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Although that's strictly true, I'd say it's definitely more true (closer to true?) now than 30-40 years ago. The proliferation of specialized pieces has definit

Although that's strictly true, I'd say it's definitely more true (closer to true?) now than 30-40 years ago. The proliferation of specialized pieces has definitely had a negative effect on their reusability IMO. My concern is that, due to the much greater number of unique pieces, the increased difficulty of organizing a collection, or finding the piece you need in an unorganized pile, or even just being able to visualize what it is you want to build will tend to discourage kids from making their own creations. Hopefully I'm wrong about that.

usefulcat 10y ago
Oops--that should have read "not strictly true"
thesuitonym 10y ago
I think you're overestimating the number of specialized pieces out there. This is easy to do when you walk down the toy aisle at Walmart and see thirty big box Star Wars models, each with one or two unique pieces. But Lego actually makes so many models that don't use any specialized pieces. When I started looking at their website I was surprised to see that the boxes you see at the toy store seem to be the exception--probably because they sell so much better if they can pull off that iconic look that one or two cover pieces provide. I've been buying the Creator Expert series for a while now (Really cute rowhouse style models) that iirc don't use any uniques.
- usefulcat 10y ago
  I can believe that there's less of a difference when mainly comparing models of buildings. My opinion is based on comparing my Lego collection (primarily Expert Builder/Technics, Legoland Space, and general purpose Creator-like sets from ~30 years ago), and my son's collection (not as large, no Technics, mostly vehicles), which is at most a few years old. There is definitely a very big difference between those two collections. Also, my point (which I realize now I didn't convey very well) was not that there are so many unique pieces, it's that the diversity of non-unique pieces has greatly increased.
  - DanBC 10y ago
    But you can still buy the creator sets, and they use general purpose pieces?
    - usefulcat 10y ago
      Yes, they do, there are just a lot more different kinds of "general purpose pieces" than in the past.
  - thesuitonym 10y ago
    >it's that the diversity of non-unique pieces has greatly increased. Ahh, I see. That makes sense, but also I fail to see how that's a bad thing. The new pieces are built to be backwards compatible with your Legos from 30 years ago, so wouldn't that just make them MORE attractive?
akgerber 10y ago
They still sell big ol' buckets of Legos: http://www.target.com/s/lego+creative+bucket+10662 http://www.target.com/s/lego+creative+bucket+10662
DanBC 10y ago
You don't need those specialised bits. You can just buy the creative boxes, and then some extra bits off bricklink (I bought jets, wheels, propellers, and seats) and then just mash them together. Don't under estimate kids' ability to change and invent.

usefulcat 10y ago

Oops--that should have read "not strictly true"

thesuitonym 10y ago

I think you're overestimating the number of specialized pieces out there. This is easy to do when you walk down the toy aisle at Walmart and see thirty big box Star Wars models, each with one or two unique pieces. But Lego actually makes so many models that don't use any specialized pieces. When I started looking at their website I was surprised to see that the boxes you see at the toy store seem to be the exception--probably because they sell so much better if they can pull off that iconic look that one or two cover pieces provide. I've been buying the Creator Expert series for a while now (Really cute rowhouse style models) that iirc don't use any uniques.

usefulcat 10y ago
I can believe that there's less of a difference when mainly comparing models of buildings. My opinion is based on comparing my Lego collection (primarily Expert Builder/Technics, Legoland Space, and general purpose Creator-like sets from ~30 years ago), and my son's collection (not as large, no Technics, mostly vehicles), which is at most a few years old. There is definitely a very big difference between those two collections. Also, my point (which I realize now I didn't convey very well) was not that there are so many unique pieces, it's that the diversity of non-unique pieces has greatly increased.
- DanBC 10y ago
  But you can still buy the creator sets, and they use general purpose pieces?
  - usefulcat 10y ago
    Yes, they do, there are just a lot more different kinds of "general purpose pieces" than in the past.
- thesuitonym 10y ago
  >it's that the diversity of non-unique pieces has greatly increased. Ahh, I see. That makes sense, but also I fail to see how that's a bad thing. The new pieces are built to be backwards compatible with your Legos from 30 years ago, so wouldn't that just make them MORE attractive?

akgerber 10y ago

They still sell big ol' buckets of Legos: http://www.target.com/s/lego+creative+bucket+10662 http://www.target.com/s/lego+creative+bucket+10662

DanBC 10y ago

You don't need those specialised bits. You can just buy the creative boxes, and then some extra bits off bricklink (I bought jets, wheels, propellers, and seats) and then just mash them together. Don't under estimate kids' ability to change and invent.