 | | | | | | |
| |
|
The “it’s grey, folks, but not as we know it” change has certainly provoked
comments ranging from thoughtful through irate, and ultimately to the ludicrous
and downright bizarre.
Lego’s apparent disregard for its fans is nothing new, and many complaints have
been made on LUGNET over the years. The following, apparently copies of
correspondence with Lego, by one LegofanX, recently came to my notice, and I
submit it as evidence of Lego’s ongoing disregard for its core fans.
Or not ;-)
1949
Dear Lego
Bricks! You’ve gone and totally changed your product focus, and rendered my
collection of wooden and plastic non-brick toys obsolete. The LEGO Company has
alienated its most vocal evangelists...I have friends who are very angry about
it and, I feel their pain. I don’t know what to do, but I’ll certainly be buying
less of your product in future.
1955
Dear Lego
Trees? One piece trees? I’ve been making perfectly satisfactory trees for years
from basic bricks, and now you go and render my collection of tree building
bricks obsolete. I don’t know what to do, but I’ll certainly be buying less of
your product in future.
1958
Dear Lego
Now you’ve done it! Your consumer research into these new brick designs, with
the stud and tube, might have found that consumers prefer these sort of bricks,
but you didn’t ask me, or any of the vast number of Lego fans who are perfectly
happy with the existing bricks. Last time, it was just my tree building bricks,
but now it is my entire collection of perfectly functioning Lego bricks that
you’ve rendered obsolete. I’ve come out in a cold sweat worrying about this. Woe
is me. I don’t know what to do, but I’ll certainly be buying less of your
product in future.
1961
Dear Lego
Are traditional Lego fans no longer enough for you? What’s wrong with the houses
we’ve been building for years? You’ve now rendered our windows, doors, and even
trees redundant by introducing the wheel. The wheel defeats the purpose of Lego
itself. Mark my words, this is a really bad move. the company won’t last ‘till
1965, let alone the end of the decade!! I don’t know what to do, but I’ll
certainly be buying less of your product in future.
1962
Dear Lego
The plate! You go and introduce the plate! Are kids today so unskilled that they
can’t build with bricks? You make it too easy for them. The introduction of the
1/3 brick (“plate”) marks an historic decline in the worth of the Lego system. I
am shaking with rage. I don’t know what to do, but I’ll certainly be buying less
of your product in future.
1963
Dear Lego
I am distraught! Nothing I have bought from your company in the past now has any
worth at all. CA was good enough for thousands of fans, but you go and replace
it with ABS. Why? Was it on the basis of some market research that “decided”
that CA wasn’t good enough, and that a handful of consumers (who are probably
only kids, or their parents) would prefer the so-called “superior” properties of
ABS. I haven’t slept for days, worrying about this. I regularly open my window
and shout obscenities in the general direction of Denmark. You should
immediately revert to CA on all sets. I don’t know what to do, but I’ll
certainly be buying less of your product in future.
1969
Dear Lego
This is too much. It took me years to get over the ABS vs CA thing, but now
you’ve made me take the LEGO bricks from my sister’s 3 year old. I gave them to
him last birthday, but now I find that they’re obsolete for that age group
because you’ve thoughtlessly introduced this Duplo stuff. I don’t know what to
do, but I’ll certainly be buying less of your product in future.
1970
Dear Lego
Why small wheels? What’s wrong with the ones we’ve been using happily for years,
but which you’ve now rendered obsolete? It’s just getting too stupid. My health
is suffering again, and my doctor has been forced to prescribe a mild sedative.
I don’t know what to do, but I’ll certainly be buying less of your product in
future.
1973
Dear Lego
Right. I’ve almost had enough of this. Over the last several years, I’ve built
several ships out of bricks (including those I had to take from my sister’s then
3 year old when you introduced Duplo). I have been entirely satisfied with those
ships. But now, I find that Lego, probably because of some ill-qualified
marketing buffoon, is introducing ship’s hull pieces. All my hull bricks are now
obsolete. I don’t know what to do, but I’ll certainly be buying less of your
product in future.
1974
Dear Lego
Arrrggghhhh! I never thought you’d change the scale, but you introduced the Lego
family. All my doors, windows, trees and most of my wheels are obsolete in one
fell swoop. A serious company doesn’t treat its consumers this way. Shame on
you. I don’t know what to do, but I’ll certainly be buying less of your product
in future.
1975
Dear Lego
Just when I’d got back from taking all my doors, windows, trees and most of my
wheels to the rubbish dump, I find that you’ve changed the scale again - this
time with the introduction of a new, small fig. These figs are terrible - they
can’t move their arms (like the Lego family can) , and they don’t even have
faces! This destroys backward compatibility. I’ve developed a nervous tic. I
don’t know what to do, but I’ll certainly be buying less of your product in
future.
1977
Dear Lego
Technic! Technic? What was wrong with my old gear-wheel sets. You’ve rendered
all my old cogs, axles and 4x2 bricks with seven holes completely useless. I’m
tearing my hair out! What next? I feel betrayed... and now i see my 300,000
brick collection jeopardized by this unexpected insanity.I don’t know what to
do, but I’ll certainly be buying less of your product in future.
1978
Dear Lego
When will you get the message? Yet more new figures! What was wrong with the old
ones. Who needs moveable arms or smiley faces - the old ones were completely
adequate. Most of the people don’t even fit into their cars. This is a terrible
move for Lego, and one which will mark its decline as a successful toy company.
I don’t know what to do, but I’ll certainly be buying less of your product in
future.
1979
Dear Lego
Not only have you rendered my prized Moon Landing set obsolete, but you’ve
introduced specialised parts too. I’m disgusted with this new space line - it’s
just a fad, it won’t last until 1980, let alone the space age in 2000. I don’t
know what to do, but I’ll certainly be buying less of your product in future.
1980
Dear Lego
Grey Track? Lego train track is blue. Or at least was, until you rendered it
obsolete with this stupid marketing led move. What next, a change to some
bizarre voltage system (9V?). I don’t know what to do, but I’ll certainly be
buying less of your product in future.
1984
Dear Lego
You’ve really done badly with this. Why a grey castle? Lego castles have been
yellow for years - why do you need to go and use a colour which has only been
widely available for a couple of years. You’ve rendered my 375 Castle totally
obsolete - I may as well just toss it out now. I don’t know what to do, but I’ll
certainly be buying less of your product in future.
1991
Dear Lego
Look, my letter of 1980 was a complaint, not a request! Why new train track? Why
9V? (Why? Why? Why?) Everyone knows that battering trains are 4.5V, and that
transformer-controller trains are 12V. Why change to some bizarre system? All my
train stuff (except that which I threw away following its obsolesence in 1980)
is now obsolete. I don’t know what to do, but I’ll certainly be buying less of
your product in future.
1992
Dear Lego
You must think kids today are a singularly untalented lot. I’ve been happily
seperating bricks with my fingers (and sometimes my teeth), for years, but some
marketing whiz-kid at Lego reckons he’s come up with something better! Really, a
“brick seperator”. Who needs it? You must really look down on your consumers. I
don’t know what to do, but I’ll certainly be buying less of your product in
future.
1996
Dear Lego
Well there goes my much loved Texas Rangers set (although the Texas Rangers
themselves went in 1978, and their brick built horses in 1984). Western indeed!
What next, replacement non-red native americans for my 215 Red Indians (which I
seem to have neglected throwing away when it became mostly obsolete)?. The man
at the rubbish tip is now on first name terms with me, and smiles as he sees me
approach. I don’t know what to do, but I’ll certainly be buying less of your
product in future.
1998
Dear Lego
Why do we need a Robotics Invention System with a hyped up marketing name like
“Mindstorms”? What’s wrong with my Technic Control Centre? Well I guess it’s
obsolete now. Off to the tip I go again. The man at the tip recognises me at a
distance (because of my general shakiness, bald head, strange skin condition,
nervous tic, and broken teeth) I don’t know what to do, but I’ll certainly be
buying less of your product in future.
1999
Dear Lego
You commercial sellouts! Now I find all my Space Lego is obsolete, and I have to
replace it all with marketing driving Star Wars stuff. I’m literally crying
here, guys - have you no respect for us long-suffering fans. I despair at what
will happen next - will you replace my beloved castle line with second rate sets
based on a book about the adventures of some kid wizard! I don’t know what to
do, but I’ll certainly be buying less of your product in future.
2003
to be continued
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Richie Dulin wrote:
| |
The “it’s grey, folks, but not as we know it” change has certainly provoked
comments ranging from thoughtful through irate, and ultimately to the
ludicrous and downright bizarre.
2003
to be continued
|
Do I detect a hint of sarcasm?
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.general, Richie Dulin wrote:
> The "it's grey, folks, but not as we know it" change has certainly provoked
> comments ranging from thoughtful through irate, and ultimately to the
> ludicrous and downright bizarre.
>
> Lego's apparent disregard for its fans is nothing new, and many complaints
> have been made on LUGNET over the years. The following, apparently copies of
> correspondence with Lego, by one LegofanX, recently came to my notice, and I
> submit it as evidence of Lego's ongoing disregard for its core fans.
>
> Or not ;-)
<snip>
Well this is funny, and it did make me laugh, but most of these changes that you
mention are improvements to the product line. Very few of these represent a
step backwards in the consistency of the product. I know that you are mocking
some of the more hysterical responses that have been posted here today, but I
think you underestimate the impact that this change has on a lot of serious
builders.
Eliminating a color like Brown that is so useful in representing real-world
objects has a definite impact on those of us who use this product to create
semi-realistic models or scenes. Changing the color of 9V train track has a
very definite impact on the many LTCs that might want to expand our train
layouts someday and will have to either (1) acquire old track at a steep
mark-up, (2) replace all of our existing track, or (3) have a crappy-looking
layout with mismatched colors of track.
I guess I should go clean out the Pick-a-Brick of all discontinued colors so
that I can sell it to you at an extreme markup when you realize how true this
really is.
- Chris.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Chris Phillips wrote:
> Changing the color of 9V train track has a
> very definite impact on the many LTCs that might want to expand our train
> layouts someday and will have to either (1) acquire old track at a steep
> mark-up, (2) replace all of our existing track, or (3) have a crappy-looking
> layout with mismatched colors of track.
Chris, I feel your pain, I really do. But I have never seen real train tracks
that are a uniform color. Some of the ties are black. Some are brown. Others
are faded in a non-uniform manner. It would seem to me that some color
difference in a LEGO train layout would make it more realistic as opposed to
"crappy-looking". Expand your layout with new track. Nobody will look at a
LEGO train layout at a GATS show or at BrickFest and say, "that layout is
crappy-looking since some of the track is a darker gray then the rest". They're
looking at the trains and the buildings - not the track.
IMHO,
John Hansen
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
In lugnet.general, John Hansen wrote:
> In lugnet.general, Chris Phillips wrote:
> > Changing the color of 9V train track has a
> > very definite impact on the many LTCs that might want to expand our train
> > layouts someday and will have to either (1) acquire old track at a steep
> > mark-up, (2) replace all of our existing track, or (3) have a crappy-looking
> > layout with mismatched colors of track.
>
> Chris, I feel your pain, I really do. But I have never seen real train tracks
> that are a uniform color. Some of the ties are black. Some are brown. Others
> are faded in a non-uniform manner. It would seem to me that some color
> difference in a LEGO train layout would make it more realistic as opposed to
> "crappy-looking". Expand your layout with new track. Nobody will look at a
> LEGO train layout at a GATS show or at BrickFest and say, "that layout is
> crappy-looking since some of the track is a darker gray then the rest". They're
> looking at the trains and the buildings - not the track.
The more likely solution is that our club will simply stop buying new track. If
we decide to expand our layout, we will probably just borrow track from our
members. (I'll lend all of mine if necessary.) When you consider the
significant marketing function that LTCs provide to LEGO (NELUG alone handed out
hundreds of S@H catalogs last weekend and our layout was seen by thousands of
people) I wouldn't think they would want to have inconsistent ABS colors to be
so obvious. It will appear to most people to be a quality issue, not an
intentional change.
Although many have suggested that these color variations will add to the realism
of their models/layouts, I would prefer that this effect was voluntary and not
dictated by an arbitrary change to the colors.
- Chris.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
John Hansen wrote:
> Chris, I feel your pain, I really do. But I have never seen real train tracks
> that are a uniform color. Some of the ties are black. Some are brown. Others
> are faded in a non-uniform manner. It would seem to me that some color
> difference in a LEGO train layout would make it more realistic as opposed to
> "crappy-looking". Expand your layout with new track. Nobody will look at a
> LEGO train layout at a GATS show or at BrickFest and say, "that layout is
> crappy-looking since some of the track is a darker gray then the rest". They're
> looking at the trains and the buildings - not the track.
Actually, there's very good point to this.
But it also got me thinking that if uniformity is what is really
desired, you can still achieve a very nice effect by cycling through a
small set of colors in a fixed order... say alternate between the new
gray and the old gray throughout the whole track, and it'd actually
probably look kinda cool.
As I said elsewhere, I'm unhappy about the loss of these colors, but I
think I'll live.
>> Mark
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lol. Very lol.
I wonder if they’ll make NewBrown pirate hull pieces... mmmmm pirates...
Michael
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Looking at your post, I suppose that you yourself hate Galidor as well.... :-D
And perhaps Bionicle too? What about the juniorization of sets? LOL.
Personally Im not fussing about the colors, its the Castlidor invasion Im
worried about.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, John-Paul Enaje wrote:
| |
Looking at your post, I suppose that you yourself hate Galidor as well....
:-D And perhaps Bionicle too? What about the juniorization of sets? LOL.
Personally Im not fussing about the colors, its the Castlidor invasion Im
worried about.
|
Why would anyone be worried about those Knights that look like Galidor figures
(with studs for interfacing with regular LEGO bricks)? Did the Galidor line
stop LEGO from producing (or re-releasing) this past year some of the best
Castle sets in years? No. Will these Knights have any impact on future castle
sets? Almost certainly not. If kids by the Knights and LEGO has another hit
theme on their hands (like Bionicle) will that make them stop producing regular
castle sets? That seems very unlikely. Will your grey bricks be a different
shade? Apparently. Castle walls, like train ties, have never looked to me to
be a uniform color anyway.
John Hansen
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Hello!
| |
Why would anyone be worried about those Knights that look like Galidor
figures (with studs for interfacing with regular LEGO bricks)?
|
I’m not worried. I’m just disappointed. If those figures are “Castle” (and at
least they are called “Knights’ Kingdom” and not “Bionicle” oder “Galidor” or
what else) I feel like TLC is kidding me. And those figures are different from
Bionicles as they have studs and even more different from Galidor. That means
they are NOT meant to be part of the Bionicle-Universe. They are meant to
continue the “Castle” line.
| |
Did the
Galidor line stop LEGO from producing (or re-releasing) this past year some
of the best Castle sets in years? No.
|
Yes, it did.
They did not develop new sets. They just rewarmed some old models. Yes, great
models, but nothing new. Re-Releasing old sets actually means there won’t be
something new. It even means that TLC-internally the Castle line is considered
dead. They don’t seem to have a Castle Set Development Department anymore.
| |
Will these Knights have any impact on
future castle sets? Almost certainly not.
|
Of course it has impact! Kids will love those knights like they love Bionicle.
Most likely those knight figures will be a great success for TLC. And that
means: They will release even more of them. They will concentrate all their
Castle-energy on making new ones of these Knight figures. They won’t make System
Castle sets anymore.
| |
Will your grey
bricks be a different shade? Apparently. Castle walls, like train ties,
have never looked to me to be a uniform color anyway.
|
It’s not the castle walls that I worry about. You are right, some different
shades of grey are appreciated. I myself don’t even hesitate to build in
yellowed/aged bricks for this purpose.
It’s rather the smaller creations that I’m worried about. Creations that indeed
need to look completely monochrome. Look at your car: The door is the same
colour as the bonnet (or look at your neighbour’s car, if you are somebody who
likes having a skewbold car :-) ).
Luckily it’s not that much of a problem with light grey as that’s a colour that
has been very common in the past and almost every known part is available. So
one still will be able to find parts of any needed form in the matching colour
(old-grey that is) to build a monochrome creation. But that’s not the case with
dark grey (still possible, though) and brown. Some parts that haven’t been
available yet in dark grey and brown now will - if ever released - be the new
tone. That is what I hate about the changed colours.
Bye
Jojo
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Johannes Koehler wrote:
| |
Hello!
| |
Why would anyone be worried about those Knights that look like Galidor
figures (with studs for interfacing with regular LEGO bricks)?
|
I’m not worried. I’m just disappointed. If those figures are “Castle” (and at
least they are called “Knights’ Kingdom” and not “Bionicle” oder “Galidor” or
what else) I feel like TLC is kidding me. And those figures are different
from Bionicles as they have studs and even more different from Galidor. That
means they are NOT meant to be part of the Bionicle-Universe. They are meant
to continue the “Castle” line.
| |
Did the
Galidor line stop LEGO from producing (or re-releasing) this past year some
of the best Castle sets in years? No.
|
Yes, it did.
They did not develop new sets. They just rewarmed some old models. Yes, great
models, but nothing new. Re-Releasing old sets actually means there won’t be
something new. It even means that TLC-internally the Castle line is
considered dead. They don’t seem to have a Castle Set Development Department
anymore.
| |
Will these Knights have any impact on
future castle sets? Almost certainly not.
|
Of course it has impact! Kids will love those knights like they love
Bionicle. Most likely those knight figures will be a great success for TLC.
And that means: They will release even more of them. They will concentrate
all their Castle-energy on making new ones of these Knight figures. They
won’t make System Castle sets anymore.
| |
Will your grey
bricks be a different shade? Apparently. Castle walls, like train ties,
have never looked to me to be a uniform color anyway.
|
It’s not the castle walls that I worry about. You are right, some different
shades of grey are appreciated. I myself don’t even hesitate to build in
yellowed/aged bricks for this purpose.
It’s rather the smaller creations that I’m worried about. Creations that
indeed need to look completely monochrome. Look at your car: The door is the
same colour as the bonnet (or look at your neighbour’s car, if you are
somebody who likes having a skewbold car :-) ).
Luckily it’s not that much of a problem with light grey as that’s a colour
that has been very common in the past and almost every known part is
available. So one still will be able to find parts of any needed form in the
matching colour (old-grey that is) to build a monochrome creation. But that’s
not the case with dark grey (still possible, though) and brown. Some parts
that haven’t been available yet in dark grey and brown now will - if ever
released - be the new tone. That is what I hate about the changed colours.
Bye
Jojo
|
The following is my personal 2 cents, and nothing else.
I am perfectly happy that lego is rereleasing old sets, and I hope they continue
to do so. For those of us who don’t either want to spend our life savings on a
misb or get a second hand set, the rereleases are wonderful. Personally,
although I think a new castle line of quality comparable to the old would be
wonderful, I would be perfectly content if they just rereleased all the old sets
en masse, refining those sets that were less than perfect the first time around,
and adding a few new sets to fill in gaps here and there. I honestly think that
TLC has pretty much done all they can do with the castle line (and several other
lines). Although there are a plethora of other people’s mocs that I think are
brilliant, few are commercially viable. But again, if they can come up with
something new and wonderful, that would be great! It’s just that from a
commercial perspective I don’t see what much they could do.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Tanvir Mahtab wrote:
| |
The following is my personal 2 cents, and nothing else.
I am perfectly happy that lego is rereleasing old sets, and I hope they
continue to do so. For those of us who don’t either want to spend our life
savings on a misb or get a second hand set, the rereleases are wonderful.
Personally, although I think a new castle line of quality comparable to the
old would be wonderful, I would be perfectly content if they just rereleased
all the old sets en masse, refining those sets that were less than perfect
the first time around, and adding a few new sets to fill in gaps here and
there. I honestly think that TLC has pretty much done all they can do with
the castle line (and several other lines). Although there are a plethora of
other people’s mocs that I think are brilliant, few are commercially viable.
But again, if they can come up with something new and wonderful, that would
be great! It’s just that from a commercial perspective I don’t see what much
they could do.
|
Are you kidding me? Not much else they can do? HUH?!?! Try to have some
imagination, there’s still LOTS of possiblities with System Castle theme.
Ever thought that perhaps they could make Desert Castles and base the theme on
Arabian structures with the Sultan and his guards fighting the Desert Raiders to
protect the precious caravan trade, not to mention the good old jewels? Heck
they could add certain Adventurers elements in by having sets in Egypt with the
Sultan looking for more treasure there.
Or how about we go to the Far East and have Chinese soldiers protect their
empire from the Hordes as well as compete with a rival kingdom? They’ve done
similar things with Japan (Ninja) why not China? Perhaps protect the legendary
chrome-green sword (new piece inspired by Crouching Tiger:Hidden Dragon’s “Green
Destiny” sword) from the clutches of the Khan.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, John Hansen wrote:
| |
In lugnet.general, John-Paul Enaje wrote:
| |
Looking at your post, I suppose that you yourself hate Galidor as well....
:-D And perhaps Bionicle too? What about the juniorization of sets? LOL.
Personally Im not fussing about the colors, its the Castlidor invasion Im
worried about.
|
Why would anyone be worried about those Knights that look like Galidor
figures (with studs for interfacing with regular LEGO bricks)? Did the
Galidor line stop LEGO from producing (or re-releasing) this past year some
of the best Castle sets in years? No. Will these Knights have any impact on
future castle sets? Almost certainly not. If kids by the Knights and LEGO
has another hit theme on their hands (like Bionicle) will that make them stop
producing regular castle sets? That seems very unlikely. Will your grey
bricks be a different shade? Apparently. Castle walls, like train ties,
have never looked to me to be a uniform color anyway.
John Hansen
|
Gee, perhaps Im worried BECAUSE I AM A CASTLE THEME FAN. A real one not just
those with a passing interest. As for the colors, I think those new greys can
add more realism to the color of those castles.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
I hereby nominate Richie Dulin for a Pulitzer. Made out of Lego. In the “new
colors.” :-)
onedaycnn (sid)
http://onedaycnn.freeservers.com
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Richie Dulin wrote:
of hysterical stuff I snipped
| |
1979
Dear Lego
Not only have you rendered my prized Moon Landing set obsolete, but you’ve
introduced specialised parts too.
|
Hey, I had that as a kid...I marveled at the tons of blue slopes (“how dare you
desert me, Lego? Bricks are rectangular, not sloped!”) And I also remember the
front of the “moon buggy” had a printed brick with a car headlights and
grille...
| |
1984
Dear Lego
You’ve really done badly with this. Why a grey castle? Lego castles have been
yellow for years - why do you need to go and use a colour which has only been
widely available for a couple of years. You’ve rendered my 375 Castle totally
obsolete - I may as well just toss it out now. I don’t know what to do, but
I’ll certainly be buying less of your product in future.
|
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen at least one person post that yellow is the true
Castle color...
I think you forgot the shift from granulated trees to what we have now...I think
granulated trees look more realistic! :)
Doug
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Douglas Brod wrote:
| |
In lugnet.general, Richie Dulin wrote:
of hysterical stuff I snipped
| |
1979
Dear Lego
Not only have you rendered my prized Moon Landing set obsolete, but you’ve
introduced specialised parts too.
|
Hey, I had that as a kid...I marveled at the tons of blue slopes (“how dare
you desert me, Lego? Bricks are rectangular, not sloped!”) And I also
remember the front of the “moon buggy” had a printed brick with a car
headlights and grille...
|
snip
Man, that jogged my memory of the same thought. That was one of the first sets I
ever owned and I too remember all the blue slopes. (I also seem to recall that
the model wouldn’t stand up to too many “landings” before the legs broke apart).
I also remember the first time I saw an inverted slope. It was pretty foreign to
me - we called them upside-down triangles.
-Evil Wayne
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Richie Dulin wrote:
| |
The “it’s grey, folks, but not as we know it” change has certainly provoked
comments ranging from thoughtful through irate, and ultimately to the
ludicrous and downright bizarre.
Lego’s apparent disregard for its fans is nothing new, and many complaints
have been made on LUGNET over the years. The following, apparently copies of
correspondence with Lego, by one LegofanX, recently came to my notice, and I
submit it as evidence of Lego’s ongoing disregard for its core fans.
Or not ;-)
1949
-snip-
2003
to be continued
|
Awesome thinking and writing there! :-)
And a welcome distraction from, say other way of looking at the ongoing
disregard of TLG.
Of course, the ongoing changes *are* quite serious, but in time I’m sure most
fans of LEGO® will get over it. It’s not the end of the world, is it? Having
quite a collection myself, I even consider signing the ongoing petition against
these color changes, but I realize that when this turns out to make nó
difference (and it probably won’t!), I will most likely have a sufficient
collection of the re-colored pieces within the years to come...
Greetings, Erik B
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
Hehe. I sense a wicked, devious mind at work here. How refreshing, Richard.
Unfortunately totally beside the point.
Galidork and those new Knights doesn’t affect anyone posting here. Simply put,
it’s not really LEGO and therefore noone has to buy it.
Arbitrarily changing a common color that has been around for TWENTY-FIVE years
(!) has another quality entirely, and an impact on every adult builder out
there. Of course I’m referring to grey. I can fully understand people using foul
language to speak their mind on this issue, because it’s fully appropriate. The
time for politeness is definitely over. I just feel sorry for all those weenies
commenting only on right that bad language. They truly deserve Bioknightle.
But I’m afraid Richard is still going to post just more jokes when LEGO
eventually decides to “improve” the studs as well. Regretfully making them not
compatible to all those older junk anymore ...
Ah, now you think “bah, THAT is NEVER going to happen!”
Yesterday I would have agreed wholeheartedly. But after today I wouldn’t place
bets on it anymore ...
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Burkhard Schloemer wrote:
| |
Hehe. I sense a wicked, devious mind at work here. How refreshing, Richard.
Unfortunately totally beside the point.
|
No, actually, I think he is right on. This outcry is flat-out hysteria, as we
have seen here previously.
| |
Arbitrarily changing a common color that has been around for TWENTY-FIVE
years (!) has another quality entirely, and an impact on every adult builder
out there.
|
I can only imagine the hysteria the 9 volt train introduction would have caused
were LUGNET around in 1991!
| |
Of course I’m referring to grey. I can fully understand people
using foul language to speak their mind on this issue, because it’s fully
appropriate.
|
You are completely wrong. Foul language is strictly verboten, besides being
uncivil and immature, and thus is totally INappropriate.
| |
The time for politeness is definitely over.
|
Then your time posting on LUGNET is over. We try to play well here, and vile
remarks such as RM’s are never welcome. Your choice.
| |
I just feel sorry
for all those weenies commenting only on right that bad language. They truly
deserve Bioknightle.
|
LUGNET is a civil place, regardless of what TLC does. Most of us would like to
keep it that way (including Todd).
| |
But I’m afraid Richard is still going to post just more jokes when LEGO
eventually decides to “improve” the studs as well. Regretfully making them
not compatible to all those older junk anymore ...
|
Not with the kind of foul language he used previously...
JOHN
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, John Neal wrote:
| |
In lugnet.general, Burkhard Schloemer wrote:
| |
Hehe. I sense a wicked, devious mind at work here. How refreshing, Richard.
Unfortunately totally beside the point.
|
No, actually, I think he is right on. This outcry is flat-out hysteria, as
we have seen here previously.
|
Rah, rah, ciss boom bah!
Just Imagine, Just Imagine!
Gooooo team!
| |
| |
Arbitrarily changing a common color that has been around for TWENTY-FIVE
years (!) has another quality entirely, and an impact on every adult builder
out there.
|
I can only imagine the hysteria the 9 volt train introduction would have
caused were LUGNET around in 1991!
|
I guess all you train types will be happy when TLC switches train formats again,
right? “Woo hoo! Now my old stuff is incompatible - I’m glad for the opportunity
to start over from scratch!” Right. Maybe only if they invite you to a summit
first.
| |
| |
Of course I’m referring to grey. I can fully understand people
using foul language to speak their mind on this issue, because it’s fully
appropriate.
|
You are completely wrong. Foul language is strictly verboten, besides
being uncivil and immature, and thus is totally INappropriate.
| |
The time for politeness is definitely over.
|
Then your time posting on LUGNET is over. We try to play well here, and
vile remarks such as RM’s are never welcome. Your choice.
| |
I just feel sorry
for all those weenies commenting only on right that bad language. They truly
deserve Bioknightle.
|
LUGNET is a civil place, regardless of what TLC does. Most of us would like
to keep it that way (including Todd).
| |
But I’m afraid Richard is still going to post just more jokes when LEGO
eventually decides to “improve” the studs as well. Regretfully making them
not compatible to all those older junk anymore ...
|
Not with the kind of foul language he used previously...
JOHN
|
I guess people who can afford to make buildings out of Maersk Blue can afford to
be philosophical about the replacement of colors. Not all of us are so lucky.
Marc Nelson Jr.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Marc Nelson, Jr. wrote:
| |
In lugnet.general, John Neal wrote:
|
| |
| |
No, actually, I think he is right on. This outcry is flat-out hysteria, as
we have seen here previously.
|
Rah, rah, ciss boom bah!
Just Imagine, Just Imagine!
Gooooo team!
|
You are going to have to keep up, Marc! The cheer is now “Play On” (as in
“move on”;-)
| |
| |
| |
Arbitrarily changing a common color that has been around for TWENTY-FIVE
years (!) has another quality entirely, and an impact on every adult
builder out there.
|
I can only imagine the hysteria the 9 volt train introduction would have
caused were LUGNET around in 1991!
|
I guess all you train types will be happy when TLC switches train formats
again, right? “Woo hoo! Now my old stuff is incompatible - I’m glad for the
opportunity to start over from scratch!” Right. Maybe only if they invite you
to a summit first.
|
If they did, what should I do? Wring my fists and scream expletives? There are
no guarantees in life. I try and look on the bright and positive side of
life-- it’s more fun. FWIW-- I’d love nothing more than for TLC to overhaul the
Trains theme!
| |
I guess people who can afford to make buildings out of Maersk Blue can afford
to be philosophical about the replacement of colors. Not all of us are so
lucky.
|
lol You think I’m rich? I, too, am not so lucky. But I am wise enough to know
that certain attitudes are more constuctive than others. If certain people
really cared about the color issue, then I would think that they’d consider a
more tactful approach when expressing their concerns. Instead, their rants come
off as hysterical white noise, to be placed in the circular file entitled “you
can’t please everyone all of the time”.
We are all able to be civil (I hope).
JOHN
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
We are all able to be civil (I hope).
JOHN
|
Could it be you just lack .. dedication? Changing the color palette is no minor
thing. It opens a can of worms. It is outrageous and a sound reason for becoming
emotional. If you’re really dedicated, that is. If you don’t feel that way, you
probably haven’t spent enough time with your hobby, with sorting and storing
parts and creating models. I’m still feeling like I’ve been knocked over by THE
LEGO GROUP (damn them). But at least YOU can feel soo civilized by just saying
“*ouch* well thank you dear LEGO ...” and walking away.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Burkhard Schloemer wrote:
| |
| |
We are all able to be civil (I hope).
JOHN
|
Could it be you just lack .. dedication?
|
I don’t think so.
| |
Changing the color palette is no
minor thing. It opens a can of worms. It is outrageous and a sound reason for
becoming emotional. If you’re really dedicated, that is.
|
If you are really emotional, that is.
| |
If you don’t feel
that way, you probably haven’t spent enough time with your hobby, with
sorting and storing parts and creating models.
|
I dare say that I have spent more hours sorting, more hours creating MOCs,
created more MOCs, and spent more money on LEGO than 99% of AFOLs. Dedication
is not the issue. Perspective is.
| |
I’m still feeling like I’ve
been knocked over by THE LEGO GROUP (damn them). But at least YOU can feel
soo civilized by just saying “*ouch* well thank you dear LEGO ...” and
walking away.
|
It would take TLC’s going out of business for me to react as you are.
JOHN
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
It would take TLC’s going out of business for me to react as you are.
JOHN
|
Excellent! Now we’re getting to the core of it. For me (and many others it
appears) it IS like TLC going out of business, or rather putting me into severe
danger of entering a new Dark Age due to disappointment followed by lack of
interest. Which is basically the same to me, but I suppose the keyword again is
“perspective” :/
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Burkhard Schloemer wrote:
| |
| |
It would take TLC’s going out of business for me to react as you are.
JOHN
|
Excellent! Now we’re getting to the core of it. For me (and many others it
appears) it IS like TLC going out of business, or rather putting me into
severe danger of entering a new Dark Age due to disappointment followed by
lack of interest. Which is basically the same to me, but I suppose the
keyword again is “perspective” :/
|
Burkhard, what is it that makes you dedicated but John not? That he is willing
to play well with new colors and you aren’t? I just don’t get it. Real life
doesn’t come in 3 shades of gray. The new colors will simply be another
opportunity for creativity.
John Hansen
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Burkhard Schloemer wrote:
| |
| |
It would take TLC’s going out of business for me to react as you are.
JOHN
|
Excellent! Now we’re getting to the core of it. For me (and many others it
appears) it IS like TLC going out of business,
|
Ahem. Only TLC going out of business is like TLC going out of business:-)
| |
or rather putting me into
severe danger of entering a new Dark Age due to disappointment followed by
lack of interest. Which is basically the same to me, but I suppose the
keyword again is “perspective” :/
|
If something like a color palette change threatens to cast you into a Dark Age,
then I must ask, “Where is your dedication?”
We will survive this tragedy together, Burkhard!
JOHN
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(snipped some good stuff).
LOL, well said(written). I can relate to everything from -78 and forward =)
/Joakim
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Richie;
thank you for succinctly, sarcastically, and eloquently (with chronologically
referenced examples to boot!) saying what I’d been trying to say. Which is, in a
nutshell: complain all you want about the replacement colours; if they’re
better, they’re better. This isn’t the first time LEGO has overhauled itself and
it won’t be the last. Obsolescence (not sure how to spell that...) is nothing
new.
I’d forgotten to mention the change from maxi figs to stiffies to minifigs in my
own post, and I’d forgotten that I’d even owned those 3 x 4 doors with frames
(which, come to think of it, I still have a pile of). I’d also forgotten that
plates didn’t previously exist. And I’d forgotten that people here did post like
crazy about LEGO selling out with licensed sets “I’ll certainly be buying less
of your product”.
Heh -- nail hit squarely on head.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, A. Mark Wilburn wrote:
> in a nutshell: complain all you want about the replacement colours; if
> they're better, they're better.
How, exactly, are the replacement colors "better?" I really would like to know.
- Chris.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Richie Dulin wrote:
| |
The “it’s grey, folks, but not as we know it”
|
I could pick this apart piece by piece. For instance Duplo & regular bricks are
100% compatible. See:
http://www.brickmonster.com/brickmodels/model.asp?modelid=18
if you need convincing. Technic control center to Mindstorms is growth not
change for the sake of change. Lego has had a policy of being a toy that remains
constant through generations and it has been. It has growen in many ways but it
survives because it is constant. Far to many have invested to much in this hobby
to find this a laughing matter.-Ken
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Ken Nagel wrote:
| |
In lugnet.general, Richie Dulin wrote:
| |
The “it’s grey, folks, but not as we know it”
|
|
Oops, there’s a bug here that won’t let that link work. If you don’t know Duplo
is compatible go to:
http://www.brickmonster.com/brickmodels/
and click on the commemorative box car. Sorry about that, but sorry it’s still
not a laughing matter.-Ken
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Ken Nagel wrote:
| |
In lugnet.general, Ken Nagel wrote:
| |
In lugnet.general, Richie Dulin wrote:
| |
The “it’s grey, folks, but not as we know it”
|
|
Oops, there’s a bug here that won’t let that link work. If you don’t know
Duplo is compatible go to:
http://www.brickmonster.com/brickmodels/
and click on the commemorative box car. Sorry about that, but sorry it’s
still not a laughing matter.-Ken
|
Not taking sides or anything, just wanted to point out another very cool use of
DUPLO (roof slopes and a vanity mirror piece) by Greg P.:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=578342
Maggie C.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Maggie Cambron wrote:
Cool. Don’t forget my Duplo spaceship ;)
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=58207
Alister
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Ken Nagel wrote:
| |
In lugnet.general, Richie Dulin wrote:
| |
The “it’s grey, folks, but not as we know it”
|
I could pick this apart piece by piece. For instance Duplo & regular bricks
are 100% compatible. See:
|
And you think the new colours won’t be compatible with old? Several people
have already said they can imagine the stone effects, etc that they could
achieve. I’m thinking of different segments, armour plating etc that I could
use on my Space Mocs, although, like all pieces, you don’t know what’s possible
‘til you hold it in the palm of your hand.
| |
http://www.brickmonster.com/brickmodels/model.asp?modelid=18
if you need convincing. Technic control center to Mindstorms is growth not
change for the sake of change. Lego has had a policy of being a toy that
remains constant through generations and it has been. It has growen in many
ways but it survives because it is constant. Far to many have invested to
much in this hobby to find this a laughing matter.-Ken
|
Is it ‘change for the sake of change’? I can’t see this, nor that Lego is doing
it for financial reasons. Just seems to me like a further refinement of a
product which has constantly undergone change since its inception, to get it
closer to whatever the designers’ ideal is.
I’ve invested too much time and money into this hobby to let seriousness get in
the way...
Michael
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| |
|
Very Funny!
I think everyone needs to chill out a bit, yes it is annoying but there’s nowt
we can do. I noticed your other posts on this in the other threads with
amusement too.
On a more serious note, no I’m not happy about it either and in my opinion I
probably fall into the ‘most effected’ group. My reasoning? If you’ve got lots
(300,000+) of Lego then you can probaly build anything you want from your
existing grey (admittedly it does depend on your colour balance) so you can
either not buy new grey or wait until you’ve got enough new grey as well and use
that in seperate models. If you’ve hardly got any then obviously your only
‘writing off’ a few pieces. If you’ve got nearly anough to build your grey
models then you’re in the worst position because any new grey won’t ‘fit’ so you
will have go the more costly second-hand route.
A lot of people who build with grey could actually cope with two slight
variations, for example, castle wall would get a bit of variety in their
stonework while space ships etc would gain an element of differential
weatheredness to their panels. There are, however other situations where you do
need the conformity of colour..
Tim
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
At 06:36 AM 11/20/2003, you wrote:
> Very Funny!
>
> I think everyone needs to chill out a bit, yes it is annoying but there's nowt
> we can do. I noticed your other posts on this in the other threads with
> amusement too.
While the other threads have not captured my amusement, they have well
enough captured my bandwidth. Two days ago I downloaded over 100 emails on
this topic and yesterday nearly 230. I'm not interested in debating the
merits of the greys, thank you, and will be content with the situation
however it turns out. In the meantime, someone please let me know when the
brouhaha has died down so I can resubscribe to .general.
~Mike
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
"Richie Dulin" <rdulin@REMOVEmla.com.au> wrote in message
news:HoMKJD.1Lyy@lugnet.com...
BRILLIANT.
[ j o n ]
http://zemi.net
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Richie Dulin wrote:
snip
| |
I regularly open my window and shout obscenities in the general direction of
Denmark. You should immediately revert to CA on all sets.
|
snip
I got to about here when I was in tears from laughing so hard... :)
Dave K
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Richie Dulin wrote:
| |
The “it’s grey, folks, but not as we know it” change has certainly provoked
comments ranging from thoughtful through irate, and ultimately to the
ludicrous and downright bizarre.
Lego’s apparent disregard for its fans is nothing new, and many complaints
have been made on LUGNET over the years. The following, apparently copies of
correspondence with Lego, by one LegofanX, recently came to my notice, and I
submit it as evidence of Lego’s ongoing disregard for its core fans.
Or not ;-)
|
ROTFLMAO!!!!
Richie, that was hilarious!!
Thanks a lot for the comic relief!!
One Brick to Rule Them All!
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Richie Dulin wrote:
-snip-
Well Played.
Dr. Terrible
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Richie Dulin wrote:
| |
... I don’t know what to do, but I’ll certainly
be buying less of your product in future....
|
R O F L M A O !
I for one won’t stop buying LEGO’s untill one of the following happens:
-my wife forbids it (yeah...right)
-I have to choose between paying for food and paying for Lego
-LEGO returns to wooden toys
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Richie Dulin wrote:
| |
1979
Dear Lego
Not only have you rendered my prized Moon Landing set obsolete, but you’ve
introduced specialised parts too. I’m disgusted with this new space line -
it’s just a fad, it won’t last until 1980, let alone the space age in 2000.
|
HAW! Now this is truly funny stuff! Humor! AR! AR! AR!
This 1979 bit actually has some truth to it...Space never quite reached 2000...
--Dave
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Hello!
| |
This 1979 bit actually has some truth to it...Space never quite reached
2000...
|
Oh, it even went farther than 2000. Actually Classic Space was situated a
hundred years in the future, that is in the year 2079.
Bye
Jojo
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Even if your story was meant to be sarcastic or humoristic, about one thing I
totally agree with you. I was very disappointed with the introduction of 9V
trains in 1991. The models look great, but what happened with the
remote-controlled level crossing with flashing lights, remote-controlled signal,
remote-controlled decoupling, remote-controlled points,...? May we expect these
items in the 9V series in the near future? Or will they come up with something
new such as the possibility of steering several trains on the same track (like
märklin trains with a 'delta' module).
I'll play on with my 12V trains while I'm waiting.
Maarten
("I don't know what to do, but I'll certainly be buying less of your product in
future." --> You probably bought lots of LEGO in the beginning.)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Maarten Steurbaut wrote:
> Even if your story was meant to be sarcastic or humoristic, about one thing I
> totally agree with you. I was very disappointed with the introduction of 9V
> trains in 1991. The models look great, but what happened with the
> remote-controlled level crossing with flashing lights, remote-controlled signal,
> remote-controlled decoupling, remote-controlled points,...? May we expect these
> items in the 9V series in the near future? Or will they come up with something
> new such as the possibility of steering several trains on the same track (like
> märklin trains with a 'delta' module).
> I'll play on with my 12V trains while I'm waiting.
The same happened in the early 1970's when the remote-controlled points
were discontinued. The first 12V points from 1969 were remote-controlled,
later the hand-controled 12V points came.
Niels
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
In lugnet.general, Richie Dulin wrote:
| |
The “it’s grey, folks, but not as we know it” change has certainly provoked
comments ranging from thoughtful through irate, and ultimately to the
ludicrous and downright bizarre.
Lego’s apparent disregard for its fans is nothing new, and many complaints
have been made on LUGNET over the years. The following, apparently copies of
correspondence with Lego, by one LegofanX, recently came to my notice, and I
submit it as evidence of Lego’s ongoing disregard for its core fans.
Or not ;-) • *cut cut cut cut cut*
2003
to be continued
|
HAHAHAHAHA! I love it, too funny... I found it a little late, but still,
amusing... okies, that is the negative side that is running through this site as
quick as larva from a volcano... so now do the positive side (even though it is
negatively, positively funny) ;)
Mel (tried not to choke on her dessert while reading the post)
| | | | | | |
