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Lego has changed since we were kids (2014)

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Re: Lego has changed since we were kids (2014)

#211

Post by nimajneb »

mortenjorck wrote: post #192
thesuitonym wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is it. People often complain that Lego is all about licensed sets, and yeah, that type of set has taken over your local toy aisle, but the regular sets are still there, and there are even more of them that there used to be. The only real change is that Lego gives kids more choice.

It's not all that different from an independent record store promoting the latest collectible vinyl drop to pay the bills so they can continue selling niche recordings, or an independent theater playing Marvel titles so they can afford to run arthouse fare. Lego has adopted the "keep a corporate job to fund your side projects" outlook, and given the consistent results in the Creator series and the continuing legacy o…

I really enjoy the Creator series. I don't really have money to spend more than $30 on a set at a time. It's also cool all(?) of them are 3 in 1, so you can choose between 3 instructions. It's fun to mix them and build new as well.

Re: Lego has changed since we were kids (2014)

#212

Post by criddell »

dawnerd wrote: post #155
cestith wrote: post #138

If you don't like the licensed sets, or even sets with instruction books, then you're still covered. Lego, Mega Bloks, and others have buckets or bags of just parts. To stick to Lego without a themed set, look for The Lego Classic line. If you want them as a themed set but maybe without a media license, there's the Lego Creator line (which does include some licensed material like the Bond 007 Aston Martin DB5). Kit 1…

Lego City is also a good line for more modern basics. What I love is heir move to creating adult oriented sets which are much more complicated and intricate. I seems the article was complaining instructions are getting more complex but that is only true in their larger sets. They still have like you mention all the classic sets too.

I wish I could rent a set. I’d love to put a huge set together, but after that I don’t really want it anymore and don’t want to deal with the hassle of selling it.

Re: Lego has changed since we were kids (2014)

#213

Post by bigthymer »

stuckinhell wrote: post #128
insickness wrote: post #8

> Lego has become more gender stratified In this day and age, I would be surprised if the Lego Friends line, which was created with girls in mind, were marketed explicitly to girls. My guess is that the girls stratify themselves by what type of toys they are attracted to. There's evidence that the preference is biological: Male monkeys prefer boys' toys https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13596-male-monkeys-pr...

I have a boy and girl, I purposefully made the effort not to push them into gender specific things, but hell they still ended up pretty stratified. They even play minecraft differently! I'm convinced there is a major biological underpining after watching these two grow up.

> They even play minecraft differently!

Pls explain

Re: Lego has changed since we were kids (2014)

#214

Post by robbrown451 »

I enjoy modern Legos (with my now 7 year old) but only because I have them a giant bin, unsorted. I managed to get an enormous collection for $150 from a kid that I guess was growing out of them and wanted the money. And I immediately disassembled all the "kits" (like the Slave I ship now known as "Boba Fett's Firespray gunship") so they were just random pieces. Yes it is fun that there are a ton of weird minifigures, some recognizable and some not. There are all kinds of interesting pieces in there.

But I really hate the idea that you should approach it like an airplane model or the like, where you put it together the one correct way. That is boring. I don't expect to ever buy a kit like that.

Re: Lego has changed since we were kids (2014)

#215

Post by alfor »

Is it still controversial that girls have different interest than boys? Please stop pushing ideology and let kid be.

I can see it plainly with my kids and with my wife and that is fine. It is just our nature expressing itself with variations through each person.

Re: Lego has changed since we were kids (2014)

#216

Post by MisterTea »

somethoughts wrote: post #175
cestith wrote: post #138

If you don't like the licensed sets, or even sets with instruction books, then you're still covered. Lego, Mega Bloks, and others have buckets or bags of just parts. To stick to Lego without a themed set, look for The Lego Classic line. If you want them as a themed set but maybe without a media license, there's the Lego Creator line (which does include some licensed material like the Bond 007 Aston Martin DB5). Kit 1…

One key mindshift is to realize that many of the newer sets are more in line with a 3D puzzle than a creative 1000's of blocks to invent your own thing. Its a lot less frustrating when you realize the replay value is in taking down the set and doing it again next year or passing it on to a friend - in a manner more analogous to how puzzles are engaged with.

As a kid I had a ton of legos and my main obsession were technic sets (Still have them). But, before technic sets I had a bunch of the early town themed sets. So for example if you bought the gas station, it comes with a little mechanic figure and tow truck. Most of the blocks were standard and a few specialty blocks rounded out the set like windows, doors, auto chassis parts, wheels, even trees and plants. Of course the majority of the blocks were generic enough so you could build whatever. Even the technic sets gave you a ton of freedom to build whatever.

Now have a look at the modern licensed sets and notice how MOST of the pieces are specialty. Those specialty parts are there to add more features but they are completely useless outside of their intended position in the licensed puzzle. How do you turn that fancy haunted house into a boat or truck? Lame.

Re: Lego has changed since we were kids (2014)

#217

Post by tshaddox »

somethoughts wrote: post #175
cestith wrote: post #138

If you don't like the licensed sets, or even sets with instruction books, then you're still covered. Lego, Mega Bloks, and others have buckets or bags of just parts. To stick to Lego without a themed set, look for The Lego Classic line. If you want them as a themed set but maybe without a media license, there's the Lego Creator line (which does include some licensed material like the Bond 007 Aston Martin DB5). Kit 1…

One key mindshift is to realize that many of the newer sets are more in line with a 3D puzzle than a creative 1000's of blocks to invent your own thing. Its a lot less frustrating when you realize the replay value is in taking down the set and doing it again next year or passing it on to a friend - in a manner more analogous to how puzzles are engaged with.

I would say it's more like model building than a 3D puzzle.

Re: Lego has changed since we were kids (2014)

#218

Post by onemoresoop »

somethoughts wrote: post #175
cestith wrote: post #138

If you don't like the licensed sets, or even sets with instruction books, then you're still covered. Lego, Mega Bloks, and others have buckets or bags of just parts. To stick to Lego without a themed set, look for The Lego Classic line. If you want them as a themed set but maybe without a media license, there's the Lego Creator line (which does include some licensed material like the Bond 007 Aston Martin DB5). Kit 1…

One key mindshift is to realize that many of the newer sets are more in line with a 3D puzzle than a creative 1000's of blocks to invent your own thing. Its a lot less frustrating when you realize the replay value is in taking down the set and doing it again next year or passing it on to a friend - in a manner more analogous to how puzzles are engaged with.

My 4- year old enjoys building Lego kits from instructions and I think it is a good learning tool that teaches to follow some rules (4 year olds don't have much patience but they can build it). The only problem that I find is that these instructions are often wrong and confusing and that's where I have to step in and become creative to get the puzzle in a finished state.

Re: Lego has changed since we were kids (2014)

#219

Post by bcrosby95 »

somethoughts wrote: post #175
cestith wrote: post #138

If you don't like the licensed sets, or even sets with instruction books, then you're still covered. Lego, Mega Bloks, and others have buckets or bags of just parts. To stick to Lego without a themed set, look for The Lego Classic line. If you want them as a themed set but maybe without a media license, there's the Lego Creator line (which does include some licensed material like the Bond 007 Aston Martin DB5). Kit 1…

One key mindshift is to realize that many of the newer sets are more in line with a 3D puzzle than a creative 1000's of blocks to invent your own thing. Its a lot less frustrating when you realize the replay value is in taking down the set and doing it again next year or passing it on to a friend - in a manner more analogous to how puzzles are engaged with.

I see my kids use modern sets just the way I did as a kid.

I would follow the directions to build the thing. Over time I would break it down and add it to my lego pile from which I made random things.

Sure, some pieces are very specific. But you can still take those specific pieces and add it to some other random very specific piece.

As far as I can tell, legos haven't changed that much in 30 years. There were a lot of specially crafted pieces back then too.

Re: Lego has changed since we were kids (2014)

#220

Post by mikkergp »

criddell wrote: post #212
dawnerd wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lego City is also a good line for more modern basics. What I love is heir move to creating adult oriented sets which are much more complicated and intricate. I seems the article was complaining instructions are getting more complex but that is only true in their larger sets. They still have like you mention all the classic sets too.

I wish I could rent a set. I’d love to put a huge set together, but after that I don’t really want it anymore and don’t want to deal with the hassle of selling it.

This seems like a great business idea, so great I checked to see if anyone was already doing it: https://netbricks.biz/
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