LEGO Ideas Discussion

[fred67]

Not too big on the disc world set, but the science one looks great... another Alatariel win. I don't mind it being all female, but I'd like it more if she mixed it up. I know there's an agenda there, but I also feel like she made her point with the last one.

[TheLegoExperience]

Not too big on the disc world set, but the science one looks great... another Alatariel win. I don't mind it being all female, but I'd like it more if she mixed it up. I know there's an agenda there, but I also feel like she made her point with the last one.

The wildlife biologist seems male.

[fred67]

I stand corrected.

[Robert8]

Not too big on the disc world set, but the science one looks great... another Alatariel win. I don't mind it being all female, but I'd like it more if she mixed it up. I know there's an agenda there, but I also feel like she made her point with the last one.

I see the Science Adventures set being released later this year, not in the next review. That would be too close to the Research Institute release, and both are pretty alike.

The more diversity in this theme, the better

[Faefrost]

Not too big on the disc world set, but the science one looks great... another Alatariel win. I don't mind it being all female, but I'd like it more if she mixed it up. I know there's an agenda there, but I also feel like she made her point with the last one.

I'm the exact opposite from you. I love the Diskworld and think a Turtle on the desk would be great. The second Alatariel set really does nothing for me. I haven't even found enthusiasm or even a desire to pop the seals on the first set that I have sitting in the closet. This one looks like just another smattering of the vignettes she created when she was first proposing a theme. They are nice enough, just not my thing. I don't know how well the Research Institute has done, I figure this next ones chances will all depend on how well it has done plus whether or not TLG perceives a deeper market there. I still think these would have been better as individual polybags, one vignette per.

[BirdOPrey5]

I'm the exact opposite from you. I love the Diskworld and think a Turtle on the desk would be great. The second Alatariel set really does nothing for me. I haven't even found enthusiasm or even a desire to pop the seals on the first set that I have sitting in the closet. This one looks like just another smattering of the vignettes she created when she was first proposing a theme. They are nice enough, just not my thing. I don't know how well the Research Institute has done, I figure this next ones chances will all depend on how well it has done plus whether or not TLG perceives a deeper market there. I still think these would have been better as individual polybags, one vignette per.

The research institue sold out so it really couldn't do any better.

[Blondie-Wan]

Not too big on the disc world set, but the science one looks great... another Alatariel win. I don't mind it being all female, but I'd like it more if she mixed it up. I know there's an agenda there, but I also feel like she made her point with the last one.

The wildlife biologist seems male.

I stand corrected.

Indeed, the new one amounts to a complete migration from one concept to another. The project that became the Research Institute was originally presented as a Female Minifigure set, depicting women in a variety of professions - not just scientists, but a judge, a construction worker, etc. It had a whole slew of different vignettes - enough to push it well out of the (then-)CUUSOO guidelines for what makes a "set" (i.e., a single model, or a couple of closely associated models), and they advised Alatariel to pare it back a bit to just three vignettes or so. She did, and (being a scientist herself) chose three depicting various scientists, which narrowed / added to the core concept - it wasn't just professional women, but all scientists (or all female scientists, specifically). This tied them together with something other than them all just being women at work; they could all be working together (in some interdisciplinary scientific institution), letting LEGO offer it as a Research Institute.

The new one appears poised as a complementary set to the first - it's the same core idea of three scientists at work, except that instead of being in the Institute's labs, these three are all out in the field. Alatariel herself notes these three aren't necessarily all female (someone inquired in the project's comments section about whether the biologist was male or female, and she responded that it was whatever one wanted), indicating a migration away from the original project's original concept of "women at work" (be they scientists or otherwise) to a new one of "scientists at work" (be they women or otherwise).

______________________________________________________________

There's no telling how likely the new one would be to pass. On the one hand, like the first, this one also got a lot of attention from outside the usual channels (and reached 10k votes much faster than the first - in fact, I think it's the fourth fastest ever, beaten only by the original Minecraft project and the two Doctor Who ones currently under review), and thus might be similarly expected to sell well. It also would indeed make an excellent companion piece to the first, and as a series of three small vignettes, it would be a quick and easy set to design and produce. On the other, it's essentially another set with the same core idea as the first (save for the scientists being outdoors rather than in the lab), and LEGO might want to mix it up a bit more with things CUUSOO / Ideas hasn't already done (there were already people complaining as far back as the DeLorean time machine and the Curiosity rover that they do too many of the same kinds of things). Moreover, Alatariel herself has not one but two projects approved already (both of which are groups of scientists, even); they might want to leave a bit more room for other people's projects. It could go either way. I will say I plan to get it myself if it makes it, though (I voted for this one myself).

Meanwhile, though, there are 19 projects already in review before this one. My thoughts on each:

Doctor Who and Doctor Who and Companions - Faefrost has already discussed licensing issues with these a number of times, boiling down to the BBC not being the easiest licensing partner to work with. That said, a lot of other licensees obviously manage to make it work. The show is popular - not Star Wars or Marvel levels of popularity, sure, but plenty popular - and both these projects went through incredibly quickly, faster than anything else in CUUSOO / Ideas history except Minecraft, which proved the most successful CUUSOO / Ideas thing ever. Presumably review results weren't announced for these two because LEGO and the BBC were (are) still discussing it, trying to reach an agreement. I think there's an excellent chance one of these will happen... though of course the flip side is that at least one definitely won't, since they're essentially the same thing (it's Ghostbusters again, as far as that goes).

UCS All Terrain Armoured Transport and Invisible Hand - I'm afraid not. LEGO's license with Lucasfilm undoubtedly precludes these things from being produced as Ideas sets, and if that weren't the case, both are still undoubtedly larger than any actual set LEGO would do for either subject (I think the Invisible Hand is unlikely to be revisited at all, in fact - with all the new subject material from the new main trilogy, the spin off movies, and Rebels, plus the remakes of things from the other trilogies, not to mention the numerous Clone Wars vehicles that are more prominent than this and easier to do, LEGO will have more enough to do without ever getting around to this).

That said, I do fully expect a UCS AT-AT to happen eventually - just not one quite this large, and not as part of LEGO Ideas.

LEGO Lightsabers: Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker - Now, this is more likely. Since it's not the kind of thing they normally do in the Star Wars line, it does seem at least somewhat more likely this wouldn't be precluded by the existing license agreement, as well as less likely they'd already have it in the pipeline, not to mention it would make for a set that's actually affordable. This is likelier than not only the other two Star Wars projects under review, but virtually all other Star Wars projects ever submitted to CUUSOO / Ideas.

That's not to say it's actually truly likely, mind you, only that it's likelier than all the rest. It's still somewhat unlikely, but has a chance, I think.

Assault on Wayne Manor - I think this is unlikely but possible. We don't have enough of an idea the way we do with Star Wars about whether the license would permit it. One thing I do know is that a huge, expensive set, especially a huge and expensive set that falls under an already-existing licensed theme in which they already have lots of major stuff planned a year or more in advance at any given time, is a tough sell. OTOH, we do at least already know that they'll make huge, expensive Batman sets. I consider this unlikely, but possible.

X-Men: X-Mansion- Everything I said about Wayne Manor applies to X-Mansion (except that while we do have an inkling they'll do big, expensive sets for Marvel in general, we don't know about X-Men specifically the way we do about DC's Batman). The X-Mansion is again unlikely but possible, I think.

Avengers Helicarrier - This is a different story. It's just too big, and to whatever degree it isn't too big, it's instead too similar to a set that's more or less known to be in the pipeline already. This just won't happen as an Ideas set (but we should get a nice non-Ideas alternative soon).

THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - This is a nice model of an interesting subject, and one that fits nicely with the Shinkai 6500, the Hayabusa probe and the Curiosity rover; the only obstacle is that the concept model seen is on the large side. Of course any CUUSOO / Ideas project gets redesigned for a set anyway, but they usually don't change the broad, general parameters like size and features. I don't know if size alone would keep this one from making it, but it well might; otherwise I'd say it has an excellent chance.

Ghostbusters HQ - This isn't the first project to enter review for what would be a large, expensive companion piece to a previously-released licensed vehicle in the CUUSOO / Ideas line; that would be the Back to the Future "Jules Verne" train, and that didn't make it. Given that, as well as the fact this building's most interesting features would be the ones already released (the car and Ghostbusters themselves), I don't think this would make it either, alas. But you never know.

WALL*E - A cute, feature-packed robot star of a much-loved movie, proposed by a LEGO ffan who's also an animator who worked on the actual movie (! - it's kind of the movie license equivalent of Perijove and the Curiosity rover, actually), from a company with whom LEGO already has a close licensing partnership but not for this movie specifically? I think this one has an excellent shot.

Jurassic Park - This might be possible, if it's not too close to a set they're already planning. That's a big if, though. I'd consider this another "unlikely but possible".

F7A Hornet - This one... I don't know. It seems on the one hand like it might not be sufficiently differentiated from any number of other conflict-oriented vehicles in any number of other action themes, both licensed and otherwise, while also skewing a little too "contemporary military" for LEGO's tastes... but on the other, they do like to do things like this, and the range of what licenses they'll consider seems to have been blown wide open lately with The Simpsons and The Big Bang Theory. Coming from what I assume a conflict-oriented video game, it probably has that strike against it, but again, you never know. I could make a better guess if I knew more about the game.

The Natural History Museum - Creator Expert - Well, this is lovely. It also fits well with their modular building line, it has the "SCIENCE!" theme that characterizes so many other CUUSOO / Ideas sets, there are no licensing hassles... It's just an excellent candidate in every way except one, which it's just that it's big and expensive, the same thing that's undoubtedly sunk many other projects (remember, ther still hasn't been a single CUUSOO / Ideas set with an MSRP above $50 USD, and this would clearly be at least three times that if not four). If there's any realistic chance of an Ideas set breaking out of that price range and into the $150/$200 range (that characterizes so many dream sets fans fantasize about), then this would be one of the strongest candidates for that, but again, that's a big if. I don't have any idea whether this is more likely or unlikely.

The Goonies 30th Anniversary - Here we go again! Another license, another big and expensive set. The Goonies is certainly a beloved movie for many of us, especially "of a certain age" (ahem), not unlike Back to the Future and Ghostbusters - but I don't think it's quite as popular as those two, whereas this project is much larger than the projects that passed for those two. I think it's unlikely for that reason. OTOH, this also has some Pirates crossover appeal, for whatever that's worth. I'll call this one very unlikely, but possible.

Lord of the Rings Set: Minas Tirith - It's fantastic. It's also huge and expensive, it's from a current license (which brings up those uncertainties about the license terms and whether they'd even allow for a fan proposal to become a set), and on top of that the license is one that's rumored to have not really performed quite as well as hoped and is perhaps being phased out an eensy bit earlier than originally hoped (though at the same time still an active license, so those caveats are still in effect). I voted for this one myself, but I consider it extremely unlikely.

Labyrinth Marble Maze - This is a clever set that illustrates a little bit of what LEGO is capable of. It's not too big, it's different and creative and clever, licensing shouldn't be an issue, it doesn't even require much in the way of specialized parts... I think this has a really good shot.

Flying Dutchman - Once again, a huge and expensive project based on a licensed property - in this case, a previously-existing but currently inactive one; I don't know how that would affect things. I am pretty sure of one thing, though - they'd never do a Flying Dutchman this big, at least not as the only set in production from the theme. If it is indeed the case, as it appears to be, that the general size and feature set of a final set always reflects the project proposal even if the actual build is quite different, then this is profoundly unlikely to pass. A shame - all the creator would have to have done to give it a much better chance would be to have scaled it down a bit (though conceivably that might have affected the rate at which it accrued votes)...

Piano - This is a beautiful model, depicting a kind of subject not only unrepresented in CUUSOO / Ideas to date but seldom in sets at all, and yet which would be a great decorative detail / add-on for any number of fan creations and perhaps a few official sets as well. It would also make quite a small and affordable set, and one easy to produce - likely requiring zero pieces that weren't already being produced for other things. The only drawbacks I can see are that without a minifigure it seems perhaps incomplete, and more worryingly it took an awfully long time to get 10000 votes (several times the current one-year limit; it only got away with it because when it was posted all those years ago the current limit wasn't in place), possibly indicating low interest. However, I think it also suffered from just not being one of the sorts of things people are likely to search for and so it didn't often come up; I think it's something a lot of people wouldn't think about if it's not in front of them, but if it's made into a set a lot of people would want it. I think this one has a good chance.

Edited February 5, 2015 by Blondie-Wan

[Faefrost]

The research institue sold out so it really couldn't do any better.

Trust me it is a little more complicated then that. I normally make fun of marketing people but being able to predict demand is something they mostly do well. The Research Institute means they hit the right moment with the right product and did not over produce. The question then becomes is there follow up demand for more or similar product? If so is it enough to warrant a new product with a full production allotment? What factors influenced sales of the RI that may or may not be present for any similar follow on product? (Let's just say chances are nobody will be letting Mark Stafford off the leash to imply that any next set will be a single run low production run with no likely reruns, as happened with Exo Suit and RI, thus driving up the collectors market.)

So the business case for the new project will not be quite as cut and dry as RI selling out. (Note the Mars Rover sold out in a day and they have no interest in making more.) it will be not simply past sales but a projection of remaining market. Personally I think both the RI and this one would have done well or better as a block of Polybag collectables rather than single boxed sets. But that's me.

[AFOLguy1970]

Just speculation of course, but regarding the group in review where the window closed earlier this month, I think the piano is going to be the chosen set. Before it snuck in there at the last minute, most, if not all of the projects that made it, seemed larger than what we are used to seeing in Lego Ideas. Even the jet and the marble maze looked like they used a fair amount of parts. If one of them had to be picked, then it would probably have set a new precedent for size and cost of the set. I personally hoped for either the History Museum or Minas Tirith to pass review. They would be a day 1 purchase for me. The piano is nice in itself, but the fact that it slipped in gives it quite an advantage. I really, really hope I am wrong on this, but having the piano compete against a host of large sets probably just handed Lego the easy way out on a silver platter. Sure, there is not a stated size limit on a submission, but it does seem like anything over $50 has a difficult chance of making it.

[Blondie-Wan]

Well, there may be more than one. The last batch for which any results have been announced had at least two projects make it (Birds and The Big Bang Theory), and the two Doctor Who projects currently in review are holdovers from that same batch, meaning there might be as many as three projects originally out of that one review period to become sets - that's half the total.

Out of these newest nine, I could certainly see them doing both the piano and the marble labyrinth, say. Of course that would still leave a total of seventeen other projects from three different review batches...

[Niloc]

I've read this thread diagonally and find very interesting the discussion about how Lego Cuusoo Ideas is working. (I will always see it as Cuusoo )

I think Ideas is some kind of "Buzz" machine-phenomenon. Most of the projects that made it as sets seemed to have been supported by some kind of popularity "buzz". Sometimes, it's a fan-based buzz, such as Minecraft and Ghostbuster for their license, or even a trend buzz, like the Curiosity Rover (it was a real thing, pretty recent and popular). As there were more and more Licensed ideas that would make it to review, I thought that the buzz could only come from property (IP) fan bases, and that Ideas was "condemned" to be flooded by IPs of all kinds.

However, we started to get ideas like Research Institute, Exo-Suit and Birds - original ideas- that would make it to the review and pass, so the "buzz" wasn't all about IPs. So I was thinking: "Where did the buzz come from? How could they make it?" The Research Institute buzz came from the "promoting females in science", I thought. Well, every discussion surrounding this set was about that. And the Exo-Suit buzz could come from the classic space vibe, the AFOL community. It's difficult to say, but the buzz was there: everyone was talking about it everywhere and it got really popular. Now, I don't want to say these sets didn't get popular because they were good models or good ideas, but it seems that their popularity really was supported by some kind of buzz/trend-y thing that spread to many bases/sites/blogs. Then there is "Birds", which I can't explain. How did it get so popular? Was there a buzz? I don't know, but I think this is one case that proves a model can make it because it looks good, and nothing else.

I think (like many it seems) that Ideas really is about that: ideas. I mean... it's in the title. Where it gets complicated is that "ideas" and "marketing" are very close in this case. What makes an idea work and another, not work? Advertising it? Sharing it? It's not all about the quality, it's also about the trend. And to get 10,000 supporters in a year, your project has to skyrocket in popularity without ever dropping, it has to be in the middle of a trend.

Ben then, again, there is Birds. Was it part of the old Cuusoo? Was it part of a trend? How did it get so popular? When you think about it, it seems scary to start an idea. You may put a lot of effort and thinking into it, but it doesn't mean it will work. There is a lot going against you. I mean, Ideas that gathered 10,000 supporters since the beginning don't really look alike, and original ideas can't tell you how they got popular... In the end, I don't think there's one key to explain everything.

And by the way, I love the piano! I want it to pass, it's so small and simple - it would look nice on my desk (is this the secret of success? ) I'm still thinking really hard to figure something out...

Edited January 13, 2015 by Niloc

[jonwil]

My thoughts on all the projects that have hit 10k:

UCS AT-AT. Not going to happen. License issues hit plus the fact that its far too big AND the fact that they only just released an AT-AT set last year.

Lightsabers. Not going to happen. Not only the usual potential issues with Star Wars ideas projects and the Star Wars license but also the fact that other companies already have the right to make both lightsaber replicas (i.e. detailed prop pieces) and lightsaber toys (i.e. cheap plastic crap) and neither entity would let LEGO cannibalize their market.

Wayne Manor. Unlikely given that they currently have the Tumbler as the big d2c Batman/DC set and given that vehicles do better than buildings (i.e. observed sales levels of Tumbler vs Arkham) its less likely to make money. Also, there is the question of whether the set (and the characters and other things it depicts) are the things DC and LEGO are currently wanting to promote (Wayne Manor itself has had a number of different versions from comics, film and TV over the years, is this set the variant from the universe DC and LEGO want to promote right now? The size is also a factor (its at least 1.5-2x as big as Arkham). Oh and we dont know if the license precludes Ideas sets.

Science Adventures. Possible. RI was really popular and this is (by and large) more of the same. But then you have the question about whether another similar set so soon is a good idea when there are so many other potential projects on Ideas.

Hubble set. I think the size and the fact that Hubble isn't in the public consciousness in the way that things like the Mars Rover are makes this set less likely.

X-Men Mansion. Unlikely. Same reasons as the Wayne Manor set (including the up-coming d2c Marvel Helicarrier set and the size of the thing) plus there is the fact that Marvel doesn't particularly want to promote X-Men right now because doing so only benefits Fox (as producer of the X-Men movies)

Minas Tirith. Unlikely due to the size, lackluster sales of LOTR product and the license potentially being an issue.

Marble Maze. Definite possibility given how its fun to play with, very much customizable (rebuild the maze differently every time) and could be made 100% from part/color combos currently in production.

Ghostbusters HQ. The Ecto-1 has been a hot seller (far more so than the BTTF set) and a lot of AFOLs and Ghostbusters fans would probably like a firehouse set (with detailed interior etc). I think the biggest problem with this set is the price point. Its too expensive for a set. Also the firehouse isn't as instantly recognizable as the Ecto-1 is.

Jurassic Park. Unlikely. Size is too big to be viable for this item, if it had been smaller it would have stood a chance. Although there is also the license question and LEGOs future plans

Wall-E. Very good chance of success. Popular film. LEGO has a VERY good relationship with Disney. And it has the tie back to the films production. Not to mention the price point is about right. And (like the marble maze) I see nothing on it that would require new part/color combos. Only issue would be if Disney decided they didn't want to have Wall-E product out right now because of conflicts with merchandise for whatever their current films are.

Flying Dutchman. Way too big and from a property (POTC) that isn't exactly popular right now.

Helicarrier. Way too big and being made (in a smaller form no doubt) by LEGO.

Goonies. Nowhere near as popular as BTTF or Ghostbusters and it would be a LOT bigger than those 2 sets.

Discworld. Not well known outside Sci-Fi/Fantasy buffs and basically unheard of by LEGO's core audience. Plus its BIG (the turtle alone is easily as big as the biggest Ideas set they have done to date)

Natural History Museum. Modulars sell like crazy but this is a bit bigger than a modular (especially when factoring in all the interior detailing). But modulars DO sell. There are better options for LEGO to pick though so I dont see this one making it.

Invisible Hand. Same issues as the other Star Wars projects including the size and the fact that its not exactly something people are going to instantly recognize (and the fact that Disney/Lucas want to promote the new film and TV properties and not the old ones)

F7A Hornet. Limited market (not only a video game but one that isn't well known and isn't even released yet) plus there is the big risk of making a set based on a game that may not end up being a good brand fit for LEGO.

Piano. Great set. Can be built only from part/color combos currently in production. Great little model. But there is the fact that it took so long to hit review that is a negative against it.

Doctor Who. I suspect the only thing holding this up would be the license. BBC may be reluctant to give LEGO a license after how poorly the previous Dr Who building toys did or it may have to do with money (i.e. how much the BBC wants vs how much LEGO is willing to pay).

Disney Frozen Castle. Already being done by LEGO so this wont pass.

Douglas DC-3. Not a big enough market IMO (heck, I am a self-confessed airplane geek and even I don't want one)

Corvette. Would GM give LEGO the license? Would there be license issues with other manufacturers of Corvette toys? Would LEGO do a set that size of a car that isn't all that well known outside of the USA? (the Ferraris and Porsches from Speed Champions are well known on both sides of the pond)

[Dorayaki]

Piano -The only drawbacks I can see are that without a minifigure it seems perhaps incomplete, and more worryingly it took an awfully long time to get 10000 votes, possibly indicating low interest. However, I think it also suffered from just not being one of the sorts of things people are likely to search for and so it didn't often come up; I think it's something a lot of people wouldn't think about if it's not in front of them, but if it's made into a set a lot of people would want it. I think this one has a good chance.

Well there were figures representing famous musicians in history. They were absent in later updates, perhaps due to the change of creator's or LEGO's policy.

Pianos have been in Friends so it's not that innovative now, though LEGO could still make a classical piano with historical referrences. I think the team has been watching this project for time so the problem of voting timeline could be less important for it.

I quite like the two Superheroes mansions. Though I can see both rejected for license issues, Superheroes buiildings seem to be what we're really lacking this year. However mansions are still too rare in LEGO's typical catalogue.

Ghostbusters HQ is the same thing. BTTF train set failed so the chance for GB office is even smaller now, sadly.

WALL*E is a good choice for license that doesn't really conflict wit existed Disney products. But TLG would have to consider if a product of non-current film would make profits.

The Natural History Museum is absolutely genius, but the last thing is determined by whether TLG already has this idea in mind, and whether they'll allow a fan project join the standard MH line.

To me, excluding those licenses which have been mentioned and noticed by team Ideas, I'd not be surprised to see all these projects get rejected due to the reasons that happened in previous reviews Piano has the last chance as a new Creator set, though.

Edited January 17, 2015 by Dorayaki

[Blondie-Wan]

WALL*E is a good choice for license that doesn't really conflict wit existed Disney products. But TLG would have to consider if a product of non-current film would make profits.

WALL*E is a much more recent movie than any of the existing movies from either the Ghostbusters or Back to the Future franchises, at least (in addition to TLG already having a cozier relationship with Disney than it did with either Sony or Universal when those projects happened).

Edited January 22, 2015 by Blondie-Wan

[AndyC]

WALL*E is a much more recent movie than any of the existing movies from either the Ghostbusters or Back to the Future franchises, at least (in addition to TLG already having a cozier relationship with Disney than it did with either Sony or Universal when those projects happened).

That relationship doesn't necessarily help though. If the existing contract with Disney has constraints in place around the choice of products to focus on in a given year (to align marketing resources etc) it might be more difficult than if they were negotiating a one-off product. And nobody's going to go through negotiating a separate deal just to bring an Ideas set to fruition.

[lightningtiger]

An important point here is set size, most of the released Cuusoo/Ideas sets are in a particular part count/box size or more likely price bracket......are their any over 100 dollars US ?

No, I don't think so.......any of the 10K's that have a chance are small to medium size with price under 100 dollars US hence anything modular building wise are out. Though Lego don't mind the ideas, suggestions or hints.....make their life easier doesn't ?

[Blondie-Wan]

That relationship doesn't necessarily help though. If the existing contract with Disney has constraints in place around the choice of products to focus on in a given year (to align marketing resources etc) it might be more difficult than if they were negotiating a one-off product. And nobody's going to go through negotiating a separate deal just to bring an Ideas set to fruition.

Sure, but it's still a much more recent film than the others that have yielded Ideas sets, which is the primary point I was addressing.

I also suspect the fact this project was proposed by one of the actual filmmakers who helped bring the character to life may help the project's chances - no guarantee, of course, but it can't hurt.

An important point here is set size, most of the released Cuusoo/Ideas sets are in a particular part count/box size or more likely price bracket......are their any over 100 dollars US ?

No, indeed not - in fact, none of them so far have been more than $49.99 in the US.

[AFOLguy1970]

Well there were figures representing famous musicians in history. They were absent in later updates, perhaps due to the change of creator's or LEGO's policy.

Pianos have been in Friends so it's not that innovative now, though LEGO could still make a classical piano with historical referrences. I think the team has been watching this project for time so the problem of voting timeline could be less important for it.

I quite like the two Superheroes mansions. Though I can see both rejected for license issues, Superheroes buiildings seem to be what we're really lacking this year. However mansions are still too rare in LEGO's typical catalogue.

Ghostbusters HQ is the same thing. BTTF train set failed so the chance for GB office is even smaller now, sadly.

WALL*E is a good choice for license that doesn't really conflict wit existed Disney products. But TLG would have to consider if a product of non-current film would make profits.

The Natural History Museum is absolutely genius, but the last thing is determined by whether TLG already has this idea in mind, and whether they'll allow a fan project join the standard MH line.

To me, excluding those licenses which have been mentioned and noticed by team Ideas, I'd not be surprised to see all these projects get rejected due to the reasons that happened in previous reviews Piano has the last chance as a new Creator set, though.

The report from the London Toy Fair indicates that one of the Friends sets will include a grand piano in a lobby. This does not seem to bode well for a piano in the Ideas project. Perhaps we really will see a big set finally pass review. I really hope the museum has a chance.

[Faefrost]

An important point here is set size, most of the released Cuusoo/Ideas sets are in a particular part count/box size or more likely price bracket......are their any over 100 dollars US ?

No, I don't think so.......any of the 10K's that have a chance are small to medium size with price under 100 dollars US hence anything modular building wise are out. Though Lego don't mind the ideas, suggestions or hints.....make their life easier doesn't ?

I know I'm going to end up repeating myself here, but here goes. Based on some of the CuuSoo and Ideas blog posts over the years, size is a squirrels thing. Yes size matters, and plays a big part in the review process. But size is not a binary. Nor is it equal accross the boards. At least not beyond a few simple rules.

1. There is an effective minimum build. Ideas has the requirement that the project must be a brick building project. No minifig projects. So safe guesstimate is probably a minimal build similar to a Star Wars Battlepack.

2. There is an effective maximum size. Ideas will not approve "the largest Lego set ever released".

At the end of the day size must be in line with what we see on store shelves. And yes some size/price points will increase your chances at review. But these are not universal accross all proposals. They are structured based on estimated target audience. Predictability of market behavior etc. the more data they have, the more they can dial it in. The effective range for an Ideas set probably sits in a range between 50 and 2500 pieces, with the market sweet spot of minimal review resistance somewhere around 500 pieces.

Lego is not likely to do a 3000 piece Ideas Friends set. They have no data on it. It is not a target market that does well at that size and price point. The same with things like Super Heroes or City. They surely would never go that big on an unknown untried license.

But

They do have certain lines that thrive in those price points. Cases in point Modular Buildings and Technic. Not only do both lines have a very stable or growing adult based hobbiest target audience at the $100-$250 price points. But they both also have good data on previous succesful fan designed limited edition releases.

This is not saying that Lego ever will decide to release a large Ideas set. Simply that if or when they do, chances are it will be from one of those lines. (I would include Star Wars UCS, but pre existing licensing throws another issue that makes it unlikely we will ever see an Ideas UCS.) I think the Natural History Museum has the best chance we have yet seen for a large set passing the business case. Not guaranteed, but probably a better chance then we think (with a somewhat reduced piece count. Trust me it is easy to trim 500 pieces off a modular. Just don't tile the upper floors. )

[TheLegoDr]

I agree, the Modular would make more sense for IDEAS for a large scale set. However, I don't see it happening. As bland as the museum is compared to the official modulars, they would have to re-work it quite a bit to fit in.

A lot of people keep talking about how great it looks and how it fits in, but it really doesn't. Look at all of the other modulars. They are more colorful and "fun" than this. The argument is, well museums don't have to be colorful, and you are right. But to fit in with the rest, what would look better? A bland museum facade that is essentially monotone, or adding in some splashes of color? The Grand Emporium is tan, but it has white, light bley, and dark green to help out the tan.

But it's the same debate about Market Street being official or not. That is bland too and it is colorful. I think it comes down to non-LEGO designers just can't compete with LEGO designers (on most things). That's why they have the job and we do not. I've seen some great MOCS out there, but it doesn't mean it would do well as a set.

I'll bide my time and see what wins in the end. If the museum wins, then congratulations to the designer.

[Faefrost]

I agree, the Modular would make more sense for IDEAS for a large scale set. However, I don't see it happening. As bland as the museum is compared to the official modulars, they would have to re-work it quite a bit to fit in.

A lot of people keep talking about how great it looks and how it fits in, but it really doesn't. Look at all of the other modulars. They are more colorful and "fun" than this. The argument is, well museums don't have to be colorful, and you are right. But to fit in with the rest, what would look better? A bland museum facade that is essentially monotone, or adding in some splashes of color? The Grand Emporium is tan, but it has white, light bley, and dark green to help out the tan.

But it's the same debate about Market Street being official or not. That is bland too and it is colorful. I think it comes down to non-LEGO designers just can't compete with LEGO designers (on most things). That's why they have the job and we do not. I've seen some great MOCS out there, but it doesn't mean it would do well as a set.

I'll bide my time and see what wins in the end. If the museum wins, then congratulations to the designer.

I would not worry too much about color choices. Ideas sets do get redesigned by actual Lego designers and they all make the effort to improve the accent colors, working with the original designers. See some of the Interviews with Mark Stafford regarding the Exosuit.

[Blondie-Wan]

When they announced Birds and The Big Bang Theory back in November, they said the next review results announcement would be in January, of which there are now just ten days left. We should hear something shortly about at least one of those nineteen projects currently under review. Edited January 21, 2015 by Blondie-Wan

[BrickBob Studpants]

@Blondie-Wan: You're right, thanks for reminding us, I almost forgot about the date Personally, I hope one of the Doctor Who projects makes it This might well be the only chance we'll ever get to see a LEGO DW product since, unfortunately, the rumor about a DW theme turned out to be nothing more than what it was, a rumor Granted, it wasn't exactly falsified, but usually we don't get to hear rumors about upcoming themes this far in advance (except when movies get delayed à la BvS:DoJ) so I don't expect it to be a new theme in 2016. It's probably either this or nothing...

[Blondie-Wan]

Well, there's still a chance of it happening. I think it's a small chance, mind you, but it's there.

We do know LEGO is still considering the two Doctor Who projects from the third-to-last review batch. Both were posted (along with a bunch of other Doctor Who projects) shortly after LEGO began allowing them, and these two both wound up getting to 10,000 votes very quickly - I believe they're the second- and third-fastest projects to reach that mark in CUUSOO / Ideas history, actually (only the original Minecraft project was faster, and that was posted directly by the game's publisher, who campaigned for it on social media to all their fans). The fact that not one but two extremely similar projects based on Doctor Who both hit the vote mark in near-record time should send a clear signal to LEGO that there's a strong demand for such a set. And it would actually be a pretty simple set, build-wise, neither particularly large nor particularly complex, so I don't think there would be any "technical" obstacles to doing it. I therefore strongly suspect the only issue is licensing, and it all boils down to whether LEGO and the BBC can reach an agreement.

If they can, I suspect the set would be a very strong seller, and as we know from Minecraft, a CUUSOO / Ideas release can actually launch a whole theme, if it sells well enough.

[Sarah]

2 more projects have achieved the 10000 supporters:

The Discworld: https://ideas.lego.com/projects/36302

Science Adventures: https://ideas.lego.com/projects/83039

IMO, The Discworld won't happen.

Hopefully they will learn from history and produce more Science Adventures sets.