The end of mindstorms - no smiley face sad enough

[Eric Reed]

If you look up mindstorms news on yahoo or google, you will find seven stories in the past six weeks about young kids getting excited about space, science, robots and other technology through lego robotics. I personally think the FLL program is the best thing that ever happened to many kids. I was very saddened to read this other bit of news today:

Yahoo news (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040108/ap_on_bi_ge/denmark_lego_1)

Since it reported its first loss of $47.8 million in 1998, Lego has been hit hard by increasing competition from the makers of electronic toys.

Under Plougmann, the company reacted by expanding its electronic offerings, including making high-profile deals to use characters from Disney, the Star Wars films and Harry Potter (news - web sites) books in its toys.

It also developed popular CD-ROM games and its lauded Mindstorms series, high-tech robots that are made of building blocks but can be controlled by personal computers.

As a result, sales rose but profits stagnated because of the higher cost of producing the new products.

The company now plans to stop making the electronics and movie tie-in products and return to its core mission: producing colored plastic building blocks for children.

[IMDWalrus]

The obvious question now at hand: what does this mean for the Lego League teams? Will there BE a Lego League at this time next year? I guess it's possible that Lego might continue the FLL program in some way, but since they're completely eliminating the Mindstorms line, I don't really see this happening.

This is awful... :(

[Eric Reed]

There has been talk for a couple of years about the demise of Mindstorms; beginning with the closing of their headquarters here in the SF Bay Area. At the time the scuttle was that Pitsco would maintain the line for educational use, but I really don't see that happenning and there is no indication of that in yesterday's articles. I hope FLL will be able to find a new platform...preferably one that starts with the letter 'L' (a bit of gallows humor there).

Eric.

[Ted Boucher]

This is a horrible. If they created a new mindstorms program, sales would of took off again. :ahh: :(

[Adam Y.]

There has been talk for a couple of years about the demise of Mindstorms; beginning with the closing of their headquarters here in the SF Bay Area. At the time the scuttle was that Pitsco would maintain the line for educational use, but I really don't see that happenning and there is no indication of that in yesterday's articles. I hope FLL will be able to find a new platform...preferably one that starts with the letter 'L' (a bit of gallows humor there).
I have seen more and more educational robots pop up that offer the same capibilites as mindstorms and then some. It really just involves some research. Even First can probably create something better.

[George1902]

Even First can probably create something better.

Is the Edubot too high level for middle school kids? Would that make an adequate substitute?

[Ashley Weed]

Is the Edubot too high level for middle school kids? Would that make an adequate substitute?

One of the biggest catches might be a 5th grader being inable to program an Edubot.

[Tytus Gerrish]

DUDE this IS HOrible

Ok everybody Go out right now and buy a mindstorms kit so legos sals will go up and they will be continualy produced

Err Im Being Crazy Probaly because kickoff is tomarro ERR!
I want my legos i want the kids to have legos i woant more ppl to have legos

[Adam Y.]

http://www.robotstore.com/catalog_request/Cat26_PDFs/Cat26_04-05_Grandar_AS-M.pdf
I doubt the edurobot would be easy enough to program. I believe that something like the above would work. It would provide click and drop programing while providing high level functions.

[kevin.li.rit]

This is really sad, you can do alot of cool stuff with the mindstorms. It's easy enough to pick up and younger kids seem to find it more interesting. I've seen a lot of cool stuff done with those mindstorms. I hope some makes a suitable replacement.

[sanddrag]

Perhaps they could use something like the Parallax BOE Bot. And maybe someone could develop a GUI programming interface. But I guess that platform is not as easily customizable as the legos are.

[Jillian B.]

NOOOOOO! :( That can't happen. Mindstorms are so cool, and the things the kids have learned from them are incredible. Argh... I want my legos.

I'm guessing FIRST will be able to find something else. Or at least I hope so.

-Jill

[Noah]

Maybe if they use PBASIC edubots... I could have programmed that in sixth grade.

[Ashley Weed]

I'm guessing FIRST is unsure or oblivious to what is going on with FLL and Lego Corp. They seemed to discuss FLL enough during kick-off and acted as if no change in the partnership was occuring. :confused:

[IMDWalrus]

I'm guessing FIRST is unsure or oblivious to what is going on with FLL and Lego Corp. They seemed to discuss FLL enough during kick-off and acted as if no change in the partnership was occuring. :confused:
Maybe they just chose not to acknowledge the situation until they know how it's going to turn out. They can't really say that FLL is dead until they're positive that Lego's commitment to the program is over and that there are no other alternatives.

[oneyd]

from what the FLL expert on my team told me, FLL will continue to use the parts that are out now and create new games. in other words FIRST LEGO LEAGUE WILL LIVE ON!!! there just won't be any new parts.

[kevin.li.rit]

from what the FLL expert on my team told me, FLL will continue to use the parts that are out now and create new games. in other words FIRST LEGO LEAGUE WILL LIVE ON!!! there just won't be any new parts.
I hope that's true.

[IMDWalrus]

from what the FLL expert on my team told me, FLL will continue to use the parts that are out now and create new games. in other words FIRST LEGO LEAGUE WILL LIVE ON!!! there just won't be any new parts.
Wouldn't that make it incredibly hard to start new teams? It would be great if FLL could live on in any capacity, but it would be even better if the program could continue to grow so more students have a chance to get involved.

[edit]Situation update...According to TheForce.Net, the Mindstorms line isn't going away...the story is here (http://www.theforce.net/collecting/index.shtml#22998). Could this mean that Lego League isn't finished?

[Joe Matt]

GOOD NEWS! It's not ending!

Lego released a press-release saying that they arn't discontinueing mindstorms!!!

They are just reducing other parts of the business, such as the parks and stores, and that mindstores and bionicale are going to be THEIR MAIN FOCUS!!!

http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.asp?page=pressdetail&contentid=3423

[cbudrecki]

by reading the article on the LEGO site, it almost sounds like they have someone keeping an eye on CD for rumors like this...

[Kevin Watson]

Yes, good news indeed. This was just sent out to the FLL teams:

-Kevin

>It has come to our attention that recent news concerning events at the
>LEGO Company contained inaccurate information about our ongoing commitment
>and support for LEGO MINDSTORMS. In response to questions from FLL
>partners, FLL participants and other LEGO MINDSTORMS enthusiasts, the LEGO
>Company has prepared the following statement:
>
>Recent speculation that LEGO Company will be abandoning the LEGO
>MINDSTORMS concept simply isn't true. We are fully committed to the LEGO
>MINDSTORMS concept and the FIRST LEGO League program. The LEGO Company
>will constantly be developing new products and concepts that empower
>children to realize their own ideas and discover new possibilities, and we
>believe that technology and robotics are an important part of that. But
>going forward, LEGO Company will to a higher degree seek the balance
>between the core LEGO Idea and new expressions of the LEGO brand in ways
>that make sense for consumers and our business. The LEGO MINDSTORMS
>concept is close to the LEGO core.
>
>We are extremely proud of the FIRST LEGO League program and our
>partnership with FIRST and all the FLL partners. FLL has a unique way to
>inspire and challenge children to make an effort to come up with their own
>unique solutions to complex problems. The LEGO MINDSTORMS concept and the
>RCX technology are playing an essential role in FIRST LEGO League and will
>continue to do so. We look forward to supporting the continued growth of
>the FLL program in the future.
>
>
>Tormod Askildsen
>Senior Director
>LEGO Community Development