What happened to Western discussion?

[David Thomsen]

I know this is a reasonably redundant topic, but I wanted to know what has been happening in Western discussion lately and found that no one has so much as mentioned cowboys in the last few weeks. Every other major theme has a perpetual discussion going on, but Western seems to have fallen off the radar.

I'm wondering if the theme needs some kind of life injected into it... maybe some kind of MOC competition, like 'pillage the village' but called something like 'lampoon the saloon' instead.

Or maybe a Lego ambassador could do what Napoleon did for the pirate forum, and compile a report of what people want to see in the Western theme in the future, and submit it to TLC.

I think of Western as one of the main themes besides city, castle, pirates and space, I'd like to see it revisited in the future but that seems unlikely to happen if TLC sees no interest in it from the fans.

Okay, how about this. The cowboy and native American who are part of the collectible minifig range... they need names. Who can think of some good names for them, in keeping with the Lego style of naming minifigs?

[Sandy]

Uh, why does the Western-theme need discussion about it every week? Especially when there is no such theme being released anymore?

That's like saying "we need to discuss Fabuland more!".

But I believe the Western fans have already said everything they want to say about what they want from a possible new Western theme. It always takes a few new members to get the discussion going on again.

By the way, Western is not a main theme for LEGO like the others you mentioned, don't be delusional about that. It was released in just two years, where as City and Castle and Space have all been around for decades.

[David Thomsen]

Uh, why does the Western-theme need discussion about it every week? Especially when there is no such theme being released anymore?

Like I said, TLC are unlikely to consider revisiting Western if there is no interest generated in it.

By the way, Western is not a main theme for LEGO like the others you mentioned, don't be delusional about that. It was released in just two years, where as City and Castle and Space have all been around for decades.

That's why I phrased it as, 'I think of Western as', rather than 'Western is'. For something that was only released for two years, Western has generated a lot of long-term affecion. That's why I think of Western as an important theme.

I don't see why you had to be so mean spirited. I'm just trying to think of ways to increase interest in the theme.

[Sandy]

I don't see why you had to be so mean spirited. I'm just trying to think of ways to increase interest in the theme.

Was I being mean? I'm sorry, it wasn't my intention. I do have a straightforward way of saying things, you shouldn't take it personally.

I do think that Western-fans are a minority among us AFOLs, even though you yourself might love the theme to death. If it really had a lasting appeal, it would've gone on for much longer than two years.

I guess time has just ran past the days when kids played cowboys and indians.

[Siegfried]

I'm wondering if the theme needs some kind of life injected into it... maybe some kind of MOC competition, like 'pillage the village' but called something like 'lampoon the saloon' instead.

Generally it's the reverse; a theme is popular so we run a competition. We're not trying to create popularity afterall; if a theme is popular it'll stand up on it's own.

Even so, a Western competition isn't out of the question... but I'd be no where near the scale of Pillage the Village.

[Etzel]

Well, Western sure is a fun theme and I really enjoyed building a few MOCs to join the hype about a month ago. Somehow Western was the most interesting theme in February but I don't we can't expect such big interest to remain. The interest in Western is now back on the level it had before the hype and it will probably stay that way until next time we have a bunch of awesome MOC's that evokes a new hype. I think it's all about MOCs actually - Kris Kelvin's great Pif Paf City and ISC's Tombclone started it all this time and I'm sure that if someone would post something like that the interest would come back.

If you want the discussion to keep going I suggest you build a MOC, review a set or start an interesting discussion (not one where you wonder about why nobody is discussion it ).

[WesternOutlaw]

I wanted to know what has been happening in Western discussion lately and found that no one has so much as mentioned cowboys in the last few weeks. Every other major theme has a perpetual discussion going on, but Western seems to have fallen off the radar.

I'm wondering if the theme needs some kind of life injected into it...

If you have interest in the theme, I would suggest that you take some time to comment about Wild West creations that have been shared in the forum. I can't say that I recall seeing your input. In addition, as Etzel mentions above, you can share one yourself. That's always a start.

I guess time has just ran past the days when kids played cowboys and indians.

I still like to play it.

[I Scream Clone]

Western does hold a fondness in many peoples hearts but the interest can be hard to maintain when new sets aren't available to pique peoples interest. I was so keen I had to place BL orders to get the figures I wanted just to have a crack at Tombclone, so the accessibility surely impacts upon peoples interest levels. by all means have a look at some of the recent creations and drop some comments or even have a crack at something yourself.

Its like the everyone just got the hell outta here!

[Klaus-Dieter]

Hello David Thomsen.

On the one hand I have to agree with Sandy that Western is surely no theme of those themes which sell independant form time, location, ... (like e. g. City, Castle, ...). But how many themes do appear from time to time which only live for one, two or three years and then disappear?!

On the other hand this theme indeed has a huge potential. When you read through the topics I listed below, you can see how many ideas for (new) Wild West sets we fans already posted and discussed - they would last for many years and many waves.

And I even do not think that kids are not that interested in Western. Imo it was the mistake to stop the Western "Cowboy" theme firstly after one year and release an "Indian" theme for only one year, too. For a Western theme and for all the imagination of kids and what they connect with this theme, there were missing some existential elements such as a stage coach, a Western train and a saloon.

Plus it can't be that TLG does absolutely not think about releasing a new Western theme - why then would they have emailed their customers a poll (about 1,5 years ago) where they asked whether we would like Animals, Robots or Western as a new Factory theme?

The reasons for there aren't many discussions going on in this forum on the moment are - like already mentioned - that we have not had new Western sets since 1997. Do only think about how much there would be discussed in ten years about Star Wars sets if TLG stopps this theme after next year. Plus we have got minimum two topics full of ideas for a new Western theme - these ideas were already discussed by many of the "older" members which are interested in Western. And TheBrickster and I even wrote a report about new ideas for Western sets which Bonaparte and CopMike sent to TLG. So - like already mentioned, too - it needs some new members and/or some new sets and/or some new MOCs in order to that this discussion will go on more lively.

I plan to build a small covered waggon after Easter and then I'll show it to you. But at the moment I'm very busy at university.

Here are some links for discussing the Wild West theme:

Licensed or unlicensed new Western sets?

Report about new Western sets addressed to TLG

Ideas for new sets (Wild West)

Wild West: Help Dusty Miner ...

And make even sure that you signed in the Petition for Western returning.

Klaus-Dieter

[gotoAndLego]

I know this is a reasonably redundant topic, but I wanted to know what has been happening in Western discussion lately and found that no one has so much as mentioned cowboys in the last few weeks. Every other major theme has a perpetual discussion going on, but Western seems to have fallen off the radar.

I'm wondering if the theme needs some kind of life injected into it... maybe some kind of MOC competition, like 'pillage the village' but called something like 'lampoon the saloon' instead.

Or maybe a Lego ambassador could do what Napoleon did for the pirate forum, and compile a report of what people want to see in the Western theme in the future, and submit it to TLC.

I think of Western as one of the main themes besides city, castle, pirates and space, I'd like to see it revisited in the future but that seems unlikely to happen if TLC sees no interest in it from the fans.

Okay, how about this. The cowboy and native American who are part of the collectible minifig range... they need names. Who can think of some good names for them, in keeping with the Lego style of naming minifigs?

You should inject some life by building a MOC or creating a competition.

Edited March 29, 2010 by gotoAndLego

[Mrcool1804]

I like Western and agree that it would be fun to get something going. I love IScreamCones creations! Its a fun time period to build. Id like to get started on MOC

[WesternOutlaw]

I love IScreamCones creations! Its a fun time period to build.

Me too

Id like to get started on MOC

It's always nice to see more interest in WW MOCs.

[Rijkvv]

For some themes, for example Western, I let the building for those who are good in building with that theme, while for others, I try to create something myself, mostly in Town (at the moment virtually only due to a lack of parts). Western is a theme where I prefer to collect it.

I guess time has just ran past the days when kids played cowboys and indians.

It can go to the opposite direction as well. My interest for cowboys and revolvers started with seeing the pictures from Playmobil and LEGO western sets. Before that time I played pirate and knight only.

[WesternOutlaw]

My interest for cowboys and revolvers started with seeing the pictures from Playmobil and LEGO western sets.

I'm a big fan of the Playmobil Western theme as well. I'd love to get my hands on some of the older sets -but that goes into another topic entirely.