What if LEGO changed the name of the Castle theme?

[blueandwhite]

As I recall, it was these type of focus groups that got us new brown and bleys... So, if leaks will stop focus groups, then I say: "leak away."

Steve

Indeed!

I suppose leaks are bound to happen when your focus group is comprised of children.

[Legoist]

1. How would you feel if TLG replaces the name "Castle" by another name?

2. Which alternative names do you prefer?

How about a split into two different themes (which don't necessarily need to be supported in the same years)?

A) "Lego Medieval" for historical, classic castle sets. Not only castles but also houses and other buildings (farms, windmills, watermills...) from the middle ages. Soldiers of two factions, bandits/rogues, nobles & various courtesans (incl. knights, jesters, priests, etc.), and lots of peasants. And farm animals...

B) "Lego Fantasy Era" for the fantasy action elements: soldiers of one faction, orcs, skeletons, dwarves, elves, trolls, wizards, witches, dragons, new monsters (both unique and brick-built) such as giants, demons, oversized spiders, golems, lizardmen, goblins...

Would be actually nice if Lego would get a license for Dungeons & Dragons material... having played RPGs I know that a lot of players already use Lego minifigs for playing those games.

[The Penguin]

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I my opinion is that there's nothing bad about TLC trying to change the name of the theme. )

Despite the fact that I love the current fantasy line I would only welcome the return of human factions. ) If we look back (not too far, though ) we will see that fantasy elements have always been in Castle. I mean, remember the old dragons, wizards, some alchemically looking pieces in old themes (say around 1993)?

In that matter I would fully support the medevil sets and factions, but with some fantasy elements that have always been there with us. ) Plus, in the Middle Ages, in minds of people fantastic things (their beliefs in them) were as normal as the real world. )

Good day, ladies and gentlemen! )

[BearHeart]

Personally I don't give a hoot what they call it as long as we keep getting cool medieval sets!

Finally, someone 's making some sense. I was thinking the same think as you HK as I was reading through 4 pages of, in my opinion, useless discussion. I don't care what they call the theme as long as we keep getting kickass medieval sets.

[TomC]

I don't see the harm in discussing this, but personally, as long as I keep getting *really cool* castle sets like MMV (feel free to disagree, but I love every castle set I own, and I own all the modern ones, with multiples of the really good ones) I'm going to keep loving my lego.

I think I got my first Lego bricks in 1962, I think, and my dark ages began several years later (perhaps 1967?) not that long after. Still, somehow, I purchased the yellow castle and the king's castle (6080) even during my dark ages... I've now been out of them for a year. Yeah, Lego group! Long live the castle theme by anything they name it!

tc

Finally, someone 's making some sense. I was thinking the same think as you HK as I was reading through 4 pages of, in my opinion, useless discussion. I don't care what they call the theme as long as we keep getting kickass medieval sets.

[Moose]

I like the name LEGO Kingdoms. Lego Castle is almost to specific. To me, it gives the feeling of only castle goings-on and doesnt delve into other areas. Kingdoms at least branches out and allows other factions to be implemented as many have said already. As long as the name changes to Kingdom and the quality doesnt become like that of Knights Kingdom, I dont see why this should even have caused a stir

[Front]

As I recall, it was these type of focus groups that got us new brown and bleys... So, if leaks will stop focus groups, then I say: "leak away."

Steve

You actually believe the voice of a focus group is the reason Lego change some colours ?

[Abaddon127]

I honestly don't think that the name of the theme matters all that much. They can call it whatever they desire just as long as they continue to release quality products.

[UsernameMDM]

I would be ok with something like these examples:

For the Crown Knights vs Skeletons

Lego Castle: Skeleton Invasion

For the Trolls:

Lego Castle: Troll Hordes

[davee123]

I have to admit I'm confused as to why people would be upset with this "change". How are people imagining that this is any different than when they changed the name from "Castle" in the mid-1990's to "Knight's Kingdom" in 2000-2006? Or was there just as much consternation over that change?

DaveE

[blueandwhite]

I have to admit I'm confused as to why people would be upset with this "change". How are people imagining that this is any different than when they changed the name from "Castle" in the mid-1990's to "Knight's Kingdom" in 2000-2006? Or was there just as much consternation over that change?

DaveE

In the 80s, Castle was a fairly permanent fixture in LEGO's product line. I can only speak for myself, but as somebody who grew up with Castle it was comforting to know that the theme I purchased one year would continue in some way into the next. This sense of continuity really died in the 90s when LEGO started to expand into short-lived one-shot themes. By 2000 Castle was essentially dead. KKI was a one-year theme that disappeared in 2000. Fans waited for several years (2001-2003) until Castle returned in 2004 with KKII; a theme that bore little resemblance to anything medieval. For those of us who are Castle-first; the four years between KKI and KKII was anything but pleasant. As you undoubtedly know, KKII wasn't exactly welcomed with open arms by many AFOLs.

Flash forward to the anouncement that Pirates was to be cancelled by mid-2010. Apparently, Steve Witt mentioned that LEGO would continue to focus on what it considered to be it's three 'constant' themes; Town, Space and Castle. Now Space and Castle fans both know that their themes have been anything but constant. We've seen our beloved themes devalued and phased out on several occasions. The fact that a LEGO spokesperson had made a comment that LEGO apparently views these themes as being something of importance was a bit of a surprise. That being said; actions speak louder than words. Castle as a theme is not Vikings. It is not Ninja. It is not anything but Castle. Sticking the theme with a more generic label may open the way for themes like Romans or any number of other wonderful varriants but none of these things will ever be Castle.

Small changes may not matter to some people, but for those of us who are obsessed with the Castle line (a medieval European Castle theme with or without fantasy elements) a shift away from the name most associated with this theme seems a great deal like the first of many steps until Castle yet again goes on hiatus. As a Castle fan I am concerned that with a few strokes of marketing genius Castle may follow Pirates into the sunset. I don't want a name that moves Castle even slightly away from its roots. This is the theme I have been collecting for 28 years. I really don't want it to die again.

[davee123]

a shift away from the name most associated with this theme seems a great deal like the first of many steps until Castle yet again goes on hiatus. As a Castle fan I am concerned that with a few strokes of marketing genius Castle may follow Pirates into the sunset. I don't want a name that moves Castle even slightly away from its roots. This is the theme I have been collecting for 28 years.

Huh. I guess I accepted that this new way of theme releases a while ago. I don't think the name "change" is even remotely close to a "change", since they already took the "Castle" theme name away in 1998, and replaced it with nothing. Each "mini" release since has been given a name, like "Knight's Kingdom" and "Castle" (which just-so-happens by amazing coincidence to match the theme name used years ago). But there's no over-arching "themes" and "subthemes" like there used to be in the late 80's and 90's. And I certainly don't expect LEGO to start treating its medieval/castle sets the same way it treats Town/City with guaranteed new sets every year. LEGO's marketing has taught them to do these little tightly knit "story groups" of sets-- Agents, Power Miners, Space Police, "Castle", Knight's Kingdom, Life On Mars, Exo-Force, etc, etc. They'll keep medieval/castle style sets in the mix for as long as they're predicted to be profitable (which they are), and probably periodically have dry spells here and there. That's what I've come to expect, anyway.

I dunno-- for me, if stated the way it's been stated by fans, it's kind of like they're asking us for input about something they already did 10 years ago. To me, this is really about LEGO asking us "what should we call the next installment of castle?" rather than "would you like us to axe the line?"

DaveE

[Colonel]

The theme is far away from "castle" anyway. It is mostly dwarves, trolls and skeletons!

So IMO they can call it what they want - but KK III would be OK if they come with some new knights, arms and a better horse!

[Derek]

Quite frankly, if it means that a Castle theme is continued, I really don't care what the hell you call it...

In all seriousness, I really don't think a name change should change the line we have seen since '07. If anything, changing the name means that Lego wishes to broaden the possibilities for sets. I'm hoping for more MMV styled sets, as I'm pretty sure its been selling well because it has been on the top 25 seller list since its release almost a year ago.