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On Tue, 16 Jan 2001 15:14:28 GMT, "Jake McKee"
<jacob.mckee@america.lego.com> wrote:
Greetings, and thanks for trying to calm the storm. Although I think
it's more of a tempest in a teapot.
Comment #1 - and I say this with a grin on my face and a friendly
nudge - Beg, borrow, steal or buy a sense of humor.....
> First, let me say, LEGO has *not* sold its soul. Despite what some might
> think about the company, Microsoft is not the devil, anymore than IBM, P&G,
> Pepsi or any other big company is.
While references to the devil are not to be taken too literally, it
should be pointed out that this attitude on the the public's part (by
no means limited to AFOL's) has existed long before LEGO first set
foot into a boardroom with Microsoft. Let's face it, even the US
courts have decided that Microsoft's business practices are unfair.
They're splitting Microsoft up for a reason. You have to accept the
resentment that Microsoft has created for itself and anyone percieved
as getting near them. Unfortunately, this is a situation in which
public perception matters more than fact. It may not be fair, but it
is true.
> Second, let me say, LEGO has partnered with Microsoft on a much more content
> centric basis. In fact, much of the partnership involves MSN, not
> technology.
More info on this will relax people a bit. We look forward to it when
it's ready.
> There has been absolutely nothing agreed to about... all gaming software made only
> for PCs
Actually, I think this is a valid worry on some people's parts, given
that Microsoft isn't really in the Macintosh market (or linux, etc.) -
More info will help.
> As an AFOL, I have to say that it was embarrassing seeing the front page of
> LUGNET actually call out this relationship as a "Pact with the devil".
True, but I would point out that I there aren't too many people who
would turn to the front page of LUGNET as a source of definitive
information - it isn't CNN. Consequently, I doubt too many people took
it all that seriously, but I agree that it could have been done with
less hype.
> Regardless of your feelings for or against MS, they *are not* the source of
> all evil in the universe.
I don't recall anyone saying they were the source of *all* evil but
even the courts have enough valid concerns about the way Microsoft
does business to take binding action against them. Again, not all
comments are to be taken completely seriously (see COMMENT #1), but
they are rooted in a resentment that has been a long time in the
making.
> Further, it was saddened to me that there was discussion about LEGO losing
> its morality over this. Absolutely none of the values of TLC have been
> compromised, given up, or adulterated in any way because of this alliance. I
> am not really sure where that thinking came from.
Again, remember COMMENT #1. Suggestions that LEGO will become immoral
or amoral shouldn't be taken that seriously either. Please note,
however, the recent rantings about the LEGO website. It is drowning in
useless junk that is making it unusable by a great many people.
Coincidentally (and it may truely be a coincidence) it seem to favor
Internet Explorer by some people's accounts. The point here is that
LEGO has traditionally stood for principals and products that promote
fine motor skills (primo/duplo), congnitive development, imagination,
creativity, and a unique ability to span all levels of user capability
from toddlers to the most technically minded adults. It combines ease
of use with simple basic structures (the brick) to allow the mind to
develop ever more complex objects and learn along the way. The web
sites, to continue the example, are neither easy to use, nor simple
and as a result you can't learn anything from them. They never used to
be like this. It seems to represent (although I doubt it was
intentional) a shift away from the core values of LEGO. I think this
is what most people are afraid of in general, and particularly where
Microsoft comes into the picture (and we could use a clearer picture).
Microsoft is not about the basics - it's about bells-and-whistles,
fancy ways of doing simple things (how many features of MSWord do you
*really* use?), and a world developed around standards developed by
Microsoft (not inherently bad, but not necessarily what we want
either). The fear is that LEGO will somehow drift away from core
values that made it great and toward the flash and glitz that
surrounds companies like Microsoft (and many others). Unfortunately,
using the word "morality" to convey this was a poor choice of words.
> LEGO partnered with them (MS/MSN) to extend awareness for our own
> brand.
My god, are you saying there's a child/parent in the world who
*hasn't* heard of LEGO???
*>>>>>>>>>> EVERYBODY: PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THIS: <<<<<<<<<<
> It is frustrating trying to keep the group informed of TLC happenings when
> so many *massive* and unsupported assumptions are made. I have a hard time
> keeping up with valid issues involving the AFOL community when *so* *so*
> many posts are made based on an assumption made 10 posts ago and has just
> snowballed into something so far off base that there is no longer even a
> shred or reality in it.
This is probably the best point Jake is making here. May I seriously
suggest starting a new group - lugnet.lego.direct.rant - so that those
who want to get some of this off their chest can do so without
polluting the waters? Yes, I'm as guilty as anyone else. I think we're
all in agreement that a forum that allows us a means of directly
contacting people at LEGO is a good thing. Clearly if we drown them in
our rants, it can't end up being a good thing for us in the long run.
> For instance, someone posted:
> "They will likely roll the Mindstorms software into the next version of Windows"
See COMMENT #1. You can't really think this was serious??
> On what information was this based? What part of the press release even
> talked about the Mindstorms software, or any other software for that matter??
OK. maybe you can. Record COMMENT #1 on tape and play it repeatedly in
your sleep. :-)
Let's all take a vallium on both sides of the fence and wait for more
info.
Matthias Jetleb
VA3-MWJ
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Not at all a pact with the devil...
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| (...) How much more do you need? The press release said that LEGO would be developing games for the Xbox, not that Microsoft would take over making LEGO games. Nobody thought that Sony was merging with LEGO when Rock Raiders came out for the PSX... (...) (24 years ago, 17-Jan-01, to lugnet.lego.direct, lugnet.general)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Not at all a pact with the devil...
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| All, Let me first say that this post is from an AFOL that happens to know quite a bit about the Microsoft relationship. Brad is putting together a post to talk about the details of the alliance as we speak. However, in the meantime, I want to calm (...) (24 years ago, 16-Jan-01, to lugnet.lego.direct, lugnet.general) !
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