Here's my pitch: I love Transformers. I love LEGOs. I love Transformers made from LEGOs. But what I don't like is when I don't have a bunch of parts to build something unique. More and more, brick-based products are becoming less "open" and are falling into licensing traps where the buyer finds themselves building just 1 thing with parts that restrict or do not allow further creative play. I was one of those kids who ended up with LEGO sets that could only be made into one thing and not much else. I longed for the freedom to have a bunch of similar parts that I could build coherent creations with. I could go out to a store today and buy a LEGO set of the Flying Dutchman from Spongebob Squarepants. I can build myself a Flying Dutchman, but when I disassemble it, my parts really can't do much else. On the other hand, LEGO offers a CREATOR line where they give you a bunch of various bricks that work well with each other and a set of instructions that offers 3 things you can build with all these parts, plus a slew of other inspirational building ideas. That's creativity. That was my answer. Which is why I propose a Kre-O bucket. We need more Kre-O parts on hand to just mess with. More parts to have a variety of options and things to build outside from a set' predetermined final product. Like LEGO's Designer/Creator line, imagine a bucket full of various (Kre-O) parts which can all be used to build various sets. Sometimes you can build 3 sets at a time, sometimes you can only build one big set from the various parts. The instructions would feature at least 3 different builds with a bunch of pictures for ideas. The idea: Kre-O Optimus Prime bucket: First off, you're probably all asking "Why Optimus Prime?" Simple. He always uses the same colors. So....a bucket of parts dedicated to his many versions means a bucket of Kre-O parts all in a small set of colors. This also means less parts needed for the product itself. It's far more manageable that way and allows a wider use of these parts to make many different versions of our favorite Autobot Leader. If there needed to be a Megatron Kre-O parts bucket, then we'd probably get a bunch of grey, purple, red, and black parts. Alright, so the idea is that: (At most) 9 models can be built one at a time from the included parts. There will be just enough parts to build each model, with almost all parts being reused. Each one will have a unique head piece to better represent the character. These head pieces will only be available in the bucket set. Each character build will feature a unique gimmick and/or a weapon/gear built from Kre-O parts. The majority of the parts will come in red, yellow, grey, blue, black, white, and any necessary translucent colored parts. Specialty parts include missile launchers, smokestack parts, grill parts, wheels, tires, hinged parts, flap parts, articulation parts, vehicle windows, doors, limb parts, unique heads, etc. The set will also include a gold-chromed Optimus Prime Kreon exclusive to the bucket. Why gold-chromed? We already have 2 regular Optimus Prime Kreons, this one would be an homage to "the golden lagoon" episode while at the same time seem like a "special edition" Kreon, and because you wouldn't have to spend money to make tooling for something new. 1-Generation One Optimus Prime (Truck & trailer->Robot & Combat Deck w/Roller) Gimmick: fully transformable. No rebuilding necessary. Weapon: missile-firing blaster. 2-Beast Wars Optimus Primal (Gorilla->Robot) Gimmick: fully transformable. No rebuilding necessary. Weapon: flip-up missile-firing shoulder cannons, flail & 2 swords. 3-Robots In Disguise Optimus Prime (Firetruck->small robot form & battle base->fully combined super robot mode) (Parts must be reconfigured for each mode.) Gimmick: firetruck pieces become battle base or power-up armor. Weapon: ladder features missile-firing cannons. 4-Armada Optimus Prime (Truck & Trailer->small robot form & battle base->fully combined super robot mode) (Parts must be reconfigured for each mode.) Gimmick: truck pieces become battle base or power-up armor. Microbuild Mini-Con Sparkplug. Weapon: missile-firing blaster. 5-Energron Optimus Prime (Truck & Trailer->small robot & 4 vehicles->fully combined super robot mode) (Parts must be reconfigured for each mode.) Gimmick: trailer houses 4 vehicles/limbs. Weapon: missile-firing blaster. 6-Cybertron Optimus Prime (Firetruck->small robot form & battle base->fully combined super robot mode) (Parts must be reconfigured for each mode.) Gimmick: truck pieces become battle base or power-up armor. Weapon: missile-firing underarm cannons. 7-Classics Optimus Prime (Truck->Robot) (Parts must be reconfigured for each mode.) Gimmick: jetpack. Weapon: missile-firing blaster & small blaster. 8-Animated Optimus Prime (Firetruck Cab & mini-trailer made from armor pieces->Robot) Gimmick: fully transformable (Cab only) & power-up flight armor (rebuilding necessary). Weapon: axe. 9-PRIME Optimus Prime (Truck->Robot) (Parts must be reconfigured for each mode.) Gimmick: special light-up brick in chest (Exclusive to this build.) Weapon: 2 missile-firing blasters & dual swords. Using these versions of Optimus Prime, (hopefully) Hasbro could avoid any additional fees or costs from other companies (Paramount). I remember reading that the reason they did not go full-on movie look with the Kre-O sets and instead went with something that was between Classics/Movie inspired for the heads, was because they wanted to avoid having to pay Paramount. By meeting the goal of there being just enough parts to build each model once, it's purpose would be to keep the parts count in a sane number (550 or less) and hopefully keep the projected retail at around the top set price of $60 or less. Because this would be packaged in a large plastic bucket, the cost may be more. One idea to keep the set cost reasonable would be to not utilize all 9 build suggestions, and instead limit it to only the number of sets that reuse most of the parts to keep the total parts count in the 500-550 range. Another approach to combat the retail cost is to split the 9 models up into 3 sets of 3 builds, greatly reducing the number of parts needed per set and lowering the cost per set: Builds that use similar pieces such as those needed to make a trailer could be lumped together in a set of 3 (G1 Optimus, Armada Optimus, Energon Optimus). Builds that are heavy on 1 or 2 specific parts colors could also be lumped into another set of 3 (Optimus Primal (Black), Cybertron Optimus (Red & Blue), RID Optimus (Red)). Builds with an evenly spread number of various colored parts could be lumped into a set of 3 (Classics Optimus, Animated Optimus, PRIME Optimus). As for selling these sets, (either as one big bucket of bricks or as 3 sets of 3 builds), such an item of this unique type and size could be a store exclusive product(possibly ToysRus since they tend to carry the majority of large brick-based items) or even a HasbroToyShop product. And that's my pitch.
Are Legos not compatible with Kro-O blocks? I know that's not exactly the concept here, but I assumed kits could be unofficially mixed with other building block sets.
Very, in fact they're very similar quality. But people don't like mixing peices from seperate brands. I would like a bucket just full of bricks and robot parts.
I'd like buckets of separate parts too, especially if they can help create some "redecoes" that we see in other areas (hello Kre-O Seekers).
See, I actually want to do that. If I had the money I'd probably buy a few Kre-Os and some choice Halo Megablock vehicles, and then see what I could come up with.
They heard you: Buy KRE-O Transformers Tub of Bricks at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Construction toys, 2 for 15 pounds on Toys. Buy KRE-O Bucket of Bricks at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Construction toys.
Heh. those are neat, but they're just portions of the first year sets grouped into a box. And they're only in the UK.
Injector Bucket! It's his head! Build nine Injector models! Comes with exclusive golden... Cheetor. (WHAT?!) But in all seriousness, a BW bucket would be awesome. Even if it was all injectors.
That's interesting, but of course they leave the important Kreons out. Not saying people don't like Red Alert and Bluestreak but where did Jazz, Bumblebee, Skywarp and Optimus go? I did wish I had more 2x4 bricks because I can't find the new Microchangers and have little interest in the Beast Hunter sets. I do have a few wave 1 guys but I want more display bricks for my Kreons. Blank 2x4s will do at this point but my sets surprisingly don't have spares. And more Beast Wars Kreons is high on my wish list.
It's a start. Maybe they're testing the water with these. Again, that's only so far. It's nice that we get thrown the occasional bone by Hasbro, really makes up for the staggeringly poor distribution of everything else...
