New LEGO Factory and LDD online

[Hobbes]

The new factory is online: LEGO Factory

Also LDD version 1.6 is out.

New features include new bricks, train parts, pay for what you need (no extra bricks - yay!) and MFs *sweet*

Haven't tried it yet, though, but it sounds promising at least...

[gylman]

First test: 20 1x8 white bricks = 6$ Canadian = approx 0.25 US$ per brick. This is about double the best bricklink price (for new elements)

second test: 128 1x2x2 transclear panels = 30$ Canadian = approx. 0.20US$ per panel. This is as good as the best bricklink price.

third test: 576 dark red 1 x 2 bricks = 81$ Canadian = 0.12 US$ per brick. This is as good as the best bricklink prices and for high volume orders totally crushes bricklink sellers.

No time to do more

Assuming no restrictions are placed on ordering parts this way, as this thing growns, there may be a problem for bricklink parts sellers here. TLC might make some purchases from Bricklink quite unattractive.

I wonder, though, if TLC will be able to keep up with demand from people who order huge quantiities of specific bricks.

Things could get interesting.

[Hobbes]

Assuming no restrictions are placed on ordering parts this way, as this thing growns, there may be a problem for bricklink parts sellers here. TLC might make some purchases from Bricklink quite unattractive.

I wonder, though, if TLC will be able to keep up with demand from people who order huge quantiities of specific bricks.

That sort of ordering would be abusing the system, of course ;-)

But you're right:

Things could get interesting.

[gylman]

That sort of ordering would be abusing the system, of course ;-)

Assuming TLC Is not losing money on any single element, I don't see why they would care if people make a model with their bricks or not.

I predict a run on dark red parts :-) Sadly there are only 4 (1x2 brick, 1x2 plate, 1x1 plate, and a hat)

[Jipay]

I'm wondering about the minifig price. That could be good if we can order non standard figs

[Hobbes]

I'm wondering about the minifig price. That could be good if we can order non standard figs

So far only 2 legs, 2 torsos, 2 heads and 2 caps are availabe (train related). One fig came to EUR 1.40 (USD 1.25) when I checked...

[natelite]

i would think they prefer large bulk orders than small size orders. to set up the machines take more resources and bulk orders can spread the fixed costs over more bricks and hence cheaper.

looking forward to them adding more customizable minifigs. no need to get sets for minifigs! hurrah.

[Mithrandir]

That sort of ordering would be abusing the system, of course ;-)

Assuming TLC Is not losing money on any single element, I don't see why they would care if people make a model with their bricks or not.

I predict a run on dark red parts :-) Sadly there are only 4 (1x2 brick, 1x2 plate, 1x1 plate, and a hat)

Someone made this absolutely stunning MOC made entirely of 1x2 red bricks.

I don't think I could have done better myself

:-D

[ApophisV]

That sort of ordering would be abusing the system, of course ;-)

I don't think so, surely some guys at TLC thought "Let's give something to all those annoying AFOLs asking for bulk pieces. But lets make it kids-compatible too!"

I wish my PC hadn't crashed last night when I tried to install the new program, maybe I will be able to check out tonight what kind of interesting parts I could order... ;-)

[Kikuichimonji]

I dowloaded it just now. Sadly, for a space MOCer like me, there's little interesting stuff. Good pieces yes, but no good colors. Not even good yellow pieces :-P

[Ickelpete]

I downloaded it last night it is a major step forward getting rid of the parts pallets.

As long as you use a bit of imagination when selecting parts I cant see that TLC will complain if they are selling bricks that good for the business.

I read an interview with a rep from TLC who said that they were considering more Technic parts after they had added trains I cant wait for that day.

[Mithrandir]

I dowloaded it just now. Sadly, for a space MOCer like me, there's little interesting stuff. Good pieces yes, but no good colors. Not even good yellow pieces :-P

Same with Technic, although the eventual plan is to get everything up there eventually.

Here's to hope :)

[natelite]

If they get everything loaded to LDD, then the secondary market will die off. Will there ever be a need for sets anymore then? I mean using the part listing, which is freely available from peeron or from lego.com (from downloadable instructions) and ordering the parts from Lego factory what need is there for sets?

This will be a very interesting development. LDD may just very well cannibalize Lego's own sets. On the other hand it will also cannibalize other block makers. I'm thinking using the instructions of sets for Best-Lock or Mega Bloks and making the sets using Lego blocks. This will be extremely interesting. Woohoo! customized military theme lego! Available from a download near you!

[xenologer]

Havent had the chance to install the new software yet.

But just looking at the online LDD gallery (and searching for my old uploaded models) CheckPrice shows 0$ and that they can't be added to cart.

They still working out the bugs with the new production process or something?

[SuvieD]

All the old models are no longer valid. They are selling parts not bags of parts so most of those items are simply not available in quantity.

[Mithrandir]

If they get everything loaded to LDD, then the secondary market will die off. Will there ever be a need for sets anymore then? I mean using the part listing, which is freely available from peeron or from lego.com (from downloadable instructions) and ordering the parts from Lego factory what need is there for sets?

This will be a very interesting development. LDD may just very well cannibalize Lego's own sets. On the other hand it will also cannibalize other block makers. I'm thinking using the instructions of sets for Best-Lock or Mega Bloks and making the sets using Lego blocks. This will be extremely interesting. Woohoo! customized military theme lego! Available from a download near you!

You know, I really doubt it. Everything I read shows that us adults make up a very small part of the core Lego audience and it's still almost entirely kid driven.

The only way this would tank the sets market is if the majority of sets are only bought for their parts, and all indications show that this is not the case.

[natelite]

i think you misread. i did not present a situation where sets were bought for parts.

the scenario is like such: if instructions are readily available from the web, and you can order any parts from LDD. what is preventing you from downloading the instructions for free, and ordering the parts from LDD? bear in mind the final goal is FULL SET from LDD, and instructions downloaded for free from the web.

reason why i said this will kill off the secondary market is, for all the "no-longer-in-production" (unabbreviated for the benefit of an unspecified member) sets you need not order for ridiculous overpriced sum from bricklink or ebay (for eg, set 4504 the millenium falcon) if you can just order from LDD. bear in mind what you ordered is still a SET.

what you said is not invalid but it doesn't refute my point (so many negatives...but hope you get the point).

i know what i am going to order if SW templates ever made it to the LDD >:-) >:-) can you say clone army?

[Berry Syedow]

i think you misread. i did not present a situation where sets were bought for parts.

the scenario is like such: if instructions are readily available from the web, and you can order any parts from LDD. what is preventing you from downloading the instructions for free, and ordering the parts from LDD? bear in mind the final goal is FULL SET from LDD, and instructions downloaded for free from the web.

reason why i said this will kill off the secondary market is, for all the "no-longer-in-production" (unabbreviated for the benefit of an unspecified member) sets you need not order for ridiculous overpriced sum from bricklink or ebay (for eg, set 4504 the millenium falcon) if you can just order from LDD. bear in mind what you ordered is still a SET.

what you said is not invalid but it doesn't refute my point (so many negatives...but hope you get the point).

i know what i am going to order if SW templates ever made it to the LDD >:-) >:-) can you say clone army?

Natelite, also bear in mind that discontinued parts and colors in older sets will never be available again. Collectors undoubtedly prefer the real set and box, and most parents will be oblivious to what you are suggesting. LEGO factory will have a negligible impact on the secondary market. You do raise some valid points, and LEGO factory will be useful if there

[xenologer]

Keep in mind that LDD is a part of Lego,

and they aren't going to shoot themselves in the foot with it.

I doubt they'd ever make rare pieces or minifigs available em mass in LDD, at least not cheaply.

[Berry Syedow]

Keep in mind that LDD is a part of Lego,

and they aren't going to shoot themselves in the foot with it.

I doubt they'd ever make rare pieces or minifigs available em mass in LDD, at least not cheaply.

Agreed, which is a shame, really.

They're making a killing off of that chess set, almost every time its in stock they're out again. Let's just cross our fingers that TLC will release another one without the baby blue. :-P Speaking of which, I just saw that they are available again.

[natelite]

they could very well be shooting themselves in the foot. recall that they said that eventually all template will be available through LDD. corporations rarely see every aspect of a business. otherwise no one would ever hire consultants.

to your point about mass minifigs, i'm sure it's something that can be easily avoided by imposing a maximum limit per customer much like what they are doing now with the "exclusive" sets like the death star.

i do however agree with you on the point where the average parents won't know about LDD. but once the kids become interested i am sure they will eventually find out.

i also agree with the point you made about the box. a well designed box is definitely a keeper.

[SuvieD]

LEGO will not release any licensed figure or part through LDD. StarWars figures and specialty parts will not be purchased this way period.

The secondary market will not be hurt badly at all. If anything this is just competition for places like Bricklink and ebay. It negates price gauging on rarer parts/colors. Hopefully the promise bulk purchasing initially suggest will go into effect. Buying more should lower the cost of at some point.

The only negative is for sellers who are able to rake people over the coals with unreasonable prices. Recreating sets isn't going to happen easily and I doubt LEGO will ever offer up the entire piece catalog. Even if they do it will not be all at once and the amount of time needed to monitor, purchase, package and resell sets second hand would not make you very much money. You would be better off mowing lawns if you wanted to make some money.

[natelite]

Even if they do it will not be all at once and the amount of time needed to monitor, purchase, package and resell sets second hand would not make you very much money. You would be better off mowing lawns if you wanted to make some money.

haha that's true, can't argue with that. time and effort will not make it rewarding.

[Mister Phes]

reason why i said this will kill off the secondary market is, for all the "no-longer-in-production" (unabbreviated for the benefit of an unspecified member) sets you need not order for ridiculous overpriced sum from bricklink or ebay (for eg, set 4504 the millenium falcon) if you can just order from LDD. bear in mind what you ordered is still a SET.

You're such a darling angel! But if it was abbreviated I would have only asked you what it meant anyway, so you've saved somet bother.

Anyway, why would The LEGO Company care if LEGO Digital Designer killed off the secondary market?

to your point about mass minifigs, i'm sure it's something that can be easily avoided by imposing a maximum limit per customer much like what they are doing now with the "exclusive" sets like the death star.

What's wrong with mass mini-figure purchases? Adult Fans Of LEGO always want more mini-figures so this is an opportunity to cater for that market without releasing mini-figure packs in stores.

[xenologer]

Decided to make an imitation of the old Exo Raider 8381 set. Of course, I never owned that set, so I have no idea how it is actually built. Thus my version 'Xeno Raider' came out with 118 pieces, as opposed to 94 as listed on peeron.

It is also interesting to note, that it costs 13.45$USD while the real Exo Raider was 10$USD.

Of course, it lacks the pull-back motor.

Interesting price comparision... Does LDD beat the actual set... or not, hard to say.

I think I might buy it anyhow, nice looking Racer...