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I thought the exact same thing when I read that passage!
John Matthews
Steve Bliss <blisses@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:376e6891.14823272@lugnet.com...
> Dear LEGO,
>
> A passage in your 1998 Annual Report states:
>
> (quoted from
> <http://www.lego.com/info/pressspecific.asp?PressReleaseId=68&Year=1999>,
> in the section 'Steady as She Goes...')
>
> > We also know the best way to achieve our goal: away from many difficult
> > building instructions for beautiful but perhaps overly predetermined
> > results (i.e. models) and back to our products' core values - to the joy • of
> > creating something, giving space to the imagination and a wealth of
> > possibilities.
>
> I feel there is a point being missed here: currently, LEGO seems to
> produce two types of building sets: sets with instructions for one
> specific, advanced model (in the TECHNIC line, usually two, sometimes
> several, models), and sets with no instructions whatsoever. There is no
> bridge between these two extremes.
>
> The no-instructions, basic pieces sets are a powerful means to encourage
> creativity in children, but they can also be a roadblock to advanced
> creativity, because children get stuck developing basic building skills • and
> techniques.
>
> The models sold with instructions are a joy to build (for children and
> adults), but the complexity of the models, and the degree of polish and
> finish, tend to steer children away from making their creations, because
> they won't be "as good as" the official models. Also, some children are
> unable to follow the directions, and become frustrated with these models.
>
> Recently, LEGO has (apparently) tried to address the gap between the
> advanced model sets, and the no-instruction sets by introducing simpler
> building sets, with fewer, larger pieces. I can't speak from sales
> figures, but these sets seem to be a step in the wrong direction for
> LEGO--they neither inspire children's creativity and imagination, nor • allow
> divergent building experiences, because there are only a few pieces, and
> they are mostly special-purpose.
>
> For many years, LEGO produced general building sets with instructions for • a
> number of different basic models. To me, it seems like this type of set
> fills in the gap between the no-instruction FreeStyle set and the
> single-model themed set. Children are given a large number of basic
> building pieces, with some instructions to guide and inspire the use of
> these pieces. Children who want to build 'by the book' may simply follow
> the instructions, children who want to 'do their own thing' may throw the
> instructions in the dust bin, and other children may use the instruction • to
> inspire their own creations ('This is a great harvester model in the book,
> but it needs a farm to go with it!'), or they learn new building
> techniques, even if they aren't aware of learning anything.
>
> General building sets have the following advantages:
> - The instructions support the child who may be unsure of their abilities.
> - The basic bricks are less expensive to produce, resulting in a lower
> cost per piece.
> - Parents perceive a higher value, because the set can be used for • multiple
> models.
>
> Please don't lose focus on building, inspiring imagination and creativity
> in children. Bring back the BASIC sets!
>
> Steve Bliss
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: TLG 1998 Annual Report
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| Dear LEGO, A passage in your 1998 Annual Report states: (quoted from (URL), in the section 'Steady as She Goes...') (...) I feel there is a point being missed here: currently, LEGO seems to produce two types of building sets: sets with instructions (...) (27 years ago, 21-Jun-99, to lugnet.general, lugnet.dear-lego)
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