Are classic themes dead ?

[Grimalkin]

Unlke most here, I am not a hardcore adult lego fan.  I have the Brick Bounty from 2015, and bought a couple copies as an investment. I have the prison island set and arctic explore set and a couple others.  I also have the Barricuda bay which I built as a pirate ship but am modding the middle section so the fighting compartments actually house cannons, with another Barracuda bay set to sell at some point. I will be buying the El Dorado Fortress, probably on Friday.

I am really not a fan of Star Wars, cant stand Marvel or other cape*7#.  Anyway, I would really like for either Pirates or Space to come back, but it does not seem some the offerings provided have created the sort of sales necessary for that to happen.  Maybe the Barracuda Bay and El Dorado sets will revamp pirates, but that seems to be the one thing that could be resurrected. Pirates came along just as I was in high school so my thing as a child was space legos.  It was not so much about the sets you could builld but building different spaceships, fighter craft, bases etc with the lego collection you had acquired.  I suppose that classic space is never coming back is why I only dabble.  The Barracuda Bay ship is pretty sweet although it has its problems (notably the fighting compartment). THe El Dorado set looks almost perfect (I think the crane might of scale and need to be placed on a doc that is modded into but time will tell.

I hope I did not offend anyone with my aversion to star wars, marvel etc, I just dont like it but it seems mine is a minority view.

[Black Falcon]

10 hours ago, Grimalkin said:

I hope I did not offend anyone with my aversion to star wars, marvel etc, I just dont like it but it seems mine is a minority view.

Well you said, you are not a fan, don´t see how that could offend anyone. Not everyone needs to like the same stuff, then things would get pretty boring.

 

I don´t think Lego isn´t bringing back the themes because they didn´t sell well. I mean, there is a reason they seem to make more sets like that now, but sadly they seem to focus mainly on adults with them, than to try to make ones for childs also.

[Grimalkin]

38 minutes ago, Black Falcon said:

Well you said, you are not a fan, don´t see how that could offend anyone. Not everyone needs to like the same stuff, then things would get pretty boring.

 

I don´t think Lego isn´t bringing back the themes because they didn´t sell well. I mean, there is a reason they seem to make more sets like that now, but sadly they seem to focus mainly on adults with them, than to try to make ones for childs also.

 

I am actually pretty adamant about my aversion to Star Wars. capesh1t, etc. Pirates seems to be doing ok but maybe not. Brick Bounty only ran for a year--not sure if that means it sold out really fast or they phased it out bc sales were not what they were hoping.

Re space--I will add rather than a space theme I wish lego issued creator like part bundles where you could build space like mocs.  That will never happen though.

 

Edited August 23, 2023 by Grimalkin

[Lion King]

I’m ok with the fac that Lego can’t bring classic full themes back to the shelves. But I am happy that Lego do new in-house themes (Dreamzzz, Ninjago, Monkie Kid). I really like Hidden. Side, Nexo Knights and Vidiyo even tho they didn’t sell well. It’s becuase I love minifigures and their accessors (such as Jack Davis’ hat+hood piece), Mateo’s green-streaked hairpiece, cool axe and guitar-shaped guitars from Vidiyo, etc. I always appreciate every in-house theme.

this may be an un opinion but I would like to see a fantasy-oriented pirate theme along with army of merpeople, kraken, sea witch, etc with some references to classic Pirates theme. 

[MAB]

13 hours ago, Grimalkin said:

I am actually pretty adamant about my aversion to Star Wars. capesh1t, etc

I doubt very many people care that you don't like Star Wars or other licensed themes. Not every LEGO fan likes every LEGO set. What is important to many fans is that LEGO makes something that interests them and not only things that are interesting to them. SW typically accounts for about 30 retail sets per year out of maybe 500 or so across the whole portfolio. This is usually less than the number of retail sets for City, Friends and Ninjago themes. If someone prefers to badge themselves as having an aversion to products that they don't like rather than by what they do like then it sounds like they tend to have a pessimistic rather than optimistic view about the hobby. 

[Peppermint_M]

How about LEGO goes ultra classic:

A big box of red and white basic bricks with a few windows and doors thrown in?  

Being real here, Change or die is the thing in business. I think getting the odd throwback set is pretty fun. However, we are hitting a point where the original Star Wars sets and we are not far from the first Batman sets qualifying for "Classic" and that is a reminder of he inevitable march of time...

[Grimalkin]

9 hours ago, MAB said:

I doubt very many people care that you don't like Star Wars or other licensed themes. Not every LEGO fan likes every LEGO set. What is important to many fans is that LEGO makes something that interests them and not only things that are interesting to them. SW typically accounts for about 30 retail sets per year out of maybe 500 or so across the whole portfolio. This is usually less than the number of retail sets for City, Friends and Ninjago themes. If someone prefers to badge themselves as having an aversion to products that they don't like rather than by what they do like then it sounds like they tend to have a pessimistic rather than optimistic view about the hobby. 

Well, on a transformers board people were pretty miffed that I dont care for the "cartoon accurate" masterpiece figures, and prefer a hybrid incorporating elements from the toy, the cartoon, and improvements allowed by modern technology.  People, especially on the internet, can get testy for simply stating one dislikes something.

Even so, if I had a time machine, sure wish I had a  20 pack of those millenium falcoms to-resell.

[MAB]

17 hours ago, Grimalkin said:

Well, on a transformers board people were pretty miffed that I dont care for the "cartoon accurate" masterpiece figures, and prefer a hybrid incorporating elements from the toy, the cartoon, and improvements allowed by modern technology.  People, especially on the internet, can get testy for simply stating one dislikes something.

 

I can understand people getting miffed if someone goes to a specific board where people are discussing something and keeps posting the same negative posts. If you don't like something then fine, say why and say it once then leave that discussion if there is nothing positive for you in it. Instead go to somewhere that discusses things you do enjoy. So if you don't like Star Wars and prefer unlicensed space builds, hang out in Space and not Star Wars.  

[Peppermint_M]

19 hours ago, Grimalkin said:

People, especially on the internet, can get testy for simply stating one dislikes something.

In addition to MAB's wise words, as a longtime moderator on a forum: communities seldom like it when someone comes in to bash what they like and use vulgar language to do so. Repeatedly. 

Positive input results in positive responses. 

On topic: What qualifications make a set Classic? I would love a reissue of the Res-Q hovercraft, would that count?

[SpacePolice89]

I don't think classic themes are dead as long as we get sets such as the Eldorado Fortress or the Galaxy Explorer to name a few recent releases of sets belonging to classic themes. The last few years have been pretty good with Castle, Pirate and Space sets but of course would I prefer a full lineup of sets readily available in stores. Maybe we'll get there someday if they continue to release sets related to classic themes. It would be a good idea to reintroduce the Legends line with sets that they still can manufacture.

[TeriXeri]

2024 looks to have a ton of attention for "in-house" Space.

And looks like the closest to a "wave" of sci-fi sets will be within the 2024 City Line, with a Space Hover Bike, Space Mech, Interstellar Spaceship , alongside a Space Station and Rocket Base. (7 sets total)

None of it sounds like yet another Moon/Mars type of wave (Friends is actually going to Mars), but City going it's own direction this time. 

And then a bunch of other rumoured products like a Space focused CMF, Alien Pack / Habitat, or Space GWP, and perhaps an Icons/Moments type of set.

3-in-1 "Astronaut" could very well be a buildable space figure as well as the price/piece count is nearly identical to 40649: Up-Scaled LEGO Minifigure

Edited September 6, 2023 by TeriXeri

[LegendaryArticuno]

I hope they remake Ice Planet or Aquazone.

[iluvspacepolice]

On 4/13/2023 at 1:56 PM, Ondra said:

Nobody is buying vidiyo or hidden side even on huge clearance . I can even buy some sets brand new from Lego movie 2. All these in absurd amount of copies here.

Dreamzzz will be next, they never learn...

So true and so sad

[SpacePolice89]

On 9/17/2023 at 1:40 AM, LegendaryArticuno said:

I hope they remake Ice Planet or Aquazone.

That would be fantastic. They should do it like they did with the Galaxy Explorer and the Blacktron Cruiser, keep the overall style, colors and original minifigs while using new parts and building techniques.

[Lion King]

On 9/29/2023 at 9:11 AM, iluvspacepolice said:

So true and so sad

Maybe it’s true that Vidiyo and Hidden Side were unsuccessful in marketing BUT I do love colors, interesing pieces, and minifigure designs. I still look for some minifigures to collect in the secondary market anyways. 

I really like DreamZzz, in my opinon. 

[Black Falcon]

7 hours ago, SpacePolice89 said:

That would be fantastic. They should do it like they did with the Galaxy Explorer and the Blacktron Cruiser, keep the overall style, colors and original minifigs while using new parts and building techniques.

If that kind of sets are going well I can see Lego doing them for years and then we would likely also see an Ice Planet set. But for now I kinda feel like Lego is concentrating on the Classic Era Sets, like Classic Space, Blacktron, maybe Futuron, M-Tron and Blacktron II. You never know though.

 

[SpacePolice89]

11 hours ago, Black Falcon said:

If that kind of sets are going well I can see Lego doing them for years and then we would likely also see an Ice Planet set. But for now I kinda feel like Lego is concentrating on the Classic Era Sets, like Classic Space, Blacktron, maybe Futuron, M-Tron and Blacktron II. You never know though.

 

Any of those subthemes returning would make me very happy. Maybe Futuron or Space Police 1 is next?

[Aanchir]

On 10/19/2023 at 2:55 PM, Black Falcon said:

If that kind of sets are going well I can see Lego doing them for years and then we would likely also see an Ice Planet set. But for now I kinda feel like Lego is concentrating on the Classic Era Sets, like Classic Space, Blacktron, maybe Futuron, M-Tron and Blacktron II. You never know though.

They have shown a willingness to delve into early 90s Castle stuff now with the upcoming Majisto GWP set, so they COULD certainly do throwback sets based on early 90s Space subthemes as recent as Ice Planet 2002. Just depends what they think will be well-received by LEGO Space fans, I suppose.

M:Tron would be very cool to see, though I'm not sure how well LEGO could pull it off since they rarely include magnets in sets today, and those they've used recently tend to be much larger than those used in traditional M:Tron sets. An M:Tron set with just the color scheme but no magnets would be missing out on a huge part of what defined that theme (unlike later Space subthemes which featured magnets as just one gimmick among several, and could easily use a different type of connector or crane fixture in their place without feeling at odds with the subtheme's identity).

Also, at least for the time being, Tr. Fluorescent Reddish Orange is retired and Tr. Fluorescent Green seems like it's headed that same direction, which would likely prove an issue for several of those early 90s Space themes unless AFOLs were willing to accept other transparent colors in their place (which I wouldn't particularly count on).

[Black Falcon]

20 minutes ago, Aanchir said:

Also, at least for the time being, Tr. Fluorescent Reddish Orange is retired and Tr. Fluorescent Green seems like it's headed that same direction, which would likely prove an issue for several of those early 90s Space themes unless AFOLs were willing to accept other transparent colors in their place (which I wouldn't particularly count on).

WIth the Lightyear XL 15 Ship they didn´t care that much, that right colour isn´t avaiable. Just look on the box and then look what is inside.

[SpacePolice89]

14 hours ago, Aanchir said:

Also, at least for the time being, Tr. Fluorescent Reddish Orange is retired

Some pieces are still available from Pick a Brick. Is it old stock or are they still being produced?

https://www.lego.com/en-fi/pick-and-build/pick-a-brick?color=47

[Black Falcon]

19 minutes ago, SpacePolice89 said:

Some pieces are still available from Pick a Brick. Is it old stock or are they still being produced?

https://www.lego.com/en-fi/pick-and-build/pick-a-brick?color=47

All parts, aside from the Minihead are in 80008 Monkie Kid's Cloud Jet which is retiring end of this year. The head is just still not sold out I guess.

[TeriXeri]

4 hours ago, Black Falcon said:

All parts, aside from the Minihead are in 80008 Monkie Kid's Cloud Jet which is retiring end of this year. The head is just still not sold out I guess.

The head is also used in 80008 for the figure:

 

 

[Black Falcon]

4 hours ago, TeriXeri said:

The head is also used in 80008 for the figure

Ah well, thanks, that explains that at least - Bricklink doesn´t have that one listed but seems there has been both the hollow and vented stud version for this set.

[SpacePolice89]

There are also 15 pieces listed under "transparent fluorescent green". What is the status of that color?

https://www.lego.com/en-fi/pick-and-build/pick-a-brick?color=49

That color is very important if some sort of M-Tron or Blacktron 2 sets will be released again. It is listed under "yellow" in the Pick a Brick list even if the name is "transparent fluorescent green". In my eyes the color seems more yellow than green but I can see both colors in it.

[Alexandrina]

3 hours ago, SpacePolice89 said:

There are also 15 pieces listed under "transparent fluorescent green". What is the status of that color?

Presumably the same as trans-neon orange on a slightly later timescale, the colour appears to be being phased out.

Lego do have the ability to bring back any colour they want, should the need arise (I still have hope for a Sand Purple return) so the discontinuation of the trans-neon green/orange colours means probably no faithful M-Tron release next year - but shouldn't preclude them releasing an M-Tron set in an unspecified future time.