What good alternatives to LEGO are there?
-
How odd that investing your time and passion into a corporately owned IP would go wrong!
Heavy sarcasm there, uncalled for imo. It wouldn't be unheard of for people to invest time and passion into a corporate owned IP, and it doesn't always go belly up. Look at the amount of Elder Scrolls mods and patches just as one example.
-
There was a big ambitious project called "Masks of Power" which was going to be a full 3D action platformer. It looked truly amazing for a fan project, certainly better than anything LEGO has done for Bionicle.
The team had been working on the project for eight years. In that time they've had multiple talks with officials from LEGO, who seemed to be fine with it (especially since Bionicle has been dead for 10 years). LEGO featured the project on their official podcast, and even allowed for a Steam release, so long as it remained free and none profit.
We were going to get the first demo of that game a few months from now. But two weeks ago LEGO sent a cease and desist, and the project is dead.
There are several large, ambitious projects in the works by Bionicle fans, a number of them animation projects, one of which I'm part of as 3D artist... But now with Team Kanohi and their game project lynched, we're all feeling like there's a sword hanging over our heads.
That sucks, I'm really sorry. My sympathies as a fellow 3D artist.
-
That's even more why it feels like someone new in the company stepping in and questioning why there isn't something in play officially if there's interest in freeware/open source. Someone who talked to the lawyers first to make sure no right were signed away yet. That may be very pessimistic and conspiratorial, but if there isn't any reason to stop someone else's work on something, why would they send one? I don't know a lot about copyrights and trademarks, but I do think there is a point where if you aren't using an asset and others are interested, you shouldn't be able to just hold it under lock and key and do nothing with it. I think patents are like that, you have like 20 years or something protected to do something, and then it's open(?) Again, I'm not sure.
Yeah, there has been some idea floating about that this might be in advant of a new Bionicle reboot. A G3.
But the way LEGO is treating its fans has killed any anticipation I have for a new Bionicle line. If there does end up coming a Bionicle G3, then it's only because we are here. It's because of us that LEGO might even consider trying Bionicle again is financially viable. If this is the way LEGO thanks its fans for keeping it alive, then to put it mildly; they can go fuck themselves.
Anyway, between 2014 and 2015 LEGO already tried to reboot Bionicle, and failed miserably at it. LEGO seems to have forgotten what exactly made Bionicle so succesful, and now considers the original success as a fluke. As lightning in a bottle. Truth is that there was a lot of passion behind Bionicle, something that G2 and any potential G3 will be missing.
-
There was a big ambitious project called "Masks of Power" which was going to be a full 3D action platformer. It looked truly amazing for a fan project, certainly better than anything LEGO has done for Bionicle.
The team had been working on the project for eight years. In that time they've had multiple talks with officials from LEGO, who seemed to be fine with it (especially since Bionicle has been dead for 10 years). LEGO featured the project on their official podcast, and even allowed for a Steam release, so long as it remained free and none profit.
We were going to get the first demo of that game a few months from now. But two weeks ago LEGO sent a cease and desist, and the project is dead.
There are several large, ambitious projects in the works by Bionicle fans, a number of them animation projects, one of which I'm part of as 3D artist... But now with Team Kanohi and their game project lynched, we're all feeling like there's a sword hanging over our heads.
That really sucks!
But Lego has a reputation for being a real dickhead of a company, though.
Quality of sets has long been in decline also.High time for a change!
-
What happened with bionicle ?
It was a sub-brand of Lego. Saved them from going under actually. Then discontinued and later rebooted (with different designs and parts) and rediscontinuted.
Here's a good doc on the subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=126bLUkHuNI
-
There was a big ambitious project called "Masks of Power" which was going to be a full 3D action platformer. It looked truly amazing for a fan project, certainly better than anything LEGO has done for Bionicle.
The team had been working on the project for eight years. In that time they've had multiple talks with officials from LEGO, who seemed to be fine with it (especially since Bionicle has been dead for 10 years). LEGO featured the project on their official podcast, and even allowed for a Steam release, so long as it remained free and none profit.
We were going to get the first demo of that game a few months from now. But two weeks ago LEGO sent a cease and desist, and the project is dead.
There are several large, ambitious projects in the works by Bionicle fans, a number of them animation projects, one of which I'm part of as 3D artist... But now with Team Kanohi and their game project lynched, we're all feeling like there's a sword hanging over our heads.
Appreciate the background. That really sucks for the team working on Masks of Power, and I hope that your project doesn't suffer the same fate.
-
As a Bionicle fan, LEGO recently burnt me and the whole fandom pretty badly. So I'm pretty much giving the whole company the middle finger.
I know there are probably a bunch of good alternatives out there, and I remember some being mentioned to me previously, but I don't know where to find them.
I'm looking for LEGO and LEGO Technic alternatives/knock-offs of good quality. Preferable European in origin rather than Chinese.
They don't need to have popular or brand themes, or be copies of actual LEGO sets, just good parts at good prices.
COBI is good. You can't get Lockheed Martin or Northrop Corp. licensed planes at LEGO
-
Can't afford it (or one that would make anything in the quality I'm after) and don't have space for one.
a hanfdul of lego sets is more expensive.
-
As a Bionicle fan, LEGO recently burnt me and the whole fandom pretty badly. So I'm pretty much giving the whole company the middle finger.
I know there are probably a bunch of good alternatives out there, and I remember some being mentioned to me previously, but I don't know where to find them.
I'm looking for LEGO and LEGO Technic alternatives/knock-offs of good quality. Preferable European in origin rather than Chinese.
They don't need to have popular or brand themes, or be copies of actual LEGO sets, just good parts at good prices.
wrote last edited by [email protected]Actually, besides Lego, there are many high-quality building block brands to choose from. In recent years, Chinese building block brands have also launched many independently innovative products. Moreover, the quality of China's top building block manufacturers has long been comparable to that of Lego's products. Recently, a friend recommended a website to me—they are OEM manufacturers for multiple Chinese building block brands. My friend has purchased their products and spoke very highly of them. The prices are also highly cost-effective, so I'd like to share the website with you. Here's their official site: https://brickvivid.com/
-
As a Bionicle fan, LEGO recently burnt me and the whole fandom pretty badly. So I'm pretty much giving the whole company the middle finger.
I know there are probably a bunch of good alternatives out there, and I remember some being mentioned to me previously, but I don't know where to find them.
I'm looking for LEGO and LEGO Technic alternatives/knock-offs of good quality. Preferable European in origin rather than Chinese.
They don't need to have popular or brand themes, or be copies of actual LEGO sets, just good parts at good prices.
There’s BlueBrixx. They used to have the Star Trek license.
