this post was submitted on 07 Dec 2024
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Media licensing has been the greatest boost to profits for Lego while simultaneously causing a shift away from creative/imaginative building. Meaning, more people (adults) than ever are buying lego sets but they build what’s on the box and then it sits on a shelf forever, instead of modifying the initial build or taking it apart and making something new.
I’m not trying to criticize anyone’s hobby, and I too have purchased an expensive licensed lego set, built it, and let it collect dust on my shelf. It’s such an expensive way to get or build a model of something though. I much prefer making my own creations. And i could take apart this cool, big, expensive batmobile, but I don’t because it reminds me of a movie i like. Contrast this with my lego space sets, which i took apart almost immediately after building in order to build an even cooler, bigger space station with.
My kids do the same - they ask for Lego Minecraft sets or Lego Ninjago sets or whatever, build them and stick them on the shelf. They're horrified by my suggestion that they tear them down and build other random things with the bits. And, of course, a lot of the bits nowadays are so specialized that they have limited uses. When I was a kid most of my lego was just standard blocks.
I was a K'Nex kid more than a LEGO kid, but I remember both my K'Nex and LEGO sets coming with manuals that had directions for making dozens of things, all from the same set. That shit was awesome, and was a really good way to teach you the creativity and skills to go off script and make your own creations. Buying a LEGO set intended to make one specific thing seems counter to the original purpose of the toy.
Agreed, but what I've heard through is that Lego's finances were really struggling till taking the franchising deals. Given how good the quality of Lego always seems to be compared to cheaper brands, whilst I'd like old-style creative building (and cheaper!) Lego, I feel an unusual sympathy for them getting a bunch of money from these deals.