Did you want specialized parts to been continue used in future City se

[YellowCorvette]

The title say it all about what this topic is about.

Yeah, I know that specialized parts like single piece helicopter cockpit is use commonly in most of the City sets. While specialized parts make building sets easier for kids, the design of the pieces decrease the usability in MOCs for some AFOLs.

Would you want specialized parts to been continue used in future City sets?

Any comments are welcomed.

Edited December 31, 2015 by ArmstrongYong

[Alternator]

I call them prefab parts.

It's a complicated question - I suspect part of the issue is that Lego use those parts as they are cheaper and so keep the cost of sets down (I could be wrong).

I actually don't collect City partly because of them (I did collect for 1 yr).

But I wouldn't want them to stop using them in City and that line to get more expensive, really we have Creator and then the exclusive sets if we don't want to use prefab parts (or at least much less prefab).

[Phadeout]

A colleague told meanwhile ago he had strongly dissuaded his son from getting into Lego because he'd take a look at some of the current sets and felt there were too many of the pieces you mention and not enough "proper building". I can see the point but I'd never stop somebody buying/building Lego based on that premise, as you say the problem is probably more for the adult that the child who I doubt finds it a problem.

Adults do have other choices in how to create more complex builds and TLG do need to draw in new customers and quite frankly sets look better in many cases with specialised pieces even if you or I would feel it weakens the product to the point where we wouldn't buy it.

I live five minutes from a Lego store almost every weekend I see kids with their faces pressed against the windows in awe, and nearly as many adults, the pieces themselves don't matter at that point and by the time you've built enough sets to care you are probably hooked anyway.

[LegoCityNut]

I've never been too fussed by prefab parts, myself. I prefer the nose of a helicopter to look a tad sleeker, or for the hull of a ship to be a single part. It makes it look a touch more.. realistic (Using that term loosely) in terms of appearance.

I can see why people like brick-built parts, and why it's preferred, but it's just my own view.

[bjornkeizers]

I very much dislike the large parts; it's one of the reasons why I stopped buying LEGO for quite a while when they introduced and overused them. I like the building aspect of LEGO most of all, and the specialised, huge parts take that away. They also limit the potential for parts reuse and MOC'ing.

I prefer to use ten parts instead of one wherever possible. Which is also why I like the huge modulars: they don't seem to skimp on parts and will use whatever looks best and gets the nicest result, rather than skimp on parts. They design them the way I would design them: with as much details as possible.

[Paperballpark]

I prefer to use ten parts instead of one wherever possible.

Does that mean your MOCs are made up entirely of 1x1 and 1x2 elements?

Personally I don't tend to use specialised parts, but the fact is that they make sets aimed at young kids easier to build, which helps draw them into the hobby. The use of them also means that sets can be made larger for the same price, which helps with perceived value for money.

[droomangroup]

I think there is a difference between specialized/prefab pieces like hulls, cockpits, motorcycles, etc, and just obvious cost reducers like 6x6 panels. To me, the later is the bigger problem since it really does rob kids of the ability to build other things. I got the yellow castle set when I was like 6yo and for a long time after that I built a LOT of yellow things because of it. I also experienced the birth of the grey castle sets and the castle walls they came with. Even as a 9yo I felt cheated and hated those wall pieces.

That said, I think some older folks might argue that all the new parts like cheese slopes, brackets, modified bricks, etc are diluting the experience as well (I don't agree, but I've heard people say it...they weren't AFOLs).

However, despite the big panels and rocks in cheaper sets, I think the nice thing about LEGO now is that the builds are a lot more complex than they used to be and show kids things that are way more advanced than the 4-wide cars and super simple buildings of my childhood. I think the biggest draw of LEGO to me as an adult is that it's creative problem solving and the parts today and the sets available (even if they aren't cheap) totally foster some awesome creative problem solving by doing some pretty great SNOT stuff and using parts in all kinds of ways (like Bart's hot dog lamp).

Edited January 6, 2016 by droomangroup

[fred67]

I think city fans that don't like the large pieces can stick with creator sets and, at the high end, modulars. That may not help with vehicles, but then there's always building your own, and unlike something like a modular, a typical LEGO style cop car or family sedan is not that big of a stretch for your average LEGO collector to MOC.

[Lego Dino 500]

I feel indifferent about how many specialized parts Lego uses right now, but I'd prefer if they cut down a bit. If Lego went back to the old 4 wide or 5 wide standard for cars and trucks though, that'd be amazing. I feel like Lego is sacrificing vanilla bricks for SNOT pieces and doors and stuff a bit too much now, I can build a car or truck and use hardly any actual bricks. And if they focused on facades, using more parts instead of the horrendous play sets and wall pieces they have now, that'd be pretty cool as well.

[dr_spock]

I think the specialized pieces are there to shorten the build time for children so that they can get to play with set sooner than later. Given the short attention span of some young kids, it may make sense.

In any case, they come in handy for build challenges within a LUG as seed parts.