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Posted: Apr 08 2011 09:40 am

So, K'nex of all product lines, got the license to do Mario Kart sets and they don't look half bad (though I suspect those are just computer mock-ups)
http://www.knex.com/mariokartwii/
You may remember K'nex as the building toy that used to be an original design but at this point is an almost complete Lego knock off. Still, having little articulated Mario figures is pretty sweet and apparently you can download and print off track panels which is cool.

Joined: Mar 08 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 131

I had the K'nex rubber band racer kit and I loved it. I always wished they were a lot cheaper. I drooled over the theme park K'nex commercials that used to be on tv. These Mario racers though look a lot more like Lego's than any K'nex pieces I ever saw. I hope K'nex hasn't abandoned their other piece sets.

Posted: Apr 08 2011 11:58 am

They barely use any of the old parts or connection style anymore, all the new sets are mostly Lego brick like pieces that connect in the same manner and a few old style K'nex pieces that act almost like Technic pieces in Lego.

Posted: Apr 09 2011 05:14 am

K'Nex somehow got the license to do Mechwarrior related models when Lego would have been far superior and led to further brand awareness and cross pollination for both intellectual properties, what a shame.

Posted: Apr 09 2011 05:32 am

You know, I never understood why Lego doesn't hold the patent on bricks that stick together by use of knobby things. There are so many companies that use that exact same "technology", I wonder how they get away with it.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Lego is an older company with products that are older.

The last LEGO interlinking block patent expired in 1988. It is the same reason why companies can now legally make NES emulation hardware.

Posted: Apr 09 2011 09:40 am

Blackout wrote:

K'Nex somehow got the license to do Mechwarrior related models when Lego would have been far superior and led to further brand awareness and cross pollination for both intellectual properties, what a shame.

Same thing with Megablox, they have the Iron Man and Halo licenses and while they are trying a lot of interesting things (like selling ODST drop pod packages with a single figure of a specific class of soldier in them), the quality is just way lower than Lego. I think Lego is reluctant to associate themselves with any really violent properties since they are a family themed company.

Posted: Apr 09 2011 04:17 pm

Poppycock, they made Pirate Sets and Crusader Knight sets, that shit was violent as hell! Razz

Posted: Apr 09 2011 09:33 pm

Yeah, but you can BS about how knights, pirates, ninjas, Star Wars, etc aren't really violent per se, it's just how you play with them and whatnot. It's a little harder on say, Halo, an M-rated video game series involving a lot of guns and a lot of violence...

Posted: Apr 09 2011 11:52 pm

I loved K'Nex as a kid, you could make so much cooler stuff with it than you could with a set of Legos. The amusements park sets kicked ass, I remember having the roller coaster one as a kid and I set it up in a day and a half.

Posted: Apr 10 2011 03:47 am

Pandajuice wrote:

You know, I never understood why Lego doesn't hold the patent on bricks that stick together by use of knobby things. There are so many companies that use that exact same "technology", I wonder how they get away with it.

ha, knobby.

I just clicked that link, when the hell did K'Nex start using lego style bricks? Last time I saw them they were like lame cheap plastic erector sets.

If the patent expired in 88 shouldn't K'Nex have had bricks all the time?

Are stickle bricks still around?

Posted: Apr 10 2011 06:46 am

They were as of a few years ago when my kids got a bucket. Stickle bricks are weird.

Posted: Apr 16 2011 11:48 am

I remember when they were just sticks and connector pieces. I have a few sets of them, including two that you pull back and send flying all over your floor. Those were sweet.

I can't believe they're just ripping off Lego bricks now, though. I might get the Yoshi set because I like Yoshi, but I'm still very disappointed in K'Nex.

Posted: Apr 19 2011 11:28 am

Blackout wrote:

K'Nex somehow got the license to do Mechwarrior related models when Lego would have been far superior and led to further brand awareness and cross pollination for both intellectual properties, what a shame.

Um... does Lego need more brand awareness? They have theme parks, stores, and video games. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who was unaware of Lego blocks.

Posted: Apr 22 2011 01:16 am

K'Nex as Legos? What BS, can kids not have fun with the way it used to be?
I got the scorpion set that had a motor that let it move around from my aunt/godmother. What a super lady.

Posted: Apr 23 2011 06:49 pm

Syd Lexia wrote:

Blackout wrote:

K'Nex somehow got the license to do Mechwarrior related models when Lego would have been far superior and led to further brand awareness and cross pollination for both intellectual properties, what a shame.

Um... does Lego need more brand awareness? They have theme parks, stores, and video games. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who was unaware of Lego blocks.

True. Let me rethink that a bit: Mechwarrior licensed toys would have been more successful if they had been associated with Legos, instead of crappy K'Nex. (IMO)

What looks cooler to you, this?

Or this?

Posted: Apr 23 2011 08:25 pm

Are...are pieces of the K'nex sets cardboard?

Posted: Apr 24 2011 07:26 am

I don't know anything about Mech Warrior, but honestly I do like the K'Nex one better. It's more colorful and shapely. The rocket launchers on the Lego ones look like crap.

Posted: Apr 24 2011 11:32 am

Well that guy's build is kind of blocky, if Lego actually did the line, they'd make em' smoother.

Posted: Apr 25 2011 09:33 pm

Yeah those were not the best example, how about this?