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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
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