D2C Designers requesting feedback for 2012 models

[gylman]

1. NO. They are spectacular display pieces that always generate conversation and enthusiasm. Also big building jobs that we do as a family.

2. Specific models based on what I like. It depends on price. I didn't like the Eiffel Tower or Taj Mahal as much as the Statue of Liberty, but I bought them when they were on sale or used to save money. A great set I would buy new at regular retail cost as soon as it comes out.

3. Tough question. Most of the great buildings have domes, and I find that domes don't really work that great with LEGO, though we try our best. I also don't want an insanely repetitive build like the Taj Mahal (which the Coliseum probably would be). A really tall tower, like the Burj Dubai or the CN tower would not be possible to do proportionally and not make it insanely tall.

I guess the Sydney Opera House would be a good choice with those considerations in mind. Maybe a working (internally and time telling) version of Big Ben?

4. An ultimate castle, along the lines of the ones built by AFOLs for contests. Internal details, external details.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36059767@N08/...094782/sizes/o/

There are many others..... this was just a handy link.

A nice change would be to have a Japanese style castle, and I've seen a few beauties, but don't have a link offhand.

5. Why did LEGO take the LEGO printing off their keychains!! It means that a keychain collector is getting nothing more than a regular fig with a nail driven through its head.

Until 2-3 years ago the keychains figs had some sort of LEGO identifier (ideally printing on the back, less good was the attached tile). This has totally vanished, and really makes the keychain much less interesting for me.

Also, please continue the Cafe Corner series. I love them all.

Finally.... what's happened to Technic? It's become pathetic. No complexity at all any more.

Edited June 8, 2010 by CopMike
Questions removed for easy viewing

[Hewman]

1. No, it's all about the models

2. Individual appeal

3. Anything ancient Greek or Roman, a cathedral with all those trans colours for stained glass windows would be beautiful, I also like the Big Ben suggestion someone made

4. I'd love a land based Pirate set, with a tavern, basically I'd buy any huge pirate set that wasn't 100% Imperial (then again if it was as impressive as the imperial flagship I'd get it), also anything that can work with the Medieval Market Village would be brilliant.

5. I'd love a steampunk theme and finally it's brilliant that this line of bigger sets is continuing, so thanks for some brilliant models and I look forward to more!

Edited June 8, 2010 by hewman

[SamuelsBricker]

1: No, I like the design more than the peices

2: I buy sets if they have good techniques

3: US Space Station

4: A newly designed "Mos Eisley Cantina" with better techniques and Minifigures such as The bar tender,

Snagletooth and his other one eyed friend, Luke, Ben,Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Greedo

5: Great Line, glad that it's continuing

Edited June 8, 2010 by SamuelsBricker

[jonwil]

1.Yes I buy the sets because they are great parts packs (although I wish I had the cash to buy more of them such as the Eiffel Tower)

2.I buy sets for individual appeal

3.I would like to see a landmark from Australia done as a LEGO set. The Sydney Opera House would be GREAT.

4.Either a large Space set of some sort (big and detailed without any "flick fire" items or good/bad guys. Just Astronauts doing what Astronauts do) or a large model of an Airplane, either civilian e.g. Concorde or Boeing 747 or military e.g. F-14 or SR-71 or B2. That or a "cars of the world" theme where models (VW beetle sized or maybe a bit smaller) of well-known cars from around the world are done (different parts of the world getting the car that is most well-known in their part of the world)

5.I wish to see more City models of things that have not been done in City before like a Zoo (which could be sold as a series of different sets, each with an animal and its enclosure (say 2 lions for the lions den or 1 elephant for the elephant house). And the sets could include some info on the animal and where it comes from in the instruction manual.

And more "civilian" sets generally as well as more minifig sets (the previous City Minifigure pack was great, now follow it up with another such set please)

More sets/parts in the Farm theme would be great, such as a Sheep. Maybe an Shearer impulse with a sheep and some sheep shears.

Oh and some "industrial" type sets would be great too (and if done right could be highly detailed without costing a fortune). How about an Octan Oil rig or refinery...

I also wish to see more variety in civilian minifig torsos and less use of the same torsos again and again (like the torso with the red jacket with the planet logo on the pocket, the torso with the 3 flowers/starfish on it, the black vest with the blue tie and blue buttons/pockets, the dark blue open jacket with light blue shirt and the dark blue plaid shirt with the red lines on it)

Oh and a license for the new TRON movie (About the only license that would be more likely to get me to spend money on LEGO than a TRON license would be a Ghostbusters license)

[dhc6twinotter]

1. No

2. Individual.

3. A colosseum or sports arena.

4. A large castle set based loosely on a real castle without all the mythical creatures and whatnot.

As a Technic fan, I would also suggest a large technic set, but I think TLG has that covered with 8043. Keep up the good work!

5. -I would like to see more large aviation themed technic sets. Maybe a UH-60 Coast Guard helicopter, or some other sort of aircraft. If TLG does design a technic airplane, please include more than just movable ailerons! A proper technic airplane should have ailerons, elevators, rudder(s), and possibly retractable landing gear.

-We need more pneumatic sets, and the ability to purchase individual pneumatic components (like power functions).

-I really like the modular town sets! I would suggest a police station or hospital for the next theme.

-I would like to see the return of the Robin Hood sets. Perhaps with the new Robin Hood movie(s), this could become a new licensed theme?

-Include more technic pieces in pick-a-brick, especially the large technic panels.

I really like the direction Lego has been going the last couple years. It is one of the reasons I've returned from my dark ages. Keep up the good work!

Daniel

Edited June 8, 2010 by dhc6twinotter

[JimBee]

1. Yes, I would. They offer rare parts (sometimes in unique colors) that would be way more expensive to buy elsewhere.

2. Individual. I'd be broke if I bought the whole line.

3. The Guggenheim Museum in Spain. It's a great work of architecture that I would love to see in Lego form. A difficult task with square bricks, but I'd like to see it pulled off.

4. Nothing in particular, but I would like to see the more sets like the Medieval Market Village. Seeing Castle-themed sets not based around knights and combat is always a nice change.

In addition, I would just like to see more of TLG teaming up with AFOL MOC experts like they did when designing the MMV. I could really see the difference in detail and building expertise with MMV compared to other 'ultimate sets', such as the Imperial Flagship.

Edited June 8, 2010 by CopMike
Questions removed for easy viewing

[mnybks]

1. I enjoy building the World Icon sets and once they are built there amazing to look at.

2. I would have collected the series if I started earlier I have the Eiffel Tower and Taj Mahal but not the Statue of Liberty.

3. It looks to me that you’re working your way across the globe so I would say something in Asia or South Pacific I would love to see the Sydney Opera House!

4. There are a lot of ultimate set that could be done but I would love to see a ultimate set that has a landscape something like six to nine large plates sold separately with each having a landscape with House or a scene of some sort that can be in time locked together to make one big diorama. not just flat plates with a house on, some thing that has hills and valleys a tree line etc...

[Corvus]

1. No. As they say, the model is more than the sum of its parts. However, if I took it apart, they do have some great parts.

2. Individually. If I like a set, I get it. If all the other sets in the theme are great, well, then I get the others, too.

3. Burj al Arab, Sydney Opera House, or Big Ben.

4. Anything that is high quality and well-constructed is fine by me. I think the Castle theme could do with a nice castle to go with the MMV, although it would have to be ridiculously expensive to be a proper castle. A lighthouse would be amazing. I put it in 4 because I don't have a specific one in mind.

[Tom Bricks]

1.No i appreciate the models themselves, there mostly one color, i like parts packs that have a greater diversity of colors/elements

2. I buy individually, I don't really view it as a theme

3.Big Ben

4. I would like a set like Medieval Market Village (buildings, foliage, colors, and may minifigs) for more themes, maybe a Hogsmead Village for the Harry Potter theme.

Edited June 8, 2010 by CopMike
Questions removed for easy viewing

[sidersdd]

1. No, I buy them for their amazing design.

2. Whole series

3. Ancient Kyoto, Kremlin, Sydney Opera House, Big Ben, Arc de Triomphe, Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Rushmore

4. More space theme sets - satellites, rockets, lunar/mars lander, planets

5. More train sets

[legitimatealex]

1. No. I would buy them because they represent a particular architectural feat or wonder.

2. I buy specific models because of individual appeal. I really like the Atlantis line. I hate the Neptune Carrier though and wouldn't buy it unless it was on sale. It just doesn't look very impressive and the manta ray creature is so underwhelming with the rest of the set. The ENTIRE line has to be good if I were to buy it.

3. The Sphinx

4. Another Medieval Market.

5. Don't use Chinese plastic. The garbage they use is already breaking and doesn't look right with the rest of my figures.

Edited June 8, 2010 by CopMike
Questions removed for easy viewing

[J_Bro83]

1. No

2. Whole Series

3. The Globe Theatre (Shakespeare's theater, in mini-fig scale if possible)

4. I'd like to see the modular buildings expanded into a school/university...or maybe do a gym.

5. Understanding that Pirates are being discontinued, I would still love to see a remake of the Imperial Trading Post using a much large footprint and 2000+ pieces. OR, I think most fans of the town/city series are really waiting for a hospital to be done right (either in the actual City theme or as a larger set). And last thought, lets see some more collectible mini-figs, like series 3, 4, and so on (along with some really specialty ones, like Marvel characters now that Disney owns Marvel).

[Eleven]

1. No, I do not buy them as parts packs, but for their aesthetic and creative appeal (and their overall awesomeness).

2. Individual. The qualities that appeal to me are a beautiful design, a variety in the pieces and/or colors used, and a complex and/or fun build.

3. a. Angkor Wat, b. Neuschwanstein Castle, c. Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle

4. I loved the Medieval Market (I bought 4) and the Town Plan. I like these ultimate sets most when they fit the qualities mentioned above, and when they are not just bigger versions of sets that are already fairly common (in other words, when they are original, supplemental to the theme and awesomely big; not just awesomely big). They need to fill important gaps in the themes.

Some ideas:

a. Castle: a huge forestmen village, a beautiful elven city like Rivendell, a medieval festival/feast/tournament, a huge medieval inn with stables (with room for multiple travelers and their horses)

b. Pirate: a pirate village, an imperial port and village (bigger than the existing ones)

c. Space: a civilian planetary settlement (keeping the vehicles to a minimum)

d. Town: a zoo (with existing animals, existing animals in new colors: zebras, brown or black bears, etc., and long-neglected new animal molds: lions, giraffes, deer, other bird species, etc.), a circus (with trapeze and stunt artists, vendors, animals, etc.), a park (complete with a pavilion and barbecue pits, a pond with rowboats, and an ornamental bridge and gazebo), ornamental or botanical gardens (with peacocks, hedges or a hedge maze, sculpted trees, new flower types that fit on the existing or new stems, etc.), a resort (either summer or winter)

5. I find the beauty of the set in the details. In non-minifig sets, I enjoy complex and beautiful architectural designs. In addition to the architecture, in minifig sets, I enjoy extra (unlooked for) features and details that make the sets that much more fun. For example, I loved the presence of the clock, rug, radiator, fire escape, etc. in the Green Grocer. The more of these kinds of things, the better. I also love good landscaping, or a great nature scene. A few new bird molds, flower molds, plant molds, and tree molds would be wonderful! For architecture, I love the new half arches this year. What about some upside-down arches, with round windows that fit between a normal 1x4 arch and an upside-down one? How about taller chain-link fences for urban scenes? With just a couple new pieces to fill the gaps in piece availability, the possibilities are greatly expanded.

[blueandwhite]

1. No, there are better parts packs for the theme I build in. I will buy a set if I like the model

2. I purchase specific models, irrespective of theme. Still, I have a preference for castle-based themes and will generally buy more sets from this genre.

3. Neuschwanstein

4. Another Market Village/UCS Castle set. Perhaps a tournament, village square or manor home (small castle, proper scale).

5. As a fan of all things castle, I really appreciated the MMV. Like many AFOLs, I would love to see more sets modeled like this. While the youngins may love a constant stream of knights and dragons, we old folk love our peasantry. Castle is a personal favourite of mine so I would love to see the theme go beyond the simple good guy/bad guy fortification deal.

[ILikePi]

It's great to see more surveys so that we can connect with TLG and so that the community can get what we actually want!

Here's my input:

1. No, I personally buy these types of sets because of their overall look and with the intention to keep the models built.
   
2. I buy the sets from individual appeal; I only purchase the sets that look very appealing, and not just because it's a LEGO Direct set.
   
3. I would love to see Mount Rushmore and the White House (a version larger than the Architecture one and with minifigures). I have more ideas, but I don't remember them as of this time.
   
4. I would love to see models like Cloud City (Star Wars), Echo Base (Star Wars), a post office (City), a bank (City), amusement park (City), zoo (City), an accurate LEGO Store (City), a hospital (City) and a scale model of a family home (City). There may be other items I would like to see, but I can't recall them right now...
   
5. I think it's awesome how a company like TLG actually wants to get feedback for future models and preferences from its true fans!
   

[einsteinonthebeach]

1. No

2. Whole

3. Sydney Opera House

4. A large, detailed castle

5. More sets for castle aimed at medieval life. Medieval Market Village was an amazing step in the right direction for Adult Castle fans, we would love more!

[The Penguin]

1) No. If I buy more than one then the other obviously is used for parts.

2) Individual. Though I personally tend to get all sets of themes that are of interest to me.

3) St.Paul's Cathedral.

4) Highly-detailed castle. With some exclusive minifigs and AFOL building techniques, pretty much like it was with MMV.

5) That's great, that TLC launches such polls, since fans can feel that their opinion is valued. Way to go, TLC! )

Good day, ladies and gentlemen! )

[MCNwakeboard]

1. No

2. Usually I buy based on personal interest, but I do have all the CC type modulars

3. Neuschwanstein castle

4. Large Modular Castle that fits the Kingdoms theme, but incorporates a modular design. For example, the castle would be the main set, but additional sets like a great hall, stable, king's chambers, armory, etc could be added on to enlarge the main castle because each set would be an expansion set to the castle.

5. Looking forward to more modular city sets and the next wave of kingdoms!

Edited June 9, 2010 by MCNwakeboard

[RepublicForces]

1.No

2.Individual

3.The borobudur

4.UCS AT-AT?

5.Can we have any star wars expanded universe stuff?

And TLC keep your hands OFF the chinees pastic

Edited June 8, 2010 by RepublicForces

[gusmoore17]

1. No. I usually don't buy them because it's a matter of buying one of these or various sets from other THEMES. In this matter let me compare how much more valuable was for me the Orient Expedition's Scorpion Palace set against the Taj Mahal produced last year...

2. Most of the time is the whole theme, as long as there's a nice background story and is well represented through Lego sets. For example, IMO Toy Story sets are missing this, so, I won't buy any, but on the other hand, the new Harry Potter wave really represents the essentials as long as it keeps the nice background story those are based on.

3. I don't think I'll buy any in the future.

4. ....But maybe a cathedral would appeal for me. What about St Peter's Basilica??

5. I'm also loving the way TLC has been designing and re-thinking itself since 2003-2004 to date. Keep on doing that, you've produced really amazing stories and amazing sets...I do like the new building techniques, parts, colours and minifigs' diversity. However, I have a wish list:

a. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' sets

b. What about Star Wars kind of scenarios..? just like the Battle of Endor set

c. Don't let Atlantis die!! You may explore many scenarios, ships, and legend throuh it...

d. Keep on producing Pirates, the way you developed its only new wave was amazing!

e. Revisit old themes, just like Adventurers, with very strong history and story backgrounds and basis

f. The so-asked-before Romans or Greeks sets, releasing them maybe based on mithology would be terrific! Look at Clash of the Titans not because it was a great movie but look for the possibilities it opens: creatures, characters, scenarios.... playability!

g. Keep on producing Medieval themes, wheter it's called Knights' Kingdom, Castle, Kingdoms....whatever, as I said before, the evolution process in stories and designs you've been up to since 2004 talking of this specifically kind of theme, has been truly awesome.

[Brickus]

1. No, I buy them because I like the models.

2. Individual.

3. Sydney Opera House, or the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

4. Star Wars Super Star Destroyer UCS Scale.

5. No Chinese parts, or over specialised parts, just an assortment of regular common bricks.

[Jargo]

1.No. Only interested in minifig scale products.

2. N/A

3. Don't want to see any world icon sets.

4. Huge city zoo using many of the existing animals and lots of new ones. Including in the set a monorail travelling around the zoo and an over all bias towards conservation of endangered species. Also scope to expand the zoo in the city theme with modular add-ons. Would be nice to see Lego working with someone like the Worldwide Fund for nature (WWF) in showing the educational and conservation nature of zoos.

5. Would like to see less use of primary colours. especially in city buildings. and much more variety of colour in civillian vehicles. Also the return of the cyprus tree to many sets. And other new foliage pieces. I'd also like to point out for future hospital sets, (hoping to see one in 2012), that it's very rare for red to be used in any medical building as it is classed as bad luck and also has too many bad connotations for patients. Instead I suggest greens or blues be used which is far more consistent with real world medical services.

[fff]

1. No, but it reaaly depends if the model is enough attractive or not

2. because of individual appeal

3. (More) Exotic Palaces (between 1000-2000 pieces)

4. SPACE to be developed as it deserves.

5. No Chinese parts, or over specialised parts, just an assortment of regular common bricks. Egyptians, Romans and Greeks. Revisit old themes, just like Adventurers.

thx

[alienwar9]

1. No. I buy them cause they are beautiful!

2. Both: Individual/Whole. I like every one as a seperate model, but I also am a collector and they are the top of the list.

3. probably a cathedral if possible. otherwise anything that has a natural background, aka trees, rocks, landscape, as part of the model. (castles work well)

4. Any kind of theme set in large scale. Like if market village were a $300 set, or town square. This includes castles, futuristic space stations, city blocks (or anything that would match corner cafe style buildings. So like a larger building or market square or train station. especially a train station), battle scenes, etc.

5. Firstly, I'd like to ask for more landscape to be included in sets. This means things like small build-able roads or alleys for town or corner cafe style sets, rolling hills or fields for castle, rocky outcroppings for sea sets.

The more awesome thing would be a line of "corner cafe styled" space / castle / western / historical sets. This means that every set would build on the next, always adding to the total scene. So for castle, like many have thought up, you'd have the walls, huts, houses, and main castle parts connect together. For space, you could have a space station that grows as you collect, with ships that you can add also. A western version of a corner cafe street would be amazing.

Finally, within this line, or even for the corner cafe line, it would be great to have "add-on" packs. Things like streets that actually fit corner cafe, parks, cars (fitting corner cafe more than the city theme), bridges, rivers, telephone booths, etc.

Castle could have siege weapons, a grassy patch with an army, defensive towers and wall sections.

For space, my favorite of these, the options are a bit more fluid, where different sized ships can be added to fleets, different "modules" of space stations, land based outposts, mini-fighter packs. You could even have "collector" and "grouped" packs where multiple little ships accompany one larger ship. And main releases would consist of parts of the capital ship maybe, where you can build up one ship the way you want and keep adding to it, with on-line options with different instructions on how to use a pack to create a certain part of the ship.

The main idea here though is this: keep a theme/line around for longer than a couple of years and allow people to keep adding to the theme over time, and keep the main parts of the theme (whether they be the main castle, the main market, the capital ship parts, the central part of the space station, etc) available throughout the run of the theme so that anyone can jump in and enjoy the theme without feeling as if they are too late.

With completely new theme lines all the time it feels like the same sets are being re-hashed over and over too much and that some cooler or more odd-ball things never get created. With a longer on-going theme based around "collecting" somewhat like corner cafe, I think it brings incentive to purchase a lot more sets in the theme, and keeps people coming back, rather than saying "I already have a fire station" or saying "this space theme is really different from that other one, they don't really go together".

I think that is why star wars and bionicle had so much success also. I think that could be a great route for castle to go to, as there are so many options for sets that it won't feel repetitive if the theme stays around longer without changing.

[meat1980]

1.= No I buy them based on individual appeal

2. = Individual, I buy the ones I really like or if I can get a deal I cant refuse.

3. = Golden Gate Bridge

4. = City - Elevated Train/Monorail

= City - Zoo

= City - Modular Hospital

= City - Major League Ballpark (Football or Baseball)

= Castle - Super detailed AFOL targeted Castle

= History - Roman Colosseum

= History - Wild West Town Center with Saloon, Blacksmith, and General Store

= Star Wars - Super Star Destroyer

= Star Wars - Jabbas Palace with improved Jabba figure and a minfig scale Rancor

= Star Wars - UCS Slave I

= Star Wars - Cloud City

5. = When designing City sets please make less emergency/rescue sets and more unique sets to complement our table towns. Other historic themes would be great!

Edited June 8, 2010 by CopMike
Questions removed for easy viewing