Bionicle 2016 Sets Discussion

[Voxovan]

The product page on bionicle.com got updated!

[Logan McOwen]

[Ikaatril]

Between generation 2's 2016 wave and its reception, and the fact that the Star Wars figures exist, it seems the Star Wars figures are both selling better and getting more funding. Now, people will say that both can exist, but these are constraction figures, not regular LEGO sets, and constraction figures cost more to produce than system sets, meaning that the existence of SW Constraction sets making a dent in BIONICLE. Not to mention the extra work set designers will inevitably go through, having to make the SW constraction figures as accurate as they can - something they don't have to do with BIONICLE. On top of that, people have noticed that several sets are missing from several regional variations of the LEGO Catalogue. It's now clear BIONICLE clearly isn't doing very well, and it may be possible that this is its final year. You can say it's planned to go on until at least 2017, but the key word there is 'planned'. That is in no way a confirmation, just what would have been planned if BIONICLE sold well. And everywhere I've seen, BIONICLE has been something of a shelf warmer, whereas the SW constraction sets are flying off the shelves.

Which means that BIONICLE isn't continuing past this year, hence why we already have the Mask of Control in Umarak. Does anyone really think BIONICLE will continue past this year, what with Star Wars existing? Why go for the riskier and less profitable beast that is BIONICLE when Star Wars will inevitably sell better simply because of the name 'Star Wars'?

This is BIONICLE's last year, I'm certain of it. It didn't sell anywhere near enough in its first year, and it won't this year. Look at the lack of effort put into designing more than half the sets this wave, such as Tahu, Kopaka, or Pohatu. The set designers know it's ending. So they've given up.

[DraikNova]

I think BIONICLE is planned for a three year run, and LEGO almost never reduces the amount of time used for a theme. At the very most they'll slice off a summer release, but 2016 is not going to be BIONICLE's end. Plus, if they knew it was ending, they'd be trying to milk it for all it's worth rather than giving up. The issues with set design are just caused by bad choices, not lack of effort.

Edited January 6, 2016 by DraikNova

[avatarbrickman]

I think BIONICLE is planned for a three year run, and LEGO almost never reduces the amount of time used for a theme. At the very most they'll slice off a summer release, but 2016 is not going to be BIONICLE's end. Plus, if they knew it was ending, they'd be trying to milk it for all it's worth rather than giving up. The issues with set design are just caused by bad choices, not lack of effort.

I certainly hope not! If they ended BIONICLE for a second time, a lot of people I know including me would be devastated! I think BIONICLE should be one of those themes that never end like CITY or TECHNIC.

[Voxovan]

Look at the lack of effort put into designing more than half the sets this wave, such as Tahu, Kopaka, or Pohatu. The set designers know it's ending. So they've given up.

That's just a matter of personal opinions, I for one find 2016 Tahu's design way better than his 2015 counterpart, Kopaka's pretty good too. Most Lego themes are planned for 3 years, and unless Bionicle will be some kind of a huge flop it will go until 2017, and even longer if it will sell well enough.

It's true that Bionicle isn't selling as good as it did in G1 years, but it still sells pretty well where I live, and from what I can tell, it sells much better overall than Hero Factory did, and that line lasted more than 3 years.

Edited January 6, 2016 by Voxovan

[GK733]

Even without a proper TV-series Bionicle has been doing better than Hero-Factory, a line that was kept alive for almost five years.

And with the planned Neflix the popularity is sure to rise.

The SW figures are a worrying trend, but Lego doesn't get all the money of them as they have to give a lot of revenue for Disney. I think it's possible for both of them to co-exist. Remember that it's the SW line that is getting only 4 new sets in the next summer. Doesn't sound like special treatment to me.

Edited January 6, 2016 by GK733

[Ikaatril]

I suppose HF's mere existence for four years or so refutes my point. But then again, Exo-Force went out wth a whimper rather than a lot of trying to be milked... and I suppose I can see how and why people like the 2016 Toa. Tahu, who in some ways looks more regal and a more of a master of fire than his 2015 incarnation, how Kopaka is now more lithe and more resembling of his G1 form than his Master form, and how Onua is still bulky, but less ridiculously so and thus somewhat more realistic and less 'toy-ish'.

At least they're taking risks, unlike the latter years of G1 which were filled with Inika and Piraka clones.

[Iben]

it seems the Star Wars figures are both selling better and getting more funding

If it were any other theme, I'd say you could have been right. But this is Star Wars. It's always been a well-selling product, in Lego and outside it , and with the FA being such a big success ; it really shouldn't be such a surprise that they are selling well :P

-Iben

Edited January 6, 2016 by Iben

[TFGuy89]

Which means that BIONICLE isn't continuing past this year, hence why we already have the Mask of Control in Umarak. Does anyone really think BIONICLE will continue past this year, what with Star Wars existing? Why go for the riskier and less profitable beast that is BIONICLE when Star Wars will inevitably sell better simply because of the name 'Star Wars'?

My personal opinion is that the popularity of the Star Wars figs can only strengthen the CCBS system. A lot of people, including previous sceptics of the buildable system, have cautiously given the Star Wars figs a try. If they decide they want more, the popularity might spill over into Bionicle too.

I guess this means Bionicle might play second place, but I don't think that means it'll die. If anything the overall market for CCBS might expand and that's a terrific thing in my books.

Now, people will say that both can exist, but these are constraction figures, not regular LEGO sets, and constraction figures cost more to produce than system sets, meaning that the existence of SW Constraction sets making a dent in BIONICLE.

Do we know this for sure? I don't know, I've always felt that the size and complexity of the CCBS parts is offset by the lower piece count per set. I do think, though, that constraction figures generally offer better value for money.

Edited January 6, 2016 by TFGuy89

[Quisoves Pugnat]

Look at the lack of effort put into designing more than half the sets this wave, such as Tahu, Kopaka, or Pohatu. The set designers know it's ending. So they've given up.

It seems highly unlikely that the reception of the 2015 sets had any effects on the designs of those of 2016. LEGO designs its sets easily a year in advance. Pictures of the current wave leaked in September, after all.

Also, you're making unfounded assertions about the designers' character. Doing a lousy job because you know a theme is ending would be extremely unprofessional. It would also be bizarre, when you consider that LEGO makes plenty of one-shot themes.

[Aethersprite]

The SW figures are a worrying trend, but Lego doesn't get all the money of them as they have to give a lot of revenue for Disney. I think it's possible for both of them to co-exist. Remember that it's the SW line that is getting only 4 new sets in the next summer. Doesn't sound like special treatment to me.

Apparently Star Wars is getting 6 figures in summer; 4 was a wrongly reported number. Wouldn't make sense for Lego to suddenly cut down the number in a wave, anyway. Given that it's Lego and it's Star Wars, my guess is that the SW constraction figures are selling pretty well, given that they're the only non-HF/Bionicle CCBS series to get multiple waves in a row (Chima's were a year apart, and died off after the second).

On this year's Bionicle sets, personally, I love them! Some even more so than they're 2015 counterparts. I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss the theme. Why would Lego commit a Netflix series to the theme if it was dying? In fact, the fact that Lego commissioned a Netflix series seems to be a positive indication to me that Bionicle is doing well.

Between generation 2's 2016 wave and its reception, and the fact that the Star Wars figures exist, it seems the Star Wars figures are both selling better and getting more funding. Now, people will say that both can exist, but these are constraction figures, not regular LEGO sets, and constraction figures cost more to produce than system sets, meaning that the existence of SW Constraction sets making a dent in BIONICLE. Not to mention the extra work set designers will inevitably go through, having to make the SW constraction figures as accurate as they can - something they don't have to do with BIONICLE. On top of that, people have noticed that several sets are missing from several regional variations of the LEGO Catalogue. It's now clear BIONICLE clearly isn't doing very well, and it may be possible that this is its final year. You can say it's planned to go on until at least 2017, but the key word there is 'planned'. That is in no way a confirmation, just what would have been planned if BIONICLE sold well. And everywhere I've seen, BIONICLE has been something of a shelf warmer, whereas the SW constraction sets are flying off the shelves.

Which means that BIONICLE isn't continuing past this year, hence why we already have the Mask of Control in Umarak. Does anyone really think BIONICLE will continue past this year, what with Star Wars existing? Why go for the riskier and less profitable beast that is BIONICLE when Star Wars will inevitably sell better simply because of the name 'Star Wars'?

This is BIONICLE's last year, I'm certain of it. It didn't sell anywhere near enough in its first year, and it won't this year. Look at the lack of effort put into designing more than half the sets this wave, such as Tahu, Kopaka, or Pohatu. The set designers know it's ending. So they've given up.

I think it's not nice, hurtful even, to claim that the set designers don't bother about the theme anymore. Whether you like them or not is your opinion - and you can have them. I don't like some of the sets released this year and last year, too. But that doesn't mean that the set designers didn't put effort into them! Opinion is subjective. I would like to objectively believe that the set designers worked hard to bring us these sets. That doesn't mean that we have to like them, but it also doesn't mean that we should downplay the set designers' work.

Edited January 6, 2016 by Lockon Stratos

[Logan McOwen]

i got somebody at yodel to say thing

it spreads

[DOTM Shockwave]

Same with mine. I figure it's just some extra tightness that'll go away as it's used and worn down a bit.

And welcome to Eurobricks! Enjoy your stay!

DOTM Shockwave, your Lewa looks great! Funny how a small change can make him look so much better (which is saying something since I liked Lewa to begin with).

DOTM Shockwave, great work on Umarak! From long time I thought what to do with his legs, without set it hard to find good solution, but your idea is very good, maybe I will do something similar. I just order some new Bio sets include Umarak from lego shop. And I'm sure I will made many modifications to them.

I really like your changes. I hope you show the rest if/when you do them!

Thanks for the comments, for the time being Umarak and Lewa are going to be the only two sets I'll be getting (planning on getting Ikir and Terak when the sets appear in stores).

I think it's a tad silly to say the designers gave up on the sets. I'm pretty sure the designers give it their all to make the sets look the way they want them to and fit the budget restrictions.

[MakutaDreadscythe]

i got somebody at yodel to say thing

it spreads

Lucky, was out when they came so I gotta wait till tomorrow. Good thing I'm stocked up on tea.

[Logan McOwen]

tea is bland you should feel bad for liking it When I placed the order on the Lego site, I left instructions for them to, if nobody was around, leave my package in the greenhouse. I assume that's where it'll be when I return home tonight, unless somebody was home to sign for it.

Edited January 6, 2016 by Logan McOwen

[MakutaDreadscythe]

Tea is amazing.

I'll remember that for next time, not that it matters I'd have been busy tonight anyway.

I don't feel this year's sets are lazy at all, just not executed with the best of grace. That waist articulation bruh! We got waists!

[Fulcrumfan91]

K whoever said Bionicle designers dont care....I dunno that'ssuper pessimistic, but I would not be surprised if Bionicle ended in 2017. I am glad that I own at least some of the sets! Also, I hooe the character bios get uodated soon....and I hope for some toa wallpapers!

[Kalhiki]

I still don't understand how "Mask of Control is released in the third Wave" equals "Bionicle must be ending." I'm positive Lego has set up a release plan. Plus, with the reveal of the Mask of Time being in two pieces, I can see them having two waves for a Mask of Time story arc. Add that to the wave that'll include the Mask of Ultimate Power, and boom. That takes us to the end of 2017.

After that I couldn't care if it was over. I would prefer something new to take its place... Or Hero Factory's return.

...

*holds up shield*

[Voxovan]

Or Hero Factory's return.

Eugh, I'd prefer something completely new.

[DraikNova]

Or Hero Factory's return.

This would be the best-case scenario for me.

[VBBN]

I still wish HF had continued along but focused more on the minifigure scale- it could have become a glorious new Exo Force.

And there really is no way to say how well Bionicle is selling when you don't have the company financials in your hands. Basing it off how many sets you see on store shelves means literally nothing, because it depends on how many people are buying, when they are buying, store sales, hell even the rate that the store restocks inventory on their shelves can make it seem like some sets are selling better than others.

It's doubtful the wave is doing bad enough that they would deem it non-cost effective to continue with a 2017 wave, especially since at this point the 2017 sets would already in development stages. The sets have only started to see release and have hardly had any marketing, whereas the Force Awakens sets are likely being placed at the forefront of some TFA displays in stores and in advertisements where a much larger STar Wars fanbase will see them.

Personally, If 2016 is any indication of where the theme is going, I won't be nearly as invested in it as I am other themes- Star Wars 2016 is already looking more appealing to me than Bionicle has.

Obviously after my reviews many people see me as being sour toward the 2016 Toa, but I just don't really understand where LEGO is trying to go with the sets. CCBS was a far different aesthetic than G1's BBS, and while I think 2015 was on the right track toward keeping the heart of CCBS but giving us hints of the older aesthetic, 2016 just takes it a step too far in the wrong direction for me. It's almost like LEGO isn't sure how much of the CCBS to keep, and how far into the "intricate" styling of G1 to bring in. Maybe 2015 was like Hero Factory's first year where it was a bridge of sorts, to take our familiar pieces and bring them into a different them, then evolve it from there, but, well, it's not really a style I like so much.

[xboxtravis7992]

If Bionicle ends in 2017 I will be fine. I survived it once in 2010, I can do it again now. I'd rather see the reboot go out with a good send of, than become a long dragged out to no use story.

But I hope Bionicle stays longer than that. I want Bonkles still on the store shelf when I have a family someday! :)

[MakutaDreadscythe]

Personally, If 2016 is any indication of where the theme is going, I won't be nearly as invested in it as I am other themes- Star Wars 2016 is already looking more appealing to me than Bionicle has.

Obviously after my reviews many people see me as being sour toward the 2016 Toa, but I just don't really understand where LEGO is trying to go with the sets. CCBS was a far different aesthetic than G1's BBS, and while I think 2015 was on the right track toward keeping the heart of CCBS but giving us hints of the older aesthetic, 2016 just takes it a step too far in the wrong direction for me. It's almost like LEGO isn't sure how much of the CCBS to keep, and how far into the "intricate" styling of G1 to bring in. Maybe 2015 was like Hero Factory's first year where it was a bridge of sorts, to take our familiar pieces and bring them into a different them, then evolve it from there, but, well, it's not really a style I like so much.

That's actually an interesting point. Then again HF 2.0 had teething problems of it's own. I'm getting used to the aesthetic and it's a bit more interesting but some design choices are pretty weird like Lewa's shoulders. I do appreciate the other features they've added though, including the IMO underrated waist articulation.

[Quisoves Pugnat]

I hope that the next constraction theme, whatever it is, strikes out on its own. Hero Factory suffered, in my opinion, for being a cut-price BIONICLE. I find it telling how much more natural the 2015 sets seemed, as if CCBS had been designed for them in the first place.

Obviously after my reviews many people see me as being sour toward the 2016 Toa, but I just don't really understand where LEGO is trying to go with the sets. CCBS was a far different aesthetic than G1's BBS, and while I think 2015 was on the right track toward keeping the heart of CCBS but giving us hints of the older aesthetic, 2016 just takes it a step too far in the wrong direction for me. It's almost like LEGO isn't sure how much of the CCBS to keep, and how far into the "intricate" styling of G1 to bring in. Maybe 2015 was like Hero Factory's first year where it was a bridge of sorts, to take our familiar pieces and bring them into a different them, then evolve it from there, but, well, it's not really a style I like so much.

I suspect that LEGO underestimated the extent to which folks would like the simplicity afforded BIONICLE by CCBS. Given the inherent greebliness of Gen1, I suppose that's not surprising. Hopefully, 2017 will take that element of last year's reception into account.

Speaking of greebliness, what I find off-putting about the new armor-piece (which I admittedly don't have in hand) is the attempt to blend the CCBS shell-aesthetic with that of Gen1. Gen1's pieces had lots of gaps, which made the profusion of pistons work. They had an effect not unlike that of steampunk. The new piece lacks those gaps, which gives it a cluttered appearance.

Edited January 6, 2016 by Quisoves Pugnat