Bionicle 2008 Images and Discussion

[FlamingShadows]

in BZP's OGD it says that: antroz is the rider instead of kopaka because antroz hijacked the ship (forgot the name ><)

i know antroz hijacked it, but why kopaka? i like him most of the 3 toa's :'-(

they should at least put him in new armour as a new set, it's just dumb to renew 2 of the 3 toa's, and i'd be really pissed off :'-(

[Phantoka_Chirox]

fire beats ice..maybe? but antroz is not fire hmmm makuta vs toa? :P

[VBBN]

Mazeka is a Matoran, with a vehicle. He's the only 2008 set we haven't seen.

On the subject of pins, I do think the long blue ones introduced this year are a bit much, but it's not something I feel strongly about.

Bad news for technic fans though. I saw that new digger, right, and there were blue pins everywhere! Just put them in a seperate freakin bag Lego. :-|

Won't that just get them mixed up with the blue pin/axle adapters? They could have gone with Green or something.

Yikes! I just hope that if they do, it isn't at TRU.

Oh please, not green. White, is welcome on the other hand.

Please, not TRU!! :'-( Even though I have one near me+S@H, I am NOT OVERPAYING!! >:-( $40.00 fro a titan, two matoran, and a crap-trap wasn't very smart. The crap-trap should have been dumped, IMO.

Anyway, how is bitil pronounced?

Beetle?

Bite-ill?

Bit-ill?

[FlamingShadows]

man..i'm still waiting for more matorans, rahi or titans to come up :-/

i mean, they missed a BIG chance at underwater theme for rahi's, they got a chance to make up for that with a swamp theme, right?

[Tohst]

man..i'm still waiting for more matorans, rahi or titans to come up :-/

i mean, they missed a BIG chance at underwater theme for rahi's, they got a chance to make up for that with a swamp theme, right?

I wish it did. All I ever notice from Greg F. was that Rahi didn't sell well way back at the beginning so they don't do a lot of Rahi.

Now, the idea that -those- sets didn't sell because they were pretty much just the same Technic competition sets that hadn't sold well before instead of concentrating on ball joint construction techniques like some of the later Rahi that came with Toa had never seems to be brought up. Of course, maybe they focus grouped it every year since then and it didn't turn out well. Design by committee is by necessity risk averse and thus in many cases boring. I don't know the process they go through but it really seems to miss opportunities.

The good thing is you can buy 30-40 copies of $13 canister sets and build your own underwater or swamp rahi.

-Tohst

[FlamingShadows]

I wish it did. All I ever notice from Greg F. was that Rahi didn't sell well way back at the beginning so they don't do a lot of Rahi.

Now, the idea that -those- sets didn't sell because they were pretty much just the same Technic competition sets that hadn't sold well before instead of concentrating on ball joint construction techniques like some of the later Rahi that came with Toa had never seems to be brought up. Of course, maybe they focus grouped it every year since then and it didn't turn out well. Design by committee is by necessity risk averse and thus in many cases boring. I don't know the process they go through but it really seems to miss opportunities.

The good thing is you can buy 30-40 copies of $13 canister sets and build your own underwater or swamp rahi.

-Tohst

i see...but still, they could try out new techniques on the rahi, i loved how they made gadunka for example, they could at LEAST make 1/2 rahi this summer :-/

[Visorak-kal]

To join in the conversation...

Why do we suddenly like these sets now?

And am I the only one who really just doesn't like Silver and Red? It's like putting green and purple together. Good for small silver highlights, but any more than what we had on Jaller kills it.

I for one made no comment or decision on the sets until now, at which point I confess I do like the majority of them. As for red and silver, I really don't find it bad at all, though my finest preference remains red and orange, or two red tones as on Hakann. The only things that really bug me are things like green and orange. Eye-killer! If you're speaking on Jaller Mahri, there's my point. Red and orange.

My only complaint might be that, on Tahu at least, the silver seems to be more his primary color than the red, making him less of a red canister set and more of a silver one. And silver stands out much more than grey. With the Phantoka, the grey was bland enough that each Phantoka looked like their correctly intended color. With the Mistika, it could be that the silver might be too bright. Nonetheless, I am overjoyed to finally see silver Piraka legs!

And I fail to see the problem with re-releasing Lewa, Pohatu and Antroz in different forms on the three vehicles. Many of you here seem to agree with whoever posted that opinion article on BZP last night. They don't like it either. I think it is a great move for both sets and storyline.

Firstly, they are in slightly different forms, which means for Lewa we get a sweet new mask, and Pohatu now has full armor, arms, and legs. In addition, we get a new Antroz mask. Plus it is an addition reason to get Axalara if you're not a completist--skip Lewa Phantoka, get Axalara.

Storyline-wise, its perfect. Greg has said multiple times that a minor problem with BIONICLE is the sheer amount of characters each year (21+ in 2006). It is very hard to tell a story with so many characters and give everyone fair screen time. This year, you'll notice that the vehicles have taken the place of three more new characters. All of this amounts to less characters and what could be a better (even if slightly) story because of it. Look at Time Trap, to this day my favorite Bionicle book. Compare the number of characters there to the number in Inferno or Downfall. 2007 had so many characters that Lesovikk and Krazahni ended up getting a serial instead of being in books. In 2006, Umbra got about four pages in the whole year, as did Irnakk. This year, we might get more screen time for those characters, since they are being re-released and can be focused in summer as well as spring story.

VK

[FlamingShadows]

meh, i don't think we can say anything about story-wise yet, we yet have to know the phantoka one, mistika one we don't even know all sets yet..anyone any idea if/when there will be a 4th bionicle movie? i'm sure that with assaulting the makuta's as subjet now, there will surely be a new movie

[Visorak-kal]

meh, i don't think we can say anything about story-wise yet, we yet have to know the phantoka one, mistika one we don't even know all sets yet..anyone any idea if/when there will be a 4th bionicle movie? i'm sure that with assaulting the makuta's as subjet now, there will surely be a new movie

I don't know the story either, I am just saying that typically BIONICLE story has suffered from an overload of characters, so I feel it is better that the riders of the three vehicles are prior characters rather than entirely new characters.

And there will be a new BIONICLE movie in 2009, for the new direction stuff. It has been confirmed, they're working on the script now if they aren't done already. I'm hoping the movie will be big and dramatic, at least it's bound to be more understandable since the new direction will allow new fans to hop in. I hope the movie won't seem so convoluted and will instead seem fresh and new, almost as if they had made a movie in 2001.

VK

[FlamingShadows]

by the way, i never said that having those 3 bikers to be returning characters was a bad thing, i'm just upset, WHy kopaka get hijacked? i jut don't want that, i want a remade kopaka toooo :'-(

[VBBN]

Oh jeez, I thought lego had a no-violence policy. But agents and hijacking proves that wrong. :-|

[Zarkan]

I don't know the story either, I am just saying that typically BIONICLE story has suffered from an overload of characters, so I feel it is better that the riders of the three vehicles are prior characters rather than entirely new characters.

And there will be a new BIONICLE movie in 2009, for the new direction stuff. It has been confirmed, they're working on the script now if they aren't done already. I'm hoping the movie will be big and dramatic, at least it's bound to be more understandable since the new direction will allow new fans to hop in. I hope the movie won't seem so convoluted and will instead seem fresh and new, almost as if they had made a movie in 2001.

Agreed. And I have to say, Lewa's new mask in the giant flying vehicle set totally blows his canister set mask out of the water. Seems to be a combination of the giant mouth of the original Miru and the jagged edges of the first Miru Nuva. *wub*

Although, I don't see why they have these giant spiked globe things as heads instead of regular heads. Makes Pohatu look like he doesn't have any eyes..... but actually, they may just be prototype molds. Most test molds are made in red, black or white, after all, and I bet making them trans takes a WHOLE lot longer. ;-)

Oh jeez, I thought lego had a no-violence policy. But agents and hijacking proves that wrong.

No, this was proven wrong way before Agents and this. It seems that around the time of Alpha Team the no-violence policy was partly revoked, and now with Exo-force, Dino Attack, Mars Mission, Bionicle, and so many other themes, it doesn't really mean anything any more. ;-)

Of course, this doesn't mean we'll be seeing any War in Iraq themes.... although Indiana Jones seems to be pushing the bar even farther with those tanks and jeeps. :-P

[Visorak-kal]

Oh jeez, I thought lego had a no-violence policy. But agents and hijacking proves that wrong. :-|

I agree that Agents does seem do infringe on this policy, but Antroz hijacking the Jetrax? What is so violent about an EVIL Makuta going into a one-man vehicle, throwing out the guy in the vehicle (who can FLY so he won't get hurt) and driving it around? It isn't any more violent than BIONICLE or LEGO has been since the early Wild West or Orient Expedition themes.

I think the term hijacking has been given a very violent connotation in recent times, but if you look at the dictionary, it says this:

1 a: to steal by stopping a vehicle on the highway b: to commandeer (a flying airplane) c: to stop and steal from (a vehicle in transit) d: kidnap

Nothing more violent that gun-bearing bandits in the west robbing from banks at gunpoint.

Although, I don't see why they have these giant spiked globe things as heads instead of regular heads. Makes Pohatu look like he doesn't have any eyes..... but actually, they may just be prototype molds. Most test molds are made in red, black or white, after all, and I bet making them trans takes a WHOLE lot longer.

They are actually supposed to be trans-blue visors. And I don't think they are spikes, Grievous, I think they are the small wings as seen on Tahu and the Mistika Nuva only attached to the new visors. And I agree, that new Lewa mask is superb!

VK

Edited February 20, 2008 by Visorak-kal

[Icesaber]

Although, I don't see why they have these giant spiked globe things as heads instead of regular heads. Makes Pohatu look like he doesn't have any eyes..... but actually, they may just be prototype molds. Most test molds are made in red, black or white, after all, and I bet making them trans takes a WHOLE lot longer. ;-)

They do have regular heads, but they wear the spiked visors like Pohatu and Lewa wore their visors, with their masks.

[Pigbrick]

I have to say I'm okay with the vehicles designs except for the ungodly amount of silver blades decorating the highflying machines. Can't they be a different color than silver?

Since the 2009 movie is brought up, can someone answer this question for me: Is Bruce Timm, the guy behind Batman: The Animated Series, working on this? I thought I read that awhile ago but I'm a little unsure now. Maybe I was dreaming *sweet*.

[VBBN]

Oh, I see a silver hannah crab body as a handelbar. Tks to a member for BZP for that comment. ;-)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2355/227696...72673c687_b.jpg

Edit: Linkified

Edited February 21, 2008 by ~VBBN~

[JINZONINGEN73]

Nice looking canisters, but all the excess flashing off the sides make them that much harder to moc with.

but these ghost blaster things? No. Just cut it the snot out, Lego! Give us one launcher and makes us deal with it for the year, okay? Then SIPHON THE DAGGUM SAVINGS INTO RESPECTABLE TOOLS, CUZ THIS CRAP IS JUST WRONG.

In the 70's and 80's, diecast giant robots from Japan were all similar in the firing weapons department. Sure, some guys shot off their unique fists and other stuff, but aside from the diameter, bullets were still bullets and launchers were no more visible than a tiny hole with a button somewhere nearby.

That's where Bionicle's failing. They keep making these giant-assed blasters.

In the 90's, GI Joe took a HORRIBLE turn, with 3 3/4inch figures carrying rocket launchers that were the same size as them. It was... stupid.

Lego just needs to standardize a projectile (zamor!), then work each year on getting the cannons that launch them tinier and tinier. Mass production of those units should bring their cost down.

THEN they can devote all their resources to doing COOL gimmicks, like mask design, joint design, and if there's a couple japanese people employed, character design. Wasting time, money and specific molds on coming out with crazycrap launchers and projectiles is counter-productive.

Eventually, they WILL run out of annoying gimmick ideas.

What next, shooting marbles out of their stomachs? (Lol... the Phantoka kinda' already do that!)

Troll hair? (Wait, that'd be cool).

SLIME? (Don't laugh, nearly every long-running toy franchise goes there).

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the 90's were like this... they literally used up every toy gimmick that had come before.

I'm guessing the "transforming" Bionicle figures are just steps away.

[Zarkan]

I'm guessing the "transforming" Bionicle figures are just steps away.

LOL, we kinda already had that with the Vahki in 2004 (they transformed from a two-legged humanoid to a 4-legged beast). But hey, if done right, that might be kinda cool. I though you were the guy who loved transformers, anyway. ;-)

Then again, with the way that TLC is going, they'd probably mess it up. :-X

[JINZONINGEN73]

I though you were the guy who loved transformers, anyway. ;-)

Then again, with the way that TLC is going, they'd probably mess it up. :-X

Hahaha, exactly. That's best left to the masters.. ... ...who often mess things up horribly themselves.

X D

[Clonie]

The latest pics of Rockoh T3 and Axalara T9 show the spiked visors in the same colour as the Mahri visors, i.e. transparent.

Rockoh might be the worst Bionicle name ever. Even Kaukau tops it. I think.

[Zaktan of the Shadows]

The latest pics of Rockoh T3 and Axalara T9 show the spiked visors in the same colour as the Mahri visors, i.e. transparent.

Rockoh might be the worst Bionicle name ever. Even Kaukau tops it. I think.

I'm gonna buy Rockoh, make him play Rock Band, whilst renaming the game Rockoh Band. Or I can make a spoof vid.

-ZotS

Edited February 21, 2008 by Zaktan of the Shadows

[dviddy]

Jinzo: Portrait of a Japanophile!

Japanese doing character and build design for Bionicle? No thanks. There are enough big-eyed sweat-drop people in the world. I would much rather not see Bionicle go anime.

It's just not an art style I find even remotely appealing.

But who knows, maybe the 'target group' would love it....

<<DV>>

[Visorak-kal]

That's where Bionicle's failing. They keep making these giant-assed blasters.

In the 90's, GI Joe took a HORRIBLE turn, with 3 3/4inch figures carrying rocket launchers that were the same size as them. It was... stupid.

Lego just needs to standardize a projectile (zamor!), then work each year on getting the cannons that launch them tinier and tinier. Mass production of those units should bring their cost down.

THEN they can devote all their resources to doing COOL gimmicks, like mask design, joint design, and if there's a couple japanese people employed, character design. Wasting time, money and specific molds on coming out with crazycrap launchers and projectiles is counter-productive.

Eventually, they WILL run out of annoying gimmick ideas.

What next, shooting marbles out of their stomachs? (Lol... the Phantoka kinda' already do that!)

Troll hair? (Wait, that'd be cool).

SLIME? (Don't laugh, nearly every long-running toy franchise goes there).

But, Jinzo, have you ever considered that these "failings" work or, dare I speak it, sell? If these didn't sell, LEGO would discontinue them, just as they discontinued Technic Rahi and collectible masks. LEGO, as we can see, doesn't stick with things even if they happen to be some of the earliest BIONICLE core ideas. If it don't sell, it goes. However, I agree with you Jinzo that eventually they are bound to run out of ideas. Slime---ugh. Save me from the slime, my brother has one of those slime things and I shudder at the sight of it. The feel just bugs me.

The question put to you if you're LEGO is this: Do you stick with the large launchers that--apparently--sell but may eventually run out of ideas, or do you take a risk now in altering your launcher ideas and going with what you, Jinzo, suggest? If you stick with what you have, you are guaranteed sales in the short run until you run out of ideas. If you go your way, you could either end up with a long-term launcher success, or doom the line now if the kids don't like it.

It is the same issue with the vehicles this year. They are clearly technic. If they work, they could help BIONICLE grow in a new direction- technic vehicles and perhaps one day the return of technic Rahi. Or they could flop and BIONICLE suffers this year, causing a complete reverse to less complex figures.

What is the amount of risk that LEGO is willing to take? Perhaps one day I think they might go your route, Jinzo, but right now their marketing plan seems to be stabilization in their lines, so I doubt they will try something radical when they are sure that (for now, at least) these large launchers are selling.

And by the way, if you look at the tail ends of those Nynrah blasters, you'll see they fit in just like Cordaks. LEGO is already taking your advice! (Okay, so maybe not in the way you wanted. :-D )

Then again, with the way that TLC is going, they'd probably mess it up.

If LEGO thought like that, there wouldn't be a BIONICLE, because they would have thought that they would mess up a storyline-based theme with their own story.

VK

[Tohst]

If LEGO thought like that, there wouldn't be a BIONICLE, because they would have thought that they would mess up a storyline-based theme with their own story.

VK

Yeah, and there wouldn't be an Exo-Force! What? Wait? That storyline based theme failed?

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Lego and their focus-groups are not infallable.

Some things work, some things don't. Some things don't work but due to the other things that work about the sets nobody knows they don't work. Some things do work but due to the other things that don't work about the sets, the sets fail.

Transforming things is not a Lego core compentency. One look at previous transforming lines would tell you that. If they went at it in a big way would it work? Probably not the first year or two. Remember we lived through Robo-riders prior to Bionicle. Lego seems to be on solid enough ground to try the next leap forward. It could be another Galidor or it could be another Bionicle. Or it could be another Knights Kingdom and end up somewhere in between the two extremes.

-Tohst

[Visorak-kal]

Yeah, and there wouldn't be an Exo-Force! What? Wait? That storyline based theme failed?

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Lego and their focus-groups are not infallable.

Some things work, some things don't. Some things don't work but due to the other things that work about the sets nobody knows they don't work. Some things do work but due to the other things that don't work about the sets, the sets fail.

Transforming things is not a Lego core compentency. One look at previous transforming lines would tell you that. If they went at it in a big way would it work? Probably not the first year or two. Remember we lived through Robo-riders prior to Bionicle. Lego seems to be on solid enough ground to try the next leap forward. It could be another Galidor or it could be another Bionicle. Or it could be another Knights Kingdom and end up somewhere in between the two extremes.

-Tohst

My point being that it isn't right to assume that if LEGO tries something it will fail. I wasn't referring specifically to transforming BIONICLE sets, only to assumption that LEGO will fail at any attempt to do so. Previous transforming lines haven't work, and I'm not approving of transforming anything, I would be against the idea.

I think I might have been misunderstood. I was referring to the general statement that LEGO in their current state would mess things up, not actually to the specific idea of LEGO messing up a transforming line.

VK