Subject:
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Re: what makes a legend?
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.lego.direct
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Date:
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Sun, 21 Oct 2001 04:04:32 GMT
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Viewed:
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666 times
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In lugnet.lego.direct, Brad Justus writes:
> We're having a debate here in the ABS-paved halls of LEGO Direct that I'd
> like to throw open to the community.
>
> The topic is: what makes a LEGO Legend a legend? Or, more precisely, if we
> cannot bring back a set precisely as it was (or pretty darn close), can it
> still qualify as a Legend?
I would have to say that what made Lego such a great toy in the 80s was the
level of sophistication in the design. That sophistication is why you have a
huge adult follow up these days. This is how kids play: the get the toy,
examine it thoroughly, figure out what it can do, get bored, toss ot out and
go on the next thing. The excellent design we've seen in the 80s-90s gave an
eternal life to those sets because they were good looking and the piece mix
was so good that the possibilities were indeed limitless - you practically
could not get bored. This can not be said of today's set and that may explain
why kids stop playing with Lego at an earlier age. I can not see a kid starting
now playing with Jack Stone and religiously keep his/her collection intact and
get back at it in adulthood. Sophistication is also important for play value -
a young kid puts a driver in a car from an open top and it's just fine for
him/her. As kid grow older they are more sophisticated, they need a door to
open to get in the car - juniorization has eliminated this, another reason why
retention may have weakened.
> Now we are considering where we go next with this line. We've gone back to
> the early 90s with the Metroliner and Club Car, and to 1986 for the Guarded
> Inn. Now we'd like to dial the Wayback Machine a bit further back... and
> here's where we start to run into "issues."
For what I have read so far, the historical instruction book is probably your
best avenue. If we look at the basic sets, everybody can build them with their
available piece right now. If we look at the most desired sets - those with the
rare parts, we may run in the problem of being without mold. I must althought
say here that 398 can be done today.
> We can bring back almost any set (but before you ask: the Airport Shuttle is
> not in the cards -- there's no way to get the motors and track -- and
> believe me, I'm as disappointed about this as you are). The thing is, we
> can't bring them all back *exactly* as they once were. There are some sets
> which are comprised largely of basic elements, with a few rarer bits thrown
> in. And there are others which require compromise. And then there are those
> which require a whole lot of compromise.
It would actually be interesting to see if the cost involved in reproducing
this set could be easily recouped. It seems that everybody (me included) wants
that set. Should the rails also be sold as an accesory pack, the volume of
sales could justify the expense. - was just fantasizing
> So here's my question for you all: how much compromise can you live with?
> Should we just cross any older Town set off the consideration list because
> we can't use the metal-axle wheelsets? Are stickers ok? How many changes are
> allowed before it's not a Legend anymore? Where do you -- where should we --
> draw the line? Is the Legend in the spirit of the overall set or in the
details?
Stickers are definitely an annoying occurrence in any Lego set. However, as
many pointed out, better that than nothing. A 3"x3" sticker sheet cost close to
nothing. Why not put four per box. Why? I explain. Here is the life of a Lego
set: the owner purchase or receive the set, built it, drool/play for a period
of time and disassemble it. Two years later, the owner feels an urge to rebuild
that cool set. uh oh, no more stickers, not the same appeal, darn stickers. Put
more stickers sheet and the problem is solved. By the way, you can also produce
a sticker accessory pack.
> Next year, we hope to give you at least one opportunity to vote -- from a
> short list of candidates -- for the Legend set you'd like to see us make.
> When we post the contenders we'll be specific about any changes we'll have
> to make from the original. But it would be incredibly helpful to us now to
> know how far we can go with those changes.
just to give some suggestion: 398 (already mentionned), 497, 1592 (i'm sure you
have this one in mind - the plates are not an issue here as long as they are
grey),6383, 6954 and 375 in another color and decent helmets is also just fine
As some have also mentionned, bringing back memories is good (at least today's
kid can enjoy the true Lego quality) but as good as traditions are, innovation
should not be relinquished.
> We've received great input from the community here, and from many of you
> individually, on the direction we're taking with products coming from LEGO
> Direct. We need some of that input now. Please help us make next year's
> Legends everything you want them to be.
>
> Thanks in advance for your help.
Best success
> Play Well!
>
> -- Brad
>
> Brad Justus
> Senior Vice President, LEGO Direct
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | what makes a legend?
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| We're having a debate here in the ABS-paved halls of LEGO Direct that I'd like to throw open to the community. The topic is: what makes a LEGO Legend a legend? Or, more precisely, if we cannot bring back a set precisely as it was (or pretty darn (...) (23 years ago, 19-Oct-01, to lugnet.lego.direct) !!
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