Answers.Body: <p>I don't have enough reputation to post a comment, but in response to this comment by user3509 (and the similar answer from MartenFerret):</p>
  <blockquote>
  <p>I would also hazard a guess that for brand sets part of the deal was that alternate models weren't allowed for copyright reasons - for example, a Star Wars X-Wing set can only build an X-Wing. Lego then probably made all sets follow the same design pattern for their own brand cohesion.</p>
  </blockquote>
  <p>The original 7140 X-Wing model released in 1999 <em>did</em> have the traditional alternate builds shown on the back of the box:
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/P5saW.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/P5saW.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
  <p>So if it's a licensing-based decision, it was a later one.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-10-21T19:39:17.763Z
Answers.Text: I am of the opinion that this response complete with imagery to justify it should remain an answer.
Answers.UserDisplayName: JoshDM
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-11-05T22:57:52.140Z
Answers.Text: Okay, I have enough reputation now to make it a comment but I'll leave it up as a separate answer instead.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Nition
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-04-14T13:45:58.333Z
Answers.Text: Looking at the website that was linked in the answer by @pfunkadunk, it looks like there were Star Wars sets with alternate builds were still being made as late as 2003, with sets 4482: AT-TE and 4500: Rebel Snowspeeder.
Answers.UserDisplayName: nick012000
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-10-21T00:52:44.257Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2021-04-14T03:34:32.263Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2021-04-14T03:34:32.263Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Nition
Answers.Body: <p>I don’t have an answer to why they stopped, but this site is trying to get instructions together for all the old stuff.
  <a href="http://www.backoftheboxbuilds.com" rel="noreferrer">www.backoftheboxbuilds.com</a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-09-16T23:09:45.330Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-09-17T05:57:16.640Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2019-09-17T05:57:16.640Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: pfunkadunk
Answers.Body: <p>I do believe the LEGO Group has limited the instructions to only one build, not including the sets that are meant to re-build differently (in this case there are 3 instruction sheets).</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/v7eYu.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>If instead of actually rebuilding the set you mean alternate views (like the back of a model, or the unfolded model, etc.) this still applies to most sets that have an inside, unfold, etc.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-11-27T05:45:55.710Z
Answers.Text: I'm referring to the instruction-less alternate builds, which were commonly displayed on the back and sides of the box.
Answers.UserDisplayName: JoshDM
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-11-27T12:53:11.457Z
Answers.Text: @JoshDM I do believe that the LEGO Company has stopped displaying instruction-less builds, but sometimes you still see alternate views or unfoldings of the same build.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Timtech
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-11-27T17:01:04.180Z
Answers.Text: Have they given a reason why?
Answers.UserDisplayName: JoshDM
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-11-27T21:53:16.267Z
Answers.Text: I believe the parents complained that there weren't instructions provided for the alternative models, so Lego stopped showing them.  I don't know if anyone can confirm this factoid, but I'm sure I read it once somewhere.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Windfire
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-12-31T17:34:26.440Z
Answers.Text: This is the sort of info I'm looking for.  Needs more research to back it up, but I'll accept any answer with a sourced variant on this comment info.
Answers.UserDisplayName: JoshDM
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-11-27T00:47:24.903Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-11-27T00:47:24.903Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Timtech
Answers.Body: <p>Most sets are licensed. If Lego, say, offered alternate models for Star wars sets, each alternate would need to be approved by disney ...which costs money Lego wouldn't know a return on.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-04-21T15:48:50.543Z
Answers.Text: About a half, but not the most, with roughly, 220/477 licensed sets for 2019. And you just cannot really build much SW/DC/Marvel alternatives from SW/DC/Marvel sets. Same goes with most of other licenses. However there are exceptions: 42030, 42063, 42053.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Alex
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-04-21T20:34:57.853Z
Answers.Text: Marten, welcome to Bricks.SE. There seems to be much speculation on the whole license/contract/permission topic. Nobody knows the details of LEGO-Disney contracts. Maybe LEGO has other reasons to not present alternative models on the boxes. We do not know that. If you do, please provide some evidence. @Alex I think that you could build alternate models from ANY set (except maybe buildable Star Wars figures :) You could also speculate that B-models are sometimes better than the A-models, so LEGO wants to avoid this embarassing situation.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Metalbeard
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-04-21T15:30:40.197Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-04-21T15:30:40.197Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: MartenFerret
Answers.Body: <p>I believe the reason is purely commercial. Why would parents buy another box of bricks if there are pictures of so many things their kid can build with only one set? </p>
  
  <p>Nowadays there are no alternate models on backsides of boxes. Instead, there are some teaser pictures of other sets, and sometimes a message saying "Collect them all!"</p>
  
  <p>Isn't it rather obvious?</p>
  
  <p>Anyone of the same opinion?</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-10-18T10:53:56.227Z
Answers.Text: LEGO doesn't seem to be that kind of a company.....
Answers.UserDisplayName: undo
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-10-26T09:00:51.793Z
Answers.Text: "Why would parents buy another box of bricks if there are pictures of so many things their kid can build with only one set?" - I thought the freedom of buying so many things with only one set is exactly why parents are supposed to buy a box of LEGO rather than another toy.
Answers.UserDisplayName: O. R. Mapper
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-10-10T11:56:16.477Z
Answers.Text: Plus, since you can't build alternate models at the same time as the original, this could be a reason to push for more purchases
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joubarc
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-10-29T22:10:48.730Z
Answers.Text: @undo Yeah, but they do need profit for salaries and maintenance and whatnot
Answers.UserDisplayName: technicguy1
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-04-16T06:36:30.213Z
Answers.Text: @Joubarc: Of course, that would require alternate builds to look like valid models on their own, rather than like half-baked brick piles resulting from the attempt to build something with an ill-matching selection of parts. IMHO, alternate builds in former times were a mixed bag in that respect.
Answers.UserDisplayName: O. R. Mapper
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-06-12T13:34:17.037Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-04-21T23:41:01.257Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2020-04-21T23:41:01.257Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Antonio Serutti
Body: <p>When I was younger, the backs of my Castle/Space Lego set boxes showed alternate model builds for the supplied pieces, configurations not detailed in the instruction manual.  I appreciated these creative ideas, showing me other things I could make with the pieces; I found them inspiring and sometimes challenging as they were presented without instructions.  The inclusion of these models made me keep clippings from the boxes in order to replicate designs.</p>
  
  <p>Today, it seems that alternate model designs are no longer presented on the backs/sides of Lego boxes.</p>
  
  <p>Has Lego discontinued this practice, and why?  Has it been dropped entirely for all sets, or is it simply not done for "licensed" sets (Batman, Star Wars, etc.).</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-11-27T03:50:53.213Z
Comments.Text: Almost all the Technic sets still have instructions for a second model (online rather than printed). I suspect the problem is that sets and parts have become more specific so it's harder to make a decent B model, especially with the smaller sets. 100 parts, half of which are minifigs, just doesn't give a set designer many options.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Móż
Tags: <sets><design><discontinued>
Title: Has Lego discontinued presenting alternate configurations on the backs of modern boxes?
UserDisplayName: JoshDM
ThreadText: # Has Lego discontinued presenting alternate configurations on the backs of modern boxes?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-11-27)
  
  When I was younger, the backs of my Castle/Space Lego set boxes showed alternate model builds for the supplied pieces, configurations not detailed in the instruction manual. I appreciated these creative ideas, showing me other things I could make with the pieces; I found them inspiring and sometimes challenging as they were presented without instructions. The inclusion of these models made me keep clippings from the boxes in order to replicate designs.
  
  Today, it seems that alternate model designs are no longer presented on the backs/sides of Lego boxes.
  
  Has Lego discontinued this practice, and why? Has it been dropped entirely for all sets, or is it simply not done for "licensed" sets (Batman, Star Wars, etc.).
  
  **Tags:** sets, design, discontinued
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Almost all the Technic sets still have instructions for a second model (online rather than printed). I suspect the problem is that sets and parts have become more specific so it's harder to make a decent B model, especially with the smaller sets. 100 parts, half of which are minifigs, just doesn't give a set designer many options.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 5 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2020-10-21. Score: 8
  
  I don't have enough reputation to post a comment, but in response to this comment by user3509 (and the similar answer from username_7):
  
  > I would also hazard a guess that for brand sets part of the deal was that alternate models weren't allowed for copyright reasons - for example, a Star Wars X-Wing set can only build an X-Wing. Lego then probably made all sets follow the same design pattern for their own brand cohesion.
  
  The original 7140 X-Wing model released in 1999 *did* have the traditional alternate builds shown on the back of the box:
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/P5saW.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/P5saW.jpg)
  
  So if it's a licensing-based decision, it was a later one.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: I am of the opinion that this response complete with imagery to justify it should remain an answer.  
  > **username_2**: Okay, I have enough reputation now to make it a comment but I'll leave it up as a separate answer instead.  
  > **username_3**: Looking at the website that was linked in the answer by @username_4, it looks like there were Star Wars sets with alternate builds were still being made as late as 2003, with sets 4482: AT-TE and 4500: Rebel Snowspeeder.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2019-09-16. Score: 6
  
  I don’t have an answer to why they stopped, but this site is trying to get instructions together for all the old stuff.
  [www.backoftheboxbuilds.com](http://www.backoftheboxbuilds.com)
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_10 on 2015-06-12. Score: 2
  
  I believe the reason is purely commercial. Why would parents buy another box of bricks if there are pictures of so many things their kid can build with only one set?
  
  Nowadays there are no alternate models on backsides of boxes. Instead, there are some teaser pictures of other sets, and sometimes a message saying "Collect them all!"
  
  Isn't it rather obvious?
  
  Anyone of the same opinion?
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_11**: LEGO doesn't seem to be that kind of a company.....  
  > **username_12**: "Why would parents buy another box of bricks if there are pictures of so many things their kid can build with only one set?" - I thought the freedom of buying so many things with only one set is exactly why parents are supposed to buy a box of LEGO rather than another toy.  
  > **username_13**: Plus, since you can't build alternate models at the same time as the original, this could be a reason to push for more purchases  
  > **username_14**: @username_11 Yeah, but they do need profit for salaries and maintenance and whatnot  
  > **username_12**: @username_13: Of course, that would require alternate builds to look like valid models on their own, rather than like half-baked brick piles resulting from the attempt to build something with an ill-matching selection of parts. IMHO, alternate builds in former times were a mixed bag in that respect.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2014-11-27. Score: 1
  
  I do believe the LEGO Group has limited the instructions to only one build, not including the sets that are meant to re-build differently (in this case there are 3 instruction sheets).
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/v7eYu.jpg)
  
  If instead of actually rebuilding the set you mean alternate views (like the back of a model, or the unfolded model, etc.) this still applies to most sets that have an inside, unfold, etc.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: I'm referring to the instruction-less alternate builds, which were commonly displayed on the back and sides of the box.  
  > **username_5**: @username_0 I do believe that the LEGO Company has stopped displaying instruction-less builds, but sometimes you still see alternate views or unfoldings of the same build.  
  > **username_0**: Have they given a reason why?  
  > **username_6**: I believe the parents complained that there weren't instructions provided for the alternative models, so Lego stopped showing them.  I don't know if anyone can confirm this factoid, but I'm sure I read it once somewhere.  
  > **username_0**: This is the sort of info I'm looking for.  Needs more research to back it up, but I'll accept any answer with a sourced variant on this comment info.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2020-04-21. Score: 0
  
  Most sets are licensed. If Lego, say, offered alternate models for Star wars sets, each alternate would need to be approved by disney ...which costs money Lego wouldn't know a return on.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_8**: About a half, but not the most, with roughly, 220/477 licensed sets for 2019. And you just cannot really build much SW/DC/Marvel alternatives from SW/DC/Marvel sets. Same goes with most of other licenses. However there are exceptions: 42030, 42063, 42053.  
  > **username_9**: Marten, welcome to Bricks.SE. There seems to be much speculation on the whole license/contract/permission topic. Nobody knows the details of LEGO-Disney contracts. Maybe LEGO has other reasons to not present alternative models on the boxes. We do not know that. If you do, please provide some evidence. @username_8 I think that you could build alternate models from ANY set (except maybe buildable Star Wars figures :) You could also speculate that B-models are sometimes better than the A-models, so LEGO wants to avoid this embarassing situation.  
  
  ---
  
  