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[Bonaparte]

Dear LEGO Pirate fans,

Today the burden to bring you sad news rests upon my shoulders. The LEGO Ambassadors have been informed that LEGO Pirates theme will be discontinued by mid 2010. We were told that the new Pirates line wasn't designed to be an ongoing theme this time, so it's only going to be on the shelves until second half next year by when it will disappear. This means there's not a new line designed for LEGO Pirates for 2010. There is some hope that LEGO Pirates might be back one day because the theme did sell rather well.

Share your thoughts and feeling about this sad news in this thread. Your feedback will be relayed to the LEGO Community team by your Classic-Pirates.com ambassador.

- Bonaparte, Ambassador Classic-Pirates.com

Update from Steve Witt (LEGO Community team):

Quote

Just so you know, Pirates isn't gone its on hiatus like every other line that isn't one of our primary themes: CASTLE, SPACE, and CITY

Pirates isn't going away, its just not going to be a constant theme. Its going to phase in and out just like every other theme that isn't one of those three. Everyone is freaking out just a bit too much on this one and I just wanted to reassure you guys that pirates isn't disappearing. Just taking a break

Steve

[JeffD984]

What a shame. I'm certainly thankful that LEGO released pirates for one year; there were some great sets! I'm also happy that the sets sold well enough for LEGO to take notice and mention their success. Yet there is no denying the dissapointment that also follows this announcement.

[posades]

Is this a permanent discontinuation or just an "on hold" thing?

With the rumblings of LEGO discontinuing Castle and Pirates, it's hard to foresee what new themes they can come up with to replace these seemingly well off franchises. It's a shame really, Pirates never really had a chance to flesh out their set list with new factions.

[Oky Wan Kenobi]

That is rather sad news indeed. Thanks for letting us know, though, Bonaparte. It was great seeing Pirates again, and the sets they released were all awesome. Of course it's dissappointing that there was only one wave, especially considering that themes like Power Miners have three, but I guess it's better than nothing.
Let's just hope that Pirates will return again soon and be even better than before.

[Rick]

What?! Checks calendar, no it's not April 1. I was totally not expecting this, especially when a few weeks ago a call for ideas was released by TLG via the ambassadors. All those AFOLs gave their input hoping that TLG put their ideas into production. But the last thing that could be expected from that 'signal' was that the line would actually be discontinued. I sure hope Pirates just takes half a year off and that it will be back by Christmas 2010/January 2011.


(How many of these are considered spamming? Hope I'm still below the critical amount)

edit:
[optimistic mode]
Now that I think about it a little more, TLG may have intended it to be a 'one wave' theme, but based on sales above expectation decided to put their designers to work and ask AFOLs for input. The call for ideas was certainly too late for early-2010 sets, but realistically also for mid-2010 sets. So, perhaps we should be optimistic and see the recent call for ideas as a sign that Pirates will return after a - hopefully short - break in 2010. So: did I tell you I wanted a S@H exclusive two-deck soldier ship?
[/optimistic mode]

This post has been edited by Rick: 17 September 2009 - 05:50 PM

[Lorentzen]

Oh no.
That's really bad news. I had hoped for a similar run just like 1989 (pause in 1990) and then new sets each year for 5 more years. Although I'd think that this time around it would be new line in 2009 (pause in 2010) then new sets in 2011-12-13 perhaps.

I hope they just put the whole thing on hold. I would realy have loved a ship for the soldiers. It could have been an epic set

[The Cobra]

Who needs Pirates when we can have Power Miners and Atlantis?

[Mirandir]

Im guessing that Pirates will be back in 2011... But then as a license theme...

[mikey]

This indeed is sad news, but perhaps we should think ourselves lucky to have been able to buy the sets from this short lived theme. I'm glad the theme has sold well, as that gives hope that they may think about continuing the theme again in the future. I suppose we should be glad about what we did get, and I will continue to buy what sets I can untill they sadly disapear.

I will hold on to the glimmer of hope that because the theme made good sales, and good profit, they may well decide to continue development again in the future. It is not beyond belief that the sets were a 'tester', and they wanted to see a return on the the development costs before they commited more funds for the next wave.

I am so gutted, and I feel for all you Diehard Pirate Fanatics, that your favourate theme will not continue. I think im going to go and lovingly stroke a few pirate Minifig's now...

Mirandir, on Sep 17 2009, 06:49 PM, said:

Im guessing that Pirates will be back in 2011... But then as a license theme...

Ohh God, Please No! Pirates does not need Fleshies and High Licensed Prices!

This post has been edited by mikey: 17 September 2009 - 05:53 PM

[Raphy]

Sad. I never really liked the sets, though the parts and minifigures were great. And we didn't even get an Wimperial ship!

[Rick]

mikey, on Sep 17 2009, 06:50 PM, said:

Ohh God, Please No! Pirates does not need Fleshies and High Licensed Prices!

Agreed, that would definitely be the end of the pirate theme (for me at least)! As I said somewhere else on here before: in my view Pirates should be considered by TLG as one of the four core System themes, next to Town, Castle, and Space.

[Joey Lock]

Well well well. Just what I thought...Lego failing us...AGAIN.

What was the "What do you want in Next years Pirates?!" thread for? Or did Lego just decide this today?

I haven't bought a new Lego set for about 2 months just because everythings to expensive and useless. Yes, Those two words explain the Lego Company, Not the sets. Just the company. Expensive and Useless.

So what will Lego do when the Stars Wars line, Legos income, goes? Disney is the only chance for Lego to save the Lego Fans and Pirate Fans, If they decide to make Pirates of the Caribbean then I will be less angry. Not happy, Just less angry.

I guess we will just all resort to Bricklink now. Man the Prices of Imperial Guards are going to shoot to the roof, better get them whislt you can!

[Big Cam]

Mirandir, on Sep 17 2009, 11:49 AM, said:

Im guessing that Pirates will be back in 2011... But then as a license theme...

I would bet money this is why.

Rick, on Sep 17 2009, 11:58 AM, said:

Agreed, that would definitely be the end of the pirate theme (for me at least)! As I said somewhere else on here before: in my view Pirates should be considered by TLG as one of the four core System themes, next to Town, Castle, and Space.

Agreed. Honestly I'm not as involved in the Pirate community, so I actually thought it was.


Dissapointing news.

[Johnnhiszippy3]

Although this is disappointing to hear (I was really hoping to see a return of the Natives ), I'm glad that Lego is giving notice so that those who haven't bought what they want, still have a chance before the line is discontinued (something I've always wished they would do)

[Mister Phes]

Rick, on Sep 18 2009, 03:58 AM, said:

As I said somewhere else on here before: in my view Pirates should be considered by TLG as one of the four core System themes, next to Town, Castle, and Space.

Yep, Pirates should be but unfortunately they aint!