Space Police III in 2011?

[Wowplayer]

So I'm an huge fan of a certain Lego themes:

Castle: (Yeah for the new Kingdoms!)

Pirates: (Hmmm...We'll see about PotC, could be interesting)

Atlantis: (Yeah for the news about Atlantis theme being continued)

Space: (in 2011?)

So I'm not sure if I'm allowed to start a topic like this yet, as we don't have any information about next year as it is related to Lego space themed sets. It seems like a lot of themes are being produced for a period of two years, as someone else noted in another thread. I really like the Space Police III sets, but they have been out for two years now. So more then likely we are getting a new space theme, or it's being discontinued next year (i hope not ). So what's your guy's thoughts on this? What do you hope will happen to the space theme for 2011??

~Wowplayer

[vexorian]

Unfortunately, chances are looking grim for a space theme next year. We'll have atlantis, starwars and the city space port themes going on in 2011, that leaves just too little space for a space theme :(

Edited August 11, 2010 by vexorian

[Oky]

I'm with Vexorian on this one. I just can't see sci-fi space sets co-existing with the "modern day" spaceport sets.

SP3 had a good run up to the end, but I don't think there's a lot more original stuff they could make for it. It's probably better that they stop before the sets start to become too similar.

[Algernon]

I'm with Vexorian on this one. I just can't see sci-fi space sets co-existing with the "modern day" spaceport sets.

SP3 had a good run up to the end, but I don't think there's a lot more original stuff they could make for it. It's probably better that they stop before the sets start to become too similar.

Sadly, I also agree. I think it would be a safe to assume the coffin has been nailed shut on SP3. A new Space theme isn't impossible but I wouldn't get your hopes up.

I don't mind the return of City Space Port though. I loved the older sets.

[lightningtiger]

Sadly 'Klaus' did not say anything about SP3, so like Agents and their two year run.....I say it's over for now until SP4 whenever that is ?

I'm a conformist! !

[Sisco]

Yeah, SPIII is done for until SP4. I hate to see them go, but the new spaceport should fill the void nicely, don't you agree?

[Algernon]

Personally I think an SP4 would be superfluous. I'd rather see SP3 go out on a high note, and another new theme come out whenever Space decides to make its next comeback.

[KDog]

SPIII seems to have run its course, as much as I like it.

I really hoped another futuristic space theme (hopefully one based on exploration) would take its place in 2011. It seems a step downward to go back to modern day Space. NASA is retiring the space shuttle, so the timing seems off to see a new theme based around it.

Edited August 11, 2010 by KDog

[Baylego]

I think SPIII is done too. I hope that there will be BlacktronIII next summer, or sometime soon. The modern space theme sounds like a good replacement for SPIII, though.

[vexorian]

Well, it is unlikely Atlantis will last for a fourth wave, and space port already has plenty of sets in the first 2011 wave so I don't think it will have sets in the second one. I now have some hope for a space theme in the second half of 2011.

Space port cannot replace space for me because of the lack of futuristic stuff. Current space exploration is so boring. I mean, it has been 40 years already and we are still far away from taking an actual human team to Mars. Even worse, we are going backwards with NASA not receiving much fundings and not having anything to replace the Shuttle.

Edited August 11, 2010 by vexorian

[Tervlon]

SPIII was a great theme that we were lucky to get! Awesome aliens and police figs really provide so many possibilities well into the future. I think its probably done by this time next year. I'll add my voice to the hopeful return of Blacktron in the future though!

[Algernon]

Space port cannot replace space for me because of the lack of futuristic stuff. Current space exploration is so boring. I mean, it has been 40 years already and we are still far away from taking an actual human team to Mars. Even worse, we are going backwards with NASA not receiving much fundings and not having anything to replace the Shuttle.

Space exploration has changed, that's all. Taking a human team to Mars would be a hugely impressive engineering feat, but beyond that, it wouldn't be as exciting as it might've been in the 20th century. The most exciting discoveries aren't being made by sending people into space, they're being made by replacing telescopes and launching probes. For example, scientists now believe there is a small but palpable chance of discovering alien life in our own solar system. The logic is pretty simple: on Earth, we've been finding life thriving in places we didn't think possible. There's shrimp living in temperatures hot enough to melt led, fungi living organically off of pure radiation, and bacteria growing in places thought too cold to sustain any type of life. We've realized that, if there's water, life is likely to follow. And we've been finding water everywhere; Titan, Europa, Mars, even our own moon. Who knows what we'll find when we drill into the icy crust of Europa and explore the oceans below?

Think of it; we're closer to discovering alien life than ever before, and all it took was a few probes and a better understanding of our own planet.

The problem, of course, is now that we're relatively familiar with our own Solar System, our scientific interests have outpaced our ability to explore them. Now the newest frontiers involve parallel universes, black holes in the center of the Milky Way, and intriguing signs of life on planets much too far away to be properly investigated. So we're reduced to building a Hubble 2.0 and hoping that the world will be more interested in exploring the universe once the global economy is out of the toilet.

...and in a feeble attempt to make this on-topic, obviously the latest scientific advances are hard to make into LEGO sets... unless you want a LEGO Hubble telescope or something.

Yeah sorry, I'm just a bit of an Astrophysics junkie.

[KDog]

The modern space theme sounds like a good replacement for SPIII, though.

To each their own, but I don't see how that could be.

A realistic, modern-day Space theme lacks the imagination and fun of the designs in a theme like SPIII, and is a totally different play pattern without the aliens/villains. A modern Space theme is nice, but it's really not a replacement for Space Police III as much as it is another theme that just happens to involve Space.

Edited August 11, 2010 by KDog

[Flare]

I don't know, but I think that Blacktron III would be interesting. Unlikely though.

[user]

Yeah sadly I don't there will be another sci-fi theme for a while. But means that i'll have more cash to spend on sets just for parts.

[Wowplayer]

I'm in agreement with you guys that SPIII is done for. I really enjoyed it while it lasted. I also understand why with Atlantis and the City Space port that you guys think we won't see any more space themed sets for 2011, but I really hope that isn't the case. I'm not much a fan of city sets, even space related ones, as well as I'm not a big fan of star wars sets, so I will be disappointed if I don't see some type of futuristic space theme in 2011.

I for one think that the SPIII brought a lot of possibilities with it. I really enjoyed the whole 'Fifth Element' theme (as that is one of my favorite movies). I would like to see that 'futuristic' concept taken further in a Lego space theme. Maybe futuristic firetrucks, or a transportation bus. I know Lego likes to do themes with conflict, but I like the idea of simple futuristic city sets (ie. Explorers).

~Wowplayer

[brickzone]

Sadly Space Police III never made it to the shops here in Ireland (or UK apart from Lego stores). So apart from the inconvenience for us AFOLs, any kids into Space but not Star Wars (or wouldn't want to pay Star Wars prices) were denied an option if their parents wouldn't order from Shop @ Home (shipping of up to €15 here in Ireland).

I did think Lego would maybe release Space Police in shops here after the initial year, but I guess not. I thought I had heard that this was the plan with UK and Ireland when Space Police was initially released, maybe it was and they changed their mind? Incidentally Kingdoms isn't in two of the major chains here, Smyth's Toys and Argos (although it is in Art & Hobby) - kind of hoping that it is just short-term as it kind of limits options for Castle fans.

[charlieboy]

A new Blacktron theme would be awesome,splll has been fun but time for something new i think.I have no interest in space shuttle sets,where's the fun? No aliens,certainly no bad guy faction to chase and capture

I did think Lego would maybe release Space Police in shops here after the initial year, but I guess not. I thought I had heard that this was the plan with UK and Ireland when Space Police was initially released, maybe it was and they changed their mind? Incidentally Kingdoms isn't in two of the major chains here, Smyth's Toys and Argos (although it is in Art & Hobby) - kind of hoping that it is just short-term as it kind of limits options for Castle fans.

If you're happy to pay postage etc.... i'll gladly pop down to my local Lego shop and get the sets you're after fella,tis nice having one on my doorstep!

[Spacefan]

As cool as it is in most regards, I think its time to let Space Police III go on its way. But I'm altogether for a new Blacktron line in 2011, as there's a past connection to Space Police and was arguably more popular, if not the most popular sci-fi space theme apart from Classic Space.

[vynsane]

While I'm disappointed in the apparent ending of the Space Police III line, I hold out hope that the new CITY Space sub-theme is a sign of a forthcoming new Classic Space-like theme. The logo used on the Shuttle Adventure set (which seems to share minifigures with the new CITY Space sets, according to Klaus-Dieter's post) has a spaceship outline fairly reminiscent to that of the original Classic Space logo, complete with exhaust streak trailing around a planet. Hopefully we can see the CITY Space sub-theme transition into a new SPACE theme in its own right.

I also like the idea of a futuristic CITY theme, maybe "CITY 3000" or something, with flying cars, alien citizens, etc. That might be a good name for a new MOC fad...

[slopemodified]

The only thing I can think about SP3 right now is that the police force seems very... human. How come the aliens always get to be the bad guys and the humans are the good guys? I don't expect this to be taken seriously, but it seems like some kind of longtime bias in the space theme. That said, a bunch of aliens holding a protest of unfair treatment sounds like a good idea for a vignette - has anyone seen or done an MOC with the alien minifigs?

With regard to next year, some people are talking about a City Spaceport. Is that referring to those Shuttle launchpads from years ago?

I for one think that the SPIII brought a lot of possibilities with it. I really enjoyed the whole 'Fifth Element' theme (as that is one of my favorite movies). I would like to see that 'futuristic' concept taken further in a Lego space theme. Maybe futuristic firetrucks, or a transportation bus. I know Lego likes to do themes with conflict, but I like the idea of simple futuristic city sets (ie. Explorers).

While something for the Shuttle would be nice, I would also support a move in a civilian direction. Like sets based on what would be inside those biodomes drawn on the SP3 boxes. Create new alien minifigs - ones that don't commit crimes!

And Fifth Element! A flying taxi would be interesting.

The big set could be a spaceport structure similar to a train station.

[vexorian]

The only thing I can think about SP3 right now is that the police force seems very... human. How come the aliens always get to be the bad guys and the humans are the good guys? I don't expect this to be taken seriously, but it seems like some kind of longtime bias in the space theme. That said, a bunch of aliens holding a protest of unfair treatment sounds like a good idea for a vignette - has anyone seen or done an MOC with the alien minifigs?

With regard to next year, some people are talking about a City Spaceport. Is that referring to those Shuttle launchpads from years ago?

You are confusing things. Humans in such future are slaves that have been lobotomized to get their free will removed. The easy-working human drones are used to fight crime from aliens that decided to use their free will and break crime.

[slopemodified]

You are confusing things. Humans in such future are slaves that have been lobotomized to get their free will removed. The easy-working human drones are used to fight crime from aliens that decided to use their free will and break crime.

Okay, so who lobotomized them? What is the authoritarian government controlling this dystopian society? Robots?

[KDog]

Okay, so who lobotomized them? What is the authoritarian government controlling this dystopian society? Robots?

Nope. Fabuland.

[CP5670]

SP3 has certainly come to an end. At two years, it already lasted longer and had more sets than most Space lines of the past. It had a good run.

It would suck if we get no Space at all next year though. I love realistic space themes like Launch Command and Space Port, but they are really subthemes of City and are no replacement for the sci-fi Space themes. However, I'm not sure if TLG even considers Space to be a separate, "evergreen" theme of its own. It may be that TLG thinks of SP3 as an action line, like Atlantis and Power Miners.