44 replies to this topic

[Hapori Tohu]

Recently LEGO announced the <a href="http://bzpower.com/story.php?ID=5341">closure of the LEGO Universe MMO</a>. Today we unfortunately have news of the end of another LEGO digital service - Design byME. As of January 16, 2012 you will no longer be able to place orders on the site. All hope is not lost though! The Hero Recon Team Recon Hero Builder will still be around for the foreseeable future serving all your heroic needs. Read on for the full press release from LEGO to learn just what this means.

View the full article

[Bulik]

Seriously?
although, from what it sounded like they were saying in the full article, it seems that they might be making another servive. and remember, Designbyme used to be called LEGO factory, so maybe this is just a name change and a "new interface" that would be

easier for children

[Gatanui]

Now this was a totally unexpected. What´s up with LEGO cancelling things all the time lately? I can´t really understand their reasoning, if it´s successful, why not keep it? And anyway, how would making it simpler become so expensive? I hope they will come up with a good replacement. Great to see HRT, PAB and LDD are staying, though.

~Gata.

Edited by Gatanui, Nov 09 2011 - 02:28 PM.

[Makaru]

Probably should put through my orders on Pick-a-Brick before THAT gets cancelled.

[Black Six]

I can´t really understand their reasoning, if it´s successful, why not keep it?

Clearly these things (LU, DbM) are not successful or profitable enough, which is why they're canceling them.

[LewiMOC]

I hope this doesn't effect LDD's existence.

[Gatanui]

I can´t really understand their reasoning, if it´s successful, why not keep it?

Clearly these things (LU, DbM) are not successful or profitable enough, which is why they're canceling them.

But DbM has been running for years and there are several million customers a year. Then again, it´s expensive to pick all pieces by hand for each order (which applies for PAB as well), but why hasn´t it stopped being profitable before, I wonder?

~Gata.

[Celu]

Well, I can see why it was cancelled.

For one the economy is being harsh on people, and when you have to buy the expensive(yes, LDD was expensive and so is Hero Recon) you can't imagine to get a lot of traffic.

But DbM has been running for years and there are several million customers a year. Then again, it´s expensive to pick all pieces by hand for each order (which applies for PAB as well), but why hasn´t it stopped being profitable before, I wonder?

~Gata.

It's possible that customers are using 'Pick a Brick' or just MOCing stuff more(It would be less expensive, I would think).

Could it be possible they are working on making LDD more of a theme exclusive service, like Hero Recon?

Edited by The iCon, Nov 09 2011 - 03:19 PM.

[Indigo Individual]

I can´t really understand their reasoning, if it´s successful, why not keep it?

Clearly these things (LU, DbM) are not successful or profitable enough, which is why they're canceling them.

But DbM has been running for years and there are several million customers a year. Then again, it´s expensive to pick all pieces by hand for each order (which applies for PAB as well), but why hasn´t it stopped being profitable before, I wonder?

~Gata.

If it was April, I'd be one of those people saying it was a joke. I too, don't undertand. It makes no sense! Why close it down? They could keep it open for us older builders, and create another one for the younger builders.
Which is probably why they're saying it's 'too expensive'.

[Creep Of The Deep]

wat.

Wait.

NUUUUUUUU.

What the heck LEGO D:

[neinburger]

Hopefully they are just remaking their services. I can see where LDD wasn't too kid friendly for this stuff.

What a shame. It was a good service. What a rotten way to die.

[Sumiki]

I never used it, but it was a good idea. Too bad its profitability was too low.

Hey, at least LDD's still going to be around. That's the bright side.

[Aanchir: Rachira of Time]

I can´t really understand their reasoning, if it´s successful, why not keep it?

Clearly these things (LU, DbM) are not successful or profitable enough, which is why they're canceling them.

But DbM has been running for years and there are several million customers a year. Then again, it´s expensive to pick all pieces by hand for each order (which applies for PAB as well), but why hasn´t it stopped being profitable before, I wonder?

~Gata.

If it was April, I'd be one of those people saying it was a joke. I too, don't undertand. It makes no sense! Why close it down? They could keep it open for us older builders, and create another one for the younger builders.
Which is probably why they're saying it's 'too expensive'.

Ummm... that would make it less profitable, not more. The issue is presumably that not enough kids making full use of the service equates to not enough orders being placed to sustain the cost of packing orders and manufacturing custom boxes.

Like Sumiki, I never purchased anything through the service, and never really planned to-- after all, the cost is prohibitive. A Design byME purchase costs the same as the online Pick-A-Brick cost for the same parts, plus 25 percent more for each part, plus a flat $10 rate for the box. Buying the parts straight from Pick-A-Brick means you miss out on the custom box and instruction manual, but I personally don't care much for that when I built the model myself and can make instructions by taking screenshots on LDD.

Still, I have worries about the end of this service. What will it mean for the budget of those who update LDD? LEGO Universe and Design byME were previously used to finance LDD updates. I hope a new service arrives in its place to cover that cost, or I worry that LEGO Digital Designer will end up receiving far less frequent and significant updates. And as an LDD user, that concerns me tremendously.

Glad to see Hero Recon Team is sticking around, as that means we can continue to expect Pick-A-Brick and (hopefully) LDD updates with useful Hero Factory parts.

Edited by Aanchir: Rachira of Time, Nov 09 2011 - 04:58 PM.

[Vezok's Friend]

I can see where the Universe and Mindstorms mode was too complex for children, BUT, it felt very intuitive right from the start and was a good service and has enabled me to buy many great things!

Not happy to see it go, but I guess they have their reasons.

Darn. I planned on getting many more LDD sets...

[~garnira returns~]

what? What!? WHAT!!?? I just made a huge creation i planned on buying for Christmas and now i cant if i get the money too late! uhg, lego universe and now this?!

[zacharyd97]

God, whats wrong with the lego company? well at least i still have LDD. I also feel very sorry for all the kids who paid to play lego universe,they need a refund or be able to play it offline.

[Larnuu]

what? What!? WHAT!!?? I just made a huge creation i planned on buying for Christmas and now i cant if i get the money too late! uhg, lego universe and now this?!

well you better work faster, it goes offline Jan 2012 so you have time if you get to it.

[Phauxx]

Huh, what the- I thought it was doing well.

That's too bad. It was a great idea, though.

[Toa Xemnas of Crystal]

Now this was a totally unexpected. What´s up with LEGO cancelling things all the time lately? I can´t really understand their reasoning, if it´s successful, why not keep it? And anyway, how would making it simpler become so expensive? I hope they will come up with a good replacement. Great to see HRT, PAB and LDD are staying, though.

~Gata.

This, totally. I love DbM, and although I haven't purchased anything, I've been thinking about it... that's very sad, indeed.

[Zarohum]

Sounds like Lego is going through some hard times. What did they do last time to fix it? Start Bionicle. What led to their downfall? Ending Bionicle.

[Akuna Toa of Sonics]

Two great things cancelled already? What's up with Lego?

[renaldohoek]

Sounds like Lego is going through some hard times. What did they do last time to fix it? Start Bionicle. What led to their downfall? Ending Bionicle.

That is interesting when you think about it. I'm doubtful that ending Bionicle is the only thing contributing to LEGO's corner-cutting, but there might be truth to what you say.

My only hope is that LEGO finds some even ground to set their feet, because it's clear that they aren't as balanced as Garan.

[Toa of Nerds]

I think too much is being made of both DBM and LU going off at about the same time. Lego is a strong company has always been strong even when the economy hasn't been. I think they're just canceling things that didn't pan out and are trying to streamline profits, just like all companies do. Still, it's sad to see DBM go, but hopefully they'll stick to the customizable idea with things like Hero Factory Recon and perhaps a new service later.

-don't touch my pocket protector

[Tiakor]

Come on really?

I was looking foward to making a few more creations!
First Bionicle, Lego Universe, then this?!?!

[Legolover-361]

D'aww, I never got to use Design byME. It's a shame to see it be shut down; 'twas a brilliant idea.

[Malevolence]

Honestly, I'm not surprised. It was always horrifically over-priced. One time, when I was shocked to death by the price of something I built, I put all the pieces into Pick-A-Brick, and the cost of ordering them was almost more than half the D.b.M. cost, which makes no sense when you consider the only thing you're getting extra is a fairly cheap piece of paper with an image of your MOC on it.

[Aanchir: Rachira of Time]

God, whats wrong with the lego company?

Maybe their ability to make sound economic decisions?

Sounds like Lego is going through some hard times. What did they do last time to fix it? Start Bionicle. What led to their downfall? Ending Bionicle.

LOL no. BIONICLE was far from their most successful line when they ended it. Their last annual report reported that the net profit in 2010 was over 50% more than that of 2009, and their interim result in August this year continued to show strong growth. Hero Recon Team and Ninjago have both experienced massive success.

BIONICLE didn't get LEGO out of their financial slump by itself (a common misconception on BIONICLE fansites), and it won't put them back into such a slump when they have so many themes like City and Ninjago that are far more successful financially than BIONICLE was in its later years. There are a lot of valid reasons for fans to remember BIONICLE fondly and want it back; there's no need to dream up new ones that exaggerate the theme's importance.

[Haecceity]

I, like others am sorry to see DbM go... but it really was overpriced.

[Makuta_of_Oz]

Sounds like Lego is going through some hard times. What did they do last time to fix it? Start Bionicle. What led to their downfall? Ending Bionicle.

Ninja'd!

Now that Bionicle's no longer running, Lego can barely afford to keep anything else running!

Edited by Makuta_of_Oz, Nov 09 2011 - 10:23 PM.

[Malevolence]

So, because LEGO is cancelling two non-convential experiment projects that have little to nothing to do with their main source of income (That being LEGO sets themselves) they're suddenly an inept company that can't keep anything running and are crashing quickly to their doom?

I adored Bionicle, but this level of fan-based delusion is just ridiculous.

[Larnuu]

Sounds like Lego is going through some hard times. What did they do last time to fix it? Start Bionicle. What led to their downfall? Ending Bionicle.

Ninja'd!

Now that Bionicle's no longer running, Lego can barely afford to keep anything else running!

no, lego still get all the money they need from other themes, truth is DbM was too expensive and people for some reason assumed LU wasn't a good game (witch was wrong because it's epic win even though F2P was fail)

I also have a theory. A while back there was a devilment branch of lego called "LEGO Software" (remember that any one?) and apparently the games were doing great but lego wanted to focus on the actual sets more then the games so they stooped production. This could be happening again.

[Shmid]

WAAHT? They've cancelled another service? They should've timed it better because I bet people will be saying to themselves: "First LU, now THIS!?!!!" I can also see that some have already said this.

[Makuta_of_Oz]

Sounds like Lego is going through some hard times. What did they do last time to fix it? Start Bionicle. What led to their downfall? Ending Bionicle.

Ninja'd!

Now that Bionicle's no longer running, Lego can barely afford to keep anything else running!

no, lego still get all the money they need from other themes, truth is DbM was too expensive and people for some reason assumed LU wasn't a good game (witch was wrong because it's epic win even though F2P was fail)

I also have a theory. A while back there was a devilment branch of lego called "LEGO Software" (remember that any one?) and apparently the games were doing great but lego wanted to focus on the actual sets more then the games so they stooped production. This could be happening again.

LU I understand, but two such announcements has got to ring alarm bells!

Then again I suppose November is the month of announcements. You'll remember the announcement to end Bionicle was made in November.

[fishers64]

Sounds like Lego is going through some hard times. What did they do last time to fix it? Start Bionicle. What led to their downfall? Ending Bionicle.

Ninja'd!

Now that Bionicle's no longer running, Lego can barely afford to keep anything else running!

no, lego still get all the money they need from other themes, truth is DbM was too expensive and people for some reason assumed LU wasn't a good game (witch was wrong because it's epic win even though F2P was fail)

I also have a theory. A while back there was a devilment branch of lego called "LEGO Software" (remember that any one?) and apparently the games were doing great but lego wanted to focus on the actual sets more then the games so they stooped production. This could be happening again.

LU I understand, but two such announcements has got to ring alarm bells!

Then again I suppose November is the month of announcements. You'll remember the announcement to end Bionicle was made in November.

What, is the month of my birthday the kiss of death to all good Lego innovations?

Anyway, it seems that Lego realizes nobody wants to pay a premium for a fancy instruction booklet and box. I can go with that; it was smarter than canceling Bionicle. But the "one thing after another" thing is getting people.

Let's just put it this way - Lego has had a ton of good ideas lately, like the new building system, Hero Recon Team, Lego Universe, and so on. But now it's time to pare back the ideas that didn't work and try some new ones.
One of the first new ones should be about what to do with the LDD program - eithier to try to phase it out or to come up with a purchasing system for the program that works. Without making Lego lose money.

[///dotcom///]

LEGO changing around things isn't necessarily a new thing. They did end Brickmaster last year, after all. As the company develops, it will just drop stuff.
This service, while a good idea, was definitely overpriced to the point of ridicule. I can't say I'm very surprised, although I do hope they don't close down PaB and HR.

And seriously, if you few people are being even remotely serious about BIONICLE leading to this, I will lose all little faith I didn't have in this fanbase. Really.

[Larnuu]

LEGO changing around things isn't necessarily a new thing. They did end Brickmaster last year, after all. As the company develops, it will just drop stuff.
This service, while a good idea, was definitely overpriced to the point of ridicule. I can't say I'm very surprised, although I do hope they don't close down PaB and HR.

And seriously, if you few people are being even remotely serious about BIONICLE leading to this, I will lose all little faith I didn't have in this fanbase. Really.

i agree that's it ridiculous that people think bionicle led to this (there's too many people ranting saying "People need to get over the fact bionicle is over." witch i can understand both sides, personally i stay out of that kind of discussion). they said that HR will still be around but what is PaB?

[Makuta_of_Oz]

^PaB = Pick-a-Brick. It's a place where you can purchase individual pieces.

[Bulik]

I completly forgot about PAB until this topic. i just looked at it and i finally know what I'm gonna spend that 3 year old lego gift card on.
I might have alot more dynamite and tommy gun pieces in a couple months

[Lyichir]

Sounds like Lego is going through some hard times. What did they do last time to fix it? Start Bionicle. What led to their downfall? Ending Bionicle.

Ninja'd!

Now that Bionicle's no longer running, Lego can barely afford to keep anything else running!

no, lego still get all the money they need from other themes, truth is DbM was too expensive and people for some reason assumed LU wasn't a good game (witch was wrong because it's epic win even though F2P was fail)

I also have a theory. A while back there was a devilment branch of lego called "LEGO Software" (remember that any one?) and apparently the games were doing great but lego wanted to focus on the actual sets more then the games so they stooped production. This could be happening again.

LU I understand, but two such announcements has got to ring alarm bells!

Then again I suppose November is the month of announcements. You'll remember the announcement to end Bionicle was made in November.

What, is the month of my birthday the kiss of death to all good Lego innovations?

Anyway, it seems that Lego realizes nobody wants to pay a premium for a fancy instruction booklet and box. I can go with that; it was smarter than canceling Bionicle. But the "one thing after another" thing is getting people.

Let's just put it this way - Lego has had a ton of good ideas lately, like the new building system, Hero Recon Team, Lego Universe, and so on. But now it's time to pare back the ideas that didn't work and try some new ones.
One of the first new ones should be about what to do with the LDD program - eithier to try to phase it out or to come up with a purchasing system for the program that works. Without making Lego lose money.

They've confirmed that they're not phasing out LDD, and I'm glad -- I never used it for Design by Me, but I and many other AFOLs get good use out of Extended Mode.

[-TD-]

Great, I have all these cool Halo models that I'll never be able to actually build PaB will make it too expensive. At least I'll be able to try HRT in the future, as that's the only HF related thing I like