Which 'Space' theme should LEGO revive?

[DPrime]

Lego has really been a bad guys vs good guys type toy market so I'd have to go with Blacktron & Futuron.

... which would be fine with me. Futuron is almost a "revisited" Classic Space, anyway. :)

[naf]

Lego has really been a bad guys vs good guys type toy market so I'd have to go with Blacktron & Futuron.

I don't quite get why this is. I'm sure Lego did their research and found that conflict sells, but it seems like it eats into the design and creativity of the sets. Take Galaxy Squad, for example. They have to devote bricks and minifigs to include a small vehicle for the opposing faction in every set. These extra resources could have gone into making the main model that much better. Even town has gotten into this with their police chase type sets.

I know Blacktron was technically the "bad" faction during the Classic Space/Futuron/Blacktron era, I never saw it as such until Space Police 1 hit and showed the Blacktron guys behind bars. I was actually surprised at how conflict oriented Lego is today after coming back into it.

[Mogywar]

They've given us Space Police III., so I think now's time for Blacktron III.

[Farseer Petriel]

I don't know why people don't like Life on Mars so much. I think it was a good theme, it had lots of good ideas and colours. But the models were poor indeed.

[ETAV8R]

I love classic space since that is what I grew up with. Nothing wrong with rehashing some of the sets that made the precedent for space.

I also like UFO and of course Alien Conquest. UFO happened during my dark age but it really was ahead of its time with the features and characters.

Why must we always have conflicting factions? Seems sad that this is what sells. My teams as a kid were explorers.

[Horatio-Caine]

Predictably I'd have to go with Blacktron, although at the same time I think it should be brought back with a rebooted/modern version of their main rivals Futuron. However I'm not expecting any of that to happen given current trends.

[Dreadredbeard]

I would love to see a Blacktron and M:tron reboot, those were my favorite when I first got into lego

[Laura Beinbrech]

I voted for Blacktron, Futuron and Classic Space. A Blacktron I set, the Alienator was one of the first LEGO sets I ever bought with my own money (I got it the same day I got the Forestman's Hideout), and I was thrilled, as a kid, when they came out with the Blacktron II sets shortly after Blacktron I was discontinued. I also really liked the designs and colors of the Futuron sets as well, although it kinda blends in with/is an extension of Classic Space (which was one of the first LEGO sets I ever got back in 1986), which is why I chose that as well (I'd be more than happy with CS instead of Futuron, especially since it's running a fairly close second to Blacktron).

[Captain Settle]

As much as I love the Classic Space theme, I don't think LEGO should revive it. To make a simplistic, yet nostalgic classic space model would be great for AFOL's, but children who don't know about Classic Space would just find the revive terrible, as compared to modern sets it would be very blocky and they wouldn't buy it. Another scenario is that they bring back classic space, but the theme and sets are terrible. It would taint the memories of such a perfect theme. I would also like to say M-Tron, but the market just isn't for peaceful themes at the moment. So I think they should bring back Blacktron. They've already brought it back once before, with a different colour scheme and ship designs, so they could do that again, while keeping the essence of Blacktron intact. They could also throw in some re-vamped Futuron or Space Police as the bad guys (Or good guys).

[1974]

As much as I love the Classic Space theme, I don't think LEGO should revive it. To make a simplistic, yet nostalgic classic space model would be great for AFOL's, but children who don't know about Classic Space would just find the revive terrible, as compared to modern sets it would be very blocky and they wouldn't buy it. Another scenario is that they bring back classic space, but the theme and sets are terrible. It would taint the memories of such a perfect theme. I would also like to say M-Tron, but the market just isn't for peaceful themes at the moment. So I think they should bring back Blacktron. They've already brought it back once before, with a different colour scheme and ship designs, so they could do that again, while keeping the essence of Blacktron intact. They could also throw in some re-vamped Futuron or Space Police as the bad guys (Or good guys).

I disagree with just about everything you wrote

I have a rather large collection of Classic Space/MOCs (as in 200 sets, usually we do a 4x12 32x32 baseplate setup, but it varies) and it's GREAT fun for my kid and his friends (5-10 year olds). In fact, they don't even want to play with my (also large) OT Starwars sets ..

Classic Space is NOT simplistic, In fact in has never been more advanced. You have exploration, mining, satelite launch, refueling, communication, etc .. NOT just us vs them as in just about any modern space theme .. Which is a too black'n'white thing I DON'T want my son to learn

It's only AFOLs who wants everything snotted up and tiled away, kids (who are TLGs primary target) just wants something cool to play and LEARN with. And my experience says that kids think Classic Space is way cool

I take great pride in teaching my son - and friends - all the aspect of space and space exploration. And also LEGO history. I collect catalogues. We enjoy flipping though them and I can tell you they say more 'whoha!' when looking at the old stuff

Just take a real good look at the great spaceships/stations/vehicles from 80' to '89 and tell me there's been anything from TLG that's even touched that? (Okay, I do like SP3, but even the limo doesn't get much love around those kids. 6929 do, so much I had to buy a bunch and MOC a blue one and a Blacktron one as well)

BL is getting my money, TLG is not

[DPrime]

Not to mention, they don't HAVE to be blocky. Honestly, if Galaxy Squad had simply been the same sets, but in blue, grey and trans-yellow with CS minifigs and logos, I would have been all over it.

And I'm not too worried about the potential for "terrible designs" - why should Lego try anything, if that was a concern?

[Captain Settle]

And I'm not too worried about the potential for "terrible designs" - why should Lego try anything, if that was a concern?

It's not a concern with new themes, but it could potentially ruin the classic space theme by making it terrible. And I stand by what I said before, LEGO have been selling battle oriented themes for years. I doubt they'll change now.

[Piranha]

I would like to see a theme that features a variety of minifigure characters. I want space rangers, space pirates/marauders, scientists, explorers, civilians, robots, good aliens etc. It should also feature moon bases, monorails, spaceships, mechs and everything in between. Incorporate the Classic Space logo on some of the figs and set the theme across multiple worlds. A modernization of Classic Space basically. They don't have to be exact remakes from the original theme. There could be new sets/designs, using updated/new building techniques. I think the TLG designers would have a lot of fun designing such a theme. It would also have to be a long term theme, as each wave would compliment the previous.

Probably just a pipe dream though.

[DPrime]

^ that would be great! Incorporate 'em all!

I kind of feel like CS, Futuron, Space Police and to a somewhat lesser extent Ice Planet and the 'trons it nicely together anyway.

[naf]

As much as I love the Classic Space theme, I don't think LEGO should revive it. To make a simplistic, yet nostalgic classic space model would be great for AFOL's, but children who don't know about Classic Space would just find the revive terrible, as compared to modern sets it would be very blocky and they wouldn't buy it.

I don't quite agree with that the older sets are all that "blocky," I have a fair collection of classic space sets, and they all incorporate some interesting pieces and designs, and I feel like they can stand up to any set released now. I think the main difference is that SNOT is all the rage, and Lego has incorporated this technique into it's models. They also tend to cover the model with specialized slopes, wedges, and tile pieces to "hide" the studs on the bricks (never really understood this, how are we supposed to attach minifigures or modify the model with accessories?).

I think if you take a minifig along the lines of the spaceman/intergalactic girl from the CMF series, give them the classic space white, red, black, yellow, and blue uniforms, and use some of these more modern pieces and techniques, you'd have a winner that will appeal to both AFOLs and kids alike.

[KeepLeft]

As a kid I bought a number of classic space kids and still have them and am busy reviving them to create a space theme moonbase. Not having any of the other sets my bias is with classic space sets. I have a number of Star Wars sets that I tend to build and leave. The classic sets are basic sets that allow for more creativity than the current sets Lego produces. While I am amazed the way new sets look I dislike the specialisation of the pieces. When trying to build something new I often have one or two unique pieces that prevent any real creativity. The classic space sets, I think are true to the original idea of Lego.

[Lady K]

I too would love to see a combination of say Ice Planet, Blacktron, and Insectoids. I really loved the colors. Great for building anything space related. Sadly I wasn't able to pick up may of these sets.

[parksroad]

I don't quite get why this is. I'm sure Lego did their research and found that conflict sells, but it seems like it eats into the design and creativity of the sets. Take Galaxy Squad, for example. They have to devote bricks and minifigs to include a small vehicle for the opposing faction in every set. These extra resources could have gone into making the main model that much better. Even town has gotten into this with their police chase type sets.

Yes! I miss that the old, say, $20-level sets could be bigger and a little more detailed because the resources didn't go to a dinky secondary model. I don't even mind having two factions, or a secondary vehicle with larger sets, but it seems that every set now is split up this way. Take the new Castle theme, for instance. Not one set without representatives from both sides.

[Disco86]

Space crime is back von Disco86 auf Flickr

[Blacktron]

Well, if Blacktron would return I can only hope they don't use colors or designs of Blacktron II. Simply because Blacktron I was so much better than Blacktron II. There aren't many space lines that don't use white as the main color. Doing a space line in black was a rare and encouraged step for TLG. Blacktron I were cool Badguys, while Blacktron II was like any other space line.

[kermit]

I grew up with classic space sets so I would like the classic theme to come back, unfortunately I don`t think lego will ever do that. I would like to see the classic space monorail make a comeback.

[Lego Spy]

Space Police...

No! Just kidding! I'd like to see UFO or Insectoids come beck personally.

Edited September 17, 2013 by Lego Spy

[mpoh98]

I think that they should revive classic space, those were good sets.

[mon-o-mat]

I don't know why people don't like Life on Mars so much. I think it was a good theme, it had lots of good ideas and colours. But the models were poor indeed.

You answered the question yourself. Colors and ideas doesn't sell, especially in a time were Lego sets tried to be somehow "badass" and cool.

[TheOrcKing]

Blacktron really needs a full comeback, period, especially with so many characters over the years that keep hinting at the theme. M-Tron had a great color scheme but Lego has not included magnets in sets anymore so that would be an odd revival. Unitron featured a monorail and nice colors but I can't remember what their original mission was. Spyrius was cool in their color choices and early usage of robots and 'saucers'. Roboforce was a decent subtheme that passed under the radar at the time but I can imagine the designs using today's techniques being very awesome and possibly better than Exoforce. I wouldn't mind at least seeing a UFO inspired character appear in the Collectable Minifigures line.