Space Police III in 2011?

[Raphy]

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.

See, now that's the kind of stuff I want to wake up to each morning.

/non sarcastic

:D

Even though there's still Atlantis going on, I'd love to see a Water Planet theme, or something very similar.

[Spacefan]

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.

At least they did from 1978 (Classic Space) up to 1999 (Insectoids).

Since Mars Mission landed in 07, TLG has been pretty good to keep something in the Space realm on shelves. Lets hope they keep being good for us in 2011, even if it were a minimal 4-5 set mini-theme.

[Apollo VI]

I think they could've kept SPIII if they really wanted to - there are infinite possibilities with the non-uniform Aliens - but I think Lego is ready to take a break from Space Police and do something different.

I think we'll see a break from a true Space theme for at least one "wave". We'll be getting a new Launch Command/Space Port theme at least, which I'm greatly looking forward to.

As for the future of space, I'd like to see either 1. A Blacktron III vs. Good guy theme (with the good guys being reminiscent of classic space), 2. A civilian theme like Futuron or M-Tron with futuristic buildings and maybe a track system (what you guys are basically suggesting as a "Space City" theme), or 3. Both, like how they did it in the early 90's with good guys + civvies + bad guys. (highly unlikely that would happen all at once)

Personally, I'd be up for a new Blacktron or a civilian space theme. Either would be pretty great.

[Klay]

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

YES.

[The Yellow Brick]

I wonder if the new Space port sub-theme will be connected to SP3 in s way, but without the aliens

[vexorian]

It is a town sub-theme so it is highly unlikely.

[Algernon]

Yeah, I don't see that happening either. I'm not even sure if I'd want that.

What I'm wondering, is what exactly the Space Port sets will consist of since we've already got that fantastic $99 shuttle. A set like that is hard to top, and I don't see why we would get two shuttles in two consecutive years.

What I'd love to see, is some LEGO renditions of the experimental crafts NASA and others have been working on. Like Space Ship One- I'd love to see that in LEGO form.

[vynsane]

What I'd love to see, is some LEGO renditions of the experimental crafts NASA and others have been working on. Like Space Ship One- I'd love to see that in LEGO form.

THAT would be pretty awesome, although SpaceShipOne is not a NASA project - it was the first privately owned space-faring vehicle, produced by Burt Rutan's company, Scaled Composites.

Edited September 24, 2010 by vynsane

[Sam Vimes]

Wait what is this space port thing.

[Masked Builder]

Yeah, I don't see that happening either. I'm not even sure if I'd want that.

What I'm wondering, is what exactly the Space Port sets will consist of since we've already got that fantastic $99 shuttle. A set like that is hard to top, and I don't see why we would get two shuttles in two consecutive years.

What I'd love to see, is some LEGO renditions of the experimental crafts NASA and others have been working on. Like Space Ship One- I'd love to see that in LEGO form.

Well from the pictures it appears that Lego is doing some Space shuttle stuff for their city theme...

Edited September 24, 2010 by Masked Builder

[squidman85]

well,maybe we will have Blacktron III?If not next year,but 2012?

[Aanchir]

well,maybe we will have Blacktron III?If not next year,but 2012?

I was actually hoping (never actually expecting, but hoping) for something along the lines of

Obviously a Blacktron reincarnation would have to be packaged with "good guys" for the Blacktrons to fight. LEGO doesn't do any themes anymore where you have to buy two separate sets to act out a decent scene. All action and Sci-Fi themes have both factions packaged together in the same theme. This is my concept of how Blacktron could actually make it to shelves if LEGO intended for it.

[squidman85]

I think,that it will be cooler,if there will be different colors in Blacktron(except black),like purple,orange,dark blue,pink,etc.

[Klay]

I think,that it will be cooler,if there will be different colors in Blacktron(except black),like purple,orange,dark blue,pink,etc.

So you mean Purpletron, Orangetron, Darkbluetron, and Pinktron?

[squidman85]

So you mean Purpletron, Orangetron, Darkbluetron, and Pinktron?

Well,old school Blacktron also have trans-yellow and neon-green colors,but it's not called Yellowtron or Neon-greentron.

[Klay]

Well,old school Blacktron also have trans-yellow and neon-green colors,but it's not called Yellowtron or Neon-greentron.

I know, I was kidding!

[squidman85]

I know, I was kidding!

It's not very funny.

[The Green Brick Giant]

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?

No, City Space is a huge mess, while Space Police is a nice theme.

I think next they should just call it Space and do different fractions like Space Police, Space Rescue and Space "Fire". I think it would be rather fun. :)

[Duelpear]

I would absolutely love a Blacktron III but I know my wallet wouldn't. The nostalgia factor for me would pull me into it like no other theme.

[Aanchir]

No, City Space is a huge mess, while Space Police is a nice theme.

I think next they should just call it Space and do different fractions like Space Police, Space Rescue and Space "Fire". I think it would be rather fun. :)

Tried making a Space Fire Engine once, and exhibited it at Brickfair. It was a fun experience, designing futuristic-looking firefighters and firefighting equipment. However, I don't think it's something that LEGO could ever really make a theme out of. The original Space Police was intended as a theme of "good guys" to protect the Space "civilians" from the Blacktron "bad guys". Thus even in the latest iteration of Space Police there was a good guy vs. bad guy conflict that every sci-fi lover could enjoy. A fire or rescue theme doesn't factor into that equation-- they're civilian establishments, and they just don't excite builders the same way (otherwise, there would be MOCs following that pattern all around this and other AFOL sites).

And I like the City Space subtheme. Reminds me of Launch Command from my childhood. Granted, it's a "near-earth space" theme and not at all similar to the "deep-space" themes that the Sci-Fi forum cherishes, but that's OK because it's not supposed to be the same thing. It's been a while since we had a decent, "down-to-earth" Space theme, and I figure they deserve as much of a chance in the spotlight as the more sci-fi Space themes.

Besides, Minifigures Series 3 demonstrates that LEGO has no intention of abandoning deep-space themes. Represented in it are a futuristic alien and a Blacktron cyborg. It seems clear to me that the only reason there are no deep-space themes next year is the fact that it would divide buyers between itself and the near-earth space theme, thus reducing overall profits. It's not at all an indication that LEGO intends to do away with deep-space themes for good, and for all we know we might get another as soon as next summer. Space Police 3 survived for three waves, a feat hardly any LEGO themes besides "evergreen" themes like City can pull off effectively. Thus, there's no reason LEGO would conclude that sci-fi themes aren't profitable.

[Wowplayer]

Tried making a Space Fire Engine once, and exhibited it at Brickfair. It was a fun experience, designing futuristic-looking firefighters and firefighting equipment. However, I don't think it's something that LEGO could ever really make a theme out of. The original Space Police was intended as a theme of "good guys" to protect the Space "civilians" from the Blacktron "bad guys". Thus even in the latest iteration of Space Police there was a good guy vs. bad guy conflict that every sci-fi lover could enjoy. A fire or rescue theme doesn't factor into that equation-- they're civilian establishments, and they just don't excite builders the same way (otherwise, there would be MOCs following that pattern all around this and other AFOL sites).

You make a good point here. I really like the idea of deep-space civilization sets, but I think you're right. I haven't seen a lot of MOCs around that fit that category, so I doubt Lego will create a line for it. Lego seems to think deep-space themes need some action component to it in order to sell well. Honestly, I'm fine with that.

Besides, Minifigures Series 3 demonstrates that LEGO has no intention of abandoning deep-space themes. Represented in it are a futuristic alien and a Blacktron cyborg. It seems clear to me that the only reason there are no deep-space themes next year is the fact that it would divide buyers between itself and the near-earth space theme, thus reducing overall profits. It's not at all an indication that LEGO intends to do away with deep-space themes for good, and for all we know we might get another as soon as next summer. Space Police 3 survived for three waves, a feat hardly any LEGO themes besides "evergreen" themes like City can pull off effectively. Thus, there's no reason LEGO would conclude that sci-fi themes aren't profitable.

I really like that Blacktron Cyborg figure, and think that could make the absolutely best theme if Lego decided to go that route. My Lego budget for next year is already being stretched thin with the new Atlantis sets and the new Pharaoh's Quest theme. But, I would still put precedence to a New deep-space theme if Lego decides to do that. Here's to keeping my fingers crossed

Edited October 4, 2010 by Wowplayer

[Artanis I]

But, I would still put presidents to a New deep-space theme if Lego decides to do that. Here's to keeping my fingers crossed

"precedence" ... and for me, deep space is the only real space! Otherwise it's just a bunch of townies in simple big white flying shapes that go a little bit up in the sky. *yawn*

[Wowplayer]

"precedence" ... and for me, deep space is the only real space! Otherwise it's just a bunch of townies in simple big white flying shapes that go a little bit up in the sky. *yawn*

I actually do know the difference between president and precedence...lol I should really reread my post at least once over before submitting it.

Edited October 4, 2010 by Wowplayer

[Artanis I]

I actually do know the difference between president and precedence...lol I should really reread my post at least once over before submitting it.

Of course if you want to include some presidents in a new deep space theme I understand that too! Nonsensical as it sounds!