LEGO® CUUSOO 空想 - Turn your model wishes into reality

[Faefrost]

For all we know Knex has a non-compete thingy in their contract prohibiting Nintendo from even considering LEGO (despite that Knex hasn't done anything with Zelda).

I'm sure a Zelda set would sell like hotcakes. Not as much as Minecraft but probably at least as much as the Delorean which seems to be selling quite well so far.

But again, the main thing is molds. They'd need several.

The only way they'd do new molds is if they had a whole line of 6-7, probably around the time a new Zelda game came out. But that won't likely happen. And while I'm sure ONE Zelda set would sell well based mostly on nerd nostalgia like with BttF I'm not sure it's got enough modern power (due to the lack of a TV show, Movie or even a new game coming out for years) to support a whole wave. Even though Skyward Sword was an amazing game the Zelda series isn't selling as well as it used to.

It's not just whether it could sell a whole wave. Zelda would easily sell out a CuuSoo run and go back for more a few times. But so far as we know a normal CuuSoo run is under 50,000 pieces per run. That's a perfect size run for a niche property like a video game. But they can't amortize new molds over a run that size. They need a full retail production run, which is anywhere from 500,000 pieces up to a million. And Zelda, while having a dedicated fan following, probably does not have enough depth of fan base to support even a single set of those numbers yet.

[Lego Otaku]

Here's a technical Cuusoo question:

Is there any way to get it to open a link to a Flickr slideshow in a new window or a new tab, rather than leaving the Cuusoo page?

They can always come right back to Cuusoo by pressing the back button, but naturally I'd rather have it open in a new window or tab.

Does anyone know how?

I have not submitted anything to cuusoo so I don't know if this is permitted but if basic HTML is allowed, the add target="_new" inside the a href tag. It will force new window when user clicks on the link.

<a href="http://www.yourimage.../yourimagelink" target="_new">name of link</a>

Edited November 9, 2013 by Lego Otaku

[The Real Indiana Jones]

I have not submitted anything to cuusoo so I don't know if this is permitted but if basic HTML is allowed, the add target="_new" inside the a href tag. It will force new window when user clicks on the link.

<a href="http://www.yourimage.../yourimagelink" target="_new">name of link</a>

OK, great! I think that they were not allowing certain HTML codes to be inserted before, but now (wisely) they do.

target="_blank" also works, and opens multiple tabs for each.

Thanks! =D

Edited November 9, 2013 by The Real Indiana Jones

[Ondra]

My favourite cuusoou project http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/35422 is now on main page.

I dont say that so much, but please support that model Is astonishing.Great for train, BTTF and steampunk lovers.

Also there is high possibility that set can be done, because lego already have BTTF license.

[Lego Otaku]

Not my model but I think it's worth looking into: http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/45109

If you're a fan of Goonies, this is defiantly a good one to try and get LEGO to release officially. It gained over 3k votes in just a few months.

[Blondie-Wan]

Assuming the molds are the main sticking point for Zelda, and that the most critical one involves Link's headgear, what about the Holiday Elf from the current Series 11 Minifigures? Could that be considered close enough for the character (perhaps when combined with custom hair print on the head), or would he truly require a new mold to be fully recognizable?

Also, I see the Japanese old style Architecture set made it to 10,000 votes. Congrats to taxon55, and best of luck. I was mulling over supporting that one myself, and had wavered only because it would obviously be an expensive set I'd have trouble affording, and even though there's no real committment associated with CUUSOO support I personally try to support those projects that I'm really quite sure I'd buy (and I try to leave honest estimates of how much I'd pay, how many copies I'd buy, etc.), but I'll definitely try to get this one if it makes it to the product stage.

[Faefrost]

Assuming the molds are the main sticking point for Zelda, and that the most critical one involves Link's headgear, what about the Holiday Elf from the current Series 11 Minifigures? Could that be considered close enough for the character (perhaps when combined with custom hair print on the head), or would he truly require a new mold to be fully recognizable?

Also, I see the Japanese old style Architecture set made it to 10,000 votes. Congrats to taxon55, and best of luck. I was mulling over supporting that one myself, and had wavered only because it would obviously be an expensive set I'd have trouble affording, and even though there's no real committment associated with CUUSOO support I personally try to support those projects that I'm really quite sure I'd buy (and I try to leave honest estimates of how much I'd pay, how many copies I'd buy, etc.), but I'll definitely try to get this one if it makes it to the product stage.

Unfortunately the Elf Hat goes the wrong way for Link. And is a little too high and pointy. Part of the problem when dealing with licensed characters is that the designers have to match or adapt to very specific looks and artwork from the license holders style guides. They are essentially given a set of blueprints. There is a lot less wiggle room for making certain things work with existing parts then we would think. "TLG can use whatever parts the want so long as the end result looks exactly like a recognizable Link", sort of thing.

[Aanchir]

Unfortunately the Elf Hat goes the wrong way for Link. And is a little too high and pointy. Part of the problem when dealing with licensed characters is that the designers have to match or adapt to very specific looks and artwork from the license holders style guides. They are essentially given a set of blueprints. There is a lot less wiggle room for making certain things work with existing parts then we would think. "TLG can use whatever parts the want so long as the end result looks exactly like a recognizable Link", sort of thing.

Well, some portrayals of Link have his hat point forward (Minish Cap jumps to mind, but I know there are others where his hat is less stylized). But you're right, license holders can be very strict about how licensing partners portray their characters, especially when the LEGO Group has shown time and time again how much accuracy they're capable of.

[Meatman]

Well, some portrayals of Link have his hat point forward (Minish Cap jumps to mind, but I know there are others where his hat is less stylized). But you're right, license holders can be very strict about how licensing partners portray their characters, especially when the LEGO Group has shown time and time again how much accuracy they're capable of.

The games made by Capcom were a bit different and somewhat strange to the regular Zelda games that players had become accustomed too. I do very much agree though, Nintendo isn't going to have one of their cult icons portrayed generically in Lego.

[GregoryBrick]

If there's any doubt or ignorance about how specific things can be, there's an example of in-house style requirements from The Simpsons here, and a King of the Hill example here. You'll note rules about such things as pupil shapes, how noses should overlap eyes, the relative location of facial parts, and more.

[Blondie-Wan]

Unfortunately the Elf Hat goes the wrong way for Link. And is a little too high and pointy. Part of the problem when dealing with licensed characters is that the designers have to match or adapt to very specific looks and artwork from the license holders style guides. They are essentially given a set of blueprints. There is a lot less wiggle room for making certain things work with existing parts then we would think. "TLG can use whatever parts the want so long as the end result looks exactly like a recognizable Link", sort of thing.

Oh, yes, I do know about the requirements of license holders to ensure their products fall within certain acceptable parameters of what characters and other visual elements look like; I was asking more whether or not the S11 elf hat was indeed close enough to Link, or at least certain versions of Link that have appeared over the years. Despite loving videogames, I'm not actually particularly well-acquainted with the Zelda series - I haven't ever really played it, though I do still have an NES and intend to get around to starting the series one of these days - so I don't have the same level of familiarity with the character that fans do.

[Faefrost]

What still amazes me from the last review period is the complete lack of commentary or outrage concerning the "other" video game project that got turned down? League of Legends. I'm guessing most recognized that it was a good project, but a bad brand fit? ( heck there probably is not a ton of AFOL and LOL crossover. If there was the language around here would probably be more colorful.)

[Ondra]

Do you think we will see at least one ghostbuster set?I think possibility is pretty high, nice looking ecto 1 with high play potencial from child and adult loved movie and there is well selling delorean that looks same case as ghostbusters car.

There are one problem license, but I look at ghostbusters official page and there are many promo products like toys, models and clothes from many companies.So I think license isnt problem if lego want ghostbusters set.

And remeber TLC, every fall cuusoo project hit 10, 000 votes.Ghostbusters 20, 000 .

[Blondie-Wan]

Oh, I'm sure the fact that not one but two Ghostbusters projects achieved 10,000 votes apiece (and in the same review period), while still other Ghostbusters projects continue to attract votes, has succeeded in getting the LEGO CUUSOO team's attention (they've acknowledged it in their comments, even). It's a popular franchise hailing from the same time period as Back to the Future and enjoying a comparable amount of enduring popularity, and it's reasonably family-friendly - there are a few adult jokes here and there, but nothing too adult for TLG, I think (nothing worse than some of what's in some other franchises they've built whole themes around) - and it doesn't really require special new molds (even if it could use some, just as could everything else). I expect it to pass review on brand fit, business case, etc. - indeed, with regards to the business case specifically, it's probably one of the stronger contenders.

I therefore fully expect a Ghostbusters set to come out of that review batch; the only question is whether they'll choose one project or the other, or find a way to combine both (personally, I'd expect the less-extensive model of just the car and four characters only, rather than also including the firehouse station, Slimer, etc., but you never know...).

Edited November 13, 2013 by Blondie-Wan

[Ondra]

That fire station is only idea, all two project focus mainly on ecto 1 and minifigures so Im expecting only ecto 1 set, also I want something between that two projects.First car is too good, second is worse but he said that it is only for purpose.

[badbob001]

I suspect if they go with the Ghostbusters set, they will just produce Ecto1, similar to how they just did the car from BTTF. This can then start a tradition of famous LEGO movie cars. It's too bad Bladerunner is too adult for TLG since a police spinner would fit into this theme. This was a cuusoo project that LEGO deleted:

Interesting enough, LEGO did make a one-off as a gift to Syd Mead. Since this came from LEGO itself, I wonder if they still needed to ask permission or acquire an one-time license from the owners of the movie brand.

Edited November 15, 2013 by badbob001

[Faefrost]

Interesting enough, LEGO did make a one-off as a gift to Syd Mead. Since this came from LEGO itself, I wonder if they still needed to ask permission or acquire an one-time license from the owners of the movie brand.

For a one off custom gift I don't think they need a license. It's considered a sculpture and not for commercial purposes. It's weird that they would have deleted that project? Did they simply flag on the R rated movie subject? Or is it that somebody else, such as character builder, already holds that license? There are a few 80's SciFi licences currently held by obscure outfits like BestLock. I know they have Terminator and Stargate. Who knows maybe they have Blade Runner too?

Edited November 15, 2013 by Faefrost

[badbob001]

For a one off custom gift I don't think they need a license. It's considered a sculpture and not for commercial purposes. It's weird that they would have deleted that project? Did they simply flag on the R rated movie subject? Or is it that somebody else, such as character builder, already holds that license? There are a few 80's SciFi licences currently held by obscure outfits like BestLock. I know they have Terminator and Stargate. Who knows maybe they have Blade Runner too?

It was deleted purely based on the content of the source material:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaitimar/8106599054/

Ha, just as I was getting ready to upload the pics of my improved Spinner, I got a mail from the Cuusoo team informing me that my Spinner project has been deleted. Apparently it "refers to a brand or licensed property that contains content or themes that do not fit the LEGO Group's standards for appropriate content".

[Faefrost]

Ok class it's time for another one of my long winded lectures on the business side of CuuSoo projects, and licences in particular, and how they can impact a CuuSoo project in unexpected ways. This is one of the rarer licensing pitfalls that we occasionally see crop up. But it can kill an otherwise superb project proposal instantly, and in most cases TLG would have virtually no say in it.

What we speak of today is what I tend to think of as "IP fan fiction given Lego form". Creating a new story and new characters within an existing IP. Almost without exception this will fail.

Here is an otherwise superb project proposal, from this week, that will surely bump into this issue.

http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/52878

It is an expended Ghostbusters set. A female team of Ghostbusters. AnimE7022 did a superb job with this. The set is reasonably sized. The underlying story is actually quite intriguing as a GB expanded universe sort of thing. The designed Minifigs are adorable and desirable. He even made fantastic use of the new GS cocoon parts to make a great Ghost Trap. This project has everything we possibly want...

Except...

No license holder would ever ever allow it. It's assigning their brand and labeling to someone else's characters and creations. It gets into some messy rights and licensing issues between not simply the license holder and TLG, but the license holder and the project creator. This is especially true with new fan created characters. While there are some rare license contracts between IP holders and toy makers, that allow for the creation of new characters, these are rare, often much more complex, and pretty much never involve a third party. For many of the license holders there are very firm policies governing creators rights for things like new characters. Marvel and DC in particular have this well defined. As a result they will typically never allow the creation of such covered new characters except under a direct contractual relationship with themselves. They will not allow you to contract with TLG to create a new character for their IP, ever.

The end result is it is pretty much impossible for a project using new fan characters in an IP to pass review. The license holder would instantly deny the license or turn down/veto the project.

It was deleted purely based on the content of the source material:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaitimar/8106599054/

So a blanket ban on R rated sources then. Kind of a shame. That's one that most likely would not be considered R by today's standards. (Although granted the entire point of the movie is you are supposed to feel horrified or discomfited by the Replicant death scenes, so yeah probably not a good brand fit.)

[badbob001]

I read this article on gizmodo where someone had custom-made Death Star-ish tiles for a home theatre:

I thought of the existing minecraft micro-scale sets and then thought that someone should cuusoo a set of these tiles full of greeble goodness. Buy several set of these to form a cool landscape that will go well with micro-scale star wars ships. Under the tiles, you can have cut-away sections of floors showing off a micro-scale slice of life on the Death Star.

• Buy four sets to form the complete circular laser disk.
  
• Trench sections!
  
• The emperor's tower.
  
• Find out where those bottomless pits go.
  
• So that is where the bathrooms are.
  
• Another cuusoo of all bluish-gray!
  
• Buying 16 sets allows you to arrange a secret mosaic of George Lucas!
  

Edited November 15, 2013 by badbob001

[Faefrost]

I read this article on gizmodo where someone had custom-made Death Star-ish tiles for a home theatre:

A few people have made random modular resin cast Death Star squares for a few years now. They are used a lot by plastic modelers. They make great bases and mountings for X Wing and Tie Fighter models, such as the wonderful 1/72 scale Fine Molds ones.

I don't think the idea would work as well in Lego form. The resin casting of a handful of modules is meant to make things affordable via economies of scale. That's how the actual Death Star miniatures were made. But by building it out of greeblied Lego you lose those economies. You would probably end up at a high $ per square pretty quickly just from needed pieces.

[The Real Indiana Jones]

Hmmmm... I notice that every one of the sets I am tracking (including mine and several other different builders) have all had zero new votes added for more than three solid days now. Most of them usually get several votes per day normally, so obviously something is happening...

Has anyone else noticed the same thing? Are they doing something behind the scenes? I know that from time to time, they freeze the vote totals while they are purging out cheaters (e.g. people with multiple accounts). How long does that usually take?

Any intel? Any guesses?

Edited November 16, 2013 by The Real Indiana Jones

[ShaydDeGrai]

Has anyone else noticed the same thing?

(snip)

Any intel? Any guesses?

No real intel, but similar observations. Several of my projects that usually see a steady trickle of 3 or 4 votes per day haven't budged in several days even though a couple comments whose contents _implied_ support had been posted in that time. I have no idea if this is just a fluke or if something else is going on behind the scenes, I've learned that watching too closely just makes my head hurt so I'm trying not to read too much into it.

[The Real Indiana Jones]

Hmmmm... I notice that every one of the sets I am tracking (including mine and several other different builders) have all had zero new votes added for more than three solid days now. Most of them usually get several votes per day normally, so obviously something is happening...

Has anyone else noticed the same thing? Are they doing something behind the scenes? I know that from time to time, they freeze the vote totals while they are purging out cheaters (e.g. people with multiple accounts). How long does that usually take?

Any intel? Any guesses?

No real intel, but similar observations. Several of my projects that usually see a steady trickle of 3 or 4 votes per day haven't budged in several days even though a couple comments whose contents _implied_ support had been posted in that time. I have no idea if this is just a fluke or if something else is going on behind the scenes, I've learned that watching too closely just makes my head hurt so I'm trying not to read too much into it.

Ah, well there is definitely something going on behind the scenes there, because even top-ranked sets that get solid support every day have been perfectly flat for exactly three days time..... Mysterious!

I just hope that all of the votes are being registered, and so they will hit in a nice big burst after a few days. I think that is the usually way they do it. Anyone remember?

Edited November 16, 2013 by The Real Indiana Jones

[Lego Otaku]

Just saw on the front page of cuusoo, it looks like set #006 was announced.

http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/6135