Interview with Star Wars designers - 75292 The Razor Crest and Jedi: Fallen Order
Posted by CapnRex101,
Brickset interviewed both Jens Kronvold Frederiksen and Michael Lee Stockwell during the recent Fan Media Days, encompassing the August range. The second part of our discussion focuses upon 75292 The Razor Crest and any possibility of sets from Jedi: Fallen Order.
Brickset: 75292 The Razor Crest includes The Child who has attracted extraordinary attention. Was he a late addition to the set or was he included from the beginning of development?
Michael: The former! We had reference material for the Razor Crest relatively early and did receive some preliminary information about The Child as well, although we were under strict guidelines not to start development or production around anything relating to The Child. The model was therefore designed under usual circumstances while The Child was a late addition.
Jens: The Child was definitely considered top secret and I presume other companies received the same information that we did. Seeing all these different products emerge, around the same time that we announced the Razor Crest, was quite funny because everybody was evidently in the same boat!
How did the short development period affect production for The Child?
Jens: Designing the new mould for The Child was fast-tracked but we have fantastic element designers who worked diligently to complete the figure in time. We also have 75317 The Mandalorian and The Child coming up, although designing BrickHeadz is often relatively quick so that was less problematic.
Michael: Designing new products is almost always easier when using existing elements, like with the upcoming BrickHeadz twin pack.
Some people were surprised that 75292 The Razor Crest does not include Kuiil or the Mandalorian in his beskar armour. Is there any particular reason for that?
Jens: Well, there might be other sets from The Mandalorian to come! We realise that fans are eager to add characters from the series to their collection but cannot necessarily release them all at once.
Michael: Additionally, the character design for aliens like Kuiil is sometimes altered fairly late in production. That did not happen in this case but can make it more challenging for us to produce non-human characters before movies and television series are finalised. Changes are less likely when the character is human and therefore depicted by a recognisable actor.
Jedi: Fallen Order was released alongside The Mandalorian and has proven extremely popular. Was consideration given to producing sets from Jedi: Fallen Order?
Michael: That was certainly on the table and we did discuss it. However, video games present different challenges to the movies and television shows because their age ratings can affect the products we release.
Jens: Anticipating what might become popular is another challenge. We always try to decide what will appeal to as many people as possible, of course, but it can be difficult. The age rating was probably the most important factor though. After all, we are primarily making toys for children.
I believe every Star Wars movie since Revenge of the Sith has been marked as 12 or 12A which is roughly equivalent to Jedi: Fallen Order in most markets.
Michael: Yes, although we have a much greater understanding of what that will mean in the context of movies than we do with video games. We know roughly what the level of violence might be, for example, whereas video games can be more unpredictable in that regard.
Jens: What I would also say is that the age ratings do not necessarily remain constant. Those characters might appear outside the game in future and you never know what could happen in that event.
Many thanks for speaking with us!
You can also read the first section of our interview, discussing 75280 501st Legion Clone Troopers. Look out for the next part which will be published shortly.
89 likes
44 comments on this article
Very interesting article! I remember joking with my family after The Child appeared that the toy companies were probably making a mad dash to design whatever merchandise they could now that the world knew about their existence. Kinda fun to find out that was kinda partially true! As for the set itself, nice work! Has just about everything The Mandalorian would need for his day to day bounty hunting activities.
I think that Jedi Fallen Order is also interesting to look at in that Star Wars video games aren't quite strangers to LEGO sets. We had some based on The Force Unleashed way back when along with the Inferno Squadron battle pack with the reboot Battlefront 2. While I haven't yet played the game myself, I do wonder how many of the players are children who are also interested in LEGO. I kinda have a feeling that maybe LEGO is cautious now about videogame sets given the fiasco that was the Battlefront 2 lootboxes.
I’d honestly love a fallen order set. Given those reasons for not making a set prior, making the mantis would probably be a great choice for a set, great for fans of the game and unique for ship collectors
One thing to consider with Games is who owns Star Wars, Disney, and they won't let the games get too intense.
They have had plenty of time to update the Mandalorian to the Beskar armour version, pretty disappointing
My favorite SW game is still the original Jedi Knight. :-)
Thank you for the interview. Glad to hear the likely inclusion of a beskar armour Mandalorian and Kuiil in the future. Hoping for these in January sets.
Interesting insights!
I'm slightly disappointed that the Mandalorian isn't in his newer, fancier armour because that would make it an even more desirable figure, which in turn would lead to even more brand-new-without-minifigures sets listed for cheeeeap on eBay.
It's the best way to buy LEGO, especially when the (heavily-stickered) set in question is somewhat overpriced.
Considering how much the Razor Crest costs it really should come with the proper minifigs (including Kuiil). Also, the carbonate containers should have been printed.
Both Battlefront games were more violent than Fallen Order? As is Overwatch? And all of those have sets?
So... there's a chance of a Stinger Mantis set?
I suppose purge troopers would make for a neat battlepack, but then TLG would have to market something named purge troopers, which is an understandably welp decision to make (not necessarily limiting, but awkward all the same).
That's really weird about the ratings. Every single Star Wars film since 2005 has been rated PG-13 and no Star Wars game has ever gotten a Mature rating. One would think that LEGO would look into the past and assume that the game developers wouldn't put age inappropriate violence or action in a Star Wars game. Of course that does depend on what you view as age inappropriate violence. Personally I don't think that the Star Wars films or games are at all inappropriate for kids.
@JDmocs said:
"That's really weird about the ratings. Every single Star Wars film since 2005 has been rated PG-13 and no Star Wars game has ever gotten a Mature rating. One would think that LEGO would look into the past and assume that the game developers wouldn't put age inappropriate violence or action in a Star Wars game. Of course that does depend on what you view as age inappropriate violence. Personally I don't think that the Star Wars films or games are at all inappropriate for kids."
The films were a 12A in the UK but I’m not sure if that’s the same as a PG-13 in the US. For us, both Battlefront games were 16s, so I guess that could affect the amount, if any, sets made on that theme. I believe that is why we only saw Inferno Squad Battle Pack, I think.
@AussieSamurai, production and design of toys starts quite far in advance. And it likely was intentionally left out so they can make other sets with it. They addressed that specifically.
The Fallen Order talk kinda confuses me. Like, Star Wars is a pretty safe road to travel. There really shouldn't be any question as to what sort of content the game would have.
Hopefully now that the game is out, they'll consider making some sets. I'm dying for a Mantis.
I've had this set preordered for months, can't wait!
Really wish the Mandalorian had his new armor, though. There was no real reason not to include it in this set. After all, he has it when he takes Baby Yoda away from Werner Herzog.
Thanks for your questions surrounding Jedi Fallen Order but after playing the game there isn't any scene that is any different what we saw on films, maybe the designers know something we don't.....
I know when I was at Disneyland in December that everyone was looking for a child toy and some mistaking saw some Yoda characters that were miniaturized and though it was it. I think Disney did let everyone know too late in the game, as the series ended in January and missed the Christmas market which is the biggest for toy sales. I'm sure though they didn't realize how popular the Child would become, so makes sense at the same time... So glad it made it into the set! Hoping to see more Mando in the near future and can't WAIT for S2!
@Lordmoral said:
"Thanks for your questions surrounding Jedi Fallen Order but after playing the game there isn't any scene that is any different what we saw on films, maybe the designers know something we don't....."
Well the big one that people want is the Mantis. However there were plenty of large creatures in the game. I personally would like to see a brick built Gorgora.
@jrbookworm said:
"Both Battlefront games were more violent than Fallen Order? As is Overwatch? And all of those have sets?"
Overwatch is rated PEGI 12 in the EU (one of LEGO's primary markets), while Jedi: Fallen Order is PEGI 16. What's confusing is that both EA Battlefronts were rated PEGI 16 and they still made sets off of those.
"After all, we are primarily making toys for children."
I think that line sums up the massive problem Lego has, in that they see themselves as kids toys, yet choose theme that appeal mostly to adults, forgetting that its actually adults that spend the most on lego sets.
Also, on the Fallen Order sets... its easy enough to make a Mantis set, and maybe a brick built BD-1 in the same vein as the BB-8 and D-0 models. Otherwise I'd say do a set with a section of tomb scenery and a guardian.
@Trigger_ or anyone from the EU- could you please explain the rating system from across the pond? I'm a tad confused :)
@AJ_Walls_34 said:
" @Lordmoral said:
"Thanks for your questions surrounding Jedi Fallen Order but after playing the game there isn't any scene that is any different what we saw on films, maybe the designers know something we don't....."
Well the big one that people want is the Mantis. However there were plenty of large creatures in the game. I personally would like to see a brick built Gorgora."
That is a must, and it can be placed in a great display setting if done correctly.
@jrbookworm said:
" @Trigger_ or anyone from the EU- could you please explain the rating system from across the pond? I'm a tad confused :)"
Sure thing:
(North America (ESRB)/EU (Pegi)/AUS)
E/3/G (Anyone may play)
E10+/7/PG (Some content may be unsuitable for younger children)
T/12/M (This is the rating for Fallen Order in North America and Australia; generally suitable for older children and teens)
M/16/MA 15+ (Recommended for older teens and adults; Fallen Order’s rating in Europe)
AO/18/R 18+ (Adults only)
@AussieSamurai said:
"They have had plenty of time to update the Mandalorian to the Beskar armour version, pretty disappointing "
And if LEGO did do so complaints would revolve them around putting the most desirable figure in the most expensive set.
When the set images were released, my first thought was: ‘I guess we know what will win “minifig” of the year on Brickset.’
I haven't watched the Mandalorian series, but isn't the Beskar armor everyone's clamoring for something the main character wears at the end of the current season? If that's the case, then we could probably expect it to be the "standard" design for the minifigure when Season 2 rolls around and they make sets based on that. Doesn't seem that complicated to me.
As other people have pointed out, the answer about Fallen Order was vague and inconsistent with what Lego has done before, so there must be another reason that they didn't want to say. Looking forward to more Mando sets though!
I'm sure that we will see MANY more Mandalorian based sets given the vast popularity of the show combined with Disney/Lucas Arts leveraging their new emphasis on episodic content. I also can foresee a Mantis (the ship from Fallen Order) set in the near future. That game was also incredibly popular and the ship is very cool.
@TheWackyWookie- Thank you! This makes a lot of sense-- I almost like it more than over here, as there are things that should be between our T and M. Likewise for movies and tv- something between PG-13 and R and TV-14 and MA, respectively.
That's some extremely weak rationale for not producing any Jedi: Fallen Order sets. After all, we've had sets released for prior video games including The Force Unleashed, The Old Republic, and (most recently) Battlefront and Battlefront II.
Not to mention the fact that Lego's produced a minifigure based on one of the most violent, graphic scenes in the Saga multiple times: burnt-to-a-crisp Anakin/Darth Vader.
So yeah, seems like a big stretch to me.
LEGO has never supported Star Wars video games very strongly -- there was one awful set for The Force Unleashed, a couple BPs for each Battlefront game and admittedly a bigger push for The Old Republic MMO. There wasn't a big advance push from Lucasfilm for Fallen Order like there was for those three games, so I didn't expect LEGO to produce anything, so I'm sure it may come in the future but I honestly doubt there was much conversation about it to begin with.
It would be brilliant to see a Mandalorian micro fighters set, Kuill and a Blurgg and the Mando on a speeder bike or an E-Web
Fallen Order is the way to go..I would easily buy a Stinger Mantis, and a large BD-1 would be far more impressive than the current DO. Then there is the Inquistor ship and even the transport ships (also seen in Rogue One) that we haven't seen yet. So much opportunity.
@GrizBe said:
""After all, we are primarily making toys for children."
I think that line sums up the massive problem Lego has, in that they see themselves as kids toys, yet choose theme that appeal mostly to adults, forgetting that its actually adults that spend the most on lego
"
There’s a very big problem with that statement. It assumes adults buying the toys are buying only for themselves. I don’t doubt that adults make up a big portion of the money spent on LEGO. I don’t know what this massive problem LEGO has you speak of.
Interesting info about the development of the Razor Crest and the Child.
However, this is a complete non-answer from Lego as to why no sets were developed for Jedi: Fallen Order. Considering that there have been sets and figures released for The Force Unleashed (a game where the player can pretty much TORTURE every single stormtrooper before killing them), Knights of the Old Republic, The Old Republic, Battlefront 1 and 2, I cannot understand what either of these Lego guys is trying to tell us with "video game ratings". Kids play video games! They decided they wanted to miss out on that market this time, but why???
I could never be a business person. Too many cooks in the kitchen. Too many instances where you have to sit and listen to other people arguing hare-brained ideas like "let's stay away from this particular game because, well, I said so...".
That explanation really makes Lego seem out of touch with some important things. Get those sets in development. They will sell, telling you right now, Lego. Nobody's child is going to be traumatized by the Mantis. And I haven't even played Fallen Order yet!
I'm disappointed that the interview with the designers of The Razor Crest spent 2/5ths of its questions asking about a video game unrelated to The Mandalorian. None of the questions were about the actual Razor Crest model!
Yes, Fallen Order is cool, but it's made by Electronic Arts. This is a competitor to the companies usually involved with Lego's video games. I mean, really...the reason they're not making those sets should be obvious!
I usually enjoy CapnRex101's articles, but feel like the ball was dropped here and the interview got sidetracked.
@PDelahanty said:
"I'm disappointed that the interview with the designers of The Razor Crest spent 2/5ths of its questions asking about a video game unrelated to The Mandalorian. None of the questions were about the actual Razor Crest model!
Yes, Fallen Order is cool, but it's made by Electronic Arts. This is a competitor to the companies usually involved with Lego's video games. I mean, really...the reason they're not making those sets should be obvious!
I usually enjoy CapnRex101's articles, but feel like the ball was dropped here and the interview got sidetracked."
Star Wars Battlefront 1 and 2 are also Electronic Arts games, and there were Lego sets that released alongside, so I have no idea what point you were trying to make about EA games. The reason they are not making Fallen Order sets isn't at all obvious.
What new info were you hoping to learn about the Razor Crest at this very late stage anyway, that isn't already widely known? I think we know everything about this set by now.
@Lyichir No. Mando gets the Beskar armor in... Episode 3 I believe? Regardless, he wears it throughout the majority of the series.
Even the AT-ST set is inaccurate since he would have been wearing the Beskar during that scene.
Regarding Fallen Order...
‘I find that answer vague and unconvincing’
- K-2SO
Great article but for a set that expensive I would've liked at least 2 more Minifigures. In my opinion, take off the scout trooper and add a Kuiil and Cara Dune minifigs which would make the set worth it. Still not that bad...
@GrizBe said:
""After all, we are primarily making toys for children."
I think that line sums up the massive problem Lego has, in that they see themselves as kids toys, yet choose theme that appeal mostly to adults, forgetting that its actually adults that spend the most on lego sets.
Also, on the Fallen Order sets... its easy enough to make a Mantis set, and maybe a brick built BD-1 in the same vein as the BB-8 and D-0 models. Otherwise I'd say do a set with a section of tomb scenery and a guardian.
"
That statement is very far from reality. TLG confirmed last year that over the past decade the share of adults purchasing Lego for themselves has grown from 5% to 10%. That's not the % of buyers, but their contribution to total Lego sales. That still leaves 90% of Lego spending aimed at children.
Darn All Though I Don't Play Fallen Order I Know People Who Love It And This Is Probably Disappointing To Them
No need to worry about the violence in Jedi: Fallen Order. They took out dismemberment.