Harry Potter 2010 discussion thread

[Clone OPatra]

What are you talking about? Most of the set names don't relate to any specific book (Hagrid's Hut, the Burrows, Hogwarts Express, the Castle), and only one refers to the first book (Quidditch Lesson) while one is related to the third book (Dobby's Release). So I really can't see how you came up with that theory...

Dobby's release is from the second book. Anyhow, what I mean to say is that all of the set names are either specific scenes from the first two (Dobby and Quidditch Lesson), or locations introduced in the first two, with no scenes or specific sets coming from the 3rd and 4th installments. I understand that LEGO wishes to tap into the stock locations and vehicles (Hogwarts Express) since these are the most instantly recognizable, I suppose. But since there are no scenes from the 3rd or 4th installments (like a Boubatons Carriage, or Shrieking Shack, or something) in the list, I find it unlikely that we will get any of the characters that are just from the those books, like Fleur or a new Sirious or a minister of magic.

I'm not trying to complain about it, since I also said that I'm sure the new sets will be better and more detailed, and the figs will be redesigned and also pretty nice, I'm sure. I was just mentioning a theory.

[Svelte]

The only thing I'm worried about is how LEGO's mentality has changed since the first Harry Potter sets; I've always loved HP sets especially for the large number of rare and/or printed parts. Given what LEGO's like these days, I'm guessing there won't be so many of these.

Yes... I imagine the new line will be more like the 07 Hogwarts set. All the printed detail on the figs, and stickers on everything else.

[Legoist]

As a train fan of course I'll want to check out the latest version of Hogwart Express, but I don't have much expectations. I think H.P. sets usually are not that well designed and just capitalize on the general coolness of the licenced theme to attract buyers. Still, a red steam locomotive with a couple of nice wagons would be great if done properly so let's check it out

[Omicron]

You guys keep saying books. Where is the source? Last I checked, license and theme was built on the movies.

Omi

[Aanchir]

You guys keep saying books. Where is the source? Last I checked, license and theme was built on the movies.

Omi

People who have read the books think about the story in terms of the books. Simple as that. Nobody's claiming any evidence that LEGO's basing the sets on those, but that's how book fans tend to organize the story in their heads. If they said "movie" in place of "book" then it would mean the exact same thing (until Deathly Hallows, at least).

[Omicron]

People who have read the books think about the story in terms of the books. Simple as that. Nobody's claiming any evidence that LEGO's basing the sets on those, but that's how book fans tend to organize the story in their heads. If they said "movie" in place of "book" then it would mean the exact same thing (until Deathly Hallows, at least).

Well they shouldn't say book, cuz that is how misinformation starts.

-Omi

[Svelte]

Well they shouldn't say book, cuz that is how misinformation starts.

-Omi

Calm down.

The license was for films in the past, but we don't yet know if that's true of the 2010 sets. At this stage it looks more likely they will be based on the video game HP Years 1-4.

[gusmoore17]

The Burrows is probably the set with more new minifigs possibilities, at least a descent one of Ginny and another Weasley character, it would be a very big let down if there's only Ron, Harry and/or Hermione.

The thing I'm must worried about is that about minifigs...the last edition of the Hogwarts' Castle had the best minifigs of the entire theme, no one can argue that, the point is...is Lego respecting these new minifig designs, or is coming back to the very first wave ones? If it's the second...I'll undoubtedly think twice on purchasing the rest of the sets.

I'm also waiting until I see preliminary images, particularly on the Hogwarts' Castle set, I have the 3 previous, and it won't mather a 4th edition but TLC has to be very careful, also if what they're releasing is a remake of the 4709 (1st edition), which in my opinion is the worst of all.

Expecting to see a Mc Gonagall or a Luna Lovegood and another really awesome Death Eater (which is very unlikely)

[Clone OPatra]

Expecting to see a Mc Gonagall or a Luna Lovegood and another really awesome Death Eater (which is very unlikely)

Yes, it is unlikely to see a Luna or Death Eater, since Luna did not come about until the fifth installment (chapter, episode, call it what you want…), and Death Eaters only had a small part in the fourth one. If the games follow the source material years-wise, and the sets follow the games, it's a very long shot to expect either of these two characters yet.

[Derek]

Yes, it is unlikely to see a Luna or Death Eater, since Luna did not come about until the fifth installment (chapter, episode, call it what you want

Edited January 5, 2010 by darthperson

[Jippon]

Here's my theory.... These sets tie in with the video game, not with the last two films.

Why? Because from part 5 the story isn't really aimed at children anymore. As the characters grow more mature, so does the story.

The lego video game is called: Years 1 to 4... and I highly doubt there will be another game based on years 5 to 7, because the target audience is just not the same.

I do recall there being a hogwarts castle that included Umbridge, but I think that was the only year 5 set ever released... correct me if I'm wrong.

[Matt Dawson]

I don't know, Lego may surprise us and throw her in the castle, look at all the SW sets that have random figures. Out of all of them, I think that the castle has the potential to have the broadest opportunity and span all the films. Hopefully Lego will treat it that way and provide us with features and figures to span the entire series...

-darthperson

'Luna loses her stuff', anyone?

I'm looking forward to see what the Hogwarts Express is like. Hall class in Red, anyone? [note: The loco used in Olton Hall, called 'Hogwarts Caslte' as a joke about the differant but similar Castle class]

[SWMAN]

I really hope these sets are better than the last ones. No offense to anyone that loved them, but it felt like there were simply too many of them in the beginning. And then they kept coming out with different versions of Hogwarts and the train, and it was just too much. I hope this reboot is successful.

[blueandwhite]

I really hope these sets are better than the last ones. No offense to anyone that loved them, but it felt like there were simply too many of them in the beginning. And then they kept coming out with different versions of Hogwarts and the train, and it was just too much. I hope this reboot is successful.

Agreed.

Honestly, I hope that the Hogwarts Express is a proper train set and not a horribly stripped-down version of the Emerald Night. We've already had a couple of versions of this set and neither were anything to write home about. I'm concerned that this will be yet another throw-away given that it looks to be priced under Hogwarts Castle yet again. Harry Potter sets have always sounded good on paper, but the line itself has always been a bit of a disappointment IMO.

[lightningtiger]

A recent phone call I made to Lego Australia, I said off the cuff remark about Harry Potter, I spoke of Hogwarts Express for Christmas for my son....the answer was POSITIVE. Sorry I didn't want to push it and ask when the real release date is, we could assume it would be connected with the release of part one of final film in the series.

[Svelte]

I think if this is a best-of, there will be greater effort put into the sets and they won't be so 'samey' as the original lines 2001-2003 became after a while (although that was deliberate in that you could expand your Hogwarts layout). Obviously these are all fairly identifiable key sets or locations rather than obscure movie-specific playsets so the general buying public may have greater awareness of a Hagrid's Hut rather than a Knockturn Alley, for example.

I seem to recall their was some licensing issue with the Hogwarts Express in that they couldn't sell a motorised layout in retail stores (but were allowed to do so via S@H as an Exclusive) as another company had that license for a working train. Someone else may know more about this than I, and in any case that other licence may well have expired.

[Aanchir]

Here's my theory.... These sets tie in with the video game, not with the last two films.

Why? Because from part 5 the story isn't really aimed at children anymore. As the characters grow more mature, so does the story.

The lego video game is called: Years 1 to 4... and I highly doubt there will be another game based on years 5 to 7, because the target audience is just not the same.

I do recall there being a hogwarts castle that included Umbridge, but I think that was the only year 5 set ever released... correct me if I'm wrong.

You know, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is pretty dark. So is Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. And yet almost the entirety of both stories' plots could be worked into a kid-friendly LEGO game. As far as sets go, I can understand LEGO eschewing darker and more mature story elements, but for video games I'm sure they can pull it off without a hitch.

Besides, if they weren't going to do a second game, why would they call it "Years 1-4"? After all, the original LEGO Star Wars didn't have a subtitle like "The Prequel Trilogy" as a disclaimer. By adding a subtitle, Traveller's Tales leaves the market expecting a follow-up game, and unless they're at least considering the possibility then they would more likely try to avoid giving false impressions.

And yes, the Hogwarts Castle set for year 5 was the only year 5 set released. Although there were quite a few keychains that year if memory serves.

[Derek]

True, Temple of Doom and RoTS were pretty dark, but I think that there is more of a psychological level that is touched on in the final HP books.

The above movies were basically dark because they had some pretty evil bad guys, but there is a deeper level that is established in the last HP's. It's hard to explain, but I think anyone who had read it will understand what I'm trying to say.

As much as I would love sets from the final installments, I just don't see it happening. I know Lego said it about Temple of Doom, but the Deathly Hollows was REALLY intense.

I do hope that we will get a Luna figure in the castle, though, she's one of the most light-hearted and comedic (and one of my favorite ) characters in the story.

-darthperson

[Svelte]

I know Lego said it about Temple of Doom...

I'd love to see an official source for that statement because it gets quoted and reposted but I haven't seen any actual basis for its truth.

I suspect it was more of a fan theory concocted after the first wave of classic sets was released to explain why there were no ToD sets in 2008.

I am happy to be proved wrong if anyone knows of anything more official!

[Clone OPatra]

I understand what you're saying Darthperson, and I do agree. The thing that makes the HP story different from those films mentioned is that HP has little relief from the darkness other than a tad of cheery character interaction. Temple of Doom and SW have over the top vehicle chases that kids can relate to just because guys are riding around in ship or cars or what have you, and so the kids can also reenact those happy chase scenes with LEGO vehicles.

HP, on the other hand, is not vehicle driven at all, having no happy car chases or space battles. It's all about the characters and the locations (though more about the characters), and that's why I think it made a poor LEGO theme for a while and ran way out of steam. Now with a new line all that can be done is remake the locations and the characters, since that is all there is really. It's certainly possible to even make Hallows into a silly LEGO game, but I think that goes against LEGO's reasoning since they assume whatever sets/games they put out will be supporting the kids also reading/watching the source material.

[Derek]

I'd love to see an official source for that statement because it gets quoted and reposted but I haven't seen any actual basis for its truth.

I suspect it was more of a fan theory concocted after the first wave of classic sets was released to explain why there were no ToD sets in 2008.

I am happy to be proved wrong if anyone knows of anything more official!

Now that I think about it, you're right. Everyone says that, and I just assumed it to be common knowledge.

I'm trying to remember, maybe someone heard it from a Lego rep at a toy show or something???

The thing that makes the HP story different from those films mentioned is that HP has little relief from the darkness other than a tad of cheery character interaction. Temple of Doom and SW have over the top vehicle chases that kids can relate to just because guys are riding around in ship or cars or what have you, and so the kids can also reenact those happy chase scenes with LEGO vehicles.

...It's certainly possible to even make Hallows into a silly LEGO game, but I think that goes against LEGO's reasoning since they assume whatever sets/games they put out will be supporting the kids also reading/watching the source material.

I think you hit the nail on the head with the lack of vehicle based story. The only two sets we got from Temple of Doom were iconic chase scenes, not focusing on aspects such as the heart-ripping, lava-dipping ceremony. I think this supports why we haven't gotten any Order 66 etc. focused sets for SW.

...and a Lego Deathly Hallows game would probably be for me. As much as I love the story and I love Lego, making it funny would just ruin the themes of the story...

-darthperson

[Jippon]

True, Temple of Doom and RoTS were pretty dark, but I think that there is more of a psychological level that is touched on in the final HP books.

The above movies were basically dark because they had some pretty evil bad guys, but there is a deeper level that is established in the last HP's. It's hard to explain, but I think anyone who had read it will understand what I'm trying to say.

As much as I would love sets from the final installments, I just don't see it happening. I know Lego said it about Temple of Doom, but the Deathly Hollows was REALLY intense.

I do hope that we will get a Luna figure in the castle, though, she's one of the most light-hearted and comedic (and one of my favorite ) characters in the story.

-darthperson

I think you hit the nail on the head with the lack of vehicle based story. The only two sets we got from Temple of Doom were iconic chase scenes, not focusing on aspects such as the heart-ripping, lava-dipping ceremony. I think this supports why we haven't gotten any Order 66 etc. focused sets for SW.

...and a Lego Deathly Hallows game would probably be for me. As much as I love the story and I love Lego, making it funny would just ruin the themes of the story...

-darthperson

My point exactly... something like ripping a heart out of a persons body and then burning him alive can be edited out and replaced with something comical . But the creepiness/thrilling part of the later HP books is on a different level entirely. It is also the first franchise TTgames has ever taken on that I'm not really shure about being legofied, especially the last three parts.

Edited January 6, 2010 by Jippon

[Millacol88]

I doubt the latest three movies will be made into lego games. Too dark, lack of central vehicle-based action like Indy and SW have. That said, Lego's decision to tie in some new sets with the game based on years 1-4 is awesome, and the list looks promising.

[Jippon]

I doubt the latest three movies will be made into lego games. Too dark, lack of central vehicle-based action like Indy and SW have. That said, Lego's decision to tie in some new sets with the game based on years 1-4 is awesome, and the list looks promising.

They can always swap 'vehicle sections' with hippogriff/thestral/broom flying sections, witch alleady makes it easier to turn 5 and 6 into a game. The only one that wouldn't work imo is 7.

But I hope they don't.. set's would be cool, but I think all the things that make the gameplay fun can be found in the first four years.

[Big Cam]

I doubt the latest three movies will be made into lego games. Too dark, lack of central vehicle-based action like Indy and SW have. That said, Lego's decision to tie in some new sets with the game based on years 1-4 is awesome, and the list looks promising.

As you make very good points, I still think it could happen, vehicles aren't necessary in a game as you usually walk around the whole time anyway.