LEGO Star Wars 2016 Pictures and Rumors

[Vectormatic]

I really hate how "lazy" is thrown around all the time.

If the job was to design a new DS, and they slapped new paint on the minifigure and changed a few pieces that would be lazy.

If the job was to change out pieces that were no longer in production, and at the same time give the minifigs a paint job then it would not be lazy.

Because it would not be the same set - it would probably be a complete PITA in all their systems, with no real benefit.

It is indeed disappointing that there are no new worthwhile SW UCS sets this year.

In terms of AFOL-rage it would be better if the word had slipped that the DS would only be getting updated minifigs early on, then we would just be bitching about why it used one of the UCS slots for this year.

If the point was to update the part usage in 10188 (to remove old molds etc..), then this should have just been 10188-2, and not used a UCS slot, especially considering it quite probably used very little design effort to produce this set.

Personally im absolutely baffled that the walls still use straight bricks rather then some slopes on the edges, to make it look less like a jaggy mess.

[eldiano]

I practically made that Death Star a while back. New/old/ I love it, the design is timeless, they knew the old one was completely outdated and once I got mine I updated the mini figures and completely mixed in the sets that included the Death Star including the blaster. I will find a way to get this one also, but we can thank Disney for the insane price just for mini figures.

I'm glad it's the same thing, I couldn't imagine another version of the Death Star. I simply don't know what you guys expect with that amount of bricks and that price though.

[LordLEGOtube]

I was wondering if these images really were legit though, I mean, if you look at the image from the back in the VIP calendar it looks like an awful photoshop job with a solid black box around the turrets at the top that covers the Star Wars logo. Definitely doesn't look final.

[BrickShady]

It's great that I won't have to spend about 500$ on such a mess, though I really want to get an updated Leia, Han, Tarkin and Protocol droid plus a new astromech unit, but the aftermarket prices for them might get ridiculous...

BTW: the droid is named R3-O1 (or -M3) and it will be another one with transparent dome:

I'm so excited!

Edited August 19, 2016 by BrickShady

[Brikkyy13]

If the goal was to keep selling the old set but update the minifigs and a few pieces that are no longer commonly produced, why not just do that and keep the same set number?

I think the goal was to raise the price of 10188 and not have fans get all up in arms over it (obviously it failed). As stated before, what I think it boils down to is the fact that production costs of 10188 were getting too high and LEGO couldn't make a decent profit anymore. $400 in 2008 is approximately equal to $470 in 2016, and I think there would be significantly more backlash if they just raised the price of 10188. If they did that, people would probably get just as upset as they are now and would probably be asking "why don't we get updated figures with the price raise?"

[Robianco]

Personally I think it's fine. They've updated the 10188 with some very slight modifications and updated the figure line up.

I personally don't consider UCS slots as valuable or precious in any way. They're just two large sets that will be released alongside the regular waves every single year. Sometimes they'll be something you want and sometimes they won't.

This is not a lazy designer issue in the slightest. Designers don't walk away after being briefed and just look up the instructions for 10188 and make a couple of slight mods to then re-present it to the marketing team. This was planned by Lego from before retiring 10188 and the hype train just took it along and built it into a frenzy. Same as each year we don't get Cloud City or a new UCS Falcon there'll be disappointment... and none of it will be down to lazy designers.

There'll be a Death Star on the shelves for many years that Lego will now consider to be priced according to their new SW pricing structure and each year from now we'll continue to get two UCS sets. If next year they release a re-do of 10179 people won't mention 75159 or Assault on Hoth... but they'll be there for people to buy if they want them. Could it have been something different or new? Yes. Is it? No.

Lego's marketing and research teams scheduled this release as they believe it's the set that fits their audiences needs at this time whether we agree with them or not.

[Alonzo Brickovsky]

It's so funny. They didn't even use some slopes and tiles to get it more round and smooth, like they would have done with any new set of this proportion.

The only good thing about this, is that now the chances for remaking UCS Falcon seem real.

[PaulPrime]

It's great that I won't have to spend about 500$ on such a mess, though I really want to get an updated Leia, Han and Tarkin plus a new astromech unit, but the aftermarket prices for them might get ridiculous...

BTW: the droid is named R3-O1 (or -M3) and it will be another one with transparent dome.

I'm so excited!

I am going to BL that new astromech when prices reach a reasonable amount, and maybe some of the new hairs when/if available in Bricks&Pieces. So I am happy with this release.

[ElectroDiva]

I think the goal was to raise the price of 10188 and not have fans get all up in arms over it (obviously it failed). As stated before, what I think it boils down to is the fact that production costs of 10188 were getting too high and LEGO couldn't make a decent profit anymore. $400 in 2008 is approximately equal to $470 in 2016, and I think there would be significantly more backlash if they just raised the price of 10188. If they did that, people would probably get just as upset as they are now and would probably be asking "why don't we get updated figures with the price raise?"

Personally I would have been fine with that. It's unrealistic to expect prices to stay static over more than a year or two. It doesn't happen with any other product, so I don't expect it to with Lego either.

[DuckBricks]

You've got to be kidding me. This is the Winter Toy Shop all over again. I try to collect all the UCS sets. I even bought AoH telling myself that it's so bad because all the work is going into the new, awesome Death Star. And then I see this. I really, really have no motivation to buy this. Its really annoying as there will be a gap in my near-complete UCS lineup, but I really cannot bring myself to buy this. I'll Bricklink the figs only if they don't show up in other sets in a few years. What has happened to UCS this year....? Hoping for better offerings next year.

[atlas]

It's great that I won't have to spend about 500$ on such a mess, though I really want to get an updated Leia, Han, Tarkin and Protocol droid plus a new astromech unit, but the aftermarket prices for them might get ridiculous...

BTW: the droid is named R3-O1 (or -M3) and it will be another one with transparent dome:

<snip>

I'm so excited!

inb4 no printing on the back for some reason

Edited August 19, 2016 by MKJoshA
Don't quote pictures please

[x105Black]

You'd think after Hoth, they would listen to the community. Why not just make an Ultimate Playset Series or something, at least then it would make some sense.

They design these sets around a year before they release (sometimes longer), so they were already producing this set when Hoth came out.

Denial is just the first stage

Denial

Anger

Bargaining

Depression

Acceptance

That was great.

If the job was to design a new DS, and they slapped new paint on the minifigure and changed a few pieces that would be lazy.

If the job was to change out pieces that were no longer in production, and at the same time give the minifigs a paint job then it would not be lazy.

If they were clear about what the job was when they started, the backlash could have been avoided. It's like the Nexo Knights issue, rumors gave expectations that could not be met.

[Kim-Kwang-Seok]

Funny how the midi T-Advanced was doomed to look worse than the last. I forgot that the new Vader helmet has to fit in it.

[Paperballpark]

As I said elsewhere, I can kinda understand it from Lego's point of view. #10188 has obviously been a consistently good seller since it came out - otherwise they'd have retired it long ago. While that's a good thing for Lego, the length of time it's been available probably started to create some issues for them in the last year or so, for example:

- the now very out-of-date minifig designs

- the production of elements in colours that might only now have been produced for #10188

- the fact that, because of inflation, the price of #10188 was getting more and more out of line with current sets

So from their point of view, as it was still selling well, there was clearly nothing wrong with the basic design, so why change it? It just needed tweaking a bit to remove old elements etc, so that it can be on sale for another 7 or 8 years. ;)

(Incidentally, I'd half-expect something similar to happen with #10214 Tower Bridge in a few years, although that's probably not as necessary because of the lack of minifigs.)

Plus, the 10213/10231 Space Shuttle already established that they'll create a new set number if re-releasing it, even with only minor updates.

As for the number of 'UCS slots' per year, I seriously doubt that they limit themselves to X number of slots per year. It'll just be however many they design sets for. So if this hadn't been re-released, there probably wouldn't have been another UCS set in place of it.

[benderisgreat]

As someone who doesn't have 2008 DS, I really like this set! I can get why people who own last one, won't like this version, but there's only so much new , designers can add. New play features ,new techniques and finally updated minifigures! It's not like in universe DS itself changed, so it makes sense for them to just slightly update it. I really don't understand what did you all expect to get? Overall I'm not blown away , but I'm also not dissapointed.

Edited August 19, 2016 by benderisgreat

[BrickShady]

inb4 no printing on the back for some reason

It's funny how people crave more printing on astromech droids, but no one literally cares about a spinning head. For me personally it's a number 1 update to be done. I always thout that it would be easy for Lego to modify the droid body mould to fit the top piece of a 2x2 turntable, so that the head can turn around, but only future will tell!

Funny how the midi T-Advanced was doomed to look worse than the last. I forgot that the new Vader helmet has to fit in it.

For me this TIE is a great improvement over the last one with the use of new wedge plates on wings and slopes on sides of the cabin which create a more accurate look

[Cwetqo]

10214 already got such transformation, but since all bricks are still in production, they changed just the box (AFAIK). Thats why they left the same set number.

Number of UCS slots per year is not limited, but number of D2C sets on shelfs at the same is. If we look from that perspective, than new did not occupy D2C slot, but it just took the spot of 10188.

Now, I wonder what will happen in next few years. I seems that only new sets are really "new" and all existing UCS sets get just updates. Some are more updated (like X-wing) and some less, like DS. I remember seeing next years snowspeeder in retailer catalogue and what I then thought was picture of old snowspeeder (10129), but after last events, It might as well been picture of new set, with just slight modifications.

Those are of course just speculations, but still, If I would own 10178, I would probably sell it now, because the prices will fall a lot if re-issue comes.

[nikhkin]

It's funny how people crave more printing on astromech droids, but no one literally cares about a spinning head. For me personally it's a number 1 update to be done. I always thout that it would be easy for Lego to modify the droid body mould to fit the top piece of a 2x2 turntable, so that the head can turn around, but only future will tell!

I've anyways thought the same, but was concerned a turntable would be too loose. I has thought a 2x2 round jumper piece would do the job and hold it slightly better, or even a technic pin being inserted somehow.

[Juke]

It sucks everyone is disappointed. But for me, recently getting back into Lego within the past two years. I'm excited, missed the last one. Now I get to buy this one with better figures

[pcsguy88]

In 2015 I spent a solid $1000 on Lego SW. In 2016 I've spent $30 and that was out of boredom really to compliment my Sandcrawler with the Droid Escape set. WTH happened? I guess Lego just doesn't want my money anymore.

Thankfully in 2016, a certain competitor cleaned up their QC issues and focused their designs on adult static display models all while keeping their prices at sane levels, so they have gotten all of my brick money. I mean, heck, they got me to buy a 34" long starship from a 50yr old series I never purposefully watched and I squeal a bit inside every time I walk by it.

You might want to put some focus back on us 40yr olds with cash to blow Lego unless our money is not good enough for you. A good start would be to get rid of stickers on $200+ sets.

Edited August 19, 2016 by pcsguy88

[Infinite Bricks]

The ONE day that I don't check here the DS pics show up!

Anyway, is it just me, or do you guys find it odd that R3-O1 isn't up higher, like the section with R2 and C3PO?

One of my first posts, forgive me if I get anything wrong!

[Digger_Harkness]

Sadly, all i have to say is : meh

Let's just ermm... forget this set...

[Willsy]

I'm personally happy that they are keeping the design the same. In my opinion, 10188 was one of the best Star Wars sets ever made, and it stayed around for an incredibly long time. I honestly do not think they could have topped it aside from maybe adding exterior panels (which would drive the cost up even more). I think TLG wanted to keep 10188 on shelves but since it went by a pricing convention that may not be profitable in today's climate (bear in mind 10188 will be 8 years old when the new one is introduced) and includes outdated parts/prints that are no longer in production elsewhere, they decided to give it an update. As an owner of 10188 I'm glad TLG are keeping it around, it took me four years after it released for me to get it and it really is an outstanding piece, even if it is a playset first and foremost. I won't buy this new one, but I'm glad the set is sticking around.

Edited August 19, 2016 by Willsy

[Robianco]

In 2015 I spent a solid $1000 on Lego SW. In 2016 I've spent $30 and that was out of boredom really to compliment my Sandcrawler with the Droid Escape set. WTH happened? I guess Lego just doesn't want my money anymore.

Thankfully in 2016, a certain competitor cleaned up their QC issues and focused their designs on adult static display models all while keeping their prices at sane levels, so they have gotten all of my brick money. I mean, heck, they got me to buy a 34" long starship from a 50yr old series I never purposefully watched and I squeal a bit inside every time I walk by it.

You might want to put some focus back on us 40yr olds with cash to blow Lego unless our money is not good enough for you. A good start would be to get rid of stickers on $200+ sets.

They're probably happy you spent what you did last year but are aware that you may not spend it this year. There'll be thousands of people that will have spent more than you or I last year and will do so again this year and again next year. This 40+ yr old is happy when there's sets I'm interested in and doesn't really mind if there isn't. Not every wave will be geared towards me but I know that there will be different waves over different years that will have me spending a lot and some waves that will have me spending a little.

[strangely]

I actually am okay with the build. The only thing I would have wanted different is possibly cheese slopes to smooth out the curve. Otherwise I like the small improvements and am happy with it.

My real disappointment is the minifigures. I thought it was lazy the first time around, but now the lack of effort is showing even more. If I'm seeing right then literally Princess Leia's torso, Tarkin's torso and two droids are the only new minifigures in this set, everyone else looks to be variants that we've had in the last couple of years. Han's hairpiece is nice, but that will show up in a smaller set soon enough making this kind of pointless. For that price tag we should have gotten arm printing, leg printing, Luke's ep4 hair should have been recolored, they should have thrown in a new ep6 hair for him, Han should have gotten a Tattoine variant complete with boot molding and pinestripe printing on the side of the legs plus new facial expressions for one and all.

I'm thinking I might just wait to buy it without minifigures on eBay.

Edited August 19, 2016 by strangely