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In lugnet.cad, Jake McKee writes:
> In (or around) June we will be releasing the latest and best
> version, tentatively codenamed "LEGO Digital Designer."
Is this the program announced three years ago?
"And in 2002, we will begin a program
where LEGO builders will be able to build any three dimensional creation using
free software to create building instructions for their model - and then order
the appropriate number and type of bricks," says Torben Ballegaard Sørensen.
(quoted from this December 2000 post
http://news.lugnet.com/lego/announce/?n=24 , and thanks Suz for copying it,
the URL you mentioned in the post no longer contains this release)
It's very disappointing that now, a year past the release date, we are being
told of the software, but get no mention of the ordering service T.B.S.
promised. Is this the future of Lego? It seems that lately Lego is very
happy to solicit market research and make secret deals with developers, but
we end users and consumers get only empty promises.
Last year, I remembered that Press release from December 2000 and posted a
check-up message in lugnet.lego.direct
(http://news.lugnet.com/lego/direct/?n=4443) asking for an update. Has it
taken Lego a full year to formulate a response?
Disillusioned customer,
Ben Roller
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In lugnet.cad, Ben Roller writes:
> In lugnet.cad, Jake McKee writes:
> > In (or around) June we will be releasing the latest and best
> > version, tentatively codenamed "LEGO Digital Designer."
>
> Is this the program announced three years ago?
>
> "And in 2002, we will begin a program
> where LEGO builders will be able to build any three dimensional creation using
> free software to create building instructions for their model - and then order
> the appropriate number and type of bricks," says Torben Ballegaard Sørensen.
Oooh. I had forgotten about that. If this option of ordering the elements
needed for a design were included in the package, I would suddenly develop a
better liking for CAD... :)
> (quoted from this December 2000 post
> http://news.lugnet.com/lego/announce/?n=24 , and thanks Suz for copying it,
> the URL you mentioned in the post no longer contains this release)
>
> It's very disappointing that now, a year past the release date, we are being
> told of the software, but get no mention of the ordering service T.B.S.
> promised. Is this the future of Lego? It seems that lately Lego is very
> happy to solicit market research and make secret deals with developers, but
> we end users and consumers get only empty promises.
Software in general, as I have noticed, tends to be fraught with delays and
postponements of release dates. The film industry does this a lot too.
Yet, I don't hear people complaining of empty promises from those industries
(except when they rush the development and end up with a product full of
bugs and low quality. I'd rather wait if it means better results.).
> Last year, I remembered that Press release from December 2000 and posted a
> check-up message in lugnet.lego.direct
> (http://news.lugnet.com/lego/direct/?n=4443) asking for an update. Has it
> taken Lego a full year to formulate a response?
>
> Disillusioned customer,
> Ben Roller
It is unfortunate, but I don't think TLC has the resources to answer every
question directly, especially not questions posted on a third-party board
(Lugnet). Of course, I shouldn't be speaking for them, rather just
paraphrasing things I have heard before. As a fellow fan, I am sorry you
feel disillusioned, and I do understand your reasoning. But until I see the
product, I will be hopefull that things will turn out for the better.
-Hendo
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In lugnet.cad, Ben Roller writes:
> "And in 2002, we will begin a program
> where LEGO builders will be able to build any three dimensional creation
> using free software to create building instructions for their model - and
> then order the appropriate number and type of bricks," says Torben
> Ballegaard Sørensen.
>
> (quoted from this December 2000 post
> http://news.lugnet.com/lego/announce/?n=24 , and thanks Suz for copying
> it, the URL you mentioned in the post no longer contains this release)
>
> It's very disappointing that now, a year past the release date, we are
> being told of the software, but get no mention of the ordering service
> T.B.S. promised. Is this the future of Lego? It seems that lately Lego
> is very happy to solicit market research and make secret deals with
> developers, but we end users and consumers get only empty promises.
FWIW, the VP at TLC who is quoted as saying this actually ended up leaving
TLC not too long after the 7 Dec 2000 press release. On 18 Mar 2001 (101
days later), a Bang & Olufsen press release announced that Sørensen had left
LEGO and would become B&O's new CEO as of 1 Jul 2001:
http://news.lugnet.com/general/?n=28848
> Last year, I remembered that Press release from December 2000 and posted a
> check-up message in lugnet.lego.direct
> (http://news.lugnet.com/lego/direct/?n=4443) asking for an update. Has it
> taken Lego a full year to formulate a response?
>
> Disillusioned customer,
> Ben Roller
Sørensen's departure probably dealt a heavy blow to TLC...and he may have
been one of the key players at TLC supporting and pushing for the mentioned
product. I don't know much about him but had the opportunity to meet him
in Nov 2000 and he seemed like he was really on top of things and expressed
excitement and enthusiasm about the future and about LEGO returning to more
traditional building values. I guess B&O made him an offer he couldn't
refuse. Obviously this doesn't help answer your question as to why no one
at TLC responded to your post last year, but I hope it sheds a bit of light.
--Todd
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