Faefrost

They have a huge backlog right now. The one that kind of shocks me is the "Winter 2012" one? It's 2 projects. Space Troopers and Purdue Pete? The only license is Purdue Pete and lets all be honest. That one ain't gonna be made as a regular commercial set. (At best they may come to some local arrangement like some of those classic promotional sets that some companies had made back in the day. Something for the Purdue Bookstore only. But otherwise they could easily simply spike that one as a matter of "brand fit" and move on). So the question is 'Will Space Troopers trigger an unwanted bit of legal nastiness from the crazy people at Games Workshop? And is that really something we want to deal with over a CuuSoo project?" Let's look at the current backlog; Winter 2012: 1. Purdue Pete - Hell no is this gonna happen. 2. Space Troopers - Barring a fight with GW, seems a reasonable project. Some non critical new molds in the proposal, but they could easily be ignored (I don't think the 2 headed alien is a core element). Big question is does it conflict with stuff like Galaxy Squad? And honestly its probably more complimentary than competing. Kind of surprised this one is taking so long to decide on. (once again, in no way believing that they have been spending 9 months deciding on Purdue Pete.) One other potential thought on the delays on this review. They may be holding off on an announcement until they have selected a set to make. If both of these sets did not pass review they may withold that until they also announce the next review period. Just saying "They all failed" is not exactly good PR. Spring 2013: A much more complex review period. Some licences. Some major questions. I can understand this one taking some time. 1. Exo Suit - A nice little non licensed set. Although this one I think will face some tough decisions in the design and the business case part of the review. This is one of the first times that we have seen an absolutely pure MOC get to 10k. Somethingthat does not tie back to other IP's and has a build and build style more akin to advanced AFOL's than to a more generalized customer base. If it is producted it will probably be really really changed as some of the connections don't seem viable for play. (The legs each are held on with 1 pneumatic T connector). Once again It's AFOL bait. I'm not sure if it has enough flash to attract the more general market. 2. Andy the Android Logo thingy - Is it in Lego's core interests to make promotional materials for another unrelated company? I can't see this as being a license that Lego would have any desire or business to be paying for. If anything they should be asking Google to subsidize it. A neat computer nerd tchotchky but I can't see the regular Lego customer base having much (any) interest in it. Especially when comparred to some of the more truly exciting stuff we have been seeing pop up lately like BttF, Curiousity, Ghostbusters, etc. This thing is like Purdue Pete on a larger scale. 3. Legend of Zelda - Again! Con's. It failed the first time and still needs at least 1 or 2 critical new molds. It's a video game property, so while enthusiastic the fan base is somewhat smaller than more mainstream pop culture stuff. Pro's. Zelda projects keep coming up. So there is a popularity there. Call this one a toss up. I think it will fail again, but it could go either way. 4. Landrover Discovery - This is the dark horse that might surprise us. It's a big gorgeous and obviously insanely expensive Technic set. But here's the funny thing. Technic fans tend to be older wealthier types who thrive on big expensive technic sets. Short run special edition technic sets sell out on their day of release even with $300 price tags. Just look how well 41999 is doing. So they have good market data for this sort of thing. It may surprise us. Summer 2013: Another really dense cycle with some complex questions: 1. Mini Shops - I'm not sure on this one? It has some of the problems of Andy the Android thingy, namely Lego advertising for someone else. But it is at least in a more common Lego form with play value. The fact that so many parts of it have differing licences is also problematic. But still it's cute and very Lego'ish at heart. I can see a Lego McDonalds or a Lego Starbucks being interesting and fun collectors items. I don't think this is the strongest overall CuuSoo project. But I think it may be the strongest of this review period. 2. Batman Tumbler - It's Dead Jim! No really, it's a set based on a current and active license, of a vehicle that they have made twice before. Including one version that is still on store shelves. As we saw with teh Sandcrawler existing and in production licences have some pitfalls that are not always apparent. Plus regardless of how good the model is, basing a project proposal on the thought of "The same thing that you currently are selling, but mine's better!" Does not strike me as a winning approach to the review process. Regardless of how true it may or may not be. 3. League of Legends - Ugh! My gut says this fails in the initial "brand fit" review, as soon as someone at TLG fires up League of Legends and discovers that it is principally a team based arena style PvP game. Or heaven forbid the poor somewhat innocent seeming TLG designers accidentally encounter the LoL online community. (Does the Lego health plan cover interwebz related post traumatic stress disorders?) That will probably kick it into that same verbotten category as FPS games. If that doesn't happen then it is a neat Castle'ish sort of fantasy set with some neat figs. They could do worse. It also has the same business case issues that all video games have. Is there enough of a paying player base to allow for sufficient customer conversion? Summer 2013: Busiest review yet, and some really tough stuff for them to work through. 1. Atlas - FOR SCIENCE! No seriously, it's a gray beer can. I understand it's educational and inspires youth to pay attention to science... but honestly, how? I mean yes it is intelligent, but the full term is "inteligent play". The thing has no play value. And as far as display model? Ummm? It looks like a gray beer can! Needless to say I am thinking this one gets politely voted down by the CuuSoo jury. 2. Female Minifigs - We discussed this one a few pages back. It could go either way, but I suspect that it will not pass review. It is more a message and less a project. It would make one or more nice little Creator type polybag sets. But not really as a standalone CuuSoo set. 3. FTL - a nice project. But it's a miniship set based on a PC game with maybe just barely 1 million copies sold. A good project, but not as strong of a business case as some of the others it will be in review with. Miniships are niche. The particular game this comes from is very niche. It will sadly fall into that same category as the Eve Grifter. 4. Poptropica - The most adorable project ever from an IP that nobody had ever heard of before they saw the pink bunny suit minifig. Pro's? It's literally weaponized cute. Con's? Niche Video game project that isn't well known in pop culture. Somewhat mitigated by Pink Bunny Suit Guy. End result? Probably will not pass review. 5. Ghostbusters 30th anniversary; 6. Ghostbusters - OK let's just treat these as the same thing. One of these is going to get made. No if's and's or but's. One of these sets will pass review. We will get an Ecto-1 and 4 figs. All that remains is how they split the baby, and how onerous the licensing is? (The one fear is that after the success of the BttF CuuSoo set the costs of some of these older movie licenses may go up. or be fought over by competitors such as Megabloks or Kre-O. ) Fall 2013 review: (and what looks to be sure fire to hit it? Anything over 9k is pretty much a given) 1. Wizard of Oz - This is assuming that the cutoff for this set placed it in the next review. Prognosis? The set gets made. Only possible complications? That new "Friends" type Disney theme might have an Oz component of some sort or in some way effect it. Like the BttF set and the Ghostbusters one, this is a near perfect execution of a classic pop culture set that crosses generational lines, good play value, and has broad male and female appeal. 2. Macross Valkyrie - as we have said. Great Project. Horrible License. If they can't make and sell it into North America, they will not make it. Not with things like Ghostbusters and Oz available to fill production time. And some likely to hit 10k for this one; - Japanese Old Style Buildings - We may get a set out of that one. Probably the Hot Springs. I don't think they would make the Shrine. Yeah, it's a little niche. But it's also the sort of thing they have a lot of data on from various Creator Expert type sets. - Legend of Zelda Iron Knuckle encounter - Yet another Zelda set. Same root problems. Actually this one is worse. It is a much more niche set. If you don't know the game you would not know this set or scene. Only Link. It has no Princess Zelda, and lacks much of the series elements of pop culture familiarity. - Lego Birds - I think if or when this one hits 10k, we will probably get a small set of a bird or two. I have long had the feeling that the Lego designers really like this one. It is so different, yet so amazing. If or when it hits we will see a small set to build Grandma a Parakeet that just won't die on her. Plus we may be surprised by a sudden surge of rising newcomers. Or the Adventure Time or Jurassic Park projects. (Hey! This Jurassic Park project didn't get deleted! Surprise!) Just my typically long winded 2c.

Isn't MGM a Disney property these days? That's why the recent Oz prequel was released under the Disney banner, and why Disney owns and operates the MGM theme parks?

I believe Baum's books are in the public domain? So no license needed there. Heck it might be debatable if they even need a specific movie license if they deviate a bit from the movie look. But I suspect it would be more politic to get the license from Disney, given Lego's good working relationship there. Just selling the sets at the Hollywood Studios gift shops and Downtown Disney would probably make the movie license worthwhile.

Buy it anyway. Even if they are just clearing minifig leftovers (which is a lot of what those packs are for) a strong showing of an unexpected Pirate set will help reinforce that the market for the Pirate theme is still good and strong.

Open jawed and speechless is the correct term.

Fire Brigade is probably the one that will be retired any time now, and it is one of the best Modulars. Just a great mix of details, architectural design, fun build, and such. It would be my first choice if starting getting them today. Next up would be Grand Emporium as the next oldest. It has a great exterior and lots of details on the ground floor. The upper floors are a little empty feeling and can feel a bit repetitive to build, but it is gorgeous. (Plus it s dirt simple to add more merchandise to the upper floors.) The Pet Shop is such a dense detail rich little pair of buildings. It may be the single best build of he currently available sets. Just so many neat things to it. I would put he FB ahead of it just because of assumed looming retirement.

I suspect that they are probably limited to 4 production cycles / year for CuuSoo, and as a result, while there may not be a hard or fast rule of only 1 set approved per quarter, they will be very very conscious about creating a backlog. Same review period sets will be getting a very hard look at "which one of these do you want filling one of those precious production slots?"

I really feel for the CuuSoo staff as this review period comes to a close. 2 virtually the same projects hitting in the same review. More review projects than they have ever seen before in one sitting. That whole mess with the Jurassic Park projects. And now it ends with a race to the wire asking not just what day a project hit 10k, but what time zone institutes the cutoff? Who said playing with Lego for a living is not a high stress job?

Krang Prime is voiced by Roseanne Barr, so I'm not sure it actually counts as female. Although the reveal that Roseanne is Krang sure explains a lot.(not in the show mind you. It's more of a reasonable explanation FOR Roseanne Barr.)

When does CuuSoo normally begin ending projects in which the IP is already licensed elsewhere? Is it once the license is officially known? Or once the competitor has released products? I know there was a great culling of Dr Who related projects awhile back. But other than that I don't remember this question coming up often?

Didn't we go through these same gyrations last time? The two missing numbers turned out to be the defender and the Starhopper. We have heard rumors of the Corruscant police ship and the AV-7 but have not seen these sets in leaked materials. These are probably the retailer exclusives, which do not appear in the retailer catalog that we saw leaks of. The numbering puts them right up against the last 2 such exclusives. We have witnessed this same basic patern for years. We always have 2 rumored sets that are missing from the initial retailer catalog leaks. They always show up later as store exclusives. The initial rumored names or subjects are typically correct. These two sets will not be something new that we haven't heard of. They will be the two that were heard of but not seen.

Am I alone in thinking that he will be in for a rude surprise regarding vote growth without the JP IP attached?

The yellowish tinge to the cellulose acetate brick isn't that surprising. I believe that type of plastic is notorious for that type of color shift. (Just look at some older film and slides.) One question I have on the Polycarbonate bricks is do we know if they receive a similar flame retardent additive to the plastic like that which ABS get?

I would not be surprised if the next detailed D2C set to fill that slot is a Pirate theme one. They snuck out that little Pirate fig set this week. And we have long known that there was a nice but unknown ship shown way in the back of that Lego design office picture from last year. Although I would not rule out a civilian'ish Castle type set. MMV did well. The Hobbit's Bag End set remains one of the strongest sellers of that line. Maybe some sort of Medieval fair?

The stores employees will typically know in advance of a products release. But honestly I think we tend to ferret out stuff before they hear about it. They may see some actual official technical details before we do, like piece count, price or price range, and most critically how big is the box, and what specials or promotions will go along with a release.

They don't always fill the full sweep of set prices. Look at the more recent Super Heroes releases. Also the next wave of Star Wars releases don't seem to have quite the degree of high end sets. The ATAP shown at Comic con looks to be the big set there for that wave.

I just realized that we may have increased hope for a Balrog set. One of the new races in the Chima line will be Bat people. With Bat themed vehicles. Hopefully this means some nice new vehicle sized bat wings. Which convert well to our old friend the Ballhog... Err Balrog. (And if you get that reference you are probably too damn old to be playing with Lego... Like me)

Ooooo! Those look to be possibly CMF Satyr's? They could blend nicely into Middle Earth builds.

While I otherwise can't stand the MF "good guy" cars, the one in this set stands out Just because it is such a delightful parts assortment all by itself. All those nice sand green pieces. Also the net while a worthless play feature, has many uses as set dressing.

Here's one that could probably use a boost. It is currently sitting at #11 on the vote meter. But it is the second oldest project on CuuSoo. Created 10-29-08. Suzuki's adorable little Apollo 11 moon landing. http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/25 I just love the idea of a project that old suddenly climbing above the haze and actually seeing the top of the mountain so to speak.

I think the safe bet is they will hit the Robots with some new shiny weapons.

Of those I would guess Oz as the likely winner. macross, wonderful project. Hideous legally challenged license. Jurassic Park, insanely popular project (or group of projects) riding a wave. But Kre-O has the license. BttF Train, great project and a definite maybe after the DeLorean. I just think Oz will hit a little more broadly customer wise. (A CuuSoo set as popular with girls as boys? That just cries out to FAFOL's?)

Delightful. I have fond memories of that book. Your build perfectly captures it.

Here's the thing. Your MOC's are telling your story. Or a story that is meaningful to you. People will look at them and love them for many reasons. But unless the MOC is telling their story, or a story they naturally mentally put themselves into, they will rarely vote or pay for it. This is why pre existing IP's do so well. The very nature of most of those IP's is a suspension of disbelief and a drawing in of the viewer/player into the story. This by nature makes the viewer feel a part of the story which in turn leads to support. This also happens with very familiar things. Famous places and landmarks. Historic events, etc. the trick is the project has to be something comfortably familiar, without crossing over into the mundane. You could make a spectacular project of your house. Wonderfully detailed, reasonable part count and price, and it will get very few votes. Because it is your house. Not the voters. They like it. They admire it. THey would love to examine how you built it. But it isn't their house. For the viewer it's a nice place to visit, but not where they want to live. There is no story that they recognize or relate to. Probably the most basic way to view it. Admiration happens when your project is telling them your story. Empathy happens when the project is telling them theirs. The better you do in telling the viewer a familiar and relatable story, the better you will do with support.

It's been vague, but in one of the announcements it did seem to be strongly implied that yes it is only one set per review period.