 | | | | | |
What is the real purpose behind the sale of SO many different Bionicle masks?
Is there a game coming up where each mask has some ability? Why are the masks
sold in such a way that you can't tell what mask you're getting? Is this a
simple marketing trick creating mask collectiblity only due to the variety and
randomness of the masks? I understand the collectible card game concept because
in that case rarity meant a more potent/special card FOR A GAME that the
collectors played against each other. Unless Lego/Bionicle also has some plans
along that line I think the Many Masks of Bionicle only hide the faces of Lego
Marketing staff.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.dear-lego, Daniel van der Graaf writes:
> What is the real purpose behind the sale of SO many different Bionicle masks?
What is the real purpose behind SO many different Town minifigs?
> Is there a game coming up where each mask has some ability?
Why not make up your own game? (e.g. Brickwars)
> Why are the masks
> sold in such a way that you can't tell what mask you're getting?
Now *that's* a real question.
> Is this a
> simple marketing trick creating mask collectiblity only due to the variety and
> randomness of the masks?
Maybe it's a fair representation of population in the Bionicle theme.[1] As
far as games are concerned, in Chess there are more pawns than knights.
Also, classic space figures were more prevalent in red and white than any
other colors.
> I understand the collectible card game concept because
> in that case rarity meant a more potent/special card FOR A GAME that the
> collectors played against each other. Unless Lego/Bionicle also has some plans
> along that line I think the Many Masks of Bionicle only hide the faces of Lego
> Marketing staff.
Ah, that last sentence truly (pick one):
a) tugged at my heart strings
b) caused me weep with ecstasy at its plump little metaphor
c) pulled my index finger
d) made me want to play Yahtzee!
Having seen marketing people in real life, some of them need masks. <tongue
in cheek> But seriously, judging by a set's availability on the store shelf,
some theme (and set) sales seem to decline after having been out for a
while; so maybe TLC is stretching this theme out, releasing some masks now
and others later to keep sales up later too. How greedy! <tongue in other cheek>
But more likely, this scenario is happening: it used to be that all sets in
a theme were released at one time (or as close as they could possibly be),
but not as much anymore. The demand for new stuff makes it so that new stuff
is shipped very soon after it's ready. Consider all that was said about the
first Star Wars sets, which yielded the question, "Where's the Millenium
Falcon?" asked for months and months. But it finally came out.
So why not just wait awhile?
-Tom McD.
when replying, dried spamcake has been found in the caves of the Yeti.
[1]But I doubt it.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.technic.bionicle, Tom McDonald writes:
> > Why are the masks
> > sold in such a way that you can't tell what mask you're getting?
>
> Now *that's* a real question.
Collectability. It's the same reason that Baseball cards, Magic cards, Pokemon
cards, Pogs, etc are packed so you can't tell which ones you're getting.
Say, for example, that the Red Oni mask (I don't know any real Bionicle names,
sorry) is very rare. Let's assume that one out of 50 mask packs contains it.
there are going to be other masks that fall into the same category of rareness-
let's say, for example, that the Green Booga mask is the same rarity.
Now, there are going to masks that are more common. We will call these Mask1,
Mask2, Mask3, Mask4, and Mask5 (because I'm sick of making up names). They are
in 40 out of 50 packs.
So, LEGO wants to sell Mask Packs. They convince you that you want to have all
of the masks- a complete collection! Joy! So you go out and try to get them
all.
Let's say you have the Green Booga mask, but not the Red Oni mask. If you can
see what's in a pack, you will go straight for the Pack with the Red Oni mask
in it. Good for you. Not good for LEGO. If you can't see what you're buying,
you will buy a Pack at random. In that Pack is a Green Booga mask! But you
already have a Green Booga mask. It doesn't fulfill your desire to get all the
masks. So, you buy another. And another, and another, and another, until you
finally get the Red Oni mask. Very good for LEGO. Not so good for you.
But those are the rules you have chosen to play by when you decide to collect
all the Masks. If you really feel that it's not worth it, there is a very
simple solution- don't buy them! If enough people feel the same way, and the
Mask Packs don't sell, then LEGO will have a reason to change their strategy.
If most people are happy with it, then LEGO has no reason to change. You just
have to change how you go about getting the masks.
As a serious Magic enthusiast (for a while), if I really wanted a particular
card I didn't buy packs hoping to get it. I found someone who had it and was
willing to sell it or trade it to me. The same thing is possible with Bionicle
Masks, I'm sure. Once again, if enough Masks trade hands without LEGO seeing
money for it (beyond the first sale), then they might have a reason to change
their strategy. But it's less likely in that circumstance. Making a secondary
market is always an expected result of creating a collectible.
Anyway, always remember- it's your *choice* to play by their rules and collect
the masks. No one is compelling you to get them all, and LEGO doesn't owe you
an easy time at collecting them all.
eric
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
Hi Eric,
excellent reply! I couldn't have said that better! The guys that complain
about the "collectible system" itself won't buy the masks anyway (and nobody
asks them to do so). I don't complain about that thing, I knew about that
before having purchased the first bag (it's been the same game for disks and
masks). However, what really annoyed me is the fact that Turaga masks were
(at the beginning - first batch) not available at all, they were shipped
about one entire month after the actual release! And also, it's unlogical to
see that many "strange" misprints which have not been shown on the bags -
that's a fault caused by TLC and they better try to fix it soon (by
announcing the fault or else releasing all other Turaga masks in Toa colours).
As for the coincidence of not being able to chose the masks, actually you
*can* push your destiny! It's simple and true AFOLBs already know how to do
that! Since the masks do not come in boxes, but in bags, you are able to
"feel" which shape is inside the bag. You'll not know the colour but you can
easily find out the shape *before* buying the bag. Once you are complete on
one shape (having all six colours of one), then you can start checking the
bags and stop buying that shape. That way, it's way more easy to get "Red
Oni" instead of the "Green Booga" since you know the shape before buying the
bag! That way, I was able to get the last "Akaku" I was missing. I simply
bought a few bags with "Akakus" in them and so I got the missing mask very
soon. This system increases the chances to pick excactly that mask from 1:72
up to 1:6 --- a good idea, right?
Of course, TLC also knows about that trick (I think it's been their
intention by choosing bags instead of boxes). However, in the end, kids will
buy even more masks that way because they'll get their favourite shapes
complete first and go on spending more money rather than stopping the
purchase due to frustration. Having the feeling to be successful in
collection all masks will enable TLC to make even more money. I'm sure
that's also been their resaon to install different batches. Having kids
buying Toa masks first and then finding the Turaga ones next, they'll feel
successful then: "Yeah, finally, Wow, a mask for that Turaga, and there's
one for that other Turaga, excellent - I'm exteremely lucky today, let's buy
more . . . " . The shady side of that trick caused a lot of trouble though:
We (AFOLBs) were able to nearly complete our Toa collection before the first
Turaga masks hit the stores. Now that we may get the Turaga masks as well,
we keep getting the useless Toa masks.
Well, just another way to mention my 0.02$ ...
Bye, Christian --- xTIAN.
--------------------------------------------------
Lugnet Member #479 -- The World is full of AFOLs !
mail: xtian@brickmaster.de web: www.brickmaster.de
In lugnet.technic.bionicle, Eric Joslin writes:
> In lugnet.technic.bionicle, Tom McDonald writes:
>
> > > Why are the masks
> > > sold in such a way that you can't tell what mask you're getting?
>
> Collectability. It's the same reason that Baseball cards, Magic cards, Pokemon
> cards, Pogs, etc are packed so you can't tell which ones you're getting.
>
> Say, for example, that the Red Oni mask (I don't know any real Bionicle names,
> sorry) is very rare. Let's assume that one out of 50 mask packs contains it.
> there are going to be other masks that fall into the same category of rareness-
> let's say, for example, that the Green Booga mask is the same rarity.
>
> Now, there are going to masks that are more common. We will call these Mask1,
> Mask2, Mask3, Mask4, and Mask5 (because I'm sick of making up names). They are
> in 40 out of 50 packs.
>
> So, LEGO wants to sell Mask Packs. They convince you that you want to have all
> of the masks- a complete collection! Joy! So you go out and try to get them
> all.
>
> Let's say you have the Green Booga mask, but not the Red Oni mask. If you can
> see what's in a pack, you will go straight for the Pack with the Red Oni mask
> in it. Good for you. Not good for LEGO. If you can't see what you're buying,
> you will buy a Pack at random. In that Pack is a Green Booga mask! But you
> already have a Green Booga mask. It doesn't fulfill your desire to get all the
> masks. So, you buy another. And another, and another, and another, until you
> finally get the Red Oni mask. Very good for LEGO. Not so good for you.
>
> But those are the rules you have chosen to play by when you decide to collect
> all the Masks. If you really feel that it's not worth it, there is a very
> simple solution- don't buy them! If enough people feel the same way, and the
> Mask Packs don't sell, then LEGO will have a reason to change their strategy.
> If most people are happy with it, then LEGO has no reason to change. You just
> have to change how you go about getting the masks.
>
> As a serious Magic enthusiast (for a while), if I really wanted a particular
> card I didn't buy packs hoping to get it. I found someone who had it and was
> willing to sell it or trade it to me. The same thing is possible with Bionicle
> Masks, I'm sure. Once again, if enough Masks trade hands without LEGO seeing
> money for it (beyond the first sale), then they might have a reason to change
> their strategy. But it's less likely in that circumstance. Making a secondary
> market is always an expected result of creating a collectible.
>
> Anyway, always remember- it's your *choice* to play by their rules and collect
> the masks. No one is compelling you to get them all, and LEGO doesn't owe you
> an easy time at collecting them all.
>
> eric
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.technic.bionicle, Christian Gemünden writes:
> Hi Eric,
>
> excellent reply! I couldn't have said that better!
Thanks!
> The guys that complain
> about the "collectible system" itself won't buy the masks anyway (and nobody
> asks them to do so). I don't complain about that thing, I knew about that
> before having purchased the first bag (it's been the same game for disks and
> masks).
I've read your posts about collecting the masks, and I can tell that they don't
have the same tone to them. I enjoy seeing the pictures of all the masks laid
out and sorted... it brings back memories. :D
> However, what really annoyed me is the fact that Turaga masks were
> (at the beginning - first batch) not available at all, they were shipped
> about one entire month after the actual release!
That is kind of questionable behaviour on LEGO's part.
> And also, it's unlogical to
> see that many "strange" misprints which have not been shown on the bags -
> that's a fault caused by TLC and they better try to fix it soon (by
> announcing the fault or else releasing all other Turaga masks in Toa colours).
Well, if they are misprints, then they are probably even more collectable, in
the end. Given enough time, the truth is that those "misprints" will be
extremely rare. If Bionicle catches on in the US the same as it seems to have
in Europe, those masks could be worth quite a bit, as they will never have
occured in bags released in the US! I promise that someone somewhere will be
willing to give up many masks for one of those misprints eventually. If the
run goes on long enough, they may even become more rare than the Gold masks...
> As for the coincidence of not being able to chose the masks, actually you
> *can* push your destiny! It's simple and true AFOLBs already know how to do
> that! Since the masks do not come in boxes, but in bags, you are able to
> "feel" which shape is inside the bag.
:D I wasn't going to mention that, but it was something that I thought of.
There were similar things in old Magic card packs- now, they are packed in foil
wrappers, but once there was a time when they were printed on a material that
was just translucent enough to show through. If you were clever and knew just
how to do it, you could tell what was in a pack without opening it (and
therefore, without buying it...).
There was another game that inserted chase cards in a pack *after* the normal
15 cards were in there- so there were 16 cards in chase card packs! You could
tell by comparing packs which ones were thicker and had the "ultra-rare" cards.
Good luck with your collection!
eric
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
> As a serious Magic enthusiast (for a while), if I really wanted a particular
> card I didn't buy packs hoping to get it. I found someone who had it and was
> willing to sell it or trade it to me. The same thing is possible with • Bionicle
> Masks, I'm sure. Once again, if enough Masks trade hands without LEGO seeing
> money for it (beyond the first sale), then they might have a reason to change
> their strategy. But it's less likely in that circumstance. Making a • secondary
> market is always an expected result of creating a collectible.
Just in case there was any doubt, I fully intend to add a Bionicle Mask trading
page to my website, which already has the same thing for Throwbot/Slizer discs
and Roborider Wheels. I'll probably get the Bionicle section up when school
lets out in May.
Ray Kremer
http://throwbots.virtualave.net/
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
Strange question in the subject line. Marketing is always equal to greed, no matter if it is made by Coca-Cola, Nestlé,
Ford or Lego.
Nobody offers you a product to make you happy. No, of course they want to make money. Then, of course it's easier to
make money on a product that makes you happy.
Btw, greed is the sin a majority of American and americanized churches all over the world encourage.
/Tore
Daniel van der Graaf wrote:
> What is the real purpose behind the sale of SO many different Bionicle masks?
> Is there a game coming up where each mask has some ability? Why are the masks
> sold in such a way that you can't tell what mask you're getting? Is this a
> simple marketing trick creating mask collectiblity only due to the variety and
> randomness of the masks? I understand the collectible card game concept because
> in that case rarity meant a more potent/special card FOR A GAME that the
> collectors played against each other. Unless Lego/Bionicle also has some plans
> along that line I think the Many Masks of Bionicle only hide the faces of Lego
> Marketing staff.
--
Tore Eriksson
Sweden
ICQ: 76066510
LEGO: MOC++++ FS,SP,TO++ TC+ LS YB@m
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.technic.bionicle, Tore Eriksson writes:
> Strange question in the subject line. Marketing is always equal to greed, no matter if it is made by Coca-Cola, Nestlé,
> Ford or Lego.
> Nobody offers you a product to make you happy. No, of course they want to make money. Then, of course it's easier to
> make money on a product that makes you happy.
>
> Btw, greed is the sin a majority of American and americanized churches all over the world encourage.
Whatever you say, Biblethumper
>
> /Tore
>
>
> Daniel van der Graaf wrote:
>
> > What is the real purpose behind the sale of SO many different Bionicle masks?
> > Is there a game coming up where each mask has some ability? Why are the masks
> > sold in such a way that you can't tell what mask you're getting? Is this a
> > simple marketing trick creating mask collectiblity only due to the variety >> and randomness of the masks?
It's been said; clear bags are good for you, but bad for lego.
> > I understand the collectible card game concept because
> > in that case rarity meant a more potent/special card FOR A GAME that the
> > collectors played against each other. Unless Lego/Bionicle also has some plans
There IS going to be a game.
> > along that line I think the Many Masks of Bionicle only hide the faces of Lego
> > Marketing staff.
Did you think that up yourself, or did you have to hire someone?
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
This sounds like the new collectible game called "MageKnights" that use
collectible figures of increasing rarity/power. The figures are randomly
distributed (badly) and players can purchase booster packs to strengthen and
diversify their MageKnight army. Lego would do well to market to the
Magic,Pokemon,MageKnight,Warhammer player/collectors because these people
lay out hideous sums of money to acquire all the items in a set and then
acquire duplicates to play with in their games. If Lego is crossing over to
combat type figures they may as well follow the business model of Wizards of
the Coast.
"Paul Gardosik" <tgardosik@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:GAtzLu.5AJ@lugnet.com...
> In lugnet.technic.bionicle, Tore Eriksson writes:
> > Strange question in the subject line. Marketing is always equal to greed, • no matter if it is made by Coca-Cola, Nestlé,
> > Ford or Lego.
> > Nobody offers you a product to make you happy. No, of course they want to • make money. Then, of course it's easier to
> > make money on a product that makes you happy.
> >
> > Btw, greed is the sin a majority of American and americanized churches • all over the world encourage.
> >
>
> Whatever you say, Biblethumper
>
> >
> > /Tore
> >
> >
> > Daniel van der Graaf wrote:
> >
> > > What is the real purpose behind the sale of SO many different Bionicle • masks?
> > > Is there a game coming up where each mask has some ability? Why are the • masks
> > > sold in such a way that you can't tell what mask you're getting? Is • this a
> > > simple marketing trick creating mask collectiblity only due to the • variety >> and randomness of the masks?
>
> It's been said; clear bags are good for you, but bad for lego.
>
> > > I understand the collectible card game concept because
> > > in that case rarity meant a more potent/special card FOR A GAME that • the
> > > collectors played against each other. Unless Lego/Bionicle also has • some plans
>
> There IS going to be a game.
>
> > > along that line I think the Many Masks of Bionicle only hide the faces • of Lego
> > > Marketing staff.
>
> Did you think that up yourself, or did you have to hire someone?
| | | | | | |
