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Dorayaki

Themes/products by "Competitor" brands that actually interest

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I'm not really sure if this sensitive topic should be in general discussion or embassy board. If some think it works better there, please inform me.

Well I'm still loyal to LEGO and has no product of other brands on my hand to compare the details. However, during these years as long as TLC obviously skip many choices (especially in Cuusoo) due to their own picky guidelines, some competitors have gotten these abandoned choices and begin to make some "beatbacks", though not all of them are that successful.

Are there licenses that you believe TLC should have got, and are there original themes ideas that TLC could have made used of in better ways?

Here I just name some examples. If you want to discuss themes I didn't include, you may mention in replies . I don't focus on obvious clone brands or Chinese brands. License conflicts might not be in the major discussion (eg, Transformers for Hasbro KRE-O).

MegaBloks

Many of the MB product parts are integrated and unbuildable, But still it is one of the most long-running brand. Some of the children-oriented themes heavily rely on large parts specifically created for the sets. Figures from each theme have extremely different sizes and designs, which are not compatible at all.

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Barbie

Now due to that Mattel has bought MB, this is absolutely a license in conflict with TLC. It is also an obvious rival to Friends (But is it a threat to Friends? I don't think so.) However I would like to see Barbie the character from Toy Story be a LEGO minifigure/doll. Another good point is at least MB introduced a child type of figure that Friends doesn't have so far.

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Smurf

Smurf is so far my favourite license among the MB ones, but still most mushroom houses in MB designs lack of buildable elements that can hardly interest me. And MB didn't make any set based on the movies even though their release time was pretty close.

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Hello Kitty

HK and other Sanrio mascots have been a popular among many other clone brick toy brands. But in other words maybe TLC doesn't like "red ocean marketing", and we rarely see TLC make pure mascots that aren't originated from media stories (Quiky and Julius are not actual themes).

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HALO, Call of Duty and WarCraft

Online video game licenses have been obviously out of TLC's targeted market for a long time. I guess TLC would only choose the "safe" ones such as MineCraft

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Spongebob, Thomas and Dora

These are the reason why MB is much hated. Thomas is very uncertain since TLC have been putting less focus on trains. Is Dora discontinued in MB now?

COBI

COBI's figures are more different and have a standardized size, though not every figure from different themes look the same. The building designs are between Megabloks and TLC, some of the sets feature original building designs and some of them use large parts.

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Small Army

Military has been an issue in LEGO fanbase discussion. I'm not sure if these products are outside TLC's guideline, but generally they look okay.

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Wild Story

Like early Adventurers, this theme focuses on wild adventures and different adult animals. Now Friends introduced Jungle sets so maybe we could see TLC make their new step again.

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Winx Club

Beside LEGO Friends and MB Barbie, it's currently another obvious girls-oriented theme and TV show license. Honestly I'm not familiar with this show (and I'm not used to their prints :look: ). It features and combines both fantasy and modern elements to its playsets to make it different. I guess TLC isn't interested in shows that don't use English as first language?

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Scooby-Doo

The most classic Hanna-Barbera science-fiction license. Actually, since TLC begins cooperation with WarnerBros, perhaps there is a chance for TLC in the future when SD reboots again?

OYO Sportstoys

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OYO features brick toys based on sport themes-- including football, hockey and baseball. Their minifigures are generally the same with LEGO's, but they added bendable knees to specific positions to make minifigures more vivid. Speaking directly, they copied the commercial approach of LEGO NBA theme, but under their brand they include a much wider selection of real players with various sport goods. Beside that, OYO also introduce referees and mascots, and invent their own field boards.

I'm not sure if this series is popular among sport fans (I don't really watch sports), but these do look appealing. My criticism is that the mascots should really use original head molds like the Chima's, not those ugly prints.

Actaully, since TLC had mentioned NBA characters again in recent TLM, could TLC consider to make NBA theme again? Especially that it totally matches CMF series though this kind of CMF series would only target at specific customers.

K'NEX

Though there is no standard product scale or figure size, K'NEX provide a different selections of themes. Their recent popular products are three famous video games including Pac-Man, Super Mario and Angrybirds.

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Super Mario

K'NEX made it differentby having two lines under this license. One is traditional Super Mario Bros platformers, the other is Kart racing. As a game player, my critism is that it doesn't provide all racing characters from the video game, resulted in being unable to appeal Mario fans. And repetitive recolor versions in character blind bags show very little sincerity.

Judging from the experience of Cuusoo Zelda, TLC doesn't show too much interest in Nintendo cooperation even though the game licenses can target at younger children.

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Angrybirds

Buildable toys are obviously suitible with AB because it allows fans to customize their own physical stages and play like they did in nonphysical game world. Again, TLC isn't interested in getting AB mostly because it is a red ocean already.

Edited by Dorayaki

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LEGO would never do Halo, COD or Warcraft because of the violence inherent in such games.

Same with anything modern military.

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It is unfortunate, for some of these at least, that they will never be realised in LEGO and people who want construction sets for these themes (e.g. Halo) will have to tolerate the woeful quality of MB. There is one point you made I would like to disagree with though: Minecraft is extremely well-known among children, teenagers and is gradually being introduced to adults as well. It was wise for TLG to make a Minecraft theme considering how extremely popular it has become among LEGO's intended audience; once the chance was given to them through Cuusoo they would have been crazy to turn it down.

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LEGO would never do Halo, COD or Warcraft because of the violence inherent in such games.

Same with anything modern military.

Well, I agree with this and I'm sure I don't expect to see these game licenses in Lego.

There is one point you made I would like to disagree with though: Minecraft is extremely well-known among children, teenagers and is gradually being introduced to adults as well.

Sorry, I typed wrong word so I deleted that. I also believe Minecraft is famous enough to be a Lego product. The debate here would be its origin from Cuusoo project since no passed/not-passed projects have more than two sets so far.

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It is unfortunate, for some of these at least, that they will never be realised in LEGO and people who want construction sets for these themes (e.g. Halo) will have to tolerate the woeful quality of MB. There is one point you made I would like to disagree with though: Minecraft is extremely well-known among children, teenagers and is gradually being introduced to adults as well. It was wise for TLG to make a Minecraft theme considering how extremely popular it has become among LEGO's intended audience; once the chance was given to them through Cuusoo they would have been crazy to turn it down.

Also, Minecraft, square blocks, building & Lego go very well together!

LEGO would never do Halo, COD or Warcraft because of the violence inherent in such games.

Same with anything modern military.

Warcraft is slightly different in that it is fantasy violence, and Star Wars & Tolkien don't seem to be out of bounds for TLG. But you are spot on about the others. Modern realistic humans v humans violence is something TLG will not do. I am happy with that, personally.

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I can't think of any major theme aside Pokémon that would interest me that LEGO didn't do yet (LOTR/Hobbit and Harry Potter were the best licensed themes IMO).

And I pretty much think that any other brand, with any theme still ain't enough to toss LEGO aside for me.

Resell value, quality, variety, ease to buy, standards.

Another great theme, would be japanese anime figures (like THIS). Would buy them all... xD!

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The only theme a clone brand has right now that I would have liked to see LEGO do is Star Trek. I've been tempted to pick up some of those Kre-O sets, and years ago I had a slight interest in the 1701-D from MB, but never followed through.

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Supposedly Kre-O have the Jurassic Park license. That annoys me, as I guarantee you whatever Kre-O produce for that, LEGO would do ten times better. :/

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I really think Lego should get in on some Nintendo licenses, it would probably benefit both companies!

(Nintendo's having some financial issues... :look:)

Edited by Lego Spy

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I am really sad that we don't get proper lego doctor who sets, I can't remember who it is that makes the 'lego-lite' ones. And what really does my nut about them is that standard of the instructions, some of the sets you can get like the Dalek factoryas so hard to build because of the poor instructions. I have no idea why when that was offered around lego didn't jump for it.

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My son's a huge Skylanders fan, so we'd both prefer it if Lego were involved instead of MB, however unlikely. I've never seen any of the COBI Winx Club figures anywhere, and thankfully my daughter hasn't either. Again, I'd much prefer it if Lego had that licence to produce them as Mini Dolls.

Considering how many times Legend of Zelda has popped up on Cuusoo, I don't think I'm the only one who wishes Lego had the Nintendo licence. For the Super Mario characters they'd have to go with custom over-sized heads similar to The Simpsons, but that turned out quite well anyway. Bowser and Ganondorf would obviously benefit from being oversize figures similar to the Incredible Hulk.

I'd love to have a Lego Mystery Machine and the gang on my office desk next to the Delorean and upcoming Ghostbusters set, but that's because I'm a huge geek. And due to that same reason I can only dream of the ridiculous amount I'd spend on Star Trek sets.....

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I can't think of any major theme aside Pokémon that would interest me that LEGO didn't do yet.

Another great theme, would be japanese anime figures (like THIS).

Well I assume you're saying action figures or brickbuilt animals (something like Chima's legendary beasts). If we're making minifigure-scale Pokemon theme, the Lego production line can't afford making tons of Pokemon molds, while normal animals are more reusable.

The discontinued Megabloks Pokemon series was alittle strange. Some human characters are actual figures, but the small Pokemons are just printed on cubes. However, the playset designs (gyms and city centers) do look somewhat fresh.

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100% agreed. Star Trek is the only one now that interests me that another brand holds.

Mostly it's assumed that Star Wars already covers a smiliar range. Remaing as a competitor might work better for Star Trek.

Edited by Dorayaki

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I know they'll never do it for violence reasons, but I'd love to see modulars with mini-figures of:

Michael Myers and the Myers house. (HalloweeN franchise)

Freddy Krueger and the Elm Street house. (A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise)

Jason Voorhees and the cabin in the woods. (Friday the 13th franchise)

Leatherface and the Texas Plantation house,..with a sliding 'steel' door. (Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise)

...it'll never, ever happen. But a guy can dream.

Robotech and large Valkyrie Mechs would be pretty awesome too.

...or Voltron. Imagine buying 5 lion kits that you could combine to form Voltron? That would be pretty awesome too.

actually I'm sort of surprised they never did the last two. Maybe the fan base isn't large enough to justify it.

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Michael Myers and the Myers house. (HalloweeN franchise)

Freddy Krueger and the Elm Street house. (A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise)

Jason Voorhees and the cabin in the woods. (Friday the 13th franchise)

Leatherface and the Texas Plantation house,..with a sliding 'steel' door. (Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise)

Sorry, are you sure you're talking about competitors? If not I hope you could give a different reply, because it looks like you want to go to the dream licenses thread.

I guess it's not about violent content or not. Every company has their own strategy, but if no companies want to do that, then it's still a major no.

Edited by Dorayaki

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Mostly it's assumed that Star Wars already covers a smiliar range. Remaing as a competitor might work better for Star Trek.

Remember a lot of licenses carry certain very specific non compete clauses. It has long been suspected and rumored that Lego's Star Wars license specifically says or at least originally said no to certain competing subjects. Star Wars would probably be the key one. (Although I would not rule out Battlestar Galactica from the list as well. Lucasfilms was honked off about that one for a long time... even as they made money off of it from the initial ILM work.)

As far as non lego brands that spark my interest. Some of the Halo stuff, such as the really really big vehicles catches my eye. I would probably buy the whole line if Megabloks just used ABS instead of cheap styrene. I had my hopes up with Kreo's Dungeons and Dragons line until I actually saw the stuff. Ugh! There are a few weird off brands that are experimenting with some basic LED lighting effects, which I wish Lego would start to do. I have most of the MB World of Warcraft line (all at horrifically deep discounts). The sets should have been good. They would have been great if better materials were used. Oh and if MB ever figured out that there are two sexes.

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To be honest, I think Lego can easily make Warcraft sets. If they find Warcraft controversial, then what about Star Wars and Lord of the Rings? Warcraft as a universe is so huge that it'd really supply whatever kind of set they want to make. But I think Lego will not bother trying to get it from MB.

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Considering how many times Legend of Zelda has popped up on Cuusoo, I don't think I'm the only one who wishes Lego had the Nintendo licence. For the Super Mario characters they'd have to go with custom over-sized heads similar to The Simpsons, but that turned out quite well anyway. Bowser and Ganondorf would obviously benefit from being oversize figures similar to the Incredible Hulk.

I'd love to have a Lego Mystery Machine and the gang on my office desk next to the Delorean and upcoming Ghostbusters set, but that's because I'm a huge geek. And due to that same reason I can only dream of the ridiculous amount I'd spend on Star Trek sets.....

Now I guess K'Nex would keep holding the Super Mario license. Their action platformers and race track building systems are pretty decent, but their character releasing is just meh.

BTW considering Bowser has to driving a bicycle, he can't be an oversize figure.

There have been several Mystery Machine projects in Cuusoo, but currently they're not as popular as the previous two film licenses. IMO the 58552 one looks the best.

Edited by Dorayaki

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Remember a lot of licenses carry certain very specific non compete clauses. It has long been suspected and rumored that Lego's Star Wars license specifically says or at least originally said no to certain competing subjects. Star Wars would probably be the key one. (Although I would not rule out Battlestar Galactica from the list as well. Lucasfilms was honked off about that one for a long time... even as they made money off of it from the initial ILM work.)

As far as non lego brands that spark my interest. Some of the Halo stuff, such as the really really big vehicles catches my eye. I would probably buy the whole line if Megabloks just used ABS instead of cheap styrene. I had my hopes up with Kreo's Dungeons and Dragons line until I actually saw the stuff. Ugh! There are a few weird off brands that are experimenting with some basic LED lighting effects, which I wish Lego would start to do. I have most of the MB World of Warcraft line (all at horrifically deep discounts). The sets should have been good. They would have been great if better materials were used. Oh and if MB ever figured out that there are two sexes.

I'm gonna have to disagree w/ you about MB's quality. It's actually really good and on par with LEGO IMO, and with MEGA recently being bought by Mattel, their quality is gonna go up. If you don't think it's on par w/ LEGO now, you will soon. I will however agree with you that MEGA needs to start producing female minifigs for the WoW line.

Also, MEGA BLOKS components are made of ABS as well, not "cheap styrene" or even polystyrene as some think. Polystyrene is used to make those containers you find lunch meat and pudding in.

Edited by Jetrax99

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I actually bought a Halo set as it was reduced to £1 just to see what it was like and I have to say the quality of the plastic and moulding was pretty poor.

Whether things have improved in the last year or so I'm not sure but if that was anything to go by then I wasn't impressed. People have complained about Chinese Lego items quite a lot yet the fake Lego custom figures I've received were all of better moulding and plastic quality than the Halo set I bought.

A young relative of mine visited from Canada last year and bought a Kreo set... some of the actual brick and build wasn't too bad although I think the mini figures are way behind Lego standards.

Lego's design rules are what set it apart from their competitors. Minifigures are basically perfect for their use... Incredibly well designed to integrate with the brick world around them and their accessories. As competitors can't copy the minifigure their attempts to create their own variation are what let them down.

I also don't like the over detailed moulding of the Halo / COD range. That's just a personal preference.

I'm not a hater or a purist Lego guy so I'd be happy to acknowledge well made toys when I saw them... I just don't feel what I've seen warrants it.

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It's upsetting that clone brands with such terrible quality can get ahold of some awesome licenses which LEGO could have used. I would have loved me some Super Mario sets! Sadly, LEGO isn't jumping at getting a Nintendo license for whatever reason. A Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine would be cool, as well...

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It's upsetting that clone brands with such terrible quality can get ahold of some awesome licenses which LEGO could have used. I would have loved me some Super Mario sets! Sadly, LEGO isn't jumping at getting a Nintendo license for whatever reason. A Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine would be cool, as well...

Upsetting? Brand loyal are you? That makes your opinion biased.

As for clone brands w/ terrible quality, the only one I can think of is Best Lock.

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Oh and if MB ever figured out that there are two sexes.

Though Lego lines still have some gender issues, it feels like the non-girls-oriented themes under MB have a worse gender ratio.

To be honest, I think Lego can easily make Warcraft sets. If they find Warcraft controversial, then what about Star Wars and Lord of the Rings? Warcraft as a universe is so huge that it'd really supply whatever kind of set they want to make. But I think Lego will not bother trying to get it from MB.

Pretty true, but in other words they're also in some conflicts too. At least not until all Hobbit/LotR things come to an end. And Warcraft would be another replacement of Castle. Edited by Dorayaki

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I've recently delved into some "off-brands". I am a pretty big Call of Duty fan and for my bday, my bro picked me up a couple sets, including the awesome Dome Battleground. I was very impressed by the quality, considering all the horror stories I've read about knock-offs. It wasn't as good as LEGO, of course, but nothing bad either. Colors were good, the pieces held togehter well, etc. The Dome set is a great likeness for the place I loved in the game and figures are super playable, with full poseability. I love how one can add attachments for the weapons too, very similar to the game.

So, my interest was piqued. I'd always looked at the Kre-o brands liscenses, like Transformers and especially GI Joe. TRU had a 30% off sale on Kre-o so after work one Friday, I bought a coule GI Joe sets. I had such a nostalgic, great time with these builds. By the end of the weekend, I'd picked up the whole line (had to ebay the first wave's blind bags though) and scooped some TF stuff too. Here are some general thoughts on the Kre-o product:

-Quality is fine, imo...again, not as great as LEGO but just a notch below.

-Kreons are fun. Their look has grown on me quite a bit. I love the printing (some paint mishaps, though...they need to clean that up) and the poseability. The accessories are fun too and whoever is designing them have included some really cool details, like grape soda for the Drednok. They also have very nostalgic accessories, for the adult fans. It's nice to be considered by the company.

-No moral hangups on theme here...LEGO doesn't want you or your children playing with war toys? Well, these other companies don't mind. I am happy for that.

-Great selection of characters from excellent themes...Ever dreamt of LEGO doing a CMF line of your favorite license? Well, I have. TF and the Joes are getting exactly the treatment I wish LEGO would give to super heros, SW, etc. At two blind bag waves per year as an average, we are getting 24 characters, per theme. How awesome is that?!?

-Great customizing options, just like LEGO. I have used pieces from the Battleship line (on discount everywhere now), the Cityville line, the TF humans, some extra Joes and even some LEGO parts to create a good number of characters. I am not a "purist". I do whatever it takes to achieve a look. I am a "purist" for the work, in that regard. If this makes me a bad person, I can live with it. :)

So yeah, I like some of these "knock-off" brands and will be enjoying them. I will, of course, continue to buy LEGO products but I would be lying if I didn't admit to some frustrations with how and what they release as product. Now, I have options and that makes for a happy consumer and a happy market, since it is competition which truly drives creativity, imo.

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