Bionicle 2015 Discussion

[TheGreatSpirit]

He very well might still be involved, since he's one of the LEGO Group's top in-house writers for books and comics. That doesn't mean that he'll be a member of the story team though.

I think a lot of people's hatred for Greg Farshtey as a writer is misaimed. He's not one of the greatest writers of our time by any means, but he's versatile, as demonstrated by his work on the Ninjago and Chima books. Just because he lacks the planning skills to carry an epic fantasy story like BIONICLE all by himself doesn't mean he can't write a decent licensed chapter book, comic, short story, or graphic novel.

Judging from his responses on the "Chat with Greg" thread, I think he would just be an advisor (too lazy to link specific posts, but there are multiple posts suggesting this)

[Transparency for Effect]

I don't think there's anywhere near as much money in trying to market a line of colorful buildable action figures to adults and older teens as there is in marketing the same sort of product to kids and younger teens.

But personally, I don't think BIONICLE is so similar to Ninjago or Chima that it would have a hard time standing out. The stories have some slight similarities, sure, chiefly their emphasis on ancient legends and heroes with magical elemental powers. But the products themselves and the universes they inhabit are markedly different.

Honestly, I'd almost be more worried about it standing out too much. The LEGO Group has had plenty of success with franchises based on the LEGO brick and LEGO minifigure lately. So a theme of robotic-looking beings that, to a lay audience, "hardly look like LEGO", might be a slightly harder sell to TV networks and other media entities than a new minifigure-based theme could be.

*cough*HEROFactory*cough*Any minifigure theme like Monster Fighters or Galaxy Squad that only lasted a year without any similar branching out*cough*.

[Gatanui]

I guess I'm alright with him writing comics I'll never read.

As long as he keeps his greasy mits out of the setting we should avoid any more nonsense like Voya Nui and the stupid rock chord thingy.

Guess all you people who hate Greg so terribly forget he wrote all the BIONICLE comics, including the very first ones which contributed a great deal to setting up the story and mythology of BIONICLE (personally I think he did a good job with most of the comics throughout the theme's entire run).

Apart from not being sure what was so stupid about Voya Nui and Mahri Nui, you are being totally unfair blaming it on him alone. That was the entire story team's doing and not just his. And your talk about greasy mits is nothing but insulting. I'm not sure how you expect to be taken seriously with that kind of talk. You could show some more respect.

-Gata

Edited July 24, 2014 by Gatanui

[Aanchir]

I guess I'm alright with him writing comics I'll never read.

As long as he keeps his greasy mits out of the setting we should avoid any more nonsense like Voya Nui and the stupid rock chord thingy.

Except... pretty much none of the geography stuff was Greg's doing in the first place. That was basically all Christian Faber, the same guy who was in charge of the design of BIONICLE's settings from the very beginning. See here.

Hating Greg's writing is an opinion. Blaming him for things that were not his idea in the first place is pure ignorance.

*cough*HEROFactory*cough*Any minifigure theme like Monster Fighters or Galaxy Squad that only lasted a year without any similar branching out*cough*.

The difference there is Hero Factory was designed for the long term and Galaxy Squad and Monster Fighters were designed for the short term. There's no telling whether the LEGO Group could have gotten a TV show for those themes if they wanted to, but there's no reason to assume that was a goal of theirs.

As for Hero Factory, it gets between 22 and 88 minutes of animation every year. That doesn't require nearly the same level of negotiation with networks as a full TV series like Ninjago and Chima have.

Edited July 24, 2014 by Aanchir

[~Wrack'n'Ruin~]

Except... pretty much none of the geography stuff was Greg's doing in the first place. That was basically all Christian Faber, the same guy who was in charge of the design of BIONICLE's settings from the very beginning. See here.

Hating Greg's writing is an opinion. Blaming him for things that were not his idea in the first place is pure ignorance.

So did Faber come up with the "Voya Nui was inside but then it floated outside" bit, or did he just say that Voya Nui was part of Mata Nui's body that broke off?

[Kamen Rider Kiva]

So, has anyone noticed that one of the 6 Lego SDCC displays is unlabelled? I personally find this suspicious.

[Aanchir]

So did Faber come up with the "Voya Nui was inside but then it floated outside" bit, or did he just say that Voya Nui was part of Mata Nui's body that broke off?

Hard to say. A lot of big decisions would have been made together with the rest of the story team, but suffice it to say that determining what Voya Nui was and where it came from would have been the FIRST part of designing the setting, since that is what explains how it connects to the Big Story Engine and why the Toa needed to go there in the first place. Restarting Mata Nui's heart was the whole point of the Ignition arc. And it was long understood that the 2006–2008 storyline would focus on land, then water, then air.

This image, apparently from before the 2006–2008 settings were even named, describes their relative locations and indicates the hole in Mata Nui's heart that Voya Nui left behind. Here's another early concept drawing showing the waterfall where water is entering Karda Nui from that hole. And here's an early concept drawing of Karda Nui. All these images are dated 2006, but since Voya Nui is unnamed in the first, it's possible that it was actually drawn earlier.

It's a mistake to think that because Greg didn't write outlines for his individual stories, there was no outline in place for how the story would proceed on a grander scale.

So, has anyone noticed that one of the 6 Lego SDCC displays is unlabelled? I personally find this suspicious.

It could be for BIONICLE, but my brother pointed out on BZPower that it's probably for Minecraft, since there are several not-yet-announced Minecraft sets that we've already seen preliminary images of, and which could easily come out before a BIONICLE revival.

Edited July 24, 2014 by Aanchir

[just2good]

So, has anyone noticed that one of the 6 Lego SDCC displays is unlabelled? I personally find this suspicious.

Picture of this?

[~Wrack'n'Ruin~]

Hard to say. A lot of big decisions would have been made together with the rest of the story team, but suffice it to say that determining what Voya Nui was and where it came from would have been the FIRST part of designing the setting, since that is what explains how it connects to the Big Story Engine and why the Toa needed to go there in the first place. Restarting Mata Nui's heart was the whole point of the Ignition arc. And it was long understood that the 2006–2008 storyline would focus on land, then water, then air.

I see. The issue I have with it isn't that it's a breakaway chunk of the inner universe, but the specifics of how the inhabitants were able to survive the trip.

[Dorek]

I'm not going to pretend to understand the physics of a robot chest exploding outward, but the point was that a lot of them didn't actually survive, which is why it was so traumatizing.

As I've said before, if there is going to be a reboot, I'd prefer a fresh hand on it just on principle.

[~Wrack'n'Ruin~]

As I've said before, if there is going to be a reboot, I'd prefer a fresh hand on it just on principle.

Oh yeah, totally. If you're going to bring Bionicle back it should be a new take.

[Kamen Rider Kiva]

Picture of this?

'Twas on this Tumblr page: http://loganmcowen.tumblr.com/post/92736545940/guys

[Aanchir]

Well, a part of me thinks that Christian Faber should still be involved, since he was basically behind so much of BIONICLE's original concept and making it into something more than just weird fighting robots. If somebody else could take over who could stay true to Faber's vision, then sure, I would be willing to give them a shot. But I think BIONICLE is safest in his hands.

And yeah, there's a strong chance Minecraft sets will be in that last display case.

Edited July 24, 2014 by Aanchir

[just2good]

'Twas on this Tumblr page: http://loganmcowen.t...2736545940/guys

Ah. I'm hoping it isn't Minecraft, and LEGO Nintendo.

Realistically, I don't mind what it is.

[CM4Sci]

'Twas on this Tumblr page: http://loganmcowen.t...2736545940/guys

Whoa... interesting! Anxious to see what it is.

Ah. I'm hoping it isn't Minecraft, and LEGO Nintendo.

This, please!

-Sci

Edited July 24, 2014 by CM4Sci

[Dorek]

Well, a part of me thinks that Christian Faber should still be involved, since he was basically behind so much of BIONICLE's original concept and making it into something more than just weird fighting robots. If somebody else could take over who could stay true to Faber's vision, then sure, I would be willing to give them a shot. But I think BIONICLE is safest in his hands.

And yeah, there's a strong chance Minecraft sets will be in that last display case.

I wouldn't mind Faber being involved, if only for his stunning concept work and art, but seeing the franchise through fresh eyes sounds most appreciable to me. Besides, I'm really intrigued by his current story work, and I'd like to see what becomes of that =P.

Also yeah... probably Minecraft. Still weird that it's unlabeled.

[TheGreatSpirit]

That empty booth... Even though you guys are probably right in it being Minecraft, I can't help but feel disappointed if it isn't Bionicle

[Kingslayer]

What about it matoran packs would be very similar to the Lego minifig series?

[Mesonak]

I can't understand why they wouldn't label a Minecraft display. It's been widely known for a long time that minifigure-scale sets were coming (ever since Toy Fair, I believe).

Here's hoping it's BIONICLE! get hype get hype

Edited July 24, 2014 by Mesonak

[Kamen Rider Kiva]

I can't understand why they wouldn't label a Minecraft display. It's been widely known for a long time that minifigure-scale sets were coming (ever since Toy Fair, I believe).

Thank you, that means I'm not the only one to question that. XD I thought that Lego Minecraft was too early in the design stage to be released. Edited July 24, 2014 by Kamen Rider Kiva

[Kalhiki]

An unmarked display? *crosses fingers*

[Transparency for Effect]

Except... pretty much none of the geography stuff was Greg's doing in the first place. That was basically all Christian Faber, the same guy who was in charge of the design of BIONICLE's settings from the very beginning. See here.

Hating Greg's writing is an opinion. Blaming him for things that were not his idea in the first place is pure ignorance.

The difference there is Hero Factory was designed for the long term and Galaxy Squad and Monster Fighters were designed for the short term. There's no telling whether the LEGO Group could have gotten a TV show for those themes if they wanted to, but there's no reason to assume that was a goal of theirs.

As for Hero Factory, it gets between 22 and 88 minutes of animation every year. That doesn't require nearly the same level of negotiation with networks as a full TV series like Ninjago and Chima have.

Alright, fair is fair

[TheGreatSpirit]

TheThreeVirtues already made a speculative video about the empty box, complete with a generic view-grabbing title

I'm not convinced that box is for Bionicle, but it would be pretty nice if it was; I just won't get too hyped over this for now (so as to avoid future disappointment)

[Mesonak]

TheThreeVirtues already made a speculative video about the empty box, complete with a generic view-grabbing title

I'm not convinced that box is for Bionicle, but it would be pretty nice if it was; I just won't get too hyped over this for now (so as to avoid future disappointment)

Remaining skeptical is a very good policy to have. I'm trying really hard, but I just can't see the box being MC. It's possible it's for another new theme that's not BIONICLE, but eh... I don't know. I guess we'll see on Sunday.

[Still Raindrop]

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