Bionicle 2015 Discussion

[Takanuinuva]

Wait, what? When did they alter those shells? Haven't heard anything about that nor have I noticed.

Those shells have been slightly remolded. The underside of them which usually has straight corners. Now are slightly flattened. You'd have to look close to notice it. But me with my OCD its going to be even more a pain to have to look for the varying molds when mocing with them. I build very very symmetrically when it comes to mocing or modding. Unless asymmetry is the focus of the set.

[TwistLaw]

So, basically in 2016 we'll have another hyper detailed mask that will eat up a good chunk of the budget? I'm quite ok with this tbh.

[Aanchir]

Wait, what? When did they alter those shells? Haven't heard anything about that nor have I noticed.

I first started noticing the remolded 3M and 4M shells in this year's sets, though afterwards I believe I also noticed them in some of last year's sets. I discussed them in this review, and even included an image showcasing the difference (top row is the original version, bottom row is the new version). The design IDs have even changed: the old design IDs for 3M and 4M shells are 90641 and 90640; the new design IDs are 10498 and 14533.

So, basically in 2016 we'll have another hyper detailed mask that will eat up a good chunk of the budget? I'm quite ok with this tbh.

I don't think the level of detail of a part tends to have much impact on how much of the budget it uses. More complex molds are more expensive, but that's not "complex" in the sense of having lots of detail so much as in the mechanical sense. For instance, a mold that allows for two or three color co-injection would probably be more expensive than one that does not, and a mold that separates into just two sections is cheaper than one that needs additional "sliders" to mold in detail from more sides.

[DraikNova]

It's a good thing that they changed those molds. Those corners have made it difficult for me to fit those parts into certain MOCs, as the corners brought up in each other. It's definitely going to bother me though that my pieces aren't identical.

[Bbrink1996]

September is the month of Stone.

https://www.facebook...0711945/?type=1

Absolutely love those little scorpions.

Edited September 1, 2015 by Bbrink1996

[MakutaOfWar]

I freaking love the way Okoto looks in these concepts.

[Tahu]

I found a way better picture.

No need to thank me

[DraikNova]

Is that official? Because it seems that wherever Okoto is, the planet has two (main) moons.

[TwistLaw]

Is that official? Because it seems that wherever Okoto is, the planet has two (main) moons.

Welcome to January 2015, when we first saw summer boxes.

[Leewan]

Is that official? Because it seems that wherever Okoto is, the planet has two (main) moons.

Yes, and there's a bigger version of this artwork on BIONICLE.com (no need to thank me :p).

[Tazakk]

Ah sweet, they did official art for the city. The shot from the cartoon they were using for its page looked out of place with all of the other renders that are so different stylistically, so this is rad.

[Tahu]

Yes, and there's a bigger version of this artwork on BIONICLE.com (no need to thank me :p).

It was first on the Lego Facebook page but I managed to copy it before they took it down. ( No need to thank me :p )

[Quisoves Pugnat]

The concept art we've seen has been stunning. It's probably too much to hope, but I'd really like for the graphic novels to be done by the same artist (but then, who wouldn't?)

That said, I am saddened that we haven't seen more of these awesome locations in the actual story. I understand that this is the introductory year, and that MNOG was quite the fluke, but it's a crying shame, nonetheless.

Interestingly, the Ancient City picture uses superimposed photos of the sets.

[Dorek]

So the October shop calendar is out, and no mention of the golden skull mask. I doubt it'll remain a Russian exclusive in any way, but I'll agree it seems like a missed Halloween opportunity.

[Mandate]

I found a way better picture.

No need to thank me

*snip*

Hope that's not a canon representation of the Toa (meaning, what's been depicted here could theoretically have happened). Onua was flying just seconds ago, Lewa's flying, Pohatu is flying, Gali is wall-running, Tahu is Batman and Kopaka is still too slow.

Edited September 2, 2015 by Leewan

[Quisoves Pugnat]

Hope that's not a canon representation of the Toa (meaning, what's been depicted here could theoretically have happened). Onua was flying just seconds ago, Lewa's flying, Pohatu is flying, Gali is wall-running, Tahu is Batman and Kopaka is still too slow.

I see no evidence of Onua having flown. It looks like he might have leaped, however. Pohatu is hovering. Gali looks not so much to be wall-running as to be wall-climbing, with her fins anchoring her. Tahu seems to have climbed up the wall by projecting his heat-power through his swords, a perfectly plausible action, if you ask me. Kopaka slipped. =P

[MakutaOfWar]

^Yeah, he climbed using his swords in MoL.

[TheDesuComplex]

Interestingly, the Ancient City picture uses superimposed photos of the sets.

That's very interesting. This means that this concept art was produced after the sets had been finalized, which isn't that surprising. I didn't realize this at first and thought they were painted on like how it was in the first concept art.

So the October shop calendar is out, and no mention of the golden skull mask. I doubt it'll remain a Russian exclusive in any way, but I'll agree it seems like a missed Halloween opportunity.

Yeah, that was always a pipe dream and while it is a shame to see that it is not an October release there is still hope for November and December.

[Dorek]

Yeah, that was always a pipe dream and while it is a shame to see that it is not an October release there is still hope for November and December.

I mean, the timing would have made sense; Europe got the Hero pack a month before the US did, so I could see Russia getting it two months early. But the European calendar doesn't seem to have any mention of it either, so who knows at this point. Quite possibly December, for the holiday season (of course, I had the same hope for the IfB creature too... *sniff*)

[Kalta the Noble Mind]

in regards to the twin moons is this a twofer continuity nod/plot point? i remember the twin suns of metru Nui didn't just denote the alien-ness of this world but hinted at mata nui's true nature with those "suns" being the great spirit's eyes. and in 2009 we learned the three Virtues symbol was actually a map of the damaged spherus magna with bota and aqua magna being bara magna's moons.

so can those twin moons hint towards a hidden nature remenicent of the secrets of g1?

[Fulcrumfan91]

September is the month of Stone.

https://www.facebook...0711945/?type=1

Absolutely love those little scorpions.

Is there any larger version by any chance??? I LOVE this! :DDD

[Dorek]

in regards to the twin moons is this a twofer continuity nod/plot point? i remember the twin suns of metru Nui didn't just denote the alien-ness of this world but hinted at mata nui's true nature with those "suns" being the great spirit's eyes. and in 2009 we learned the three Virtues symbol was actually a map of the damaged spherus magna with bota and aqua magna being bara magna's moons.

so can those twin moons hint towards a hidden nature remenicent of the secrets of g1?

Since they're trying to emulate Mata Nui moreso than Metru Nui, I think it's more just a generic "alien world" trope that they're employing, rather than any specific nod to the previous gen. But who knows, maybe we'll actually get to visit one of the moons in a future year... that could be really fun.

Is there any larger version by any chance??? I LOVE this! :DDD

Facebook can be annoying to get the hi-res versions from, but I uploaded it to BS01 at any rate =P.

[Fulcrumfan91]

Since they're trying to emulate Mata Nui moreso than Metru Nui, I think it's more just a generic "alien world" trope that they're employing, rather than any specific nod to the previous gen. But who knows, maybe we'll actually get to visit one of the moons in a future year... that could be really fun.

Facebook can be annoying to get the hi-res versions from, but I uploaded it to BS01 at any rate =P.

Thank you so much!!!! :)))))

[Kalta the Noble Mind]

Since they're trying to emulate Mata Nui moreso than Metru Nui, I think it's more just a generic "alien world" trope that they're employing, rather than any specific nod to the previous gen. But who knows, maybe we'll actually get to visit one of the moons in a future year... that could be really fun.

true true, espeically how arbitrary they are placed in the pic. thoug from what i have seen from what came out in G2 the creative teem loves to pick out the best elements from the old canon and are willing to mash two similar concepts together in great effect. like how the masters seem to be a delightful blend of both their mata and nuva forms, ehkimu and makuta are sendoffs to both mata nui and makuta and artakha and karzahni i think even the protectors were a nice combination of turaga and matoran.

so i wont see it as a stretch if those twin moons were a mashup of two of G1's greatest twists/mysteries. like they are physical celestial bodies like during the bara magna saga but they also hint towards the world/setting not being what it seems. like they are actually observatories of their true creators ala great beings on the red star.

als now that we have confirmation that these beings are indeed cyborgs/biomechanical i am curious to their reason. like we knew the MU and its inhabitants were just nanites for the great spirit explaining why they are artificial so wonder what the protectors and masters were made for to be artificial.

[TwistLaw]

Do we have a trustworthy source about BIONICLE's current state? In other words, is it really selling that well?