Bionicle 2015 Discussion

[Scarilian]

Agreed, true or not, we shouldn't give too much attention to these rumours.

Yeah, until we get prelims or something we wont have anything to back them up.

You know what I just realised, the Protectors could have individual names deeper into the lore. Because Ekimu in the summer is only called Mask Maker in the set, so maybe the Protectors have more unique names? I hope they're the Turaga. :3

Yeah, i think the general idea is that the sets lack names ot make them more targettable for kids. Rather than selling 'Ekimu' they sell 'Mask Maker' which helps get the idea across of his role in the story. If they do get names, they'll probably be given in the books or media targetted more at those interested in the story.

[Logan McOwen]

I hope they're the Turaga. :3

Edited April 17, 2015 by LewiMOC

[Scarilian]

Not sure what image you posted, yet it links to a dropbox that doesnt appear to work. Any chance of fixing the link?

[CabooseBM]

I wouldn't worry about it, it's probably just some vague form of disapproval via meme.

[Scarilian]

I wouldn't worry about it, it's probably just some vague form of disapproval via meme.

Probably...

Edited April 18, 2015 by Scarilian

[Clone 01354 Productions]

Lewa "designer video":

Really, it's the guy just showing some concept art, and advertising the mask competition.

Edited April 18, 2015 by LN-01354

[Dr_Chronos]

Lewa "designer video":

Really, it's the guy just showing some concept art, and advertising the mask competition.

Once again the prototype mask outshines the finished product. I hope someone makes a 3d print of that double visored one

It really bothers me that all these guys do is talk about the mask. I acknowledge the mask is an important part of the character but I'm more intrested of the steps and ideas behind the figure. These videos feel like a wasted opportunity.

Edited April 18, 2015 by Dr_Chronos

[dviddy]

The videos are just extended advertisements for the contest. I wish they were more, but let's not be surprised at this point.

[Aanchir]

Some of those prototype masks are genuinely pretty cool (and normally I'm not one to go ga-ga over prototypes). I sort of wish it had ended up with slightly longer eyeholes, though what I love most about the prototype masks are the traits that were maintained with the final mask — the angular jaw, the dome-like forehead, and the trademark "grin". The final mask definitely ends up looking more cheerful than some of the prototypes with narrower eyeholes, which end up feeling rather aggressive.

I also wish that the videos were longer and more in-depth, but let's be honest here — they're still a real treat, and they give us a lot more "behind the scenes" info than many designer videos for other themes which mostly consist of the designer demonstrating the play features you'll get in the final set. In G1 BIONICLE we didn't get any designer videos at all, so this is certainly a step up in that respect.

[Scarilian]

Lewa "designer video":

Really, it's the guy just showing some concept art, and advertising the mask competition.

Yeah, disappointed in these. Should have just released all the concept art on the facebook page, maybe do a 'reach 1000 tweets using a random hashtag to release concept art' or something like that. I mean, their is some interesting design work that went into creating each of these, but these videos doesnt give us an insight into that.

[The Outsider]

Although the Winter 2015 Bionicle sets were leaked around July, I tend to think that it was a bit of a special case with leaks emerging that early. We don't normally get leaked pics (sometimes not even any set info) for themes until September/October, so I don't really expect 2016 Bionicle pics until then. But given the recent trend of official pics appearing much earlier than usual, I guess we may see leaks much earlier, and it wouldn't surprise me if we saw more concrete 2016 set info in July or August.

I don't know, I kind of hope we don't see the same characters next year in the sets. For me, variety is the spice of life. I'll gladly take this rumoured "Toa Ekimu" and maybe a bunch of other hero characters as long as they aren't the same Toa as we got this year (and if they are, they need to come with a bucketload of new and recoloured pieces and look completely different to win me over )

Wasn't looking completely different why people complained about the Phantoka/Mistika group?

Then again, if any toy company with long-running franchises stopped making decisions that would raise complaints from the fandom, those lines would be cancelled for lack of ideas (and they would still get complaints over that)

If the playtester is to be believed at least one of the creatures will be like this, instead of the obvious helmet of course it also will have a different launcher than the one introduced in ultra agents(?) but has the same function.

The top cover will be ghostly/slimy. And a different weapon for tail.

Also, how I make POV-Ray render pieces transparent and without background, I set the option no background but it still does it, is it because of the lighting?

Nice! Now I'm warming up to the shooter animal idea (if it's real, that is).

I have a new prediction for the summer: What if Skull Grinder is, in the box art, pulling the MOCR OUT of the forge--maybe he used the Toa's golden masks, melted them, and they fused together and made the MOCR? And then after the Skull army is defeated, Ekimu makes all the Toa new masks to replace the ones that got melted, and they have new powers--like the original 2001 mask powers?!?!

Nice theory, but there's one problem: we already know the MoCR can't be made of multiple elemental powers. The MoUP is the only one ever built with more than one element according to the Legend video, and it was so powerful it took over the user (or maddened him; still too early in the storyline to tell). But I like the idea of the Toa gaining their original mask powers; I sure hope that becomes official.

Lewa "designer video":

Really, it's the guy just showing some concept art, and advertising the mask competition.

Yeah, I'm not even bothering to see those...

Here's a thought: so far we believed that each year we'll have one legendary mask (the confirmed MoCR for 2015, MoCO for 2016 and MoUP for 2017). BUT, there have been hints to a Mask of Time (in fact, one of the promotional magazines actually mentions the Mask of Time being used to summon the Toa), so it's likely the "three-mask hunt" will end earlier (in 2016 or Winter 2017) and the remainder of the storyline will be the search for the MoT to send the Toa back to their home.

EDIT: Episode 8 is on the main site now. And now we wait for: "The City of the Mask Makers".

(if you haven't seen it in Italian, that is)

Edited April 18, 2015 by The Outsider

[TheOneVeyronian]

Wasn't looking completely different why people complained about the Phantoka/Mistika group?

Then again, if any toy company with long-running franchises stopped making decisions that would raise complaints from the fandom, those lines would be cancelled for lack of ideas (and they would still get complaints over that)

Oh yeah, I didn't mean that sort of different Though I will admit I didn't mind the Phantoka / Mistika too much. I feel a lose-lose situation might arise, there'll be some complaints no matter what LEGO do. Didn't a couple of people even complain about the current wave and how they look different from 2001 Toa or something like that?

[The Outsider]

Oh yeah, I didn't mean that sort of different Though I will admit I didn't mind the Phantoka / Mistika too much. I feel a lose-lose situation might arise, there'll be some complaints no matter what LEGO do. Didn't a couple of people even complain about the current wave and how they look different from 2001 Toa or something like that?

They were complaining way back with the Nuva, if I remember correctly. You can't please everyone

[Clone 01354 Productions]

Nice theory, but there's one problem: we already know the MoCR can't be made of multiple elemental powers.

Oh yeah....Well then, forget I said anything.

[One Very Agile Cat]

People were complaining even back in 2001 with Pohatu using an inverted torso, or teh Bohrok being too similar. People complain about everything. I'm totally satisfied with the mask designs and CCBS, and if the body designs don't satisfy me, I rebuild them.

[Lord-Vorahk]

I actually really liked the basic idea of the 2008 Toa, it's just that the execution was pretty poor. I've often wanted to remake them, keeping that basic aesthetic of a streamlined, "Air-fighter" build, but make them sturdier and better looking in person. Sadly, it's a pipe dream at this point, with my other projects.

As such, if the Toa look completely different next year, I'll be fine with that. Especially if it gets Lewa a better mask. (Seriously, that mask is the whole reason Lewa isn't my favourite Toa).

[Takanuinuva]

I actually really liked the basic idea of the 2008 Toa, it's just that the execution was pretty poor. I've often wanted to remake them, keeping that basic aesthetic of a streamlined, "Air-fighter" build, but make them sturdier and better looking in person. Sadly, it's a pipe dream at this point, with my other projects.

As such, if the Toa look completely different next year, I'll be fine with that. Especially if it gets Lewa a better mask. (Seriously, that mask is the whole reason Lewa isn't my favourite Toa).

I've been meaning to do the same thing with the 2008 Toa but it would require ordering parts and I don't want to for sets that I'm just going to build take pics then take apart and not use there parts for some time.

Edited April 18, 2015 by Takanuinuva

[Scarilian]

Complaints help Lego improve and force them to try new things to appease the fanbase. They can be a good and bad thing as long as they are constructive.

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Any idea when they reveal the mask that comes with the activity book?

[Dorek]

Complaints help Lego improve and force them to try new things to appease the fanbase. They can be a good and bad thing as long as they are constructive.

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Any idea when they reveal the mask that comes with the activity book?

And the fanbase always knows what they're talking about =P.

Probably not for another month or two. Whenever they finalize the activity book render is when we'll get to see it. Release is supposed to be August, so assuming no delays, June-ish seems right.

[GK733]

Complaints help Lego improve and force them to try new things to appease the fanbase. They can be a good and bad thing as long as they are constructive.

---

Any idea when they reveal the mask that comes with the activity book?

November 24, 2015 is the release so I'd figure the page will be updated with the picture around a month or two earlier. After we have get the leaks and all. It'll possibly be just another Mask of fire or skullspidermask without legs. I'm open for surprises but I don't have high hopes for it to be anything interesting.The book itself could just have some only a little more concept art, puzzles and stuff. If lucky an alphabet and a poster. basically just a wrap-up of the info released on the website.

Release is supposed to be August, so assuming no delays, June-ish seems right.

Wait, what?

To me it says November.

Edited April 19, 2015 by GK733

[Scarilian]

Probably not for another month or two. Whenever they finalize the activity book render is when we'll get to see it. Release is supposed to be August, so assuming no delays, June-ish seems right.

November 24, 2015 is the release so I'd figure the page will be updated with the picture around a month or two earlier.

Well, on my Amazon i have three different listings and dates;

• Lego Bionicle: Chapter Book 1 Paperback
  

Paperback: 128 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Press (3 Sept. 2015)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1407162578

ISBN-13: 978-1407162577

• Untitled (Lego Bionicle: Chapter Book #1) Paperback
  

Paperback: 128 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (25 Aug. 2015)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0545873258

ISBN-13: 978-0545873253

• Activity Book with Mask (Lego Bionicle: Activity Book #1)
  

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.; Act edition (24 Nov. 2015)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0545872553

ISBN-13: 978-0545872553

As far as i am aware, we were only originally aware of 2 books, yet i found 3. Despite the first two seemingly being the same via the title, one is released a month earlier, is slightly more expensive and has a different ISBN... meaning it should be a different book, right? Originally i thought that one was just mislabelled as being a paperback when it should be hardback, however the ISBN is different... :L

Either they are different books or someone filled in the price, two ISBN numbers and the release date wrong... :s

Given the price being cheap, tempted to pre-order just incase it is something different...

Edited April 19, 2015 by Scarilian

[Clone 01354 Productions]

(Seriously, that mask is the whole reason Lewa isn't my favourite Toa).

[Lord-Vorahk]

Well, while I'm not the old Miru's biggest fan, I still like it. The Mask of Air, on the other hand, is my least favourite of the new Toa masks. The actual worst mask is obviously the Kanohi "Moustache, goatee, and lantern-jaw for your female character" Elda.

[One Very Agile Cat]

While I'd probably say the air mask is my least favourite of the new Toa too, I still like it. I just like everyone else's more. It certainly looks like an air-elemental mask with the vents and sheilded face, and it's got just enough of the old Miru's smile/jaw to imply a less stoic personality. It helps that I've long since stopped considering the new Toa the same characters exactly, and just new interpretations of them, so any incongruities are easily dismissed.

[Lord-Vorahk]

In terms of separating old and new, I wonder if the people that don't want the two lines to be connected realise that making the protectors the Turaga or the Mctoran would actually help there.

See, if the Protectors are new versions of the Turaga, rather than just similar characters, then Tahu and co. obviously can't be from a world where the Turaga are around.