Which Themes Deserve a Reboot?

[Driver Brandon Grumman]

@Aanchir I'm going to pull out certain points of your written report. 

On 9/29/2019 at 7:12 PM, Aanchir said:

The 2013 set you listed was also a great vehicle! It seems like a big part of your frustration is just with how the sets are categorized… but on the whole, that's not something that is advertised on the boxes or even something that a lot of fans tend to notice or pay attention to (after all, it took until this month for Brickset to even acknowledge it as a subtheme, even though it's been around since 2012!)

Of course I focus on how itd categorized. I actually applaud City for doing that as it makes everything more organized. One thing I don't like about 80s town that I do like about City is that everything is well sorted and not in shambles. 80s town is like the nationalization of Britain's railways back in 1948. It was chaos. Subthemes allow everything to be organized. Also with subthemes, more opportunities can open up. So I'm not even worried. But I would like to see one year where City doesn't do a new police theme. Prayers going up for 2021 anyone???? That would be interesting to see. 

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Definitely wouldn't be surprised to see another wave of Cargo sets, since in the past it's usually alternated with more passenger-focused Airport waves in much the same way that Construction has with Mining!

From my professional observations (no arrogance intended), that's technically what cargo was. It wasn't really another airport theme like Lego leftists think. It was really just an extension. Similar to Police - Prison Island and Construction - Demolition Experts. That's why I never really considered prison island a police theme because it really focused more on the prison system. It wasn't a local force and though the mini movies portrayed it as such, it wasn't really focused on catching crooks. That's just from my perspective. 

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So if they DO end up reviving the Harbour subtheme, I have high hopes that they could far surpass the standard of quality we saw from it in 2007 or 2011! Fingers crossed!

Fingers crossed that they'll release Harbour, Farm and Cargo I'm summer 2021. 

Edited December 27, 2019 by pooda

[Driver Brandon Grumman]

I think the race theme from Town deserves a little comeback, don't ya think? 

Edited September 30, 2019 by pooda

[Digger of Bricks]

On 9/29/2019 at 6:12 PM, Aanchir said:

On 9/22/2019 at 10:54 AM, Digger of Bricks said:

*sigh* ...and yet the theme seemingly continues to stick to complementing the modern context of City & Company, despite having no outstanding obligation to do so. 

I think it's a little unfair to treat the designers like they're strictly or needlessly constraining themselves when there have been so many recent sets like Underwater Robot, Futuristic Flyer, Mythical Creatures, Modular Winter Vacation, Tree House Treasures, Mighty Dinosaurs, and Robo Explorer in which some or all of the models are based on fantasy, historic, or sci-fi subject matter. Even going back further there have been plenty of other sets inspired by fantasy creatures, robots/mechs, etc. It may not be throwbacks to classic themes, but it's not just modern day City/Town stuff either.

Even so, the reality is that a lot of the other sorts of subject matter in the Creator 3-in-1 theme like modern day vehicles, houses/shops, real-world animals, etc. have been very popular, and a lot of people express genuine disappointment when they feel like one or more of those things is being neglected. So even if there's no "outstanding obligation" to always have sets in these categories, there is still plenty of incentive for Creator 3-in-1 designers to maintain categories that have continued to drive so much of the theme's popularity.

I know, I know, Creator's Three-In-One line is seemingly getting better at stepping outside of their usual stomping grounds, though it just seems like it's taking awhile for the theme to give us a set that makes AFOLs realize the potential it could offer them. As I've expressed many times before, I really want to see Creator's Three-In-One line be to playsets what the Collectable Minifigure theme is to minifigures, making-up for where there currently isn't.

[Kalhiki]

Funny, I was just thinking Creator would be the perfect place to get some Classic set reboots. 

Though I wonder if including minifigures in some Creator 3-in-1s would help with that Classic feel. Like, if we got a knight in the Mythical Creatures set, it'd feel more like something from Castle. Or if we got a diver with the Deep Sea Robot, it'd feel more like something from Aqua Raiders or something similar. 

 

Either way, I'd love more Classic inspired Creator sets. Give me something Pirate-y or Spacey. 

[Driver Brandon Grumman]

Just now, Kalhiki said:

Funny, I was just thinking Creator would be the perfect place to get some Classic set reboots. 

Though I wonder if including minifigures in some Creator 3-in-1s would help with that Classic feel. Like, if we got a knight in the Mythical Creatures set, it'd feel more like something from Castle. Or if we got a diver with the Deep Sea Robot, it'd feel more like something from Aqua Raiders or something similar. 

 

Either way, I'd love more Classic inspired Creator sets. Give me something Pirate-y or Spacey. 

I hope they do some classic building reboots under City. Like the 6362 Post Office or the 379-1 Bus Station. We kinda got a revival back in 2017 of the latter, but I would like a ticket booth or something with it this time. 

I wonder if classic town ever had a grocery store! 

[Lego David]

To tie into the City discussion, I would personally like to see them revisit World City. 

 

 

 

Edited October 1, 2019 by Lego David

[Driver Brandon Grumman]

@Lego David World City is City's predecessor. Not a subtheme.. 

[danth]

3 hours ago, Kalhiki said:

Funny, I was just thinking Creator would be the perfect place to get some Classic set reboots. 

Though I wonder if including minifigures in some Creator 3-in-1s would help with that Classic feel. Like, if we got a knight in the Mythical Creatures set, it'd feel more like something from Castle. Or if we got a diver with the Deep Sea Robot, it'd feel more like something from Aqua Raiders or something similar. 

 

Either way, I'd love more Classic inspired Creator sets. Give me something Pirate-y or Spacey. 

I've been advocating this for years now. 

One really nice Themed Creator set a year for Castle, Space, and something else (Pirates/Wild West). Each needs to be essentially a parts pack + minifig pack to be successful.

[Digger of Bricks]

7 hours ago, danth said:

I've been advocating this for years now. 

One really nice Themed Creator set a year for Castle, Space, and something else (Pirates/Wild West). Each needs to be essentially a parts pack + minifig pack to be successful.

And not to mention, Creator could also easily support subject material that has never (and perhaps may never) seen a playset line of its own. For instance, may we ever see Lego attempt a line of playsets based upon Ancient Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek, or Roman civilization like Playmobil's been doing for years? Well, if Lego's uneasy about trying such, it couldn't hurt to test-out the idea with at least a single Three-In-One set, right? 

[MAB]

7 hours ago, Digger of Bricks said:

And not to mention, Creator could also easily support subject material that has never (and perhaps may never) seen a playset line of its own. For instance, may we ever see Lego attempt a line of playsets based upon Ancient Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek, or Roman civilization like Playmobil's been doing for years? Well, if Lego's uneasy about trying such, it couldn't hurt to test-out the idea with at least a single Three-In-One set, right? 

I guess the problem here is that figures, when they do appear in Creator sets, tend to be fairly generic and made from parts from figures from other themes (mainly City or other larger Creator sets). To have such unique parts for the historical type figures, they would either need to be produced for that one set, or appear elsewhere in the LEGO range.

Edited October 2, 2019 by MAB

[Driver Brandon Grumman]

7 hours ago, Digger of Bricks said:

For instance, may we ever see Lego attempt a line of playsets based upon Ancient Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek, or Roman civilization like Playmobil's been doing for years? 

I think Lego actually has been taking influence from Playmobil recently. You can clearly tell with some of the recent City sets that influence from Playmobil's City Life life was used. 

[Lego David]

2 hours ago, MAB said:

appear elsewhere in the LEGO range.

Well, we had Roman and Egyptian soldier minifigures in the CMFs, so they could go with those.

[MAB]

2 minutes ago, Lego David said:

Well, we had Roman and Egyptian soldier minifigures in the CMFs, so they could go with those.

We did, but then CMF parts are handled in a different way to regular sets. So unless they are brought into the same production line, then it is unlikely.

 

[Digger of Bricks]

2 hours ago, MAB said:

We did, but then CMF parts are handled in a different way to regular sets. So unless they are brought into the same production line, then it is unlikely.

We have seen recent Three-In-One sets introduce all-new torso prints, so give them time and I'm sure they'll soon be giving us all-new recolors of preexisting elements. 

[MAB]

7 minutes ago, Digger of Bricks said:

We have seen recent Three-In-One sets introduce all-new torso prints, so give them time and I'm sure they'll soon be giving us all-new recolors of preexisting elements. 

Aren't most of them City or used in City? Which new ones did we get from 3in1s?

 

[Asajki]

On 10/1/2019 at 6:41 PM, Lego David said:

To tie into the City discussion, I would personally like to see them revisit World City. 

World City IS City though!

This: https://brickset.com/sets/7239-1/Fire-Truck was a World City that was rebranded for city! 

And man is that coast guard base lame, it’s an ugly mound of sand with a few bits stuck on, it’s like a Jack Stone set! This is a better version! 

https://brickset.com/sets/4210-1/Coast-Guard-Platform

Edited November 3, 2019 by Asajki
Please don't quote pictures.

[Gomek]

On 10/1/2019 at 10:27 AM, Kalhiki said:

Funny, I was just thinking Creator would be the perfect place to get some Classic set reboots. 

Though I wonder if including minifigures in some Creator 3-in-1s would help with that Classic feel. Like, if we got a knight in the Mythical Creatures set, it'd feel more like something from Castle. Or if we got a diver with the Deep Sea Robot, it'd feel more like something from Aqua Raiders or something similar. 

 

Either way, I'd love more Classic inspired Creator sets. Give me something Pirate-y or Spacey. 

Yeah, I have yet to see a 3 in 1 set that need for my Castle or Space set ups. A unique castle or space figure would certainly change that. I think like many mini-figure collectors, I simply don't get enough Space, Castle, Pirate or generally historic minifigures. CMF has gone a long way to correcting for this, but if you through in a new M-tron, pirate, ancient Eyptian or classic castle figure into a $15 set and I'm there.

[Driver Brandon Grumman]

1 hour ago, OwenMistika said:

World City IS City though!

This: https://brickset.com/sets/7239-1/Fire-Truck was a World City that was rebranded for city! 

That's what I basically said. World City is City's predecessor. 

1 hour ago, OwenMistika said:

And man is that coast guard base lame, it’s an ugly mound of sand with a few bits stuck on, it’s like a Jack Stone set! This is a better version! 

https://brickset.com/sets/4210-1/Coast-Guard-Platform

Ikr. The coast guard bases given by Town Jr and City are much better looking and well thought out than that one. 

[Asajki]

4 hours ago, pooda said:

That's what I basically said. World City is City's predecessor. 

Ikr. The coast guard bases given by Town Jr and City are much better looking and well thought out than that one. 

Not just any old coast guard base, 4210! 

100% agreed by the way 

[Driver Brandon Grumman]

@OwenMistika Consider the fact that children love to save lives. I'm surprised that ambulances don't get the popularity that they deserve. The only release like one or two every other year. 

I was also disappointed that the hazmat squad didn't get any fame with this year's fire wave. 

Edited October 5, 2019 by pooda

[Lego David]

@OwenMistika, the Helicopter is still pretty cool though.

[Asajki]

20 minutes ago, Lego David said:

@OwenMistika, the Helicopter is still pretty cool though.

My friend got it, it’s actually kinda meh

7738 is better but I’m defence of newer sets, 60166 and 60013 are also better sets than 7044

Edited October 3, 2019 by Asajki

[smazmats]

On October 2, 2019 at 9:11 AM, OwenMistika said:

And man is that coast guard base lame, it’s an ugly mound of sand with a few bits stuck on, it’s like a Jack Stone set! This is a better version! 

https://brickset.com/sets/4210-1/Coast-Guard-Platform

I think that was one of my first sets when I was little. Honestly as a kid, that baseplate was amazing and I remember using it in for a ton of my creations.

Though now, it looks like it has aged as well as glass of milk.

Also a fun fact about the baseplate is that none of the studs have "lego" printed on them so it's weird to see an official part with smooth studs. 

[Asajki]

1 hour ago, Black-Brick said:

I think that was one of my first sets when I was little. Honestly as a kid, that baseplate was amazing and I remember using it in for a ton of my creations.

Though now, it looks like it has aged as well as glass of milk.

Also a fun fact about the baseplate is that none of the studs have "lego" printed on them so it's weird to see an official part with smooth studs. 

‘Aged as well as a glass of milk’ is a term that suits World City very well, from the roofless police car to the weird vests to the lumpy passenger train to the floatless boats, there are very few world city sets that lack a superior remake 

[Driver Brandon Grumman]

2 hours ago, OwenMistika said:

‘Aged as well as a glass of milk’ is a term that suits World City very well, from the roofless police car to the weird vests to the lumpy passenger train to the floatless boats, there are very few world city sets that lack a superior remake 

With that being said, those 9V trains released by World City gave me so many issues. I could tell that was the last straw because from the date of their discontinuation onwards, all trains converted to RC and PF. Smart move Lego.

PF is much more reliable than 9V. I can see why trains are selling better now than they did before.