I know wiki's are not a reliable source and with the connections with TLC that we have here, I though it might have been mentioned but i've only read this on Bricklink so far.

Themes introduced or discontinued in 2010

Another Bricklink member claims to have spoken to the 'higher-ups' and says that it's true.

Bricklink discussion

I find this hard to believe, especially with Power Functions being relatively new and a release of some pneumatic parts next year. Perhaps the theme is just on hiatus for a couple of years and just no new sets for a couple of years...

So tell me that this has been discussed already and isn't true

There is no real evidence yet but why would people start rumours like this?

Edited November 12, 200915 yr by chris_austin

Seems no-one wants to confirm or deny

Possibly could there be a rebranding? Some themes change names but are the same thing. TECHNIC was expert builder for a while, then it changed to TECHNIC. I don't know, TECHNIC is a pretty long running and solid product line, it just wouldnt make sense.

The #1 problem with TECHNIC lately is that they keep making the same things again and again. Like construction equipment, cranes, farm machinery and other heavy type equipment.

The snowplough from this year was a welcome change though.

I wish they would make some new stuff or rehashes of older stuff that we havent seen for a while. Examples:

New space sets (similar to the 8480 Space Shuttle or the technic Mars Rover)

New supercar similar to the 8880, 8480 or 8466 (although TLG may consider the recent technic-scale Ferrari sets as filling that void)

More fixed wing aircraft and more boats/watercraft

And non-vehicle things like robots, industrial machinery etc.

I would be shocked if lego stopped technic, I think I would ring them up and scream at them. Thats like them stopping the mini fig!

First it was Mr. I.Jones gone, plus Pirates with Castle totalled, also talk of the end of Bionicle and now Technic.

What the ?

Is Buzz and Swamp Fire worth it, if we lose another popular building system ?

Personally I'm City & Star Wars person, but I'm impressed by the larger Technic vehicles like the bulldozer and the big black tow truck. I would hate to see this product disappear, I feel this one is worth fighting for.

Technic will nto be discontiuend, we have already seen product iamges for 2010. Isn't that enough to proove this is wrong news? Castle is not goen either, wait for it ;)

I was assuming the person who reported this ment there would be no 2011 sets as you are correct 2010 sets have appeared

I think Lego would be in serious trouble if they got rid of technic (and even bionicle). I think ever kid I know (friends kids) have at least 1 bionicle

I don't/can't believe that Technic will disappear. However, it is possible that the emphasis will be put on some other ranges in the Lego product range, thus no spectacular sets for some time (years?).

As far as I can remember that was also the case a couple of years ago, a lot of years went by without any challenging Technic sets, and then out of the blue came the 8421 crane. I really can remember that moment very well, it brought back my interest in Technic.

O well, just wait and see...

Don't believe in Wikipedia and other simialr web sites. Here's official confirmation for those who do:

LEGO Technic will certainly NOT be discontinued. Where is this rumor coming from??

Tormod Askildsen

Sure it wont be discontinued.

The number of sets released isn't being reduced for a couple of years either? Perhaps the word 'discontinued' was mis-translated.

Like jonwil says, there are plenty of ideas out there, even if some are redesigns. Nothing wrong with redoing a set that's 15+ years old!

Edited November 12, 200915 yr by chris_austin

The number of sets released isn't being reduced for a couple of years either? Perhaps the word 'discontinued' was mis-translated.

Like jonwil says, there are plenty of ideas out there, even if some are redesigns. Nothing wrong with redoing a set that's 15+ years old!

TLC do not want to produce Technic sets with studful (and so 10 year old sets), because studful parts are much more expensive thant stuless parts.

That's why TLC produce only studless Technic sets now. And also because it enables to make sets which are much more complex.

The number of sets released isn't being reduced for a couple of years either? Perhaps the word 'discontinued' was mis-translated.

Like jonwil says, there are plenty of ideas out there, even if some are redesigns. Nothing wrong with redoing a set that's 15+ years old!

I wonder if it's one of 2 things:

- Either the admins of the site are looking for an increase in their hit rate.

- Or they just haven't got any information to put in their 2010 sets data table and want to stir things up to get the info (which means TLG's leak prevention is working!)

BTW Bionicle supports Technic financially. I would personally love to see more focus on really useful small parts for Technic rather than useless large chunks for Bionicle, but mould allocation is in proportion to profit

If you want some sets of something different (i.e. no car, truck, crane or construction plant), feel free to suggest them here. TLG do look at community sites to see what we want.

How about a propeller plane with variable pitch propellers? The 8856 helicopter has the right parts to do it. I've done such things at home myself.

A helicopter with proper rotor controls would be nice (a step further than 8856, with flat rotor and tilting blades). My Apache does that with the 8856 rotor piece used as the swash plate.

I really like lots of functions for my money, and I count them in my evaluation of each set.

I also count missing functions (such as crane truck 2nd differential gear), and functions that are too flimsy (not solid) as negative points. The latter is more challenging with studless chassises.

Technic is the glue between NXT / PF and City / Basic / System bricks. NXT First LEGO League has been a great success in the community, so to lose Technic would be unbelievable.

Mark

There are already many sets out there that are completely build from technic parts that do not carry the technic name, bvut instead fall under the racer theme. I think there was a discussion in another thread about this, It may have been that Lamborghini Gallardo thread.

I agree, the new technic sets seem to be older sets redone in studless form. What I don't get is that Lego has all of these technic designers who are being outdone by AFOL. You think they would collaberate with some of these people and give the people what they want.

This rumor seems to be the kind of thing that a random guy said on a forum somewhere. I wouldn't pay any attention to it.

How about a propeller plane with variable pitch propellers? The 8856 helicopter has the right parts to do it. I've done such things at home myself.

I think we're long overdue for a large helicopter in general. It's one of the few basic concepts that TLG has never fully realized in the past. As you say, rotors with a proper variable pitch would be great to see.

By now, this rumor has been thoroughly debunked, but I still thought I would offer some thoughts. In the USA at least, it is clear that Technic does not sell nearly as well as the other lines. If you go to the big toy stores like Toys 'R' Us, Technic represent only a couple of percent of what you see on the shelves. Some of the other stores like WalMart or Target sometimes don't have any Technic at all. So why is Technic still worth it? I'll tell you.

For comparison, think of NASA. There are some people who think that spending money on space exploration is a waste because it doesn't provide anything for normal people. But I disagree. Getting the smartest people in the world all together in one place working on a project has tremendous value. Whether you like their stated goal or not, those people come up with various and sundry ideas which would never have been imagined otherwise. Those ideas filter into the technology that all of us use every day. We all benefit from their work.

I think of Technic the same way. Technic is the flagship LEGO line. They are at the forefront of new functional parts, assembly methods, and ideas. Even if you have never purchased a Technic set, you have benefited from this development. How many Star Wars or City sets have moving parts and functions made possible by Technic parts? A lot! And think of large models like the UCS Millenium Falcon. The entire inner structure is Technic; the only system strong and light enough to make it work. No matter what your LEGO theme of choice is, you will find Technic parts hidden away somewhere making things better.

So in my opinion, Technic as a line will and must continue no matter what the sales figures are. It is a driving force behind the advancement of all of the other LEGO themes.

As for the complaints about the repeating model themes in Technic or the lack of more complex models like AFOLs make, I think sometimes we forget that these products are made for children. A 14 year old is perfectly happy with a new wheel loader not simply because it is good, but because he/she has no knowledge of those which were made 10 years ago for comparison. It doens't matter that the theme was done before because he/she hasn't seen it and, in any case, it is no longer available. The sets which are released provide the parts for AFOLs to make the MOCs we make. As much as I would like to see CP5670's Annihilator released as a set, there's hardly a kid in the world who be able to afford and/or build it. Certainly not enough to justify the development cost.

So take heart, Technic fans. Things will continue as they have. And I think we would all agree that the products in the last few years have just been getting better and better. Long live Technic!!

I disagree.

Technic as a line will and must continue no matter what the sales figures are.

there's hardly a kid in the world who be able to afford and/or build it. Certainly not enough to justify the development cost.

These two sentences don't make sense !

First you say that even if the Technic theme is not profitable, it won't be discotinued.

Then, you say that a model can't be produced if there isn't enough people to buy it.

IMO, Lego Technic is like the other themes : it has to be profitable.

If it is not the case for several years, I would not be surprised that TLG decide to stop the theme.

And that don't prevent TLG from using Technic parts in others themes.

As an engineer I sit in Tech-House just above our Technic project group, and I haven't noticed that they all have left the building. But I could go down and check tomorrow Off course the line is not being discontinued.

I personally rate the Technic line one of the most durable of all Lego's lines, much in the same way as Blakbird described a few post above this.

I find a lack of Technic in many stores here also. While it is nice to get a big set with many features the smaller sets are often much better value. I am looking forward to the new log loader with its pneumatics, I just hope it isnt too heavily priced. I admit I dont buy the very small sets to build but do buy bulk of some sets as parts.

There are some of the older sets I think could be remade, but also would like to see another PF remote controlled model, also a model combining PF with pneumatics would be excellent but unfortunately would be too expensive.

I personally rate the Technic line one of the most durable of all Lego's lines

Yeah, I have the same opinion.

I disagree.

These two sentences don't make sense !

First you say that even if the Technic theme is not profitable, it won't be discotinued.

I am saying that the Technic line is valuable to TLG even in the event that the Technic sets themselves are not very profitable. It enhances other themes.

Then, you say that a model can't be produced if there isn't enough people to buy it.

A single model is different than an entire theme. TLG isn't going to spend the money developing a 5,000 part truck if virtually no kids will buy them. But they may develop 4 small models with modest sales figures which will, in turn, supplement the possibilities of all the other themes.

So I'm not saying that sales and economics don't matter at all, but I am saying that the value of the Technic line extends beyond the immediate sales numbers.

I don't think they have the guts to actually discontinue Technic. It's a really big part of Lego, almost as big a SW or something.

Technics is to Lego as Hot Wheels is to Mattel, Transformers is to Hasbro. It would be a great landmark decision to stop Technic.

All the large Technic sets are very much in demand. The price for the discontinued sets like Giant Tow Truck, Mobile Crane and even the Motorized bulldozer is going up with no chance of going down. I am sure if Lego re-release these sets people would still buy them since these sets are full of useful parts and is challenging to build.

For me, the top 3 largest Lego purchases I made this year was for Technic; 8448 supercar, motorized bulldozer and the new crane truck. Mind you, these 3 sets ain't cheap, especially the new crane truck.

As for running out of ideas for Technic, technology changes every year. Even for construction machinery the advancements in technology meant there are always new construction rigs or machines to create. I remember the video 'behind the design' for the motorized bulldozer, the designers researched all sorts of construction equipment to design new sets. I am sure their 'ideas board' is full of photos of construction equipment which they have not made yet.

Then you have other things like supercars, 4X4s, cranes, forklifts, bobcats, pilling rigs, motorcycles, F1 cars, large trucks, airplanes, submarines etc. Maybe redo a space shuttle?

Technics is here to stay. The fact that those large Technic sets are hard to find and always sold out speaks for itself.

Please, I want a full functional bus. Automatic doors, god of hand steering, and pneumatic functionality where the bus tilts to the right for passengers with disability or sulky/pram/buggy like on a real bus.