Bionicle 2015 Discussion

[Shakar]

I mean the chains printed on their chests. Skull Grinder and Skull Basher both have a symmetrical design, yet for some reason they have a single chain on their chest printing.

I know, I meant the chests too. I don't mind that some designs have 1 chain and the other 2. But I realize not everyone can like it.

[TheOneVeyronian]

Personally, I ike the chain printing, it does give off a "villainous and dangerous" vibe to me. I may or may not drape more chains on them when I eventually modify them to do other things like erase the trans-neon orange where it looks ugly/unnecessary. Reminds me, I should do that and meant to do that with my Skull Chiller MOC.

Time for me to sneak some more chains into some BL orders

[Clone 01354 Productions]

I'm really liking the vibe of these chest prints, except for Slicer. That weird circle, hole...thing...looks terrible. I don't even know what it's supposed to represent.

??? ???? ?? ?????? ?

The full story went like this: Long ago, when we knew nothing about the summer wave, someone on this discussion said that it would be cool to bring back Takanuva in a gunmetal color scheme. However, he accidentally typed "funmetal" instead of gunmetal. Since then, it has become a joke, and the most recent usage was to describe the shiny/multicolored Toa masks coming out in the summer.

[The Outsider]

The LEGO employee packet leaked some months back says it still stands for "Biological Chronicle." However, I doubt they're going to pull another Great Spirit Robot. Perhaps it is an indication that the Gen 2 characters are not purely robotic but once again biomechanical, as we have speculated.

That said...they're mostly using the name "Bionicle" for name recognition. Cue lack of surprise.

Darn dragon statue, fooling us! Good to hear about the beast foot, I have been wanting to get them for Rocka. It is always good to see more pieces in Spring Yellowish Green anyway, even if it is just swords and bricks.

Hello! I doubt we will be seeing the Skull Spiders again, which is a shame. I thought that originally the new limb pieces were going to have a long pin-wide hole like some technic beams, and while I am sad to see that there isn't a similar connection point I like the bone-esque detail the pieces do have. As to the name, I bet it won't be defined; hardly anyone but deep fans knew much about how it's full name is 'Biological Chronicle'. Especially don't think they will call it the same since I doubt they are going to make this take the Giant Spirit Robot route that gave the name its purpose.

Yeah, you have a point; I never knew the name even had a meaning till 2006, when I discovered Biosector01. And I really don't think they'll repeat the Great Spirit plot, since Ekimu and Makuta are well-defined characters this time. Still would be cool to find out Okoto is a living island or something like that, though.

Shame about the Skull Spiders (and bad marketing, too; after all it's their main play pattern).

http://www.bzpower.c...Bionicle_51.jpg

Holy Ekimu, Lego! I thought you wanted kids to buy the sets, not to scare the crap out of them!

Mind you, this is a good sign. While the builds leave something to be desired, the work of the parts designers is impressive, the new molds are beautifully crafted and deliciously evil looking. The two new masks are honestly some of the scariest looking Lego pieces I've ever seen, the new weapons look very cool, the new armour add-on is fortunately smaller than I thought and has some fantastic details, and the new torso shell (abouttime.jpg) looks pretty versatile (and marks the return of transparent torsos!). And of course there are the chest prints, which are truly impressive- I can't get over the level of detail that went into these and the Toa chests, I thought the HF designs were great but these ones blow them out of the water.

The only real bummers are the set bulds issues people have already discussed, and the ridiculously low number of sets (SW at least makes up for it, especially if the other sets are on par with DV). I'd love to see another Skull villain with Gali's and Tahu's masks in funmetal as a retail exclusive, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

It's refreshing to know they're making pieces with more personality again.

And speaking of Gali and Tahu, I noticed something: remember that promo image with the Skull Mask? There are only two streams of elemental energy going to the pedestal: one red and one blue. And the pedestal seems to have molten metal flowing out of it. I think the missing Toa might've had a hand in reawakening the Skull Army, and it might've involved melting their masks into the skull masks. Maybe the Army is trying to do the same with the funmetal Golden Masks and awaken something worse?

And I just checked MMvsSG's box art again; the pedestal has more molten metal. I don't think Skull Grinder is trying to steal/use the mask of creation...

Personally while i like the printed chest plates, these ones are weakened by that random chain that is on each of them. Feel the printing would have been much better without it as it looks odd having a single chain. Even Slicer with his chain whip doesnt balance it out because it isnt the same style of 'ancient chain' as on his chest printing

Yeah, representing a tridimentional, moving object as static, bidimensional printing always feels weird...but at least it means they could save the budget for the new piece molds.

I like the sets a lot more with these new pics from BZP and Toy Ark. Skull Warrior looks much cooler to me now, as does Silcer. Skull Basher and Grinder still look like the only ones I'm going to get, and Scorpio remains shitty (although I am a fan of the "spooky" graveyard in the background of his box).

I still am intrigued by the hands on the box art, are they the Toa, Protectors, or as yet unheard of characters? But, yeah much more impressed now I've got a closer look!

Probably the Toa; as far as we know, they're the only ones in the city besides the Skull Army. Then again, we don't really know if everyone got out of the city after the Mask Maker battle...

[Logan McOwen]

I love how the chest prints represent really mechanical looking details - especially happy to see gears, as something about that makes them seem clockwork almost. But really, it does just drive home that these are battered up, decayed mechanoids, and I really dig that.

Edited February 16, 2015 by LewiMOC

[toatali]

I love how the chest prints represent really mechanical looking details - especially happy to see gears, as something about that makes them seem clockwork almost. But really, it does just drive home that these are battered up, decayed mechanoids, and I really dig that.

I also like how Grinder, Warrior and Basher continue the rib cage theme in their chest prints, another nice touch that shows the designer's attention to detail.

[vexorian]

http://www.bzpower.c...Bionicle_51.jpg

Holy Ekimu, Lego! I thought you wanted kids to buy the sets, not to scare the crap out of them!

This is the age of kids growing up with Plants vs. Zombies and Monster High. They'll be fine.

[Bigger Fish]

Skull Scorpio looks a lot better now that I've gotten a closer look at him. I like the tail, nice homage to the 2001 rahi.

[The Outsider]

This is the age of kids growing up with Plants vs. Zombies and Monster High. They'll be fine.

So true...

[Scarilian]

Yeah, representing a tridimentional, moving object as static, bidimensional printing always feels weird...but at least it means they could save the budget for the new piece molds.

Its just the rest of the printed or non-printed pieces lack chains. The only one to have chains anywhere else is Skull Slicer and thats a physical chain. If you have a printed piece with a chain then you need chains printed on other pieces around the body otherwise it comes off as really silly, given it implies they only have a singular chain on them that is just connected to their chest.

Instead of the impression that they were sealed underground and held in place by chains, it instead comes off as an odd and badly emphasised design choice. In addition the generic chain design obscures elements of the rest of the chest printing and makes it less unique. I love the rest of the chest printing, its just those generic chains that ruin it for me...

[Takanuinuva]

This is the age of kids growing up with Plants vs. Zombies and Monster High. They'll be fine.

I dunno remember that one kid's parents trying to sue Lego cause the kid was scared of the Toa Inika commercial.

[The Kumquat Alchemist]

I dunno remember that one kid's parents trying to sue Lego cause the kid was scared of the Toa Inika commercial.

I do hope that is fabricated hearsay, not out of any desire to call you a liar, but out of concern for the sanity of mankind.

[Dorek]

Instead of the impression that they were sealed underground and held in place by chains, it instead comes off as an odd and badly emphasised design choice. In addition the generic chain design obscures elements of the rest of the chest printing and makes it less unique. I love the rest of the chest printing, its just those generic chains that ruin it for me...

I wouldn't say odd or badly represented; maybe it doesn't mean the specific instance you have in mind, but it doesn't necessarily have to be. The Skull Spiders and LOSS aren't undead warriors like these guys, but they're still part of the overall "Skull" motif. It's just a design. Maybe the other sets had chains on them at some point and were removed from the final version, or maybe we'll see chains as a pattern in the animations or commercials.

Or maybe there's just chains on their chestpieces because it looks cool. And it does look cool.

[GK733]

I wouldn't say odd or badly represented; maybe it doesn't mean the specific instance you have in mind, but it doesn't necessarily have to be. The Skull Spiders and LOSS aren't undead warriors like these guys, but they're still part of the overall "Skull" motif. It's just a design. Maybe the other sets had chains on them at some point and were removed from the final version, or maybe we'll see chains as a pattern in the animations or commercials.

Or maybe there's just chains on their chestpieces because it looks cool. And it does look cool.

While it's just a print, the chains look like they are connected to their inner mechanics and not just tapped onto the chests.

Oor...okay they are just tapped onto there.

Edited February 16, 2015 by GK733

[Tazakk]

I do hope that is fabricated hearsay, not out of any desire to call you a liar, but out of concern for the sanity of mankind.

It was a toddler. The mom sued because she felt the Inika commercial was not appropriate to be shown during developmental programming (I think it was on NickJr, but at least a channel of the like).

[Clone 01354 Productions]

It was a toddler. The mom sued because she felt the Inika commercial was not appropriate to be shown during developmental programming (I think it was on NickJr, but at least a channel of the like).

Ugh....parents nowadays are way too overprotective and sheltering. "Oh no, there are shadows and glowing eyes! And rock music?! What is this, some hoodlum channel?!" You know what I said when I saw the Inika commercial? "Cool!" And I'm pretty sure that was most people's responses.

Parents are afraid of everything. They think that if their kid sees and Inika commercial, he'll become a devil worshiper who likes to skin animals and throw them in lemon juice.

Imagine the parent's responses if they played

.....they may have had a heart attack!

[Aanchir]

Ugh....parents nowadays are way too overprotective and sheltering. "Oh no, there are shadows and glowing eyes! And rock music?! What is this, some hoodlum channel?!" You know what I said when I saw the Inika commercial? "Cool!" And I'm pretty sure that was most people's responses.

Parents are afraid of everything. They think that if their kid sees and Inika commercial, he'll become a devil worshiper who likes to skin animals and throw them in lemon juice.

Imagine the parent's responses if they played

.....they may have had a heart attack!

I think it's a little disingenuous to judge all "parents nowadays" according to one parent's crazy reaction. There are many parents who are overprotective. There are some parents who aren't protective enough. But I think most parents fall somewhere in between.

[GK733]

It was a toddler. The mom sued because she felt the Inika commercial was not appropriate to be shown during developmental programming (I think it was on NickJr, but at least a channel of the like).

I can't wait for the Skull commercial.

[ToaDraco]

I can't wait for the Skull commercial.

Ah, I can see it now. They burst out of the ground walking creepily toward the camera making guttural noises with lighting, thunder and rain, I can't wait!

Edited February 16, 2015 by ToaDraco

[MakutaOfWar]

Eh, I don't know about this conversation. Parents of toddlers now are probably in their late twenties. :P They could of been fans for all I know, the times have changed. And the Inika commercial music annoyed me. -.- At the time they played that song on every music video channel there was. It got old after a couple of months. Cool commercial none the less.

[TheDesuComplex]

On the chest prints, I like the look they are going for (mechanical zombies) as it fits perfectly with the feel the sets are going for. Not going to lie, my first reaction was 'that is so metal/brutal', which I think is awesome.

Eh, I don't know about this conversation. Parents of toddlers now are probably in their late twenties. :P They could of been fans for all I know, the times have changed. And the Inika commercial music annoyed me. -.- At the time they played that song on every music video channel there was. It got old after a couple of months. Cool commercial none the less.

MOVE ALONG MOVE ALONG LIKE I KNOW YA DO!!! is playing in the background of your dreams, I assume?

[MakutaOfWar]

^Nightmares* you mean? XD

Another note, people are assuming parents are the way they were 9 years ago. Almost one decade, highly doubt everybody are as "overprotective " now.

[Scarilian]

I can't wait for the Skull commercial.

Have we even got proper toy commericals for the Winter sets yet. I know their is the CGI commercial with the Toa fighting LoSS and the stop motion style build-up commercials... but not sure they count as what everyone is hoping for... Which is probably this sort of thing;

Edited February 17, 2015 by Scarilian

[Still Raindrop]

Eh, I don't know about this conversation. Parents of toddlers now are probably in their late twenties. :P They could of been fans for all I know, the times have changed.

I don't know if 26 is late 20s, but I fit the bill here--G1 fan (and G2) who's also parent of a toddler. I probably wouldn't want her seeing "scary" stuff yet, but she also doesn't watch any tv yet.

I am interested to see commercials, though. Kind of wish we got mini-discs like in the 2001 Toa; I always found that cool.

Edited February 17, 2015 by Mariko

[ToaDraco]

Have we even got proper toy commericals for the Winter sets yet. I know their is the CGI commercial with the Toa fighting LoSS and the stop motion style build-up commercials... but not sure they count as what everyone is hoping for... Which is probably this sort of thing;

I like it and want more like it, aside for the freakin' PEW PEW LAHZORZ and Kopaka levitating for some weird reason. Lewa and Tahu's animations were very reminiscent of the promo videos back in 01' and I love that. Also why no love for Onua in that ad?

Edited February 17, 2015 by ToaDraco