Upcoming Classic Space Reboot?

[Dharkan]

I would hate having sets that looks as plain and boring as old sets. No offense but this is the truth. Lego has improved a lot and I don't see any reason to go back to old styled sets. But I don't mind having sets like Benny's SSS!

[kibosh]

I would hate having sets that looks as plain and boring as old sets. No offense but this is the truth. Lego has improved a lot and I don't see any reason to go back to old styled sets. But I don't mind having sets like Benny's SSS!

I agree the designs of yesteryear are boring and plain compared to those of today, but I love the old color schemes like Benny's Spaceship. I'd love to see a revival of space sets in blue and gray!

[DPrime]

I would hate having sets that looks as plain and boring as old sets. No offense but this is my opinion. Lego has improved a lot and I don't see any reason to go back to old styled sets. But I don't mind having sets like Benny's SSS!

Fixed that for ya. ;)

But to an extent, I agree. I see no reason to try and emulate the style of classic space to the point where it looks like the sets were designed in the '80s. Benny's ship (and the upcoming CUUSOO mech) are the perfect blend of modern build techniques and CS colour schemes/aesthetics, and that's what I'd like (and expect) to see in any official CS reboot. :)

[Dharkan]

I agree the designs of yesteryear are boring and plain compared to those of today, but I love the old color schemes like Benny's Spaceship. I'd love to see a revival of space sets in blue and gray!

I think what is necessary is this. We can have Classic Space back but adapted with new part selection of LEGO. Using new parts with old Classic Space style, if you know what I mean.

@DPrime

The reason I said that is because, in my opinion ( :P ) aesthetics > nostalgic bond to past. I like some old sets and themes too but I don't mind calling them boring compared to LEGO today.

[VK-318]

To me the aspect of Classic Space that needs updating the most is the parts inventory. If you take a look at some of the techniques used in these old sets, they are actually fairly sophisticated designs. The problem is the limited selection of parts. For instance, there were only (I think) two kinds of wedge plates back in the day, a limited selection of slope bricks, and almost no arc bricks at all.

The issue with rebooting Classic Space would probably be the change in target market. The old Classic Space was targeted at children, while the Classic Space we're talking about here is a more complex, technically demanding theme for more adult builders. Since there are many more young children who are given Legos by their parents than there are AFOL's who will buy these more advanced sets, I suspect the wisest course of action for Lego would be to release some part collections like their Serious Play "sets," containing minifigs/minifig parts and specialized elements for MOC'ing Classic Space stuff.

[DPrime]

Yeah, it sounds like we're all more or less on the same page as to what we want, and realistically expect.

Just make it happen, Lego! Please! :)

[CP5670]

I never thought of CS as being about peaceful exploration, except for perhaps the very first wave in 1978/79. After that, there were plenty of sets like 6950, 6980 and 6891 that are armed to the teeth. The only difference is that the sets back then didn't include enemy craft within the same set, like modern ones do. Also, the CS line went on for many years and was quite diverse. The final CS sets didn't have much in common with the original ones except for the minifigs.

Benny's spaceship is almost perfect in my book. It's a modern set inspired by the old CS sets and their color scheme, as opposed to something that follows the CS style exactly. I would love to see additional sets made in this style. I don't think the exo-suit should be associated with CS though. Except for the minifig, that model is about as far removed from anything CS as I can imagine.

[adotnamedstud]

I'd love a classic space reboot. I loved the vibrant colors and the interesting spaceships each line had to offer. I'm not sure if it's okay to put this here. But I'm working on a LEGO Ideas set with a friend and it'd be a racing/space set. I made all 3 speeders myself and we will have Blacktron trying to sabotage the mine/track the speeders are in. I only posted this here because I'm not too aware of the policies of showing an Ideas idea. Since it isn't submitted yet I'd love to show you what I've made progress with along with some comments or critique. (Mods feel free to remove/edit this comment if it is straying off topic or isn't allowed.) Here are the 3 speeders so far.

Edited June 22, 2014 by NuffSaid1996

[DPrime]

I'd love a classic space reboot. I loved the vibrant colors and the interesting spaceships each line had to offer. I'm not sure if it's okay to put this here. But I'm working on a LEGO Ideas set with a friend and it'd be a racing/space set. I made all 3 speeders myself and we will have Blacktron trying to sabotage the mine/track the speeders are in. I only posted this here because I'm not too aware of the policies of showing an Ideas idea. Since it isn't submitted yet I'd love to show you what I've made progress with along with some comments or critique. (Mods feel free to remove/edit this comment if it is straying off topic or isn't allowed.) Here are the 3 speeders so far.

That's a great idea! So will there be CS, Futuron, Space Police, Alien Invasion, etc. racers too?

It could make a terrific videogame, too - think Lego meets Mario Kart!

[adotnamedstud]

That's a great idea! So will there be CS, Futuron, Space Police, Alien Invasion, etc. racers too?

It could make a terrific videogame, too - think Lego meets Mario Kart!

Well, for a more realistic sized set for an Ideas project, I think 3 will be the main number for now. When we post it (sometime in August) then it hopefully gets 10,000 votes and lots of sales it's up to LEGO if they want to release more or we could make multiple ideas off of these. That being said, I don't want to be milking a ca$h cow with these as we also have many more ideas...

[danth]

The white Classic Space astronaut with Classic Space-style robot (check the rumors thread) is yet another Classic Space-themed summer release (along with Benny's SSS and the Exo Suit). I dunno man. This could be foreshadowing...

[adotnamedstud]

The white Classic Space astronaut with Classic Space-style robot (check the rumors thread) is yet another Classic Space-themed summer release (along with Benny's SSS and the Exo Suit). I dunno man. This could be foreshadowing...

I really hope it is!

[Artanis I]

Or they could just be giving the dog a bone

[Ardelon]

^ I expect so. Why would TLG release CS astronauts now, if there was a CS theme coming, of which the figs would be a big selling point? I dont recall them doing anything like it before, like releasing a buggoid before the GS theme or something like that. We might as well be expecting TLG to follow up on their "foreshadowing" in the CMF S1 Spaceman or the SP3 statue. Of course, I wouldnt mind being wrong...

[DPrime]

^ I expect so. Why would TLG release CS astronauts now, if there was a CS theme coming, of which the figs would be a big selling point? I dont recall them doing anything like it before, like releasing a buggoid before the GS theme or something like that. We might as well be expecting TLG to follow up on their "foreshadowing" in the CMF S1 Spaceman or the SP3 statue. Of course, I wouldnt mind being wrong...

I think they recently did it with a small Pirates minifig set, actually...

[Ardelon]

I think they recently did it with a small Pirates minifig set, actually...

That was TLG getting rid of old figs and parts, not introducing new/upcoming ones.

[drclark]

When looking at the majority of classic-space ships/bases, I think their set designs are actually quite good considering the mostly studs-up building style. I think this is especially evident in many of the "neo-classic space" interpretations of the old sets utilizing modern building techniques and pieces. The basic set designs from a play-ability stand point were great.

One thing that modern sets have trouble re-creating is the emphasis on alternate models. All classic sets seemed to be designed such that their parts selection lent well to creating MOCs. This is something where I think modern sets fall short on (with the exception of the creator line). I think there is a trade-off between primary model "coolness" vs part selection variety that enables alternate model building. Today's sets feel closer to "model kits" than a building system.

The other thing that folks look fondly back on classic space was not just a "fad theme" that ran 1 or 2 years. It was a universe or world that enjoyed consistency and longevity. The theme featured a consistent color scheme over a number of years (largely driven by the limited color selection of lego sets in general in the 70s-80s) such that early sets integrated well with the later sets. Also, there were no special collectible mini-figs with a pre-determined backstory... From a kids viewpoint, we created our own stories around the sets built our own creations to fit into those stories and every christmas/birthday my space empire grew. As a kid I was able to collect a number of sets over time and I could use all of those pieces to build my own mocs that fit in with the world/system. As a parent now, one of my frustrations is that the huge variety of colors used in lego themes makes it very difficult to create a "critical mass" of basic and specialty parts for my son to start building his own MOCs without them being "rainbow warriors". For example, we loved the Galaxy Squad sets but we do not have enough of the medium blue color that was used in those sets to use them for any thing but limited trim pieces on mocs. The modern starwars sets are great sets (almost MOC quality) but they also suffer from the color dilution in trying to keep movie-accuracy.

I don't know if the issues I am describing are an out growth of Lego trying to react to the wants/desires of modern children or trying to drive more collector value into their sets.... Some of it is obviously driven by their licensing strategy and trying to create accurate depictions of scenes from Harry Potter, Spiderman, Star Wars, etc

Whether or not Lego decides to resurrect classic space or not, what would be nice is to see inter-theme integration where elements of previous themes are carried forward into the new themes so there is better overlap between the themes. For example, it would have been nice to see some level of color and character integration between Alien conquest and galaxy squad.

I think expecting a full on classic space reboot is a bit much to expect. I am thrilled with Benny's ship in the lego movie and will buy at least two copies (one for me and one for my son). I was hoping we would see the little ship that was seen in one of the Lego Movie posters as a set as well. As I stated in an earlier post, I would be happy with a "classic-space tribute" creator set that featured the classic blue/gray/trans-yellow color scheme and came with a selection of parts to build a spaceship (487 sized) or a land vehicle or a space base. A selection of modern parts and canopies, and PRINTED parts with classic-space emblems and other decorated elements would make me a happy camper as a MOC builder.

[VK-318]

I think you have a very important point there. It takes a lot more pieces to create a good neo-classic item (in any space theme) than it took to make one of the older ones. And many of those parts are more decorative than structural. This means that if Lego, as they must in order to make a profit, limits the piece count of a rebooted space set, it must either limit either the decoration, in which case the set will miss what they consider to be their most important target demographic, or limit the capacity for secondary models/mods/mocs. Not a pretty trade-off, is it?

And since, on the whole, AFOL's, myself included, tend to complain a lot when they think things are overpriced, Lego will have to keep the piece count down in order to make a profit.

Given this, I think they might indeed do best to just produce batches of structural and printed parts (and hopefully appropriate magnets and minifigs) for CS, Futuron, Blacktron I (and/or II), Spyrius, M:Tron, Space Police I/II/III, and so forth. Now, if somebody could turn that concept into a Lego Ideas project ...

[adotnamedstud]

Rock Raiders wasn't working for the theme so I built a Blacktron one... Thoughts? So now we have M-Tron, Ice Planet 2002, and Blacktron. The setting will be an Octan track with Blacktron trying to sabotage the race. It will have an announcer booth, a ramp that throws an unlucky speeder back and then maybe a Space Police ship/prisoner transport. Thoughts on the project? It pretty much covers most space themes except for Classic Space.

[Faefrost]

I would be happy with just a nice CS tribute set. Something like the new City Arctic Base. Just in classic space colors. Give it a little rover instead of a snowmobile, a small ship like Benny's from the poster, 5 classically colored astronauts and a robot. $89 price point and done.

[CompleteMadness]

It be cool to see it return.

[Cwetqo]

I am afraid that there not much chance for that. Because of marketing reasons, LEGO does all "regular" sets in "themes" which means 5-6 sets minmum. Best chance outside of that would be to get is as part another theme (was done with Benny's ship, as a Lego Ideas set (was done with exo suit - waiting to get mine :) ) or as a D2C set (possible, but there are many other waiting to be done there).

Another problem is that kids just dont see space as we did 20-30 years ago. There are no moon expeditions, verry little space travel or EVA and real lack of interes in anything connected to space. Kids see and want Sci-Fi, with aliens, time travel, combat and other things, not this "boring" classic space.

[VK-318]

Another problem is that kids just dont see space as we did 20-30 years ago. There are no moon expeditions, verry little space travel or EVA and real lack of interes in anything connected to space. Kids see and want Sci-Fi, with aliens, time travel, combat and other things, not this "boring" classic space.

I think you're right about that. The old LEGO Space stuff was rooted in the popular Sci-Fi of the times. The original Classic Space came out during the heyday of Star Trek and space operas (a la Star Wars, and similar stuff). My personal favorite sci-fi literature is Asimov's Foundation trilogy. But these days science fiction means stuff like The Hunger Games, and whether you like it or not you have to admit that it's not about the technology, or the adventure, it's about human psychology. Not an easy subject to tackle with LEGO's, and that may be responsible for the current quandary LEGO seems to be in, not just with Space but with most of its products.

Part of the reason LEGO is not returning the multi-theme system of the early days of LEGO Space is that they are trying to sell to kids. This may have been said already, and if so I apologize for repeating the obvious. The age 8-12 (or so) child is LEGO's target market for Galaxy Squad, but they also need to consider how to make it easy for kids to convince parents to buy these sets. If there are both good guys and bad guys in the set, parents can probably get away with just buying one set for their kid. Though LEGO would obviously like to sell more sets to each family, they probably reason that the parents will be more pleased with the experience, and thus more likely to come back for the next birthday or Christmas (or other holiday involving the giving of gifts) if they can walk out of the store with just one box rather than two or three or more.

And lest we criticize LEGO for focusing too closely on young children, remember that most of us probably became AFOL's because we played with LEGO's as kids. By selling to kids, LEGO keeps its market growing. By focusing on adults, they would become quite vulnerable to missing out on too much of a generation of kids, and remember that one of the biggest reasons parents buy their kids LEGO's is because they themselves played with LEGO's as a kid.

Cwetqo has another excellent point: If LEGO Space themes are so popular, maybe we should organize a Lego Ideas project for the kind of parts collection we have been talking about for the last couple of topic pages. Maybe start a new topic for it? But before anyone tries that, I would we would like to hear some input and opinions from some of the more veteran builders here (and from other forums - Rufus from Special Themes, for instance [anybody remember his Classic Space Restoration Project?]) on such a concept.

[Ardelon]

Contrary to what I said earlier, after some thinking, if TLM really draws in a bunch of nostalgic new AFOLs, this might be just the right time to consider a CS revival/reboot. After all, there's no reason why TLG can't produce a blue/bley/trans-yellow faction, with the CS logo, without any connection to the 1980s. Although probably with an alien adversary, which might kill the CS ethos ...

[Faefrost]

I think you're right about that. The old LEGO Space stuff was rooted in the popular Sci-Fi of the times. The original Classic Space came out during the heyday of Star Trek and space operas (a la Star Wars, and similar stuff). My personal favorite sci-fi literature is Asimov's Foundation trilogy. But these days science fiction means stuff like The Hunger Games, and whether you like it or not you have to admit that it's not about the technology, or the adventure, it's about human psychology. Not an easy subject to tackle with LEGO's, and that may be responsible for the current quandary LEGO seems to be in, not just with Space but with most of its products.

Part of the reason LEGO is not returning the multi-theme system of the early days of LEGO Space is that they are trying to sell to kids. This may have been said already, and if so I apologize for repeating the obvious. The age 8-12 (or so) child is LEGO's target market for Galaxy Squad, but they also need to consider how to make it easy for kids to convince parents to buy these sets. If there are both good guys and bad guys in the set, parents can probably get away with just buying one set for their kid. Though LEGO would obviously like to sell more sets to each family, they probably reason that the parents will be more pleased with the experience, and thus more likely to come back for the next birthday or Christmas (or other holiday involving the giving of gifts) if they can walk out of the store with just one box rather than two or three or more.

And lest we criticize LEGO for focusing too closely on young children, remember that most of us probably became AFOL's because we played with LEGO's as kids. By selling to kids, LEGO keeps its market growing. By focusing on adults, they would become quite vulnerable to missing out on too much of a generation of kids, and remember that one of the biggest reasons parents buy their kids LEGO's is because they themselves played with LEGO's as a kid.

Cwetqo has another excellent point: If LEGO Space themes are so popular, maybe we should organize a Lego Ideas project for the kind of parts collection we have been talking about for the last couple of topic pages. Maybe start a new topic for it? But before anyone tries that, I would we would like to hear some input and opinions from some of the more veteran builders here (and from other forums - Rufus from Special Themes, for instance [anybody remember his Classic Space Restoration Project?]) on such a concept.

More importantly the original classic space also dovetailed into real world event. Yeah Apollo had wound down save for the brief but spectacular Apollo Soyuz flight. But the heyday of CS also corresponded to the first Shuttle flights and the huge interest they garnered. Real space + rise of SciFi = Classic Space. Today much of the awe has gone out of space flight. Even SciFi is not so much about Space Flight as Space Flight is merely a background trope to get to things like giant robots punching each other.