CUUSOO Corner

Crowkillers

Just finished shooting a Live Local TV spot...

http://wearecentralpa.com/fulltext?nxd_id=375822

Bustin

The way I look at it is most Gundam fans are likely more in to the action figures than building Lego.

LegoJeeper

Hello all, my sons and I created this Jeep Wrangler, modeled on my full sized off-roader. Please let me know what you think of it here, appreciated http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/17748

Bumblepants

^ Really like your Jeep, I supported it but I will suggest adding doors or possibly making a 2-door variant as those are more common than the 4-door.

lulwut

..but a huge part of their sales are from AFOL..

I'm not going to go find the quote now, but seem to remember an official lego comment that basically said this isn't true - the AFOL market is tiny as a percentage, although no doubt growing. Also, it seems as though a huge number of UCS sets end up being discounted, even the UCS MF was. Given that they're no doubt low production runs in the first place that is saying something. Also this is CUUSOO Corner - if lego are going to take a risk with a cuusoo model (and surely they are by definition riskier than their main product lines) its not going to be on a 2000 piece UCS set.

It's hard for the AFOL market to grow when they're just tossing scraps at them. As CUUSOO submissions clearly shows, AFOL interests lie somewhere else besides happy land. Times have changed and kids of the past are now grown and willing to drop big for what they want; they don't have problems dropping $200-$400 on today's action dolls so I don't see Lego being far off. The collectible market for adults is HUGE, anyone been to comic-con?

mrseatle

To make the Dark Bucket work they could lower the Stormtroopers to 20 and add a small playset. They could do that opening scene in the original movie where they are boarding the rebel ship. Just have a little airlock for them to blast through. Maybe even have a spot that the droid escape set could hook up to, For R2 an 3PO.

dougts

It's hard for the AFOL market to grow when they're just tossing scraps at them.

I don't think it's fair to characterize the recent trend as table scraps. In 2012 alone, AFOLs have gotten 5 new sets thus far:
10226, 10225, 10224, 10223, 10230
with 3 more to come (10227,10228, new holiday set)
Add in the AFOL sets from previous years still available:
10222,10221,10220,10219,10218,10217,10216,10214,10231,10211,10197,10193,10188 and you are up to 21 items. Throw in the larger scale technic items as well as pretty much all of the architecture line (ok, maybe these are more for non-LEGO fans than AFOLs), as well as crossover appeal of Creator houses, etc, and that's a pretty broad offering to adults.

At some point, and I'm sure LEGO has studied this, adding more AFOL-based items has diminishing returns as far as increased sales, and it just becomes spreading out the existing dollars spent among more total products. This is not smart business, nor possible or practical given design, production, and storage capacity.

There has never been a better time in the history of LEGO to be an AFOL, and it gets better every year.

KLOKRIECHER

I've just added another project called 'Star Wars Spinners':

http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/18394

Please let me know what you think about my idea and also don't forget to support my Formula 1 and my Power Rangers projecty on LEGO CUUSOO as well:

Power Rangers project: http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/18193

Formula 1 project: http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/18192

CCC

^ Personally, I cannot see it going anywhere because I don't think this is a new idea. It is existing figures from one theme on existing spinners from another, doing essentially what existing sets do.

As far as I remember, they don't really spin around much in the films either. They turn around occasionally, but they don't spin around and around.

I also cannot see them releasing key SW figures like Vader in tiny sets.

Redbullgivesuwind

^^Also you run into the issue that lego dont own the lisence for power rangers. Megabloks do and cant see them giving it up anytime soon. They also own the maclaren lisence as well so you run into problems there as well.

BrickDancer

Just a personal observation, but since there's so many boundaries (real & speculative) for what is feasible as a Cuusoo entry that has a standing chance of winning; maybe there should be a list of no-no's specifically spelled-out? Such as Properties that will have licensing issues (i.e. Power Rangers, GI Joe, etc), viable part count limit, contract limitations (Use of SW figures, number allowed in a set, etc.). That way folks have a better idea of the lines to color within, instead of being bashed for out of the box ideas that would be good otherwise.

AFFOL_Shellz_Bellz

^ while there are no-no's those models may serve as great inspiration so why limit them?

GIR3691

The way I look at it is most Gundam fans are likely more in to the action figures than building Lego.

But Gundam model kits have varying difficulty, the most elaborate of which take months of painstaking construction. I know a number of Gundam fans who would like a LEGO version of their favorite suit, but they dislike the "lack of detail" in most LEGO Gundams. To satisfy Gundam fans, the set would have to be so parts intensive it wouldn't be cost effective to produce.

BrickDancer

@AFFOL_Shellz_Bellz I actually agree with you, there should be no boundaries in general. I just don't like to see folks get chided for ideas that may not be feasible, because of inexplicit guidelines they weren't ever aware of. So better that its fully listed beyond the widely understood "no violence, no sex" limits that are on the existing guidelines.

^@GIR3691 has it right, the Gundam kits (Master Grade & Perfect Grade) are very intricate and require a great amount of skills & experience, just same as Lego MOC'ing. But to get the proper detail, such as the head, the Lego version would need to be very large to do it justice. I would love to have a few suits myself, but know it would need to be >3000 pieces to translate well. But this Cuusoo entry has been the best example I've seen of any Mecha so far. However, the low vote support in relation to the high amount of views (>100,000) does speak volumes of its interest to the mass audience.

IronMan

Dark Bucket is gone again? Anybody know what TLG gave as their reason to let it hit 10,000 and then take it out?

dougts

http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/2674

Our team has done our due diligence, and due to our license we will not release a collection consisting almost entirely of minifigures

Crowkillers

Dark Bucket is gone again? Anybody know what TLG gave as their reason to let it hit 10,000 and then take it out?

"it's our view that it is better to be open and allow for possibilities, knowing there will be "no" answers along the way, than shut out the potential of IP-based products altogether."

LegoFanTexas

^ And of course there it is... no one should be surprised, it never had a chance, even if everyone wanted it anyway...

That is of course why the project needed to be changed at the 5,000 vote level, Lego said that given the support was for the 100 minifigs, they didn't want to change the project in review to the extent required to make it work, so they passed.

CCC

Just a personal observation, but since there's so many boundaries (real & speculative) for what is feasible as a Cuusoo entry that has a standing chance of winning; maybe there should be a list of no-no's specifically spelled-out? Such as Properties that will have licensing issues (i.e. Power Rangers, GI Joe, etc), viable part count limit, contract limitations (Use of SW figures, number allowed in a set, etc.). That way folks have a better idea of the lines to color within, instead of being bashed for out of the box ideas that would be good otherwise.

I doubt Lego can say that they cannot make GI Joe, Power Rangers, etc. That is, mentioning specific brands that they cannot make.

Contract limitations - again, I'm not sure Lego can or would want to say what they can and cannot do under license. If they are allowed X figures and need to have Y bricks per figure then there will be lots of ideas appearing with X figures and X*Y bricks.

Viable part counts - people need to use their common sense. How many parts do Lego produce for similar sets? Use that as a guide.

cheshirecat

Noticed the british birds on springwatch last night - looked fab, but oddly they didn't mention them. Its a real shame that the 'british' nature of this might make it hard to reach 10,000. Although I see that next on the list is american birds.

cardz97

Hey I was just wondering do you think LEGO will ever approve this (BTTF) ? and if so do you think they will have a good collecting value?

Bustin

I doubt Lego can say that they cannot make GI Joe, Power Rangers, etc.

Well since MegaBloks has a running Power Rangers line I do not see why Lego wouldn't just say we cannot do this. It would save time. I mean I am certain the majority of the target Lego wants to hit with Cuusoo doesn't know what the competing companies have licensed.

CCC

I doubt Lego can say that they cannot make GI Joe, Power Rangers, etc.

Well since MegaBloks has a running Power Rangers line I do not see why Lego wouldn't just say we cannot do this. It would save time. I mean I am certain the majority of the target Lego wants to hit with Cuusoo doesn't know what the competing companies have licensed.

Because they would be commenting on another brand, thus advertising it to those people that don't know about the other product.

Also whose time is wasted? I doubt Lego care too much about people that upload to cuusoo wasting their time if they cannot do a bit of basic research first. And in a sense, it is really wasted? If you like the model you are proposing then you have not wasted your time building it. That is what Lego is, a building toy to have fun with. If you are not having fun building it, and think it is a waste of time building it and showing it to the world if Lego will not produce it, then it's just as well it will not be made. If you didn't enjoy it, then no-one else will.

Yellowcastle

^ And it also tells them whether or not this is a license they might someday want to pursue...

sidersdd

The Minecraft set is available at ToysRUs.com now (marked up to $39.99).

Crowkillers

Toys R Us marked up a set? LOL... Say it isn't so..

Bumblepants

So the Minecraft set is the #2 seller on [email protected] in the US right behind CMF series 7. I am a little blown away by that, especially considering all the other new sets it is in front of. Perhaps all the Minecrafters who voted it in overnight are voting again with their wallets. This can only be good news for future CUUSCO projects

prof1515

So the Minecraft set is the #2 seller on [email protected] in the US right behind CMF series 7.

I suspect Lego is deceitful in regard to that list on [email protected] It's more likely a promotional device to advertise sets they're trying to sell than an actual indicator of what is selling best. Most of the time from 2007 through its demise Brickmaster was the #1 seller. I find it hard to believe that they sold that many subscriptions to consistentely top every other set for years on end, especially since they ended it. Keeping it listed #1 to promote it and exploit the sheep mentality of consumers though, that would explain it better.

Bustin

I just saw this one tonight.

http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/18465#

I like how the scene is set up and wouldn't at all mind displaying this one.

AFFOL_Shellz_Bellz

^ Awesome!

CCC

^It looks like a nice statue, but very, very static. How do you play with it?

Bustin

@CCC

I don't think it is meant to be played with. It looks more like a UCS model.

Lego_Lord_Mayorca

For all the supporters and doubters alike, it looks like soon we will hear word on the Back to the Future time machine being passed review and on the way to hitting store shelves. What makes me say this? Check out the CUUSOO page. Apparently it has reached the "product" stage.
http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/96

EDIT: It seems like the other three projects "in review" have also been approved and are at the "product stage". So, good news all around for fans of the Western Modular Town, Legend of Zelda, and the Eve Rifter! Personally, the BttF Time Machine has me the most excited.

LegobrandonCP

^ Awesome! It would be nice if the OP was a part of this community so he can give us some insight on this process more info.

graphite

That is definitely exciting if it is in fact going to be made. Will be interesting to see what the LEGO designed version looks like. UCS time machine please!

LegoFanTexas

Given the age of BTTF fans, TLG would be nuts to make a kit as small as shown in the pictures...

UCS indeed... I'd buy a several thousand part ultimate kit of that car in a heartbeat...

BTTF came out in 1985, the sequels came out in 1990... Anyone old enough to watch them in the theater (I was), is now in their mid-30s...

These are just my thoughts... But $200 for a 2,000 part kit is not out of the question, I'd be all over that... :)

Bustin

The Mine Craft set has the same Buy button on it's page. So perhaps they have already been approved?

The Legend of Zelda though comes as a complete shock to me considering that Nintendo and K'Nex has a license for Mario Kart already. I would have expected that relationship to interfere with a Nintendo/Lego collaboration.

CCC

Given the age of BTTF fans, TLG would be nuts to make a kit as small as shown in the pictures...

I suppose it depends if they want to sell to Lego BTTF fans, or just regular BTTF fans. I reckon many people (non-Lego fans) would love a small Lego set, quick and easy to build, that they can have on their office shelf with the two minifigs. I know of SW fans that have the mini-ship models as these cost peanuts and don't take up much room. There is a big jump in cost, display space, and willingness to build for a UCS model.

cheshirecat

Im thinking it would all come down to risk. Theres more risk for TLG with a big set so I exect CUUSOO to keep the sets fairly small.

I wouldn't put to much importance on the 'product' title. The modular western had it for a number of days after it got to 10,000. Also TLG clearly stated that only one product would be released from each quarterly review didn't they. Plus I'd be amazed if Zelda got made. But time will tell I suppose.

So long as lego haven't decided to add in another public vote - any products that don't fail at review go into a vote off with the winner being made. That would be awful.

bricksan

any products that don't fail at review go into a vote off with the winner being made. That would be awful.

That sounds like an interesting idea, that way only the most wanted will get made.

CCC

any products that don't fail at review go into a vote off with the winner being made. That would be awful.

That sounds like an interesting idea, that way only the most wanted will get made.

Most votes does not necessarily mean the most wanted. Online communities can easily swing votes without having any interest in the product. If they were going to do a vote off like that, they should require voters to stump up the money for the item at the same time as voting. At least that way, wants = sales.

Modeltrainman

I'm not sure what I've done wrong. I've tried to model the Up house as accurately, as possible. it's been blogged twice, people have said they'd buy it, and not to give up...And still nothing? Where are all the Up fans hiding?

Steve_J_OM

I'm not sure what I've done wrong. I've tried to model the Up house as accurately, as possible. it's been blogged twice, people have said they'd buy it, and not to give up...And still nothing? Where are all the Up fans hiding?

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but it's just not a very good model. It's not particularly accurate, and the fact that the description page is comprised of just two LDD images makes it looks very insubstantial.

It also sounds like you have slightly unrealistic expectations with regards to how quickly you can get a project to review; a couple of blog plugs and a few people saying they'd buy it won't quite cut it. Look at something as detailed as the Modular Western Town: despite the entire LEGO community being behind it, it took a number of months (and seemed to labour at times) to get to review stage.

The idea really lends itself to a successful outcome; it fits perfectly with the LEGO brand, there is an existing relationship with the IP holders, and the film was hugely successful which means there are thousands of fans out there that would get behind it. The model just doesn't cut the mustard IMO.

LegobrandonCP

^ Well said. I couldn't of have worded it any better.

Legogeek

I'm not sure what I've done wrong. I've tried to model the Up house as accurately, as possible. it's been blogged twice, people have said they'd buy it, and not to give up...And still nothing? Where are all the Up fans hiding?

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but it's just not a very good model. It's not particularly accurate, and the fact that the description page is comprised of just two LDD images makes it looks very insubstantial.

It also sounds like you have slightly unrealistic expectations with regards to how quickly you can get a project to review; a couple of blog plugs and a few people saying they'd buy it won't quite cut it. Look at something as detailed as the Modular Western Town: despite the entire LEGO community being behind it, it took a number of months (and seemed to labour at times) to get to review stage.

The idea really lends itself to a successful outcome; it fits perfectly with the LEGO brand, there is an existing relationship with the IP holders, and the film was hugely successful which means there are thousands of fans out there that would get behind it. The model just doesn't cut the mustard IMO.

I too don't mean to sound harsh or critical, but Steve_J_OM is spot on.
Your idea (proposal) is good, but your sample and "marketing", as well as your expectations for a quick rise in popularity are off by a longshot.

This goes to show that even something that might be a great idea, doesn't stand a chance if not executed properly. See Huw's tips on the topic.... http://www.brickset.com/news/article/?ID=3464

Modeltrainman

I'm just hoping it'd happen so it could release along side the 3D BluRy release. No fast, just within the timeframe.

cheshirecat

I'm sorry to say but in its current form its never ever going to reach 10,000 and even little tinkering isn't going to make the difference.

Its partly unfortunate that you've picked that building because due to its nature of different colours etc, unless done incredibly well, its not going to look good. Instead it looks more like what my 6 year old does when building things with complete disregard for brick colour. Thats not meant to be harsh - my 6 year old couldn't do what you have, im just saying that the nature of the design makes it look like that - which is unappealing. Add in the fact that its done in LDD and it looks even worse.

If you really care about the idea, get on bricklink or something and get the pieces you need to build it. Build it in the flesh and 1) it will look a whole lot better 2) You'll likely see ways to improve on it further 3) even if it never reaches 10,000 you'll still have it.

Remember, TLG have said they'll only produce 1 set per quarter. Thats 4 a year. Lets say CUUSOO can run for 5 years - thats 20 sets. Its going to be tough for even a brilliant design to make it.

Modeltrainman

Thanks for the advice. Only reason I haven't built it for real is because the correct parts don't exist in the right colors.

SWAT_Strachan

I might as well try to drum up a little interest in my two submissions. They're not big sets, far from it, but I think that's something that Cuuusoo needs more of. So, I designed (read: cobbled together when bored one evening) an automated defence turret, and a re-designed dropship, both for the Star Wars franchise.

Now I don't partake in social networking, places like Twitter and Facebook leave me cold. So if anyone here likes them, and feels like spreading the good word, then by all means feel free :).

Turret...
http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/11177

Shadow Dropship
http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/12146

wiredforsound

My LEGO CUUSOO Minecraft arrived - http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiredforsound23/7386910168/