Has VIDIYO been cancelled already?
Posted by CapnRex101,
VIDIYO was announced during January and this intriguing theme has encountered considerable criticism, focusing primarily upon the prices and dearth of construction within wave one.
PromoBricks is now reporting that VIDIYO has been cancelled, or potentially paused, following two waves. The third wave of products is no longer available for retailers to purchase, which follows dramatic discounts on the range during recent months.
We should emphasise that this information is not yet confirmed. Nevertheless, do you think VIDIYO has been cancelled and what mistakes do you believe LEGO made with the theme, if so? Let us know in the comments.
Update: LEGO has now provided an official statement on this subject.
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100 comments on this article
The AFOL community was never consulted on the VIDIYO theme to start with.
Lego is just a archaic organization that needs to be re-org and re-run differently.
The closure of VIDIYO is a prime example of how not to go to market...
I probably wouldn’t have even noticed
Oh no.. anyway
If they had launched with the wave 2 sets to begin with, as in actual sets, I'm sure that they would have gotten some interest from AFOLs and kids who ignored the app portion, like Hidden Side. But because they gave you basically no play value outside of the app it was doomed to fail.
I do like the character molds though and the detailed prints, I wish LEGO did that kind of investment in other themes of theirs
Guess like most AFOLS, kids - the target audience - wasn't ready for augmented reality toys. Or their parents weren't. Or their hardware wasn't. Many consumer recensions claimed that the software wouldn't work even when they had a recent phone and the loading times were very long. Maybe the software was crap also.
EDIT: The Promobricks article claims the the cancellation already affects the second Minifig series, specifically that TLG allows retailers to cancel their orders of wave 3.
Too bad I really want the blue alien!
I think the price was ridiculous and was probably their biggest mistake. AFoL’s were never the target market at all, so I don’t think they needed to get input from adults on what kids want. It seemed like an interesting concept that maybe just fell flat and never caught on due to being poor value.
So, after hidden side (which had awesome models) that had an hideous app... now Vidiyo (which has awesome figs/prints) also fails.... This could be a good thing. Lego hopefully gets it: we want the brick... to get us away from our phones! Tough lesson for the company... possibly great for us customers.
I hated it.. my kids absolutely love it.
Ah can't wait to read what all the experts have to say.
Is it not always a flop when Lego goes digital?
Price 20$ just a miniifgure in sense..
It's extremely arrogant for AFOLs to think that TLG should consult with us before launching a product line. They did the research and felt that they had a good product. So either the research was flawed or the price points were too high for what the consumer actually got. The line gave us some great minifigs and printed tiles.
It was born dead already.
Brick first, App second. Big mistake to add development costs of the APP to the bricks; unless the bricks are so enticing that they bring in the customers (Like Mario).
One word.. lol
no offence to any who liked this theme, just seemed over price for me tbh
Has Lego ever found wild success with augmented reality or interactive features? It is first and foremost a building/construction system - I wonder if their attempts to go ‘beyond the brick’ are simply met with hesitation and confusion in shoppers. Parents don’t walk into a Lego store to look for video games, after all.
OH NO!
Anyways……..
I will just say... I TOLD YOU :D
Seriously. If Lego wants improvements -
Make motors smaller for technic, make Bluetooth mini cars that are compatibile with bricks!
Make themes that FORCE kids to think creatively when building instead of just following instructions!
YOU ARE LEGO, best toy ever. You dont need to look at your competition! BE THE ONE THAT MAKES TRENDS!
As has been pointed out many times here and elsewhere, even if this theme was not targeted to adults, it is still an adult (parent) that has to buy it. Most parents buy Lego for their children to get them off their phones and computers, not to increase their screen time.
I applaud Lego for testing new waters while still keeping its core products strong (all the other 100% brick-based themes). I hope they are learning their lesson.
I picked up a couple of these at Sainsbury's the other day (for a fiver each) and I rather like them. The form factor is lovely, the minifigures are creative and the printed tiles are splendid. I dipped into the app for a bit and the AR integration is a lot of fun, even if at first glance it feels a bit simplistic.
The problem is that with an RRP of £18 for one beatbox it feels like a very tough sell at full price. I know Lego is a premium product, and you can arguably see where the money's gone (16 printed tiles, new moulds for the box and minifigs) but you don't really get much bang for your buck. And considering the app encourages multiple purchases it really leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Ultimately, I feel like VIDIYO has a lot of interesting ideas that are hamstrung by the necessities of its execution. If it was a bit cheaper or the construction was more ambitious it might have found a wider audience, but in any case I'm sad it hasn't taken off as a concept.
The continuing desire of
Lego to make app based products where the app is only available on a phone specification that the target age market don't have access to, I just don't see the logic.
I'm 50 and I don't have that specification of phone so I just ignore the growing number of larger Technic sets where you need it, so Lego are losing my business to the value of several hundred pounds each year.
Can't wait to see these 50% off so I can pick up a few of those overpriced $20 sets
@BulbaNerd4000 said:
"I probably wouldn’t have even noticed"
Agreed...I barely knew what it was and doubt I will miss it.
Something that's been overlooked is that the Bandmates series two appear to have been cancelled too. Where due to released June 1st in the UK and Europe, they were removed a few days before and haven't been back on LEGO Shop since with even a Coming Soon message.
https://brickset.com/sets/theme-Vidiyo/subtheme-Bandmates-Series-2
The whole theme was due to fail from the beginning with most major UK retailers like Amazon, Smyths having them 33% off day one. The 1st Series of Bandmates being almost impossible to find, many retailers clearing out stock of the Beatbox sets in the first two months and it appears some haven't bothered with the Summer wave of proper sets
Personally will wait for any of the actual sets to go to LEGO Movie 2 discounts - 75 - 90% off.
@lampstand said:
"The AFOL community was never consulted on the VIDIYO theme to start with.
Lego is just a archaic organization that needs to be re-org and re-run differently.
The closure of VIDIYO is a prime example of how not to go to market..."
Why would they consult the AFOL community, when we are pretty clearly not the target audience for this? We all have opinions about the theme and why it hasn’t done well (many of which I agree with 100%), but since they weren’t designed for us, what we think shouldn’t really matter. As another poster said, it’s ignorant to think we should have been consulted.
My two children were completed disinterested in it. So no loss really...
@EriktheRed They were never full price to start with in Europe, other than at LEGO.com.
I wish they'd dump Control+ too, or at least provide a hardware alternative to it. Goddammit like someone else said, I play with Lego to get the hell OFF of this awful phone and craptacular touch screen. Sell it as an optional item for us AFOLs. I'd pay extra for it. No need to include it in each box.
Another failed product. But with how much money Lego has. I'm sure it didn't hurt to bad. Hopefully just enough to show that these app themes just aren't worth it.
@Glacier_Phoenix said:
"If they had launched with the wave 2 sets to begin with, as in actual sets, I'm sure that they would have gotten some interest from AFOLs and kids who ignored the app portion, like Hidden Side. But because they gave you basically no play value outside of the app it was doomed to fail.
I do like the character molds though and the detailed prints, I wish LEGO did that kind of investment in other themes of theirs"
LEGO fails to realize people don't want computer connection. I build LEGO as an AFOL solely to ESCAPE from technology and the bombardment of the world. Most technology i've done is build HP sets while watching Harry Potter movies.
I think that this is sadly not surprising, nor does it make me happy. I don't want a LEGO line to fail. More good toys are great for kids, and more good LEGO is great for AFOLS. However, VIDIYO was a theme where someone needed to take a step back to see something wasn't right.
Obvious Problems
-Prices. The beat boxes cost $20 for not a lot. You get a plastic box, some tiles, and one minifigures. For comparison, you could get a well-sized Creator set with multiple build options or a Star Wars battlepack with four minifigures.
-The boxes were a terrible idea. Blind purchases are already getting tiring, but not even being able to feel what you're getting killed any interest for me. I only wanted a select few figures, but the two boxes I did buy gave me ones I didn't want it. $5 is a lot to ask for not knowing what you're getting.
-The app was a good idea with awful execution. Instead of teaching kids about different genres of music, some basic video editing, and maybe dynamic camera angles, it was just "scan the toy and tap stuff". Another mistake was making a video app in the first place that doesn't allow people to share videos. I know that's to protect the children, but if you're making a product that can possibly put a child at risk via posting online... why are you making the product? Imagine a LEGO set where they actively discourage you from sharing your creation. That's what the app is. I hate to say it, but the app was just awful.
-The lack of building in a LEGO set. Seriously, how did anyone miss that? I don't care if playsets came in the second wave. People shouldn't have to wait until Wave 2 for that. The Beat Boxes and blind boxes were a terrible value, and relying on the app was a mistake. By the time the playsets came out, everyone moved past the theme.
Personal Issues
-I wish that the line focused on cheaper sets, with some more expensive stuff here and there, and emphasized creativity. Have the stages be highly customizable with a variety of themes and parts. Have the minifigures be in blind bags so they're easier to feel for so people can go ahead and get the ones they want. That, or just go ahead and include the badmates into sets. Focus on the building toy first. The app should just be icing on the cake.
-I think the app needed more planning. Like I mentioned before, maybe instead of being a half-baked video sharing app, maybe make it more like video editing software. Let people save their videos so they can then share them to a platform of their choosing, or just with friends/family if they don't have a platform yet. That way you can introduce kids to something both fun and educational by learning about how music videos are made, the basics of how editing software works, and makes spending time on the app worthwhile. Video editing is something a lot of kids will likely be interested in, so might as well teach them something useful if you insist parents hand over their phone for a while.
Perhaps if they'd made Vidiyo more "pocket money" and just an extension of normal creator/city/friends sets etc. i.e. here's the technology to make music vids, it'll augment any lego set.. oh and here are some cheap add on packs that enhances the experience.. so more a video add-on to other core ranges.. I appreciate you can do that anyway but I mean in terms of marketing don't make it a stand-alone product but more a feature enhancement to existing core lines.
@lippidp said:
"I wish they'd dump Control+ too, or at least provide a hardware alternative to it. "
Exactly. Control+ is of the same kind of stupidity by making things unnecessarily expensive and requiring another really expensive device to be able to play with it.
@Mister_Jonny said:
"I picked up a couple of these at Sainsbury's the other day (for a fiver each) and I rather like them. The form factor is lovely, the minifigures are creative and the printed tiles are splendid. I dipped into the app for a bit and the AR integration is a lot of fun, even if at first glance it feels a bit simplistic.
The problem is that with an RRP of £18 for one beatbox it feels like a very tough sell at full price. I know Lego is a premium product, and you can arguably see where the money's gone (16 printed tiles, new moulds for the box and minifigs) but you don't really get much bang for your buck. And considering the app encourages multiple purchases it really leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Ultimately, I feel like VIDIYO has a lot of interesting ideas that are hamstrung by the necessities of its execution. If it was a bit cheaper or the construction was more ambitious it might have found a wider audience, but in any case I'm sad it hasn't taken off as a concept."
When I first heard about VIDIYO I was SUPER excited. Lego sets based upon music? Sign me up! The rumors that they may include ACTUAL musicians and music like Lady Gaga, The Beatles, etc. would have been super interesting and unique and could have gotten people from all ages involved when they catered to the various decades of music.
When I saw they were random things, I was disappointed, thought some of the minifigures were cool, but felt mostly "MEH", and not worth my time.
They should have started with the sets, and not put so much $ in the figures that they’d cost $20? It’s a also a bit frustrating that Lego created new mini-fig molds for a totally untested product line, yet they can’t even be bothered to make a Phase 2 Commander Cody or a proper Gunship pilot helmet mold for the UCS Gunship.
I ended up liking Vidiyo and I play with the app with my son.
The crazy RRP hampering purchases must surely be the main reason for it being cancelled so quickly. I'd love to know if the RRP was just wishful thinking on the part of TLG, or if it was deemed necessary due to the cost of the hundreds of prints and new moulds and/or the music licencing.
Only yesterday I bought the Disco Llama and the Unicorn DJ sets for £5 each (RRP £18 each), and I still wasn't convinced it was a good deal... Any time a Lego fanatic still has to think twice about 70% off you know there is a problem.
I hope so :-)
@ogel_chicago said:
" @Mister_Jonny said:
"I picked up a couple of these at Sainsbury's the other day (for a fiver each) and I rather like them. The form factor is lovely, the minifigures are creative and the printed tiles are splendid. I dipped into the app for a bit and the AR integration is a lot of fun, even if at first glance it feels a bit simplistic.
The problem is that with an RRP of £18 for one beatbox it feels like a very tough sell at full price. I know Lego is a premium product, and you can arguably see where the money's gone (16 printed tiles, new moulds for the box and minifigs) but you don't really get much bang for your buck. And considering the app encourages multiple purchases it really leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Ultimately, I feel like VIDIYO has a lot of interesting ideas that are hamstrung by the necessities of its execution. If it was a bit cheaper or the construction was more ambitious it might have found a wider audience, but in any case I'm sad it hasn't taken off as a concept."
When I first heard about VIDIYO I was SUPER excited. Lego sets based upon music? Sign me up! The rumors that they may include ACTUAL musicians and music like Lady Gaga, The Beatles, etc. would have been super interesting and unique and could have gotten people from all ages involved when they catered to the various decades of music.
When I saw they were random things, I was disappointed, thought some of the minifigures were cool, but felt mostly "MEH", and not worth my time. "
I'm actually glad they didn't go with real musicians. I don't really think exposing kids to many currently popular artists is a good idea. Lady Gaga has plenty of songs that are about some not-so family friendly content. Another reason I don't think using real celebrities is a good idea is that that it's not too uncommon to learn that someone famous is a terrible person. One moment they're topping the charts, and the next you learn they're doing something awful. Last, a lot of famous folks are just too darn political. I don't want all the nonsense that comes from obsessing over/following celebrities to get into a toyline.
Plus, I'd like to see kids take those blank slates and make their own stories with them. How did the pirate become a punk rocker? What do the cartoon animals in a world of candy do during their shows? Having someone named kinds gives the feeling that there would be a "right" way to portray them.
This was bound to happen, I knew as soon as I saw the 1 x 5 plate that people wouldn't buy this out of protest.
"We're off to the comment section - Let's see what the experts think"
If true, this is too bad. My daughter will be really bummed. Lego should keep trying new experiences like this—it’s clever and a neat, novel way to bring those plastic bits to life.
I do hope that the second season of Bandmates still goes ahead. The minifigure part selection there was fantastic.
I have no comments about the app experience or any other aspect of the theme. I'm just bummed I can't get 43105 Party Llama BeatBox locally because the theme never launched here.
@daewoo said:
" It's extremely arrogant for AFOLs to think that TLG should consult with us before launching a product line. They did the research and felt that they had a good product. So either the research was flawed or the price points were too high for what the consumer actually got. The line gave us some great minifigs and printed tiles."
Both points are something AFOLs could have pointed out as prime failings of the line. You don't know what "consult" means and mistake it with "dictate".
A line of toys based on Cloud-Cuckoo-Land would have been great and what they have been going for anyway. Sad that they can't because those rights are shared with WB...
App integration only works when the toys are good by themselves. People complain about minifig-only collectors misusing the medium of Lego and then this is basically a line for nothing but figs.
@Huw said:
" @EriktheRed They were never full price to start with in Europe, other than at LEGO.com."
It's funny how we have heard so much about deep discounts on Vidiyo. In the US, Amazon still has all the products at full price. At Walmart (at least my Walmart), they only recently in the last two weeks have been discounted 20% along with a lot of other themes to make way for the next wave of sets.
Judging by the shelves at Walmart (which I know is not a reliable indicator), they don't seem to sell well. But they have not been deeply discounted in the States.
I won't be surprised if the "Dots" range follows on the back of that failure.
However in 30 years, Lego will host a survey for a special one off anniversary set and then for some reason that no true fan will understand, Vidiyo will be voted the winner as was seen recently with "Bionics"!!!
You have to give Lego credit for trying this market. But, like Hidden Side, the app only performs on relatively high spec phones. Very few kids have high spec phones - they get parents cast-off phones, or budget new ones. So doomed from the start - most of the target audience can't use the app !
Hopefully Lego will learn from this......
How come AMAZON US does not have them on clearance????
@Huw said:
" @EriktheRed They were never full price to start with in Europe, other than at LEGO.com."
Non-Toy-oriented retailers, such as supermarkets etc. started at RRP and some still go by it.
Innovation requires risk. I wasn't a fan of Vidiyo in part because of the price, and I thought the partnership with Universal probably brought more disadvantages than advantages. That said, the series was trying to do AR in a more user-created way than The Hidden Side, and I don't think device integration is inherently bad. I love how Super Mario works, for example.
There's a trend in any fandom that when it gets something it doesn't want and doesn't like, it's all to happy to dance on the grave. I'm not going to do that, because sometimes new product lines that I didn't want become fun toys I didn't know I needed. Just in the last few years there have been exciting developments like the Botanical Collection while the 18+ range has expanded significantly, especially with licensed sets like Mos Eisley and the Daily Bugle. Lego isn't an either/or company, they're an AND company, and I hope they never change.
will they still release the 2nd series, those are some nice pieces and it would be a shame to see them go to waste, but that's just my opinion
In the US, wave two hasn't even been released yet. So, if the problem was that wave 1 was underwhelming and the they needed to merge waves 1 and 2, that problem is even worse here with wave 2 launching 8/1.
Wave 1 not on clearance / discount; wave 2 not launched. Its a non-starter here...
Would not be surprised, the first wave opened with 35% discount at Amazon and never went full price at most places other then Lego, the second wave is even worse, though the sets are actual sets. They where released in Australia on June 1st at Lego but have only made their way into other retail outlets in the last month and one of the budget chains that do not discount Lego much have them at 50% already, picked up the whole second wave and some of the first. Will go back now to Amazon likely to get the last few beat boxes from the first wave to complete the collection. Between Vidyo and Mario sets, people look for cheap parts packs in Australia are having a field day this year!
Has it been cancelled? I don’t know.
What mistakes did they make with the theme? Vidiyo.
When they will understand that Lego sets and phone apps are a bad combination. I do hope they'll cancel the Control+ app too.
Lego really did this theme injustice.
Absurd RRPs, putting technology over their own product (something that they've shot themselves in the foot with multiple times in the past), and a complete lack of actual Lego building for an entire product wave.
Of course no one's going to buy Beatboxes for $20 - who in their right might thought anyone would? Here in the US, retailers seemingly never budged. Between than and BLIND BOXES its no wonder they didn't sell well. I doubt wave 2 will rescue the theme.
All sets are still at full MSRP in Arizona at all retailers :(
If true, what a shame. I love seeing LEGO try brand new concepts. In recent years, they seem to be a bit too focused on what they’ve done before. This theme certainly wasn’t for everyone, but I enjoyed seeing the eccentric minifigures that came out of it. Let’s hope for some more innovation next year!
The missteps seem pretty obvious.
1) No proper sets to launch with. The stages should have been stage 1
2) Beatboxes priced ridiculously. Terrible value kept even the minifig collectors from getting excited about them.
3) Not as big a problem, but the app is hot garbage. I struggle to imagine how even young children could find enough enjoyment in the app to justify asking for more Vidiyo sets.
4) Branding was a bit unfocused and bad.
Honestly the first two are the biggest problems. I think if they had launched a stage or two in the first wave and the beatboxes were $9.99 retail (US) the theme would not have flopped quite so hard and maybe done well enough to stick around for a while.
The minifigs to come out of this line have been pretty great, I hope they continue to use them in future themes.
I've found some of the Vidiyo Beatboxes at Meijer for up to half off. For that price, the minifigure and printed tiles are worth it if you're interested in the unique pieces
I’ll form my comment from the words of an Emoji Movie critic: “let’s hope this acts as a warning to never, ever do this again.”
It was a mixture of things.
Price was quite high for what was being sold.
Parents are beginning to realize the effects of smartphones and technology addiction with their kids
The app didn't quite work well.
Sets with a real build didn't come until the most recent wave.
Vidiyo = expensive and useless. LEGO is all about building. Every digital projects and lines are flops. Jørgen Vig Knudstorp learnt it while TLG was going bankrupt: this was his way to save LEGO and this why LEGO is such a loved toy manufacturer nowadays. I think shouldn’t take care of the digital world because there is a lot to do in building like education, decoration and home... Maybe the robotics (software + connected devices + built robotics sets) could be the only successful line to put efforts in.
Vidiyo is a classic example of a product made by a group of 40-50 years old board members, consulting with a 30 years old "youth expert" digital product manager.
Plus, the main reason I didn't allow my daughter to play with it was because the app REQUIRES you to send the videos to Lego, even if you just want to save a local copy. Sending a video of my daughter to a stranger so they can watch it was an immediate 100% deal breaker and we stopped using it after just one day. I contacted Lego about it, but they said there's not a way/and it's not planned to save a local copy without sending them the file first.
Figures are cool though, we have 3-4 that we use as figures.
Overpriced with a confusing boxart and a buggy app that a lot of people couldn't even use.
Also wave two should have started the theme.
This was an excellent prior article about Vidiyo:
https://brickset.com/article/58951/lego-vidiyo-passion-and-creativity
Rather than writing a new comment of my own, I'll quote some comments on that article:
From @holdre007 :
"Read the article... Figures. Vidiyo is just another example of the wonders of corporate world best depicted in Dilbert:
The Creative Process did happen but failed since it was meant to happen - nothing worth pursuing, no big idea. Fine. On friday evening you send an e-mail to your design director - sorry, no feasible solutions were found, may we move on? But along comes monday morning and voila the boss has solved everything with a "brilliant idea". An app! A Big Beautiful App! Since Vidiyo exists it means no-one had the smarts nor guts to say no to the boss and call his BS what it really was - an idea so stupid no-one even dared to pitch during the actual Creative Process...
Why would you even bother to go through a Creative Process when your boss is a genius superhero who can singlehandedly solve any problem over a weekend? "We absolutely had to find a way to make this happen" - yep, well that's what good and/or smart boys and girls do! When your boss has a pet project that is bound to be doomed, rejoice and play your cards right - it won't be that long before the losses are tallied and he is fired and you might get his seat!"
From @peterlmorris :
"Hmmm. Reading the article has actually given me less confidence in the product. Compare and contrast with the effort LEGO put into the Friends line.
It’s great that LEGO has passionate designers, but you can’t just force a product to market on desire alone.
Ever.
There has to be a demand. Solving the problems mentioned in the article doesn’t matter at all, either. It’s a great personal triumph for the team, but doesn’t mean jack for sales.
There’s no better example of that than the Pontiac Aztek. They hit every major milestone on time and under budget. They really thought they had a winner of a product because it not only met GM’s internal criteria, but matched emerging trends in the younger demographics. But they forgot about groupthink.
They convinced themselves the car wasn’t ugly.
Don’t try to convince me the car isn’t ugly. Make a great product, and it will practically sell itself."
From @CapnRex101 :
"Reading this article in more detail, the developers state the following:
‘You've got the LEGO system of play, you can put the bricks together in an infinite number of ways. On the other side, you have music, which is a select number of notes that work together and can be combined an infinite number of ways to make all music that's ever existed.’
Seeking to combine those qualities makes sense and possesses obvious potential. However, the final product has essentially nothing to do with either quality. VIDIYO currently involves no construction, other than the decorative BeatBox panels which are completely irrelevant, while musical involvement is limited to about thirty different songs. Creating a good music video does benefit from some musical understanding but that represents a tiny fraction of what musical creativity represents.
None of that precludes people having fun with VIDIYO, or even the theme being successful, but I would suggest that LEGO has combined two stated concepts and rendered them both substantially worse, regardless of the creative intent."
Now, me: Wave 2 of Vidiyo does have some fun builds. But it's too little, too late. It should have been Wave 1. Save the overpriced collectible minifigures until AFTER parents and kids have gotten the hang of playing with the app and the minifigures on the stages. Put the bricks first. If they hadn't led off on the wrong foot, and had set the prices maybe 25-30% lower, Vidiyo might have had a chance.
That's too bad. I think that putting the minifigures in bags like the CMF would have resulted in me purchasing some for my daughter. I wouldn't tell her about the app part (just like I didn't with Hidden Side) because I don't want to encourage more screen time, but the minifigures were fun. However, she is only interested in certain ones and I'm not inclined to spend money not knowing I'm getting the ones she wants. I applaud Lego for trying something creative and original though - I wish they'd do more things like that and less licensed display pieces.
@freelancerirish said:
"They should have started with the sets, and not put so much $ in the figures that they’d cost $20? It’s a also a bit frustrating that Lego created new mini-fig molds for a totally untested product line, yet they can’t even be bothered to make a Phase 2 Commander Cody or a proper Gunship pilot helmet mold for the UCS Gunship. "
“Untested themes”, as you put them, almost invariably have increased parts budgets. Think about BIONICLE, or Friends, or NINJAGO. In each theme’s first year, one introduced a new building system, one a new type of figure, one hundreds of new parts and prints. Of course, those lines were far more successful than Vidiyo, but even less popular lines, like CHIMA, Nexo Knights, Hidden Side, etc. originated tons of new pieces. Star Wars had its years of inflated parts budgets at the beginning, and even now they still have a fairly high tolerance for new pieces compared to other lines. The gunship thing is honestly not a huge deal. It’s being greatly exacerbated by LEGO media figures, largely an, um, certain person on YouTube who shall for the purposes of this comment remain nameless.
@kingalbino said:
"I won't be surprised if the "Dots" range follows on the back of that failure.
However in 30 years, Lego will host a survey for a special one off anniversary set and then for some reason that no true fan will understand, Vidiyo will be voted the winner as was seen recently with "Bionics"!!!"
Since Vidyo didn't sell well enough to run for 9 years, or have a storyline that got kids interested in it, I highly doubt that will ever happen.
They were targeted for kids for sure but the price as well as the need for a phone/tablet puts off a lot of parents. My son marked interest and asks all the time to get some and thus far all he has gotten is 1 blind box (another huge mistake as no parent wants to risk that many doubles, stick with bags). In Canada they are all at full price still but I have told my son if we can get them for %50 or greater clearance I will buy him some but other then that I refuse to spend on this theme as it is just to pricey for what it is.
love lego- we all do. no matter what its over priced - this was an experiment to test increasing price and it failed. Lego just stick to what you do now and lower prices so everyone can enjoy
@kingalbino said:
"I won't be surprised if the "Dots" range follows on the back of that failure.
However in 30 years, Lego will host a survey for a special one off anniversary set and then for some reason that no true fan will understand, Vidiyo will be voted the winner as was seen recently with "Bionics"!!!"
Comparing BIONICLE to Vidiyo is just incongruous. BIONICLE was a top-selling, ten-year line, which transcended the boundaries of traditional LEGO to create an audience of its own. Vidiyo lasted six months, sold poorly, had no actual story, and was unable to build much of any audience at all. I’m not even much more than a casual BIONICLE fan, but it feels almost disrespectful to compare it to Vidiyo.
Dots is also unlikely to suffer a similar fate to Vidiyo- it’s not a blockbuster by any means, but it continues to be released consistently and has been received well.
I know most people don't care about this theme in any capacity, but I'm personally really hoping that the Series 2 Bandmates will still be released. I'm actually gonna be pretty upset if I can't get the Vampire Bassist, for example.
For all its other faults, Vidiyo had some genuinely great minifigs and I'm sort of sad to see that won't be continuing.
The vidiyo app is very laggy.
Wait, so does this mean we'll never get Gregorian Chant Gargoyle or Hurdy-gurdy Hippo? Baroque Badger??
My disappointment regarding this knows no bounds.
@kingalbino said:
"I won't be surprised if the "Dots" range follows on the back of that failure.
However in 30 years, Lego will host a survey for a special one off anniversary set and then for some reason that no true fan will understand, Vidiyo will be voted the winner as was seen recently with "Bionics"!!!"
I paid no attention to DOTS until I saw the DOTS Extras Series 5 with letter tiles. Immediately bought several sets of the letter tiles from Bricklink, might pick up some more if I see them on a store shelf.
If LEGO is going to insist on app support for their products, I wish they would do what they are good at and focus on building. LEGO Digital Designer languished until The LEGO Group ended up purchasing Bricklink (and, as I understand it, Studio by extension). You don't need gimmicks. The brick speaks for itself. Just focus the app integration on building and building-related activities. Make an app for replacing missing or broken parts. I get that the parts and sets you might be able to order at any given time have largely to do with your current production/manufacturing setup, but if you had your entire inventory of parts/colors available to build virtually, might that not inform you of what you should be producing to some degree?
I guess we should be happy Vidiyo first gave us the 1x5 plate (or at least it's the first I saw of one). So it succeeded in doing something!
Anyone defending VIDIYO clearly doesn't live in the UK. If you walk in Smyth's Toys (our surviving equivalent to Toys R Us), opposite the doors is the LEGO clearance area, and the last time I checked it, HALF of it VIDIYO. Series 1 and 2 Beat Boxes, Band Mates, even several of the series 2 Stage/Concert sets. It's the same in B&M, and even Sainsbury's was eventually forced to reduce their Beat Boxes and Band Mates (they were still selling series 1 at £18 when Series 2 released), and as soon as they dropped them low enough, they sold, likely to Minifig Collectors. TLG famously featured the cringy L.L.A.M.A. at LEGO CON 2021 as well as the Boom Box set (as if none of us had seen it before), which just shows you how desperate they were to promote it. I once heard that the App would interact with just a PHOTO of a Band Mate and Beat Bits, thereby making the physical purchases pointless for some kids. It would have been SO much better if TLG had just produced 2 or 3 special CMF series', with the Beat Bits as accessories (in bags of course, not boxes).
The year is 2003:
Lego: la, la, la, let's try this, la, la, la, oh why don't we do this, la, la, la...
(as by magic (not), $300 millions in the red)
Enter Jorgen Vig Knudstorp. Turns the company around into one of the best recognized brand on the planet by doing just one thing: concentrate on CORE business. Wikipedia: Under Knudstorp's tenure, LEGO Group's yearly income has gone from a loss to drawing a notable profit and a 600% increase in turnover from 6.3 billion to 37.9 billion in 2016.
The year is 2016:
Jorgen Vig Knudstorp steps down as CEO.
The year is 2020:
Lego: la, la, la, let's try this, la, la, la, oh why don't we do this, la, la, la...
The more it changes, the more it's the same...
Too expensive. App not available worldwide. Can't share videos to social media. It's a shame, I really liked the app n making videos. Great animation n charm. Blind boxes impossible to feel and the characters are too wacky and colorful, which is hard to blend with my collection.
So who exactly is surprised here, like at least 50% of the community called this outcome from day 0.
I love the concept of this theme. All these crazy colors and minifigures are just awesome but the mane focus of this theme - the vidiyo app is filled with bugs and weird restrictions that it terrible. Also I think that lego should start this theme with wave of these “normal sets” that we got in the last wave. But instead they launched the theme with overpriced minifigures and blind boxes where you can’t feel the minifigure. I had high expectations for this theme when I saw the first leaks but it went as always with these kind of themes…
Call me daft but I believe that there's a potential for this theme to be good. The new wave proves that if we take it a level higher, it could be perfect (if it weren't for the prices). Lego can't run away from their problems by cancelling the theme so early, they must improve it.
(I'm no Lego designer or Ole Kirk Christiansen but by god, they should've started with actual builds from the beginning. They wouldn't be in this mess now if simply would've listened to the fans.)
If they can make Life of George 2 they can make VIDIYO 2.
@crazywitchdoctor said:
"When they will understand that Lego sets and phone apps are a bad combination. I do hope they'll cancel the Control+ app too. "
LEGO Super Mario rules, and I don't know if it's a financial success, but the sets fly off the shelves when they arrive. I like playing around with the Boost stuff, too. I don't know why so many AFOLs are hostile to digital content, though I think it's become clear that it's risky when the sets only work with digital.
@HOBBES said:
"The year is 2003:
Lego: la, la, la, let's try this, la, la, la, oh why don't we do this, la, la, la...
(as by magic (not), $300 millions in the red)
Enter Jorgen Vig Knudstorp. Turns the company around into one of the best recognized brand on the planet by doing just one thing: concentrate on CORE business. Wikipedia: Under Knudstorp's tenure, LEGO Group's yearly income has gone from a loss to drawing a notable profit and a 600% increase in turnover from 6.3 billion to 37.9 billion in 2016.
The year is 2016:
Jorgen Vig Knudstorp steps down as CEO.
The year is 2020:
Lego: la, la, la, let's try this, la, la, la, oh why don't we do this, la, la, la...
The more it changes, the more it's the same...
"
The difference being back then Lego was in serious financial trouble and making mistakes like this almost destroyed them. Things are quite different now financially, so the examples really can’t be compared.
I think it is fairly obvious that this theme was not aimed at adults. Consequently, I find it strange that adults pass judgment on the theme so quickly. TLG still does make products for children, and I would bet dollars to doughnuts that they did successfully test this product on children before releasing it. It would be a shame if the complaints from adults influenced the death of a theme that is actually great for kids.
For comparison, a $25 CDN investment in a beat box entertained my daughters for the better part of a day. That was a much better investment than the $50 LOL Surprise doll which took 45 minutes to rip open the packaging, which amounted to about 95% of the bulk material. After the packaging was thrown away, the doll itself was simply set aside. It is also better than the $80 price of a Hatchimal, (actually I had to buy 2, one for each daughter) which was pretty cool for about 90 minutes before it finished hatching and "grew up."
I agree that $25 for a beat box is a lot compared to other LEGO sets, but when you factor in the number of hours spent having fun, it's actually a pretty good price. And aren't toys still about having fun? Or am I missing something?
What struck me the most about Vidiyo is that I have no idea how would kids react to it since their relationship with the technology, the world of music, tiktok and internet stars, etc, is worlds away from mine. Also, I don't know how much kids care about the fancy minifigs and collectible characters this theme is centered around.
I obviously don't have any children or hang around them much, but I suspect I'm not the only adult out there who can't really appreciate what's being offered here.
In any case, app and price of the BeatBoxes aside, I quite like the very colorful and LEGO-esque take on the music start system aesthetic they've built up here, so I'd be bummed to see it go so quick.
I'm shocked! SHOCKED I tell you.
Who could have seen this coming?
@lampstand said:
"The AFOL community was never consulted on the VIDIYO theme to start with."
I for one will be sitting by the phone, expecting a call from Lego to give them advice on their 2022 product launches. I’m sure my lack of knowledge of market research and not being the target audience of these toys will be exactly what they want, nay, need to hear.
Anyway…be a shame if Bandmates series 2 are cancelled. The figs and printed tiles are amazing.
@monkyby87 said:
" @HOBBES said:
"The year is 2003:
Lego: la, la, la, let's try this, la, la, la, oh why don't we do this, la, la, la...
(as by magic (not), $300 millions in the red)
Enter Jorgen Vig Knudstorp. Turns the company around into one of the best recognized brand on the planet by doing just one thing: concentrate on CORE business. Wikipedia: Under Knudstorp's tenure, LEGO Group's yearly income has gone from a loss to drawing a notable profit and a 600% increase in turnover from 6.3 billion to 37.9 billion in 2016.
The year is 2016:
Jorgen Vig Knudstorp steps down as CEO.
The year is 2020:
Lego: la, la, la, let's try this, la, la, la, oh why don't we do this, la, la, la...
The more it changes, the more it's the same...
"
The difference being back then Lego was in serious financial trouble and making mistakes like this almost destroyed them. Things are quite different now financially, so the examples really can’t be compared. "
Their problems was not a one year affair, it started in the late 90s.
The idea is simply that if they continue engaging in all sorts of dubious ventures, they will eventually(after a number of years) get back to where they were. I hope not but there is a feeling of deja vu.
I also understand that this product was aimed at kids, but now many parents also own Lego so they are a little bit more discerning regarding what they are buying for their children - also taking into account that many parents want to reduce the screen-time of their kids.
I can't tell you how many times Lego has tried (and failed) to make its products digital. Lego Universe, Lego Minifigures Online, Life of George (anyone remember that? xD), Fusion, now Vidiyo, the list goes on and on and on.
The thing is, Lego already HAS what other companies (and kids) want; a tactile experience that they can actually physically play with. Everything else is, for the most part, online in this day and age. Lego is probably the biggest toy maker in the world right now; all the others have dropped down as physical toys become less popular. All they should be doing is expanding upon what they do best: actual Lego blocks.
@HOBBES:
If The LEGO Company shifted from molding plastic bricks to printing money, I’m not sure if it would help or hurt their annual profits. They make enough right now that they can have one real stinker of an idea every year and not break into a sweat at the thought of how it’s impacting their bottom line. In the 1990’s, the problem was that nearly every theme, including their core minifigs themes that had been around for decades, were that “one stinker” simultaneously.
@Scott1:
If they weren’t No1 by 2014, TLM certainly did the job. But I know Hasbro had been top dog, and I think I heard something about Mattel literally buying their way to the top (when they picked up Mega), so I’m not sure who’s there now. I also have no idea how Covid skewed the numbers. A lot of people definitely took up LEGO sets as a hobby (both families and childless adults) who had not done so previously (or not to nearly that same extent). I haven’t heard any impact, up or down, on any other toy brands.
Julia Goldin better start looking for a new job. She came in and tried to turn Lego into Apple and it's just not gonna happen. Lego doesn't need a reality show or AR apps or half-assed video making software. Take the money wasted on all that garbage and make the sets cheaper.
I'm still waiting for discounts here in my area of the US. Everything still full priced. And surprisingly the $5 boxes sell pretty well. But the larger $20 things haven't been touched. Hopefully some sales in the future, but it isn't like I need any of the sets anyway.
@HOBBES said:
"The year is 2003:
Lego: la, la, la, let's try this, la, la, la, oh why don't we do this, la, la, la...
(as by magic (not), $300 millions in the red)
Enter Jorgen Vig Knudstorp. Turns the company around into one of the best recognized brand on the planet by doing just one thing: concentrate on CORE business. Wikipedia: Under Knudstorp's tenure, LEGO Group's yearly income has gone from a loss to drawing a notable profit and a 600% increase in turnover from 6.3 billion to 37.9 billion in 2016.
The year is 2016:
Jorgen Vig Knudstorp steps down as CEO.
The year is 2020:
Lego: la, la, la, let's try this, la, la, la, oh why don't we do this, la, la, la...
The more it changes, the more it's the same..."
LOL!! I read, I laugh.
Jorgen is probably throwing random objects at his monitor right about now.
With regard to the sneering "can't wait to see what the experts have to say" remarks: 44 years of buying and building LEGO sets doesn't necessarily make any of us 'Experts' by any stretch, but we may have picked up a thing or two about the Brand along the way. Just sayin.'
LEGO does not need to consult with us as some people like to argue in here.
And they are right. Because we - the market - have told them several times already: this is not what we want. Market research isn't an exact science. The quote often attributed to Henry Ford is: "If we asked people what they wanted, they'd tell us a faster horse".
LEGO's research seems to either indicate the asked customers want digital integration of their brick product. But when those customers actually have a product presented to them to buy, clearly they don't want it. I hope LEGO finally learns from these numerous mistakes and focusus on stuff the market DOES want, like good themes and higher end adult sets.
I hope Vidiyo new sets are made available in US on Aug 1 as I have been looking forward to getting the boombox as well as some of the new Beatboxes. I have not seem them discounted in US. They are still full price at Amazon, Target & Walmart!!
I really liked the minifigs but this was just like another minifig series for me. My children love them to. The other sets where way to expensive.