Hero Factory 2012

[Nike2032]

I know this is a bit off topic, but does anyone know where I can get Speeda Demon in the UK apart from a Lego store?

Edited August 7, 2012 by Nike2032

[Lance]

Just ordered Stringer, Stormer XL, and Voltix rom S@H for my son. Got the free Hulk, too

[LegoNarkoman]

SPOILERS

Hello everyone I would like to say that the story of book Legion of Darkness is Hero Thresher forms the Alpha Team comprised of himself and rookies Preston Stormer, Von Ness, Dunkan Bulk and Jimi Stringer, this is when Hero Factory is in its beginning, and they have to defeat villain Black Phantom and an army of criminals he put together to destroy Hero Factory so that villains can rule the galaxy. At one time Black Phantom has battle with Von Ness and he offers Von Ness to become his apprentice because he sees potential in him but Von Ness refuses at the last moment. In the end Alpha Team defeats the army of criminals but Black Phantom disappears into thin air. It is also hinted in last few pages that Von Ness, after he go rogue, which is also told about, takes Black Phantoms offer and become Von Nebula as his apprentice! Breakout guys Splitface and Voltix are mention in the intro. I know this because the book can be got in my country (Slovakia). Book The Doom Box can be bought also its about Core Hunter finding pieces of big mega-weapon. I apologise if my English is not good you can tell its not my first language.

[Kalhiki]

Your English is good enough to understand. Thanks for the info! I am super excited to get this book and read it. I always enjoy prequels.

Kalhiki

[Dorek]

Honestly, if that's really what happens, I'd say Hero Factory has made a nice full circle. One more year with VN, and then that seems like a nice place to end it.

Plus, most complaints of "Von Nebula had no character development" will be smashed into tiny, tiny pieces :)

[Nike2032]

Honestly, if that's really what happens, I'd say Hero Factory has made a nice full circle. One more year with VN, and then that seems like a nice place to end it.

Plus, most complaints of "Von Nebula had no character development" will be smashed into tiny, tiny pieces :)

True, but to be honest, why would TLC end Hero Factory after next year? From my impression, the theme is selling well and is still popular among fans. They will only end it when the theme stops bringing them profits.

Edited August 7, 2012 by Nike2032

[Rocketbilly]

True, but to be honest, why would TLC end Hero Factory after next year? From my impression, the theme is selling well and is still popular among fans. They will only end it when the theme stops bringing them profits.

Perhaps not. I could easily see LEGO replacing the Hero Factory theme with another action figure based one. They could keep the basic pieces - the bones, the shells etcetera as they're fairly generic but could go in an entirely new direction completely and thus make it a new theme complete with new story.

I could easily see, for example, a theme of medieval knight type figures much like the old Knights Kingdom action figures of years past.

All would be needed, really, would be a new head that would allow the attachemnt of unique visors, some new moulds for things like swords and shields that would better fit in with the new theme and perhaps a few body parts that are less robotic looking than Hero parts as well as some armour attachments that look more medieval than high tech. They wouldn't have to even be human knights - some sort of elemental creatures with their own colour scheme or perhaps the idea that the figures were suits of "living armour" with each being powered by a coloured crystal or..something...I'm getting off topic.

Point is, Ninjago has proven to be very successful for LEGO and, as far as I am aware, will be ending in 2013 with a new theme taking its place. I don't see why LEGO wouldn't try something similar.

Of course, I do hope Hero Factory will continue, though I do think it needs some sort of new gimmick to make it fresh. Whether that means a new group of heroes with radically different colours to ones we've had before, or some sort of unifying feature that the sets share - perhaps a series with glow-in the dark bones and transparent cladding, or light-up features...another wave of ball firing figures might not be enough to keep the theme too fresh, unless of course the designs continue to be appealing - and I have great confidence in the designers at LEGO to do just that.

Edited August 7, 2012 by Rocketbilly

[Kalhiki]

Of course, I do hope Hero Factory will continue, though I do think it needs some sort of new gimmick to make it fresh. Whether that means a new group of heroes with radically different colours to ones we've had before, or some sort of unifying feature that the sets share - perhaps a series with glow-in the dark bones and transparent cladding, or light-up features...another wave of ball firing figures might not be enough to keep the theme too fresh, unless of course the designs continue to be appealing - and I have great confidence in the designers at LEGO to do just that.

I'm still hoping for 1.0 Hero looks to return, but using the 2.0 build. They came close with Breakout by re-introducing the old helmets, but having 1.0 style ankle guards and body armor would be cool.

Kalhiki

[Zachattacx]

I'm still hoping for 1.0 Hero looks to return, but using the 2.0 build. They came close with Breakout by re-introducing the old helmets, but having 1.0 style ankle guards and body armor would be cool.

Kalhiki

True, that's one of my mocing techniques or near there, when I run low on the piece or just can't think of a design I just use the whole 1.0 chest plate and combine the limbs from 2.0.

Edited August 8, 2012 by Zachattacx

[Nike2032]

"I could easily see, for example, a theme of medieval knight type figures much like the old Knights Kingdom action figures of years past." - Rocketbilly

Now that would be quite interesting

However, I still think it would be a very abrupt move by Lego to cancel Hero Factory. I thought TLC cancels themes when they become unpopular or if it's a licensed theme. For example, both Bionicle and Lego Star Wars were planned to be cancelled at an earlier date, but the themes got extended due to their popularity. I would be suprised if Lego cancelled a theme while it was still popular.

Edited August 8, 2012 by Nike2032

[MakutaNocturn]

Perhaps not. I could easily see LEGO replacing the Hero Factory theme with another action figure based one. They could keep the basic pieces - the bones, the shells etcetera as they're fairly generic but could go in an entirely new direction completely and thus make it a new theme complete with new story.

I could easily see, for example, a theme of medieval knight type figures much like the old Knights Kingdom action figures of years past.

You guys are toootally optimisitc...

BTW: I think 1 year would be not enough. Maybe 2? It will be good if they will end all threads, or most of them, not like in Bionicle.

[dviddy]

"I could easily see, for example, a theme of medieval knight type figures much like the old Knights Kingdom action figures of years past." - Rocketbilly

Now that would be quite interesting

However, I still think it would be a very abrupt move by Lego to cancel Hero Factory. I thought TLC cancels themes when they become unpopular or if it's a licensed theme. For example, both Bionicle and Lego Star Wars were planned to be cancelled at an earlier date, but the themes got extended due to their popularity. I would be suprised if Lego cancelled a theme while it was still popular.

LEGO Star Wars has never had a cancellation date, but the license is renewed every several years, and every time that's announced, people freak out thinking that means it was going to be cancelled.

TLG doesn't usually let themes be open-ended on their shelf life. Ninjago was planned to last three years, and then will be replaced. Specifically because of BIONICLE, TLG doesn't really want to see themes with no end-date on shelves anymore. TLG has said through reps at conventions that BIONICLE's open end is part of what caused its stagnation and they are trying to avoid that and keep things fresh. Hence why you see themes like Alien Conquest that get one year. It's not that the theme was poorly received, it's that it was designed as a fun one-year line and that was it. I wouldn't be surprised to see Hero Factory replaced with a different constraction figure line this time next year.

[Omicron Squad Leader]

I think, from what LegoNarkoman said, that Hero Factory is likely to end after summer 2013. It sounds as if Von Nebula will create his "Villain Factory"/"Anti-Hero Factory" next year and that Alpha Team will face him in a final confrontation. I would really like it if this happened, because Hero Factory would've lasted a full 3 years, from summer 2010 - summer 2013, and, as Dorek said, it would really bring the story full-circle.

Edited August 8, 2012 by Omicron Squad Leader

[Nike2032]

LEGO Star Wars has never had a cancellation date, but the license is renewed every several years, and every time that's announced, people freak out thinking that means it was going to be cancelled.

TLG doesn't usually let themes be open-ended on their shelf life. Ninjago was planned to last three years, and then will be replaced. Specifically because of BIONICLE, TLG doesn't really want to see themes with no end-date on shelves anymore. TLG has said through reps at conventions that BIONICLE's open end is part of what caused its stagnation and they are trying to avoid that and keep things fresh. Hence why you see themes like Alien Conquest that get one year. It's not that the theme was poorly received, it's that it was designed as a fun one-year line and that was it. I wouldn't be surprised to see Hero Factory replaced with a different constraction figure line this time next year.

Oh, I always thought it was the other way round. Sorry for my misunderstanding. But I would be disappointed by this since I generaly like themes lasting longer.

Edited August 8, 2012 by Nike2032

[MakutaNocturn]

Hey I watched that commercial again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl15qemhhfI

That with Speeda. And think about it. Watch first a few seconds. Is it normal that one "of the most dangerous villians EVAH" blah blah blah... was sitting in his cell with a motorbike? What the hell xD ? I know it's for commercial to present whole set but there's no sense xDD

[turtleman2020]

Hey I watched that commercial again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl15qemhhfI

That with Speeda. And think about it. Watch first a few seconds. Is it normal that one "of the most dangerous villians EVAH" blah blah blah... was sitting in his cell with a motorbike? What the hell xD ? I know it's for commercial to present whole set but there's no sense xDD

Its because they want to be kind to him.

[Omicron Squad Leader]

Hey I watched that commercial again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl15qemhhfI

That with Speeda. And think about it. Watch first a few seconds. Is it normal that one "of the most dangerous villians EVAH" blah blah blah... was sitting in his cell with a motorbike? What the hell xD ? I know it's for commercial to present whole set but there's no sense xDD

In "Breakout: Part One" you can see him alone in his cell. I like to imagine that he stole the bike from Hero Factory's stash of them, as he left for the black hole.

[Dorek]

In "Breakout: Part One" you can see him alone in his cell. I like to imagine that he stole the bike from Hero Factory's stash of them, as he left for the black hole.

Unlikely, since their escape was pretty direct, but the bike is also custom, from what it sounds like. Realistically he just stashed it somewhere (maybe that was the specific intent for Kollix IV, since I don't recall him being given a reason to go there, unlike other villains).

Edited August 9, 2012 by Dorek

[Bfahome]

They let him have a radio for good behavior.

So he made it into a bike.

Or he convinced them the bike was a radio.

[Omicron Squad Leader]

Unlikely, since their escape was pretty direct, but the bike is also custom, from what it sounds like. Realistically he just stashed it somewhere (maybe that was the specific intent for Kollix IV, since I don't recall him being given a reason to go there, unlike other villains).

That's why I said "I like to imagine" - there doesn't have to be any specific evidence backing it up, it's just what I like to think, considering Speeda's character. Still, I guess you could say that if Von's staff was stored in the same room as the prisoners, that villain vehicles could be, too.

EDIT: I forgot to add that Speeda went to Kollix IV to rob passers-by using some satellite beacon, if I remember correctly.

Edited August 10, 2012 by Omicron Squad Leader

[Cirvihi]

Unlikely, since their escape was pretty direct, but the bike is also custom, from what it sounds like. Realistically he just stashed it somewhere (maybe that was the specific intent for Kollix IV, since I don't recall him being given a reason to go there, unlike other villains).

From what I recall, the reason that Speeda Demon went to Kollix IV was to tamper with the planet's navigation beacon so that he could rob any spacecrafts that passed by. And who knows? Maybe Speeda was allowed to keep the bike in his cell; since it couldn't help him escape his containment in any way, the Heroes felt no reason to place the vehicle in a separate area.

I just read the bios and weapon descriptions on the Hero Factory site-- hadn't even thought to check them when it first updated. They're pretty excellent, though it's a shame the apparent character development Bulk seemed to have in Savage Planet is completely ignored. Character development only works if you're consistent about it!

Thank you! I completely agree with you about LEGO going back to the original "dumb brute" Bulk. They didn't need him to be an all-knowing intellect, but they didn't have to pretend that "Savage Planet" never happened either. Bulk was probably my favorite Hero character, and I thought it would be very interesting to see him move away from a common stereotype. Matter of fact, I always imagined to myself that the reason Bulk kept his Hero Cuffs attached to his underarms and near his chest was because he thought ahead. He was told who he would capture, got upgraded, and then thought real hard about how to make himself less vulnerable to this "Core Hunter". (sigh) I guess it just happened to be a coincidence after all.

[MakutaNocturn]

From what I recall, the reason that Speeda Demon went to Kollix IV was to tamper with the planet's navigation beacon so that he could rob any spacecrafts that passed by. And who knows? Maybe Speeda was allowed to keep the bike in his cell; since it couldn't help him escape his containment in any way, the Heroes felt no reason to place the vehicle in a separate area.

But in the Breakout episode there was a lot of space in the prison XD

Or maybe like Bfahome said, he could have a radio IN his motorbike ;P Who knows xD ?

Anyway, maybe it's not a good time for such thoughts but when we had known the name of set which we know is called "Speeda Demon" I wanted sth like that :D

http://www.1000steine.com/brickset/images/8520-1.jpg

A villian that can transform his legs into a motorbike. Or just a villian with big "roller-blades" with truck-like wheels :D

Edited August 9, 2012 by MakutaNocturn

[Cirkit]

One word for that- Umbra.

I'd love it to happen again. Merge Technic and HF system together to make a truly menacing machine.. I wonder if that's possible with the pieces from the SD set? I'd love to see someone try it.

Only issue would be standing Speeda up.. but I imagine there's a way.

[Zachattacx]

One word for that- Umbra.

I'd love it to happen again. Merge Technic and HF system together to make a truly menacing machine.. I wonder if that's possible with the pieces from the SD set? I'd love to see someone try it.

Only issue would be standing Speeda up.. but I imagine there's a way.

That's what I thought Speeda was going to be(a design sorta like Umbra), but considering his last name or full name ends in demon, the arms and horns symbolize that perfectly.

I to can imagine a way that the tires could be on or his feet, with kickstand adjustments on the back of the feet or legs.

Edited August 9, 2012 by Zachattacx

[exxtrooper]

One word for that- Umbra.

I'd love it to happen again. Merge Technic and HF system together to make a truly menacing machine.. I wonder if that's possible with the pieces from the SD set? I'd love to see someone try it.

Only issue would be standing Speeda up.. but I imagine there's a way.

Umbra? As in the Bionicle titan on roller-skates?

I don't understand