Bionicle 2009 Images and Discussion

[---Vertea---]

I think 2008 worked really well. We had the Codrex which was a machine yet really mysterious.

It didn't feel the same. It seemed so... out of place. We need more background-more history in the area. Since everything about the actual story and characters was out of place in the setting, it did not feel quite right. If we had something familiar to the characters, something out of place like the Codrex would really stand out and truly be wierd. But there was no contrast. Just a swamp with with robots that stuck out like sore thumbs in this setting.

Edited October 12, 2008 by ---Vertea---

[Hydrobius]

It didn't feel the same. It seemed so... out of place. We need more background-more history in the area. Since everything about the actual story and characters was out of place in the setting, it did not feel quite right. If we had something familiar to the characters, something out of place like the Codrex would really stand out and truly be wierd. But there was no contrast. Just a swamp with with robots that stuck out like sore thumbs in this setting.

I think forced would be a good word here - the codrex was a nice idea and all, but... as people have said, really out of place. It always seems like every year starts off with such potential (IE: Piraka on Voya-Nui, Barraki war under the waves, Toa VS. Makuta in an all-new arial enviroment, etc.), but then gets wasted when the Toa arrive. 07 Would be my prime example to that... Legends 6 was awsome, and then bam, cheesy Toa Mahri hit the scene and all that potential - gone.

2008 could have ben better too... the ending was amazing, but the vehicles, the Codrex - coundn't someone have come up with better options than that? Maybe a cooler way of awakening Mata Nui? Giant Swamp Rahi? The list goes on and on...

*Ends rant*

[Wrinkledlion X]

Personally, the Codrex is one of my favorite objects in all of BIONICLE, so I'm naturally in favor of it.

Personally, though, I've really enjoyed most of 2008. I agree the vehicles could've been Rahi, but overall they don't detract much from it. 2008 ranks highly among my favorite years, and I really like the setting. (It reminds me of Slizers or RoboRiders, actually.)

But I love the Codrex- For me it's just below Kini-Nui in terms of awesomeness.

EDIT:

A few questions on 2009, though I'm not sure you can answer:

1. A guy over here says you've confirmed we have a new book-series for '09. Is this true?

1a. If so, do you have a name chosen? (I recommend "BIONICLE Odysseys.")

2. Tarix looks rather unfeminine for a blue set, though I suppose it's wouldn't be a first. Still, in a new universe with new rules, is there any possibility that each elemental tribe might contain both genders?

3. I've heard that the 2009 universe wasn't created by the Great Beings. Is this true?

3a. If not, is it possible we'll get to learn of some new pantheon of beings?

3b. Is there any possibility that next year's setting is the Great Being's universe? It's been described as having caverns of ice and hot forges, and you've said there are many different environments in next year's location. (Plus the backgrounds of the '09 sets look very elemental.)

4. Are you planning on having a good deal of mysticism in next year's story? (ie: "The Heavens," reverence of the elements, astrology, things like Vakama's Sacred Fire, etc.)

Anyways, I love the appearance of the sets.

Kudos to the set-designers on that. (Especially Skrall and Strakk!)

1) Haven't said anything of the kind. I really doubt they will bother with a new series name, since there are only two books in '09. Two is not much of a series.

2) Tarix is not female, which is why he does not look female. This is not the Matoran universe, so Matoran universe rules do not apply.

3) Correct

3a) No, we are not dealing on that scale of power. It's sort of like watching, say, a Pirates movie -- do they stop and get into who created the Earth during the story?

3b) Sorry, I can't go into this kind of detail

4) Nope. 2009 is about practical people dealing with serious problems ... they really don't have time to worry about the mystical and the intangible.

4. Well I mean more like in 2001- It included all of those things just as aspects of the culture, but they didn't really play an overly important part. Just little details thrown in.

4) Based on what I have seen and written, no -- we are dealing with a very different culture here, and we didn't want to just redo 2001 in a different location.

4. Sorry for the long wait before responding-

If we don't get a whole lot of mysticism, will we still get lots of detailed information on the culture of the Glatorian? Because that's something I'm always very interested in.

Also, a few new questions:

5. I believe you've said we're not on an island in '09- Is there any possibility that we're on a continent?

5a. If you can't answer that, can you tell us whether the location is surrounded by water?

6. If we're on a larger land-mass, is there any possibility that we might stay there for over a year?

(I personally think staying in a location longer than a year is a good way to establish a new chapter of BIONICLE, but I understand that a smaller location, like an island, might be restrictive and make things boring after a while. That's why I'm hoping we have a larger setting, so that there's room to expand over two years or so.)

7. I checked a Latin translator- Is "Certavus" some manner of gladiatorial game?

4) As much as I can, remember, there are only two books next year and one is a movie novelization, so I don't have a ton of spare room.

5) I can't discuss this.

6) It depends on global set sales, W. How long we stay there really depends on how long BIONICLE lasts.

7) No

Sorry, again with the number four:

4. Well in 2001 we had less, but we learned a good deal of Matoran culture through various ways- Sports from games and the internet, stuff like story-telling at Amaja Circles in the comics, etc. Just fun things that really play no important role. Or even details that never appeared in the story, like Copper masks, or things that weren't technically necessary but were good for tone-setting, like the Matoran alphabet.

All these together made 2001 very well fleshed out, which, combined with the overall simplicity of the story (Which I know we're doing next year), lent a very unique feel to BIONICLE.

I think I'm probably beating a dead horse at this point, so I'll stop after this, but I think you know what I mean?

Anyways, more importantly:

If I sent you a PM last weekend and I haven't received an answer, should I resend it?

4) I can't speak to what any web games on the site might reveal, since I have no involvement in them. You would need to ask Binkmeister about that. All I can speak to is what might be on BIONICLEstory, which would be side stories as it is now.

Edited October 13, 2008 by Gunnar

[Zaktan of the Shadows]

I contacted Maltha today and he said that CryoShell CD is planned to be out in "first part of 2009."

Did he say anything about what tracks will be on it?

~Air Spirit

[Tyranide]

Personally, the Codrex is one of my favorite objects in all of BIONICLE, so I'm naturally in favor of it.

Personally, though, I've really enjoyed most of 2008. I agree the vehicles could've been Rahi, but overall they don't detract much from it. 2008 ranks highly among my favorite years, and I really like the setting. (It reminds me of Slizers or RoboRiders, actually.)

But I love the Codrex- For me it's just below Kini-Nui in terms of awesomeness.

I also like Codrex. But speaking about "out of place"... it just looks strange. A giant sphere stupidly placed in the swamp. Why it's there and other questions get no answers. Hope it'll be resolved in BL11 (need to wait two more weeks!), but I don't think so. If thing like Codrex EXISTS, there MUST BE some description of what it is, something more complex than "storage for everything - from Toa to vehicles". It's deus ex machina that BIONICLE story is full of.

But the IDEA of having giant sphere in the swamp - cool, yeah.

Did he say anything about what tracks will be on it?

No. I sent a long message with TWO questions (the second was my personal problem about getting this disc in my country) and all I got was:

CD is planned - first part of 2009.

:)

I hoped to get more... long answer, but it's still better than nothing, considering how our conversation began))

Edited October 13, 2008 by Tyranide

[iLego94]

It's obvious why the codrex is in the middle of a cave/swamp. Karda Nui was originally a barren wasteland, with sand dunes and deserts. If you look at Karda Nui in a larger frame, it itself is a sphere. Now, think of the heart. Every heart generates a small electric current. This process doesn't take up the whole heart, as the heart is used for pumping. Therefore, the Codrex is the small part of the heart that creates the electric current. According to BL11, the Great Beings named the area after the matoran words for "Great Heart". The thing that belongs in Karda Nui is the codrex, not the swamp, not the cave. Personally, I have always liked the idea of machines being in natural settings. It's one of the unique things about BIONICLE, that just because it's based on machines or Bio-mechanical beings, we don't always have to have a setting like Metru Nui. Look at our world. Looking out the window, I can see trees, and grass -but then, what's that! A telephone pole!! Every civilization gets to the point where they make machines. And they plop them all right on top of nature. And as long as the battle-crafts don't pollute, I'm fine with that.

~iLego94

[Nightmare]

I'm disappointed about the new movie guys. It's just the second part of the chase, and they didn't talk. They should have waited more for the commercial to air.

On another nore Dwellers in Darkness 4 up too.

EDIT: Check OGD. The Virtues Map is not just a map: is a reminder. Greg's not telling of what.

Edited October 13, 2008 by Nightmare

[---Vertea---]

I'm disappointed about the new movie guys. It's just the second part of the chase, and they didn't talk. They should have waited more for the commercial to air.

On another nore Dwellers in Darkness 4 up too.

EDIT: Check OGD. The Virtues Map is not just a map: is a reminder. Greg's not telling of what.

What if that female on Metru Nui were Strakk?

[Tyranide]

It's obvious why the codrex is in the middle of a cave/swamp. Karda Nui was originally a barren wasteland, with sand dunes and deserts. If you look at Karda Nui in a larger frame, it itself is a sphere. Now, think of the heart. Every heart generates a small electric current. This process doesn't take up the whole heart, as the heart is used for pumping. Therefore, the Codrex is the small part of the heart that creates the electric current. According to BL11, the Great Beings named the area after the matoran words for "Great Heart". The thing that belongs in Karda Nui is the codrex, not the swamp, not the cave. Personally, I have always liked the idea of machines being in natural settings. It's one of the unique things about BIONICLE, that just because it's based on machines or Bio-mechanical beings, we don't always have to have a setting like Metru Nui. Look at our world. Looking out the window, I can see trees, and grass -but then, what's that! A telephone pole!! Every civilization gets to the point where they make machines. And they plop them all right on top of nature. And as long as the battle-crafts don't pollute, I'm fine with that.

~iLego94

So, it's explained in BL11)) Then - my apologies for my previous post)) Meaning of the Codrex is clear (and always was clear, I think). It just wasn't described in books. That's what I mean - I'm glad that some things can be figures out by fans (easily!) but if they aren't added in any official media after that... I don't like it.

Combination of biological and mechanical always were something like BIONICLE symbol - it's the main feature of the universe. Judgind by that - Codrex is perfect addition to the "universe feel" or whatever it called. So are the vehicles. I just want explanation))

I'm disappointed about the new movie guys. It's just the second part of the chase, and they didn't talk. They should have waited more for the commercial to air.

There's even worse! Now we need to wait... 21 day! for the next short video clip.

What if that female on Metru Nui were Strakk?

Skrall, you mean? Strakk's white)

Still, it's an interesting thought. Have anyone bothered to ask Greg if we'll have any female characters next year? He answered that Tarix isn't female, so maybe he can answer this one?

Edited October 13, 2008 by Tyranide

[Nightmare]

So, it's explained in BL11)) Then - my apologies for my previous post)) Meaning of the Codrex is clear (and always was clear, I think). It just wasn't described in books. That's what I mean - I'm glad that some things can be figures out by fans (easily!) but if they aren't added in any official media after that... I don't like it.

Combination of biological and mechanical always were something like BIONICLE symbol - it's the main feature of the universe. Judgind by that - Codrex is perfect addition to the "universe feel" or whatever it called. So are the vehicles. I just want explanation))

There's even worse! Now we need to wait... 21 day! for the next short video clip.

Skrall, you mean? Strakk's white)

Still, it's an interesting thought. Have anyone bothered to ask Greg if we'll have any female characters next year? He answered that Tarix isn't female, so maybe he can answer this one?

Erm, I already said to check OGD. Each tribe has mixed genders, also, there's one female in the movie who has a very prominent role.

[Holy Diver]

So, it's official that the're going to be tribes?

Also, I predict that Tuma might be the important female character (it seems somewhat female), or the black crystalline character from DID might actually be an 09 charcter that some how wound up in the MU and became a Order member.

[Nightmare]

So, it's official that the're going to be tribes?

Also, I predict that Tuma might be the important female character (it seems somewhat female), or the black crystalline character from DID might actually be an 09 charcter that some how wound up in the MU and became a Order member.

Whoever the girl is, is not from 09.

[Pencoin]

Whoever the girl is, is not from 09.

How do you know? Did Greg tell you?

[Nightmare]

How do you know? Did Greg tell you?

No one, including Mata Nui, knows of the '09 universe. Guys, think a little about it: The girl was from the MU. Needless to say that the only returning character is Mata Nui for reasons we all already know.

[Pencoin]

Still this is a bit strange though isn't it, a character who appear out of no where who isn't dissimilar to a 2009 set.

[---Vertea---]

I asked Greg. It isn't a character from the 09 universe. He said only one character from this year will be in 09, and it is a character already from this universe.

And I did mean Strakk-the female character was white-so is Strakk. Plus, Strakk seems slightly feminine in the eyes... Not in any way a bad thing.

[S-N]

I asked Greg. It isn't a character from the 09 universe. He said only one character from this year will be in 09, and it is a character already from this universe.

And I did mean Strakk-the female character was white-so is Strakk. Plus, Strakk seems slightly feminine in the eyes... Not in any way a bad thing.

Well, there's two characters in the 09 universe. Mata Nui and Ignika. But since Greg counts Ignika as an object...

BTW, I really hope for another Toa Ignika set next year.

[hewkii9]

Wait, Pencoin, which 2009 set does the disintegrating Vortixx look-alike resemble?

[Wrinkledlion X]

So, it's explained in BL11)) Then - my apologies for my previous post)) Meaning of the Codrex is clear (and always was clear, I think). It just wasn't described in books. That's what I mean - I'm glad that some things can be figures out by fans (easily!) but if they aren't added in any official media after that... I don't like it.

Combination of biological and mechanical always were something like BIONICLE symbol - it's the main feature of the universe. Judgind by that - Codrex is perfect addition to the "universe feel" or whatever it called. So are the vehicles. I just want explanation))

You can't really complain that it's unexplained when you haven't even read the last book...

[---Vertea---]

Wait, Pencoin, which 2009 set does the disintegrating Vortixx look-alike resemble?

Strakk.

[S-N]

Strakk.

>>

I don't see how Strakk could be the OoMN member from DiD4. Strakk doesn't even look like a Vortixx, or is colored ebon.

[Trexxen]

So, I read DiD 4.

Is is just me, or is Takadox seriously contending with Teridax for the most evil Bionicle villian?

-Backstabbed the Barraki

-Backstabbed the OOMN group

-And now is leading three Toa Mahri to a (likely from his point of view, unlikely from ours) untimely death...

What a jerk =P

Anywho, the ebon person couldn't be a 09 set unless they feel like releasing a special edition black and smoke Strakk. Not that that wouldn't be the coolest thing ever, but...unlikely. =P I say it's just some OOMN member, probably one of the others that "made" the Atlas.

Don't forget, though, it could easily be an early 09 combiner...Tuma + Skrall + Atakus, maybe? <_<

~Trexxen

[Antrozek]

now..i don't know why i feel that Strakk is a She, and not a He

[The Dor]

now..i don't know why i feel that Strakk is a She, and not a He

Hm... considering this year, I'd agree with you on the female Strakk... because Strakk is one of the most masculine looking sets. :P

but srsly, I hope he is a he... because he looks too cool to be one of the dumpy girls... :C

[---Vertea---]

Damn! Sorry everyone! I got ebony confused with ivory-stupid song lyrics. So, yeah... Strakk in no way resembles the woman from the serial. Strakk still reminds me of a female, tho.