QuoteLego 'arms race': Bricks growing more violent, study says
BBC News
Lego products are becoming increasingly violent as toymakers engage in an "arms race" to catch children's attention in the digital age, a new study says.
New Zealand researchers say bricks with weapons have steadily become more commonplace and are now included in 30% of Lego kits.
The study said Lego reflected a broader trend in children's entertainment.
Lego says weapons are always used for a wider purpose such as saving the world, and are part of a child's development.
In a peer-reviewed study published by the online journal PLOS ONE, researchers from the University of Canterbury concluded that Lego "showed significant exponential increases of violence over time", with a higher proportion of weapons appearing among Lego's building blocks and themed kits.
Lego's first weapons were issued in 1978 when a castle kit included swords, axes and lances.
"The Lego company's products are not as innocent as they used to be," lead researcher Christoph Bartneck said.
"The violence in Lego products seems to have gone beyond just enriching game play," he added.
An analysis of Lego catalogues from 1973 to 2015 found the scenarios depicted had also become more violent, with 40% of all pages containing some type of violence such as shooting or threatening behaviour.
"To catch the attention of their customers, toy manufacturers are similarly locked in a metaphorical arms race for exciting new products," the study said.
Lego spokesman Troy Taylor said the company's products promoted a range of play activities such as construction, fantasy and conflict.
"As with other play types, conflict play is a natural part of a child's development," he was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
"We always try and use humour where possible as it helps tone down the level of conflict," he added
Lego almost went bankrupt in 2003-4 as electronic games threatened its future.
The Denmark-based company tried to reinvent itself by embracing popular culture, selling themed kits linked to popular movie franchises such as Star Wars, Batman and Harry Potter.
The result has been 11 straight years of growth, with the company announcing earlier this year that net profit in 2015 soared 31% to $1.4bn (almost £1bn).
Peer-reviewed* article link below--
Quote
Abstract - Although television, computer games and the Internet play an important role in the lives of children they still also play with physical toys, such as dolls, cars and LEGO bricks. The LEGO company has become the world's largest toy manufacturer. Our study investigates if the LEGO company's products have become more violent over time. First, we analyzed the frequency of weapon bricks in LEGO sets. Their use has significantly increased. Second, we empirically investigated the perceived violence in the LEGO product catalogs from the years 1978-2014. Our results show that the violence of the depicted products has increased significantly over time. The LEGO Company's products are not as innocent as they used to be.
http://www.bartneck.de/publications/2016/legoViolence/index.html
*"Peer-reviewed," as in a bunch of pussies read what some other pussies in New Zealand wrote all the while nodding sagely but is it really surprising coming from New Zealand and its nuclear-free zone bullshit which is pretty fucking funny coming from a country that filmed all the TLOTR slasher flicks oh but that's OK for the nation with the highest rate of alcoholism in the English-speaking world with 1 out of 3 criminal arrests involving alcohol because hey you can't hug children with nuclear arms but you can beat the fuck out them on a bender
All I know is I keep stepping on the damn things.
I've heard that Maoris are not good with the fire water.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on May 23, 2016, 07:05:32 PM
I've heard that Maoris are not good with the fire water.
I'll ask the ones I know and report back.
I heard that New Zealand poaches the best Samoan soccer players.
Lego SS Panzer FTW
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.customminifig.co.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F03%2FWWIIGermanWaffenSSCustomMinifigures.jpg&hash=02960bceecb84e3df4fa89bbf7280fabaa5b6d16)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm5.static.flickr.com%2F4072%2F4610963171_ffffd9c76c_m.jpg&hash=7b5f9ffaef89d36dd0acfc6b84f51f7c5ba1082a)
Quote from: 11B4V on May 23, 2016, 08:31:05 PM
Lego SS Panzer FTW
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.customminifig.co.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F03%2FWWIIGermanWaffenSSCustomMinifigures.jpg&hash=02960bceecb84e3df4fa89bbf7280fabaa5b6d16)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm5.static.flickr.com%2F4072%2F4610963171_ffffd9c76c_m.jpg&hash=7b5f9ffaef89d36dd0acfc6b84f51f7c5ba1082a)
That makes me erect.
I like the LegCo War movies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt7o1v9msA0
Quote from: 11B4V on May 23, 2016, 08:31:05 PM
Lego SS Panzer FTW
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.customminifig.co.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F03%2FWWIIGermanWaffenSSCustomMinifigures.jpg&hash=02960bceecb84e3df4fa89bbf7280fabaa5b6d16)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm5.static.flickr.com%2F4072%2F4610963171_ffffd9c76c_m.jpg&hash=7b5f9ffaef89d36dd0acfc6b84f51f7c5ba1082a)
Chinese-made "Lego compatible", not Lego. Lego's always refused to produce twentieth century/modern military sets.
Edit: Well, with the exception of a pair of Sopwith Camel sets released several years apart, and aimed at the adult builder's market.
Lego has moved towards a business model heavily supported by pop culture IPs, that these IPs incorporate violence shouldn't be surprising. Star Wars = the clue is in the title.
Not sure whether I agree or disagree with the article.
The lego kits of my youth weren't necessarily peaceful - I remember having a castle set and a spaceship set, and both implied violence. Whereas some of my kids sets definitely have violence (Star Wars, or pirates), not all of them do - he got a rescue evac plane for his birthday.
But what did strike me is that these modern sets actually shoot! The little stormtroopers have guns that shoot lego bricks, and the pirates have a cannon that similarly shoots. That's definitely new.
What's wrong with violence? It's a part of life.
Quote from: Martinus on May 24, 2016, 09:38:34 AM
What's wrong with violence? It's a part of life.
Mart: Lawyer. Faggot. Thug.
Quote from: Martinus on May 24, 2016, 09:38:34 AM
What's wrong with violence? It's a part of life.
Kids innately know that violence is a part of life. One of their first actions when they see a toy they want is being used by someone else is to push the other kid and take the toy.
I'm not vigorously anti-violence, but it is important to teach kids how to solve problems without violence.
Quote from: Barrister on May 24, 2016, 11:15:49 AM
I'm not vigorously anti-violence, but it is important to teach kids how to solve problems without violence.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.legalcheek.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F11%2Flead19.jpg&hash=3599d0b03be1841254a1603fe595595789e02c30)
Except violence (albeit state-sanctioned) is at the heart of what I do. -_-
Quote from: Barrister on May 24, 2016, 09:37:06 AM
Not sure whether I agree or disagree with the article.
The lego kits of my youth weren't necessarily peaceful - I remember having a castle set and a spaceship set, and both implied violence. Whereas some of my kids sets definitely have violence (Star Wars, or pirates), not all of them do - he got a rescue evac plane for his birthday.
But what did strike me is that these modern sets actually shoot! The little stormtroopers have guns that shoot lego bricks, and the pirates have a cannon that similarly shoots. That's definitely new.
Pirate cannons that shoot been around since 1989; except, for some reason, in the USA.
Quote from: Agelastus on May 24, 2016, 12:18:25 PM
Quote from: Barrister on May 24, 2016, 09:37:06 AM
Not sure whether I agree or disagree with the article.
The lego kits of my youth weren't necessarily peaceful - I remember having a castle set and a spaceship set, and both implied violence. Whereas some of my kids sets definitely have violence (Star Wars, or pirates), not all of them do - he got a rescue evac plane for his birthday.
But what did strike me is that these modern sets actually shoot! The little stormtroopers have guns that shoot lego bricks, and the pirates have a cannon that similarly shoots. That's definitely new.
Pirate cannons that shoot been around since 1989; except, for some reason, in the USA.
I was last playing with lego pre-1989. -_-
To brick or not to brick that's the question!
A Legoland for a horse.
Willego Brickspeare
I'm sure Ed is holding out for the "Sulla's March on Rome" box set.
There's a Facebook page dedicated to Lego Ada Lovelace to support a Lego Ideas project to build a Raspberry Pi powered Analytical Engine.
https://www.facebook.com/LegoLovelace/?fref=ts (https://www.facebook.com/LegoLovelace/?fref=ts)
Quote from: Barrister on May 24, 2016, 11:46:55 AM
Except violence (albeit state-sanctioned) is at the heart of what I do. -_-
Well if you take it that way then you can claim all legos portray the violence inherent in the system :P
Quote from: Tonitrus on May 25, 2016, 02:36:07 AM
I'm sure Ed is holding out for the "Sulla's March on Rome" box set.
And the Cinna killed by his own troops set.
Is there a snails and oysters set?
Oh yeah, Legos can incite violence. Step on some while barefoot, you'll see what I mean.
I'm still waiting for the CERN set
Quote from: Brazen on May 25, 2016, 08:28:46 AM
There's a Facebook page dedicated to Lego Ada Lovelace to support a Lego Ideas project to build a Raspberry Pi powered Analytical Engine.
https://www.facebook.com/LegoLovelace/?fref=ts (https://www.facebook.com/LegoLovelace/?fref=ts)
I assume you've seen the Lovelace and Babbage graphic novel - if not, check it out.
I am sick and tired of people blaming TV, anime, Legos, computer games, books, movies, the internet and whatnot for violent behaviour.
I blame coal.
Quote from: Monoriu on May 25, 2016, 10:44:52 AM
I am sick and tired of people blaming TV, anime, Legos, computer games, books, movies, the internet and whatnot for violent behaviour.
Back before those things there was no violence.
Quote from: Valmy on May 25, 2016, 11:02:07 AM
Quote from: Monoriu on May 25, 2016, 10:44:52 AM
I am sick and tired of people blaming TV, anime, Legos, computer games, books, movies, the internet and whatnot for violent behaviour.
Back before those things there was no violence.
Back before those things there was gin.
Quote from: lustindarkness on May 25, 2016, 09:44:50 AM
Oh yeah, Legos can incite violence. Step on some while barefoot, you'll see what I mean.
When I was a kid and Lego wasn't yet violent (according to this study) me and my brother used to fight with Lego-brick swords.