astral brick

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Posts posted by astral brick

  2. Posted

    20 hours ago, Gorilla94 said:

    There was no historical human vs. human-playtheme with existing fractions (and one of them being clearly the evil ones).

    First of all, thank you for your elaborated answer, it was an interesting reading.

    20 hours ago, Gorilla94 said:

    Desert expedition was about a scientist, a journalist and an adventurer with evil treasure hunters as enemies and depicted nothing from ancient Egypt but graves and loose inspired temple ruins

    I see

    20 hours ago, Gorilla94 said:

    Lego Playthemes are always good vs. bad. There isn't much of that in history and even then you are on thin ice with depicting it that way.

    So everything comes down to politically correct, as I discussed in a previous thread. With hindsight, it was a miracle that Lego released Castle, Pirates or Western themes addressed to children.

    20 hours ago, Gorilla94 said:

    Lego made vikings a fantasy theme with horned helmets and fighting evil dragons and werewolfs. They are clearly pop culture vikings, not historically accurate ones.

    I was thinking of pop-romans too, something like Ridley Scott's Gladiator but despoiled of gory elements

    20 hours ago, Gorilla94 said:

    That works. I could imagine them do this with Greek mythological creatures and generic hoplits, too (and honestly hope they will do one day).

    An ancient Greece theme would be great as well

    20 hours ago, Gorilla94 said:

    Roman Legions were just an army.

    I was thinking of a whole theme - Colosseum, gladiators, chariot races, aqueduts, forum etc - beyond the military aspect

    20 hours ago, Gorilla94 said:

    ...Or will we just stay with fictional halfnaked savages from Germania, a country and culture completely invented by Ceasar?

    Why not? Cartoonish tribes of barbarians of course. I would accept barbarians with a Lord of the Rings style as the price to be paid for having a Roman theme 

    20 hours ago, Gorilla94 said:

    Because of that stuff like a realistic Viking will stay a cmf or just appear in a museum city set.

    Maybe with the new 18+ ranking things are going to change. In the meantime I hope that the microscale ancient Rome will be one of the chosen Ideas.

  3. Posted

    8 hours ago, koalayummies said:

    For those hoping to see war/sex/substance abuse and other mature themes; don't hold breath.

    "Won't somebody please think of the children!" :-)

    3 hours ago, Karalora said:

    The title of this thread is flawed. Since when does being marketed to adults mean that something isn't a toy? Adults play with toys...and no, not just "that kind." Who doesn't love toys?

    Rotfl, I knew someone would have made this joke

    3 hours ago, Vindicare said:

    The new underground scheme....fake IDs for illegal LEGO buying. 

    Rotfl! Anyway, the taste of "forbidden" may actually increase the sales of 18+ sets among children and teens. Genius marketing of Lego.

     

  4. Posted

    In relation to the new rating "18+", good marketing strategy, many potential customers won't feel embarrassed while buying a set and Lego has the perfect justification to charge even more money for big models. Hopefully, aside the increased depth of adults' wallets, there will also be a growth of mature themes or, at least, some serious revival of the classic ones.

    Finally, after years, Afols are officially recognised, it is time to celebrate it with a new acronym, Official Adult Fans of Lego.

    Long live the Oafols! 

  7. Posted

    2 hours ago, Gorilla94 said:

    It isn't possible to do such sets with Romans. They were real. Slavery, their few on human rights, sexuality, women, religion...

    This objection can be addressed to Ancient Egypt too, however there was a theme about it.

    2 hours ago, Gorilla94 said:

    If the theme was more about military like castle there would be the question who they would fight. Which real nation would be the villains?

    The barbarians?

    2 hours ago, Gorilla94 said:

    I am 100% sure we will see more ancient Cmfs. They have so much potential. But i doubt there will ever be sets.

    Don't you think there is a contradiction?

  8. Posted

    What I would like in order of preference:

    - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

    - Futurama Ship

    - Supercar Kitt

    - Microscale Rome

    - Technic Snow-groomer

     

    Likely winners:

    - Seinfeld (consistent with Friends)

    - Fishing Boat (matching the Fishing Store)

     

    Further review:

    - Typewriter

    - Earth Globe

  10. Posted

    13 hours ago, Berthil said:

    I've done shows with my GBCs and people are always amazed but most real good GBCs are a step too far to build themselves next to the high brick count.

    I wasn't thinking of intricated models like yours or Akiyuki's ones but something more accessible in term of costs, such as independent small modules/loops that can connect to each other in order to create a bigger loop or a longer line. These projects exist already.

    13 hours ago, Berthil said:

    GBCs on LEGO Ideas don't get very far.

    I know, this is a shame.

    13 hours ago, Berthil said:

    ...The contraptions designed from existing sets are fairly successful though, people have the bricks at home and easily can have a go at a GBC.

    Exactly, I was tempted to buy an old Technic set only to build the related gbc. I think that give it a go it is the key here, offering something new to customers, trying to open a new market. In fact, gbc are not that niche, considering that every relevant Lego event has the inherent section.

  11. Posted

    15 hours ago, Bartybum said:

    On the topic of unexplored markets though, Forma was something that I'd have liked to see do more kinetic sculptures. They're sorely needed in Lego's repertoire.

    Considering the upcoming Harry Potter sets, I think Lego finally understood it.

    13 hours ago, howitzer said:

    One problem is also the fact that once you have a GBC running, there's not much to do with it except watching it. No swoosh/wroom-factor, no manual functions to operate or switches to use like with most Technic sets, no imaginative scenarios of being a crane operator or supercar driver.

    True, this could be an issue.

  13. Posted · Edited by astral brick

    8 hours ago, gedren_y said:

    The problem is LEGO has Star Wars, which overlaps so much of that community that competing for attention without a popular IP is difficult.

    The elephant in the room.

    Quote

    ...If you're going the IP route, you need to do research. Who owns it? Would they license with LEGO? What objections could LEGO have?

    This is another essential problem. Anyway I still can't believe that years ago, with Macross license being allowed, this amazing Valkyrie - https://youtu.be/VFRhaNnne8c

    gathered the support only to be rejected. Unbelievable missed opportunity.

    1 hour ago, Exetrius said:

    These are pretty much all the needles in the hay stack, imho:

    What a useful recap! Post like yours should be periodical and deserve to be pinned.

  14. Posted

    17 hours ago, Lord Insanity said:

    There are present Space models on Ideas that are simply amazing?  Where are they?  Sorry but I think Exetrius is right on the money with this.  There hasn't been any absolutely stunning Ideas project that transcends the barrier of "already a Space fan and will vote for it anyway."

    I am afraid that you are reversing the cause and the effect. The problem is not the lack of good models but the absence of people interested to vote them. In my opinion this is mainly due to Star Wars, which has engulfed sci-fi to the point of preventing the generational turnover of Space fans. Besides, the leftovers of Space were redirected by Lego to other themes, both fiction oriented (Ninjago, Marvel/Dc superheroes, the upcoming Monkie Kid) and including a more realistic approach (some Town/City sets or the more expensive Nasa ones).   

    17 hours ago, Lord Insanity said:

    Searching "Spaceship" results

    Actually, since my first vote on Ideas, I noticed that using "starship" or "spaceship" in the search bar didn't lead me to Peter Reid's model. I don't know if it is related to Lego search engine features or it is a matter of tags, anyway it was and it is shocking.

    17 hours ago, Lord Insanity said:

    Where are the original Spaceship designs and how will they compete against things Lego currently has on the shelf that fills that demand?

    As much as I would like to see submitted on Ideas this model

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/tardisblue/31726117568/

    or a reduced version of this one

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/jon1138/33781902220/

    or any of these ones

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/legodoumoko/albums/72157635573953932

    I believe that these models would struggle even more than (Neoclassic) Space ones to reach the required votes, not relying on any Lego known theme or any other Ip.

  15. Posted

    10 hours ago, Exetrius said:

    Classic Space is essentially just a colour scheme and a logo, and because it has been so thoroughly explored through MOCs, I think only something that both looks unearthly cool (see what I did there? :tongue:) and is a unique take on the genre has a chance of reaching 10K.

    What should Space builders have to do more than they have already done? I mean, there are present and past models on Ideas that are simply amazing.

    10 hours ago, Exetrius said:

    The rover looks great,

    It does

    10 hours ago, Exetrius said:

    and the alternate builds also look good! It's literally a Vic Viper up there!

    Indeed, I noticed the same thing in another thread. Besides, it does have snot wings, isn't it a first time for a spaceship?

    10 hours ago, Exetrius said:

    And there's a space base, not so much unlike Captain Mutants space base, in concept. Icing on the cake: a new CS inspired space figure! Though I agree that this would look better in the CS colour scheme, I think this set deserves more love!

    It is like Lego is afraid of using its own famous colour schemes that could boost the sales, incomprehensible behaviour.

  16. Posted

    12 hours ago, pombe said:

    I guess there's not much of an appetite for sci-fi (outside of licensed themes) among the FOLs who vote on IDEAS.  Given the increased interest in IDEAS due to the pandemic, I had toyed with the idea of submitting a neo Classic Space MOC of mine, but now I'm too discouraged to try.

    Here it is, the vicious circle. However I cannot blame you.

    11 hours ago, Captain Mutant said:

    Those who visit the Ideas site are real-science space fans, but not so keen on the fantasy/sci-fi element of space.

    I think you are right. As far as I am concerned, this is kind of a lego dystopia, Space is gone and the City sets related to space that I remember from my childhood - and that I have never appreciated - have somehow replaced it.  

  17. Posted

    4 hours ago, Captain Mutant said:

    As one of the four cats, all I can say is a very sad sounding "meow"

    The saddest thing is to realize that, in spite of the effort of gathering the votes, Lego would have probably rejected the idea based on space or simply true sci-fi. There are baffling examples that still surprise me when I think of them.

    4 hours ago, Captain Mutant said:

    I've done my best chaps and chapettes but even the mighty Beyond the Brick haven't been able to give my project the lift it needs ? 

    I am sorry. You are in good company anyway, somehow Peter Reid's project is failing too.

  18. Posted

    26 projects have qualified for the next review, not a single Space classic theme one is present. I wonder if there is really a future for Space, too many great models aren't able to reach the 10k votes and we have to be satisfied, at most, with a 3-in-1 set, discussing if a rover is "space" or not and why a classic colour pattern wasn't chosen for it. I am afraid that we only are the usual four cats to vote anything with a vague resemblance to this theme, thus failing every time. 

  21. Posted

    17 hours ago, Parazels said:

    I am always surprised, why people spend (waste) so much time on copying really existing vehicles? Obviously, it limits your creativity, because you have to follow someone's design instead of creating yours!

    It is so sad thinking that, nowadays, the excitement of many technic fans towards the incoming flagship model does not reside in what type of model will be the chosen one but which license will be selected.

    17 hours ago, Parazels said:

    If you have a clear idea about a sports car with certain features (size, ptoportions, fumctions), then build this car AROUND your idea! 

     

    Which is exactly why the flagship cars before the licensed ones were so fascinating, they took inspiration from real cars but they were original creations of Lego designers, they were unique models.

  22. Posted

    15 hours ago, Erik Leppen said:

    For looks, there's almost all the other themes. Please keep Technic technical.

    Thank you for having perfectly caught the sense of this thread.

    15 hours ago, Erik Leppen said:

    The best example (in my opinion) being the demise of B models. I believe this started in licenced sets, but now pops up in generic sets too.

    I totally agree and, aside licenses, I believe this is connected, more in general, to the aestethics concerns I was mentioning - including studless design, panels and specialized parts - taking over the core technical ones.

    As an example, please check this model

    https://brickset.com/sets/42091-1/Police-Pursuit

    and this model

    https://brickset.com/sets/8022-1/Multi-Model-Starter-Set

    with the "same" amount of pieces. Nothing more to be said

    15 hours ago, Erik Leppen said:

    Keeping the same "spirit" but still a personal execution.

    Isn't the whole purpose of Lego?

  23. Posted

    3 minutes ago, Lyichir said:

    I don't necessarily disagree entirely, but I am curious why you are coming to this conclusion now (when we're going into a wave that's much more Castle-inspired and much less Space-inspired than many past subthemes).

    I see starships, bases, mechas...