Bionicle 2015 Discussion

[Aanchir]

It could also be the upcoming Pirates line (though I hope it's not--even though I love Lego Pirates)

As cool as that would be, I doubt it'd be that. Pirates doesn't have the same level of pop culture appeal as BIONICLE or Minecraft. So unless they were teaming up with Cartoon Network or another big media entity for a multimedia marketing push I don't think you'd see it revealed at Comic-Con.

[King of Nynrah]

Don't worry guys, even if the reveal isn't Bionicle, don't be disheartened. There's already plenty of substantial evidence towards it coming back next year, but for all we know it might still be very early stages. It could always be revealed at NYCC instead (which was said to have been more likely than an SDCC reveal anyway).

[Still Raindrop]

Ah, that's true, Aanchir--I hadn't thought of that. The logo we saw for the new pirate ship didn't seem to indicate any sort of team-up (if it was the final logo), so that's good.

Edited July 24, 2014 by Mariko

[exxtrooper]

I predict we'll see a return to the much successful Galidor theme.

[EdWebhead]

I predict we'll see a return to the much successful Galidor theme.

Yes, because everyone loved that theme.

[SmoothJazz]

So when will the mystery box be revealed?

[Zenerius]

So when will the mystery box be revealed?

Sunday. Lego had reserved their booths for that day.

[Chro]

Don't worry guys, even if the reveal isn't Bionicle, don't be disheartened. There's already plenty of substantial evidence towards it coming back next year, but for all we know it might still be very early stages. It could always be revealed at NYCC instead (which was said to have been more likely than an SDCC reveal anyway).

The point isn't that we're looking for confirmation, since we already know that it is coming back - it's that we're looking for official confirmation, at the very least, and hopefully something more than that as well such as a preview

[Capt Ranaki Pakewa]

I predict we'll see a return to the much successful Galidor theme.

Please, please, oh please, please, please! I would LOVE the nostalgia of seeing those things warm supermarket shelves for many years to come. :P

[TheGreatSpirit]

Is anyone here going to Comic-Con on Sunday?

[dviddy]

Is anyone here going to Comic-Con on Sunday?

No, but I'll be at the one in NY in October, so I'm hoping IF the line comes back and IF they announce it somewhere it'll be there.

Edited July 25, 2014 by Darth Vader

[Phoenix_Flare]

I personally do not want BIONICLE coming back due to the fact that when it was canceled, it caused a lot of its fans to complain about its discontinuation. Yes it's true that I was a major fan of the toy line since 2001 but I didn't fall in love with the story until 2007 when the Mahri were released. Once I started paying attention to BIONICLE's story I noticed that it was somewhat lack-luster. The major fault in the story was that it strayed away from what I believe The LEGO Group initial message was: To be able to build and create your own story/characters and to expand on existing story's. From what I've read from other topics, BIONICLE's story direction made it harder for some people to add their own characters into its universe without changing story cannon. It was hard even for me to add new characters which is why I love the idea of The LEGO Group's most recent constraction figure line: HERO FACTORY.

When I saw the announcement for HERO FACTORY, I was more excited than I was when BIONICLE came out. At the time of HERO FACTORY's release I had been very depressed at both school and home. I felt as if I too needed some form of hero and decided to buy the one that I knew would never let anyone down; Preston Stormer! After awhile I decided to make a personal goal: To buy every LEGO HERO FACTORY set. I Did, well except summer 2014 sets. I even fell in love with its story and how it was like a bad classic comic book.

When Breakout and Brain Attack happened It added some dark concepts to the once "cheesy" story of HERO FACTORY. In the books several characters died such as Karter on page 135 in Mirror World and Core Hunter in Doom Box. The books also brought in the idea of an intergalactic conspiracy on top of the threat of the evil "Brains" so when you really think about it Hero Factory is in a tight situation. The fate of the galaxy truly depends on the mighty HERO FACTORY. Then TLG decides to completely change course and acts as if all of this never happened! Thanks Invasion From Below, you ruined my most beloved theme by possibly not having an epic finale where Von Nebula returns and the final battle for the galaxy begins! I forgot to mention that you have more freedom to make your own characters to add to HERO FACTORY's awesome story.

All in all I really don't want HERO FACTORY to go away: It helped me realize that life is meaningful and inspired me to keep aiming towards my goals. I just don't want to be hurt and saddened like when BIONICLE ended (especially on a cliffhanger). Please LEGO, keep HERO FACTORY's core alive...

[ATBro]

I didn't realise how much I would miss hero factory till I read the last post. Now I'm thinking that it's a bad idea for bionicle to return, and seeing as I grew up with HF I do not want it to end. KEEP THE CORE ALIVE

[toatali]

I didn't realise how much I would miss hero factory till I read the last post. Now I'm thinking that it's a bad idea for bionicle to return, and seeing as I grew up with HF I do not want it to end. KEEP THE CORE ALIVE

Hero Factory could still continue if BIONICLE comes back. They could potentially co-exist. (But probs not...)

[DraikNova]

I to be honest wouldn't like Bionicle to come back either if it meant the end of Hero Factory. The story, if you think about it, isn't even that good. What made it impressive was merely that it was the first (and during it's run practically the only) theme with a focus on the story. I really hope that HF stays. I actually prefer IfB over the past waves of Hero Factory, and for me it stands head and shoulders above even my favorite Bionicle waves (and the IfB sets are all on par or better that my favorite Bionicle sets). The story of IfB seemed to emphasize that the problems the main characters have to deal with isn't in any way the only one going on at that moment, but just one out of several thousand.

So yeah, part of me is hoping that this was just a really, really elaborate hoax. But seeing as it probably isn't, I hope that they at least won't undo the massive improvements in the building system and set design. Hero Factory has had a lot of great non-humanoid designs, and the parts that have been introduced recently are really impressive.

I also don't like the thought that this will encourage the more rabid of Bionicle fans, who seem to cling to it like a religion .

[Timeline15]

I genuinely can't believe HF gained a similar following to Bionicle, who will now spam Lego to bring HF back if it ends. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I just never expected it to happen. On another note, I ever perceived HF's story as being any less rigid than Bionicle. Both had the promise that there were other Toa/heroes out there. But Bionicle had a wider range of backgrounds for them to came from, whereas with HF, they were always built in this one factory.

Also, please don't let "keep the core alive" become thing. HF did nothing to deserve that level of emotion. Any semblance of character was relegated to the novels.

Probably gonna get called Bionicle fan boy for this too -_-

Edited July 25, 2014 by Timeline15

[TheGreatSpirit]

I genuinely can't believe HF gained a similar following to Bionicle, who will now spam Lego to bring HF back if it ends.

It really didn't; from what I've seen, there are no dedicated forums or sites about it (or at least any that are popular anyways). Just because 3 people posted that they don't want HF to end doesn't mean that it has a similar following (and besides, half of any following it has are probably old Bionicle fans)

Edited July 25, 2014 by TheGreatSpirit

[Lord-Vorahk]

I genuinely can't believe HF gained a similar following to Bionicle, who will now spam Lego to bring HF back if it ends. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I just never expected it to happen. On another note, I ever perceived HF's story as being any less rigid than Bionicle. Both had the promise that there were other Toa/heroes out there. But Bionicle had a wider range of backgrounds for them to came from, whereas with HF, they were always built in this one factory.

Also, please don't let "keep the core alive" become thing. HF did nothing to deserve that level of emotion. Any semblance of character was relegated to the novels.

Probably gonna get called Bionicle fan boy for this too -_-

Seconded.

Bionicle had a whole universe, and I think it only became more diverse in later years. For all the nostalgia that 2001-2003 have, the canon was very closed. Everyone aside from the Kakama-wearing generics had a name, and there was only one island, six Toa, six Turaga, and we didn't know that the three were merely multiple forms of the same race. But then, come 03, a Matoran becomes a Toa, and at the end, we find out that the Turaga used to be a Toa as well. THen the MU opens up, and suddenly, there are hundreds of Toa, more than the original seven elements (Fire, Water, Air, Ice, Earth, Stone, Shadow), billions of Matoran, and other races that aren't just mindless animals. THere's a bunch of mysterious bounty hunters, a race of psychotic mad scientists who won the superpower lottery, and a mysterious group who serve the Great Spirit. Now there's more than enough variety with the universe to make your own Toa. THe only limit that there was on creativity was Lego telling us that all the girls had blue armour. That's literally it, and since they had secondary colours, you could simply put more white on a Vo-Toa, more gold on a Ce-Toa, and even then, Toa aren't the only beings with elemental powers, so you can build something red and female with fire powers if you like.

Bionicle's universe only got more open and customizable in later years.

HF, meanwhile, is nowhere near as good. The heroes are far closer to being clone sets than Bionicle had in its twilight years, and while you can be creative with the villains, the universe isn't dark enough to make them actually charismatic. Okay, both Kalhiki and NickonAquaMagna created excellent HF comics, but they're rather different in terms of tone from the main canon, and couldn't be slotted nicely into the official universe. However, if you look at a series like Scottjt's The Hydros Chronicles/Society of Guardians and Sands of Change, they can fit quite comfortably into the canon as a series of events going on behind the scenes that Greg and the other writers gave us.

Bionicle is a deep, well developed universe. HF isn't. The books are basically the only good storyline we get, and those are cancelled.

[Shakar]

The heroes are far closer to being clone sets than Bionicle had in its twilight years

Don't have time to debate this but..um...no, they aren't.

[Kalhiki]

I... Like them both equally?

Let's see, Bionicle automatically gains points for its nostalgia factor. I grew up with it. That's pretty much all I did as a kid was play with Bionicle. And, I enjoyed the story. Well, for the most part. The original 2001-2003 was the best, in my opinion. 04-05 was good. Love 2006. Didn't much care for the later years. Regardless, the story kept making me ask what'll happen next and wondering how everything's going to end. So while story creativity wasn't that great, I did enjoy the immersive tale it spun.

In terms of story, Hero Factory basically does the opposite, but in a way that works. It essentially has no solid story. And I like that just as much as I liked Bionicle's solid story. It's hard to describe. I feel like I need to build a connection to the characters. Bionicle already did that with its established story. But HF is so open that you kinda have to build the characters yourself (no pun intended). And I must say, I had a lot of fun giving the characters... Well, character.

Moreover, just look at the names. Bionicle. Biological Chronicle. It's a theme about the story. Hero Factory. Factory. You get to build the story.

So I guess it all depends on where you find enjoyment. Do you enjoy following a story, or do you enjoy making a story? (personally, I like both, but that's just me)

[TwistLaw]

The heroes are far closer to being clone sets than Bionicle had in its twilight years

I agree with everything you say, except this very part.

In the years you call of twilight BIONICLE had its most diverse and creative builds, even for canister sets (Barraki, Phantoka, Glatorian).

HF, and that's sadly true, hasn't changed anything since 2011as far as building are concerned.

Also, something I really enjoyed of BIONICLE was the great variety of parts we got, so I could tell that leg was from a Rahksi or that arm from a Hordika.

[EVO97]

Even though HF will likely be discontinued next year, it's "legacy" will live on in the CCBS

[Aethersprite]

It's more than likely that the empty box reveal is Minecraft; it was just confirmed that it's going to be a fully fledged licensed theme and it's missing from the SDCC display. If Lego chooses to unveil Bionicle at a convention, my money is on NYCC in October.

[Lord-Vorahk]

I agree with everything you say, except this very part.

In the years you call of twilight BIONICLE had its most diverse and creative builds, even for canister sets (Barraki, Phantoka, Glatorian).

HF, and that's sadly true, hasn't changed anything since 2011as far as building are concerned.

Also, something I really enjoyed of BIONICLE was the great variety of parts we got, so I could tell that leg was from a Rahksi or that arm from a Hordika.

Uh... that's exactly what I'm saying. Latter-year Bionicle sets had diverse builds among their canister sets, breaking the mold with sets like Takadox, Bitil, and Strakk. The heroes are almost clones. It doesn't help that HF sets are so often lacking enough shells, or big enough shells.

[Aanchir]

It really didn't; from what I've seen, there are no dedicated forums or sites about it (or at least any that are popular anyways). Just because 3 people posted that they don't want HF to end doesn't mean that it has a similar following (and besides, half of any following it has are probably old Bionicle fans)

It's important to keep in mind that the Internet was a different place when BIONICLE started than when Hero Factory did. When BIONICLE began, social media wasn't really a thing, and most of the established LEGO sites like Lugnet basically rejected BIONICLE from the get-go, so BIONICLE fans needed to create their own discussion forums in order to share their love of the theme. These days, it's a different landscape. Hero Factory discussion is welcomed on many LEGO and BIONICLE fansites, and there is plenty of opportunity for Hero Factory fans to discuss the theme on non-LEGO sites like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, deviantART, and YouTube. Even many BIONICLE fans have migrated to these sites, hence why so many BIONICLE fansites have decreased in influence even as the BIONICLE fan community continues to thrive on social media.

Supposing that a theme is less beloved just because it doesn't have a lot of fansites of its own is a mistake. Ninjago, for instance, has been tremendously well-loved and successful, but you still don't see any Ninjago fansites nearly as large as BZPower was in its heyday — because there already exist plenty of online communities where Ninjago fans feel welcome, so they do not feel pressured to carve out sites of their own.

I... Like them both equally?

Let's see, Bionicle automatically gains points for its nostalgia factor. I grew up with it. That's pretty much all I did as a kid was play with Bionicle. And, I enjoyed the story. Well, for the most part. The original 2001-2003 was the best, in my opinion. 04-05 was good. Love 2006. Didn't much care for the later years. Regardless, the story kept making me ask what'll happen next and wondering how everything's going to end. So while story creativity wasn't that great, I did enjoy the immersive tale it spun.

In terms of story, Hero Factory basically does the opposite, but in a way that works. It essentially has no solid story. And I like that just as much as I liked Bionicle's solid story. It's hard to describe. I feel like I need to build a connection to the characters. Bionicle already did that with its established story. But HF is so open that you kinda have to build the characters yourself (no pun intended). And I must say, I had a lot of fun giving the characters... Well, character.

Moreover, just look at the names. Bionicle. Biological Chronicle. It's a theme about the story. Hero Factory. Factory. You get to build the story.

So I guess it all depends on where you find enjoyment. Do you enjoy following a story, or do you enjoy making a story? (personally, I like both, but that's just me)

I very much agree. There are plenty of merits to Hero Factory's storytelling style, just as there are merits to BIONICLE's storytelling style.

In the years you call of twilight BIONICLE had its most diverse and creative builds, even for canister sets (Barraki, Phantoka, Glatorian).

HF, and that's sadly true, hasn't changed anything since 2011as far as building are concerned.

Ummm... not true at all. Furno 2.0 is built very differently from Fire Lord, who is built very differently than Raw-Jaw, who is built very differently from Thornraxx, who is built very differently from Evo, who is built very differently from Toxic Reapa, who is built very differently from Stormer XL, who is built very differently from Bruizer, who is built very differently from Dragon Bolt, who is built very differently from Furno Jet Machine, which is built very differently from Breez Flea Machine, which is built very differently from Rocka Crawler, which is built very differently than Tunneler Beast, which is built very differently from Queen Beast.

BIONICLE sets from 2007 and later were indeed impressively diverse compared to the earlier ones, which tended to have one specialized build shared by five to twelve sets. However, the idea that all post-2011 Hero Factory sets are all built the same is ludicrous. They haven't thrown out the basics of the building system, naturally, because it's a good building system and throwing it out would be a huge waste. But there is no shortage of creativity being expressed using that building system, as there has been since 2011 when it came out.

Also, something I really enjoyed of BIONICLE was the great variety of parts we got, so I could tell that leg was from a Rahksi or that arm from a Hordika.

This is something I'm glad Hero Factory has done away with. The point of LEGO is to create diverse models from the same system of basic parts, not to introduce lots and lots of new, functionally-identical parts with specialized molded details in order to create an artificial sense of diversity. This is part of why I'm glad the new BIONICLE is sticking with the CCBS.

Edited July 25, 2014 by Aanchir