Bionicle 2016 Sets Discussion

[Logan McOwen]

So that's the second issue of the magazine's freebie huh? Sweet!

[Anthony12901]

Look it is the one set that was missing!

[dimaks13]

Look it is the one set that was missing!

What do you mean?

[JekPorkchops]

There were rumors of a sixth summer set that would be released later, but I don't think that will happen. Shortly after that, it was revealed that there would be a bionicle magazine with a freebie. This is the second magazine and I like this freebie as well.

[Fulcrumfan91]

Look it is the one set that was missing!

Oooh I love the hawk

[DraikNova]

Yeah, the whole "Bionicle will not be shipped to stores where they didn't sell well" thing makes it sound reasonably likely that 2017 will be the last year for Bionicle. I'm going to be overly optimistic and state in advance that I'll be laughing my megablocks off if Hero Factory returns. That falcon is a very nice mini build, incidentally.

Edited June 2, 2016 by DraikNova

[GK733]

If it paves a way for a "better" constraction line then sure why not. Just don't take another five years to announce it.

But there's the possibility of just killing in-house constraction completely and sticking to licensed figures, which might as well kill all of my interest with Lego in general.

More so even because they might as well not even release the future SW figures here. It's not a everyday thing to see a clearance Grievious.

Edited June 2, 2016 by GK733

[Kalhiki]

... if Hero Factory returns.

I wouldn't complain about that.

Speaking of, I don't recall HF having problems with its sales. Plus, it lasted, what? Four and a half years? So why's Bionicle seemingly doing poorly? Surely its not Constraction in general. Is it the set designs? Or maybe there's just a lack of interest in Bionicle?

[MakutaDreadscythe]

The idea that it's selling badly really confuses me. I'm not entirely opposed to a return to HF but it is odd considering how the designs in G2 are focused on a mix between functions and articulation. I personally think the sets are great as a whole but hey, that's my opinion.

[Quisoves Pugnat]

I wouldn't complain about that.

Speaking of, I don't recall HF having problems with its sales. Plus, it lasted, what? Four and a half years? So why's Bionicle seemingly doing poorly? Surely its not Constraction in general. Is it the set designs? Or maybe there's just a lack of interest in Bionicle?

I'm curious about that too. Granted, Hero Factory was apparently filling in for BIONICLE on both ends, but it was still deemed profitable enough to run five years. Did the whole "we're not stocking thanks to poor sales" thing ever happen to it?

[JekPorkchops]

Yeah I find these new Bionicle sets far superior to all the standard builds we got in HF (though HF had some very nice exceptions, it's just that the average humanoid HF figure is very simple and they completely redefined that with the new Bionicle). At first I thought today's kids would totally love Bionicle, even those that grew up with HF, because of all of the functionality, builds, looks and the general setting. I guess not, but I just can't think of a reason why this would not be selling as well as HF...

[GK733]

I wouldn't complain about that.

Speaking of, I don't recall HF having problems with its sales. Plus, it lasted, what? Four and a half years? So why's Bionicle seemingly doing poorly? Surely its not Constraction in general. Is it the set designs? Or maybe there's just a lack of interest in Bionicle?

I'm gonna point on the fact that the main heroes are too expensive. People can't afford them all. I'm not saying they are overpriced but it's almost a dream scenario for a kid to have all the heroes, let alone buy any villains on top of that. I believe things like the Ultimate Nexo Knights sets are a direct response to that.

Kids like guns and sci-fi. Current Bionicle doesn't really offer much of that.

There's not much of interraction with the sets and the media either. For Hero Factory you at least had those weird codes that encourage kids to go on the website and get hooked on the theme.

With all the price rises the formula of G1 just doesn't work anymore. The heroes should be the impulse buy. Not some unnamed figure or a bird that barely appears in the story. The smallest sets could be almost polybag tier and be in much lesser quantity.

Edited June 2, 2016 by GK733

[Aanchir]

There was never a time that Hero Factory sets weren't supplied to LEGO stores. But taking Bionicle sets off the shelves of some stores reminds me of the time in 2011 when constraction parts were briefly on the Pick-A-Brick wall but then removed because average customers didn't understand them.

With all the price rises the formula of G1 just doesn't work anymore. The heroes should be the impulse buy. Not some unnamed figure or a bird that barely appears in the story. The smallest sets could be almost polybag tier and be much less.

The Star Wars constraction sets are priced even higher, though, and they seem to be doing alright (for now). For that matter, System themes are routinely priced much higher than Bionicle. This year every Bionicle set is $25 or less. The average price of a set is $15.58. For comparison's sake, in this summer's new Ninjago wave, the only way to get all six ninja in their new "throwback" costumes is to buy a $100 set and a $120 set. In last year's Ninjago range, the cheapest way to get all six ninja in their "deepstone" costumes was to buy the $200 Temple of Airjitzu. Compared to that, $110 to get the six main Bionicle characters doesn't seem outrageous. The buy-in price for Bionicle is still extremely low compared to most other LEGO themes.

Some people will blame recent things they dislike for Bionicle's decline. The CCBS, for example, or the simpler story. But Bionicle's declining sales are not unique to the reboot. Considering that both G1 Bionicle and Hero Factory experienced declining sales throughout their lifespans (and declining search interest, when you look at Google Trends, I have to wonder if what we've been seeing isn't just a steady decline of relevance for the entire constraction category. I have certainly had doubts about that over the years due to the LEGO Group's continuing efforts to expand the constraction category, not to mention the Star Wars constraction sets' strong performance. But even those haven't been around long enough to know for sure if that's more than a momentary spike.

In contrast, System themes have experienced steady popularity over the years, despite being largely unsuccessful in the early years of Bionicle. It makes me wonder if the success of Bionicle in the early years might've hinged on a lack of other strong LEGO products to compete with. This would explain why many LEGO stores now have a hard time selling Bionicle. People who come in aren't just choosing whether or not to buy Bionicle. They're choosing whether to buy Bionicle or other LEGO themes.

[Fulcrumfan91]

I don't think it's because the sets are too expensive......

It could be perhaps due to the fact that maybe LEGO system is a more popular toy? Kids love collecting the minifigures, the sets usually have functions, they can be taken apart and used to build other sets (yeah I know, so can constraction pieces...but this seems different)...maybe the lustre for action figures is decreasing for kids? Again, I don't know, but I have to wonder whether action figures are dying out as it were. I don't know how the Star Wars constraction figures are doing sales wise, nor do I know whether Bionicle is truly doing poorly. However, from mere inference....to me it just doesnt seem like the theme (Bionicle) is doing well at all...if it was, why on earth is it being omitted from so many stores? The Uniters were available almost immediately in most stores around me, the same was true of the waves preceding that one. This wave however......I am only able to purchase the sets online.

[GK733]

The Star Wars constraction sets are priced even higher, though, and they seem to be doing alright (for now). For that matter, System themes are routinely priced much higher than Bionicle. This year every Bionicle set is $25 or less. The average price of a set is $15.58. For comparison's sake, in this summer's new Ninjago wave, the only way to get all six ninja in their new "throwback" costumes is to buy a $100 set and a $120 set. In last year's Ninjago range, the cheapest way to get all six ninja in their "deepstone" costumes was to buy the $200 Temple of Airjitzu. Compared to that, $110 to get the six main Bionicle characters doesn't seem outrageous. The buy-in price for Bionicle is still extremely low compared to most other LEGO themes.

Yeah, I didn't count that. But Ninjago and Nexo Knights still make it so you can get one or two main heroes for really cheap prize. They always include at least one $10 set with one of the main characters.

[GK733]

Combiner instructions!!

https://mi-od-live-s...l.r2=-691041835

or if you prefer not straight link

They also have instructions for the rest of the sets:

Ekimu

Lava Beast

Storm Beast

Quake Beast

Umarak The Destroyer (with the third one being the combiner)

Edited June 2, 2016 by GK733

[Kalhiki]

The Star Wars constraction sets are priced even higher, though, and they seem to be doing alright (for now). For that matter, System themes are routinely priced much higher than Bionicle. This year every Bionicle set is $25 or less. The average price of a set is $15.58. For comparison's sake, in this summer's new Ninjago wave, the only way to get all six ninja in their new "throwback" costumes is to buy a $100 set and a $120 set. In last year's Ninjago range, the cheapest way to get all six ninja in their "deepstone" costumes was to buy the $200 Temple of Airjitzu. Compared to that, $110 to get the six main Bionicle characters doesn't seem outrageous. The buy-in price for Bionicle is still extremely low compared to most other LEGO themes.

But do you think the SW sets can get away with being higher priced because they're Star Wars? I mean, look at it from the perspective of a kid. They see Bionicle and SW on the shelf. If they know about SW, I can see them spending more on a character they're familiar with as opposed to a character they know nothing about despite said character being cheaper in price.

I'm kinda the same way. Tenkai Knights were relatively cheap, but I was hesitant to buy because I knew nothing about the story (or the product, for that matter).

But, yeah, price matters. Cheaper is definitely better and a good way to push the product. But I also think it really boils down to "is it cool?". Because I'd definitely get something I knew nothing about if it was cool enough.

Also, I've brought up Walmarts and Targets around me only having limited to no stock of Bionicle, but thinking back, I think I started seeing this trend back in mid-to-late 2012 (around the end of HF's Breakout line). So that definitely wasn't caused by Bionicle, at least. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

[Anthony12901]

Combiner instructions!!

https://mi-od-live-s...l.r2=-691041835

or if you prefer not straight link

They also have instructions for the rest of the sets:

Ekimu

Lava Beast

Storm Beast

Quake Beast

Umarak The Destroyer (with the third one being the combiner)

Combiner review pictures done. Review text coming. Watch out for new topic.

EDIT: Flickr isn't working for me so it will be a video.

Edited June 2, 2016 by Anthony12901

[VBBN]

For those curious.

[TheBrickPal]

Wow, I'm really surprised at how close in height Umarak is!

[ToaDraco]

I got UtD and Ekimu yesterday. Both sets are fantastic, I'm very pleased with them. UtD is large and intimidating, certainly a proper titan like those of yesteryear. The only real complaint I have is the lower jaw. I don't feel that gunmetal was the best choice for the color and I really wished the beasts were given a mouth snapping function rather than the mask p[op off trigger. A missed opportunity for sure. Ekimu positively glows with shear brilliance with all the trans-blue. He truly looks powerful and I love it. He really does take the main functions of 2015 and 2016 and perfects them. John Ho did a fantastic job. I like the hammer and I really like that the shield is attache to his arm rather than being held like a proper shield should be. I just watched JANGBRICKS review of the beast combo model and oh man I can't wait to get the other 3 beasts to try it out.

[Blinky3eye]

Jangbricks has uploaded a review of the combiner model.

[Aethersprite]

Wow, our first G2 Bionicle promo set that isn't a mask! I'm loving that brick-built head, hope we see more of these in the future :)

[dimaks13]

Wow, our first G2 Bionicle promo set that isn't a mask! I'm loving that brick-built head, hope we see more of these in the future :)

Second

[avatarbrickman]

What was the first?