WHAT'S WRONG WITH PLAYMOBIL

[Indianna]

. . . . If it really was meant as a construction toy, why didn't they sell sets with just wall elements, as Lego did and does - that would have been much easier. . . .

Sets like these?    (From a 1990 Direct Service catalog in LHAAP's recent postings)

[Indianna]

I know ,I am a very derranged man 

   No!  Well maybe a little bit . . . 

but isn't it beatiful

  Yes, indeed!   

[CountBogro]

Sets like these?    (From a 1990 Direct Service catalog in LHAAP's recent postings)

LOL - you got me there. But then again; those were special sets, only available through special orders and not readily from a shop. So, it's not a "normal" set 

Bogro

[Richard]

Hello again and again, Bogro ...   

Steck was meant to provide buildings for the little klickies. But to say they were meant as a construction toy still seems far fetched to me.

Far fetched? Do you suppose that someone might just possibly think that Playmobil could be a Construction Toy from this illustration in Playmobil's 1978 Catalogue? ...

please see attachment

What do you mean, Timotheos? Do you mean a earlier version of steck?

Timmy was probably referring to the early Western Building Construction Sets ...

please see attachment

[playmofire]

Hello again and again, Bogro ...   

Far fetched? Do you suppose that someone might just possibly think that Playmobil could be a Construction Toy from this illustration in Playmobil's 1978 Catalogue? ...

please see attachment

The fact that a toy has to be put together so it can be played with doesn't necessarily make it a construction toy.  I think the picture of the child building the house is probably there to show that it does not come ready built. 

A rough definition of a construction toy is a toy consisting of a number of loose but related parts which can be assembled in one or more ways the main purpose of play use being the assembling of the loose parts together in order to produce a finished article.  I know when I played with Meccano once the model was built that was it - it would be displayed for a time and then taken apart. 

A search on Google for Meccano brings up at the top of the page a sponsored link from Hamleys with the following description "Meccano Construction Toys - Free Delivery Available".

[Martin Milner]

The fact that a toy has to be put together so it can be played with doesn't necessarily make it a construction toy.  I think the picture of the child building the house is probably there to show that it does not come ready built. 

Quite. By Richard's definition, Sylvanian Families is a construction toy, because there are buildings in the range and they have to be assembled before use.

[Richard]

Thanks, Gordon ...

A rough definition of a construction toy is a toy consisting of a number of loose but related parts which can be assembled in one or more ways the main purpose of play use being the assembling of the loose parts together in order to produce a finished article.

Great definition !!!

Your definotion, Gordon, absolutely proves that PLAYMOBIL is a CONSTRUCTION TOY !!!

If any of you still doubt this, get your hands on one of the inserts that Playmobil included with ALL of their early Steck System castles and houses.

These inserts showed how various sets could be combined in different ways to produce new structures. THEY EVEN INCLUDED THE SET NUMBERS OF THE SETS USED IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS !!!

It is obvious that Hans Beck always saw Playmobil as a Construction Toy!

After Mr. Beck retired, the original vision of Playmobil seemed to have become a bit blurred. And, unfortunately, Mr. Beck's vision of Playmobil seems to fade more and more with each passing year.

So ... what's wrong with Playmobil? In my humble opinion, there has not yet been anyone to replace Hans Beck !!!

All the best,
Richard

And, Martin ... If the Sylvanian Families buildings pieces can be COMBINED to create NEW and DIFFERENT buildings, then it is also a Construction Toy !!!

[macgayver]

lollol

this is soo much fun

I anybody keeping scores on this ?   

Pro and contra

This is the most funny and healthy discussion read in years

according to wikkipedia playmobil isnot a construction toy 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_toys#Construction_Toys

but called action figures

do I get points for looking this up ? 

[macgayver]

If any of you still doubt this, get your hands on one of the inserts that Playmobil included with ALL of their early Steck System castles and houses.

All the best,
Richard

errr I did and could not find anything

and speaking of the houses ...............

four walls and a roof ?  not much to combine there 


    


the only plan I know that has multiple versions for building is the big fairytalecasle
wich gives two possibilities

[playmofire]

Thanks, Gordon ...

Great definition !!!

Your definotion, Gordon, absolutely proves that PLAYMOBIL is a CONSTRUCTION TOY !!!


All the best,
Richard

I must disagree, Richard.  My definition defines a construction toy as one where  "the main purpose of play use [is] the assembling of the loose parts together in order to produce a finished article", and I don't think this is the play use for the very great majority of Playmobil users.  I'm sure that in general when children and adult users of Playmobil combine different sets to produce new structures it is done not with a view to creating new structures per se but with a view to creating variations designed to enhance play value with the main core of Playmobil, the klickies themselves.  The fact that a minority (a small minority?) may use Playmobil solely or largely with a view to creating new structures for their own sake doesn't in itself make Playmobil a construction toy.