Can anyone explain to me, how does someone receive 10,000 votes ? it is an enormous number of individual votes to receive. What / how do they do to market their creation to get to a 100,000+ audiance, of which say 10% actually set-up an Lego account and then vote their support ?

It's all in the license and fan base tied to the model. I have been doing Contest Giveaways for websites, Charity work based on my model(That just happened to take place after I submitted my model to Cuusoo), TV spots and multiple newspaper articles spread across the U.S. and I am lucky if I get 10 supports a day...

Thank you Paul. I'm simply amazed that designs like yours and others than -possess accuracy of design,-intricate detail, and -working mechanical engineering attributes get to a few thousand votes, and a number of others (wont say which) are just rebranding of an exisitng design and appear to be supported further because they have (unjustly) got critical mass behind them (well done to them for getting that original critical mass). Maybe i'm too engineering focused......

According to the internet (which is never wrong), Cuusoo means "wish" or "imagination" in Japanese. And that's the whole point of it, to have your wish come true. And as such, I don't think this dark bucket project is so ridiculous. It's somebody's wish, and in a perfect world free of problems, this would in fact make a lot of SW fans happy. I think it's better to err on the side of too many of these "wishes" than for some nice ones to go unspoken/unshared.

Also, this one isn't as bad as other projects on there. There seems to be a half-baked entry for just about every popular movie/TV show under the sun, most of which don't even have a decent MOC structure associated with it, let alone concept art of any sort. But luckily I saw that blog post on Cuusoo that Lego made about beefing up the standards for entries like that so hopefully those types of things will go away.

Thank you. Lego said they would let it through if it had a structure, and the dark bottle looks feasible as it is not stuffed with figures and has a logo.(Plus, great name ) I'd probably just put in some mini models and an imperial outpost for good measure.

For those confused - the Dark Bucket and Dark Bottle are two completely separate things - nothing got switched last minute or changed.

The original poster just mentioned the Dark Bottle as a separate project that was more likley to get made in his opinion - I'm not sure how many votes the Dark bottle has, but neddless to say its probably a long way off 10,000.

The Dark bottle is a completely separately submitted project, it's made pretty clear in the OP.

Edited June 7, 201212 yr by llb

For those confused - the Dark Bucket and Dark Bottle are two completely separate things - nothing got switched last minute or changed.

The original poster just mentioned the Dark Bottle as a separate project that was more likley to get made in his opinion - I'm not sure how many votes the Dark bottle has, but neddless to say its probably a long way off 10,000.

The Dark bottle is a completely separately submitted project, it's made pretty clear in the OP.

Do you have a link for this Dark Bottle project? I don't see it at Cuusoo... Is it made by the same guy that did the Bucket Project?

Do you have a link for this Dark Bottle project? I don't see it at Cuusoo... Is it made by the same guy that did the Bucket Project?

Looking back I think I have misread - apologies!

I thought they were separate projects but it looks like they're not...I feel stupid...either way, I can't see Lego producing either.

Perhaps Lego could increase the number of supporters needed for any licensed project, like increasing it to 50k supporters or something.

Perhaps Lego could increase the number of supporters needed for any licensed project, like increasing it to 50k supporters or something.

For proposals like this, what difference would increasing the threshold make? It's a very popular project because it's something a lot of people want. Sure, it probably can't happen, but that isn't on the minds of a lot of supporters, especially since expert knowledge of TLG's relationships with IP owners and competitors is not a prerequisite for Cuusoo membership.

If the threshold were higher, then either the project would eventually reach that threshold just like it did with the 10,000 supporter threshold (note: this is a VERY old proposal and yet it still took until this week for it to reach the threshold already in place), or it would be rejected before reaching its proposal (in which case a higher threshold wouldn't make a difference anyway since it would just change when the proposal gets rejected).

Overall, this project will almost certainly be rejected unless TLG is willing to radically redefine the project's original concept, which a lot of people were supporting when they clicked "Support". But I think it's silly to suggest that TLG should do something different with the Cuusoo platform itself just because projects are going to get rejected.

The only change I can think of that TLG could do to make fewer projects get rejected due to licensing complications is to prevent projects that face licensing complications from being made in the first place. And not only would this stifle creativity, it would place an unreasonable burden on TLG and the Cuusoo team, since they might have to enter licensing discussions for almost every new licensed proposal created-- including ones like this that are based on licensed themes TLG already has!

For proposals like this, what difference would increasing the threshold make? It's a very popular project because it's something a lot of people want. Sure, it probably can't happen, but that isn't on the minds of a lot of supporters, especially since expert knowledge of TLG's relationships with IP owners and competitors is not a prerequisite for Cuusoo membership.

If the threshold were higher, then either the project would eventually reach that threshold just like it did with the 10,000 supporter threshold (note: this is a VERY old proposal and yet it still took until this week for it to reach the threshold already in place), or it would be rejected before reaching its proposal (in which case a higher threshold wouldn't make a difference anyway since it would just change when the proposal gets rejected).

Overall, this project will almost certainly be rejected unless TLG is willing to radically redefine the project's original concept, which a lot of people were supporting when they clicked "Support". But I think it's silly to suggest that TLG should do something different with the Cuusoo platform itself just because projects are going to get rejected.

The only change I can think of that TLG could do to make fewer projects get rejected due to licensing complications is to prevent projects that face licensing complications from being made in the first place. And not only would this stifle creativity, it would place an unreasonable burden on TLG and the Cuusoo team, since they might have to enter licensing discussions for almost every new licensed proposal created-- including ones like this that are based on licensed themes TLG already has!

Not only that, but raising the threshold would probably only make it even more difficult for non-licensed proposals to reach the review stage. So far, the Modular Western Town is the only project to reach 10,000 without the backing of another fandom, and it took the combined effort of every major AFOL fansite to help it reach that goal. Projects like the Dark Bucket can and probably will continue to reach the review stage and get rejected, but making it harder for feasible projects to succeed will help no one.

I don't think they could ever prevent or even want to prevent projects like this from reaching the end stage, and then being rejected. The site is a wish list. Let 'em dream. I think that the site does need to be tweaked to give better exposure to new and promising projects. Right now the initial page hits you with the top vote getters, which just feeds them as a self fulfilling prophesy. It needs to push newer stuff as well as a more random sampling in addition to the stuff getting close. Maybe an editors pick section?

I think the newer pre approval process will also cut down on this sort of project. Something where those looking at the new stuff say at the beginning to the project owner, be aware this would not be possible under the licensing. Maybe also if hey put up another blog post, just talking about licensing and what the hurdles are regarding licensed products.

A little info goes a long way. THere is nothing wrong with a project being rejected on review, so long as it doesn't feel completely arbitrary. So long. As they understand the decision process, even if hey disagree, you see few bruised feelings. Take the Winchester as the best example. We may not agree, but we understand the logic path they took there. When that same logic path regarding more adult oriented subject matter was applied to the Serenity set we then understould. The same sort of thing needs to be communicated regarding how licensing works. We got lucky with Minecraft as it was a small license thrilled to work with TLG. But the Back to the Future project may be the Winchester type disappointment that teaches us the licensing rules. The Dark Bucket will very clearly face its own licensing hurdles.

Edited June 7, 201212 yr by Faefrost

I agree that the main page on Cuusoo should not have the projects that are the top in vote counts. It should be randomized every time that you go there as to which models are featured. If someone wants to see what is tops in votes, they can do a search themselves. Too many great models getting buried and too much focus on who is on top. Of the current top 6 in votes, I can see maybe one of them even having a chance to become official.

Not only that, but raising the threshold would probably only make it even more difficult for non-licensed proposals to reach the review stage. So far, the Modular Western Town is the only project to reach 10,000 without the backing of another fandom, and it took the combined effort of every major AFOL fansite to help it reach that goal. Projects like the Dark Bucket can and probably will continue to reach the review stage and get rejected, but making it harder for feasible projects to succeed will help no one.

They suggested raising the bar for licensed projects, not Cuusoo in general.

I think people just need to think and use common sense before clicking submit. Of course, theres always the chance that the creator of this project is a new AFOL and may not be aware of the Hasbro issue. But, then theres the 10K supporters, of which I'm sure some, a lot really, were AFOLs. I didn't vote for this and I mentioned in the comments(along with others) that this wouldn't get approved despite it being a good project.

I agree that the main page on Cuusoo should not have the projects that are the top in vote counts. It should be randomized every time that you go there as to which models are featured. If someone wants to see what is tops in votes, they can do a search themselves. Too many great models getting buried and too much focus on who is on top. Of the current top 6 in votes, I can see maybe one of them even having a chance to become official.

Heck one of those timed blocks that so many sites use these days would work. Show top 5, rotate to newest, rotate to editors/critics picks, repeat. We know TLG has the technology. They use it on virtually every page of Lego.com.

I don't think they could ever prevent or even want to prevent projects like this from reaching the end stage, and then being rejected. -snip-

They can, just put the voting age to 18.

They can, just put the voting age to 18.

Excuse me, but even 40 years old people have voted for this project. Age is not the barrier. More like common sense as mentioned. Also knowledge, as i have come to know myself from adding a project. I didnt know that there were already a license given for the brand i wanted to make a LEGO brick theme for.

The last guideline CUUSOO have given will indeed make a lot of people NOT start impossible projects to begin with, also CUUSOO deleting entries that do not follow the guidelines will help.

BUT, as with all other forum sites, people will post even if they havent read the rules, they will write in a thread if they have something on their mind even if its not relevant to the thread. And as well support a project if they want it.

As someone wrote CUUSOO is a dream site. I cant se the problem with having a dream, LEGO might blow everyone with getting a license for exactly this project. But there is a bigger chance that this will fail. However, so many supporters and reasons why its a good idea.

Its not up to the supporters and opponents any longer ... Thats the best thing imo about CUUSOO .... You have a dream, get the supporters. Then LEGO will figure out if its possible or not.

Peace out ... Love you all... :)

Heck one of those timed blocks that so many sites use these days would work. Show top 5, rotate to newest, rotate to editors/critics picks, repeat. We know TLG has the technology. They use it on virtually every page of Lego.com.

Ummm... they do that, with the exception that they have "Most commented" in place of "editors'/critics' picks).

The main site just has the most supported projects, but most of the time when checking the site I navigate from the "Discover" page, and I'm sure a lot of other users do as well.

Excuse me, but even 40 years old people have voted for this project. Age is not the barrier. More like common sense as mentioned. Also knowledge, as i have come to know myself from adding a project. I didnt know that there were already a license given for the brand i wanted to make a LEGO brick theme for.

The last guideline CUUSOO have given will indeed make a lot of people NOT start impossible projects to begin with, also CUUSOO deleting entries that do not follow the guidelines will help.

I think most actual AFOLs(e.g. actually over the age of 18) know a tiny bit about TLG's licenses, and of course know that a project like this does not fit within that. If you did not know that, I guess that says more over you. Without question most of the voters for this project were under the age of 18.

I think most actual AFOLs(e.g. actually over the age of 18) know a tiny bit about TLG's licenses, and of course know that a project like this does not fit within that. If you did not know that, I guess that says more over you. Without question most of the voters for this project were under the age of 18.

Hey i'm 34 and i voted for it... I didnt know at the time that Lego only had a "brick building license" vs an "Action Figure License"

Still i dont care i would buy that thing at $249 usd

Rejected already. Sheesh..

Their response.

-Sci

See, I don't have a problem with anyone proposing this, or anyone voting for it. For the proposer it's a "make a wish" thing. For the voters it's a "yes I would pay for that" thing. Neither of these parties can be reasonably expected to understand the intricacies of the various licenses. Yeah, it will fail, and those of us that have looked at the licensing know why from the word go. But that doesn't mean that anyone needs to take steps to prevent this sort of project from ever happening again. A little extra information about the hurdles faced by licensed projects on CuuSoo would go a long way towards cutting back on some of the more common ones, simply by making he creators aware of the long odds. In the end with a little more info it becomes self policing with few bruised feelings or waves of Internet outrage. And no need for rule changes or vote count changes or anything like that.

It always seemed unlikely to me that this would even get to 10k. While it would be great as a figure pack (ignoring the 200$+ price) LEGO would never do it. Theres the Hasbro issue, the price, and the fact that (in large part due to the price) the only people that would be likely to buy it are the AFOLs who really like Star Wars (and AFOLs don't make up a whole lot of LEGOs market) and would actually need 100 stormtroopers (an even smaller group).

Of course, if they did this with Castle (or LOTR, an army of Uruk Hai would be useful) I'd probably buy that...

Rejected already. Sheesh..

-Sci

Lego made it perfectly clear long ago that the bucket, without modifications, would not be approved. So file that under "Duh".

Since the average price of a storm trooper is $6.32 with over 300 available on bricklink, that'd be the way to go. In the CUUSOO description they said it would cost $300-400, so that'd still be a steal!

I thought Cuusoo was about ideas for new models? Not for batching 100 of things that are already on the market.

Very creative idea. Might be a huge seller.

Very creative idea. Might be a huge seller.

It has already been rejected.