New Sets 2012

[Bolingbroke]

I had a similar thought when first looking at them. Last year, the new pirates' sets for instance contained very few accessories and klickies. The pirates' ship and big island only came with 3 klickies each, probably to keep the price "low".

(they've now raised the prices of several sets, f.e.ship and fortress, between 40% and 50% in January; the pirateship was 48 euros in toyshops, now listed 70 euro on the belgian playmo-website. I bought the fortress for 35 euro, it is now listed 53 euro on the official site).


When I now see that f.e. the Western plane-wagon comes with 4 klickies, I wonder what such a "common" set will cost. The fort comes with 4 soldiers and 2 indians, which makes a total of 6 klickies... Wow, even the old Western-forts never included such a high klicky-number. The more the merrier I'd normally say, but I'm really wondering to which price-range this will go...

It's not a question of prices but also of marketing and what have you. Licensed Lego themes like Star Wars are very, very expensive, but people still buy them.

[tonguello]

I have to contradict myself. I said before that there was nothing that caught my eye.
BUT I LOVE THE NEW WESTERN STUFF!!!!! Most of all the colors!!!! They areso grown up!!!! SO ME!!! Now I hope for a new release of the Victorian theme with this tendency!!!!

So I raise this questions...

1) have you noticed that "boys'" sets have very grown up, warm, dark colors, while the "girls'" sets are still too pinkysh and childish? (western, agents, cargo, police vs hotel, magic castle) Is this a trend to get kid's attention, just because boys and girls like different stuff?

2) Or do you think this new "grown up" color pallette is directed to adult collectors? 

[bonniebeth]

I think it's a combination of one and two. I like to think the new western theme was geared towards us adult collectors. Thus the more grown-up look.

For the hotel, it's definitely made to appeal to the current girly-girl market. There are a lot of super super super girly toys that are very popular right now. I think they are probably having trouble hooking that market lately, and are doing what they must to get girls asking for playmo. Lego has had to do it, too. I think it's probably a smart move on their part to try to corner that market. After all, we do want playmobil to stick around -- they have to do what they have to do. But at least they gave us our western theme we've been begging for!

[Ds dad]

I have to say I am relieved. Other than the Western cannon I am not interested in any of these sets. Hopefully I can continue with the knights and pirates in 2013 (when these new sets make it here) and not get too distracted by the new stuff.

[tahra]

One thing that I don't think was discussed...

All the printing is stickers because they're not the real thing yet? The "REAL" sets will come printed as usual, not with stickers, right? (ok, we could do better than the late USUAL (lack of) print quality, but..)

[bonniebeth]

Printing on what? I'm not sure what you're talking about.

[tahra]

The body paint on the indians, the details that should be printed on the klickys are stickers...

[Ace]

When I first saw the agents, I though the same thing. The individual letters on the side of the boat seemed to be stickers. It turned out that they were all actually printed, so I think it will be the same this year  .
Ace

[Hadoque]

Darn... I was hoping the sign with date (1848) on the Western-wagon's cover would be/remain a sticker, then it could be used in other themes without having to scrub off the print.
(which can damage the plastic made of the softer type, which is being more & more used, and I bet the wagon's cover will be soft plastic)

[bonniebeth]

Btw, I love the new covered wagon! Too bad about the printing.