PlaymoFriends
General => News => Topic started by: playmo1989 on May 25, 2010, 18:23:10
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why the steck won't be succesfull ? and why playmobil want to use in the new sets systemx or some new type, exept of steck ??
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That's a good question. Although I am relatively new to Playmobil, I have a few sets that use Steck. The old Steck sets were great!
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why the steck won't be succesfull ? and why playmobil want to use in the new sets systemx or some new type, exept of steck ??
Who said anything like that???? Jumbo, a huge greek toystore, brough a big pile of 3030 exlusives last year between Easter time and september there was nothing left!!!
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why the steck won't be succesfull ? and why playmobil want to use in the new sets systemx or some new type, exept of steck ??
Nobody said that steck wouldn't be successful. Maybe it would be. ???
But the facts are that Playmobil as a company decided to release another system, sysX, I think in 1997. This is already more than 10 years ago!
In these last 13 years they did not a single new mould for steck, just rereleases like the red framework house, but build up a wide range on sysX-pieces.
I can only speculate why they went for a new system, but it would be a surprise if they would say: Okay then, lets switch back to steck...
Everything we know about this is that - according to Richard's report - Horst Brandstätter is also worried about huge pieces and would support any initiative that brings playmobil to a more flexible system.
So, make steck compatible with sysX and design its future... ...and maybe there will be steck again in the near future... ;)
best,
socrates
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i see !!!!!! i'am not obsest by steck to say the true but it's the only system i like if i have to choose between steck and systemx . like martin said in the other thread system x can be inproved by covering some how the problematic holes !!!!! it has but still if you take it apart it's difficult to make it again ! and if a castle is made with system x breaks very easyly i have this castle with system x the one with the lion flags ,if i move it a little the walls break . but i can't understand why they stopped making steck and making new moulds for it if it was succesfull !!!! only to make a change?
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Different areas, different ideas Alex...a company needs to make its toys more attractive in order to survive in a digital age... it must offer new perspectives and new ideas as even children nowadays become more demanding... i do not think that a child today would be very thrilled with the older playmobil sets.. loads of competition from video and computer games you see. System x in my opinion brough children and parents closer together...more time to assembly, more time for playing. But as life is getting quicker, paces of everyday life faster, a parent cannot spend too much time in assmbly, thus the newer clip-on sets like the lighthouse and dragon land.... easier to assemble, faster for the parents,who in order to meet with their everyday demands, must spend fewer hours with their children...and another issue...children are getting bored more easily these days...cost efficient, to produce a non expandable set of toys, only to be replaced two or three years later from another so it would be easier for the company to sell....
too many thoughts???
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Different areas, different ideas Alex...a company needs to make its toys more attractive in order to survive in a digital age... it must offer new perspectives and new ideas as even children nowadays become more demanding... i do not think that a child today would be very thrilled with the older playmobil sets.. loads of competition from video and computer games you see. System x in my opinion brough children and parents closer together...more time to assembly, more time for playing. But as life is getting quicker, paces of everyday life faster, a parent cannot spend too much time in assmbly, thus the newer clip-on sets like the lighthouse and dragon land.... easier to assemble, faster for the parents,who in order to meet with their everyday demands, must spend fewer hours with their children...and another issue...children are getting bored more easily these days...cost efficient, to produce a non expandable set of toys, only to be replaced two or three years later from another so it would be easier for the company to sell....
too many thoughts???
I think you're on the right track, WK. It is a shame, but "quality time" (ugh, horrible expression) when parents interact with their children in play is shrinking. Parents on this Forum, and Playmoboard before it died, have shown how much fun it can bring, and how it brings them closer to their children.
The argument against "clip system is better because it is quicker to assemble" is that that hasn't held true for Lego, whose product is now occupying space formerly occupied by Playmobil (in the shops I regularly visit).
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The argument against "clip system is better because it is quicker to assemble" is that that hasn't held true for Lego, whose product is now occupying space formerly occupied by Playmobil (in the shops I regularly visit).
True on this argument Martin!! I've seen it happen! And it does happen because an adult needs a constucting model like Lego to organise his or her mind... I have felt it myself and seen it in many of my friends....Its the principal reason why lego is sometimes more accepted and used by adults than Playmobil...
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Hah, I think I found a reason! :D
I compared two pretty much comparable pieces:
30 20 6520 - Wall, plain, stonework, 1 unit wide (System X) (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-20-6520) : weight 30g (including 4 red connectors!)
30 07 6680 - Wall, Flat with Arrow-Slit (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-07-6680) : weight 44g
That means a reduction in used material of about 33% or in other words three pieces for the price of two.
For a company like Playmobil and the numbers they produce, this saves millions per year!
But then I dont understand the ground floors... ???
best,
socrates
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Hah, I think I found a reason! :D
I compared two pretty much comparable pieces:
30 20 6520 - Wall, plain, stonework, 1 unit wide (System X) (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-20-6520) : weight 30g (including 4 red connectors!)
30 07 6680 - Wall, Flat with Arrow-Slit (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-07-6680) : weight 44g
That means a reduction in used material of about 33% or in other words three pieces for the price of two.
For a company like Playmobil and the numbers they produce, this saves millions per year!
But then I dont understand the ground floors... ???
best,
socrates
Tricky, isn't it?
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all these are are true yes but if we see what playmobil has made in the building systems i mean steck is the best no holes....plus others if they make new moulds and new disighns with the same system . i don't mean to make a new castle let's say with all the same walls of the privious steck castles but to make whole different pieces and a different appearance to the new castle !!! so it would be as if a new system would be made !!!! and system x is old if we take it that way they 've made everything with it, houses castles so if they make a new set they would put some of the privious realesed parts so both systems are in the same kategory they are both old building ways !!!! but why playmobil is wanting system x more that's why i don't understand they must have something in their mind !!!!!
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Hah, I think I found a reason! :D
I compared two pretty much comparable pieces:
30 20 6520 - Wall, plain, stonework, 1 unit wide (System X) (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-20-6520) : weight 30g (including 4 red connectors!)
30 07 6680 - Wall, Flat with Arrow-Slit (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-07-6680) : weight 44g
That means a reduction in used material of about 33% or in other words three pieces for the price of two.
For a company like Playmobil and the numbers they produce, this saves millions per year!
But then I dont understand the ground floors... ???
best,
socrates
I follow the reasoning, but I don't think that's quite a fair comparison, as it's only one piece and there's more to the system.
How about assembling a single story square tower with 4 filled sides and a roof and battlements? Once you include all the connectors, corner pieces and the top, do you still have a comparable weight difference?
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I follow the reasoning, but I don't think that's quite a fair comparison, as it's only one piece and there's more to the system.
How about assembling a single story square tower with 4 filled sides and a roof and battlements? Once you include all the connectors, corner pieces and the top, do you still have a comparable weight difference?
that would be a great experiment...unfortunately my system x pieces and parts are stored at my parents house...
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Indeed, Playmobil has been launching loads of stuff with system X, since 97. Many of them are really interesting, I might even say ... With medieval/castle sets as exception. Nothing can be compared to the steck castles :no: (it's been overdiscussed already ...). (Including the excellent idea of new pieces to give more possible works with the steck castles, such as angles other than square (90°) ...)
I had never actually thought that system X makes great 1 hospitals, 2 modern houses, 3 schools, recently, &c ... It's great for these, in my opinion (despite the weird hollows :hmm: ...). But not for castles.
#Question: what building model is used in the Victorian houses ??? ? (I've never put hands on one ... I stopped collecting in 93, and came back in 2008, and, well ... discontinued stuff really isn't my focus.)
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I wish they brought back the steck castles :love:
Gus
:blackhair:
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An interesting point that came to my mind yesterday was the fact that playmobil did an approach to extend steck to another world outside of the castles: They released the new generation of western houses in steck.
And they advanced them in a way that was novel: They added rigid ground floors.
(I purposely ignore here these strange black pesudo-floor pieces released before...)
So, I imagine they tried to extend steck. They also liked it. But these Western houses sucked. From my point of view especially due to the ground floors. They were static, not to be combined and completely contrary to a modular building system. At this point (well one year later) they introduced the SysX for city life and since then tried to establish this as being the major playmobil system. Obviously, they are also aware of the aesthetics of steck castles, as the introduction of the first sysX-castle took quite a while then...
Maybe it went this way... :)
best,
socrates
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STECK !!!!!
It no surprise its the steck mediaval castles and houses that are most often used in any exhibitions of playmobil designs for many years now , and its no accident. The combination possibilities are endless and the colours used in steck mediaval houses add a strong sense of realism and high aesthetics to any bespoke or standard steck mediaval set up. System -X is pretty good for modern life and space sets but thats about it. In addition, the western forts for example with system x are a disaster when compared to the awesome steck western forts ( and a must for designing roman forts and viking forts ) . With steck, realism and simplicity are added in the sets and system x well its pretty obvious to everyone i am pretty obsessed with steck and against system x. The latest clip sets are not playmoibl standards in my opinion and the GI Joe weapon types wont work for me anyways . Bring back steck, bring back steck, bring back steck !!!!! and i am sure with the appropriate revamped sets will do much better than these clip horrid cheapish castles that get scratches and no bespoke designs or creativity applies !!! They are NOT playmobil !!!!!! Bring back Steck I say !!!!!
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Giorginetto you're real steck figther!!! Your points make me think that I am not so much steck hardcore!!
I like the system x western forts and naval strongholds, but that's it. I got the newest Lion castle and Rock castle mostly out of couriosity but I did like the results.
I also like the newer clip castles as I think they are constructions that can stand out for themselves...they are enough to see on a diorama but not expand...
I too see the endless posibilities in steck and the main reason for liking steck better is that you do not have to pause your constructive fantasy to place the clips...you do not lose time...you just have the parts and connect them together...so much fun!!! :love: :love: :love:
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What socrates spoke is very interesting, in the point of helping us understand a bit of how it may have come to be like this ... History of playmobil.
In a way, I think System X is an improvement for modern city, school, firefighting, police, & cetera. (I don't mention space because, in my view, Playmobil was NEVER successful with it. Playmospace is cutey, but not _really_ interesting as space. (Imo.)
I agree with Gioginetto: what appears in diorama expos is Steck, up till now. (Steck & Victorian mansion.) However, a few interesting buildings with System X with the Magic Castles, for Arabian & Indian buildings, it can be used in an interesting way, and suits well ...
I like steck castles because of my childhood dreams. (The only thing I actually have is a blue framework house :P ... and of System X, the Magic Castle kitchen, which I bought because of furniture & bits mainly, but it has been useful as a room, once it's one of the few (that is 2) playmobil buildings I have. Despite being weird with the holes, & all, well, it is good to use. It may "not be playmobil" (I agree with that, in a way), but the klickys feel at home inside, once it is Playmobil-made.)
I simply wish they kept launching and selling steck as well. I'd love to see new medieval civilian sets. Steck framework houses are wonderful for it. I'd like to see new models of steck houses! :love: ... have you ever imagined that? A Mill, a round framework tower ... :love: :love: :love:
Steck has a lot of potential! :yup:
An interesting point that came to my mind yesterday was the fact that playmobil did an approach to extend steck to another world outside of the castles: They released the new generation of western houses in steck.
And they advanced them in a way that was novel: They added rigid ground floors.
(I purposely ignore here these strange black pesudo-floor pieces released before...)
So, I imagine they tried to extend steck. They also liked it. But these Western houses sucked. From my point of view especially due to the ground floors. They were static, not to be combined and completely contrary to a modular building system. At this point (well one year later) they introduced the SysX for city life and since then tried to establish this as being the major playmobil system. Obviously, they are also aware of the aesthetics of steck castles, as the introduction of the first sysX-castle took quite a while then...
Maybe it went this way... :)
best,
socrates
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An interesting point that came to my mind yesterday was the fact that playmobil did an approach to extend steck to another world outside of the castles: They released the new generation of western houses in steck.
And they advanced them in a way that was novel: They added rigid ground floors.
(I purposely ignore here these strange black pesudo-floor pieces released before...)
So, I imagine they tried to extend steck. They also liked it. But these Western houses sucked. From my point of view especially due to the ground floors. They were static, not to be combined and completely contrary to a modular building system. At this point (well one year later) they introduced the SysX for city life and since then tried to establish this as being the major playmobil system. Obviously, they are also aware of the aesthetics of steck castles, as the introduction of the first sysX-castle took quite a while then...
Maybe it went this way... :)
best,
socrates
you're talking for the 1994 western buildings socrates??
http://www.collectobil.com/images/items/3786.jpg
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Ps.
Western Steck ... attached
I don't know if it's good, but it's pretty too, and more playmobil like than anything!
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I like the system x western forts and naval strongholds, but that's it. I got the newest Lion castle and Rock castle mostly out of couriosity but I did like the results.
pano you like the lion castle?? i think it's problematic if you move it a little it is taken apart also the walls are short like the hight of a klicky the think i like on it is the house the roof is very nice they should use it on the next castles!!!
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I'd love to get my hands on a MISB Colorado Springs Station!
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Ps.
Western Steck ... attached
I don't know if it's good, but it's pretty too, and more playmobil like than anything!
this station is adorable!!! a must in my list...
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Once more I will talk about a detail that may look like unimportant for collectors but that probably makes all the difference to geobra Brandstätter ...
Playmobil isn't meant for collectors. It's meant for children. And I'll tell you why: nowadays children will be the ones buying playmo for their children (and even for themselves) tomorrow.
So, if you look at the castles about to be launched, for instance, (attached), take a look at their roofs. (I told this once, I'll say it again.) They are "fake roof". They aren't like the old model of castles that Playmobil used to do, which had an actual house in it. It's a "little theatre" Castle Inside ... It's a fake roof. It'll be wonderful for playing (and even for making photostories -- my work! ::) -- but uneffective for realistic dioramas as the ones usually made with steck. (I've seen Napoleonic dioramas, from Garden-Wargaming people, that make you fall off you chair! ~ with steck. Super-realistic.)
What will these guys do with the new castles? Honestly don't know. But children, and "little-theatre" people will enjoy them a lot!, because they're good scenary for little-plays ...
It's somewhat like the old playmo cannon balls: they were substituted by the "arrow" rubber balls we have nowadays. It's much better to _play_ with the new ones, however it's much less realistic.
Well, in a way, playmobil doesn't have to be realistic, but playable, and safe for children.
(One extra pont for steck, once those System X pins are horrible for children to swallow :lol: )
However, to say that playmobil doesn't have to be realistic is a paradox, because it's meant to be realistic, and finding the balance seems to be hard ...
Fact is that they have been trying to become more realistic: if you see the old models of animals, and the new ones, you'll notice that. If you see the old klickys and the new ones, including bikini girls, you'll notice that it's a hard thing to have balance in a toy that is considered (by us, collectors) a piece of art. There's people who only collect & like "vintage" playmo ... Odd, but, well, it's become a product. There's all sorts of playmobil consumers ...
And Zirndorf doesn't have, in a way, to pay much attention to it. Impossible to please everyone.
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pano you like the lion castle?? i think it's problematic if you move it a little it is taken apart also the walls are short like the hight of a klicky the think i like on it is the house the roof is very nice they should use it on the next castles!!!
I love te gate and the house building!!! I am not that thrilled with the walls and the structure did come apart literaly most of the times i tried to move it... But as i've written in other posts, these newer sets can stand out for themselves, at least for me, I do not see the need to expand them.... I use steck for that purpose!!!
@ Gustavo: I agree with your verdict!
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I love te gate and the house building!!! I am not that thrilled with the walls and the structure did come apart literaly most of the times i tried to move it... But as i've written in other posts, these newer sets can stand out for themselves, at least for me, I do not see the need to expand them.... I use steck for that purpose!!!
correct !!!!
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Once more I will talk about a detail that may look like unimportant for collectors but that probably makes all the difference to geobra Brandstätter ...
Playmobil isn't meant for collectors. It's meant for children. And I'll tell you why: nowadays children will be the ones buying playmo for their children (and even for themselves) tomorrow.
So, if you look at the castles about to be launched, for instance, (attached), take a look at their roofs. (I told this once, I'll say it again.) They are "fake roof". They aren't like the old model of castles that Playmobil used to do, which had an actual house in it. It's a "little theatre" Castle Inside ... It's a fake roof. It'll be wonderful for playing (and even for making photostories -- my work! ::) -- but uneffective for realistic dioramas as the ones usually made with steck. (I've seen Napoleonic dioramas, from Garden-Wargaming people, that make you fall off you chair! ~ with steck. Super-realistic.)
What will these guys do with the new castles? Honestly don't know. But children, and "little-theatre" people will enjoy them a lot!, because they're good scenary for little-plays ...
It's somewhat like the old playmo cannon balls: they were substituted by the "arrow" rubber balls we have nowadays. It's much better to _play_ with the new ones, however it's much less realistic.
Well, in a way, playmobil doesn't have to be realistic, but playable, and safe for children.
(One extra pont for steck, once those System X pins are horrible for children to swallow :lol: )
However, to say that playmobil doesn't have to be realistic is a paradox, because it's meant to be realistic, and finding the balance seems to be hard ...
Fact is that they have been trying to become more realistic: if you see the old models of animals, and the new ones, you'll notice that. If you see the old klickys and the new ones, including bikini girls, you'll notice that it's a hard thing to have balance in a toy that is considered (by us, collectors) a piece of art. There's people who only collect & like "vintage" playmo ... Odd, but, well, it's become a product. There's all sorts of playmobil consumers ...
And Zirndorf doesn't have, in a way, to pay much attention to it. Impossible to please everyone.
and even for children these castles are discusting they don't have any style if i was a kid again i woulden't buy them and then they were simular castles like that not playmobil offcource i never bought something like that i see what is pretty and what is ugly ,was i a special kid ?? ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^ ^-^
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:lol:
I guess you were a special kid, all right. Together with most of us in here! :lol:
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The question might be: "did we ever grow up?" *grin*
I think I am joining the rest of you guys with your verdicts. I am building a medieval tonw...using steck but for our Zoo we will be using Sys X.
The new stuff still needs to prove itself to me.