Artanis I

Eurobricks Grand Dukes
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Posts posted by Artanis I

  1. Posted

    Speaking of getting up early, the times this year are perfect for my time zone, matches at 12.00, 3.30 and 7.00. Similar to last time, in Germany. 2014's in Brazil, that'll be havoc for my sleep cycle.

    Alright for you, the 2nd & 3rd games start after our midnight! Do you think our team got any 8:30pm games? Hell no. 2 of our group matches end at 6am! Painful. It sucks for us when there's sport happening in South Africa!

  3. Posted

    I see a lot of people calling the surfer dude a favourite in Series 2, why is that? Is it just the barechested torso, or are there other reasons? He's low on my own list of priorities.

    There are some things that could make it better:

    -Dark tan hair

    -Matching hair/facial hair

    -Not copying off of other minifigs

    Whoever heard of a surfer with dark hair?!? Haha.

  4. Posted

    I find Peeron useful for finding "similar items" like slight variations of a piece. I also used it for downloading instructions for sets I've bought from eBay or Bricklink that didn't come with any.

    I also find it strange that it has many inventories & instruction scans absent these days. I don't go there much any more. (New sets have an inventory in the back of the instruction booklet, and the instructions are on the Lego website.)

  5. Posted

    As for why, it's probably also due to:

    1) As stated, customer requests for building instructions. These have ALWAYS plagued LEGO, not sure if this was getting to be a bigger problem in the late 1990's.

    2) It's much more work to design and then photograph alternate models. Each one has to be approved and probably pass through the same design committees as the main model.

    3) Less perceived benefit. I'm sure LEGO looked into how much kids liked or appreciated the alternates. I would expect that if LEGO still found kids being attracted to the alternates, they'd still have them. But my guess is that kids nowadays are more likely to simply throw out the boxes (they're less handy for storage), making the alternate models even less valuable.

    4) Product representation. Probably not a big reason, but it's possible that LEGO was worried about misrepresenting the set they were selling.

    My best guess is #2. LEGO was struggling in the early 2000's, and started cheapening their packaging. So I'd guess cutting alternate models was mainly a cost saving measure.

    DaveE

    I have to admit, I could never figure out how to construct the alternative models. But I did like looking at the pictures, it kinda inspired you to try different builds with those pieces. I think a lot of the modern sets have so many small and specialised pieces and so little bricks and plates that it's difficult to actually make much else with what you've got. I tried to build something out of the Gold Heist pieces but couldn't come up with anything that looked a fraction as good as the original - and I think the original looks ridiculous. I'm sure I could build something if I used other pieces from elsewhere, but that's beside the point.

  7. Posted

    For my work I edit music, I used to work in radio (now volunteer once a week) in production & also as a DJ. 18 months ago I played in 4 bands all of a completely different genre. I play drums, bass, guitar & piano. Funnily enough I'm not in a gigging band at the moment, nor recording anything, but I'm playing regularly.

    Lego is winning at the moment.

  10. Posted · Edited by Artanis I

    I think LEGO short sold these to create demand so they can sell them all, one thing I learned along time ago is if it says Collectible it is not collectible.

    I think you may be right there (I was considering this the other day)... they created an illusion of a lack of supply in order to create a frenzy of "Oh no, I'm going to miss out! I'd better buy as many as I can!" then keep releasing them slowly and staggered to keep the demand a bit ahead of the supply at all times. Otherwise if they'd released them in good supply from the start the leftover stock would've just sat there, everyone having already bought what they wanted in the first place, not worried that they would miss out. This way people (and scalpers) buy more than they otherwise would have. Sneaky.

    edit:

    That's not what short selling means, but I'm not gonna argue semantics.

    Oh yeah, oops. You're right, but I knew what he meant by it.

  12. Posted

    I feel like stirring it all up a bit more... if I was responsible for all of this and got a kick out of reading all of the heated and frustrated comments about it you know what I'd have done to make it even more bastardly (dastardly but with a b)?

    I would've released all the series' in the exact same packaging. Boohahaha!!! All the bags, and all the boxes exactly the same. That'd stick it up 'em! Either no barcodes, or keep reusing old ones bahaha... Noone would know what was what!!! You couldn't even buy a box to make sure you got them all, because you wouldn't know which series it was!!! :devil:

    Did I just buy a box of series 3? Or series 1? Am I completing my collection or doubling my number of figures I already have too many of?

  13. Posted

    Wow. Was at a local drug store (Schlecker) today here in Munich, and there sitting in the shelf where 3 unopened boxes

    of Minifigures so I took one to the cash and asked if she could open one for me, very rude and stupid lady says that

    she can't open the box before I purchase it, A little buff I then asked here how much for the box?

    Takes the box runs it over the scanner and says €1.99, So I'm thinking ok I can play stupid too and paid for the box and then left

    Wen't back into the store and purchased the other two as well! not a bad deal 180 figs for €5.97

    I usually tell people that they make a mistake, but if the give me rude answers its there own fault!

    Also wander why Lego prints the same barcode on the box as well as the individual bags!?

    *oh2* wow... I would call that a profitable day.

    Sure. I just don't think I would have been able to walk out with the entire TRU's stock of a particular sought-after toy without feeling like a jerk, though.

    Yeah gotta leave something for someone else. Unless there was only a handful of bags there, that would be okay to take them all - no jerky feelings.

  14. Posted

    edit: Which castle impulse did you spot in the box, Artanis? Was it just the showdown, or did they have the prison carriage rescue as well?

    I honestly couldn't tell you. The cardboard box wasn't fully open, just the corner pulled back so I didn't get a good look at any images. I could only see the side or top of a couple of boxes to read that it was castle/kingdoms whatever and that there were quite a number of them. I do also recall there being a similar size unopened box not far away on the side counter. It could've been anything though, admittedly.

  15. Posted

    Toyworld Adelaide has it for $6 if that's any help. Looked like pretty fresh stock too so maybe toyworlds around the country just got more in.

    I got it for that much in a bookshop at the start of the year. Haven't seen it since. I got one from eBay last year with the Space Speeder for $10 inc postage. Thanks for the info, I'll give Toyworld another try later this week. When I was there they had a partly opened box of castle impulse sets ready to shelf. Who knows what else is in stock but not in store! Bad pun intended.

  16. Posted

    IMG_7809.jpg

    Target had the smaller ships for $12 down from $17 and the larger ship for $43 down from $59

    Toyworld had the minifigs but they were $4 a hit

    Nice swag! My foray into town just then was not so successful. Target was sold out of the specials, noone had the minifigs, and noone had %$#!@ K9 Bot. Everyone has (if they have them at all) the new sets at full price.

  17. Posted · Edited by Artanis I

    I'm looking to buy a complete box. My local Toys R Us and Lego store won't let me buy one (if they even had them in stock), and the local Targets and Walmarts don't carry them either. Any ideas on where I could get a complete box?

    I'm surprised your local TRU won't allow you to buy a complete box since I've bought 2 from my local TRU and would have bought a third today if I had the money.

    Also on a side note TRU has a policy not to place purchase limits on products in store.

    It sounds to me like a policy of that specific store near Inconspicuous, or one or more individuals working there. Given the diverse opinions expressed in this thread about what's appropriate buying behavior and what's not, it seems likely to me that some individual store personnel would have strong opinions on whether buying entire boxes is acceptable or not, and that at least some might disallow it (presumably unaware of the TRU chain's policy against purchase limits if they indeed have one).

    Inconspicuous, I think there are a few things you (or anyone else trying to find these things, or trying to get more of them than you've been able to so far) might try. First of all, be aware that they are still new, and a lot of stores simply don't have them yet but can be expected to get them sometime in the next few weeks; I suspect this is the case with Target, Walmart, etc throughout the US. Secondly, remember that LEGO is sold at other stores beside just the big box mass-market chains. I occasionally buy my LEGO stuff from a couple of small independent toy stores here in my own city; as it happens, neither of these have the minifigures yet, but people at both stores have informed me that they've ordered them and should get them. Finally, remember there's always the internet. Someone here at some point noted one could preorder boxes of series 1 figures from Entertainment Earth; they're sold out now, but it might be worth keeping an eye on them in case they get some more, as well as checking out other online vendors.

    Also, keep in mind that a number of S@H sites have sold out, I'd say they're really popular, and there's not many left. I could be wrong, but it seems to make sense?

    Edit:

    actually a couple online places have had to cancel pre-orders due to limited availability since LEGO is limiting the amount of boxs being sent out(friend of mine gloated about pre-ordering his online only to get an email stating due to innsufficent supplies being delivered his pre-order was being cancelled), in fact think someone mentioned it was like 2 cases per retail location or such, also with series 2 to be released soon don't think series one will be around long.

    what he said

  18. Posted · Edited by Artanis I

    ... an "Ice planet vs. Spyrius" revamp theme.

    ...and it could have a new monorail...

    Considering that SP3 has been reasonably received I think there'll be at least some space next year, how much I don't know. Possibly not much. New subtheme/faction? Maybe. I doubt there'll be more SP3, other than maybe 2-3 small sets to finish it off (but there's already quite a range). A new (or renewed) faction would be a big step - are Lego willing to continue Space 2.0? edit: it kinda says "we're going to do this for a few years, not just a couple as a novelty"

    Anything could happen of course.

  19. Posted

    And that's the problem. The barcodes ruin the whole game. Getting a complete set SHOULD be difficult. In order to get a set you should either have to spend a fortune, be VERY lucky or be capable at trading your duplicates (Which is a game of social and financial skill) or to the least have a super human sense tact or psychic powers.

    Nope, spaceman + robot would take 22.5 on average :)

    That's the reason this theme is not for you. You better spend on something else when series 3 comes out.

    I do want specifically the robot and the spaceman and these will probably cost 3 dollars when they arrive to my store if they do. I don't plan buying a smart phone and looking ridiculous scanning the packages using it (plus it is a small store so it ain't happening) so the series WILL be random for me. I'll have to live with it.

    The thing is, that chances are I am not going to manage to get my robot or my space man. But it will still be fun and I'll get many figs anyway. There's always use for minifigs.

    This system is not meant for you guys to just go get the fig you want easily. It is meant to be difficult. It is meant to cost. That's what makes the collectibles more valuable to people. And as afraid of "frustration" as you would be - It is exactly the frustration of not getting the fig you want after many tries which makes getting it feel very good. There is also the aspect of finding out that the fig you got and didn't want is actually good and you are glad you got it. That's how it works.

    It is of course not for everyone, but chances are that series 3 figs will appear in bricklink for top 3x the cost (which is still less expensive than buying tons of bags until you get it). So, it is not a big deal... If you consider you have better uses for your money, then go ahead and buy those other sets/products.

    That's the point :/

    Well, then you should really just get the "Undercover Cruiser" 2011 equivalent instead of series 3 when it comes. ^^

    First bit gets a bit sarcastic at times. Beware.

    1&6. Hey, no need to disagree with everything I say just because some of it is of a different opinion to yours, in summary of MY situation. You talk about yours too if you want, that's fine with me. That's what this place is for. But if they're not breaking any law you CAN'T tell someone they're not buying something properly, or cheating at the game if there's no written rules. (Is Lego selling something properly? Legally most certainly. But it's a pain in the backside for some! No reason enough to cry foul, but certainly enough to have a rant, as many have done.) It's all opinion, there's no right or wrong here. It's not written in the Bible or on the bags "thou shalt not use barcodes, for it's cheating the little kiddies out of their fun surprises" or "this is how it's MEANT to be played" but you know what? Apparently (I'm told) the kids are happy when they "play the game" ie (buy a bag & open it) -regardless of whether they get what they specifically wanted- because they still got a fun surprise, so if they missed out they get another one which is also a wonderful joyful occasion and open that to maybe find another one they didn't quite want (or they did want) & so on. So basically Lego wins because they have the kiddies' money, the kiddies are happy because they had fun & "got their cool surprise" & their amazingly awesome specialised minifig that can be used for so many varied applications, the evil AFOLs are happy because they got the figures they wanted via barcodes... Who's unhappy? The goose who wants to collect the series (or some of it) the hard way. (Which is actually easily rectified.) So what's the problem then? Barcodes can make everyone happy. No need to complain.

    2. Haha is it? I got my probably wrong estimation in a few seconds, based on the surely-not-far-off assumption they're equally available, didn't think it would be that far off. I think I only checked 10 or so before I found both anyway.

    3&7. most themes are not for me. Depends what series 3 has. I'm not getting any of series 2, because none of them fit the space theme. If there's one or two from series 3 I like I'll try to find them online. Unless the price is ridiculous, then I'll wait a few years, since the price really only goes up for sealed boxes/bags or for pieces/figs that are only in 1 set. It doesn't worry me, I'm not saying it out of protest, I'll just probably be happier doing it that way.

    4. You don't need a smart phone or barcode scanner. You can use your eyes and your memory. That's what I did. I was really really hoping I'd got it right, but couldn't find out until much later when I opened them, so it was very tense! Very exciting, and a huge relief when I was right. Phew! No cheerleader. Ahh breathe. (Would've been REALLY p*ssed if I'd got it wrong, haha!) I bought them from a small toyshop (only place I've seen them so far), the already opened box was right next to the cash register, 2 ladies standing behind the counter watching me curiously. School holidays were on, so a few kids there with their mums. Incidentally, if you were to get your 2 figures by "playing the game" you'd spend an extra $61.50 (3x 22.5-2) for a bunch of figures you don't care much about & 30 seconds of not looking ridiculous. That's pretty expensive? I personally think you'd look more ridiculous continually going back for more figures until you get what you want. I know I'd feel more ridiculous being diddled out of my money!

    5. That's fair enough for you, if you want to do it that way.

    8. Don't know why you said that, nor why I got a ":/" ... I thought Mac-K had some good points there, (probably forgot to say that) but added that for some kids it's not relevant.

    9. Yeah I'll get what I want if I can, if I can't then I won't. If I don't want something, I won't get it. If no series 3 minifigs appeal to me I won't touch them. If there's more SP3 I'll probably go after it anyway, but thanks for the recommendation!

    Happy building/collecting whichever you do. I do a combination of both, but under strict purchasing guidelines. Gotta draw some lines, or there's no money left for food on the table haha!

  20. Posted

    It could be that the Impulse sets haven't been selling (e.g. Atlantis and traveler) and so a decision has been made not to continue with the line further.
    I agree that that may be the case. I haven't seen many impulse sets for sale in general, which might be the cause or result of low sales. So far I've still only seen one local shop with SP3 impulse sets in stock (an independent book/hobby store) & I only saw the K9 Bot there once. Pity, because I'd buy 2 or 3 more, I want more officers for the new base.

  21. Posted

    BTW: The current distribution makes it so you'll need 58.1549 bags on average to complete a set (without "cheating" (please notice the quotes) ) whereas if all minifigs were equally available the average number of purchases required would be 54.0917
    or 16 if you "cheat"
    As I see things, this still comes down to the fact that many AFOLs are not really into spending $100s of dollars on collectables. Certainly a builder who wants a specific figure or two probably doesn't enjoy dropping a small fortune just to get the Spaceman and Robot; the only figures from the line that he will ever use. The funny thing is, if these were theme-specific I couldn't care less about blind packaging. If it were castle for example, I would be content with pretty much any figure. Conversely, if the entire line was space I would probably forego the line intirely. The difficulty is that as builders we are always looking for that one element or figure to enhance our MOCs. I just don't feel like forking out a small fortune for a single figure. If blind packaging comes along, I'll either stop collecting these, go from bricklink or buy a few boxes from the shelves and liquidate the remaining figures to recoup the cost.
    I collect space. I wanted a spaceman and a robot. No way I would try and get these "without cheating", on average it would take 16 tries. That's 14 figures I don't want (and won't use) x$4 (for some reason Lego is more expensive here) = $56 extra. I could buy another Undercover Cruiser + Raid VPR with that (on special this week that is).
    I know people should be held accountable for what they buy, especially a product with random chance included as a factor. Inherently there's nothing wrong with that. What I have a problem with is its targeting of younger children. You mention the "happiness of the surprise aspect", as if it's a widely shared feeling. I'm not sure I can agree with that. Surely most children have varied interests, and would naturally prefer one, or two, or more minifigs over the rest of the bunch. What happiness is there in being continually disappointed when you draw the one you don't want? Even if you remove the factor of AFOLs possibly taking an entire type of fig from a box, there's still a distinct chance that a kid will not get what they desire. To me, the process feels like it inspires luring back to the product if you don't get what you want. That smacks of taking advantage, in my opinion.
    Unless (as many kids do with collectibles and similar toys) you trade with someone else for one you want. I didn't like trading, and always regretted it later.

  22. Posted

    That's no excuse Artanis I, since all our talented blokes go to American football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, etc. :tongue:
    Oi! Haha. No excuses for USA: in a country of 300 million there's got to be plenty left over for soccer after all those other sports are taken! Not many other countries have anywhere near that many people.

  23. Posted

    Ha - it could as well have been 7:0. :tongue:

    I have to admit the red card was unnecessarily given. A yellow one would have been right. But the referee was very 'generous' yesterday. :hmpf:

    If you look at the photos (or replay), you will see the reason for the red card was because the ref's pants were up too high, and made him more agitated than usual!

    Australia sucks so much at soccer because all the talented blokes play this brand of football:

  24. Posted

    I :wub: vuvuzelas! :tongue:

    I'm surprised that the Australians couldn't handle the Germans. I was expectin 1-0 or 2-0, but 4-0 is insane!

    I set my alarm to wake me up for the 4:30am kick-off... I should've stayed asleep! What a disgrace! 4-0! How embarrassing!

    In all honesty I was expecting a 1 or 2 goal deficit as a reasonable result. The only hope for a salvaged humility is for New Zealand to have a bigger loss haha.

  25. Posted

    Still haven't read an acceptable answer on what the barcodes were "intended" for (and therefore "abused" when you use them to pick which figure you want). A computer scanner can't read them, as the flap covers the bars that are actually different (someone else has already said this) & also, why would they go around checking each box manually? That'd take forever, so it can't be for Lego to tell how many of each they're putting in a box. Besides, surely boxes would be filled the same as when a factory makes those boxes of assorted wrapped chocolates/sweets/lollies/candy/whatever you say: machine in factory puts some from this conveyor belt, some from that etc or similar.

    Or are there Oompa Loompas working in Lego factories sorting the pieces into bags?

    I see no purpose in having barcodes on there, other than the one some people have used: to buy what they want with the money they want to spend. I'm NOT saying they were put on there FOR THAT REASON, but I'm yet to hear a different (& valid) reason. Anyone?

    I'm talking logic here, not opinion.