Technic 2020 Set Discussion

[blondasek]

Question, as I could miss that - is Lego said if there will be a controller for technic hub, ever?

Because I am really afraid, that this will never happen, as it will be difficult to make a controller which will be able to control 4 functions at once, or at least two outputs under one "joystick". If no, that will be a really big duckup from TLG and I will seriously consider buying new sets only to put old PF with Sbrick (if wanted) and selling the Control+ electronic after.

[andythenorth]

There's no public announcement of a controller for Control+. 

I can't see how it would work. Control+ offers features like motors acting like servos.  To be flexible for different sets, that would demand a programmable controller, with software transferred to it from an app on a smart device or computer.   But I've been wrong about TLG stuff many times before 

A physical controller with 4 or 6 assignable functions would also be an expensive part, at least if done to Lego standards (and not the cheap 4 or 6 way controllers my kids have for cheap drones and RC toys), and would raise the price of every Control+ set that included it.

In advanced economies nearly everybody has an incredibly powerful pocket computer with Bluetooth, it's 70%-80% for example in UK, North America and most of Europe.  Personally I prefer physical buttons to glass, but making a dedicated physical controller would be an odd choice by TLG 

Never say never though, Powered Up has the controller for trains / RC cars.

[Akbalder]

17 hours ago, kbalage said:

It's not that difficult actually, here's a blog post and a video that might help.

This blog post seems pretty sure that the Power Up app will be the one that will be able to control every types of motors but I don't see any evidence of that. Creating custom control schemes could also be done in the Control+ app.

[kbalage]

Just now, Akbalder said:

This blog post seems pretty sure that the Power Up app will be the one that will be able to control every types of motors but I don't see any evidence of that. Creating custom control schemes could also be done in the Control+ app.

You need to take my word for this, I wrote the post. The information comes from a Powered Up-related workgroup where I participated. Control+ was designed to be set-specific, the Powered Up app will be the one that'll have customisation abilities and that will support all hardware in the "family".

[Akbalder]

 

12 minutes ago, kbalage said:

You need to take my word for this, I wrote the post. The information comes from a Powered Up-related workgroup where I participated. Control+ was designed to be set-specific, the Powered Up app will be the one that'll have customisation abilities and that will support all hardware in the "family".

Ok. Thanks for the info :)

[TeamThrifty]

On 8/9/2019 at 10:02 AM, kbalage said:

You need to take my word for this, I wrote the post. The information comes from a Powered Up-related workgroup where I participated. Control+ was designed to be set-specific, the Powered Up app will be the one that'll have customisation abilities and that will support all hardware in the "family".

For me this is perfect.

[JWschwartz]

Does anyone think that the Ultimate technic set could be a liebherr mining dump-truck to correspond with the liebherr excavator coming out later this year?

[allanp]

1 hour ago, JWschwartz said:

Does anyone think that the Ultimate technic set could be a liebherr mining dump-truck to correspond with the liebherr excavator coming out later this year?

I don't think so.

[aol000xw]

I always missed a line of related sets all at the same scale.

[Gray Gear]

On 7/14/2019 at 8:42 PM, Ngoc Nguyen said:

I don't really like where Technic is heading. The theme feels like Technic-ized Speed Champions more than proper technic equipment. Too many cars.

NO. There con never be to many cars. We especially need more cars in 1:8 for some new Rims, and wheel arches in different colors.

[Bartybum]

I'm happy with there being cars as long as they're not replacing the construction/utility/transport vehicles that I much prefer.

[Ngoc Nguyen]

1 hour ago, Gray Gear said:

NO. There con never be to many cars. We especially need more cars in 1:8 for some new Rims, and wheel arches in different colors.

Is this Technic, the Theme of cars?

Edited August 20, 2019 by Ngoc Nguyen

[syclone]

@Ngoc Nguyen There is barely 1 car/supercar per year... (pullbacks are play, not display sets). And there are still so many rims that could be introduced into Technic  as well as many colour palettes incomplete  

Edited August 20, 2019 by syclone

[howitzer]

I much prefer almost anything over cars, especially sports cars (new Land Rover is a refreshing change in that). I mean, supercars provide you a nice and interesting building experience, but my interest stops there, they are far from interesting pieces to display and even less interesting to play with. That being said, I don't mind supercars, as there's clearly a customer segment that finds them appealing. As long as it's not mostly cars I'm fine.

What I'd really like to see are sets that are not cars or other vehicles or construction equipment. Technic line needs more of stuff like the T-Rex from 8485 Control Center II. Also the 8480 Space Shuttle is one of the most celebrated sets of all time, and while it's technically a vehicle, it's so far thematically unique.

[Jundis]

3 hours ago, syclone said:

@Ngoc Nguyen There is barely 1 car/supercar per year... (pullbacks are play, not display sets). And there are still so many rims that could be introduced into Technic  as well as many colour palettes incomplete  

Out of the 25 sets available one the TLG webpage right now (product range from 2017 to 2019) and excluded the 4 pullbacks (which imho are technic cars) we still have the following cars:

- 42077 Rallycar
- 42083 Bugatti
- 42098 Corvette
- 42096 Porsche RSR
- (42098: one car included)
- (42099: Still a car though)

Every six months, at least one cars have been introduced, making two every year. For the new 1H 2020 (list according to the post on second page of this thread) I've highlited the imho certain and possible cars we have:

- 42101 Buggy 117 pieces
- 42102 Mini Claas Xerion 130  pieces
- (42103 Dragster 225 pieces --> Pullback)
- (42104 Race Truck 227 pieces --> Pullback)
- 42105 [Boat] 404 pieces
- 42106 Stunt show truck & bike 610 pieces
- 42107 [2w]
- 42108 Mobile crane 1292 pieces
- 42109 TBD R-car 463 pieces
- 42111 [Entertainer]
- 42115 [Ultimate]

Even the stunt show truck and possible the 2w (bike) are not really technic models but more on the speedy side. We are certainly not short on cars... please more real technic sets more functions than steering and movable pins as cylinders...

[syclone]

Just now, Jundis said:

*snip*

Out of the 6 car sets in current range, 3 are licensed products - wider audience reach outside Lego fans (car people who buy just because it's a car brand or as a cool display piece) and 2 represent a truck with unique functionality and an RC set. Technic could certainly use more "functional" vehicles, but usually supercars and bright race vehicles catch more the eye than a different type of an excavator. The recent years and 2020 lineups do indeed have too much basic speedy stuff, but looking from another perspective these cars are all different and have different price points for the buyer. Obviously it would be amazing to get some complex machines and construction equipment (or maybe a T-Rex&Space shuttle remakes as mentioned earlier) in the lineup instead of a quadrillionth pullback, sportscar or offroader.

[Gray Gear]

I dont actually care what sets they release, If i can get some cool new pieces for my car from a bulldozer model, I am happy. But most Bulldozers dont feature 1:8 scale Sportscar rims, so we'll need some more "Supercars".

And tbh, sh*t like the corvette dont even really count as cars. Like, not even opening doors? seriously? At this point, you might as well put 4 wheels on a Orange and call it a car. Jam a differential in there and you wont be able to tell a difference.

[Erik Leppen]

4 hours ago, Gray Gear said:

And tbh, sh*t like the corvette dont even really count as cars. Like, not even opening doors? seriously? At this point, you might as well put 4 wheels on a Orange and call it a car. Jam a differential in there and you wont be able to tell a difference.

That's exactly why there's a problem with all those "car" sets. They're just not interesting as Technic sets.

That's exacty Jundis his argument. You guys seem to agree on this one.

(Yes, there are exceptions. We can all mention interesting car sets or uninteresting non-car sets. It's just that in recent years, there seems to be an abundance of very forgettable car sets.)

[Gray Gear]

Well, I just want more cars like the Porsche and the Bugatti, and less of those Corvette type sets.

I dont really like the Porsche, and the Bugatti is a fckn Wreck, but they brought good parts for me to use.

[suffocation]

Cars. Really? How interesting.

(skip to 0:52)

 

[Maaboo the Witch]

Nothing duller to me than a Technic car. Engine and doors, yee-haw.

[Gray Gear]

4 hours ago, Maaboo35 said:

Nothing duller to me than a Technic car. Engine and doors, yee-haw.

Well, a unreflected comment like that clearly shows you've never built your own Technic Car, otherwhise you would know there is a lot more to it. But there is no point in arguing with someone walking around wearing blinkers, unable to look left or right. You are missing out on a lot of cool building techniques and ideas, just saying.

[suffocation]

I think he's referring to official Technic cars, which - given also the amount of hype, especially for 42056 and 42083 - are as disappointing as a turd in a Snickers wrapper.

[Maaboo the Witch]

Just now, suffocation said:

I think he's referring to official Technic cars, which - given also the amount of hype, especially for 42056 and 42083 - are as disappointing as a turd in a Snickers wrapper.

Yes, that's what I meant. But @Gray Gear, there's no need for your attitude either.

[Vectormatic]

6 hours ago, Maaboo35 said:

Nothing duller to me than a Technic car. Engine and doors, yee-haw.

Depends, sets like 42077 are extremely uninteresting to me, even as a car-nut, but stuff like the Chiron, i love that, even if it is flawed in the typical lego way

 

21 hours ago, Gray Gear said:

Well, I just want more cars like the Porsche and the Bugatti, and less of those Corvette type sets.

I dont really like the Porsche, and the Bugatti is a fckn Wreck, but they brought good parts for me to use.

What about the bugatti do you consider "a fckn wreck"? i very much enjoyed building mine, and while the flaws are obvious enough (front suspension mostly, and lack of HOG controlls), i still consider it quite a feat of lego design that they managed to put the thing out there. It is a great showpiece, and quite impressive (and this is comming from someone who neither likes the real chiron much, nor was positive about the set upon release)

And agreed on the corvette, i bought it on a whim, and while i kind of like the idea of a smallish licensed car, the corvette just kinda sucks, the tires look all wrong, the front looks flat out wrong, the mini engine is just bad etc... the wheel arches offer some cool options for MOCers, but that is about all it is good for.