Lego Going Realistic

[SWMAN]

In the past few years, I have noticed that Lego has become more realistic when it comes to many aspects of its production, mainly concerning the Star Wars theme. With the introduction of the Flesh colored figures into Star Wars and subsequently into other licensed themes, they took a huge step in making the figures more realistic. I am sure they also made a lot of people who loved the Yellow figures mad. Then, just in the past year or 2, they have introduced the new guns and the new arms for the Battle Droids. Now, I am sure that not a lot of people prefer the megaphones over the real guns, but some may not like them. What do you guys think about Legos jump toward realism?

[Pencoin]

Yeah and the very realistic Agents, To me I dont mind it too much, as long as it doesnt get to realistic

[blueandwhite]

I'm not sure I'd call it 'realistic', but I do know what you mean.

That being said, I don't like the change. Essentially it has created a divide between licenced and non-licenced themes. I understand that this became an issue with the introduction of different ethnicities in the Star Wars Universe however I always felt that LEGO figs should be yellow irrespective of their ethnicity. We've had a variety of lines like the North American Indians, Japanese Ninjas, and the Islanders yet they were treated exactly the same as any other minifig. I think bringing ethnicity to the table was a real letdown.

As for the firearms; we've had similar firearms in the Pirates and Western line so I don't really see the blaster issue being particularly significant. The newer blasters don't really strike me as being particularly significant when you consider that LEGO has already produced guns and cannons for previous lines. Personally, I don't see the connection between the blasters and the fleshies. The blasters are simply the lastest in a long tradition of minifig weapons that goes as back as the late 70s with the Yellow Castle. The fleshies create a divide that makes licenced and non-licenced figs essentially incompatible.

[SWMAN]

I see your point when it comes to being incompatible. With the guns, I was simply talking about how they are the next step in Lego being more realistic, going from megaphones with orange dots to real looking guns. I personally like the Fleshies and think they look cool and better than Yellow ones.

[Kakihara Smile]

I wouldn't use the word realistic. They use fleshies to more accurately portray the chracters of the show/movie. Other non-movie lines still use yellow (thankfully). As for the guns hey gave us something they knew the fans wanted... Plus it helped them expand the line. They know sets sell better when they have new pieces, plus it gave them an excuse to keep releasing rehashes of the same sets. Honestly, I don't like the fleshies and am very happy they stay in the movie themes that I don't typically buy. As for the new guns, it is always nice to have new parts.

[tin7_creations]

not only in flesh tones. but the faces are more realistic too... especially the eyes... u can see that some of the new eyes (Indy, Batman, HP) all have a white dot in them (a pupil). And the smiles are more realistic

[cartoondude]

TLC has been getting to realistic lately. The eyes on the new star wars figs are to detailed: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemPic.asp?P=3626bpb316 they should just use this type of eye: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemPic.asp?P=3626bpb291

[AFOL SF]

Do you think George Lucas (or his company) has something to do with these changes? I wonder how much 'weight' he has when it comes to the final design of each SW set? If TLC takes this as a positive response, then does this give the company a chance/reason to do some 'experimentation' by doing the same changes on other themes? Just wondering...

[hewkii9]

I'd be really disappointed if George Lucas had any input on the sets.

[LEGOMAN132]

It is ok with me but i do not like the new arms for the droids all that much.

[Kingboy]

The eyes on the new star wars figs are to detailed: http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemPic.asp?P=3626bpb316

The new Star Wars figures are all from the Clone Wars series, specifically the recently released CGI animated movie. They are based on this:

not this:

I would argue that in this case, LEGO is not getting more realistic, rather they are getting less relistic in order to match the (overly) stylized art direction from the newest movie that the licensed sets directly link to. Admittedly, the new heads still look creepy to me, and I think they might have done better to have produced something along the lines of this fan created look, based apparently off of the non-CGI version of the Clone Wars characters.

Then again, as far as I'm concerned, the only good thing to have come out of the Clone Wars is some of the hairpieces created by arealight that are inspired by the look of the movie:

I'd be really disappointed if George Lucas had any input on the sets.

Prepare to be disappointed then. As with any licencee, I'm sure LEGO recieves information from Lucasfilms Ltd. as to what sort of things they'd like to see, what they don't want to see made, all that sort of thing. I doubt there's anyone from Lucas' camp coming in and telling LEGO designers which bricks to stick to which, but there's going to be some input coming from the licence holding company. That's just business...

[Fatespuppet]

I really believe the flesh tones and new weapons comes down more to attempting to mimic the movies. I, for one, love the differences that having multiple flesh tones brings in the licensed sets. I also enjoy having classic castle and town sets with simple smileys. Since I don't mix figures amongst MOCs I get to enjoy both.

The new guns, IMHO, are simply an evolution of the megaphones that started many years ago with pirates and the like. I believe Lego would've done it on the first release of Star Wars, but they most likely wished to keep prices down and see how successful the theme would be before investing in the R&D and infrastructure to make blasters.

[KimT]

The reason that TLG introduced the fleshtone minifigs and weapons in the licensed themes is very simple.

- "The fans wanted it". TLG made a consumer questionaire and it showed that a lot of fans (all ages) wanted the licensed themes to be "more" like the movies. Kids found Harry Potter odd, when he was depicted as a yellow minifig. - The same applied for Star Wars and Batman. So they changed it. Also the introduction of handguns in the licensed themes is for the same reason. Fans didn't like using loudhailers as SW blasters and so forth. This is also the reason that there's NO guns in the Agents theme. - Non-licensed themes still aren't allowed to have "real" guns. Otherwise we'd been given a golden uzi in one of the Agents sets.

So in short - we (the fans) wanted realism and we got it.

Now tell me that they (TLG) don't listen to us.

[Pencoin]

They dont really because I wanted EXO-Force to be fleshies

I think TLC needs to stop with the invisiable rules

[KimT]

They dont really because I wanted EXO-Force to be fleshies

I think TLC needs to stop with the invisiable rules

Huh

Did you read my post?

Non licensed themes will never (at least right now) be flesh/skin coloured.

The rules are not invisiable invisible. They're quite clear:

Licensed themes = skin/flesh

NON-Licensed themes = yellow

What difficult there?

[5150 Lego]

I'm not sure I'd call it 'realistic', but I do know what you mean.

Well, while i understand what your talking about, i'd have to disagree. I think they are becoming more realistic twards the series and adding more detail to the mini figs to match the movies/series more. I think thats great.

That being said, I don't like the change. Essentially it has created a divide between licenced and non-licenced themes. I understand that this became an issue with the introduction of different ethnicities in the Star Wars Universe however I always felt that LEGO figs should be yellow irrespective of their ethnicity. We've had a variety of lines like the North American Indians, Japanese Ninjas, and the Islanders yet they were treated exactly the same as any other minifig. I think bringing ethnicity to the table was a real letdown.

You make some very valid points, but i'm not sure if i agree intirely with what you've said. Personally, i don't see the ethnicity causing a divide between other themes. The ethinic figures in the Starwars line are meant to copy the characters in the movie series. I said this before that when it comes to licenced themes, i believe its TLC's responsibility to recreate the most accerate sets/figs they can. If the character in the movie has a darker flesh tone than another or apears to have differnt ethnic backgrounds that another, i really don't see an issue with recreating that same character in lego form cause its just that... A character in a fictional story.

Now, that being said, i can see where adding ethinic mini figs in the city line may cause an uprising with some people. Personally i really don't have a problem with it and would welcome it. I'm all for a realistic lego city, and have mini figs of differnt ethnic backgrounds i think would be great. Everyone in my town are stating to look like twins.

I'd be really disappointed if George Lucas had any input on the sets.

This doesn't make any sence to me. You do understand that he is responsible in some way or form of ALL the characters and vehicles in the starwars line right? Without him, you wouldn't even have a starwars lego line. Him and Lucus LTD. will always have a some kind of say in how they want the figs and vehicles to be portrayed. Like King boy said.

Its buisness.

[Pencoin]

By invisiable i me like TLC saying no fleshies in no non-lisenced themes will never happen. Like they changed the Agents guns at the last minute if you know what im saying .

[KimT]

By invisiable i me like TLC saying no fleshies in no non-lisenced themes will never happen. Like they changed the Agents guns at the last minute if you know what im saying .

Yes I know and they didn't change the guns in last minute.

The preliminary design had guns, but the final didn't.

All LEGO sets are done preliminary, then they're evaluated cost-benefit and ethically. Then we get the final set.

Nothing odd or unnatural about that.

Of course the designers would love guns in the agents line, but the rule is and will be for a long time - NO GUNS!

I've already explained this in my former post on this matter.

[Pencoin]

http://shop.lego.com/ByTheme/Product.aspx?...cn=543&d=70

Have a gander at Gold tooths gun

[KimT]

http://shop.lego.com/ByTheme/Product.aspx?...cn=543&d=70

Have a gander at Gold tooths gun

And this is also mentioned as the golden uzi.

Please go back and read it again.

Sometimes preliminary pics are accidentily used as you've linked.

The final version is this:

Now can we stop?

[the_lego_dude]

I think that in many ways Lego is getting more realistic, like with skin color, more realistic weapons, more realistic vehicles. And the new castle line looks so realistic compared to knights kingdom, blah!

[KimT]

I think that in many ways Lego is getting more realistic, like with skin color, more realistic weapons, more realistic vehicles. And the new castle line looks so realistic compared to knights kingdom, blah!

More realistic weapons? Like the scimitars in the Castle theme? or the fire extinguishers used for handguns in the Agents theme?

More realistic vehicles? like 6 stud wide cars instead of 4 studs? or the use of mudguards?

Please explain your points a little more, I'm confused as to what you actually mean. Do you mean they're getting more realistic all over? Both non-license and licensed themes?

[Pencoin]

My picture was to prove the TLC did it at the last minute which alot of people are sure they did (many things displayed at those events are changed alot from then notably Bionicle)

[hewkii9]

This doesn't make any sence to me. You do understand that he is responsible in some way or form of ALL the characters and vehicles in the starwars line right? Without him, you wouldn't even have a starwars lego line. Him and Lucus LTD. will always have a some kind of say in how they want the figs and vehicles to be portrayed. Like King boy said.

I know that, I meant it more along the lines of George Lucas looking at the prototypes and going 'oh throw in a Jar Jar fig there, and jack up the price on that thing'.

[Graynar]

The reason that TLG introduced the fleshtone minifigs and weapons in the licensed themes is very simple.

- "The fans wanted it". TLG made a consumer questionaire and it showed that a lot of fans (all ages) wanted the licensed themes to be "more" like the movies. Kids found Harry Potter odd, when he was depicted as a yellow minifig. - The same applied for Star Wars and Batman. So they changed it. Also the introduction of handguns in the licensed themes is for the same reason. Fans didn't like using loudhailers as SW blasters and so forth. This is also the reason that there's NO guns in the Agents theme. - Non-licensed themes still aren't allowed to have "real" guns. Otherwise we'd been given a golden uzi in one of the Agents sets.

So in short - we (the fans) wanted realism and we got it.

Now tell me that they (TLG) don't listen to us.

Unless I'm mistaken is there not a Wild West revolver in the Agents Mobile Command Center?