vynsane Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 I don't think LEGO will be returning to a Blacktron theme ever, mainly because single-faction themes are (for the most part) dead. Even BIONICLE, which in the very least typically had a different faction each half of the year, has been replaced by Hero Factory, where the heroes and villains get a pretty much simultaneous release every wave. The idea today seems to be to have conflict role-play possible even with just one set, so both the good guys and bad guys have to come in every set-- and conflict-based themes are almost invariably named after the good guys (if not generic like "Castle" or "Kingdoms"). I had hoped for a while that there might be a glimmer of a chance that Space Police III might continue with a new wave something like this, but I guess LEGO felt that the Space Police theme had been played out sufficiently and they wanted to move towards a very different sort of space theme for variety's sake. Perhaps at some point they'll move back towards the sort of deep-space theme that Space Police III focused on, but for now this "alien invasion" theme seems to be designed independent of other Space themes and released chiefly on its own merits rather than as a way of gearing up for more traditional space factions. I think you sort of negated your own point about Blacktron never returning - it could always return, coupled against another faction! I find it funny that this year we're getting a CITY-themed Spaceport theme, then right after that we are getting a sci-fi 'alien invasion' action theme. It's like we first explored space and the aliens attacked us, so we had to improve our technology. What if it progresses like that, and after Alien Conquest, we get a deep-space exploration theme akin to Classic Space? Then we meet up with other aliens and the Blacktron Empire! It can happen... not saying it's probable, but it's possible. Quote
Aanchir Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 I think you sort of negated your own point about Blacktron never returning - it could always return, coupled against another faction! I find it funny that this year we're getting a CITY-themed Spaceport theme, then right after that we are getting a sci-fi 'alien invasion' action theme. It's like we first explored space and the aliens attacked us, so we had to improve our technology. What if it progresses like that, and after Alien Conquest, we get a deep-space exploration theme akin to Classic Space? Then we meet up with other aliens and the Blacktron Empire! It can happen... not saying it's probable, but it's possible. Well, my point was basically we'd never have another theme called "Blacktron". But yeah, it could return, and in fact has in small amounts with Rench and the collectible Space Villain. I think the City "Space" subtheme is meant to be independent of Alien Conquest, since there's still some City sets from the "Space" subtheme that presumably won't be coming out until summer-- for instance, the Space Station that was found months ago on a site reporting on that subtheme. Having two connected themes running that are supposed to be at different points chronologically would be confusing, so IMO there's really no greater connection between the City Space sets and the Alien Conquest sets than, say, between Launch Command and Exploriens (I think those were around the same time as one another...). I'd love a revival of Classic Space in some form. We get references to it all the time, but a theme that's strictly based on Classic Space would be pretty fun (and I wasn't even around when Classic Space was going on originally). On a side note, I never really like viewing Blacktron as an "empire". Most of the stuff I've seen in catalogs suggests that they're a spy/black ops organization that will engage in acts of villainy for the highest bidder. But then again, the original Space Police was made out to be more of a galactic peace-keeping group rather than a metropolitan crime-fighting unit, so reinterpreting the theme when/if it returns isn't out of the question. However, I would have been happiest if it had returned in full force while Space Police III was still running, since the Space Police and Blacktrons have what seems to be a perennial protagonist/antagonist relationship and it would have been lots of fun to explore that again. Quote
vexorian Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 I find it paradoxical when people claim at the same time that they liked classic space but they don't like the color scheme in the human vehicles in this theme, considering that they have almost the same color scheme... Quote
brickmack Posted April 2, 2011 Posted April 2, 2011 I think you sort of negated your own point about Blacktron never returning - it could always return, coupled against another faction! I find it funny that this year we're getting a CITY-themed Spaceport theme, then right after that we are getting a sci-fi 'alien invasion' action theme. It's like we first explored space and the aliens attacked us, so we had to improve our technology. What if it progresses like that, and after Alien Conquest, we get a deep-space exploration theme akin to Classic Space? Then we meet up with other aliens and the Blacktron Empire! It can happen... not saying it's probable, but it's possible. Definitely not probable. LEGO will probably never do any more exploration themed sets, because [most] kids find them boring. LEGO really should start listening to AFOLs more. Quote
Algernon Posted April 2, 2011 Posted April 2, 2011 Definitely not probable. LEGO will probably never do any more exploration themed sets, because [most] kids find them boring. LEGO really should start listening to AFOLs more. Lol- why? It wouldn't make them any more money. I can promise you that more kids buy LEGO than AFOLs, so pandering to us (as nice as it would be) would be the equivalent of corporate suicide. There's not a reason on the planet why they should do that. And they do listen to us more than a lot of corporations do, if you think about it. For example, Space Police got closed helmets in the second wave, a primary complaint among AFOLs. And Mars Mission aliens got updated after the extreme hatred they drew from most AFOLs. LEGO listens, but they don't lose sight of their target audience, which is what a smart business would do. Quote
Delta 38 Posted April 2, 2011 Posted April 2, 2011 Lol- why? It wouldn't make them any more money. I can promise you that more kids buy LEGO than AFOLs, so pandering to us (as nice as it would be) would be the equivalent of corporate suicide. There's not a reason on the planet why they should do that. And they do listen to us more than a lot of corporations do, if you think about it. For example, Space Police got closed helmets in the second wave, a primary complaint among AFOLs. And Mars Mission aliens got updated after the extreme hatred they drew from most AFOLs. LEGO listens, but they don't lose sight of their target audience, which is what a smart business would do. Oh, really? Those were changed because of complaints? We should complain more often. Quote
ssjherby2 Posted April 2, 2011 Posted April 2, 2011 ... On a side note, I never really like viewing Blacktron as an "empire". Most of the stuff I've seen in catalogs suggests that they're a spy/black ops organization that will engage in acts of villainy for the highest bidder. But then again, the original Space Police was made out to be more of a galactic peace-keeping group rather than a metropolitan crime-fighting unit, so reinterpreting the theme when/if it returns isn't out of the question. However, I would have been happiest if it had returned in full force while Space Police III was still running, since the Space Police and Blacktrons have what seems to be a perennial protagonist/antagonist relationship and it would have been lots of fun to explore that again. In the Space police III sets they have the Blacktron II emblem on several of the characters chest pieces. Also they put out a Blacktron Space marine with battle damage in the Mini figures series 3. I just don't see how its completely out of the realm of possibilities seeing that the Blacktron was originally made to be the anti Space Police, a rival faction in space. So your right that fallows that protagonist/antagonist relationship that has been seen in more recent sets. Older series just fallowed one side, then the other in the next season. I just want them to bring it back, maybe in a Agents style or something less goofy. Its not going to happen though. Quote
vexorian Posted April 2, 2011 Posted April 2, 2011 In the Space police III sets they have the Blacktron II emblem on several of the characters chest pieces. Also they put out a Blacktron Space marine with battle damage in the Mini figures series 3 That's called pandering to AFOLs in a way that does not involve any economical risk. Quote
Oky Posted April 2, 2011 Posted April 2, 2011 According to the May store calendar, the official release date is May 10. Happy hunting! Quote
CMP Posted April 2, 2011 Posted April 2, 2011 According to the May store calendar, the official release date is May 10. Happy hunting! That's pretty soon! I thought it was slated for August or something. But this is twice as good. Quote
Tereglith Posted April 3, 2011 Posted April 3, 2011 According to the May store calendar, the official release date is May 10. Happy hunting! I read this as (and the back of the calendar bears this out) that only two or three AC sets are going to come out May 10, with the rest to follow later. Note that the middle panel calls what we're going to see a "first look", and the pictured set is the Alien Mothership, not the Earth Defense HQ as one would expect. That, coupled with the fact that they mention five themes to be spread across only 20-24 new sets says to me that only half the theme is going to be released May 10, with the rest to come later. Which is still cool, just not as cool. Of course, I may be wrong, but that's what the calendar seemed to say to me when I saw it on Brickset earlier. (Also, if the sets that they're releasing are the two saucers, as the minifigures on the front of the calendar would indicate, then it would give kids a couple months to terrorize their town, then just as they get bored of that, BAM! Earth organizes a defense force that hits shelves a month or two later. Staggered release dates would sort of add to the storyline, is what I'm saying.) Quote
Oky Posted April 3, 2011 Posted April 3, 2011 Well, City, Kingdoms, and Creator don't have a lot of new sets, so that leaves enough room for Cars and AC, and the words "first look" probably just mean that those themes haven't been seen before. It would be weird if they only released part of the sets, but then again, they did the same with Atlantis for the current wave... Quote
Crackseed Posted April 3, 2011 Posted April 3, 2011 I have to agree with the synopsis that we won't see a single space theme really anymore with how LEGO does the rival setups but I honestly believe Blacktron will return. It has to. It's seriously their best space line overall IMO - both Blacktron 1 and 2. Though I think while I love the neon green I'd love to see them update the original color scheme a bit more when it returns :D All hail Blacktron! \o/ Anyway, sorry to get off on the Blacktron tangent - very stoked about AC launching in May already! Quote
Tereglith Posted April 3, 2011 Posted April 3, 2011 It would be weird if they only released part of the sets, but then again, they did the same with Atlantis for the current wave... Yeah, that's what I was thinking of too. I feel like something of the sort has happened with another past theme, too, but I can't put my finger on it. Mars Mission? Fantasy Castle? Eh, I'm sure it'll come to me. I just know that that pattern of set release was already there enough in my brain to be the first thing I thought of when I read the calendar. Quote
Oky Posted April 3, 2011 Posted April 3, 2011 (edited) The last wave of Power Miners? I think this is just their way of drawing out the last wave of a theme over here. I don't think it would make sense to do that in the first wave. Edited April 3, 2011 by Oky Wan Kenobi Quote
Fives Posted April 3, 2011 Posted April 3, 2011 I amy be a bit late to notice this, but those new blasters the good guys have are sweet! I might have to get some of those. Quote
Artanis I Posted April 4, 2011 Posted April 4, 2011 Yeah, that's what I was thinking of too. I feel like something of the sort has happened with another past theme, too, but I can't put my finger on it. Mars Mission? Fantasy Castle? Eh, I'm sure it'll come to me. I just know that that pattern of set release was already there enough in my brain to be the first thing I thought of when I read the calendar. The last wave of Power Miners? I think this is just their way of drawing out the last wave of a theme over here. I don't think it would make sense to do that in the first wave. Space Police 3. Second (and yes Oky, last) wave was staggered, 2 sets then 3 sets. (All 5 came at the same time here...) Quote
Sirens-of-Titan Posted April 4, 2011 Posted April 4, 2011 Releasing sets only a few at a time ensures that people buy them up. If there are 10 sets per theme maybe 8 of them will sell well but 2 will be left behind, and will just create clutter on shelves. By releasing 4 sets at a time until all are out, they tempt people into buying even the weaker sets; not to mention the excitement generated by the anticipation of releases. A lot of the market is novelty, so to release a few sets at a time allows the company to produce "new" sets all the time. Quote
jonwil Posted April 5, 2011 Posted April 5, 2011 Cool to see the classic jetpack piece make an appearance. Quote
Ceroknight Posted April 5, 2011 Posted April 5, 2011 thats a polybag set i wouldn't mind getting Quote
Algernon Posted April 5, 2011 Posted April 5, 2011 I actually like that- excellent army builder and pretty eye-catching in general. Quote
Baylego Posted April 5, 2011 Posted April 5, 2011 Nice! If the price is right for these I might buy a few as an army builder. Quote
Delta 38 Posted April 5, 2011 Posted April 5, 2011 That's a nice little set. That jetpack piece will come in handy, too. It's not an impulse set by any chance, is it? It looks impulse-sized, but I'm not sure if it's a polybag or not. Quote
Hewman Posted April 5, 2011 Posted April 5, 2011 That's a nice little set. That jetpack piece will come in handy, too. It's not an impulse set by any chance, is it? It looks impulse-sized, but I'm not sure if it's a polybag or not. Going by the set number, it will be a polybag. If it was an impulse set it would have a four digit code. Quote
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