What were the best LEGO surprises?

[Brick Miner]

wow, im surprised to read so many replies regarding SW. so i guess this classifies as one of my LEGO surprises :-D

i guess, in a way, i was surprised too with SW, but for me it was very negative experience, and i wouldn't consider myself being "surprised" technically. i felt more like, "well, LEGO finally sold out. that's the end, im done." plus two of my three favorite themes of the time had ended to make room for the license (pirates, western). fittingly, my last year for collecting LEGO was 1998 (until coming back in 2005, to my current collecting wave, of course).

however, all that aside, i think my biggest surprised in LEGO came when i was very young. especially in my "LEGO early years" of 1989-1991. LEGO seemed to be introducing new parts all the time. i remember the pirates line introduced a lot of new pieces, and also revolutionizing the minifig face. i also remember specific other examples, like this set...

let me explain, see this set introduced me to this piece...

i was really shocked... i guess, as a kid, i felt like LEGO had been around for like hundreds of years, and the pieces they had in production were staples in the SYSTEM building, and the variety of pieces offered was unalterable. almost like the LEGO company had created SYSTEM all at once, and never ment for it to change. and this specific set made me realize that the LEGO SYSTEM was ever-changing, and new pieces would emerge all the time. needless to say, it was quite an epiphany.

id say that was my biggest LEGO surprise... an enlightenment that the LEGO SYSTEM could change and add new elements as it needed.

with todays product this almost seems ridiculous to concieve, as new elements are coming out each quarter. but again, as a kid, i had no idea that LEGO was so new and has always been evolving, ever since it's begining.

- BM

[Hinckley]

however, all that aside, i think my biggest surprised in LEGO came when i was very young. especially in my "LEGO early years" of 1989-1991. LEGO seemed to be introducing new parts all the time. i remember the pirates line introduced a lot of new pieces, and also revolutionizing the minifig face. i also remember specific other examples, like this set...

let me explain, see this set introduced me to this piece...

i was really shocked... i guess, as a kid, i felt like LEGO had been around for like hundreds of years, and the pieces they had in production were staples in the SYSTEM building, and the variety of pieces offered was unalterable. almost like the LEGO company had created SYSTEM all at once, and never ment for it to change. and this specific set made me realize that the LEGO SYSTEM was ever-changing, and new pieces would emerge all the time. needless to say, it was quite an epiphany.

id say that was my biggest LEGO surprise... an enlightenment that the LEGO SYSTEM could change and add new elements as it needed.

I remember feeling the exact same way! What an excellent response. It gave me such a nostalgic feeling! :-$ I think I had a similar reaction that exact same piece. I still check the news images to see "what new elements..." and still find the concept amazing...

Thanks for sharing everybody!

[Brick Miner]

I think I had a similar reaction that exact same piece.

that's strange, that we had similar experiences... i wonder if that set was the first to feature that element ???

i know it was the first time i saw it.

- BM

[Hinckley]

that's strange, that we had similar experiences... i wonder if that set was the first to feature that element ???

i know it was the first time i saw it.

- BM

I believe we are the same age and like-minded. Plus that particular piece was a dream piece, not only as a new element, but one you always wished you had. It was a modification of an existing piece and allowed you to put a slope on either side of a one brick thick wall in the same spot... *wub*

[casewindu]

My biggest Lego surprise was when I was about 9. I had come home from school and my mum had baught a massive bag of lego from our local charity shop. It had town and pirates and space all in one and I created a great collection.(before that i had onyl one box of lego) so then I started getting more and more until I was an addict! :-D

it was a great find *y*

[Brick Miner]

I believe we are the same age and like-minded.

yes, i guess age would have something to do with it... this makes me wonder if any other generations experienced the feeling when they discovered their "dream piece" *wub* that's a fun thought.

- BM

[iamded]

My favourite Lego moments would have to be;

1) The Castle lines, awesomeness, and now the new Castle line, so cool!

2) Rock Raiders! Probably my favourite theme, I loved the character Spark, and used it for my old e-mail (sparky_the_legofreak) and usernames (Spark) etc. The vehicles were so cool, the game was neat too (and still is :-P) the characters were all unique, however I only ever got the small sets. :'-( What a loss...

3) Becoming a member of Eurobricks! Sharing creations, getting to know our fellow members, and finding out about new sets! X-D Awesomeness. :-D

[Batbrick]

My favourite Lego moments would have to be;

1) The Castle lines, awesomeness, and now the new Castle line, so cool!

2) Rock Raiders! Probably my favourite theme, I loved the character Spark, and used it for my old e-mail (sparky_the_legofreak) and usernames (Spark) etc. The vehicles were so cool, the game was neat too (and still is :-P) the characters were all unique, however I only ever got the small sets. :'-( What a loss...

3) Becoming a member of Eurobricks! Sharing creations, getting to know our fellow members, and finding out about new sets! X-D Awesomeness. :-D

_____________

Rock Raiders were great! Too bad I missed out on them! :'-( xInfinity!

Becoming a member of eurobricks was great for me to, I got to share my love for Lego and people actually listened! :-D

Another surprise was tlc making Exo-Force. I never thought they would do anime. I didn't like them at first but now I really like them! :-)

Stalking you iamded! *skull* I also like your new avatar! :-) But still stalking you! *skull*

Batbrick Away! >:-)

[Siegfried]

...but wait there's more!

The return of an undersea theme as I missed the last one!

When I found out that the new Cement Mixer's drum actually works!

Exo-Force, which was a refreshing new theme when it came out!

Bridge Walker; that Mech is so cool!

The return of linked tracks!

S@H!

Pick-A-Brick at S@H!

The new cargo ship and the apparent return to plain boring city sets!

Recieving a free set (4992) in my Lego magazine!

[Shadows]

...but wait there's more!

The return of an undersea theme as I missed the last one!

When I found out that the new Cement Mixer's drum actually works!

Exo-Force, which was a refreshing new theme when it came out!

Bridge Walker; that Mech is so cool!

The return of linked tracks!

S@H!

Pick-A-Brick at S@H!

The new cargo ship and the apparent return to plain boring city sets!

Recieving a free set (4992) in my Lego magazine!

I must admit, someone did a fine job of picking the appropriate avatar for you, you're downright Troytastic *y*

Adding to the topic, the Monster Studios line, short lived as it was. Pure brilliance. There's just something about those sets that makes me wish there had been 10 more. That's saying a lot considering how much I generally disapprove of cardboard backdrops, but I just didn't care in this case, the minifigs were so good that they could have packaged them with practically nothing and sold me. Oh man ... Monster Studios Minifig Packs... Collect all your favourite monsters!

Can't ... maintain ... consciousness ... *passes out* :-X (well, he looks sick, sort of)

[Vader]

I must admit, someone did a fine job of picking the appropriate avatar for you, you're downright Troytastic *y*

Why do you see fit to mention avatars in most of your posts today? Seems to me your really stretching this out.