Further to our recent report about Lego lifting its ban on Doctor Who Lego Cuusoo submissions, one project has now successfully achieved 10,000 votes and entered the review process.
Lego posted an official updated on GlenBricker's project page, stating:
"Congratulations, GlenBricker and Kaminoan on reaching 10,000 supporters on LEGO CUUSOO!
You've presented a very nice TARDIS exterior and interior playset, and an assortment of characters from which to choose. We're looking forward to considering this project in the LEGO Review, but for now excuse us while we go make an electroshock device ... just in case this really IS a Nestene plot to take over the world via a toy factory!
We now officially advance this project to the Review phase.
What happens now?
This project moves from the Idea stage to the Review stage. A "LEGO Review Board" composed of designers, product managers, and other key team members will examine the idea. We'll build concept models and determine if the concept meets our high standards for what it takes to be a LEGO product. This includes factors such as playability, safety, and fit with the LEGO brand. Every potential LEGO product goes through a process like this and must meet the same standards.
The LEGO Review Begins in May
This project qualifies for the Second 2014 Review beginning in May and ending in September. For more information about the LEGO review process, see this knowledge base article.
The review is a thorough process and from its start, and can take several months. When finished, we make a "go/no go" decision to develop and sell a product based on the Doctor Who concept.
When the review is complete, we will inform you of our decision. If green-lit, this project goes into the longest phase of the project; the Development phase. During this time, LEGO model designers refine the product and develop it for release, we create the product materials (box, instructions, marketing), and get everything ready for a production run. This also takes several months."
DWO got in touch with Glen and Jared from the GlenBricker team to discuss their Doctor Who project:
When you first heard about Lego’s plans to open up the Doctor Who projects, what was your first thought and how did you come to settle on the project you submitted?
Glen: Ha..well, I kind of had three thoughts at the same time...kind of Left Brain/Right Brain thinking with the Geeky Brain in the back interrupting...he is always interrupting.
Left Brain: Go talk to JARED RIGHT NOW! Right Brain: You don't have time for this! Geeky Brain: NESTENE PLOT!
When Jared got back with me we were totally in sync on the set.
Jared: Basically we knew we needed a TARDIS, console, and some characters (Both good and bad), I had 2/3rds of the puzzle, Glen had the other 1/3rd
How did it feel when you found out you had made it to the review stage?
Jared: Excited and nervous, want to know NOW!
Glen: Exhausted...and Groggy, I tried staying up for it, like New Years Eve, but I fell asleep. I don't sleep much but I had just finished up at SXSW (http://sxsw.com/) so my body was sore from walking all over the place for five days, lugging a laptop in a backpack...so, I woke up, Laptop right in front of me...as I said, I fell asleep in front of it. Pressed Refresh and there it was..."Achieved."
It was very exciting, but it is only the starting of the next stage. Now is the wait, and then the review, and then the reveal. The real awesome thing though was that I finally felt everything snap...it was kind of like a Regeneration ;). I had focused so much on this idea and now it was done.
Sure, I have to write up a few articles on the next stage and what this really means to Doctor Who fans who are not familiar with the Lego Cuusoo Review process. But I had shelved all these other ideas while working on this singular concept, so it is so rejuvenating to get back to them, let all these Tangents breath: how can I do a Silurian in Lego? a Sontaran? How do I make Granny Weatherwax's Beehive (http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/36302).
What would your dream Doctor Who Lego set be?
Jared: I think we all want a themed series, but Cuusoo is simply for a set, so I believe the dream set is much as we pitched to LEGO, A TARDIS (preferably with light and sound, like the one I made, but couldn't show due to Cuusoo restrictions), 2-3 Doctors + 2 companions, Angels, Daleks, Cybermen, and a few other aliens. LEGO still doesn't want to load up a set with figures at a lower price point, but needs to do so, or needs to have other sets to go along with this one to capture everyone's "Cuusoo" (Wish).
Glen: That is an interesting and very intelligent question. The easy answer is of course, the one we presented in the project. But, it is much more complex than that. When I make Cuusoo projects I try to take my Love of the subject (in this case, Doctor Who) and find where it intersects with the widest audience and thus greatest chance of resulting in actual production.
It is pretty easy for high-end Lego fans like myself and Jared to recreate what we like most from Dotor Who. The majority of episodes take place in standard cities, future environments, and of course quarries, all of which lend themselves well to Lego.
There is, however, not that much Lego designed for...well...London Circa 1892...Personally, my ideal Official Doctor Who set would be one based on "The Snowmen." There are so many great characters in that episode and great visuals. Plus a carriage.
A close competitor for it would be one based on "The Girl in the Fireplace." The story is phenomenal, and again, rare visuals to be had. There would of course be the fireplace, and those beautifully creepy Clockwork Droids!
Man, so hard to choose. I could of course also go for a Tom Baker set like "City of Death."
More news on the review stage as we get it...
[Sources: DWO; Lego]
