Subject:
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Re: Lego Stories (was Re: Remote Control Figures? (Was Re: Bionicle Sets))
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.general
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Date:
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Fri, 2 Feb 2001 21:59:34 GMT
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Viewed:
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991 times
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In lugnet.general, Thomas Main writes:
> I have this problem with the Star Wars sets. I like them because I can
> tell they are nice constructions and use good pieces...I think I would
> like them even more if they weren't based on a movie. I saw Star Wars
> when I was a kid, but it never seemed like anything more than a pretty
> good movie to me at the time or since. I never developed Star Wars
> mania, nor have I thought about it much in my life. When I see the Star
> Wars Lego sets, I recognize some of them from the movie (the x-wing and
> tie fighters mostly) but I don't even remember the Slave I or that big
> brown thing. So I don't know how closely the models resemble the "real"
> thing. Yet, I can't consider them as original space models like the
> galaxy explorer...there's this story attached, and even though I'm not
> all that familiar with the story, it limits how I see these models...
So the problem seems to be that enjoyment of the sets is limited to the
extent one can contextualize or decontextualize them. You didn't
particularly enjoy star wars so this limits your enjoyment of the sets.
Others have enjoyed the sets purely on the level of set design and piece
assortment. It remains to be seen how much someone will enjoy the Bionicle
sets if they completely disregard the story. The smaller sets may not
provide pure building enjoyment but the larger, more functional sets may
have a broader appeal(The rc sets are more interesting than the rc dune
buggy thats been available). Likewise Castle afficionados are looking
forward to the Harry Potter sets whether or not they care for the books. In
this those sets may disappoint but I hope not.
In the last 20 years Lego has continually segmented and fragmented its
product line, perhaps in response to a diversifying and fragmenting audience
base, perhaps only to more accurately milk profit centers. But this means
that as the focus of each Lego product line gets tighter, more people are
excluded from it. If, 20 years ago, Lego had three product lines, Legoland,
Basic, and Technic, it would be fairly easy to be a customer for all three.
If Lego has ten lines today(I'm not going to bother to accurately count the
number) then it is reasonable to assume that all ten are not going to appeal
to the same individual(though I know there are some on Lugnet who seem
omnivorous).
At thebottom are the questions of how a company can achieve consistent
growth, keep its product line fresh and exciting, prevent its market from
maturing or withering, and yet stay the same or preserve an historic
philosophy or attitude.
I remember how, in my dark ages, I gave as an excuse for not liking Lego
that their increasing part specialization was diverging from the toy I knew
as a kid (pre-minifigure days). My emergence as an adult fan was based on a
reneging of that opinion. So I try to retain objective distance now.
The *problem* Lego presents is fascinating.
And I will stop now because I am rambling.
Jonathan
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