Is lego moving away from the original goal?

lego Started out as a toy that made one thing then could be used to make other things

But now days we find that peices arent as re useable as they used to be.

What are other peoples thoughs on this issue

I think lego has both widened the product range, and the types of pieces it makes.

For example compared to my childhood, we now have the travis or headlight brick, without which we could never make the modular buildings and realistic trains that are now possible. There are also BURPS and LURPS, who are less flexible, but a far cheaper way to make cliffs etc.

I'll take the odd 'unuseable' piece if I get examples such as jumper plates, headlight bricks, all the new train wheel parts and so on.

I think Lego is getting better with the diversity of what is available in both the brick itself and range of products.

The range of colours are a good example as we are seeing different levels of shades like blue, red and greys.

Orange certainly wasn't around when I first started in the 1970's.

In some ways the product has changed for better as well as for worse depends on your take on the matter. For example a lot of the kids sets are designed with playability in mind, so we will see gimmicks in the set such as flipping walls or falling plates etc. With a lot less emphasis on actual bricks. some of the younger sets will see big juniorised pieces as you guys call it, most likely because young kids don't have the manual dexterity to fit heaps of fiddly 2x1 plates and not get frustrated and start crying or whinging because they can't make the model. Lego would test drive these with kids all the time and see what they like and what they don't like.

As we are adults and hence more discerning we probably get greater satisfaction in seeing Lego creator sets with their high piece count, trains due to their complexity as well as the mature modular range. We all probably grew up with sets with very good piece counts especially during the 80's and 90's. So it the gimmicks don't work on us as it would work on a child.

But in so saying there are a lot of good pieces in these kids models, that could be useful despite the big size. I'm partial to translucent pieces I like the new airport with its big windows as well as the windows in city corner.


I think the true litmus test will be when they produce a new Police station. As I find that the current police station is top value for money even at retail. I haven't got old firestation 7945 to compare with the yet to be released here 7208 but from brickset it looks a little light for the price.

so summing up maybe what we really are discussing is maybe current sets are getting lighter for the price. Especially theme sets and in particular Star Wars. Anyone happy to pay $ 89.99 for Tie Defender 8087...?????

I think LEGO stuffed it up with to many BURPS (I use this term for all large pieces) and the dinosaurs from Dino Attack and such like around 2007ish. But I have noticed that BURPs per set has gone down a lot in recent times. I'm trying to gather all my BURPs and sell them.

I hope they will throw away all the BURP molding machines

(I really overuse smiles )

yes, yes...

Dino attack/ Dino2010 .... think GALIDOR...

would Lego dare make that mistake again... Hopefully not likely.

BURPS, I suppose enough of them will give you a good elevation for a moc on a hill or outcrop. I don't think they are that bad as otherwise I'd have to replace it with genunie brick which I don't have a great deal of myself.

even a CRAPP (crummy ramp and pit plate) could be useful for a large elevated house. or an agents base....

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=31042

Its an interesting topic this one i would have thought more people would be annoyed about junoirised peices.

I dont know, I think we have had some of the best city sets for decades in the past year, and the space police 3 line is pretty good. Castle has been a bit weak IMHO but the fantasy line has been popular, and we're about to see a whole new range. Also new trains. Modulars are awesome as are most of the exclusives. I don't think I can really complain too much.

Yeah there are a few large parts, but in general the sets are larger too, and there is certainly not the level of juniorisation of the Jack Stone sets.

I think Lego are still keeping with their original goal, you can certainly make a few alternate models from the stuff I've bought, you just have to use your imagination. It would be nice to have some alternate images with the plans, but that's probably me being lazy!! I think that juniorised pieces have their place; the moulded nose for a chopper or plane for instance. I'm still a fan for a high piece count though. That way at least you get bang for your buck. I think the sets are better thought out these days, certainly with the sets I own, for instance the current Police Station or City Corner. You definately get heaps of playability with them.

I'm just thinking of the Indiana Jones set with the DC3, it has a fairly intircate nose and wings, compared to the planes in the airport series, Indiana Jones is much better. It seems like a lot of the brand themes have the higher piece count models, and the general city stuff uses moulded sections more.

cabaretboy wrote:I'm just thinking of the Indiana Jones set with the DC3, it has a fairly intircate nose and wings, compared to the planes in the airport series, Indiana Jones is much better. It seems like a lot of the brand themes have the higher piece count models, and the general city stuff uses moulded sections more.

I think to some extent you're correct, but the licenced themes are aimed at an older audience for the most part, and cost more, so you would expect more intricate models. I think the DC3 example isn't great though since its windows are formed with an ugly trans curve with huge stickers over them, which is a crappy compromise in my opinion, much worse than the 1 peice chopper nose.

peterab wrote:much worse than the 1 peice chopper nose.

I would contest that one, I think at least in the Indy set the nose can be taken apart, the city sets with their stupid noses can be used for planes and maybe trains at most. I have yet to see another alternate use of those aerolane nose parts.

Captain Zuloo wrote:
I would contest that one, I think at least in the Indy set the nose can be taken apart, the city sets with their stupid noses can be used for planes and maybe trains at most. I have yet to see another alternate use of those aerolane nose parts.

Maybe it would be possible to use them for some kind of futuristic bus?

Captain Havoc wrote:Maybe it would be possible to use them for some kind of futuristic bus?

True, but I don't think I've made my point: a 2 x 4 brick for example has many more possibilities tied to it than a 1-piece aeroplane nose cone...

Captain Zuloo wrote:

Captain Havoc wrote:Maybe it would be possible to use them for some kind of futuristic bus?

True, but I don't think I've made my point: a 2 x 4 brick for example has many more possibilities tied to it than a 1-piece aeroplane nose cone...

Yes, I agree. I sold all my boat hulls, airplane ends, and other large molded pieces on Trade Me the other week.

Captain Zuloo wrote:

peterab wrote:much worse than the 1 peice chopper nose.

I would contest that one, I think at least in the Indy set the nose can be taken apart, the city sets with their stupid noses can be used for planes and maybe trains at most. I have yet to see another alternate use of those aerolane nose parts.

I think you missed my point, yeah the indy nose is better, if you like brick built, but arguably not if you want smooth curves. The indy windows which are formed by one huge sticker over one huge trans curve, is easily worse; a) It depends for its looks on a sticker, b) it has a huge piece, c) it could easily have been made with 1x3 curved slopes for the roof and plane windows, and still have given smooth curves. The helicopter nose only suffers one of these faults.