2012 Friends Discussion Thread

[lightningtiger]

How about adding a poll for those who like and dislike the theme and the figures/builds/accessories our friend's-ly moderator's ?

[Aanchir]

I have to say, having seen a "preview" of Dino, City (forest), Ninjago, and Friends... Friends looks like the most intriguing.

Putting on my "toy designer" hat, it seems to be well designed with engaging structure builds, accessories, and color design. Aside from the figures, I see all kinds of new colors and new molds (or at least new to me). I think this theme has a bigger chance of success than past Lego "girlie" offerings. It looks like the builds are a step up from what Belville had - the houses look bigger and more detailed. There seems to be less pandering here, not shooting for the lowest common denominator and giving the Lego building aspect the short shrift. Nice design work here.

On a slight downside, it looks like there is going to be quite a bit of dreaded sticker sheet action. And I'm not convinced that regular minfig parts will fit on these new figures. It looks like the hands are the same diameter as a minifig, but the heads look bigger to me. I guess we'll see.

Well, as I mentioned, we've seen the Collectible Minifigures S2 Pop Star's hair on a figure from this theme in Cool Yellow (Bricklink's Bright Light Yellow). Either the heads have the same diameter or TLG has completely redesigned an existing piece for a figure that doesn't seem to appear in any sets in the first wave's catalog.

Additionally, as Derek pointed out, the male figure in the doll house has the same hair as many existing minifigures, and the Beauty Shop seems to have one of the new hair pieces on a regular minifig head in white, used as a mannequin head.

The hair seems to be the only part that's obviously intercompatible between regular minifigures and Friends figures. Maybe the heads are, not like there'd be too much of a point to that since they're so different stylistically.

As far as sticker sheets, that won't be a concern of mine if I end up getting any sets. I'm generally pro-sticker except in certain very specific circumstances where stickers would be impractical (and of course, in certain areas where it's just personal preference-- I don't like stickered minifigure torsos, for instance). As far as I can tell, there are no stickers on rounded parts where they're likely to peel off, nor are there stickers on surfaces smaller than the profile of a 1x1 brick. Stickers all seem to be printed on paper (rather than clear plastic), and most are shaped like the pieces they go on (the dollhouse has some rather egregious exceptions, which I'm sure would annoy me, but there's no circular stickers on square pieces or anything like that). So basically the stickers meet all of my very generous qualifications.

Meanwhile, since the stickers seem to match the theme's girlish aesthetic, I'm sure many AFOLs buying these sets as parts packs would prefer the parts unprinted anyway.

[lightningtiger]

I, too just noticed the hair piece on the minifig head piece in the salon....interesting.....BL will be flooded in hair pieces and other speciality parts next year !

Question, what ages are these 'Friend's' mean't to be ?

Teenage or young adult ?

[badboytje88]

Interesting question. They appear to be old enough to drive yet young enough to play in a tree house. I'd say 16 tops

[hollywood_heidke]

The level of intrigue and excitement being generated in this forum for sets that are clearly not geared towards our demographic (afol) is interesting. I'm as excited as the next brick and can't wait to see these on store shelves.

We've all discussed, considered, and made our own decisions about how straightforward we are or aren't when purchasing Lego from a brick and mortar store. I usually don't bat an eye, personally. But I do start to feel a bit uncomfortable when the same employee has walked by six times while I've been feeling up Collectible Minifig bags :). How is it gonna look bringing up a bunch of Friends sets to the register as a lone male adult? I may have to bring my wife along ;) Hell, she'll probably want some for herself, anyway.

[Zeya]

Well, as I mentioned, we've seen the Collectible Minifigures S2 Pop Star's hair on a figure from this theme in Cool Yellow (Bricklink's Bright Light Yellow). Either the heads have the same diameter or TLG has completely redesigned an existing piece for a figure that doesn't seem to appear in any sets in the first wave's catalog.

Additionally, as Derek pointed out, the male figure in the doll house has the same hair as many existing minifigures, and the Beauty Shop seems to have one of the new hair pieces on a regular minifig head in white, used as a mannequin head.

The hair seems to be the only part that's obviously intercompatible between regular minifigures and Friends figures. Maybe the heads are, not like there'd be too much of a point to that since they're so different stylistically.

Oh that's awesome. So headpieces and accessories are interchangeable. Very smart of Lego to do. That makes it easy for buyers to migrate from one to the other. Perhaps as girls get older they'll be more likely to collect "System" sets since they can use their old Friends parts from being a kid. And in the meantime we will all have more female variety. Too bad we can't get more female figs (torsos) in System sets though, but that's another matter.

As far as sticker sheets, that won't be a concern of mine if I end up getting any sets. ...

Yeah, I just had to come up with a "con" for all of my "pros". It does seem to be a bit sticker heavy. Either that or they will have a lot of printed pieces. I wonder if little girls like putting on stickers. They probably do, I imagine. :) I only dislike stickers when I put them on crooked by accident. But I don't want to start a sticker-hate tangent so that's all I will say.

[lightningtiger]

Interesting question. They appear to be old enough to drive yet young enough to play in a tree house. I'd say 16 tops

Yeah, confusing......how many 16 year's own cafe's, salons and vet clinics ? Really a 16 year vet ?

Driving a sports car.....rich daddy or sugar daddy ?

If these are young woman, their figures need some work......a push-up bra might help too !

We need to find out the back story behind all these character's in this theme, plus who were the design team behind it ?

Are there female designers at Lego.....we only ever see male one's ?

[Zeya]

Yeah, confusing......how many 16 year's own cafe's, salons and vet clinics ? Really a 16 year vet ?

Driving a sports car.....rich daddy or sugar daddy ?

If these are young woman, their figures need some work......a push-up bra might help too !

We need to find out the back story behind all these character's in this theme, plus who were the design team behind it ?

Are there female designers at Lego.....we only ever see male one's ?

Ha, you guys obviously didn't have sisters growing up or daughters etc. (Just teasing here!) Barbie and Skipper etc would drive Corvettes around and apparently Barbie has every occupation under the sun (nurse, veterinarian, pearl diver and on and on). I think these days it gets more ambiguous than it was growing up (80s/90s for me). Not that I'm paying close attention, but you see all kinds of dolls where they have lipstick and scanty popstar-like clothes and are apparently in some kind of junior high or high school or something... Point being that little girls want to fantasize about being a little bit older, like running a salon and driving and cell phoning, all with their friends. (Hey that kind of sounds like a good time actually... )

Good question about female designers at Lego. I wonder if there are any. I'd bet good money that they have women on their marketing team though.

Edited September 15, 2011 by Zeya

[Ricecracker]

I'm a man and I'll be getting quite a few of these. I like them a lot.

Half a man.

[lightningtiger]

Barbie is an adult character and appears to have a bust line to keep Ken happy !

I guess we shouldn't read too much into this theme, I'm approaching it from a male point of view, perhaps girl's will see it differently and consider it well, Girl's Just Wan't To Have Fun !

Quick edit - the kitty cat looks like a smaller design of Bob The Builder's cat.

Edited September 15, 2011 by lightningtiger

[Lord Insanity]

Wow the buildings in this theme are awesome. The Veterinarian's Office, Cafe, and Beauty Salon would all be quite easy to MOD into my town. If these are competitively priced I will definitely be picking most of them up. If these have the "girl" mark-up Belville sets had I will be far less interested. As these sets will obviously be in direct competition to the likes of Polly Pocket, I expect competitive pricing on this line. Fortunately for me I have plenty of female mini-figs in my town that would fit in these sets nicely. I'll just have to put the bald doll-figs in my "Area 51" quarantine and dissection lab under heavy ADU guard.

[peterab]

Are there female designers at Lego.....we only ever see male one's ?

There's at least one; Mel who is Australian. I've never met her but she has friends in my LUG. I was told she designed the molding machine exclusive set.

[Aanchir]

Oh that's awesome. So headpieces and accessories are interchangeable. Very smart of Lego to do. That makes it easy for buyers to migrate from one to the other. Perhaps as girls get older they'll be more likely to collect "System" sets since they can use their old Friends parts from being a kid. And in the meantime we will all have more female variety. Too bad we can't get more female figs (torsos) in System sets though, but that's another matter.

Well, it's a bit early to judge for sure what we should expect of female torsos next year. Many of the City sets we've seen use preliminary torsos. But so far, the Car with Camper 4435 has been shown with a new female minifigure torso, as has the pink "Bricks & More" bucket 4625 (which also has plenty of the new "girly" colors, making it a potentially-appealing alternative to the Friends theme for someone who wants to stockpile the new lavender colors).

[lightningtiger]

It's easy to see that the Friend's figures are final where perhaps the city one are not final.

[snaillad]

Sorry to mention if it has been already but in the 'cafe' on the shelf at the back, it looks to me like a cupcake base piece, is it new?

[lightningtiger]

Sorry to mention if it has been already but in the 'cafe' on the shelf at the back, it looks to me like a cupcake base piece, is it new?

Yes, cupcakes are new, so are the butterflies and tulip heads too !

[Delta 38]

Aside from the colour scheme, which is ridiculously loud (though it is expected), it actually looks okay. I see quite a few new colours and parts in there.

I think I'll get a couple of those small sets. I have nothing to lose except my dignity.

[Mrlegoninja]

So either do one of two things, give the dolls to a little girl or second, buy the accessories from BL when available.

1. I have no daughters. One son. And 2. I don't MOC. I'm a collector, and in these times I like to spend money on stuff that I absouletly need (Like the new city vehicles ).

[lightningtiger]

1. I have no daughters. One son. And 2. I don't MOC. I'm a collector, and in these times I like to spend money on stuff that I absouletly need (Like the new city vehicles ).

But doesn't your son know any girls ?

Plus MOCing is fun try it......it's what Lego's all about !

Though true, the might dollar comes into play here, which poses the question on price vs. set type....like which ones will sell well and which ones will bomb ?

The smart girl set with robot might not be a good seller, the intended market might not want to be considered to be like.....http://www.thirdraildesignlab.com/rimages5/0cartoonvelma.jpeg

I tip the cafe, animal clinic and finally at the top beauty salon to be the best sellers.....we shall see next year on the toy shop shelves.

[vexorian]

But doesn't your son know any girls ?

He plays with LEGO. He doesn't.

BANG!

Edited September 17, 2011 by vexorian

[lightningtiger]

He plays with LEGO. He doesn't.

BANG!

My son plays with Lego, and claims to have two girlfriends also.....so there ! (That's my boy ! )

Enough off-topic stuff, now back to the serious talk about Lego !

In some of the sets there appears to be both milk and juice brick-built cartons with stickers saying what they are.....could we see a supermarket in the future or could that be just wishful thinking ?

[Captain Blockbeard]

As a single adult male collector of Lego, I find it interesting that I'm more interested in this Friends theme than some of the other 2012 themes. After seeing the pictures of the sets, I can already imagine how easy it would be to slightly modify a number of these sets (Beauty Salon, Vet, Cafe) to fit in with my regular City sets. Even the sets' original color schemes would work well and provide contrast to all of the yellow, red, and white buildings that overpopulate my town currently.

[Dannylonglegs]

I finally found the discussion thread for friends after staring blankly at seven pages in the special themes forum.

My 9 year old sister was very excited when she saw this theme and told me that if I bought her any of these sets she'd let me borrow some of the pieces. I'm quite impressed by all the fun and odd piece colours that are in these girl-focused sets, so I might take her up on that offer.

~Insectoid Aristocrat

Edited September 18, 2011 by Dannylonglegs

[sedna1000]

Got it, thank you!

Brian

Edited September 19, 2011 by sedna1000

[McBuddha]

Check your mail!

Hey, if anyone happens to have these sneak peak photos I was hoping they could email them to me?

Thnaks,

Brian

sedna1000@hotmail.com