’t clank when they’re dropped
2) they don’t bend if they hit something
3) you can see the number of bullets you have left
4) they’re lighter
Recently I’ve been using sand green minifig hands to simulate a solid plastic
magazine, just to “shake things up”. :-)
Mladen Pejic
|
|
| |
In lugnet.build.mecha, Mladen Pejic wrote:
| |
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Tobias Möller wrote:
| |
(Posting to both .mecha and .debate now, since the post contains the L-word,
but it’s actually more of a .debate topic... follow-up as you see fit)
Another thing I wanted to comment on in my previous reply, but forgot to
include because I was busy constructing a long sentence declaring how awful
I found those little robots, was the abundance of weapons in these new sets.
(by the way, it’s the metallic plastic, not the design itself, which IMO
makes the minibots seem awful)
In the past, LEGO was quoted as saying something like “we will never make
sets with modern weapons of war” (thus excluding things like the Western
rifles or Pirate guns). Machine guns and rockets seem, to me, to break that
“rule”, and I don’t really like it.
LEGO has a history of making “peaceful” toys, and that is something I (and I
believe many others) have valued. To see them finally give in to some sort
of “demand” of violent toys is a bit sad. (I don’t consider things like
police stations - which obviously exist only because there are criminals in
the LEGO cities - to be “violent” in the same way as a rocket launcher)
On the other hand, I myself and countless others have built realistic
weapons out of LEGO, and I have never seen anything wrong with that. I have
drooled over some of the really awesome mechas and spaceships armed with
huge, detailed weapons. But then it’s the fans doing it, not the company
itself.
I guess it just felt good to know that at least one company stood up and had
a more peaceful message than most other.
Any comments?
-- Tobias
|
I agree 100% with you Tobias.
I am greatly disappointed that LEGO is caving in and selling toys that
resemble modern weaponry.
Some will think that I am a hypocrite for saying that, as I myself build
nothing but military-themed creations.
Nevertheless, as you said, Tobias, there’s a difference between what the fan
does and what the company does.
Also, another reason why this bothers me is because it takes the challenge
out of building military models. The day that LEGO starts making parts that
look like 120mm Rheinmetall cannons, or 20mm Vulcan gatling guns is the day
that I stop building military models.
I just love all the new uses LEGO builders (especially over at build.mecha
and .space) have found for relatively mundane LEGO parts.
Kotaro Ono’s guns, made
entirely of minifig tools and equipment, led me, like others, to re-examine
what was possible with parts. Subsequently, I came up with stuff like
this,
composed entirely of minifig tools.
It’s this kind of creativity that will be lost once LEGO starts churning out
1-piece, molded M16s and AK47s.
Hopefully it’ll never come to that. I sincerely hope TLG sticks to
non-military models.
Mladen Pejic
|
Mladen, Tobias,
I fully concur. (And I was wondering when such a post would surface... ;-)
I first saw the Stealth Hunter on the back of the (latest?) LEGO Magazine a
couple weeks back. I was quite amazed and in awe: I thought to myself, “That
looks so cool” but at the same time “I guess LEGO has gone and broken their own
rules.”
I was aware of their stance on imitating “modern weaponry” in their
sets, so as to why we would never see WWI or WWII or anything beyond that.
Pirates and cowboys are more “whimsical” (then why didn’t you go for the LOTR
license dang nabbit!?! LOTR!!!...i digress). Space ships (and much of Star Wars)
are bound to have lasers and other types of “guns” but those fall under the
realm of “fantasy” so they are acceptable. We are all aware that there is more
contemporary realism with those type of weapons than TLC would like to admit,
but it’s on the hush. And the kids (aka target market) have to love it (yes, we
AFOLs love ‘em too but the kids are the main audience and their belief systems
have yet to be thoroughly formed).
However, I think the staunch stance that TLC
has maintained—until this point—about not pursuing modern weaponry, and
remaining “peaceful” with their product lines, has been admired by various
segments of the community, as you both have said. It seems that for them to
“jump on the bandwagon” now is rather brash and insconsiderate.
However, I also understand that TLC has to offer new product lines (and adhere
to some fads and/or trends in this crazy world) and delve into areas of
unfamiliar territory, so I can respect the fact that they ventured into anime. I
just do not know if it makes it “right” for them to sell big ol’ bazookas and
whatnot as a result. I guess the ethical issue is whether to change a belief or
adapt to meet new tastes?
Perhaps, though, a compromise could be worked out.
Would the situation be any different (more or less acceptable) if TLC offered
construction tips for “suppin up” their mechas? What if they showed possible
designs on the instruction booklet but not on the box art? Does that make things
any better? ...Or... Does a disclaimer citing a given product line’s origination
(comic/tv show/etc...I could not tell if Exo-Force was LEGO-designed, ala Alpha
Team, or more of a license) and story make it more acceptable for LEGO to
include weapons of a modern nature? Or should they not offer any products that
violate their up-until-now consistent stance? Comments...?
There is a difference between what the fan does and what the Company does, so
maybe in this case a compromise would be the next iteration of the My Own
Creation series with one of the esteemed mecha builders’ creations being used
(e.g. Soren or Eric Sophie). I have talked to Eric before about a meeting he had
with TLC about his mecha (which, despite biting remarks, have remained peaceful)
and the possibility of a fan’s mecha for the MOC incarnation is not out of the
question. Then again, I am not sure if the Company offering a fan’s design of
modern weaponry would remedy the situation, as it would still be crossing the
line and marketing big guns to little kids, another reason LEGO has ventured
away from this path, in my humble opinion, because of the correlations between
video games and juvenile violence.
I am a bit torn, overall, on this debate. Last year LEGO did not do so hot, as
we are all aware *cough* color issue *cough*, so they definitely are looking
to expand into new market segments and capture new audiences in order to regain
(and maintain) a profit. Exo-Force looks like it might be a key player in that
schema. One thing I do know is that the Stealth Hunter was a set I (23-year
old AFOL) bought (picked up one Saturday) to actually build and not simply use
for certain parts; that is something I have not done in some time. (I actually
have not set aside the time to build it yet but the Wasp model—instructions
offered via the not-yet-debuted website—looks more enticing than the mecha; I’ll
probably build the mecha but i think the Wasp may end up remaining intact.)
I guess that’s all I have to say about that.
Sincerely,
Andrew
ps - Kudos on the “anime” hair and the clear stickers as opposed to printed
bricks (the quantity here makes the stickers more desirable, in my humble
opinion, for quality and the ability to opt not to use them, especially with
various curves and wedges within one color within one set).
pss - I too dread the day when LEGO produces molded, modern weapons, as
innovations and creative parts usage, by someone like Kotaro Ono definitely
excite and inspire. LEGO, please just keep making nifty minifig tools and
gizmos.
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In lugnet.build.mecha, Mladen Pejic wrote:
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In lugnet.build.mecha, Dave Schuler wrote:
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In lugnet.build.mecha, Mladen Pejic wrote:
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I came up with stuff like
this,
composed entirely of minifig tools.
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Hey, that’s pretty nifty. I’m curious, though--why did you go with the
odd-color minifig hand rather than a black one?
Dave!
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Thanks Dave!
The minifig hand I used was from a C3PO. I found that the colour nicely
simulated the amber colour of translucent plastic magazines used by certain
armed forces nowadays.
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Neat-o. That makes sense, but I’ll warn you--be ready to answer that question a
lot! I imagine that I’ve seen plastic magazines in movies, but I’ve never
noticed. To my layman’s expectation, the magazine is the same black as the gun,
and I imagine that lots of my fellow rubes think the same.
Thanks for the info!
Dave!
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There are over 550 million firearms in worldwide circulation.
That’s one firearm for every 12 people on the planet.
The only question is: how do we arm the other 11?
--- Yuri Orlov / LORD OF WAR
Hello friends.
I have almost same impression for the “Gun-Running” of TLC.
I can not express very well the reason why knight’s swords and pirate’s
cutlasses are O.K. but machineguns and missiles are NOT. Those are same in that
weapons people fight with to save his familiy, country, pride, or life. So I
can’t do why a canon is okay but a bazooka is not.
Neverthless, I’ve admired and respected the policy TLC holding on to until
recently, so I really disappointed these new products at this point. I have
still clung to a delusion that LEGO is STELLER EDUCATIONAL TOY, thus I could not
hide my disappoint to see TLC gladly and proudly produced
Awful-Exo-Force-Heavy-Weapon-Arms.
What ?
Do you wanna ask me Japanese LEGO fans’ reaction for this problem ?
Okay.
At the end of last year, some of my friends told me in anger...
“Hey, hey, hey, Kotaro ! You should post LUGNET NOW !
And tell AFOL that...
WE WONDER TLC really believes those UGLY-HEAVY-CONSTRUCTION-MACHINES as
ANIME-MECHS !!!!?”
Hmmmmm, I must report Japanese may have a little different view point from you,
friends. :-)
HAPPY NEW YEAR
EARL-0 / Kotaro Ono
P.S.
By the bye, Thank you to remember my modern weapons built a long ago.
It may be not a bad idea that I will offer many guns-designs to S@H if THE LEGO
FACTORY would go on well. Hehehe.....B-p
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http://64.34.172.56/g/albums/Lego/Batman/7781prod1.jpg
Then.
TLC would have no intention to hear our voices or recieve our messages.
Okay, Welcome to our “innocent” world, Minifigs.
Now declare war.
B-(
Peace. For both Worlds ---Earth and Legoland.
Kotaro Ono/EARL0
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In lugnet.build.mecha, Andrew Saada wrote:
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One thing I do know is that the Stealth Hunter was a
set I (23-year old AFOL) bought (picked up one Saturday) to actually
build and not simply use for certain parts; that is something I have not
done in some time. (I actually have not set aside the time to build it yet
but the Wasp model—instructions offered via the not-yet-debuted website—looks
more enticing than the mecha; I’ll probably build the mecha but i think the
Wasp may end up remaining intact.)
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There seems to be a building instructions section now up on the Exo-Force
website. There are no instructions for the Stealth Wasp yet, but there are
several pictures including a rear view which should give you enough info to put
it together.
I’m itching to build the Wasp, but can’t at the moment since many of the parts
are being used in my IRON MECHA entry. Doh!
With regard to weapons debate, “No war toys” was an ideal expressed by Lego’s
founder, and since he passed on, the company’s position seems to have changed.
The policy was broken when they started making muskets and cannons for the
Pirates range and possibly even as far back as the ray-gun piece in Classic
Space. Any pretense of sticking to that policy was certainly blown out of the
water by the Star Wars license and this:
http://shop.lego.com/product.asp?p=7477&cn=236&d=7&t=3 - and I don’t think you
can get around it by saying it’s just fantasy. A gun is a gun. Does anyone know
what Lego’s official position currently is? I don’t recall seeing any press
releases on the subject.
My own position is that I don’t mind them making this stuff so long as it’s not
the only thing they produce. What originally fired up me about Lego when I was a
child was I could build things I saw around me: huge construction machinery,
trains, planes and automobiles etc, and it’s good to see a return to this in the
City range. And what’s wrong with a little military tech too? Don’t our minifigs
deserve to defend their way of life against evil agressors? ;)
Cheers, Paul.
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In lugnet.build.mecha, Paul Cook wrote:
I wouldn’t exactly call Tommy Guns modern. They were obselete by the time WWII
began. They are from around the same period as the Adventures guns so not really
a new period at all.
Tim
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In lugnet.build.mecha, Timothy Gould wrote:
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In lugnet.build.mecha, Paul Cook wrote:
I wouldn’t exactly call Tommy Guns modern. They were obselete by the time
WWII began. They are from around the same period as the Adventures guns so
not really a new period at all.
Tim
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Maybe not the tommy-gun, but in the other hand of both minifigs is a very modern
looking pistol.
Cheers, Paul.
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