Signs of a new Greek/Spartan theme?

[Klaus-Dieter]

Thank you very much for this pic and the idea, Oky Wan Kenobi!

I partly agree with you:

On the one hand I agree with you since I would like to see a Greek/Sparta theme, too (not that much like Wild West or Romans or Egypts - but nearly everything which has to do with history is always interesting and welcome).

On the other hand I disagree with you since a good humans vs. bad fantasy creatures (like in the current "Castle" theme ) would be and destroy the big potential of such an awesome theme. (TLG could include one fantasy creature like e. g. Minotaurus - but then no additional fantasy creature!)

My opinion: Without fantasy creatures I'd like this theme of course - with fantasy creatures surely no!

I personally don't know what to think about whether this will be a new theme next year or only a game.

On the one hand it seems strange if TLG releases a game on a theme which they haven't released until now and don't intend to release in the next year.

On the other hand I'm a bit sceptical about whether TLG might already now give us a hint which new theme there'll be in 2010.

If this is really a new theme then it would be awesome if TLG includes these lovely minifigs seem on the box art of the game, too!

Klaus-Dieter

[hollisbrick]

I would love to have a lego minatour

Also a greek mythology theme would be great It would be my dream

[Klaus-Dieter]

I thought once more about it:

On the one hand it might well be that TLG chose a Greek/Spartan theme in order to get no competition with the Playmobil Roman theme which is that realistic that TLG would have to work hard to be able to concurrate with it. Nevertheless TLG surely could concurrate if they only wanted to.

On the other hand I'm not that convinced that kids will like a Greek theme:

If it included a lot of fantasy stuff then TLG concurrates with itself because of the fantasy-annoying new "Castle" theme.

Apart from that I'm very convinced that kids are surely not that familiar and even not that interested in Greeks than in Romans, Wild West, Indians or Egypts.

So .

I think the only possibility to find out whether this will be a new theme or not is to wait til end of July until middle of August in order to get some information and pics.

Klaus-Dieter

[The Bricksmith]

I think that a Greek/Roman theme is going to come but not in the way that most people are thinking. If we all remember Lego and Disney signed an agreement to produce some of their older lines and most likely some of their newer ones as well. Well Disney is making a Percy Jackson movie that is coming out in 2009 (for now) For those of you unfamiliar with the book, it is a Young Adult book about a kid who is a modern hero and his troubles with the Olympians (think Hercules meets the Jonas Brothers) The books are very popular in the US and with the idea of making all of the books into movies like Harry Potter I think we will see some greekish elements in the Percy Jackson line if/when they make it.

[Ricecracker]

My opinion: Without fantasy creatures I'd like this theme of course - with fantasy creatures surely no!

Sorry, to burst your bubble, Klaus-Dieter, but I just don't see it happening without fantasy creatures. Many of the ideas are based around mythical creatures, such as the Minotaur.

[The Green Brick Giant]

No. LEGO doesn't like doing history sets because they supposedly don't sell as where because they have no vehicles.

[Etzel]

I can really see TLG make a Greek mythology line with all the heroes and monsters. I think this would sell very well amongst the kids and AFOL alike. A theme like that would be much like the Viking one but hopefully with a little less stupid vehicles. I don't think the vehicles are the key factor if kids like the set or not, the important thing is the play factor in total. By including a vehicle TLG provides playability very easy, as long as there is something to drive around with the kids will be pleased. But of course kids appreciate other kinds of play feature too, like trap doors, falling rocks, catapults etc.

I'm really into history and all that (I'm studying archaeology actually) and would of course love to see a historical accurate theme but I really don't think there will be any in the near future. But I'm not so disappointed by that 'cause I think today's sets brings really good possibilities to create that yourself. The crown knights are really good and the MMV is just perfect If you don't like the orcs or skeletons just leave them out, and their buildings and vehicles are often quite good to use, like the orc siege tower in Tower Raid. In a Greek mythology theme you could do the same, use the good stuff and leave/change the not so good stuff.

Some of you suggests a Roman theme and of course that would be wondful But I don't see that coming Klaus-Dieter says that kids probably recognise and are familiar with Romans more than Ancient Greeks. That might be true - in those countries that have been influenced by the Romans in history e.g. Italy, France, Germany, Spain, England. But I don't think that is the way in other countries like the US or Scandinavia. Sure, the historical aspect of the Greeks is little known but the Mythology is really famous. So I guess a Roman theme would be the best if TLG decides going with a historical line but the Greek would be best if it were to be a more fantasy inspired line.

Oh, and I think we have to wait quite a time before we see any of these themes, at least 2011 I would guess. But as an old saying in Sweden goes: the one who waits for something good, never waits too long

[Tyrant]

I can really see TLG make a Greek mythology line with all the heroes and monsters. I think this would sell very well amongst the kids and AFOL alike. A theme like that would be much like the Viking one but hopefully with a little less stupid vehicles. I don't think the vehicles are the key factor if kids like the set or not, the important thing is the play factor in total. By including a vehicle TLG provides playability very easy, as long as there is something to drive around with the kids will be pleased. But of course kids appreciate other kinds of play feature too, like trap doors, falling rocks, catapults etc.

I agree that vehicles aren't paramount to the line. If they are, there are always chariots, ships, and siege weapons. Also, the other features you mentioned could be used if they go with a mythology centered line. A maze for the Minotaur or some type of ruined lair for the Medusa could be loaded with traps.

Some of you suggests a Roman theme and of course that would be wondful But I don't see that coming Klaus-Dieter says that kids probably recognise and are familiar with Romans more than Ancient Greeks. That might be true - in those countries that have been influenced by the Romans in history e.g. Italy, France, Germany, Spain, England. But I don't think that is the way in other countries like the US or Scandinavia. Sure, the historical aspect of the Greeks is little known but the Mythology is really famous. So I guess a Roman theme would be the best if TLG decides going with a historical line but the Greek would be best if it were to be a more fantasy inspired line.

In the US, at least from what I have seen, people are more familiar with the Roman military and the Greek mythology. As long as historical accuracy isn't the goal, there is no reason they can't combine the two. Roman soldiers and weapons with Greek mythological creatures. I would be fine with either. I prefer the appearance of the Roman military, but the Greek timeframe allows for the greater possibility of Persians.

[Klaus-Dieter]

I hope that if TLG very supposably releases a Greek/Spartan theme with good humans vs. bad fantasy creatures that they then will at least release some Impulse sets with Greek/Spartan soldiers for those history interested people (like me) which don't like that fantasy stuff.

Klaus-Dieter

[captaincreek]

I don't see it happening, but it would be very interesting.

[Tanotrooper]

A Spartan theme?

That's MADNESS!

...

Madness?

THIS

IS

LEGOOOOO!

someone had to do it

I'm all in for any Roman, Greek or ancient times theme!

TT

[MarcusV3]

I don't think it's happening but I would love it

[Hound Knight]

I personally would love to see this theme with or without mythical creatures. I would like to have monsters like a chimera, and creatures like minotaurs, centaurs, fauns, and Pegasus. If they don't end up producing this theme, there are always the BF Roman and Greek accessories!

[Klaus-Dieter]

One contra argument for those who think that there'll be no Greek/Spartan theme next year:

Why should TLG release a bord game with microfigs, a fantasy creature and a topic to which they don't have in mind to produce a new theme in the next year(s)?! That would imo be absurd since there have been already enough different themes until now that it wouldn't be necessary to invent a new theme only for one board game!

But of course I might be wrong.

Klaus-Dieter

[Sandy]

One contra argument for those who think that there'll be no Greek/Spartan theme next year:

Why should TLG release a bord game with microfigs, a fantasy creature and a topic to which they don't have in mind to produce a new theme in the next year(s)?! That would imo be absurd since there have been already enough different themes until now that it wouldn't be necessary to invent a new theme only for one board game!

Why couldn't they release board games that don't tie into any theme? It has certainly been done before.

And they didn't even invent a "new theme" to begin with, they just created a board game. It's really not that much of an effort... Each year there's hundreds, if not thousands, of new board games released, so there's nothing to it.

[keetong]

I think they were going to make 7 board games if I'm correct. The're not going to make a borad game for every theme. If you had noticed there was a pyramid game, and it highly unlikely they would run to history theme at the same time, let a lone one while castle is still going. I really do like the idea of a spartan/roman theme, I just don't think it gonna happen any time soon

[Dwarfinator]

A Spartan theme would be excellent. Does this Board game come with figures? I might buy it and take the figs from it for a MOC or something...

[Klaus-Dieter]

A Spartan theme would be excellent. Does this Board game come with figures? I might buy it and take the figs from it for a MOC or something...

It will come with micro-scaled minifigs (meaning minifigs which are smaller than the regular minifigs). So they're too little in comparison to when you want to use the common minifig accessory, doors, ... But if you don't need these things you could well build a MOC with this micro-scaled minifigs - that's right.

And btw: Welcome to EB, Dwarfinator!

Why couldn't they release board games that don't tie into any theme? It has certainly been done before.

And they didn't even invent a "new theme" to begin with, they just created a board game. It's really not that much of an effort... Each year there's hundreds, if not thousands, of new board games released, so there's nothing to it.

I did never say that the consequence for why we are seeing a Greek/Spartan Lego board game this year is that there'll be for 100 percent a Greek/Spartan theme next year, Sandy.

I only would be very surprised if TLG releases a board game about a theme they do not intend to release since they could even release a board game which has as a content a relation to one of the many themes TLG has been releasing until now.

Klaus-Dieter

Edited April 19, 2009 by Klaus-Dieter

[Eskallon]

Well if it happened it would be amazing. The battles, the ship, and the trojan war plus they could do parts of the illiad and the oddyesey. Oh wow, stop getting me excited. This would be cool but maybe not true as if the game was for a new theme they would release them at nearly the same time and we have heard nothing about this theme soit is a little unlikely.

[supertoad64]

i don't think the release of this game really points towards the release of a system theme of the same kind. that's not to say that i wouldn't be giddy over the sight of some prerelease photos depicting a medusa or pegasus

[Orion123]

I think alien from the Space Police impulse sets is a sign of a cyclops.

Orion Out

Edited May 21, 2009 by Orion123

[Dadster]

I think alien from the Space Police impulse sets is a sign of a cyclops.

Orion Out

Hmmm - kind of a stretch in my opinion, but one never knows...

[phillip10]

They should make greek and sparten a new castle sub theme like ninja and fantasy era!

[Natman8000]

They should make greek and sparten a new castle sub theme like ninja and fantasy era!

That's kind of what we are looking for. I don't think they would make a whole new line for it.

[Tom Bricks]

This is such a recognisable theme that I'm surprised the TLC hasn't already made one. It could have been part of the Adventurers theme or a more accurate subtheme of the Castle line. Hopefully this and WW will be the next 2 historical themes but I don't know how well these would sell to kids.