new sets

[gollum 66]

I don't think they are but thats just me.

[gylman]

Yes of course they are real. Look at GregF's over-reaction to their release.

I am not allowed at this point to comment on these sets, but a couple of things I do need to point out:

1) If BZP is going to persist in being a place where images get posted before they are officially released to the public by us, then the powers that be may rethink whether I am allowed to post here anymore.

2) We had had a pretty extensive teaser campaign planned for BZP, with some exclusive stuff we were going to give the site to hype the January releases. Odds are that will be cancelled now.

If you check the Knights forum, where Tilus has posted other images, you will find that Swiftone has posted pretty much the same thing as I have. This sort of thing does not help the two of us when we are campaigning to get BZP material, and is more likely to lead to us being asked to go to other sites rather than here.

Greg

That says all I need to know. Are they really going to cancel the promo campaign to the biggest Bionicle site in the world, and probably the most active Lego site of any kind in the world? NOT!! (unless they are stupid and spiteful). Or..... maybe they can do a quick damage control job and fix up those very ordinary Matoran, as all the people who posted on BZP agreed.

[gollum 66]

I guess, you have me convenst. *y*

[keetongu]

I need pics.

[xwingyoda]

I need pics.

There is a thread on the new pics Keetongu with pics !!!! Please read topics that say new sets before asking these questions :|

[keetongu]

Sorry yoda didn't see that topic :$ .Are they real or prototypes.The pirakas are just plain weird.

[AaronCrane]

I don't know about over-reaction, but yes, GregF seemed very aggravated by those pictures. With good reason, if you ask me.

How couldn't they be real? No fake can possibly be made to look that real (well, they could, I guess).

I don't know what the BZPers' problem with those sets are. 8-| The Matoran aren't the best (though I think they will look better when they are physically observed), but what's with all the disappointed posts about the Piraka? They are very different from former BIONICLE sets, yes, but they are extremely good. As GregF said, they should create as much interest as the Rahkshi. It's like BIONICLE sets go through these stages of evolution...

They could be fake, but I'm willing to place my bet (or rather vote) on that they are real. We'll see... ;) either way, I have a feeling I'm not going to be disappointed. :)

~AaronCrane--

[KMOI]

Fortheluuva... Of course they're real! These are the retailer catalogue pictures! And on another note, BZP is just full of members who are far too full of themselves. They only like things that are color coded and match the human form of the Metru-Nui series.

In my opinion, those people who I just mentioned are posers. They're not Bionicle fans. Heck, they think the Visorak were amazing and ground breaking. Well, newsflash. Bionicle is going back to its roots and I can't help but be more excited. They're amazing sets using lots of pieces, interesting and menacing designs and to be honest, it's better then any of that Metru-Nui stuff we recieved.

Oh and by the way, GregF does have the right to be angry. gylman, you'd be surprised. BZ-Power is more powerless than you think it is. Lego is a global conglomerate. BZ-Power is a fan site. Sure, Lego appreciates fan sites, but they got the power, not the other way around.

And for those who think I'm just bad-mouthing BZP, think again. I'm a BZP member too, but I'm sick and tired of the hollow babbling by some members.

[keetongu]

I'll get some of the matoran.The only Pirakas i won't get so far are the green and blue ones.I'll get the brown, black, and white matoran.I will also get Axonn and Brutaka. KMOI the only problem with the blue and green Pirakas is their heads look ugly.

P.S.Is Axonn evil?Is Brutaka good?

[AaronCrane]

Oh, and from what I've gathered, those could just be prototypes. I still think they look cool, though...

Are they really going to cancel the promo campaign to the biggest Bionicle site in the world, and probably the most active Lego site of any kind in the world? NOT!! (unless they are stupid and spiteful).

BZPower is an extremely popular FAN SITE, but we are powerless to TLC. We had no rights to post those pictures, so maybe that campaign should be cancelled. Lets just hope it gets over and done with before anything worse (like GregF leaving) happens.

And KMOI, if you hate BZPower that much, don't go there. Simple enough.

~AaronCrane--

[Zane]

Fortheluuva... Of course they're real! These are the retailer catalogue pictures! And on another note, BZP is just full of members who are far too full of themselves. They only like things that are color coded and match the human form of the Metru-Nui series.

In my opinion, those people who I just mentioned are posers. They're not Bionicle fans. Heck, they think the Visorak were amazing and ground breaking. Well, newsflash. Bionicle is going back to its roots and I can't help but be more excited. They're amazing sets using lots of pieces, interesting and menacing designs and to be honest, it's better then any of that Metru-Nui stuff we recieved.

Oh and by the way, GregF does have the right to be angry. gylman, you'd be surprised. BZ-Power is more powerless than you think it is. Lego is a global conglomerate. BZ-Power is a fan site. Sure, Lego appreciates fan sites, but they got the power, not the other way around.

And for those who think I'm just bad-mouthing BZP, think again. I'm a BZP member too, but I'm sick and tired of the hollow babbling by some members.

I agree.

These pictures are real, although probably prototypes. I'm also doubting it'll be cancelled. It was going to happen - Greg even said the first images would be found in October! He'll probably cancel it, and then do it at the last minute....

[gylman]

FANS > TLC any time.

Customers > company any time. Companies that forget this eventually join the dustbin of history.

It's one thing for TLC to ignore Lego fans, as they did for many years when they had a more dominant market position. It's another for a money-losing TLC to antagonize fans in the age of the internet, when fans belong to forums and can very quickly become a nasty eMob with the right incitement. The lego freaks of today can become the anti-Lego freaks of tomorrow. There are more than enough bricks on the planet already.

"anti" moves against big conglomerates occur all the time. Anti-Microsoft, anti-IBM, anti-Internet Explorer. They acquire a momentum of their own. Strong as TLC is, it is not making money these days, and cannot afford to lose even 1% of ther income over a tempest in a teapot.

If I was the marketing manager at TLC, rather than going around suggesting that people should stop looking at, downloading, or sharing files that show the prototypes, I would create a web site that shows the pics already released, discusses the process of marketing Lego, details the product schedule for the coming year, discusses past picture leaks, show how some sets changed from prototype to final, and make a fun educational site for all. No anger required. Love your fans.

In the last couple of years I have seen TLC take good steps to stay in touch with its fan base, and make genuine efforts to capture a bigger audience. I think they are succeeding but only time will really tell since all toy makers are struggling.

The premature release of a few preview pics a few weeks in advance of when they were going to be released should not make TLC freak out and start threatening fans and fan sites. I have faith in TLC, and do not think this will happen, at least not over something this minor. If it does, then clearly the company has no real hope for the future.

Cheers

Gyl

($0.04) more than just y 2 cents' worth.

[AaronCrane]

FANS > TLC any time.

Customers > company any time. Companies that forget this eventually join the dustbin of history.

It's one thing for TLC to ignore Lego fans, as they did for many years when they had a more dominant market position. It's another for a money-losing TLC to antagonize fans in the age of the internet, when fans belong to forums and can very quickly become a nasty eMob with the right incitement. The lego freaks of today can become the anti-Lego freaks of tomorrow. There are more than enough bricks on the planet already.

"anti" moves against big conglomerates occur all the time. Anti-Microsoft, anti-IBM, anti-Internet Explorer. They acquire a momentum of their own. Strong as TLC is, it is not making money these days, and cannot afford to lose even 1% of ther income over a tempest in a teapot.

If I was the marketing manager at TLC, rather than going around suggesting that people should stop looking at, downloading, or sharing files that show the prototypes, I would create a web site that shows the pics already released, discusses the process of marketing Lego, details the product schedule for the coming year, discusses past picture leaks, show how some sets changed from prototype to final, and make a fun educational site for all. No anger required. Love your fans.

In the last couple of years I have seen TLC take good steps to stay in touch with its fan base, and make genuine efforts to capture a bigger audience. I think they are succeeding but only time will really tell since all toy makers are struggling.

The premature release of a few preview pics a few weeks in advance of when they were going to be released should not make TLC freak out and start threatening fans and fan sites. I have faith in TLC, and do not think this will happen, at least not over something this minor. If it does, then clearly the company has no real hope for the future.

Cheers

Gyl

($0.04) more than just y 2 cents' worth.

This isn't something minor, gylman. The 2006 sets form an elaborate project by TLC. Their premature release can cause a lot of problems, which if you do not understand (I'm not saying I am all-knowing, mind you), you shouldn't get angry at them about it. :/

And they're not threatening us, so much as they're telling us what we can and cannot do, which they have every right to do. This "love your fans" stuff you're talking about, though admittedly important, does not prevent TLC from telling us our place in the hierarchy of it all. If TLC tells us we shouldn't post the pictures, we won't--that's how it works. It doesn't give us any reason to form an "eMob"--it's TLC making sure things go as planned. :)

~AaronCrane--

[gylman]

Don't misunderstand me - I'm not angry at TLC as things are now, because so far they have made no threats and notwithstanding some posturing by GregF and apparently by Jake TLC remains a far more communicative and FAN involved company than it was just 5 years ago.

The point of my post was that it would be foolish for them to start bullying people around, and so far they have not done so. Maybe they are reading my posts (ha ha).

However, the fact is that our place in the hierarchy of it all is at the TOP. TLC makes money when we buy their product. Their goal in life is to make money. It so happens that they have acquired a reputtation for quality and thoughtful play, but that is part of the marketing of their product and distinguishes them from competitors. Heavyhanded tactics against their fan base would erode their reputation and their fan base. No doubt if we start to be resentful of TLC company policies and tactics, we will buy less of their product.

I do not think we have to apologize to TLC for the posting of the various sneak peeks - we did not steal the pics, and obviously if TLC thinks is so important, they should control where their pics go. This is the internet age - any image or idea of interest goes around the world in 2 hours. TLC can't expect to hype a bunch of retailers with the catalog, and then expect that not a single one of those people will release the images prematurely.

And, bottom line is that it's nothing more or less than free publicity, some hype for the toy selling engine of the world's best toy making company.

[Dino_Bot]

Its true! GregF was talking about it and I don't think he'd B.S. on BZPower.

[AaronCrane]

I think I understand what you mean, for the most part at least.

We probably don't need to apologize, since it was only natural for a member to post 2006 set pictures. Unless it continues long enough (since we have already agreed not to post them). After all, the first time is the first--the dozen times afterwards are another thing. :|

BTW, just for... whatever: another reason TLC wanted those pictures off BZPower was because they were very bad. To quote GregF (again):

They really didn't convey the bodies of the canister sets at all, and the proportions were way off because of how the photos were taken. That is why we had wanted to get our own images out before somebody posted retailer catalog shots, but oh well...

Its true! GregF was talking about it and I don't think he'd B.S. on BZPower.

"B.S."? That means...? 8-| I know one thing it could mean, and I best not say it here. (I'm not into all of this lingo and abbreviation stuff on forums.)

~AaronCrane--

[Sir Dillon]

"B.S."? That means...?

I think he means Bull Crap. Only using a differant word then crap.

[gylman]

I agree that the one reasonable excuse for Lego getting all upset about the premature pictures of the sets is that if they don't convey the quality of the sets accurately.

Cheers.

Gyl

[Dino_Bot]

Well, IMO, those over-zealous BZPers should be grateful that it leaked pics. Just cuz GregF is aggravated, doesn't mean those personality-lacker-follower-pusilanimous idiots should be like "yeah it shouldn't have leaked pics I love you GREGF!"...

They should be happy and grateful...First they're like "I can't wait to see pics!"...pics leak and they're like "No! They shouldn't have leaked pics! AH My EYES BURN!"...they have nothing to complain about...they just do it to follow everyone...But that's just my own paranoia...

Maybe its illegal, but its impossible...A big fandom should always expect leaks...it always happens. Star Wars leaked so many pics 4 months before I saw it, I could put together the entire movie! and I read the INTRO 5 months before it premiered!

Nothing to complain about...

Lego should be upset though...and I give them every reason to be upset..I was shocked to see how early we got those pics...But the fans shouldn't be complaining...they expect leaks with MAXIMUM ANXIETY...and they criticize it...B.S...

[prateek]

no they are too ugly...

[languages]

I think theyve already done the Bionicle line to death.....please stop!

[AaronCrane]

I think theyve already done the Bionicle line to death.....please stop!

Why would they want to? As long as the BIONICLE sets sell well, they're going to keep the story going. Once it is dead (which I don't imagine to be very soon), then they'll stop, but the people who like BIONICLE (specifically, the people who are buying the sets) don't think its been done to death, so they'll continue. It would be very unwise of them to stop producing a set series that is selling well. ;)

~AaronCrane--

[snefroe]

1) bionicle is one of the only things that sells. so it would be stupid if they would drop the line all together

2) some have been saying on BZP that TLC is using masks of older sets... the reason is simple: they want to save money on designing and producing new parts. so they use old stuff. happens in the minifig world as well...

3) the problems between TLC and the community of websites isn't new. however, it shows a lack of marketing and communication but most of all, before punishing websites, TLC should re-evaluate her own distribution of information. Members of the community aren't responsable for leaking photos. They get them thru retailers, employees,...

4) i think it's not really smart for webmasters to make deals with TLC. First of all, there's no contract, but just a given word (probably Jake's) to give a website certain photos if they follow his lead. So Jake can easily take back his word without real consequences. Besides, we're talking about a multinational here, they don't usually care much about a website of just a few 100 members... Second, the webmasters almost have no control about what's being posted, they don't control the members and i think most members would leave if a webmaster would actually delete messages because of a sensitive content like leaked photos...

5) using teasers isn't smart either. Look at what happened to FBTB. There's but only one good strategy: if you get something, get a confirmation asap and post it. If that makes TLC angry, then that's their problem... We never signed a contract with TLC on these matters...

6) it would be nice to have a central website with all information that all the other websites could use, or a small community of webmasters of different sites working closely together to share information,... However, as long as Jake is running the marketing show we won't see anything of that... He just doesn't think in terms of multilateralism...

[Jipay]

There are some really good points here. Especially the community of webmasters, that's something we've never thought about before, but it might help us a lot (though it already exists through lego ambassadors, even if it's not webmaster-related)

I second all the other points aswell :-D

[AaronCrane]

2) some have been saying on BZP that TLC is using masks of older sets... the reason is simple: they want to save money on designing and producing new parts. so they use old stuff. happens in the minifig world as well...

Also, the sets with old masks are the $4.99 sets--TLC reserves new parts and features for the canister and titan sets.

3) the problems between TLC and the community of websites isn't new. however, it shows a lack of marketing and communication but most of all, before punishing websites, TLC should re-evaluate her own distribution of information. Members of the community aren't responsable for leaking photos. They get them thru retailers, employees,...

They aren't going to punish us. Apparently (again, to quote GregF):

First off, some news -- I spoke to the BIONICLE marketing manager and he said that the teaser campaign for the fan sites will still happen. BZP and its members weren't at fault for what happened with the pics -- in fact, BZP acted very quickly and responsibly in this situation, and should be proud -- so we don't want to slight you.

They can't just stop with the catalogue shots. They are important to how they do business with the German market.

4) i think it's not really smart for webmasters to make deals with TLC. First of all, there's no contract, but just a given word (probably Jake's) to give a website certain photos if they follow his lead. So Jake can easily take back his word without real consequences. Besides, we're talking about a multinational here, they don't usually care much about a website of just a few 100 members... Second, the webmasters almost have no control about what's being posted, they don't control the members and i think most members would leave if a webmaster would actually delete messages because of a sensitive content like leaked photos...

What "deals"?

5) using teasers isn't smart either. Look at what happened to FBTB. There's but only one good strategy: if you get something, get a confirmation asap and post it. If that makes TLC angry, then that's their problem... We never signed a contract with TLC on these matters...

Why isn't it a smart thing? (What is FBTB?)

And do you really care that little about what TLC wants? No, no contract was signed, but their wishes should be respected.

6) it would be nice to have a central website with all information that all the other websites could use, or a small community of webmasters of different sites working closely together to share information,... However, as long as Jake is running the marketing show we won't see anything of that... He just doesn't think in terms of multilateralism...

It's called "bionicle.com". Whatever's on there, you can use.

A community of webmasters? Interesting, but doubtful.

Counter if you must.

~AaronCrane--