fred67 Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 Because the "competitors" have waited until the patents expired, that's why TLG goes after them for trademark infringement instead. Quote
Sarah Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 There is an updated version of that in the Juniors line. Young kids that are ready to graduate from Duplo aren't ready for regular System sets. These kids need models that are easy to build and don't need gentle handling during play. This mother of a 7 year old son and a 3 year old daughter is VERY thankful for this piece. She can actually play with cars made with this piece. My son really struggled with the fine motor control needed on Legos and could have used Juniors a few years ago. But now that we have Legos out and about, neither child wants to play with the Duplos so DD has a few Juniors sets so DS can build her things she can play with herself. (And she can put a few pieces together herself. I particularly liked the pink plate used as a hat idea) Quote
anothergol Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 I do not really agree. It is like saying a 1x1 brick is pointless because you could stack three 1x1 plates ;) Like for the 1x1xN bricks, this brick with clip avoids alignment problems and probably looks better when used in the middle of a wall. 1x1 bricks save time, because they're used often (for some designs - I know I never use plain bricks because I consider them a waste of space, but when I was a kid they were welcome). What alignment problems are you talking about? It's dead easy to align an assembly of 2 plates + 1 clip, you just press it flat on a table. Then it's pretty much the same as a brick+clip. Brick+clip can only have 2 reasons to exist: -saves money for Lego -saves building time for kids Quote
legoguy1984 Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 I have seen those plates but really really don't want to mix my Lego with non Lego bricks. I also have to agree with those prefab car chassis pieces. Quote
Deathleech Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 What alignment problems are you talking about? It's dead easy to align an assembly of 2 plates + 1 clip, you just press it flat on a table. Then it's pretty much the same as a brick+clip. I think the alignment issue he was talking about is the 1x1 bricks can "spin" since they are only held together by one stud. This causes the edges to be off, they aren't flat or lined up perfectly and need to be adjusted. Quote
antp Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 (edited) They can easily move when you add/remove accessories from the clip. Also, as I said, when used in a wall that looks better than an assembly of plates. Even if the part isn't so "useful", it is not so useless either. There are so many worse ones ;) Because the "competitors" have waited until the patents expired, that's why TLG goes after them for trademark infringement instead. For the classic 2x4 bricks, but there are a lot of newer parts that were also copied. There isn't a patent for each part (and I doubt there could be one), it is just part design based on a global system (of which the patent expired). Edited June 18, 2015 by antp Quote
Aanchir Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 Would it kill Lego to use the molds they already created for Jack Stone and that stuff? Well, it might at least kill the theme, seeing as Jack Stone was a considerable failure. The Juniors plates and wall panels generally seem designed to prepare kids to use basic LEGO construction techniques — compared to Jack Stone, there are fewer walls panels that you "slide in" via grooves, columns that lock onto pins mounted on the base, or vehicle parts snapped together using built-in Technic pins. The base parts also make it VERY easy for kids with no non-Juniors sets to join bases together in a sturdy manner, as opposed to Jack Stone bases which might require Technic connectors or traditional baseplates that have to be carefully locked together from above. Quote
SweetiePie88 Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 "A plate with studs both sides seems to be the one thing on everyone's wish list yet has never been made by Lego." agreed. i used up the only few mega block 1x2 gender benders i had on the baseplate on my wall and i need more at some point. For now, i'm going to have to resort to the 1x2 plate, 1x2 brick, and half pin method when it gets to that point. Quote
fred67 Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 For the classic 2x4 bricks, but there are a lot of newer parts that were also copied. There isn't a patent for each part (and I doubt there could be one), it is just part design based on a global system (of which the patent expired). No, not just the classic bricks - patents only last up to 20 years - minifigures, for example, have been around a lot longer than that... the majority of LEGO bricks have. Quote
Lancethecat Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 Didn't LEGO design a new version of the lamppost not so long ago that looked almost exactly like the old one? That was a pretty useless piece. Quote
anothergol Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 I think the alignment issue he was talking about is the 1x1 bricks can "spin" since they are only held together by one stud. but the same applies to the brick version(?) Quote
Legotom Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 Didn't LEGO design a new version of the lamppost not so long ago that looked almost exactly like the old one? That was a pretty useless piece. Bear in mind that moulds wear out after a time. I've heard that the ones used to make 'basic' bricks like a 2x4 only last six months. So when the mould wears out it wouldn't be strange to slightly tweak a piece, to save on plastic or make moulds easier to make and/or use. Quote
antp Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 Indeed, it happens they made slight changes to moulds when they have the opportunity, cf the hollowed "pin" in some bricks and plates to save on plastic (even if the non-hollowed version is still in use), or the groove added to the jumper plate (and later the bottom changed to allow to use it as jumper also "from under") About the parts never made, this link was posted recently in another thread: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=22649&st= we can indeed wonder why these parts don't exist. No, not just the classic bricks - patents only last up to 20 years - minifigures, for example, have been around a lot longer than that... the majority of LEGO bricks have. Well there are much newer parts than the double-studded plate that were copied, so it is not an issue there I think. Maybe just for pride: they don't want to do it after the other one Quote
ShaydDeGrai Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 This mother of a 7 year old son and a 3 year old daughter is VERY thankful for this piece. She can actually play with cars made with this piece. My son really struggled with the fine motor control needed on Legos and could have used Juniors a few years ago. But now that we have Legos out and about, neither child wants to play with the Duplos so DD has a few Juniors sets so DS can build her things she can play with herself. (And she can put a few pieces together herself. I particularly liked the pink plate used as a hat idea) This brings up an important point, in my opinion, it's not just a question of "could this part be built with existing pieces?" there's also the question of "does it serve a unique purpose by being a single part?" By this metric I'll give a lot of parts made for the Juniors line a pass (in much the same way that I don't complain about there being Duplo bricks even though I can build a mass of blocks the same size as a Duplo brick from regular Lego Block). If the part is _intended_ for a younger audience, to make it easier for them to get into Lego - Great! - it's not a redundant part at all. If on the other hand, it's just a "macro" part intended for regular kits as a shortcut in the building process, I'd rather they stick to the basics. I think the worst offenders of this latter category came during TLG's own dark age when they when mold happy and kind of forgot that they were first and foremost a _construction_ toy. Those "prefab" parts eroded the building experience and the excess expense of unique molds seriously hurt their bottom line. Of course, I'll also admit that I'm thoroughly biased in this matter, I like big things made from small parts (I bought a full K-Box (the cases they used to fill the PaB walls in the Lego stores) of 1x1 gray cheese wedge slopes about a year ago and I'm running out now) and I know I'm a bit on the extreme here, but would it kill someone to have to stack two 1x2 bricks atop one another rather than waste a mold on a double height brick? Quote
antp Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 Indeed the 1x2x2 brick seems pretty useless. Only case it is interesting is when printed. Or transparent... but that later case do not seem to have been used. Quote
dr_spock Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 Indeed the 1x2x2 brick seems pretty useless. Only case it is interesting is when printed. Or transparent... but that later case do not seem to have been used. Actually that 1x2x2 brick is handy to avoid STAMP. The transparent sticker I made for my fire recue train covers two 1x2 bricks vertically. Quote
Wodanis Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 (edited) Bear in mind that moulds wear out after a time. I've heard that the ones used to make 'basic' bricks like a 2x4 only last six months. So when the mould wears out it wouldn't be strange to slightly tweak a piece, to save on plastic or make moulds easier to make and/or use. Indeed the 1x2x2 brick seems pretty useless. Only case it is interesting is when printed. Or transparent... but that later case do not seem to have been used. I surmise the only other reason is to use stickers on the parts such as the 1x2x2. Most of the time a new mould comes out to replace the older ones. Keep in mind most of the older moulds have been around for 20 years or better! I've noticed numerous parts that have been upgraded the past two years. Which is most welcome as some needed that extra bit of stability to the part. Other times they just come out with a better piece. Look at the way City ball caps for mini-figures have changed. In the 80's and 90's they had a really long brow and this was shortened in the newer version, now the part has shifted to a more authentic looking ball cap. In 2013 the City construction helmet was designed with a hole in the top in order for the headphones to attach. The mould changed again in 2014 as they realised it was quicker to have moulded the construction helmet with the headphones as one part than two separate. (Bear in mind TLG has now become more capable in moulding parts with more than one colour.) It makes the process more efficient. Instead of having two machines producing separate parts they use one! I admit the bricks 1x1x3 and 1x2x3 or 1x2x2 annoy me. I'm an old school builder and prefer to use more parts when building. It raises the level of satisfaction. Of course there is a cost issue but when I think about Lego I don't think of 'cheating' parts like these. Edited June 19, 2015 by Wodanis Quote
brickified Posted June 20, 2015 Posted June 20, 2015 All Lego parts are useful. One man's useless part is another man's treasure :) Quote
YellowCorvette Posted July 11, 2015 Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) The new Darth Vader helmet Yes,that new Darth Vader helmet is not needed.Seriously,I prefer the old Darth Vader helmet than that one on my user pictures (If you don't know which helmet I mean).The old Darth Vader looks better and didn't look dated because of the design of the helmet. Edited July 11, 2015 by ArmstrongYong Quote
Mesabi Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 I think some of the old raised baseplates are really big offenders. https://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?P=6092pb03#T=C is near useless for anything other then the original set, http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=6092pb03&in=S Raised baseplates in general look cool, but they have limited use for building. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.