Since I stumbled about it once again and for historical reference I am adding a link to a german TV feature about geobra back from 1993:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dfU6WEBbO0&feature=player_embedded
It has e.g. Hans Beck, HOB, reflections about their product philosophy and several never released prototypes. Among them a round medieval tent and THE mississipi steam boat. And English subtitles. ;-)
Btw: at about 16:00 Hans Beck tells that they had a few mongols already back then but did not produce them because they did not quite exactly fit into the late medieval timeframe of their other sets. That's what I call historical accuracy. :-D
Unfortunately one can really tell that Hans Beck has left us. I doubt he would approve with the direction Playmobil has taken lately. Especially the new Asia-Theme - in my eyes at least - is a rather awful example. Some niece single pieces for sure, but think about the possibilities and think about what Hans Beck would have done with an Asian-Theme, think Mongols, Marco Polo, Pagodas, think REAL Asia, not this whacky Castle & Dragon stuff we are presented now. Will the kids like it? Of course they will, would the kids have liked a theme as Hans Beck would have done it, I am certain they would have.
Sorry I'm just very dissapointed, also because again we are presented with large lumps as Castles, which offer absolute zero possibility of changing and rebuilding as steck or system-x.
