Subject:
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Re: TLC: Use annual contests for Classically-designed set releases!
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.build.contests, lugnet.space
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Date:
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Tue, 31 Oct 2000 17:43:15 GMT
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Viewed:
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1928 times
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In lugnet.build.contests, Dave Lovelace writes:
> I was thinking a bit more about the re-releasing of older sets, and decided
> that we haven't got a prayer.
>
> There's just too many elements in those older models that aren't being
> manufactured anymore. Wouldn't Lego have to make a tremendous investment
> dusting off those old molds and casting the needed slew of older pieces?
I don't buy that argument- the classic sets had very few specialty pieces.
That's the beauty of classic space. They did so much with mostly basic parts.
For example, I can't imagine it would be too difficult to build a Galaxy
Explorer out of more modern Lego parts. Sure, you'd have problems with the
actual color of some of the pieces and you'd be missing the printed ones-
but otherwise you could do it almost piece for piece with sets produced in
the last 2 years. Lego can color and print pieces however they want.
The only problem pieces I can think of on the Galaxy Explorer are:
* Hinge for rear ramp: This is an outdated piece. I'd love to
see it return anyway, as Lego has yet to make a piece that
does this job equally well.
* Tail piece with 2x2 top: No idea if it is still being made.
* Landing and Crater Plates
I assume that the first piece is no longer being made because it was a
3-piece hinge that came preassembled and cost too much to manufacture. The
next is probably discontinued because it tends to break. The crater plate
was revisited on an Aquasharks set not too many years ago.
Are there any other specialty pieces in that set? This seems to be a lot
fewer specialty pieces than what they put in sets today. And these pieces
have a lot more reuse value.
I think it comes down mainly to marketing.
1: Like it or not, violence sells. The founder wasn't into violent toys, so
all the early stuff is marketed as exploration and science ships. And there
is no opposing spacefaring race. The newer series always have enemy aliens,
and there are more accessories that you can't deny are guns.
2: It costs more to make the same set now than it did 20 years ago. Even on
a smaller scale, this basic economic principle comes into play. A consumer
doesn't want to buy the same set now that he could have gotten 10 years ago
if it now costs twice as much. Sure, I'd gladly buy a 924 or 924 for 3 to 4
times the original retail price... but I'm not a typical consumer, and I'm
not a new market for Lego to tap.
3: The subdued color schemes of the 70's and early 80's space sets aren't
flashy enough for the average consumer. They don't command attention from a
casual browser like neon green and orange do. Grey flies in the Star Wars
series largely because the license sells itself.
4: In hopes of widening their market, Lego is aiming at a stupider and
shorter-attention-spanned audience every year. Sets have to be easier to
build than in the past. Every year the same-sized ship is made of fewer
pieces and has an even more explicit instruction booklet. It typically has
less functionality as well- when was the last time you were happily
surprised at some subtle cool function of a set that you didn't discover
until half way through building it? Even the UCS sets, which are somewhat
against this trend, have almost no functionality.
--
Tony Hafner
www.hafhead.com
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