Licensed sets or "own" sets?

[Klaus-Dieter]

Hello everybody!

In the last months many news about many new licensed themes for next year was published - for 2010 there will be (Duplo) Cars, Toy Story 1-3, Prince of Persia and Ben 10.

So 2010 will supposably be the first year that TLG is releasing that many licensed themes in one year.

The pro of more licensed themes:

There are many FOLs which know all these movies and like to play with the characters and vehicles now been made out of Lego.

The con of more licensed themes:

Since TLG has only a limited capacity of producing different themes and sets there is a maximum limit for different themes. This means that when there are such many licensed themes released there is not much space left for "own" - meaing by TLG itself invented - themes.

So the question arises whether you (would) like to see more licensed themes - such as Toy Story, Ben 10, ... - or whether you would like to see more "own" (meaing by TLG itself invented) themes - such as a new Western theme, a Roman theme, a new Adventure theme, ...?

Please vote and share your thoughts about this subject!

Klaus-Dieter

[CDC]

I rather see a new Western theme, a Roman theme, a new Adventure theme, etc... than those ben10/whatevere licensed themes. I'm sure they will have some cool parts or minifigs and i will probably buy few sets but i'm sure i wont be as excited as i would be if TLG was releasing western theme ..

Especially those army-builders cannot be happy with those licensed themes hehe.

Anyways, TLG should stick with their own themes or at least produce both, meaning licensed stuff as well as some of their own themes, if so, those new age youngsters as well as AFOLs can be satisfied.

[The Cobra]

Own sets all the way. Basically:

1) I'm just not interested that much in licenses.

2) Own sets = more choices, less limits.

3) Licensed sets = mostly available in limited stores, less chances to find them on sale.

[Rick]

I don't like fleshies ( FTW!) and licenses seem to drive up the price/piece ratio significantly...

[Spyder]

I hate fleshies, as it ruined my collection, and just think of all those great heads in yellow. I would much rather have more "own" themes, seeing as Lego makes some pretty good plotlines to go along with them, and TLG usually makes some new pieces for each theme. (or at least new colors) I would especially like to see a Roman theme, that would be great, and probably do very well in stores. It would make lots of money for you, TLG. That's right, LOT's of money! Are you listening? Minifigs were meant to be yellow! ---> so stay with your own themes...

...please

Edited August 10, 2009 by Spyder

[SiRoa]

I don't like licensed theme because I have seen this theme on TV or movie, so it would be odd when we compare what we look on TV/movie with this theme..

[Ricecracker]

I am perfectly content with the way Lego is going right now. I think they've realized the perfect balance between licensed and home brand themes.

I think the license themes bring in many ideas that Lego wouldn't have been able to come up with, or simply wouldn't legally be allowed to produce. While these sets come at a premium, I think all the great elements, figures, and designs that come out of them is worth it. Another pro about licensed sets is that the "fanboys" of those movies/TV shows/comics/Etc. are more inclined to buy them, potentially adding to the AFOL community.

On that note, I still think that they way Lego has gone back to it's roots in the last 3-4 years is the best option for them. I think they've reached the point where if they pursue their own lines any further, it'll be a case of too much of a good thing is a bad thing. The reasons I really love Lego's own lines are because of the freedom the designers are given. As well, the designers are able to lengthen the story line in whichever direction they want, and can use customer feedback to change their decisions.

Therefore, I have not yet voted in this poll, as I don't see a suitable option for me.

[just2good]

Use to be both but I don't like flesh minifigures at all. I hate the concept, and wish it wasn't made.

Totally own sets/themes. Agents, City, Castle, and Pirates are great current themes.

[JimBee]

I voted for more TLG-created themes. To me, these new licensed themes that continue to introduce themselves into the Lego world don't do much for most AFOLs and TFOLs, and maybe even some JFOLs. Sure, some licensed themes, such as Star Wars and Indiana Jones are/ were successful, but most are just passing fads to the children, and boring for some A/TFOLs. Speed Racer only lasted one wave, and what did it offer? A couple of cool cars for the kids, and a little variety of pieces for the adults. I have no doubt doubt that the new licenses like Ben 10 and Cars will die out quickly (although Prince of Persia might be interesting...). Why waste time and money when better themes like Western or Romans/ Greeks could be made?

[Tom Bricks]

I voted for more original TLC themes too. I fully support he Indiana Jones and Star wars licenses but Ben 10? Does lego want another Avatar? The only good thing to come out of this will be new parts and some interesting figures.

[prateek]

i voted license but only if they are of good quality like most of the Indiana Jones theme

[Mirandir]

Maybe I'm a being extremly pessimistic but I think that the license heavy 2010 may prove to be a bad timing. Specially if they will be attracting kids away from the inhouse themes rather than attract new customers combined with a probable decline in sales. The recession is still in works and I'm not sure we've seen the bottom of it yet.

Me personally aren't too thrilled about any of the licenses. I always find them way too expensive per parts included. The only good thing is that they may spawn some useful parts we're unlikely to get otherwise. Like that Speed Racer windshield for example.

Anyhow It's going to be pretty interesting to see how many of the licenses that'll survive to 2011.

[Peppermint_M]

I like what I like and that is all that I like (until something convinces me to like it...).

Confused? I am...

I like a little bit of both. Fleshies were dreadful in my mind, then they grew on me. Now I have a decent amount of fleshie and a good variety I am even making custom figures in flesh tone. I will buy a set if I like it, no matter what my earlier opinion of the theme/license. I still don't get much licensed Lego because its more expensive and I don't like the sets enough to get them, but flesh tone figures aren't enough to stop me buying them.

I do dislike that it ends up being licensed sets in competition to regular Lego but it is hard to avoid. It is a personal rage inducer if people assess a Lego original in relation to a Licensed theme (i.e. "SPIII will give me lots of aliens for my Star Wars MOCs") but that is mainly because a: I do not like Star Wars and b: Every theme should be judged on its own, Lego combines with Lego always so who cares about any other sort of "match up" between themes. I have broken my own rules too often to count, but if I ever read a set review and reply, I don't ever compare themes there.

[Athos]

I generally prefer the non-licensed sets. For the most part the building techniques in them are more sophisticated (Star Wars may be an exception, but Batman, Spiderman, Indy and Harry Potter are good examples). The licensed sets also tend to cost more but provide fewer bricks. The licensed themes do give us nice new parts, which is a plus.

Steve

[alex12]

I love Legos licensed sets on the whole . Indy , Batman and Star Wars are pretty awesome. Harry Potter was okay but was a missed opportunity really.

Not sure about Ben 10 never seen it. Prince of Persia has possibilities.

I wouldn't want Lego to overdo licenses though at the expense of their own brand themes.

[CP5670]

More in-house themes. I don't care at all about the licensed sets as such and only have a couple of SW sets from over the years (and only two that were more than $10). At the same time though, it has to be admitted that the sets have introduced many new and useful pieces for MOCs. Even if I never buy the sets, the new parts are widely available on Bricklink.

One thing though is that many of these new pieces were printed parts. With TLG's emphasis on cost cutting and the disappearance of printed parts these days, I don't know how much of this we'll see with licensed themes in the future.

[Spyder]

I actually liked the Harry Potter line, at first it had yellow(ies?) and it had so many useful pieces, and people were buying the sets, that's why they kept making them. Spongebob was However, I think some themes are over kill, such as Ben 10.

[Dadster]

I prefer Lego "do their own thing". That being said, I don't mind licensed themes and fleshies. If licensed themes were to disappear, then I think Lego would lose quite a bit of money. All those SW fans are nuts - especially for items they can't get in the 3 3/4" scale. Indy, it seems, is just as popular nowadays. I wouldn't care either way if they stopped production of fleshies, but I bet many folks would...

[Emperor Claudius Rome]

I voted more original themes. Lego has many generic themes to be done. And at this rate, lego might never do any of them.

[Zarkan]

I voted for TLC making more original, non-licensed themes.

Personally, I like most of TLC's licenses, and I think they've done a great job of bringing characters like Batman and Indiana Jones into lego form. However, I feel that TLC should keep the number of licenses to a bare mininum - say, three at a time, as original themes should be the prime concern of any company that wants to stay fresh and timeless. Also, I feel that TLC should carefully chose which things to make licenses on - I think only licenses that both have a high chance of selling well, lasting long, and translate well into and promote the lego sets should be considered. That is why licenses like lego Ben 10 and Rock Band do not sit well with me - the former will never be nearly as popular or have as wide a variety of subjects as mainstays like Starwars and Indiana Jones, and the latter has no connection with the actual building toys, but instead seems to me like a cheap cash-in.

But, overall, I feel that Licenses have their place, and I don't mind at all that they will be staying around for a while longer.

I generally prefer the non-licensed sets. For the most part the building techniques in them are more sophisticated (Star Wars may be an exception, but Batman, Spiderman, Indy and Harry Potter are good examples). The licensed sets also tend to cost more but provide fewer bricks. The licensed themes do give us nice new parts, which is a plus.

Steve

I'd have to disagree with that. Spiderman and Harry Potter, yes - but the Batman and Indiana Jones kits have a wide range of detailed, well designed vehicles and buildings. They're definitely comparable with core themes like City and Castle, IMO.

[Lord Admiral]

I'm actually quite torn. The licensed themes thus far are done really well. Batman, IJ, SW, all have great sets. In the meanwhile, the recently-released new themes have been a mixed bag. While pirates is great, SP3 has been by and large a disappointment. Classic space it is not, and I'm really not at all interested in the KK2-style themes (Agents, Exo-force, SP3, etc.). Power Miners and the new city sets have been decent; not great, but not terrible either. I'm not terribly engaged by the farm and construction sets, now that I've seen them.

On the other hand, I think quality has gone down in general, what with fewer printed bricks, bad designs, and overpriced sets, so maybe it doesn't really matter whether the theme is original or not. But I thought that way about the early '00 sets too (though I did get the impression set quality had gone back up with the post-KK2 castle line, batman, IJ, modular town, and then pirates), so maybe it's just me. Not that these new licenses sound terribly exciting; I have to wonder how they're going to pull good sets off of a movie about other toys.

I think what really makes me cringe are fleshies, and that's probably going to throw the vote towards original sets. I have both Luke in yellow and in flesh. While his flesh body was a lot more detailed, his yellow face and arms I liked much more. And I'm not even big on building MOCs.

As for limited shelf space, I think the new licenses are only going to replace the old ones. Batman, Harry Potter, and even Indiana Jones are probably going away. Sponge Bob is probably close to its end as well. Star Wars will likely not have anything new past the winter '09 sets, except for perhaps more UCS models and playsets. So I don't see the new licenses taking shelf space from new original themes. I do have to wonder where they're going to take Agents and castle, which seem to be the next two to go. I'm suspicious that Power Miners and pirates will be their respective replacements, which means no new original themes in the short term.

[salty tbone]

The available choices in this poll are rather limited.

The way some people write, it's as if licensed sets are inherently stale and "own" sets are inherently good. Sure you can point out Airbender that flamed out quickly, but there's a laundry list of "own" themes that frankly stunk.

What I want are fun sets that have new pieces or bring back old pieces that we haven't seen in awhile. I've never watched an entire episode of Sponge Bob. I don't know if it's a good show or not, but I love the Lego sets.

[LEGOMAN132]

2) Own sets = more choices, less limits.

Thats what I think too.

[Perterz]

Firts off I haven't read the whole thread, just the first post.

Well I would encourage TLC to make more own themes and sets. I really do not feel the need to replay movies with my Lego, I 'd rather watch the movie. Plus, licensed themes have overpriced sets.

I do like the current Indiana Jones and some StarWars licenses tho, mainly for the intresting parts they often have.

Give me something Lego created themselves as that's the point of Lego, building beyond your imagination and not just replicating some movie?!

I do believe for children it could be very plesant to have licensed Lego.

[Raphy]

Well I do tend to prefer own themes (Racers, SP III, Power Miners) but Star Wars is a bit too cool to pass by. even so, I voted own themes.