2012 Friends Discussion Thread

[Perry the Platypus]

Then the feminists would have another excuse to hate on this theme. "THOSE PEOPLE AT LEGO! THOSE PERVERTS! OMG!!!1!!!! THEY ARE ALL PEDOPHILES AT LEGO! Blah blah blah, bitch, bitch, bitch."

It's a shame, too; those ladyfigs would be really interesting to see.

[lightningtiger]

Then the feminists would have another excuse to hate on this theme. "THOSE PEOPLE AT LEGO! THOSE PERVERTS! OMG!!!1!!!! THEY ARE ALL PEDOPHILES AT LEGO! Blah blah blah, bitch, bitch, bitch."

Don't forget us AFOL's male and female.....but you're right, they would complain even more. But boys might want the sets if the characters were in underware or baby-doll nighties.....Batman or Superman have to rescue someone right....the Joker raids a 18 year old's slumber party and Bat's save the day....use your imagination ?

[Fugazi]

Okay so I've got a question that's probably also been answered somewhere in here

The heavily advertised "6 new colors" is confusing me. I've picked 3 small sets and that's got me 3 of the colors. The Aqua, the Dark Azure, and one of the lavenders. Then of course I've got the Medium Azure outta Alien Conquest and Spongebob.

The others: the lighter lavender I think, and definitely the spring yellowish green - are these actually in anything? Because I'm getting pinks and purples and lots of fantastic colors that are relatively new to me, or welcome additions to meager collections. colors like the ol banana pudding yellow, the bright green, the magenta and the bright yellow orange. But I definitely can't find two lavenders or a trace of SYG (lots of lime though).

So are these colors really around anywhere?

Friends sets have medium azure while Alien Conquest and Spongebob have dark azure (and comparing them side by side, the difference is much greater than I expected).

Several of the Friends sets have lime green in them, which I'm pretty sure LEGO already calls yellowish green. I'm dubious as to the existence of a new color there. Were the "6 new colors" advertised anywhere other than the catalog? I'm thinking out-of-touch marketing people might be to blame for the claim.

There is another blue color in the Friends sets that was extremely rare before: bright light blue.

I haven't seen the "6 new colors" advertised anywhere. The press release here describes three new brick colors. This article describes six new colors, though, so that's one example.

The six new "Friends" colors introduced to LEGO between 2011 and 2012 are Dark Azure (debuted in Alien Conquest and Spongebob Squarepants just before Friends), Medium Azure (new to Friends) Aqua (Bricklink's Light Aqua; debuted in Cars before Friends), Medium Lavender (debuted in Friends and some LEGO watches and clocks), Lavender (debuted in Minifigures Series 5 for the fitness instructor's boom box before appearing in Friends), and Spring Yellowish Green (has not yet been seen in any sets in brick form, but has been used as a print color in Ninjago and possibly other themes).

The 6 colours were mentioned on S@H indeed, with an image of six coloured bricks. As far as I can tell, (light) Lavender isn't found in any of the current wave of Friends sets. Neither is Spring Yellowish Green. Their continued presence in the LDD palette suggests that these colours will show up eventually. On the other hand, maybe TLG decided that so many new colours weren't indispensable and cut back to 4 instead of 6? That would make the Lavender boom box a uniquely coloured piece.

[Sarah]

Any thoughts of how you are going to store these sets?

If the set has several bags inside, do you mix all the pieces together when storing for later putting together? Do you carefully keep track of what was in each bag and then separately ziploc for putting together "by bag" in the future? Or do you just toss the pieces in with your bigger collection?

I think I at least mostly want to keep them separated by set because I do intend to hand these to my daughter one day for her to play with.

[weasel47]

Bricklink has dark and medium mixed up.

I'm not sure what you mean. It's possible that Bricklink has some of the series 6 minifig parts under the wrong color (dark instead of medium, I don't have series 6 yet so I can't say), but I don't see anything else wrong. Bricklink and the LEGO Catalog both show dark azure as being darker than medium azure, and the real thing is noticeably darker.

Azure Comparison by cjedwards47, on Flickr

[Hinckley]

Probably shouldn't have mentioned that...

Prateek, they look like fifteen year olds.

That's more than enough. Thank you.

[dr_spock]

It is a toy for pretend play. I think we adults are analysing this way too deeply than it probably needs to be. It doesn't have to follow reality or logic exactly.

I like these sets for the new colours and parts for MOCs.

[Hinckley]

Then the feminists would have another excuse to hate on this theme. "THOSE PEOPLE AT LEGO! THOSE PERVERTS! OMG!!!1!!!! THEY ARE ALL PEDOPHILES AT LEGO! Blah blah blah, bitch, bitch, bitch."

As a general rule, I would try not to use the words "feminist" and "bitch" in the same sentence. Especially not repeatedly. Not if you know what's good for you, anyway.

Men, carry on with the discussion and try to show a little sensitivity to the line you are toeing...

[KimT]

Why the focus on age?

It's a LEGO theme intended for girls (primarily) and it focuses on girl's way of playing.

Think Barbie for example - who cares about her age or wether or not she's got a driver's license.

Plus get over the feminist part of this - Barbie's been whacked at for ages and she's still around.

Friends actually takes the quality up a notch and add some perspective to the playability.

It's so odd and wrong to read comments on sexism and such from AFOLs or at least someone who claims to be AFOLs.

How about we let the ladies in here comment on wether or not they're offended?

Makes me wonder what a bitch really is and if it's sex-neutral in 2012?

[Hinckley]

Why the focus on age?

It's a LEGO theme intended for girls (primarily) and it focuses on girl's way of playing.

Think Barbie for example - who cares about her age or wether or not she's got a driver's license.

Plus get over the feminist part of this - Barbie's been whacked at for ages and she's still around.

Friends actually takes the quality up a notch and add some perspective to the playability.

It's so odd and wrong to read comments on sexism and such from AFOLs or at least someone who claims to be AFOLs.

How about we let the ladies in here comment on wether or not they're offended?

Makes me wonder what a bitch really is and if it's sex-neutral in 2012?

Brilliant post. Although it should go in the controversy topic and not the discussion topic. Either way, it should be Friends tagline. Although it's rather long. Actually, most of the EB Ladies don't seem to have many problems with the line. I think some of the comments are to feminists like this. But they're uninformed and unfamiliar with the brand, just getting angry to shout their opinions and re-assert them, even if they aren't actually reinforced by the release of this product.

Thanks for stopping by. I always enjoy your blunt wisdown. Perhaps you can be here in case the goofy nighty and panty talk starts again.

[tedbeard]

23 Girls

1 Guy

Poor Guy!

I think you meant: Lucky Guy!

[Sarah]

I do think they need more male minidolls.

I remember, growing up, after my parents caved on Barbies they still insisted they would NOT buy a Ken. So we put a cheap Barbie into pants and called her the "Father" of our families (or the boyfriend, etc. She was the token male for stuff that needed males)

I could easily see using minifig hair (or a hat) on one of your extra minidolls that looks like it is wearing shorts and calling him Mike. :) If you don't have any other sets, you can even buy one of those collectible sets hoping to get something you can use. (though personally, I want bam bam so I'm going to have to find another way)

Esp because so far the only male is in the most expensive set (though I suspect the Riding Academy set will be even more expensive!)

Edited January 6, 2012 by Sarah

[Hinckley]

I remember, growing up, after my parents caved on Barbies they still insisted they would NOT buy a Ken. So we put a cheap Barbie into pants and called her the "Father" of our families (or the boyfriend, etc. She was the token male for stuff that needed males)

That is the best story I've heard all day. I love it!

Esp because so far the only male is in the most expensive set (though I suspect the Riding Academy set will be even more expensive!)

Well, I thought of this the other day. Isn't it exactly what we put up with in the "boy" lines? The cool female fig only comes in the biggest set?

I really may have to start moving posts over to the controversy thread...

[Sarah]

Well, I thought of this the other day. Isn't it exactly what we put up with in the "boy" lines? The cool female fig only comes in the biggest set?

it -looks- like they may be getting better at that this year? Maybe alongside their efforts to attract more females to current day Legos (as opposed to 30 year ago Legos)?

And I guess I didn't put up with it. These are the first non-Duplo sets I've bought in a decade. (And even in Duplo I bought most of it secondhand/received it as gifts)

Edited January 6, 2012 by Sarah

[Hinckley]

it -looks- like they may be getting better at that this year? Maybe alongside their efforts to attract more females to current day Legos (as opposed to 30 year ago Legos)?

I agree and I like that we're seeing that.

[SpiderSpaceman]

I'm not sure what you mean. It's possible that Bricklink has some of the series 6 minifig parts under the wrong color (dark instead of medium, I don't have series 6 yet so I can't say), but I don't see anything else wrong. Bricklink and the LEGO Catalog both show dark azure as being darker than medium azure, and the real thing is noticeably darker.

Azure Comparison by cjedwards47, on Flickr

Yeah I got mixed up and forgot what dark azure looked like

You're dead right, thanks

By the way, I stand by my belief that hot tub emma should obviously wear a swimsuit. I might have unintentionally started that thread but I never said 'sexed up bikini' or anything.

Edited January 6, 2012 by SpiderSpaceman

[lightningtiger]

That is the best story I've heard all day. I love it!

Well, I thought of this the other day. Isn't it exactly what we put up with in the "boy" lines? The cool female fig only comes in the biggest set?

I really may have to start moving posts over to the controversy thread...

I think you are right as similar items are being chewed over in both.

An important question is are there going to be any young male figures.....boys for the girls to date or 'Come over....mum and dad have gone out !' ?

[Perry the Platypus]

Finally picked up the rest of the sets at the LEGO Store. It was a real pain in the wallet. I'm Friends crazy! I will be doing some reviews tomorrow, then on to building my Agent P!

Edited January 6, 2012 by Perry the Platypus

[KimT]

I think you are right as similar items are being chewed over in both.

An important question is are there going to be any young male figures.....boys for the girls to date or 'Come over....mum and dad have gone out !' ?

What's wrong with you?

Do you get a kick from making crappy subtle sexual suggestions?

Is that really all you have to say about Friends?

That it makes you all warm inside and you start having odd fantasies?

It's for girls - not teenagers.

Enough is enough please.

[Hinckley]

Finally picked up the rest of the sets at the LEGO Store. It was a real pain in the wallet. I'm Friends crazy! I will be doing some reviews tomorrow, then on to building my Agent P!

Ouch! Well, your dedication is much appreciated. Although after your previous potty-mouth I'm worried for the particular mini-dolls you have just purchased.

[Perry the Platypus]

Ouch! Well, your dedication is much appreciated. Although after your previous potty-mouth I'm worried for the particular mini-dolls you have just purchased.

Oh, don't worry! I'll be giving the minidolls to my daughter, and I'm gonna let her play with the sets one I'm done reviewing some. The joys of parenting.

Edited January 6, 2012 by Perry the Platypus

[lightningtiger]

What's wrong with you?

Do you get a kick from making crappy subtle sexual suggestions?

Is that really all you have to say about Friends?

That it makes you all warm inside and you start having odd fantasies?

:gun:

It's for girls - not teenagers.

Enough is enough please.

Er, no.

I didn't suggest anything of the sort, there is more than one way of taking something right and perhaps you read it the wrong way.

Sorry if I offended you, KimT.

[Sarah]

Finally picked up the rest of the sets at the LEGO Store. It was a real pain in the wallet. I'm Friends crazy! I will be doing some reviews tomorrow, then on to building my Agent P!

Looking forward to your reviews! And yeah, I can't buy all the Friends sets no matter what so I'm trying to prioritize. And leave room for summer sets (though it seems to be a lot of boats and planes and fewer buildings!). And I want the Advent... but at $40-50 not sure THAT is going to happen! Time will tell.

Edited January 6, 2012 by Sarah

[Sid Sidious]

I got the Lego catalog today, and on the Friends page it showed a list of the new colors from Friends. Two of them were medium lavender and dark azur (they spelled azure in both medium and dark as azur). Wasn't the boombox in CM5 fitness instructor medium lavender and a lot of ADU people dark azur(e)?

[Aanchir]

I got the Lego catalog today, and on the Friends page it showed a list of the new colors from Friends. Two of them were medium lavender and dark azur (they spelled azure in both medium and dark as azur). Wasn't the boombox in CM5 fitness instructor medium lavender and a lot of ADU people dark azur(e)?

No, the boombox in CM5 was just regular Lavender, which is lighter than Medium Lavender. Dark Azur (that is how all the official LEGO publications I've seen spell it, even though I prefer Azure since it's an actual word in the English language) did indeed appear in Alien Conquest and Spongebob Squarepants, so it's not brand-new to Friends, but I imagine it was probably designed for Friends initially and other themes just happened to use it first.