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Why Can't LEGO Click?
A reader writes "This article from FastCompany.com contains a fascinating history of Lego, from wooden toys and the basic eight-stud brick to Star Wars kits and Mindstorms. According to the article, changes in the way children play has made the Danish toymaker struggle to adapt, while holding on to the values that helped build it's reputation. 'Once, for a brief moment, Lego changed the way kids played as well as the way kids learned to think. Lego hasn't been that kind of leader in a long time.'" The article itself paints a sad picture - LEGOs were such an integral part of my growing up, I can't imagine growing up without them. My favorite thing was to construct vast cities, and then launch billiards balls at them, pretending it was meteors coming down. Hurm. I think that may disqualify me from ever being put in charge of heavy weapons ordnance.
We've all done it before -- stepping on Legos scattered all over the floor in the dark hurts like a bitch, stumbling from one painful pile to another, wrecking a whole day's worth of building while leaving your feet full of small indentations, all perfectly arranged and usually in an 2x4 pattern.
Yes, stepping on Legos certainly sucked. (For some of us, I'm sure it still sucks.)
J