Today LEGO has announced the results of the First 2015 LEGO Ideas Review Stage and I believe for the first time ever, there was not a project that was selected to become an official LEGO Ideas sets. These projects include:
Science Adventures
The Discworld
Medieval Market Street
Disney Princess Frozen Elsa’s Ice Castle
Douglas DC-3
Bricksauria/Tyrannosaurus Rex
International Space Station
The Golden Girls Living Room and Kitchen Modular Set
Legend of Zelda: King of Red Lions Play Set
RMS Titanic
1969 Corvette
Small Yellow
Daft Punk
There are no specifics of why each project did not pass but some of the broader reasons stated include disagreements with the intellectual property rights, projects being too similar to existing products or future products, or projects being too large.
All is not lost though as they are still looking into the F7A Hornet – Star Citizen set. If you’re not familiar with Star Citizen, it is an upcoming space simulator video game that will be launching in 2016.
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What an absolute joke.
I figured most of these didn’t have a chance. I’m surprised the Science Adventures didn’t get selected, though. I couldn’t understand her at the end when she said something was joining the Lego Ideas line-up next year. What was that?
I believe she said the Creator theme was joining Ideas.
The Labyrinth Marble Maze.
Science Adventures was probably the least surprising for me, given its superficial similarity to the Research Institute.
Science Adventures being too similar to Research Institute is a weak argument. Totally different minifigs and environments. I think the audience has enough sense to know that they are different sets.
Let’s talk about that wave of Batman sets that was mostly repeat ideas of previous sets (Joker copter, Two-Face van, etc.).
Batman/DC Superheroes can get away with somewhat repetitive designs, but Ideas is more about bringing something different and unique to the table. If they decide they want to make more, they have always pulled the theme outside if the Ideas label, as they have now done with Minecraft, Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, and Doctor Who.
I would love to see a theme dedicated to stuff like Research Institute.
translation, we are too busy with TFA and other Disney IP to bother with the community, so better luck next time… if there is a next time…
That comment doesn’t make any sense. Lego has listened to their community before, that is whole reason Ideas exist. To listen to the community on what sets they should make. It’s why we have a Big Bang Theory set and two Ghostbusters sets. Just because they couldn’t find a perfect idea to make into a set this time doesn’t mean they aren’t listening to the community. Even if TFA is one of their main focuses that doesn’t mean they aren’t listening to the community. Also, they only have three Disney IP. Star Wars, Marvel, and Disney Princesses. The rest of their IP are mostly from them or from Warner Brothers.
Different people work on Ideas, TFA sets are all in production for the time being, while the next Disney Princess are all through the design process.
I personally have hope for Lothlorien.
I must say, I am truly bummed I won’t be getting a Golden Girls set … I wanted to move them right next to the Big Bang Theory set and let hijinks ensue.
Based on what _can’t_ be the reason(s) for rejection, it’s pretty easy to pick out what was.
– Science Adventures
Repeat of Research Institute (small, no IP)
– The Discworld
Probably killed for size (no point in pursuing IP if it’s too big to pass)
– Medieval Market Street
Repeat of Medieval Market _and_ too big (for Ideas, at least)
– Disney Princess Frozen Elsa’s Ice Castle
Repeat of a set that is still in stock
– Douglas DC-3
Too big (they’ve done other WWII era planes in IJ, so IP shouldn’t be an issue), if they were all rejected for the specific ideas listed. Too many Q elements to make all the curved parts in the same shade of grey (let alone chrome or drum-lacquered) otherwise.
– Bricksauria/Tyrannosaurus Rex
Too big if they wanted to do it justice, but possibly also a conflict with the current JW line. Too close to Creator dino sets if they reduced the size.
– International Space Station
They’ve done one NASA Cuusoo set, so it’s probably too close to that one previous set that was a model of the exact same ISS.
The Golden Girls Living Room and Kitchen Modular Set
– IP rights (too similar in size to TBBT to be too large for Ideas), possibly from the cited “lack of interest”.
Legend of Zelda: King of Red Lions Play Set
New molds aren’t an issue now, with several options for the little elf hat (CMF garden gnome, CMF Santa elf, CMF goblin…), and an easy out with printed deco for any shield they might need to replicate. It’s obviously the fact that Nintendo already has a licensing partner for construction sets, so until they’re up for grabs, no Zelda for you. And when they do come up, expect a slim window between when an Ideas proposal can enter review and when they just sign their own regular licensing deal for anything Nintendo ever made.
– RMS Titanic
Too big (no IP, not similar to any previous sets)
– 1969 Corvette
Probably both too big and too close to Speed Champions (they do have a Camaro set coming out next year, so it’s not IP problems)
– Small Yellow
Too big
– Daft Punk
IP rights
I have a feeling they already know in advance that some of the projects that are reaching or have reached the 10k needed can’t be made because of licensing or because its too big.
Being that the case, then they should notify them before they make it to evaluation so they can give other projects some chance. Just a thought.