How to make AFOLs happy

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 10:48 pm

Dear LEGO,
You may have noticed some complaining around here lately.

I know that you’re opening new markets and trying to appeal to a newer generation of builders, so I’m willing to concede that the new Knight’s Kingdom 2 sets are a good idea from your point of view.

However –

Many of us AFOLs began our castle collections back in the 80s and early 90s. Back then, every year gave us the opportunity to expand our collections. The walls, towers, turrets, doors, and colors were pretty much the same from year to year. We could buy any castle set and add it to our collection to make bigger and better castles.

Since the introduction of the Fright Knights theme in 1997 you have been introducing new color schemes and new parts with each new line. The new sets just don’t fit into our collections as easily as they did before. This might be a good way to reach new builders, but it’s disappointing to the AFOLs.

If you gave us the parts we need to expand our collections, it would really make us happy without having to change your marketing strategy. Shop@Home has been a great resource for basic bricks. How about giving us more Castle theme parts packs the way you do for Technic, Town, and Train?

Here are some ideas:
(Note, some of these ideas have been mentioned in the forums and chat rooms, I don’t claim that these are all mine.)

1. Keep the Castle Accessory sets coming! They’re great for converting minifigs from other themes.
2. Bring back the Horse and Saddles sets you had a few years ago.
3. Packs of walls, tower pieces, and turrets in black and greys
4. Packs of Castle doors and windows with lattice inserts and round tops
5. Packs of wagon wheels, axle plates, and horse hitchings
6. Castle theme minifig sets - every collector needs to expand his collection of foot soldiers and civilians.
7. Or, how about some generic minifigs, with classic smiling faces, a variety of colors, hair pieces and no printing on the torsos. Those could be used with the accessory packs to expand any theme.

How about a Classic Castle Designer set with lots black and grey bricks, walls, towers, turrets, windows, doors, etc?

Finally, the Legends have been great for parts. (Every single piece in the Black Falcon’s Fortress fit into my collection and I bought more of them than of any other set, ever.) But I know that collectors frown on them because they lower the value of the originals.

How about giving us a “Version 2” of some of the classic sets? You could change them around a little to make them unique. For example – The Classic Yellow Castle in grey, or the Armor Shop (6041) with black walls and a blue roof, or Majesto’s Tower (1906) with grey walls and no BURPs. As long as you’re using the classic color scheme, I would buy lots of them.

I’m sure that the other AFOLs around here have some ideas too.

Respectfully
Stephen

LEGOFREAK · Post by **LEGOFREAK** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 11:58 pm

Ok - So who's the man?

That's right - Stephen's the man!

That guy right there.

Everything he said. Lego company - LOOK - Read that post. Right there. That's the one.

uh huh - he's the man all right.

boo yah

freak

Dragon Master · Post by **Dragon Master** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 12:21 am

I agree whole-heartedly with you. However I will respond by quoting the freak as I agree too.

"Everything he said. Lego company - LOOK - Read that post. Right there. That's the one.

uh huh - he's the man all right.

boo yah "

that is what we need. Enough catering to the younger kids. I mean weren't AFOLs kids once? They had realistic sets than. Why are kids today different.

My guess is because of POKEMON :evil:

DM

kajo163 · Post by **kajo163** » Sun Feb 22, 2004 9:33 pm

Hello...? Mr. Danish-LEGO-man, sir?

I hope you listen to my fellow LEGO-fans above and that you take their advise on how to appeal to ALL the fans of this amazing little
pice-o-plastic.

WE NEED CASTLE!!

Best wishes

[/b][/i]

David Girard · Post by **David Girard** » Tue Feb 24, 2004 12:44 pm

You are so true Stephen. I totally agree.
What we need is not impossible task for TLC.

All we need is simple things.

All your ideas, resume what Lego could make to make me happy.

Todd · Post by **Todd** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 3:12 am

Yep, see the above comments...

Lord Resta · Post by **Lord Resta** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 4:29 pm

I'm no AFOL, but that sound really good. Need I say more?

AoErat · Post by **AoErat** » Tue Mar 16, 2004 11:17 pm

And it isn't on the AFOLs, it's the kids too. Every single person I have talked to about LEGO has mentioned that the new stuff utterly sucks - and how cool it was before.

Believe it or not, a little complexity in sets goes a long way.

Sir Terrance · Post by **Sir Terrance** » Mon Mar 29, 2004 11:37 pm

I wish LEGO would hire someone to read every post on this site and get the message: WE WANT BETTER CASTLE SETS!!!!! LEGO read this thread, PLEASE!

JPinoy · Post by **JPinoy** » Tue Mar 30, 2004 5:22 pm

I agree. Besides, will these children of today who grow up a decade and a half from now still have interest in your products if you, Lego, keep on manufacturing young kids focused toys? I doubt it!