Subject:
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Re: AFOL/Mindstorms stagnation (Was Re: FLL not allowing NQC)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Sun, 13 Mar 2005 17:56:45 GMT
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Viewed:
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1212 times
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In lugnet.robotics, Steve Baker <sjbaker1@airmail.net> wrote:
> Mr S wrote:
> > In lugnet.robotics, Dick Swan wrote:
> >
> > > Mindstorms for the AFOL and consumer market appears
> > > totally stagnant.
> >
> > I am curious. I don't know about other AFOLs on this
> > list, but I have not found anything on the LEGO sites
> > that I want to buy? I already have 4 RIS 2.0 systems
> > and some other parts I bought off of eBay/Bricklink.
>
> I think that it's possible that the market has simply
> saturated.
>
> After all, there is a definite limit to the amount of
> Lego parts you need to build robots that are as complex
> as your time/imagination allows. I also have 4 RIS
> and a handful of the other Scout-based systems. With
> some additional sensors and about 50lbs of bulk/unsorted
> Lego from eBay and I really don't *need* any more Lego.
>
> The guys who build Lego Railroad, or do massive sculptures
> can quite literally never have enough - but with Mindstorms,
> the sheer power-to-weight issues limit the amount of Lego
> a typical AFOL might need.
That's right - I find that for Mindstorms the stuff I have matches the time I
have, but brickscaping for trains takes vast quantities of bricks - at least
they're basic bricks!
To improve the power to weight ratio you could make a power interface and use RC
motors, but unless someone makes the interface to sell it's a bit prohibitive.
> So it's possible that we simply all have all the Lego we
> need - except for the occasional really specialised things
> (like suddenly needing hundreds of chain links and soccer
> balls for the GBC - or a ton of pneumatics so you can
> play with pnuematic computers.
Mmmm yes! I'd buy 100 pneumatic switches at $2 each if they were available. I
wish flex tubing could be available in 100m reels too.
> But I'd be suprised that this would be enough to keep
> the Mindstorm division of Lego afloat.
>
> > IMHO, if LEGO were to offer piece parts with a minimum
> > order dollar value, after six months or so, they would
> > have a good idea of what part 'kits' they could sell
> > to the AFOL market.
>
> Maybe - but are there REALLY enough people willing to buy
> a huge bag of chainlinks to justify the effort of putting
> them in boxes - versus churning out another Bionicle or
> StarWars set?
>
> Presumably not - or they'd be doing it.
>
> ---------------------------- Steve Baker -------------------------
True - to make bulk technic parts worthwhile they'd have to put lots in a bag,
but then people would only buy a few bags, which would fail to meet the volume
sale requirement. Five pneumatic switches in a bag for $10 might work though -
I could buy 20 bags and others might buy only one.
Mark
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