Hero Factory 2012

[Aanchir]

I get that some people don't like the gears. What I don't get is the argument that these are action figures, so they shouldn't have gears.

I mean, what part of the title "action figure" precludes them from having action features? It's right there in the title.

I liked the gears (or other functions that didn't necessarily use gears), as they required a bit more complexity to integrate. And they were cool.

Yeah they could impede posing, but sets like the Bohrok and Visorak showed that that doesn't have to be the case.

I would agree about the added complexity, except for the fact that many sets with gears involved extremely specialized "gearbox"-style torsos. Many MOCists found creative uses for these torsos, but I much preferred the later, more versatile torso designs.

I don't think that having gear functions strictly goes against the nature of an action figure, but at the same time it's not totally in sync for the reason many kids tend to buy action figures; that is, for role play. Gear functions usually offer an imprecise sort of control over the character's movements, as opposed to the more direct control that regular articulation points tend to offer.

[Vinyl Scratch]

Action Figures don't need to have gears. I mean the "action" is on the set, like the launchers and Von Nebula's Staff for example.

The fact that it's called Action Figure doesn't mean it needs to have gears, Action Figure is any set that has an action - Most of them do, with the launchers.

[Bfahome]

Action Figures don't need to have gears. I mean the "action" is on the set, like the launchers and Von Nebula's Staff for example.

The fact that it's called Action Figure doesn't mean it needs to have gears, Action Figure is any set that has an action - Most of them do, with the launchers.

This sounds more reasonable than saying "Action Figures aren't the place for gears" and that you're "sick of all you guys missing the gears" like it's been the dominant complaint in this topic.

But I'm not sure I'd consider VN's staff an "action".

[Aanchir]

This sounds more reasonable than saying "Action Figures aren't the place for gears" and that you're "sick of all you guys missing the gears" like it's been the dominant complaint in this topic.

But I'm not sure I'd consider VN's staff an "action".

Well, TLG considered it an action, at least enough to advertise its "spinning feature". I agree it's a pretty lousy action feature (it would work better if the center section spun, or the whole staff spun, and you could spin it from the base rather than needing to put your hand on the blades themselves).

Action figures, though, don't really need "action features"; the word "action" is just thrown in to make it sound MANLY. I guess there's action involved in the actual playing with the toy, regardless of whether it has any inherent action features besides movable joints. But that's really beside the point; in truth there's nothing separating dolls from action figures besides that dolls have a stigma of only being for girls.

Also, on a side note, what's this about Thornraxx having three legs? I interpreted it as just two arms and a tail, like the Nui-Rama.

[Vinyl Scratch]

Well, TLG considered it an action, at least enough to advertise its "spinning feature". I agree it's a pretty lousy action feature (it would work better if the center section spun, or the whole staff spun, and you could spin it from the base rather than needing to put your hand on the blades themselves).

Action figures, though, don't really need "action features"; the word "action" is just thrown in to make it sound MANLY. I guess there's action involved in the actual playing with the toy, regardless of whether it has any inherent action features besides movable joints. But that's really beside the point; in truth there's nothing separating dolls from action figures besides that dolls have a stigma of only being for girls.

Also, on a side note, what's this about Thornraxx having three legs? I interpreted it as just two arms and a tail, like the Nui-Rama.

MANLY.

Well, tecnically they are three legs, you can consider it being three arms, legs, tails.

[The Crazy One]

Well, tecnically they are three legs, you can consider it being three arms, legs, tails.

Your logic baffles me...

[Vinyl Scratch]

Your logic baffles me...

I have a rather creative mind.

I don't want to picture Thornraxx with three stingers though

[Aanchir]

I have a rather creative mind.

I don't want to picture Thornraxx with three stingers though

Why not? It suited many Dr. Seuss animals just fine! But anyway, I think the parts on his front two appendages look more like claws than stingers.

Thornraxx: "Beware my stinger tail! Err, no, wait, is it a tail or a leg? It might actually be an arm, come to think of it..."

[The Crazy One]

Why not? It suited many Dr. Seuss animals just fine! But anyway, I think the parts on his front two appendages look more like claws than stingers.

Thornraxx: "Beware my stinger tail! Err, no, wait, is it a tail or a leg? It might actually be an arm, come to think of it..."

Pfft, I don't care, he's a part pack.

[Tanma]

Yeah, I see it like the Nui-Rama too, just two arms and a stinger. Maybe it just dangles by its arms when it needs to rest, like how Bats sleep upside down, held up solely by their feet. Or maybe its body is so designed that it can hover nearly indifinitely?

[dviddy]

Gears don't belong on action figures

I fail to see the distinction between BIONICLE's gears, and say, superhero action figures with punching actions, with swinging sword arms (just like the original Toa!), "kung-fu action", etc. Your statement ignores the long history of these types of actions in, well, action figures.

[ice dragon]

Is anyone else feeling the longing for vehicles? 1.0 had them, but ever since then it's just been action figures.

[Kalhiki]

Is anyone else feeling the longing for vehicles? 1.0 had them, but ever since then it's just been action figures.

I'd love to see vehicles return. But with the new building system, it'd be near impossible to make a vehicle without the use of technic parts.

However, they could do something like Turaga Dume and Nivawk. A beast and rider type deal, but that still isn't a vehicle, is it.

Kalhiki

[Tanma]

I'd love to see vehicles return. But with the new building system, it'd be near impossible to make a vehicle without the use of technic parts.

However, they could do something like Turaga Dume and Nivawk. A beast and rider type deal, but that still isn't a vehicle, is it.

Kalhiki

I am not sure if you would count Nivawk as a tradition beast. In the Bionicle storyline, yes it was a bird. But the way Dume attaches, if my memory serves me correctly, was like a pilot in a mech. Are you thinking of something more like Lihkan and Kikanalo?

[Kalhiki]

I was just thinking of some generic beast and rider combo, and Turaga Duma and Nivawk was the first thing that came to mind. But yeah, Lihkan and Kikanalo would probably be a better comparison.

Kalhiki

[Bfahome]

I am not sure if you would count Nivawk as a tradition beast. In the Bionicle storyline, yes it was a bird. But the way Dume attaches, if my memory serves me correctly, was like a pilot in a mech. Are you thinking of something more like Lihkan and Kikanalo?

I think it was more like a harness than, say, a cockpit. But I don't think that kind of attachment would work that well, since I think even the smallest sets are now larger than Dume was.

Lhikanalo, Fenrakk, those types of thing would be cool, but probably just for villains. Heroes probably fit better with vehicles.

Also, the Thornraxx thing. It's pretty clearly something like claws and a tail. Things like insect-like legs were probably left off for being extraneous.

Edited September 25, 2011 by Bfahome

[ice dragon]

You know, how long do you think Hero Factory will stay? How long will kids keep buying the same story year after year? Without some kind of overarcing plot like Bionicle had, how long do you think kids will keep accepting the same basic story. (The heroes get upgraded, fight villains, come home repeat)

[The Iron Knight]

It'll last as long as it does. There's no way of telling.

[CabooseBM]

As long as the sets sell well, it'll continue.

[Tanma]

You know, how long do you think Hero Factory will stay? How long will kids keep buying the same story year after year? Without some kind of overarcing plot like Bionicle had, how long do you think kids will keep accepting the same basic story. (The heroes get upgraded, fight villains, come home repeat)

Depends, I personally think over aching stories are vital, one arch stories leave me hungry for connected plots. But the first few years of Bionicle were upgrade stories, from Mata to Golden Masks to Nuva. Though to be fair the Golden Masks were earned after questing for twelve different masks for each Toa.

[Aanchir]

You know, how long do you think Hero Factory will stay? How long will kids keep buying the same story year after year? Without some kind of overarcing plot like Bionicle had, how long do you think kids will keep accepting the same basic story. (The heroes get upgraded, fight villains, come home repeat)

It's worked for franchises like Power Rangers for years. In fact, many merchandise-driven stories work successfully based on that same model, even though ones that have a full TV show or something similar at their disposal have more time to put towards less linear plot threads. Kids who are likely to get tired of the story would probably grow out of the toys and story alike by the time they get bored anyway.

It seemed like there were a lot of BIONICLE fans who were in it for the long haul, but frankly most BIONICLE fans (or rather, former BIONICLE fans) I've met in real life (other than at LEGO-related events) liked it as a toy, in rare cases followed the story for a little while, and moved on to other things. And I can see how the expansive story might have alienated new fans as easily as it kept older fans dedicated (this is not to say I didn't like the story-- I am one of those fans who followed the story closely from beginning to end).

Edited September 25, 2011 by Aanchir

[ice dragon]

True, but when has a system like this worked for Lego? When have they constantly repeated the same basic story for more than say, 3 years? Themes like Exo-Force and Alpha Team have only lasted a few years.

[The Iron Knight]

Well, it's generally been assumed that HF will at least continue into 2012, given that LEGO's said they have no plans to end it. That said, HF has only had two years, so it would in theory at least continue into 2013.

[The Crazy One]

You know, how long do you think Hero Factory will stay? How long will kids keep buying the same story year after year? Without some kind of overarcing plot like Bionicle had, how long do you think kids will keep accepting the same basic story. (The heroes get upgraded, fight villains, come home repeat)

I am going to be rather ignorant here, but quite frankly, the kids I have seen buying these sets probably don't know that Hero Factory has a story. That's just the (probably unfair) impression I get from the ones I see buying the sets.

[ice dragon]

Yeah, well the reason Lego ended Bionicle was because it was becoming too dark, story-wise. This must mean atleast SOME kids pay attention to the story.