LEGO Castle is Dead

[rogue27]

In 1993, LEGO Castle became ill. Sure, it appealed on some levels, with dragons, wizards, and new face and torso prints, but the set designs, especially on the larger castles, was hideous and all of the pretty custom printing could not mask it.

Things progressively got worse for LEGO Castle in the following years. In 1995, a big cartoon lion replaced the classic lion emblem of the 80s, and the set designs remained mediocre.

In 1996, it started to appear as if the illness afflicting LEGO Castle was going into remission, for the Dark Forest line, while still weaker than the 1984-1992 sets, was the best thing released in the past 4 years. If things could keep improving like that, LEGO Castle might be able to survive.

Sadly, LEGO Castle entered it's terminal decline in 1997 when the Fright Knights were allowed to escape from a product development facility in Denmark. LEGO Castle died before the year was done. A funeral was held in secret, but an obituary was never printed and the media was never notified.

Instead of drawing attention to their terrible loss, TLC tried to hide the fact that Castle was dead by releasing Ninja sets. No, they weren't Castle, but the average shopper saw them and said, "It's old fashioned, so I guess that's castle."

During the year 2000, in a hidden grave known only to a few, LEGO Castle rolled over in disgust as Knight's Kingdom began to populate store shelves. Large custom parts, bulky set designs, stomach turning color schemes, and a blantantly obvious "bad-guy" faction were the highlights of this theme. Knight's Kingdom was so terrible that it was not followed up by anything the following year.

Instead of trying to create new sets in the spirit of their dead companion, TLC thought it would better to remember the good things LEGO Castle did for everybody while it was alive. As such, two Legends were released to remind people how great LEGO Castle was, and people flocked to the S@H site for a chance to revisit their old friend.

Seeking to cash in on the success of the castle Legend sets, an Evil Necromancer working for TLC tried to use his dark magics to resurrect LEGO Castle from it's grave. Something went terribly wrong during this experiment, and an utter abomination was created. "That looks like Castle to me," said the head Bionicle designer, so TLC packaged up this abomination in 2004 again using the name Knight's Kingdom instead of Castle (who they knew was dead).

TLC's fans are too smart to be fooled by the disguise. "That's not castle!" they cried, while TLC's spokesman would say, "This isn't dull like Castle." I always thought it was considered very rude to speak ill of the dead.

I never thought LEGO Castle was dull. While I was growing up, LEGO Castle was probably my best friend. LEGO Castle would never lie to me, steal from me, or betray me. LEGO Castle was always willing to hang out with me on a rainy day, and LEGO Castle would always greet me with a smile when I came home from school.

Unfortunately, I betrayed LEGO Castle. I left LEGO Castle alone in 1993. I only visited LEGO Castle a few times during it's illness, and I came back to find a black and white box marked "Guarded Inn" that was released for everybody who wanted to pay tribute to their dear old friend.

Fare thee well, LEGO Castle. It's been nice knowing you all these years. Tonight, I shall drink a beer in tribute to you and to better days that are gone forever.

[Luís]

That's not true.
Lego castle shall recupere.
Or it will die in castle heaven tring.

[rogue27]

That's not true.
Lego castle shall recupere.
Or it will die in castle heaven tring.

Sorry, but it is true. LEGO Castle died in 1997.

...but there is hope! LEGO Castle gave birth to an illegitimate child at some point in it's mysterious past. That child has been carefully raised in Denmark and LEGO Castle Jr. is now old enough to be featured in some Duplo sets. Perhaps, in time, LEGO Castle Jr. will grow up to be as great as it's daddy was.

[Formendacil]

Very funny, Rogue!

Unfortunately, I have to disagree with your diagnosis. Castle has never "died". This 26-year old is alive and well.

Well, he's alive anyway.

However, in recent years he has been bedridden and was unable to come out to visit his friends much, but in the past year he recovered enough to leave his home in the TLG design department.

Unfortunately, his stay there had some ill effects. Such a prolonged stay indoors affected his colouring, and caused an outbreak of acne best referred to as the "Jayko Syndrome"*

In addition, his last bout with "Knight's Kingdom Cancer", while succesfully recovered from by now, has left him with lasting effects, including the inability to design good sets, or to provide them with useful figs.

However, Mr. Castle is alive and well, and will be alive for many years to come. He will, undoubtedly, suffer the effects of his illnesses for many years, and will likely never recover the vigour of his childhood and youth.


Okay... That was fun! And I get what you're saying Rogue, but I think that you, and all the KK2-haters, are over-reacting in comparing KK2 with sets from 15 years ago. Golden Ages can't be returned to overnight. You've got to compare KK2 to it's contemporaries (HP, World City, etc). It doesn't fare quite so bad against them. Or, compare it to the most recent Castle line, KK1. Again, its worse, but not so bad. The problem is that you're comparing to themes long gone. You have to take into context the way things are.

You should also not give up hope. The newer KK2 sets are better than the first batch, and are a start at addressing our concerns. As for the colour change, this isn't a Castle issue so much as a general Lego issue, and really isn't something to be taken into account when saying the sets are worse. True, it is a reason not to buy them, but it isn't a legitimate excuse for saying that the sets are worse.

Things don't remain the same. Change is inevitable. And change is often for the worse. We may someday see a return to the old ideals. Who knows? TLG has to get the point sometime. But things will never be the same again, and it is futile to hope or whine about it. We've done enought that TLG probably gets the point.

When the winds shift again, it's either going to get worse than ever, or better than ever. I say, it's a 50-50 chance. Let's hope for better than ever.

Oh, and don't take offense at this. I mean it all in good spirits.

* Also known as the Janjo, Rascus, Santis, and Vlakeh Syndromes. Some call it the Rainbow problem.

[Emperor James]

I don't think castle has died, as long as we are its' fans. It has been kicked out by tlc, and we must therefore hope that it will be reastablished.

[Jojo]

Hello!


Oh, so true.

In 1992 I was mesmerised by the Dungeon Master's Castle 6086. It kept my buying LEGO although I was already older than the "12 years" that those sets were designed for - according to the wording on the box.

One year later I was not at all mesmerised by the new Dragon Master sets. They were lacking everything that made the sets from previous years so worthwhile. I only got me Majisto's Magical Workshop 6048, just for having a Magician and some of these then new halberds. (OK, 6048 is the most decent set from the DM line, so I did not regret my purchase.)

1995 - A Cinderella Castle? Nothing that got me excited. I didn't buy anything from this line. Not because I was already 18 and thus way older than the assumed target group, but simply because those sets didn't interest me at all. I still was building with my bricks, but because of the lacking input from the official Castle sets my MOCs came mostly from the Pirates area/era.

1996 - Dark Forest. TLC decided not to announce those sets in the regular LEGO catalogue in Germany. So I never knew those sets existed. No idea if I had bought any. I probably had because I always liked the Robin Hood theme and I like woods.

1997 brought something that I then thought would never be topped ... better: bottomed. Ridiculos sets, poorly assembled bricks in absurd colours in unfitting places (red, yellow: why??), a grotesque Batlord with a ludicrous batwingcap.... But I bought the Traitor Transport 6047 because I wanted a black dragon and the minifigs, and partwise those Batlord sets ain't bad. Even the ridiculous Night Lord's Castle 6097 has its merits. As for parts.

1999 I bought Ninjas. I bought everything from this line that was available because these sets at least breathed the spirit of feudal Japan, and I liked that while it was not "Castle" for me. Not real Castle. Not like 6080. Still good sets compared to many other sets TLC produced at that time.

2000 I only dipped into the catalogue once and throw it into the trash bin. - Unfortunately 2000 was the year I typed "lego" into the search mask of google and found the vivid online communities. And I found eBay, and I bought sets that I didn't own before, and I even bought KK1 sets. Because at one point I realised I was a collector... Bad luck.

But I hoped there would not be any new Castle line because I expected any new line getting even worse than KK1. The trend was obvious.

And now...
We are farther away from "Castle" than ever. Where is this leading?


Bye
Jojo

[Robin Hood]

(returns from visiting the site of Castle Lego's aleged grave)

Well I think that both of you are wrong. Castle Lego is alive and well.

Lego Castle started out work in TLC happy and content. He grew rich and famous as the golden age appeared.

But he did not see the disater looming on the horizen. When 1993 came around, he no longer had control over what was designed and produced. He was a pampered king that let his evil advisors do the making.

When Castle Lego became aware of what was happening, he began to protest. At first his prolbems were listened to and Dark Forest came around. But then Fright Knights were made.

Castle Lego protested all he could. But his evil advisors had by now taken over. With no other option left, Castle Lego fled far away. Killing his evil advisors on the way out. And so Castle went into a dark age.

A few years later, TLC started a mockery of Castle Lego. It was called Knights Kingdom. It wasn't too bad, but they had regected all that was Castle Lego, and so it was bad.

But Castle Lego wasn't dead. he secretly worked, trying to bring back what was good. He had somewhat success. He got two old sets released, and managed to kill off Knights Kingdom. But there was a spy in his secret resisitance. And before he could do anything he was attacked and just managed to escape with his life.

Now its not know were Castle Lego is or what he is doing. Some say he trying to change things, in small ways, like giving a good duplo theme. Others say that KK2 was too much for him and he died. But we can only hope that someday he will return.

Dan

P.S. I hope nobody was offened.

[kajo163]

Well, I'm not the kind of person who gives up very easily. I think castle has a future. It has to!

I remember -93 as a very good year, I turned 8 and got 6076 from my cousins and I loved it!

I had a brief Dark age at the turn of the century but in 01 I was back in time for KKI, I bought one set, 4819, as a birthday gift for my self':D'

Since then I've actually bough mostly HP and OE sets, but also discovered this lovely site, and spent a lot of time with my brother (10 years old) and tried to get him into the World of Lego. It has been succesful although he is'nt likely to turn into a castle head...yet.

No I'm not ready to give up on Lego castle yet.

We have a blossoming AFOL-community, do'nt we, and I think as long as we keep on getting more gong farmers by the day, castle ca'nt die!

NEVER.

-JOEL

[Troy T. Moore]

Well, I am not sure wht is going on. I went to purchase some 8777's yesterday as Superstore has all LEGO 20%off this week. They were sold out. True they probably only had 10 in stock, and I bought 1 to check it out the week they came in. The Walmart has only 3 of 10 left on the shelves, and I only bought one of those. The Superstore had the "knights in a can" on a cardboard display which was near empty and the Zellers only had 2 left of whatever stock they brought in only a few weeks ago. Prince Albert is a city of 35,000 with a large rural area being served. This stuff has only been here 6 weeks.

I found Rouge's post very entertaining I just finished responding to follow-up survey requests from LEGO (AC Neilsen) for 8777 and 8778. I rated them not compatible with my other LEGO products (colour issue) and that the playability was fair in 8778 but poor in 8777 (a see saw imitating an onager....c'mon )

Somebody is buying the stuff. Heck, I would be if it wasn't bley (think parts, not design)

[TwoTonic Knight]

Dead?!? Oh, no, no, no! Absolutely not.

Kidnapped and held hostage somewhere in Denmark. Which is bad enough, but Castle's Evil Twin (Knight's Kingdom) has usurped the throne.

We must go on Crusade to overthrow the vile Pretender! Visors down! Shields up! Fear no darkness!

Bring me my broadsword and clear understanding.
Bring me my cross of gold as a talisman.
Bless with a hard heart those who surround me.
Bless the women and children who firm our hands.
Put our backs to the north wind. Hold fast by the river.
Sweet memories to drive us on for the motherland.

[Luís]

«Here we go
on a cruzade
no fear, to castle
you saw the cristian.
But you never saw these
let's go castle heros
to war,to war
TO FREE CASTLE»
cronicles of castle

[JPinoy]

Instead of drawing attention to their terrible loss, TLC tried to hide the fact that Castle was dead by releasing Ninja sets. No, they weren't Castle, but the average shopper saw them and said, "It's old fashioned, so I guess that's castle."

Here we go again......

[rogue27]

Very funny, Rogue!

Thank you sir! I was aiming for some sort of bittersweet humor with this thread.

However, Mr. Castle is alive and well, and will be alive for many years to come. He will, undoubtedly, suffer the effects of his illnesses for many years, and will likely never recover the vigour of his childhood and youth.

After building 3739 Blacksmith Shop, I came to the conclusion that TLC should have offered Daniel Siskund a job. The problem with TLC is not old age, it is bad blood, and they need to bleed it out and get some new blood.

I think that you, and all the KK2-haters, are over-reacting in comparing KK2 with sets from 15 years ago. Golden Ages can't be returned to overnight.

Oh, but they can return overnight! That is the saddest thing. The problem is that the company hires these marketing people and focus groups who tell the designers to build stupid (stuff) and so they do. TLC is making the same flaw most other good things eventually make. They try to appeal beyond their audience.

Let's say TLC takes the most awesome castle set you can think of and brings it to one of their focus groups. Let's say 30% of the kids absolutely love it, and 70% are indifferent or do not like it. Now TLC takes a piece of Knight's Kingdom crap to the same focus group. 45% of the people "like it". The marketing people will recommend the set that 45% of the kids liked. The problem is that nobody will love it like those 30% would have loved the other castle set.

TLC's designers can make good castle sets if they want to. I believe that they truly can do this. Unfortunately, that is no longer the company's goal. Perhaps the round of firings they did earlier this year has changed that. We should see the effects in the next year or two.

You've got to compare KK2 to it's contemporaries (HP, World City, etc). It doesn't fare quite so bad against them. Or, compare it to the most recent Castle line, KK1.

I disagree. Just because KK2 looks okay compared to all of the other crap on the shelf does not make KK2 any better. However, 3739 is a fairly current LEGO Castle set. Compared to it, all of KK1 and KK2 are trash. There, I compared them to one of their contemporaries.

The problem is that you're comparing to themes long gone.

The problem is that the new sets can't compare to themes long gone.

You should also not give up hope. The newer KK2 sets are better than the first batch, and are a start at addressing our concerns.

Oh, I haven't given up hope. I have hope that some future medieval LEGO product line may end up being decent. However, I wouldn't say that TLC has "addressed our concerns" just because they released two sets that are better than all the rest. TLC does not listen to us, and those two sets coming out when they did was probably a coincidence.

Also known as the Janjo, Rascus, Santis, and Vlakeh Syndromes.

No, those aren't syndromes, they're all just different strains of the same virus.

Ah, now that I'm back in character, let's see who's next:

I don't think castle has died, as long as we are its' fans.

No, I'm afraid it's dead. We're a lot like those Elvis fans who dress up like Elvis and want to believe he's alive, but deep inside they all know the truth. Instead of paying homage by dressing like Elvis, we all pay homage by building castles that don't suck. Why not? It's fun.

In 1992 I was mesmerised by the Dungeon Master's Castle 6086. It kept my buying LEGO although I was already older than the "12 years" that those sets were designed for

Aye, 1992 was the last year where I saw LEGO sets that made me stare at the catalog for hours at a time. In 1993, that Magical Workshop looked nice, but that was clearly the best set in the entire product line. None of the other sets appealed to me at all.


Today's castle sets appeal to us for one reason and one reason only: parts and/or minifigs. Maybe they should just sell us parts packs and minifig packs and spare us the awful set designs. Let us build stuff with the parts, because TLC is acting like they don't know how to use them.


Thanks for the replies everybody. I'm glad most of you seem to be enjoying my post.