Bionicle 2015 Discussion

[Aanchir]

Those topics have existed for a long time, while this one has only existed for a few days

Not true. The first post in this topic, in response to the reveal of a new constraction theme on Asger Johansen's LinkedIn, was made in December. There were 229 posts before the leak was even mentioned. The Hero Factory 2014 topic is just a few months older than this one.

People like to speculate on new themes, no matter what they might be. There were ten pages of speculation a couple years ago about a 2013 theme called "Polar Xxpress" that never materialized or had any really substantial hints to its existence (people have made plenty of guesses about what it might have referred to, if anything — could have been this year's LEGO City Arctic sets — or it could have just been a false rumor to begin with).

"Leak season" is the time of year when discussions of future sets blossom and discussion of current sets starts to dwindle. It's not just limited to the Hero Factory theme, or to the constraction category for that matter. The LEGO City 2014 discussion topic in the Town subforum has also not had a whole lot of activity lately. There have been less than two pages of discussion there in over two months. There has actually been more recent activity in the Hero Factory 2014 topic than there has been over there.

Edited July 6, 2014 by Aanchir

[Shakar]

Whoops, looks like I made a mess with italics. The problem is that I can't fix them, nor do I know what exactly happened because.. italics don't appear on my tablet, for some reason. I'll fix them tomorrow, thanks Aanchir.

What if Von nebula just yells "make my monster grow!" and throws that staff of his into the ground, so the heroes have to fight giant versions of escaped criminals? XD

Honestly? I'd be okay with that. I see HF as a colourful, campy homage to some of the most over the top genres, like mecha anime, sentai shows and Transformers's many incarnations (not exactly a genre, but I guess you get what I'm talking about). Still, I'd like to see villain minifigs as well.

It looks like your italics tags got away from you there! But anyway, I agree with you entirely. If Hero Factory and BIONICLE do both continue next year, I'll be thrilled, because it would represent a big change for the constraction category in general. The last time we had two in-house constraction themes at a time and neither was supplementary to a System theme was Galidor, and we all know how that went.

Now that reviews have popped up of the summer sets, I think it makes a lot more sense that the first wave was mainly bipedal machines and the second wave was the reverse, since the gimmick of switching around the upper modules on the machines wouldn't work nearly so well if some of the machines were bipedal and others were not. This also explains why Evo Walker and Rocka Crawler are the exceptions in their respective waves: since the small machines would not work with that gimmick anyway, the bipedal one can be put in the multi-legged wave without any negative consequences and vice-versa. It provides a small bit of variety in a wave that otherwise couldn't really have any due to the upper module gimmick.

Oh, I guess you're right. There definitely was a stark difference in terms of functionality that required two radically different designs. Still, I'd like to see more variety next year- humanoid mechas, walkers, spaceships..

As for Bionicle, I'm all for a reboot as long as the theme's general atmosphere and main elements (Great Beings, elemental powers, etc) are kept. I checked Bioniclesector01 yesterday and I was utterly confused at the post-2010 amount of stuff I missed out-and, with all due respect, I'm not sure if I even liked half of it. No way I'm feeling like learning and remembering all of it-just too complex and quite convulted, imo. A fresh start is what we need, something new and wonderful like 2001 was.

[Dorek]

I do that every day Shakar, and I still feel that way. For instance (and I had apparently missed this a month back) did you know that there was a Spherus Magna tribe of Earth? And that it had an Element Lord? For no reason whatsoever other than because?

This is why I've always said if BIONICLE ever comes back, I would want a reboot. I wouldn't mind Greg writing it, necessarily, but I wouldn't be opposed to a creative overhaul just to keep everything fresh.

[Zenerius]

A fresh start is what we need, something new and wonderful like 2001 was.

Exactly. I want the new Bionicle to start off with the same mystery, brightness, and color the original series had. A simple story like the early years that is easy to grip, yet action packed. All of that combined with lots of outside media, like a tv show or comic book series later on.

Don't forget the collectables. Never forget those.

[TheGreatSpirit]

Why has nobody considered an alternate universe yet? I mean, they did it with Hero Factory, so why wouldn't they do the same for Bionicle 2.0?

[Zenerius]

Why has nobody considered an alternate universe yet? I mean, they did it with Hero Factory, so why wouldn't they do the same for Bionicle 2.0?

In my previous posts I mentioned an alternate universe. And, if the new Bionicle is a reboot, then there is a possibility it could take place in an alternate timeline.

[TheLastToaofLight]

Not true. The first post in this topic, in response to the reveal of a new constraction theme on Asger Johansen's LinkedIn, was made in December. There were 229 posts before the leak was even mentioned. The Hero Factory 2014 topic is just a few months older than this one.

People like to speculate on new themes, no matter what they might be. There were ten pages of speculation a couple years ago about a 2013 theme called "Polar Xxpress" that never materialized or had any really substantial hints to its existence (people have made plenty of guesses about what it might have referred to, if anything — could have been this year's LEGO City Arctic sets — or it could have just been a false rumor to begin with).

"Leak season" is the time of year when discussions of future sets blossom and discussion of current sets starts to dwindle. It's not just limited to the Hero Factory theme, or to the constraction category for that matter. The LEGO City 2014 discussion topic in the Town subforum has also not had a whole lot of activity lately. There have been less than two pages of discussion there in over two months. There has actually been more recent activity in the Hero Factory 2014 topic than there has been over there.

Wasn't Polar XXpress the development name for Chima?

[Xeros610]

there is a cleaner version of the second image here, it stills blurry, but at least is colored...

nevermind, better not mess...

Edited July 6, 2014 by Xeros610

[Chro]

Not true. The first post in this topic, in response to the reveal of a new constraction theme on Asger Johansen's LinkedIn, was made in December. There were 229 posts before the leak was even mentioned. The Hero Factory 2014 topic is just a few months older than this one.

My mistake, I forgot to check the start of the topic

Wasn't Polar XXpress the development name for Chima?

Nope

there is a cleaner version of the second image here, it stills blurry, but at least is colored...

Uh oh, it's still here... that's the one we've been trying to get rid of Edited July 6, 2014 by Chro

[the last chronicler]

The biggest issue with a sequel is to deal with the ridiculous variety of species, for example currently having two "hero" and "villager" groups. Although I imagine LEGO could set it far enough in the future the story team could off handedly explain that they merged together. Spherus Magna does visually match the concept art on the boxes. One could have classic characters come back as Turaga, and the characters could still be looking for the mask of life or something without much explanation, like Obi Wan in a New Hope. Technically, you could make a story just as simple as 2001, as it itself ended up having a complex background.

Personally, I'm against a reboot because the mystery of Bionicle has been resolved, I think to retell the same plot is boring and rewriting it is too contradictory: the definition of Bionicle is the Biological Chronicle of a giant machine. Unless they are using it to justify a new theatrical movie based on 2001 I'm skeptical of a rewrite.

The issue with a prequel is it requires new character names, for the Great Beings or Elemental Lords or whoever, and it it still leads to the same ending involving a Giant robot, which would need to be explained in its complexity.

For me I'm leaning to an option not yet suggested, that since Bionicle has a grand lore and environment, LEGO can "fill in the blanks" with stories untold in the original Saga: do spin-offs that don't affect the grand plot and stand on there own. They could pull already existing names and groups of Toa, saving money, while retaining the mythology without the weightiness off a deep plot. For example, have the first year about Lhikan's team and the dragon.

[TheRedGuy]

I think there might be more than just seven sets...

Also, would someone mind explaining the sales cannibalization thing to me? Lego still gets the $$ no matter what theme you purchase from, so I'm a bit confused. (Or dumb)

[Dorek]

Basically just that if you have two different lines of a similar theme running concurrently, neither theme will reach 100% of their sales potential, regardless of the actual purchases. The only way it works is if people buy all of both themes, which is less likely to happen than all of one theme.

Also, as for the colored picture, it says (rather, is Google translated to read) that the piece was just a fan mock-up. Which just goes to show that people who actually know how to photoshop (or whatever image program have you) can create something really good looking with not much time or effort :U.

[Zenerius]

Also, as for the colored picture, it says (rather, is Google translated to read) that the piece was just a fan mock-up. Which just goes to show that people who actually know how to photoshop (or whatever image program have you) can create something really good looking with not much time or effort :U.

Colorizing a picture is much easier than making convincing box art and stands, but I see your point. I looked at the colored pic in detail and it still looked very mediocre.

Edited July 6, 2014 by Zenerius

[Jetrax99]

Basically just that if you have two different lines of a similar theme running concurrently, neither theme will reach 100% of their sales potential, regardless of the actual purchases. The only way it works is if people buy all of both themes, which is less likely to happen than all of one theme.

Also, as for the colored picture, it says (rather, is Google translated to read) that the piece was just a fan mock-up. Which just goes to show that people who actually know how to photoshop (or whatever image program have you) can create something really good looking with not much time or effort :U.

You're talking about the colored pic at the very bottom of the blog where the blogger says he colored it himself, yes? That's relatively easy.

[TheGreatSpirit]

You know what I would like to see? A story set in a breaking down GSR, with a group of toa inside on a quest to retrieve something of importance, while avoiding creatures mutated by leaking Energized Protodermis. That could be an indirect continuation of the old story...

[Aethersprite]

You know, reading all your wishes and expectations, I can't help but think that most if not all of you are going to be disappointed. Anticipation runs high, then if the rumours are confirmed, people are going to start complaining that the original is better or something like that. Which is why I still don't want to be completely convinced abut Bionicle's return, and as for the part of me that believes it, well, I've learnt not to expect much. As long as Bionicle returns, I'll be satisfied.

Edited July 6, 2014 by Lockon Stratos

[King of Nynrah]

I'd be happy with new Bionicle sets using a mixture of CCBS with a couple of old parts, and a story far separated from what has come before. Tieing up the loose ends of the story serials and that would be nice though, perhaps if bioniclestory.com gets brought back...

[TheGreatSpirit]

As long as Bionicle returns, I'll be satisfied.

Thats exactly the attitude this forum should have :P

Also cmon guys, remove the links to the second image. Its been stated many times that the image can get the leaker fired.

Edited July 6, 2014 by TheGreatSpirit

[Chro]

Also, as for the colored picture, it says (rather, is Google translated to read) that the piece was just a fan mock-up.

Um, which image would that be?

EDIT: Never mind, I looked at the page again - yeah, I'd say they did a pretty good job with that one

Edited July 6, 2014 by Chro

[Kalhiki]

I still think a continuation would be best. And like I said, far enough in the future to where the original story doesn't really matter. I mean, remember the whole Legend of Mata Nui with the Mata Nui and Makuta stones? They could just do that only have the legend be a basic recap of the original story:

"Bad dude and good dude fight. Good wins and restores the dying planet. Inhabitants rebuild civilization to a new age of peace. Then bad stuff happens. Cue story."

I think this is probably the best option. Not too fond of a re-envisioning/alternate universe deal because then it's not the same characters. They're just alternate versions. And that may sound weird, but I think I'd have a hard time getting attached to Alternate Universe Tahu when I've spent all these years with normal Tahu. Plus, it'd kinda make the original story irrelevant, and I can't drop lore like that in favor of a new story.

As far as tying things up and explaining the different races and junk: Mata Nui was able to give Gresh, Ackar, and Kiina elemental powers. So when he restored the planet, maybe he just gave Agori and Glatorian powers to make them equal to Matoran and Toa, respectively.

I guess all I'm saying is that it'd be pretty easy to make a continuation and start fresh at the same time.

[Shakar]

I do that every day Shakar, and I still feel that way. For instance (and I had apparently missed this a month back) did you know that there was a Spherus Magna tribe of Earth? And that it had an Element Lord? For no reason whatsoever other than because?

This is why I've always said if BIONICLE ever comes back, I would want a reboot. I wouldn't mind Greg writing it, necessarily, but I wouldn't be opposed to a creative overhaul just to keep everything fresh.

That's what I'm getting at. There are so many details added (characters, pieces of history, masks..) they just feel more like canonized fanfiction, or a result of the "Hey, let's add that!" game.

No offense to Greg, or any person who came up with them. On their own they're not too bad (little things like the blue Star Piraka being Nektann are pretty brilliant), but most of them weren't neccessary and they're just too many.

If someone who followed Bionicle since 2001 like me has trouble keeping up with all this stuff, imagine a person who started getting into it halfway, towards the end or, even worse, only now.

Exactly. I want the new Bionicle to start off with the same mystery, brightness, and color the original series had. A simple story like the early years that is easy to grip, yet action packed. All of that combined with lots of outside media, like a tv show or comic book series later on.

Don't forget the collectables. Never forget those.

Yeah, this what I'd like. The taste of new stories, a new world, a mysterious villain. Mystery was one of the biggest things in 2001 Bionicle, and honestly I'd like if some things weren't explained this time around- Red Star anyone?

And speaking of villains, I wonder who we're going to get this time. All we know is that there are those black spiders- but they must have a leader.

I loved Teridax but I guess somehow bringing him back would be cheap. Miserix doesn't feel as badass and relevant (though dragons are really cool). Did we ever know what was the deal with the Energized Protodermis entity? That might work as a villain. Or The Shadowed One. Or a Great Being.

Or...scratch that. Depending how much "re" this reboot is, 2010's ending might be ignored all together for Makuta's return. IF it's the mysterious, eldritch abomination of 2001, I'd be ok with that. MNOG Makuta is, to me, still the best Lego villain ever and is one of my favourite fictional villains to date.

[TheGreatSpirit]

I notice you didn't state his name Shakar... is it really THAT repulsive?

[Mr. Gundam]

Since we're all speculating: I notice most of us care about story, but we all know its "good vs. bad" again. I would like it if TLG adds another element/color to the mix. I'm hoping purple or The Green can be a set.

What am I kidding, I just don't want the main character to be red or white. don't we have enough of those sets?

[TheGreatSpirit]

Since we're all speculating: I notice most of us care about story, but we all know its "good vs. bad" again. I would like it if TLG adds another element/color to the mix. I'm hoping purple or The Green can be a set.

What am I kidding, I just don't want the main character to be red or white. don't we have enough of those sets?

If you have ever seen a Power Rangers show when you were little, you would know that you can never have enough red :P

Jokes aside, I actually care mostly for the sets. The story can be some garbage mumbo-jumbo and I would still buy the sets (though, granted, a good story told through a good medium would be preferable) What can I say, I'd just be happy for Bionicle's redturn.

Edited July 6, 2014 by TheGreatSpirit

[Shakar]

I notice you didn't state his name Shakar... is it really THAT repulsive?

I called him Teridax in the middle paragraph, actually, referring to his post-2004 persona (or, arguably, post-2001). I called him Makuta in the final paragraph to refer to his initial character- the only and only Makuta from 2001. Teridax the scheming dark overlord was certainly a lot of fun, but he never quite caught my heart like MNOG's awesome, creepy, black tentacle mass did. I wonder if Ninjago's Overlord was inspired by him..

Or are you talking about The Shadowed One? Because, AFAIK, Greg never revealed his name.