Were larger-scale LEGO figures the standard at some point in the past? It just seems odd to me that they're called "mini" when they're basically the only kind of LEGO figures available (not counting vastly larger figures that are themselves models.)
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The minifigure is so-called because the original LEGO "Family" figures that were released in 1974 where somewhat larger, with bodies made from 2x2 Bricks, and arms made from hinged tubes.
There's a bit more of a condensed history in the minifigure tag wiki, and there is a bit more information about the minifigure as we know it today in the Company Profile
Zhaph - Ben Duguid
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9It almost begs the question "Where are they now?". I'm assuming the grandmother passed away. – LarsTech Feb 25 '12 at 23:23
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@LarsTech There's a set of (most of) them up in my loft mixed in with the rest of my System LEGO bricks ;) – Zhaph - Ben Duguid Feb 25 '12 at 23:31
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7Dearly de-parted grandma. May she rest in pieces. ;-) – Kramii Feb 27 '12 at 10:15
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1There are now also even smaller figures used in the board games. Nanofigs? – Lunatik Apr 02 '12 at 14:22
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3@Lunatik Those are called microfigures or Microfigs for short :) – Zhaph - Ben Duguid Apr 02 '12 at 18:51
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The pieces used to make the arms have later been used in Classic Space sets. It can be seen here. – S.L. Barth is on codidact.com Mar 06 '14 at 08:55
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Apart from the family figures, there was also the 1988 Technic action figures set (8712), which stood about 2.5 minifigs high from memory. There have been a few iterations over the years up into the 90's.
