2011 Alien Conquest

[vexorian]

shift+F5 or ctrol+F5

[Bfahome]

I don't see how the handle is a reason not to get it. It's useful for playing, and if you think it's unsightly then you can remove most of it quite easily.

Price I can understand. Handle, not so much.

[Algernon]

I don't see how the handle is a reason not to get it. It's useful for playing, and if you think it's unsightly then you can remove most of it quite easily.

Price I can understand. Handle, not so much.

It's just the aesthetics. I think it kind of distracts from the flow of the design. It's not a deal-breaker, but it's a pet peeve.

[Modok]

That's pretty big indeed, but I still go by piece count exclusively. It seems like the fairest way to determine value. You can spread 400 large parts across a surface and make it look like a larger pile, but that doesn't make it a better buy.

...

That's not to say it's a bad set - it's hard not to enjoy the Independence Day vibe - but the theme has much more to offer in my opinion. And being on a budget, there's no way I'm shelling out $60 for that. I'd rather get three Tripods.

Ditto. It's pretty cool, but as the saying goes, there's just not a lot of "there" there. You're paying for the sound brick and an exclusive fig. Anyone hankering for a UFO can get one from the abduction set. I actually like that little UFO better, and the set has more play value.

[Tereglith]

That's pretty big indeed, but I still go by piece count exclusively. It seems like the fairest way to determine value. You can spread 400 large parts across a surface and make it look like a larger pile, but that doesn't make it a better buy.

It also doesn't help that, in my opinion at least, the mothership is the theme's weakest addition. As many have pointed out, it's really empty looking, and the big handle on the back is extremely distracting. Even worse, it only has TWO minifigures. Granted, they're both exclusive, but it just makes the overall package look very small considering the price you're paying. You don't even get any smaller Earth Defense figures to fend off the huge mothership (and add play value), which is commonplace these days.

That's not to say it's a bad set - it's hard not to enjoy the Independence Day vibe - but the theme has much more to offer in my opinion. And being on a budget, there's no way I'm shelling out $60 for that. I'd rather get three Tripods.

I tend to go solely by piece count as well, but in outstanding cases I'm moved to make exceptions, and I think that the sheer epic magnitude of this set is enough to convince ME at least that it's worth $60. Do I have $60 to spend on it, though? Not after buying everything else I want to buy. So despite the fact that I think it actually adds something to the theme through sheer scale (It's going to make the Earth Defense HQ look tiny! No better way to up the ante than to have your HQ dwarfed), I, like you, will probably not buy it, at least not right away.

I don't quite get why the handle is objectionable, though. I think it's rather discreet, considering how hard it can be to get a handle (no pun intended) on large cumbersome sets. To me it's just like the clear pieces holding the two parts of a podracer together - a necessary attachment for the logistics of the toy that you can ignore while in play, or remove on display.

Ok, lots of nice pictures of the theme so far, but has any one seen any of the Tripod set? I ask because I want to see if it's legs are articulated to any degree. The ones I've seen so far aren't too clear, but I assume it's mobility will be somewhat limited. Anyone able to prove me wrong?

Try this on for size. The articulation will be limited, but I still think that design is rather clever - sturdy enough to support the set's weight, designed to keep the 'shins' vertical, yet still allowing a reasonable degree of motion in the 'thighs'. It ought to be able to pantomime walking fairly well for young kids, but posing for dioramas, not so much.

[prateek]

Is this the mechanism?

Ok, lots of nice pictures of the theme so far, but has any one seen any of the Tripod set? I ask because I want to see if it's legs are articulated to any degree. The ones I've seen so far aren't too clear, but I assume it's mobility will be somewhat limited. Anyone able to prove me wrong?

Here's a good picture.

Edited February 14, 2011 by prateek

[vexorian]

Video of the mechanism:

It is clever, and cool.

--

The mothership's bottom:

---

The emperor: Almost makes the mothership worth the price, almost.

---

ADU Agent: That's a nice gun.

Edited February 14, 2011 by vexorian

[Lordofdragonss]

The abduction fucntion is ingenius! So easy to make and so fun to play!

I really like the tripod. He looks like 3 leged spider, heh.

Edited February 14, 2011 by Lordofdragonss

[jonwil]

Can anyone tell me which sets include which civilian minifigs (i.e. any fig that isn't an alien or a astronaut) preferably with some pics of the figs?

So far I saw the farmer in the alien abduction and the blue-suit-guy in the tripod, what other civilian figs exist?

[Oky]

There's only one other civilian, a female news reporter, in the mothership set. There's also a scientist in the Earth Defense HQ, but he's part of the ADU. You can see all of the figs in the second half of

.

By the way, why did it change from ADF to ADU? What does it stand for, Alien Defense... Union? I liked Force better.

@ Tereglith: I don't know if you found out already, but the Jetcopter is $39.99.

[Delta 38]

The torsos have changed again, it seems. Looks more realistic now.

The tripod looks better, and the minifigs are still great.

[jonwil]

There's only one other civilian, a female news reporter, in the mothership set. There's also a scientist in the Earth Defense HQ, but he's part of the ADU. You can see all of the figs in the second half of

.

By the way, why did it change from ADF to ADU? What does it stand for, Alien Defense... Union? I liked Force better.

@ Tereglith: I don't know if you found out already, but the Jetcopter is $39.99.

Thanks for the info, I am definatly going to get the tripod set for the guy with the blue suit and possibly the alien abduction for the farmer (and that new pitchfork :)

May even get several tripods (the cool glasses head on the blue guy is worth the price of admission by itself IMO :)

[ttoole73]

Definately cannot wait for August. That alien cyborg is pure genius.

[ka.lego]

Definately cannot wait for August. That alien cyborg is pure genius.

I 100% agree. This looks like a great year for non-licensed sets. All pretty top notch. Between this theme, Ninjago, and Pharaoh's Quest, I'm pretty excited that Lego's original themes have so much to offer in terms of creative theme-ing, playability, great pieces for MOCs, awesome new figs (still looking for more females though), and great minifig accessories. My wallet hurts, but my love for the hobby is skyrocketing. Great work TLC, for what it's worth.

:thumbup:

I'm still pouring over the images on FBTB's Flickr from Toy Fair. Just saw them now. I really have to give it up to the designers / creators of this theme. It really blends some cool real-world stuff with sci-fi goodness. Cool trucks, jeeps, etc. mixed with spaceships and aliens? Done deal. And the art direction for the aliens is fantastic.

Edited February 14, 2011 by ka.lego

[August11]

Ok, lots of nice pictures of the theme so far, but has any one seen any of the Tripod set? I ask because I want to see if it's legs are articulated to any degree. The ones I've seen so far aren't too clear, but I assume it's mobility will be somewhat limited. Anyone able to prove me wrong?

I just spent a while with the Flickr images by FBTB. And even though I will purchase much of AC in August, I have to admit it seems the legs on the TI do not really have any notable range of articulation--I hope someone in this thread can identify some articulation points: it is not a deal breaker but it makes the set a little less appealing...

[UsernameMDM]

More pics at the NYTF via fbtb's photo stream:

7066 Earth Defense HQ

7065 Alien Mothership

7052 UFO Abduction

7067 Jet-Copter Encounter

7051 Tripod Invader

7050 Alien Defender

7049 Alien Striker

[Bfahome]

Oh, so the cyborg guy is a pirate.

Cyborg alien pirate monsters for the win!

[Algernon]

More pics at the NYTF via fbtb's photo stream:

7066 Earth Defense HQ

7065 Alien Mothership

7052 UFO Abduction

7067 Jet-Copter Encounter

7051 Tripod Invader

7050 Alien Defender

7049 Alien Striker

Awesome. I don't have time look through them all but I'll write out some updated impressions:

Earth Defense HQ: It's a neat set, no doubt. It looks heavily armored and very "complete", which are both very good things in my book. It has a "kid-ish" vibe to it though, so I'm not sure I'll pick it up due to the price tag ($89.99, which is actually better than I expected, but still too much for me).

Alien Mothership: The biggest selling point here is definitely the sheer size of the vessel. But I'm still not crazy about the design. I see what they were going for but I don't feel like they pulled it off too well. And $59.99 is way too much, sound brick or not.

UFO Abduction: I love this set. The overall shape is just a classic B-movie UFO, and it looks great. Unlike some other people here, the farmer isn't a big selling point for me, but it does kind of anchor the set into a 50's theme. $29.99 is a little steep, considering the part count, but it's not entirely unexpected and I'll definitely be shelling out for it come summer.

Jet-Copter Encounter: This just keeps looking better and better. The overall aesthetic of the set looks fantastic and the little UFO ship that splits in two looks just as great. And at $39.99 I don't think I'll be able to resist this little beauty.

Tripod Invader: My personal favorite. LEGO really nailed the design of the Tripod. The legs look great, and I don't mind the limited articulation just because of how spot-on the aesthetics are. The only thing that bothers me is the trans-green pod in the back, which clashes with the trans-clear cockpit. But I can get over it, and who knows? The set is still prelim.

Alien Defender: A little bare, but not bad for a $9.99 set. I might pick it up just to complete my collection.

Alien Striker: Meh, just an obligatory impulse set. Not too exciting.

Overall its looking great.

[August11]

Awesome. I don't have time look through them all but I'll write out some updated impressions:

Tripod Invader: My personal favorite. LEGO really nailed the design of the Tripod. The legs look great, and I don't mind the limited articulation just because of how spot-on the aesthetics are. The only thing that bothers me is the trans-green pod in the back, which clashes with the trans-clear cockpit. But I can get over it, and who knows? The set is still prelim.

I remember we had the same response to the Undercover Cruiser at the 2010 toyshow--the canopy on the UC was light trans blue which definately did not go with all the other trans parts. The actual set saw an approrpiate dark trans blue canopy. Maybe getting the trans parts is just difficult by the time the toy shows come around.

I'm thinking the two canopy colors on the TI will match by the time August comes around.

[Tereglith]

@ Tereglith: I don't know if you found out already, but the Jetcopter is $39.99.

Thanks! I just found it out at FBTB's flickr. At that price it'll be the first one I buy, along with Tripod invader.

I just spent a while with the Flickr images by FBTB. And even though I will purchase much of AC in August, I have to admit it seems the legs on the TI do not really have any notable range of articulation--I hope someone in this thread can identify some articulation points: it is not a deal breaker but it makes the set a little less appealing...

There's articulation at the 'shoulder' and at the 'elbow' (none at the 'wrist'), but it's limited by the fact that it is composed of two pieces moving in tandem. It ought to work such that it will automatically take steps when the "upper arm" is lifted, but it will cause a 1:1 correspondence with postions of the upper arm and lower arm, i.e. each position you put the upper arm in will allow for one and only one position of the lower arm corresponding to it.

[vexorian]

Although I like the mothership, the price and lack of figs makes me think that getting 2xabduction and 2xtripods will give you much more value than 1xmommyship, 1xabduction and 1xtripod for 10.0 less dollars! Or I may get the jet copter set instead, the merging foo fighters are just a great feature. It is like all those vintage UFO reports in which the lights merge into one or split into two.

It is sad that in order to get the really cool aliens - The cyborg and the emperor you would need to buy the most expensive sets.

Edited February 14, 2011 by vexorian

[prateek]

Wow! These are amazing! I love all the functions. The abduction is great, and I love the splitting Alien ship in the Copter set

[Henchmen4Hire]

I take it back, the blue is annoying lol, and the ships look kinda meh.

Bring back Space Police!

[Artanis I]

By the way, why did it change from ADF to ADU? What does it stand for, Alien Defense... Union? I liked Force better.

Alien Defence Unit. Less aggressive name than Alien Defence Force. It was printed on something in a photo I saw yesterday, either a display card or on the HQ vehicle itself. My memory is vague these days.

[Henchmen4Hire]

I'll never understand marketing. "Unit" was used because it's less aggressive, but destroying ships with missiles and shooting aliens in the face to do horrible experiments with them is okay?

I like the alien ships' color schemes.