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Subject: 
Re: Would this Victorian Gazebo Make a Good LEGO Set??
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.build
Date: 
Mon, 7 May 2007 18:25:36 GMT
Viewed: 
6987 times
  
In lugnet.build, David Eaton wrote:
In lugnet.build, Gerhard R. Istok wrote:
And you won't believe why..... because the LEGO designers are not allowed to
use that fancy arch in their designer models!!!!!

As we've found out bit by bit from Lego model designers, there's a LOT of rules
about what can and can't be used and why! As other have said, it might be
because of cost or availability, but it might be for other reasons too!
Yes, I see that that arch was last used in 2000, but a similar one (3x6x5) seems
to have replaced it (2000-2006).

For instance, we've heard that certain product lines are generally prohibited
(or discouraged) from using specific elements because it might create
competition with other lines. For instance (theoretically), you don't want to
release Creator themed castles with castle-specific elements because it might be
affecting the popularity of the existing castle line.

Although in this instance, I hardly think that part of a Belville Desk would
interfere with a Designer Victorian arch. :)


Other considerations might be age range, durability, and clutch power. You don't
want to offer a piece that's easily breakable to a Lego line that's meant for
5-year olds, even if it's not a safety or choking hazard. And some elements just
don't bind as well, and as such may prove frustrating for particular audiences,
and might be prevented from appearing in certain lines. So while the gazebo
might work for Lego Direct or possibly Belville, it might not be feasible for
Lego City or Creator.

Well I dropped it a few times, and it didn't fall apart. So clutch power is not
a consideration in this instance, but you do make valid points.


Also, there's an availability issue in terms of the "part universe" for each
product line. Like, I wouldn't expect you'd find Clikit parts in the same set as
Bionicle parts, because they are/were manufactured in different geographical
areas, and probably simply aren't able to be included in the same sets, because
they're not at the same packing facilities.

Not that any or all of these reasons apply in this particular situation-- maybe
none of them do! But I thought I'd open the door to some of the other suprising
restrictions that I've learned in the past year or so that I would never have
expected before.  Basically, there's all kinds of crazy marketing reasons that
we probably don't think about very often that affect what can and can't be
produced based on competition, desired audience, safety, and plain old
availability and cost.

And that I can agree with!!

DaveE

One other item, The new designer sets take the Miniland "gimmickry" and bring it
down to Minifig scale.  IMHO, it doesn't always translate successfully.  Realism
is to me the most important factor to how LEGO buildings look.

And I can agree that it doesn't always make sense to merge parts from different
LEGO systems.  For example when they use Castle arched windows with the castle
window "grill" and merge them with white 1x2x2 wall elements to make new larger
windows in Cafe Corner... well it merely looks OK, but not great.

Maybe I've been spoiled from my childhood years when they had 9 windows to
choose from to make over 100 different window combinations.  I shudder when I
see TLG using wall parts or antennas for windows or other elements.

But with over 13,000 parts, one would have thought that they could have a dozen
or so (like that arch and some windows ) that represents historic detailing.
That's my whole point about that arch.

Thanks for yourr insight Dave,

Gary Istok



Message is in Reply To:
  Re: Would this Victorian Gazebo Make a Good LEGO Set??
 
(...) As we've found out bit by bit from Lego model designers, there's a LOT of rules about what can and can't be used and why! As other have said, it might be because of cost or availability, but it might be for other reasons too! For instance, (...) (17 years ago, 7-May-07, to lugnet.build)

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