Hero Factory 2011

[Front]

You're so modest, Front. I'm glad we have a person like you as a set designer.

In all seriousness, though, I agree to an extent. Hero Factory parts are being designed with a sort of simplicity and versatility that was absent from BIONICLE. And while the details like molded pistons and accordion joints in BIONICLE sets were something I always admired, from a practical standpoint Hero Factory is becoming considerably closer to traditional LEGO in its smooth, refined aesthetic and versatile designs.

I am not a set designer, I engineer parts and are called a Part Designer. Let me design a set and you are on the straight tracks towards closing down the action figure business.

[CommanderR]

Another thing, if they were heros, I highly doubt they would be Bulk and Stringer. Drill Dozer is obviously a turn coat, but he isn't Bulk, and the Fire Lord is not Stringer, otherwise he'd probable still be sonic.

Your probably right.

Though I must say the Fire Lord's head looks like Stringer's.

[Aanchir]

I am not a set designer, I engineer parts and are called a Part Designer. Let me design a set and you are on the straight tracks towards closing down the action figure business.

Meant to write part designer. But I'm more used to typing set designer. My mistake.

And Fire Lord's head doesn't really remind me of Stringer's except in that one pic where he's looming over the heroes on their Armageddon march. In the bigger picture of him you can see he has vents all along the sides of his cheeks, much like the original Hau and Avohkii. His mouth and the shape of his eyes also don't resemble Jimi Stringer's.

Something few people have mentioned but I noticed-- I'm not much of a fan of the way he uses a System pickaxe to hold his hands together. But maybe it's just crappy positioning in the prelim pic.

[80 Dollar]

I am not a set designer, I engineer parts and are called a Part Designer. Let me design a set and you are on the straight tracks towards closing down the action figure business.

Can you please tell us which ones of the 2011 pieces have you designed or helped design?

[Front]

Can you please tell us which ones of the 2011 pieces have you designed or helped design?

Only 2010 exist. For now.

I was actually able to help the designers with their work, by making the first 3D models of the Breeze and Stormer masks, based on some simple sketches. Later the designers worked a bit more on the masks, changing stuff and adding details. But my normal work is the "boring" process of making a designers ideas for real in plastic.

[The Crazy One]

Something few people have mentioned but I noticed-- I'm not much of a fan of the way he uses a System pickaxe to hold his hands together. But maybe it's just crappy positioning in the prelim pic.

I just noticed that. Well, it's new, and to be honest, a clever way to design the hand, but I don't believe that it is the best they can do. It's not aesthetically pleasing, much like the coulour scheme, but I do believe a different part could easily be used, or a new one, can't be that hard to saw a head off an axe in a new mould.

Wow Front, your genius designined the two best mask in the 2010 Hero wave! Do more please.

[SpiderSpaceman]

In all seriousness, though, I agree to an extent. Hero Factory parts are being designed with a sort of simplicity and versatility that was absent from BIONICLE. And while the details like molded pistons and accordion joints in BIONICLE sets were something I always admired, from a practical standpoint Hero Factory is becoming considerably closer to traditional LEGO in its smooth, refined aesthetic and versatile designs.

Yes - I love the style and detail of bionicle, but this is about what I've been waiting for since the announcement of bionicle's end was made. I believe the press release made some comment like "replaced with a more versatile line"

However... hmm. ok, here's the thing. bionicle was a step away from system compatibility (connect bionicle to technic, connect technic to system). now it almost looks like you need bionicle to connect HF to technic.

also, as far as simpler than bionicle - so was znap

[vexorian]

You're so modest, Front. I'm glad we have a person like you as a set designer.

In all seriousness, though, I agree to an extent. Hero Factory parts are being designed with a sort of simplicity and versatility that was absent from BIONICLE. And while the details like molded pistons and accordion joints in BIONICLE sets were something I always admired, from a practical standpoint Hero Factory is becoming considerably closer to traditional LEGO in its smooth, refined aesthetic and versatile designs.

Some people have been saying that this is a jump of the shark, but I think that the new parts may as well mean this is HF's growing of the beard taking steps away of Bionicle and going with more versatile parts while adding a true hero factory.

The pick axe among other things are what put the preliminary in the villains.

now it almost looks like you need bionicle to connect HF to technic

or system rods. That's the only thing I don't like, the sockets could have been cross sockets instead of just system rod sockets, would have made things even more versatile. Edited September 30, 2010 by vexorian

[Zennia Jorra: Toa of Slush]

Okaaaay... those helmets are kinda wtf. Also they look a little too boxy and odd-fangled (the Heroes, that is). The villains look pretty cool. You guys are wrong, this isn't like MegaBloks, this is like way oldschool MegaBloks before it was halfway decent (compair these guys to a Neo Shifter and tell me the Neo Shifter doesn't look sleeker, I mean srsly).

[vexorian]

Meh neo shifers aren't even worthy of a comparison, whereas the 2.0 heroes are looking even more versatile than Bionicle parts. NS were never really that good at having versatile pieces...

[The Crazy One]

Okay, let's do a comparison:

Hero Factory:

- Strong, none chipping, and clean parts.

- Good designs that appeal to most audiances.

- A good story.

- New versatile parts.

Neo Shifters:

- Sloppy paint jobs.

- Poor piece quality.

- Zero story.

- The same thing over and over.

- Not compatible with other M3gaBl0cks ranges.

Yeah, a completely different league.

[Bfahome]

Neo Shifters:

- Sloppy paint jobs.

- Poor piece quality.

- Zero story.

- The same thing over and over.

- Not compatible with other M3gaBl0cks ranges.

- Can roll into a ball

- Can shoot a smaller guy out of their chests (which can also roll into a ball)

[Zennia Jorra: Toa of Slush]

Okay, let's do a comparison:

Hero Factory:

- Strong, none chipping, and clean parts.

- Good designs that appeal to most audiances.

- A good story.

- New versatile parts.

Neo Shifters:

- Sloppy paint jobs.

- Poor piece quality.

- Zero story.

- The same thing over and over.

- Not compatible with other M3gaBl0cks ranges.

Yeah, a completely different league.

Well, I wasn't comparing the two overall (and HF doesn't have much of a story either, let's be honest xD Neo-Shifters DID have a story and an online comic, mind you). Aside from plastic quality, cross-theme compatibility, and variety, if you do nothing but LOOK at one of these 2.0 Heroes side by side with a Neo-Shifter, I think the majority would find the Neo-Shifter better looking. Really, people, as you can tell I'm not a hater who hates Mega Bloks just because they're not Lego. Although I do acknowledge the fact that Lego is far superior...

[The Crazy One]

- Can roll into a ball

- Can shoot a smaller guy out of their chests (which can also roll into a ball)

Great, Bionicle had Bohrok. It is and okay feature, but all the pieces fall off when in the ball.

Well, I wasn't comparing the two overall (and HF doesn't have much of a story either, let's be honest xD Neo-Shifters DID have a story and an online comic, mind you). Aside from plastic quality, cross-theme compatibility, and variety, if you do nothing but LOOK at one of these 2.0 Heroes side by side with a Neo-Shifter, I think the majority would find the Neo-Shifter better looking. Really, people, as you can tell I'm not a hater who hates Mega Bloks just because they're not Lego. Although I do acknowledge the fact that Lego is far superior...

I am not a MB hater, I just was surprised at the comparison between Hero Factroy 2.0 and NeoShifters. I cannot really see more people liking Neo Shifters over Hero Fcatory 2.0 taking everything in to account. But, before we sink more into this, the sets havent even appeared in real form yet. I will make my final judgement then.

[jala12]

Great, Bionicle had Bohrok. It is and okay feature, but all the pieces fall off when in the ball.

I am not a MB hater, I just was surprised at the comparison between Hero Factroy 2.0 and NeoShifters. I cannot really see more people liking Neo Shifters over Hero Fcatory 2.0 taking everything in to account. But, before we sink more into this, the sets havent even appeared in real form yet. I will make my final judgement then.

Um, what? No they didn't. The Bohrok are some of the sturdiest and solid Bionicle sets as far as I know.

[CabooseBM]

Um, what? No they didn't. The Bohrok are some of the sturdiest and solid Bionicle sets as far as I know.

I think he was referring to Neo Shifters, where, well, that statement isn't true either, my NS figure rolls up just fine with very little problem?

It's one of the better MB lines, if somewhat same-y.

[The Crazy One]

I think he was referring to Neo Shifters, where, well, that statement isn't true either, my NS figure rolls up just fine with very little problem?

Well your lucky. I havent been able to keep mine in in a ball without bits falling off, and I have some of the more recent ones, so the statement is true, just maybe not for you.

Edited October 2, 2010 by The crazy one

[The Dor]

Um, what? No they didn't. The Bohrok are some of the sturdiest and solid Bionicle sets as far as I know.

Pretty sure he's referring to the Neo-Shifters' pieces falling off. Which I think is ridiculous, I have had no problems with the Neo-Shifters. Everyone bashes Mega Bloks, which should be unnecessary because LEGO is superior in a lot of ways, but their action figures are actually pretty good, in my experience.

Anyway, I think that these sets have a definite LEGO feel, the Heroes certainly more so than the Villains, however, they should look a lot better when they have all their parts finalized and in standard plastic. I kinda want to see those fire pieces finalized, to be specific, because they look like they could be pretty awesome, especially if the fire part can be separated.

I'm also a little curious about the joint-attached armor. If it's stabilized, it shouldn't be a problem. And I like pieces having ball joints in the middle of the piece, makes a lot of things a lot easier. I would actually be pretty happy if this became standard for HF, considering the diversity of the armor already. I can identify 3 different pieces of limb armor, as well as the torso armor which the villains show can be attached to the limbs. Quite honestly I hope the rest of the line is compatible with these, stylistically, at least, because it fits so well with other LEGO as a concept. More basic kinds of limbs, with different kinds of basic armor, seems very LEGO-like to me.

[Bfahome]

I'm also a little curious about the joint-attached armor. If it's stabilized, it shouldn't be a problem.

It looks like it will be. Jetbug's left arm shows fairly clearly that there are square "brackets" (I really don't know what to call them) on either side of the ball joint, which probably push up against flat surfaces on the inside of the armor pieces to prevent them from turning or wiggling.

Though there's one thing that bugs me; Stormer, Surge, and Evo's lower left arm pieces seem to be shorter than the other lower arm piece and don't have the middle ball joint, though overall their left arms appear to be the same length as the others'. I can't tell if this is just an illusion or if it's actually the case.

Because an even shorter arm piece would be twice as much <3.

(Breez and Nex's left arms look like the longer piece, and I can't see Furno's for obvious reasons.)

[The Crazy One]

Please guys, dont get the impression that I hate Mega Blocks. I just have the complaint that MY Neo Shifters fall apart. So lets not bash me for complaining about the quality of my sets. Okay? Cool.

NeoShifters arent even anything like Hero Factory, so why was it compared?

Anyway, I just cant wait for real life pictures in the Toy Fair.

Edited October 2, 2010 by The crazy one

[CabooseBM]

Well your lucky. I havent been able to keep mine in in a ball without bits falling off, and I have some of the more recent ones, so the statement is true, just maybe not for you.

Ah, I have one out of the first wave, so it may be that the statement is true for later waves of NS.

[Zennia Jorra: Toa of Slush]

Please guys, dont get the impression that I hate Mega Blocks. I just have the complaint that MY Neo Shifters fall apart. So lets not bash me for complaining about the quality of my sets. Okay? Cool.

It's okay man, my Neo Shifters fall apart too. Apart from aesthetics, they're not very great sets, really. xD

[80 Dollar]

Please guys, dont get the impression that I hate Mega Blocks. I just have the complaint that MY Neo Shifters fall apart. So lets not bash me for complaining about the quality of my sets. Okay? Cool.

NeoShifters arent even anything like Hero Factory, so why was it compared?

Anyway, I just cant wait for real life pictures in the Toy Fair.

I'm sure we'll see them IRL before the Toy Fair. ;)

[Zip]

Ouch. Sounds like you guys have those horrible 1st/2nd wave Neo-Shifters. They fall apart like crazy, I've heard.

I have 2 Shifters from the 3rd (arguably best wave, in terms of quality and individual design differences. I reeaally need to get that review up), and I can honestly say that I had more fun playing with them than any canister-sized Bionicle set. Ever.

Oh, and the Bohrok are even more clone-ish than the Shifters (2 waves of only 6 different molds total, applies to Kal), so I don't see why anyone is complaining about that.

[The Crazy One]

I'm sure we'll see them IRL before the Toy Fair. ;)

Oh yeah. :) Whenever they appear I'll start to make up my mind.

@Zip: Really? I never really played with mine because they just felt fragile and bits fell off. I the 3rd wave is good if may pick one up.

Edited October 2, 2010 by The crazy one