Hammerhand Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 Hmm, this is really interesting. The fact that they have LOTR figures both in game and in real life suggests that they are retaining the license. I suppose Master_Data could be right though, and the original license has expired, but then again, maybe it hasn't? I don't know what to think of this… I'm kind of scared to start hoping, just to be crushed again… Quote
Blakstone Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 It likely means that a new licensing agreement was signed. It might be a more generic one to include a variety of properties. Quote
Dr.Cogg Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 (edited) If this at least gets us some of the missing characters like Sauron, Witch King, White skin Armored Azog, Bolg, I would be for it, but I don't see that happening unless it becomes popular. Edited April 10, 2015 by Dr.Cogg Quote
mrfootball Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 (edited) There's a good chance that with the popularity of The Lego Movie, finally getting Warner Bros. a big animated hit that appeals to children and adults, you will see Warner Bros. properties more involved in the sequel. Just a hunch. Add to this, they'll want to get as much mileage out of their billion dollar LOTR/Hobbit properties as possible now that the trilogy is complete. Edited April 10, 2015 by mrfootball Quote
KristofBD Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 Well, clearly the lotr license is still on - that is great news. And let's hope there will be more than just the three fun packs! Quote
MAB Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 Well, clearly the lotr license is still on Not necessarily. These are possibly covered by a video games license and not a toy license. Warner Bros is a partner (along with TT and Lego), so they are probably maxing out their licenses to get as many people as possible to buy the console. Tapping into the LOTR market means very little development costs for TT and Lego (as existing games and existing toys / prints). Quote
Robert_88 Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 Not necessarily. These are possibly covered by a video games license and not a toy license. No. The fun packs are construction toys. The license is alive! :) Quote
Darth Punk Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 Not necessarily. These are possibly covered by a video games license and not a toy license. Warner Bros is a partner (along with TT and Lego), so they are probably maxing out their licenses to get as many people as possible to buy the console. Tapping into the LOTR market means very little development costs for TT and Lego (as existing games and existing toys / prints). Most likely Dimensions has a completely seperate licencing deal with each of the involved studios specific to the game. This game could easily be around for years and wouldn't make sense to maintain a full license just for the LoTR elements. Or for all the other licensed properties contained in the game. Development would have started several years ago and would not have been driven by on hand inventory. Quote
MAB Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 No. The fun packs are construction toys. What is that statement based on? I agree there is a buildable model but the primary item is the video game. Quote
Deathleech Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 I will definitively buy a pack or two if they come with some new characters, I will not however get the old ones since a minifig and 50 pieces for 15 bucks is way too expensive! My thoughts as well. If we got a Witch King or Sauron I would be all over them, even for $15. As is though, I am not going to pay that kind of money for a game I won't be playing or a minifigure I already have. It seems like such a waste. If Lego could release like a $15 set with say 3 Gondor Soldiers and a small vehicle or building I think people would be ALL over that. As is the rehashes aren't terribly interesting. Maybe if you played the game or something they would be worth it... Not quite true. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the 2nd wave of Lotr sets were still coming out of factories around this time last year. It's only been about a year. Not quite. The second LotR wave hit shelves in April and May of 2013. They were scheduled for a June 2013 release. There were no new LotR sets coming out last year or any more production runs of existing LotR waves. Actually they were being clearanced out and removed from shelves around this time last year. Videogames take 4-5 years to develop, and the LOTR aspect would have been locked in long before Lego decided to stop making sets this past year. What?! Maybe that was true a decade or two ago.. nowadays games can be pushed out in less than a year. Most games take 1-3 years to complete, depending on a number of factors. Quote
Robert_88 Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51dQ1Kip1nL._SY400_.jpg Building Toy. But I guess that means the same. What is that statement based on? I agree there is a buildable model but the primary item is the video game. Quote
BrickJagger Posted April 10, 2015 Posted April 10, 2015 Not quite. The second LotR wave hit shelves in April and May of 2013. They were scheduled for a June 2013 release. There were no new LotR sets coming out last year or any more production runs of existing LotR waves. Actually they were being clearanced out and removed from shelves around this time last year. I realize that, however the final production run of the sets was obviously not June 2013, rather somewhere around early 2014. Quote
kevkipo Posted April 11, 2015 Posted April 11, 2015 If this at least gets us some of the missing characters like Sauron, Witch King, White skin Armored Azog, Bolg, I would be for it, but I don't see that happening unless it becomes popular. Do you hear what you are saying, off course it becomes popular, It's Lego + Skylanders concept! Quote
Blondie-Wan Posted April 11, 2015 Posted April 11, 2015 (edited) At any rate, if Gandalf is part of the standard starter pack now for the life of the game, it essentially means they're continuing Middle-Earth as a theme for the next few years... even if just as a single minifigure in a $99 package mostly devoted to other things (the fun packs could presumably be discontinued at any time, but the starter pack will likely be around a good while). Edited April 11, 2015 by Blondie-Wan Quote
Itaria No Shintaku Posted April 12, 2015 Posted April 12, 2015 I instead believe that they have the license but the sets aren't selling well so they need to spend it in other means. Quote
SheepEater Posted April 12, 2015 Posted April 12, 2015 I instead believe that they have the license but the sets aren't selling well so they need to spend it in other means. Maybe. But they could also spend it by designing very good sets that will be sure to sell like hot cakes. Quote
Blondie-Wan Posted April 12, 2015 Posted April 12, 2015 I instead believe that they have the license but the sets aren't selling well so they need to spend it in other means. I doubt they "need" to spend it at all. I think they just think it's a reasonably good theme to use, both from a creative standpoint (i.e., what will fit and work well in the game), and from a business standpoint (i.e., what can they already use, what will help sell the game, etc.). I suspect it's probably true the theme (taking The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings together as a single theme) hasn't really sold as well as they were hoping or expecting, but I doubt it's some sort of absolute disaster, either. I think they wouldn't have bothered releasing as much as they did in 2013 and 2014 if it were the case, nor would they have made it such a significant part of LEGO Dimensions even now in 2015, with Gandalf as one of the three core characters in the game and (at least) three of the add-on packs at launch also coming from the theme. Quote
BrickJagger Posted April 12, 2015 Posted April 12, 2015 I doubt they "need" to spend it at all. I think they just think it's a reasonably good theme to use, both from a creative standpoint (i.e., what will fit and work well in the game), and from a business standpoint (i.e., what can they already use, what will help sell the game, etc.). I suspect it's probably true the theme (taking The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings together as a single theme) hasn't really sold as well as they were hoping or expecting, but I doubt it's some sort of absolute disaster, either. I think they wouldn't have bothered releasing as much as they did in 2013 and 2014 if it were the case, nor would they have made it such a significant part of LEGO Dimensions even now in 2015, with Gandalf as one of the three core characters in the game and (at least) three of the add-on packs at launch also coming from the theme. They didn't really release that much in 2014. Just four Hobbit sets, and that's because they had to honor their contract they signed to make toys for the movies. It was basically the bare minimum. Gandalf could have been used because Warner Brothers owns the rights to Lotr, TLM, and Batman, but not others such as Star Wars and Marvel. And finally, although I've said this a million times, why would Lego make new Lotr sets when there's a new Fantasy theme coming out next year? Quote
Robert_88 Posted April 12, 2015 Posted April 12, 2015 And finally, although I've said this a million times, why would Lego make new Lotr sets when there's a new Fantasy theme coming out next year? They released new Castle and LotR sets at the same time...But I don't think this is likely either. Another D2C set (Minas Tirith) and new minifigs (Fun Packs) is all I'd like to get from Lego at the moment. A new wave? Amazing, but unlikely. Quote
BrickJagger Posted April 12, 2015 Posted April 12, 2015 They released new Castle and LotR sets at the same time...But I don't think this is likely either. Another D2C set (Minas Tirith) and new minifigs (Fun Packs) is all I'd like to get from Lego at the moment. A new wave? Amazing, but unlikely. They did, but the only fantasy element in that wave of Castle sets was the Wizard and Dragon, and since there was no dragon at the time for Lotr, they got away with it. Next there's sub theme is supposed to have actually fantasy bad guys, so Lotr would be too close in relation. Quote
Deathleech Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 I realize that, however the final production run of the sets was obviously not June 2013, rather somewhere around early 2014. I know what you are saying, but I just don't think it's very plausible. The second Hobbit wave was suppose to come out December 2013. I doubt Lego was still producing the second LotR waves in early 2014 with that in mind. Plus, most of the big box stores like Wal-Mart and Target didn't have any LotR sets left, and those that did seemed to be clearancing them or putting them on sale to try and move them off shelves to make room for new stuff. Why would Lego be doing production runs for sets over 8 months old and that would go right to clearance once they get to stores..? Outside UCS and D2C sets, most Lego sets have about a year shelf life. That means most of them are produced before their official release and then within the first few months of release before Lego stops doing new runs and tries to get rid of any stock they have left at warehouses. Quote
Itaria No Shintaku Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 They will make a new castle theme because LotR and Hobbit sold not as good as they thought, but not a total disaster either as it has been said. So they saw kids are in the mood for fantasy stuff, but their parents aren't interested in spending a lot of money for "gandalf" or "legolas" paying the license price. Furthermore they can design the sets without taking inspiration from real stuff, which is what I love... I don't like to re-do in LEGO something that someone else has already done, I prefere to use my fanatsy to create new stuff. Quote
AFOLguy1970 Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 Too bad a new castle line could not pit the "White Tree" faction against the "Red Flaming Eye" group. Quote
Alcarin Posted April 13, 2015 Posted April 13, 2015 When will those crying for closure of LOTR thread apologize? Quote
atreyu2112 Posted April 14, 2015 Posted April 14, 2015 (edited) I can't believe that immediately when new Lego LotR product is announced, the haters are already hating. Gandalf is in the starter pack. At least TWO game play levels directly LotR related. LotR has THREE launch expansion packs. The BALROG featured in the first game trailer (a set we've been wanting badly since LotR was announced). Lego CEO guy recently mentioned LotR (I'm pretty sure I linked the exact quote a few pages back), Minas Tirith hits 10k support... But maybe too big for ideas set... I'd say that if we were to EVER have the opportunity for another wave, maybe now is that time. 4 sets and a D2C? Edited April 14, 2015 by atreyu2112 Quote
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