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Lego to Stop Producing Mindstorms

nick58b writes "Lego, in response to the worst financial loss in its history, has announced they will stop making the electronics and movie tie-in products. This would include Mindstorms, one of the greatest educational toys ever produced." It saddens me greatly to see the toy that was such a mainstay of my childhood to be in such dire financial straits. If I were a more qualified sociologist, I'd think it may have inspired by the way that our children play today versus how they played twenty years ago.

14 of 615 comments (clear)

  1. Maybe they wouldn't loose so much Money... by cflorio · · Score: 5, Funny
    Maybe they wouldn't loose so much Money if they didn't pay people to play with Legos!

    At the very least, they could outsource the playing with Legos to India!

  2. Re:Don't forget... by Carthag · · Score: 5, Funny

    Plus Lego is Danish for "play well"

    Almost. It's a contraction of "leg godt" which is the Danish for "play well." (not in a well, that's dangerous, kids!)

  3. Re:Such a shame :-( by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    I was hoping to buy my nephew lots of Mindstorms stuff when he got older. Maybe I have to buy them now and keep them around?

    Your nephew. Uh-huh. Look, sometimes it's okay to admit that you have a problem. There's probably a LEGONON support group near where you live.

  4. Re:Don't forget... by splattertrousers · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...and that in English, it means, "How can a box containing a bunch of plastic squares cost so much money?"

  5. Youngsters... by NineNine · · Score: 3, Funny

    You used to be able to buy sets that allowed for lots of imagination, such as "pirate", "city", and "space" legos.

    When I was a kid, I bought Lego sets that just came with x number of assorted blocks with no theme whatsoever. That took REAL creativity. I don't even know if you can buy just plain ol' regular blocks anymore.

  6. Re:NNNNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!! by splattertrousers · · Score: 3, Funny
    The highlight were the Lego Mindstorm robots and the stop-action movie studios. I guess I had better buy some now, eh?

    Nah, you'll be able to get the Mindstorms cheaper on eBay in the future. And all you need for a stop-action movie studio is a cheap ($30) digital camera, some normal Legos or action figures, some cardboard and crayons, and some software that turns a bunch of JPEGs into a movie.

  7. Mindstorms for 401K by mikewas · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've been looking for something to put my retirement saings in. The Mindstorm kits are showing their age, but I still love them & I think they'll be around for some time to come.

    --

    "Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever." --Napoleon Bonaparte
  8. They will stick with their core business... by garethwi · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...like this?

  9. Re:What happened? by saunabad · · Score: 4, Funny

    Also, how many parent think, "Little Jimmy should have a programmable set of Lego!"

    Every parent who is an engineer? At least I will when I have my own kids.

  10. Re:They Don't Care About Customers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    As Kewl as Bionicles are, we have tried to steer our boyz

    Christ, l33t-speakers are reproducing?

  11. Re:Don't forget... by dcmeserve · · Score: 2, Funny
    The plural of Lego is Lego, not Legos.

    And I believe the assertive form has the suffix "my eggo".

    Sorry, just had to say it.

    --
    "Orthodoxy is unconsciousness" - Orwell
  12. Re:What happened? by MrMr · · Score: 2, Funny

    Also, how many parent think, "Little Jimmy should have a programmable set of Lego!"

    I did,
    It's probably the least pointless gift Jimmy got last year.
    (But then, his dad reads slashdot, so what chance of a life has he got anyway)

  13. Oh, grow up by Animats · · Score: 2, Funny

    If you want to make stuff, get a milling machine like everybody else. Legos are for kids.

  14. Re:Overpriced is unfortunately right. by Kent+Recal · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's already fixed via DMCA.

    They're going to print an expiration date on every piece and pass a law that makes it illegal to use their intellectal blockery after expiration.