Signs of a new Greek/Spartan theme?

[Oky]

Hello there! I had this crazy idea lately and I wanted to know what you think. As we all know, TLC has given us clues for the return of Pirates, and I believe that they might be giving us clues again. Among the upcoming Lego Board Games, there is a version of Labyrinth that is called "Minotaurus" and has a Greek theme to it. It even has two lovely Greek soldiers on the box art! All the other games are based on a current or previously existing theme, except this one.

So, my question is: Is this a foreshadowing of a new Greek/Spartan theme? And will the theme have minifigs like on that box? It wouldn't be too hard for TLG to make such helmets out of the Senate Commando helmets:

I think it would be awesome to have such a theme with such minifigs as the good guys and all kinds of creatures from Greek mythology as the bad guys!

So, what do you think?

Edited March 18, 2009 by Oky Wan Kenobi

[Sandy]

I think the members of this site take everything as a sign of a new theme.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I wouldn't love to see an Ancient Greek LEGO theme, but I really, really don't see it happening. Don't forget that there are many other new LEGO board games released soon, and expecting every one of them to turn into a new theme would be ridiculous.

So I wouldn't get my hopes up, although the board game itself looks intriguing.

[Bazziman]

I would absolutely love it. Greeks hoplites....perhaps some Romans and barbarians too?

[-JD-]

It is possible. It would be great to recreate some 300 scenes. Imagine it. Some battering rams, mythical creatures and seige towers! Maybe even some battle packs!

I think LEGO would make a new mold though. The commando helmet is covered at the front.

JD

[Tacitus]

Hey-

I thought exactly the same thing when I saw the Republic Guard helmet, too! Although, I was surprised that the helmet had a painted visor, meaning that LEGO will have to modify the tooling should they ever decide to go Greco-Roman.

Tacitus

[Sir Dano]

I wouldn't mind a Greek theme- As long as it doesn't replace the Castle theme.

[exxtrooper]

It would be a very intresting theme, but I agree, I dpn't think TLG will ever make this kind of theme .

[simonjedi]

A Spartan theme?

That's MADNESS!

[Spyder]

I doubt they would make a new theme like that, I hope I'm proven wrong though. I love the Roman/Greek Mythology time period and I hope they come out with a theme like that. I would by every set! BTW. The helmets in the TV series Clone wars did not have the visor painted on, it was open. If Lego had made it like that, it would be vary easy to convert it. I doubt they will ever replace the Castle or Space theme as they are best sellers. (I'm surprised they discontinued Star Wars.) It could tie in with the old Vikings theme. Please Lego! I beg of you, make a Roman/Greek theme! Please!

Edit: Make it a Spartan theme!

Edited March 19, 2009 by Spyder

[gogobig]

I'd love to see that happen. I love greek mythology and any movie about greek/spartans I saw at least once. Their soldiers (helmets, weapons, and shields) are outstanding. I would easily drop at least a grand as soon as it would come oit.

[jp-30]

I doubt they will ever replace the Castle or Space theme as they are best sellers. (I'm surprised they discontinued Star Wars.)

Discontinued Star Wars? What the hell are you on about?

[WhiteFang]

I wouldn't mind a Greek theme- As long as it doesn't replace the Castle theme.

I share the same sentiments. I couldn't want to see Castle theme, having a trade off for the Greek theme.

[Tyrant]

I would love for that to be a real sign of a Greek/Roman theme on the horizon. I would like it if it were historically based (reasonably accurate, presumably having some other powers like the Persians) or if it were mythilogically based. The former could get us accurate armaments and buildings. The latter would get us things like Minotaurs and the Medusa, which would be great and could fit in with the current Castle theme. Speaking of which, I too agree that I would not want to see this replace the current Castle theme.

[MacK]

It is possible. It would be great to recreate some 300 scenes. Imagine it. Some battering rams, mythical creatures and seige towers! Maybe even some battle packs!

I think LEGO would make a new mold though. The commando helmet is covered at the front.

JD

Don't we already have all of that? I'll be it maybe not Greek siege towers or mythical creatures, but really how much of a difference is there?

Honestly I'd prefer if Lego just kept the current great Castle line. Since a Greek line would probably just be like a Viking line except there might be one or two Greek soldiers thrown in the bigger sets.

[Spyder]

Discontinued Star Wars? What the hell are you on about?

TLG will stop making Lego Star Wars sets in 2011.

[jonwil]

Has there been an official announcement from TLG about the 2011 end of Star Wars?

[Natman8000]

Has there been an official announcement from TLG about the 2011 end of Star Wars?

Sorry to mini-mod but this is not the right topic for that. C'mon, this is about Spartans.

I really dont think the board game realease of little spartans will possibly give us a real theme.

[blueandwhite]

I hope not.

It's not that I don't think that Greeks or Romans aren't interesting; it's just that producing too many overlapping themes could have a negative impact on sales. I just don't see a Greek/Roman line doing that well with the existing Castle line. One trend I've never been fond of is the introduction of short-lived themes which end up diluting LEGO's core brands. I feel that this was one of LEGO's biggest mistakes in the 1990s and it's not something I'd like to see repeated today. Currently LEGO is flying high with Town, Castle, Pirates and Space er ... Star Wars. While a few offshoots never hurt, I think that these lines can be damaging to potential long-term LEGO fans who find out that their favourite lines have been discontinued a few years later.

Johnny Thunder, Western, Ninja, Vikings, Rock Raiders, Alpha Team, Aquanauts, countless Space themes, and until this year; Pirates have all developed a loyal following only to be dropped by LEGO. I can imagine that a child who spends 2-3 years collecting a theme only to find out that it has been discontinued forever would be incredibly frustrated. The biggest thing that made LEGO work in the 80s to early 90s was the continuity of theme. For years Castle, Town, Pirate and Space fans knew that their favourite themes would offer new goodies in the coming calender year. All of that changed in the 90s when LEGO started throwing in short-lived experimental themes. I fear that this is what a Greek/Roman theme would end up being.

[Tyrant]

Johnny Thunder, Western, Ninja, Vikings, Rock Raiders, Alpha Team, Aquanauts, countless Space themes, and until this year; Pirates have all developed a loyal following only to be dropped by LEGO.

Johnny Thunder was like Indiana Jones, and now we have Indiana Jones. Rock Raiders has been reincarnated as Power Miners. Alpha Team has come back as Agents. Pirates, during it's run, had at least one sub theme with the Islanders. Pirates began in 89, so at the time it too could have been viewed as a theme that could dilute the line. Space didn't even survive the 80's intact. It went to different themes and sub themes in the late 80's. It's various themes lasted until 99. The Castle line started subthemes very early on. It is fairly obvious that TLG understand diversity is necessary for them to succeed.

I fear that this is what a Greek/Roman theme would end up being.

But suppose it wasn't going to end up like that? Would you be interested in it then?

[gogobig]

Johnny Thunder was like Indiana Jones, and now we have Indiana Jones. Rock Raiders has been reincarnated as Power Miners. Alpha Team has come back as Agents. Pirates, during it's run, had at least one sub theme with the Islanders. Pirates began in 89, so at the time it too could have been viewed as a theme that could dilute the line. Space didn't even survive the 80's intact. It went to different themes and sub themes in the late 80's. It's various themes lasted until 99. The Castle line started subthemes very early on. It is fairly obvious that TLG understand diversity is necessary for them to succeed.

But suppose it wasn't going to end up like that? Would you be interested in it then?

Tyrant, mad props for your post mate. Im there with you on that one.

I beleive Lego could easily run the folowing theme:Mythology. That would dividee into Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Atlantineans, Barabrians and such. Easily 3-5 years run with it. Easily.

[blueandwhite]

Johnny Thunder was like Indiana Jones, and now we have Indiana Jones. Rock Raiders has been reincarnated as Power Miners. Alpha Team has come back as Agents. Pirates, during it's run, had at least one sub theme with the Islanders. Pirates began in 89, so at the time it too could have been viewed as a theme that could dilute the line. Space didn't even survive the 80's intact. It went to different themes and sub themes in the late 80's. It's various themes lasted until 99. The Castle line started subthemes very early on. It is fairly obvious that TLG understand diversity is necessary for them to succeed.

Sub-themes are very different from the development of completely independant (and short lived themes). The Castle line may have a number of different sub-themes or factions, yet all of them fit well together as a coherent grouping. The same can be said for Town, Space and Pirates. The orphan themes (themes that only last a few years) are a very different animal. Look at the number of Castle, Space or Town MOCs we see being produced by AFOLs. Those groups have maintained a very strong and loyal fanbase. This is most certainly in part owing to the longevity of those themes. Compare that to shortlived orphan themes like Rock Raiders, Ninja or more recently Dino Attack. While there certainly are a few great MOCs in these themes, their popularity is far outstripped by longer running themes.

Product diversity is an absolute necessity for LEGO, however product continuity is equally important in developing a long-term fanbase. The current Castle line has done an admirable job diversifying while staying within the boundries of the theme. Short-lived themes seem to lack the same kind of fan appeal. Moreover, a one or two year line often suffers a lack of diversity when it comes to theme-specific elements (torsos, minifig accessories, printed elements etc.). What is worse still is that fans of these themes are quickly forced to the inflated prices of the secondary market as their theme of choice is discontinued. This makes building on a larger scale prohibitive for most fans of these themes as very few people have the capital to acquire large quantities of that theme in a short span of time.

A perfect modern example is the Vikings line. When the line was first released fans clamoured to these sets. Several wonderful Viking MOCs were featured on Brickshelf. Now that the theme has been discontinued we see far fewer of these MOCs. Many children may have only received one or two of these sets. Ultimately, the theme's biggest shortcoming may be its lack of longevity.

But suppose it wasn't going to end up like that? Would you be interested in it then?

At this point I don't have alot of faith when it comes to offshoot themes. Themes like this come and go. A few fans get excited and collect the sets in large multiples. Those on a budget pick up a few sets but ultimately give up on the theme as it is discontinued almost as quickly as it was introduced. A few years later the occasional vignette shows up on brickshelf and fans move on to the next orphan theme. Right now I'll probably stick to Castle if only because I can be reasonably comfortable in knowing that the theme will probably be around in the future.

[Tyrant]

Sub-themes are very different from the development of completely independant (and short lived themes). The Castle line may have a number of different sub-themes or factions, yet all of them fit well together as a coherent grouping. The same can be said for Town, Space and Pirates.

The primary concern you outline is continuity. That still applies with subthemes. Anything you say about how let down Rock Raiders fans are can be applied to say, Islanders fans. Sure they could still get Pirate ships, but what if the Islanders were what they really liked. Or the Black Falcons. Etc, etc. So yes, they are the same thing in most of the ways that matter. If I were a die hard Black Falcon fan, I would have stopped buying by '90 or so.

The orphan themes (themes that only last a few years) are a very different animal.

Not in any tremendously meaningful way.

Look at the number of Castle, Space or Town MOCs we see being produced by AFOLs.

Using Castle as the example. How many of those are faction specific and how many are simply generic castles? Of those that are specific, how many use the current factions and how many are 80's factions? Of the ones I have seen, the older sub themes are about as rare as the "forgotten" themes you keep mentioning.

Those groups have maintained a very strong and loyal fanbase. This is most certainly in part owing to the longevity of those themes. Compare that to shortlived orphan themes like Rock Raiders, Ninja or more recently Dino Attack. While there certainly are a few great MOCs in these themes, their popularity is far outstripped by longer running themes.

Some of those groups, like Rock Raiders or Dino Attack, were limited by their very nature. How far can you really go with those ideas? I'm honestly suprised they are trying the rock mining theme again. I honestly don't know where Ninja went wrong? Possibly it too was too limited in it's possibilites. I liked it personally. I believe ultimately the Vikings may have had the same problem in the long run. Without other enemies, they have to keep making up monsters. I believe the reason why the Castle line stayed successful was because it kept changing and didn't keep the same factions.

The current Castle line has done an admirable job diversifying while staying within the boundries of the theme.

It hasn't been put to the long term test yet though. Already people are wanting more factions. That will result in other factions getting rotated out. A lot of people are already bored with the Crownies. So, what happens to the Crowny fans when the Crownies aren't being produced anymore? By your logic, shouldn't we be worried that they will simply disappear?

The problem I have with your overall argument is that A) it does apply to subthemes on the grounds that people do become fans of just that subtheme as easily as they just become a fan of say Dino Attack, and B) this type of worrying would have killed the Pirate line at the start (it came along at a time when it could have easily been seen as just another short lived theme) along with Star Wars (presently the highest selling line). If all we worry about is what people fall in love with and may or may not quit buying LEGO if they stop making it, they would make the same set of sets forever.

At this point I don't have alot of faith when it comes to offshoot themes. Themes like this come and go. A few fans get excited and collect the sets in large multiples. Those on a budget pick up a few sets but ultimately give up on the theme as it is discontinued almost as quickly as it was introduced. A few years later the occasional vignette shows up on brickshelf and fans move on to the next orphan theme. Right now I'll probably stick to Castle if only because I can be reasonably comfortable in knowing that the theme will probably be around in the future.

That's not really much of an answer. Your answer continues to assume it's all gloom and doom. I thought my question was specific enough to rule that out, but I guess not. So, assuming it isn't the fly by night operation you seem to insist it will be and assuming it won't kill Castle which you also seem to take as absolute fact, would you buy them?

[Dadster]

"Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst."

[baby]

It would be cool if LEGO do so, but on the other hand will hurt our wallet.

LEGO will make a good profit out of this theme if they do so.

[Skipper 24]

This is great news. A new theme would be brilliant, think of all the new armour and weapon pieces we could have on out hands. On TLCs KIC blog many people have commented saying they want a theme similar to this. However i doubt that would have influenced TLC to possibly make a new theme.