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CUUSOO Corner

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  • JamesJTJamesJT Member Posts: 440
    The Nautilas
    http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/59212
  • prof1515prof1515 Member Posts: 1,550
    NeilJam said:

    Nice basic shape for the TARDIS there prof, but the sides are a little too flat. Using stickers for so much detail on the sides is too much IMO when it could be done with Lego pieces.

    At mini-figure scale, the details on the side of the TARDIS are almost dimensionally flat meaning stickers are really the only way to portray them. The most I considered doing with pieces was the windows in white with 1x1 bricks but that would make little difference since they'd then need to be stickered individually to create the divided pattern on them and they'd weaken the structure of the model. Overall, this is a fairly sturdy design, the base being the only weakness since each plate is connected via one stud. As putting a second plate beneath it would make it far too thick and out of proportion, an internal framework is necessary to maintain it. That means no doors but doors would be difficult anyway given the uneven width of five studs for the main form. I scaled everything from blueprints of the studio models that I was able to find and, as I said earlier, creating the TARDIS in mini-figure scale is difficult to do while maintaining any fidelity to the actual dimensions.
  • prof1515prof1515 Member Posts: 1,550
    The same model with windows. Again, the scale makes it difficult to adequately represent the windows using bricks and any other detailing is virtually flat at this scale.
  • monkey_roomonkey_roo Member Posts: 1,411
    As noted it is hard to do a minifig scale Tardis with any real detail. Even factoring the larger scale of the 1960's style police box it is still hard to get a minifig inside. The image i have loaded here is the one I am waiting to get through cuusoo which does show how I have tried to do it using standard window elements and then applying stickers over the glass panels. This does allow for some definition on the outside which breaks the 'flatness' of the wall. And then used a hinged roof to gain access to the inside, not at all 'accurate' to how the Tardis doors open but a compromise that allows for a figure to be placed inside and the box to be closed up properly.
    There other examples out there as well and i am sure most will end up on cuusoo in the coming weeks.
  • HardradaHardrada Member Posts: 439
    One of the LEGO designers (was it Nabii?) had a nice Dr. Who project up on CUUSOO before all Dr. Who projects were deleted back then. Wonder if he has re-uploaded it yet...
  • AanchirAanchir Member Posts: 3,037
    The TARDIS I linked before is now up on the LEGO Cuusoo site! See here! This concept also includes two nicely-proportioned Daleks!
  • NeilJamNeilJam Member Posts: 272
    prof1515 said:

    The same model with windows. Again, the scale makes it difficult to adequately represent the windows using bricks and any other detailing is virtually flat at this scale.

    I think mine does a good job of representing windows with bricks (grills to be more precise) at that exact scale (5x5 box). Here's a link to it:

    http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/59178
  • NeilJamNeilJam Member Posts: 272
    Speaking of stickers: Why are these Tardises on Cuusoo with just stickers for detail doing so well? I guess few builders there realize what can be done with bricks so they just slap a sticker on and call it done.
  • prof1515prof1515 Member Posts: 1,550
    In all honesty, what can be done with bricks doesn't look very good. No offense but the grills don't look like windows. That's not to say that the others using stickers look much better but that's because they've got the wrong proportions on the TARDIS. Done to scale, it's 5x5 for the main body of the TARDIS but for ease of building many go 6x6. The 20% extra width is far too much and makes it look too fat. To balance out the shape, one has to increase the height and then it unrealistically towers over mini-figures. It's like I said, doing the TARDIS in scale with mini-figures is difficult if not impossible with any level of detail. A much larger version which would allow for detail using bricks would be possible. I seem to recall seeing one on Brickshelf years ago or was it at a convention? Pretty sure it was Brickshelf.
  • monkeyhangermonkeyhanger Member Posts: 3,169
    edited March 2014
    I don't know why some get hung up on a minifig scale Tardis. Why not have an oversized and well detailed exterior, and it could open up to make a spacious Tardis interior playset with minifigs.
  • NeilJamNeilJam Member Posts: 272
    Many fans want Doctor Who minifigs, therefore they would also want a minifig scale TARDIS to match.
  • monkey_roomonkey_roo Member Posts: 1,411
    For what it's worth I think MiniFigs are an essential element of a Dr Who set, after all the show is called Dr Who, not, The Tardis so people will expect to get a Dr with the set and then other figures for him to interact with.

    With that in mind then any winning entry that includes a Tardis would have to be minifig scaled and have 'playability' to match and since the Tardis is the single most iconic 'vehicle' in the show then it really is the only choice to add into the set.
  • monkey_roomonkey_roo Member Posts: 1,411
    My own Dr Who offering finally passed review today - http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/59409
    Vote if you like it.
    Thanks
  • iamterryiamterry Member Posts: 166
    Judging from Lego cuusoo's latest tweet, there's definitely something going on with regards to Doctor Who and Lego.
  • prof1515prof1515 Member Posts: 1,550
    edited March 2014
    I don't know if the license if actually available or if a compromise was reached. Character Options unveiled new Doctor Who sets and figures, series 4 of their collectible figures featuring the Twelfth Doctor, Clara, etc. as well as the TARDIS playset, at the NYTF.

    It's more likely that Cuusoo is just being viewed as a compromise deal that allows Doctor Who projects on it, something which simply increases visibility for the brand and thus helps Character Options sales as well.

    If there is more to it, say if Lego were acquiring the company, that's probably bad news because it would mean the end of the Character Options line and Doctor Who doesn't have the visibility in the U.S. that might sustain a license with Lego for very long (that could always change though). Instead of Lego-designed sets we might just get the pathetic offerings of Cuusoo.
  • monkey_roomonkey_roo Member Posts: 1,411
    Well, the first Dr Who project just crossed the 10,000 vote mark. I think that took less than 2 week, congrats to them.
    I also suspect the Big Bang Theory project will not be too far behind, if both make the next review that might be interesting, two huge TV show based sets in the mix.
  • AanchirAanchir Member Posts: 3,037
    prof1515 said:

    I don't know if the license if actually available or if a compromise was reached. Character Options unveiled new Doctor Who sets and figures, series 4 of their collectible figures featuring the Twelfth Doctor, Clara, etc. as well as the TARDIS playset, at the NYTF.

    It's more likely that Cuusoo is just being viewed as a compromise deal that allows Doctor Who projects on it, something which simply increases visibility for the brand and thus helps Character Options sales as well.

    If there is more to it, say if Lego were acquiring the company, that's probably bad news because it would mean the end of the Character Options line and Doctor Who doesn't have the visibility in the U.S. that might sustain a license with Lego for very long (that could always change though). Instead of Lego-designed sets we might just get the pathetic offerings of Cuusoo.

    I think the most likely situation is that BBC's Doctor Who license with Character Options is either due to expire soon, or is not an exclusive licensing agreement to begin with and the BBC is open to doing business with multiple building toy brands. I highly doubt TLG is cooperating with a competitor on something that would directly conflict with LEGO Cuusoo's primary function (discovering new product opportunities for The LEGO Group through crowdsourcing), and they have not stated any interest in acquiring other companies in the past — that's just not how they do business.
  • BuriedinBricksBuriedinBricks Member Posts: 1,367
    I'm glad the project to hit 10k finally posted a more detailed version and explanation of its TARDIS. Hopefully it will translate well into a version LEGO can actually produce.
  • TheLoneTensorTheLoneTensor Member Posts: 3,937
    Great, between LEGO and TARDIS it will now look like everyone's shouting at each other.

    (at least one is actually an acronym)
    RomanticWarrior
  • prof1515prof1515 Member Posts: 1,550
    iccarus said:

    I'm glad the project to hit 10k finally posted a more detailed version and explanation of its TARDIS. Hopefully it will translate well into a version LEGO can actually produce.

    If that's what they actually go with, that's a huge disappointment. That model is as fugly as all hell. Sad that after years of hoping Lego might do something like Doctor Who, what we may get is just some hack job. It's such a shame that Lego doesn't just have the balls to go after a license themselves instead of relying on the crap on Cuusoo to motivate them.
  • BuriedinBricksBuriedinBricks Member Posts: 1,367
    edited March 2014
    Compared to some of the other designs on there, the one that hit 10k is not horrible. For whatever that's worth. Getting the level of detail needed at this scale is extremely difficult and I would prefer something that does not rely so heavily on stickers/printing.

    While it's not perfect, this one was probably the best I have seen yet in terms of using actual elements to build a fairly well detailed project.
  • monkey_roomonkey_roo Member Posts: 1,411
    edited March 2014
    To be honest I am wondering what the chances are of the Dr Who project that just passed the finish line actually passing review? It may be more defined but only just, there is still no clear image of what the final set will be, how the Tardis element will work or what figures are to be part of it? Yes it is well imaged and there are good looking options but it is still just a design project. I am happy that Dr Who as a theme is now in the mix but I am sure in the past that projects that are light on actual content clarity haven't got on as well (working from memory so could be wrong). All the past models have been exceptionally well defined and I think all built in brick and not just in digital pixels.

    Also the reason I mentioned Big Bang before is that if that project hits 10,000 lego will effectively have to chose between 2 TV show set pices and I can't see them green lighting both and for me the work on the Big Bang project is far better, not least because it is there in the brick. But then again there might be room for both, that would be fun as 1 off sets.
  • BuriedinBricksBuriedinBricks Member Posts: 1,367
    I feel like DW wins over BBT, but that might be personal preferences showing through.
  • Indy24LAIndy24LA Member Posts: 6
    I would buy the BBT set, but would be surprised if it was chosen, I just don't see the playability with it. There is plenty of 'action' with Dr Who though and it has the potential to become a line.
  • dougtsdougts Member Posts: 4,110
    Hard to imagine Lego picking a Cuusoo set based upon an adult oriented sitcom.
  • cheshirecatcheshirecat Member Posts: 5,331
    Cuusoo clearly wanted a dr who project in review so to put a vague design idea in there is probably very shrewd as it allows LEGO to do what they want whilst the project submitters still appear to win.
  • zipsforbananaszipsforbananas Member Posts: 250
    The Big Bang Theory as a Lego set? Hmm, that's definitely fandom overruling sense! I thought it was a joke until I found the Cuusoo project! :P
    I can see that the Cuusoo set looks good, but it's nothing but a display piece, not in any way a Lego set with all a Lego set should be. Maybe it could work as the first of a "favourite sitcoms dioramas" sets... actually... nah! It just seems really silly!
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    I'm willing to bet a significant proportion of cuusoo sets bought are used as display rather than play sets, including minecraft. Especially the sub, the mars rover, etc.
  • tomahawkertomahawker Member Posts: 204
    edited March 2014
    While I agree that many cuusoo sets are probably display pieces, I gotta respectfully disagree on the mars rover. I learned a lot about how the rocker-bogie and linkage suspension system worked by replacing the turntable with a 2 x 2 plate. It's also great fun to drive over simulated martian terrain.
  • AanchirAanchir Member Posts: 3,037
    The Big Bang Theory will not stand a chance in review, in my opinion, and that's coming from somebody who likes the show. The show definitely does not fit The LEGO Group's brand values. It is extremely heavy on the use of raunchy sexual humor and "adult" situations... even its name uses the meaning of "bang" as sexual innuendo as a play on words, since the one thing most of these young physicists seek more than anything is, in some form or another, to get laid (the sole exception being the socially-challenged Sheldon Cooper, and even he ends up in a "boy-girl relationship" eventually, albeit one with little to no intimacy).

    Doctor Who is tame by comparison. It's at its heart an adventure story, and any "adult" references tend to be brief and subtle enough that they might go right over the head of younger viewers (much like those in other LEGO-approved licenses like Indiana Jones and Pirates of the Caribbean).

    A lot of people were outraged when The Simpsons became a LEGO theme, but you have to recognize that a lot of the controversy over its content stems from its origins, which from a media perspective took place in a more innocent time. And some of that perception is further colored by the biases of that time, since it was the first adult-oriented animated show to really become mainstream. Cartoons and comics were in the past perceived as a "kids' pastime", a perception that afflicts those media as well as video games today. So it's no surprise that a cartoon aimed at adults would be seen as an insidious threat to childhood innocence. Nowadays, compared to shows like South Park and Family Guy that range from irreverent to downright iconoclastic, The Simpsons stands out as much more of a "family program".

    The Big Bang Theory, and a lot of other modern prime-time sitcoms, push the envelope much further when it comes to their content. So I think The LEGO Group is bound to tread lightly with proposals based on those kinds of franchises.
  • Bosstone100Bosstone100 Member Posts: 1,431
    Why not Big Bang Theory? They have a Lego Death Star in the show and also reference Lego from time to time. Hell, Sheldon was even building the Death Star in one episode. Makes a perfect match.

    As for it being only a display set... all Cuusoo sets are meant to be display sets.
  • ShibShib Member Posts: 5,469
    I both love and hate Cuusoo. I love the amount of creativity and brilliant ideas that come up on it, but I think the current system they use needs a massive overhaul.
    From the pricing and current content of the Cuusoo sets, the majority of sets must be bought for display, I think that the minecraft set is the one most likely to be bought for play, and surprise suprise TLG took it up and made more sets. They state that the playability of the set is part of the review, but the Delorean doesn't fit both Minifigures properly and the Ghostbusters Ecto 1 is only going to fit 3 just seems bizzare that in terms of playability they wouldn't use a better minifigure fit design.
    I also think the voting system is flawed, I get that they need quantifiable data but I think the what price would you pay and how many sets would you buy are a bit misleading. Asking what you'd expect rrp (for the set as is pictured in the project), what price you would most likely pay for a set based on but not nessisarily the same as featured in the project and if it was a theme how many sets of that theme would you buy would be much better questions to get some real data. They haven't changed the questions since stating that each project should relate to one set and not a theme, but the questions seem more about projects as themes.
    That said it is a great place for Lego fans to showcase ideas and show TLG what the community wants, and I love it for giving me an official Doc Brown minifigure if nothing else!
    dougts
  • prof1515prof1515 Member Posts: 1,550
    Voting should be a pre-order. If the set gets made, those who voted for it get one. If it doesn't get made then there's no harm, no foul. It would certainly make people think twice about voting for every piece of garbage on Cuusoo.
  • ShibShib Member Posts: 5,469
    ^ That's a good idea but the Cuusoo team would have to put a price on each set before allowing voting otherwise you'll get people cancel their order if they see its a lot more than they were expecting for the set.
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    prof1515 said:

    Voting should be a pre-order. If the set gets made, those who voted for it get one. If it doesn't get made then there's no harm, no foul. It would certainly make people think twice about voting for every piece of garbage on Cuusoo.

    It wouldn't be allowed to work that way in the UK. They'd have to show the final version, and also accept returns if people don't like what they get.
    Aanchir
  • ShibShib Member Posts: 5,469
    i think its one of those ideas which is better in theory than in practice. I know no system is going to be perfect but the current one really does need some work
  • Bosstone100Bosstone100 Member Posts: 1,431
    I don't mind the pre-order thing. The problem is that there is rarely a part count. Let's face it, the pre-orders would be from AFOLs. We know what the approximate price should be based on amount of minifigs and rare parts, as well as a price per part calc.

    I think a big flaw in Cuusoo is the "how much would you pay for this?" question. Can't answer it because I don't know approximately how may parts are in it. Doesn't matter if Lego will redesign it. Designers should have to give us as much info as possible to make an informed decision. That's the only way I can answer... how much I would pay for it.
  • Steve_J_OMSteve_J_OM Member Posts: 995
    Is the thread going to have to be renamed now?

    How about the 'Ideas Intersection'?
    ChrisHallbeck
  • AanchirAanchir Member Posts: 3,037
    Bosstone100 said:

    I don't mind the pre-order thing. The problem is that there is rarely a part count. Let's face it, the pre-orders would be from AFOLs. We know what the approximate price should be based on amount of minifigs and rare parts, as well as a price per part calc.

    I think a big flaw in Cuusoo is the "how much would you pay for this?" question. Can't answer it because I don't know approximately how may parts are in it. Doesn't matter if Lego will redesign it. Designers should have to give us as much info as possible to make an informed decision. That's the only way I can answer... how much I would pay for it.

    I agree that it would be great if project creators could give an estimated price calculation based on the parts they use, but the "how much would you pay?" question is still quite valuable because it tells the designers how much leeway they have with the cost of a model.

    If a bunch of people support a massive project but say they would pay a pitifully low price, that suggests that either the project has to be significantly scaled down or, alternatively, that it's not a good business case in the first place. On the other hand, if a lot of people give a HIGH price for a model that doesn't necessarily need one, then that tells the designers both that demand for the product is high and that they can probably afford to make substantial improvements without pushing the model outside most people's price range.

    Keep in mind also that there's a difference between "a fair price" and "what people are willing to pay", even among AFOLs. When this year's #75059 Sandcrawler model was revealed, a number of people acknowledged that it was a fair value for money but still said they weren't willing to pay $300 for it, and that they would have preferred a cheaper set even if it meant the model would be smaller and less detailed.

    Likewise, there are some smaller models that people don't want to buy because they feel the subject ought to be represented at a larger scale, and they would rather pay a higher price for a larger model than a lower price for a model they consider sub-par. #79007 Battle at the Black Gate is a good example of this. Its price-per-piece isn't bad (over 650 pieces for $60, which is good even by non-licensed standards), and it's a great likeness of the subject, but a lot of people wish that the gate and eagles alike were larger.

    Basically, not asking this question would be ignoring the potential for creators and supporters alike to misjudge the expected cost of a concept model. Not every builder can be expected to keep count of how many pieces went into their best models or accurately guess the production cost of a set based on which parts it uses. Nor can every supporter or potential buyer be expected to expertly analyze a project to determine if the project creator's estimated cost is actually realistic. If all project creators and supporters were somehow held to these high standards, then the LEGO Cuusoo userbase might no longer be indicative of the actual buying audience, because not all LEGO fans would think so carefully about the production cost of the final set once it's actually on store shelves and they have to decide whether it's worth their money.
  • VenunderVenunder Member Posts: 2,659
    In my view. It does not take much effort to take a medium sized model apart and count the pieces.
    A large model would be harder, but not too difficult to count.
    Although it might put some people off the model, if it was above 1500 parts.
    Depending on the subject.

    An average cost of 5p per part would be good to great value.
    More than 10p per part is getting expensive, no matter what they are or what they make.

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