Well... since this topic is still going, I'd like to comment on this suggestion:
Bruce N H wrote:Fairy tales - Not Disney (though I suppose such a thing is possible with the recent broad Disney license), but all of those stories - Cinderella, Snow White, Hansel and Gretel etc go way back and have no need for licensing. These stories continue to be perennial favorites, particularly with girls. This is a theme that could be very girl-friendly, but wouldn't have to be all about pink and lavender bricks and could easily appeal to Castle builders.
This is a great idea, but I don't think they would do it without Disney now. If TLG went for generic fairy tales, it might piss off Disney and threaten other licensing. If they went with Disney, you'd have licensing cost overhead and it would make it both more expensive and less traditional (Disney butchers a lot of the material). If they went this route, I would favor traditional sets interpreted by TLG set designers based on the original books.
Circus or zoo - These have been successful lines with Duplo, I'd love to see them in System. As with Farm (and please, continue this line as well), these are a great way to introduce new fig-scale animals that would be popular both with the AFOL community, and also with younger kids who are too old for Duplo.
Interesting... I'd hate it, overall, but you're right that I would probably like having some of the animals.
Wild West - This was such an outstanding theme and died too soon. I always argued that there should have been a third year with emphasis on civilian sets (covered wagon, homesteaders' farm, general store, train station (crossover potential into train theme). The new cow element provides the much needed missing piece from the older Western sets. Also, this is a line that could be boy-centric with gunfights etc, but could also be appealing to girls - think of the long popularity of Little House on the Prairie books among young girls, or the American Girls books.
Also very interesting. I recall having some western themes way back when I was little (I have terrible memory). I am not really interested except that the parts in such a set could conceivably be used to help make medieval villages.
As far as I'm concerned: I'm a displayer, not a player. I've gotten every architecture set and have them on display at work (where they are pretty popular for passers-by). I would love to see historical architecture along the same lines. Not giant, like the Tower Bridge; I would think no bigger than Falling Water. That was pushing my price point for that kind of set... in fact, I probably wouldn't have gotten that one if it weren't on sale.
I suppose TLG is tired of hearing "Lord of the Rings," and might not want such a license for various reasons, but The Hobbit is in pre-production, and it should be kid friendly... I think they should do both.
Failing that, TLG really let us down by ending the Fantasy theme before giving us elves.... they should give us elves (and not just the ONE that you
might randomly get buying series 3 figures).
Of course, the Medieval Market Village is one of the greatest sets ever... I would like to see more like that one. I understand there's a windmill coming out in that style, so if they do something like that every so often then that would be great.
I can't really add anything new to what people have already said. I realize historic themes would be a downer for most kids, especially if they didn't involve some fantasy. With the popularity of the Rick Riordan books it might be possible to Greek and Roman gods... those books are targeted at the same age group as Harry Potter.