Hero Factory 2012

[Aethersprite]

What's with the white thighs on Furno and Breez? They look really out of place.

[Aanchir]

Splitface: No all we need is Black-Winged Sonarbird man to fight him and put him in arkham asylum. Not too impressed wih this guy. Nice mask, but what is with the armor? Why is it...bubbly? And round and...eeeehhh. And thing to note, this guy is small. Seems like the sizes of these guys are scattered. some big heros, some small, some big villains, some small, no rhyme or rythm here.

Erm... Splitface is actually the largest of the four lesser villains here. Note that he comes in the larger-scale Hero packaging and has a higher age range than Toxic Reapa, Thornraxx, or Jawblade.

Thornraxx: Okay, firtly as I mentioned earlier...Whoever lego has name these guy, fire him. NOW.

We have had rockoh vs rocka, scorpio vs scorpio, and now thornax vs thornraxx. Nope, they arent running out of names at all.

Oh, and this set looks awkward, and will be literally impossible to pose, like jawblade. But, he has teal, and that's an immediate buying point for me.

I think the difficulty of posing him is offset for me by the fact that he feels like a re-imagined Nui-Rama. Meanwhile, I don't really care much about repetitive names (especially Rocka vs. Rockoh and Scorpio vs. Skopio, because really there's no reason TLG should never use such a common name for a scorpion character as Scorpio just because they had an odd, corrupted version of the name two years prior), since this and BIONICLE are two different things. What does bother me is the fact that we're using such an absurd-sounding name at all when all the other villains have more intuitive English-derived names. That "rnr" in the middle of the name is extremely awkward to pronounce.

heros:

Breez: Hey, finally done with the 2.0, 3.0, 68779.4535, etc. Now let's take a look at breeza clause. What, that's not her name? Well when i see a revolting color scheme of lime green and red I think xmas...Something to note, this may mean the retrun of glatorian heads, as that is def the same mask.

Why of all things are so many people complaining about the lime green and red on Breez? That's always been her color scheme. Okay, it was transparent red in the 1.0 set, but you get my point. If anything, complain about the white. But as it is, red is only used for her weapons, the beautiful printing on her armor, and, for whatever reason, her thigh beams (that's the only place I think the red can be justifiably criticized). Meanwhile, I find it hard to get a "Christmas" vibe from lime green whatsoever... this also applied with some of the Christmas BBC contest entries on BZPower back in the day.

What's with the white thighs on Furno and Breez? They look really out of place.

On Furno I think they make plenty of sense, as they help balance out the white on his turbines and Hero Core, so it's not just concentrated in his upper body. Makes a bit less sense on Breez, but again I reckon that the designers felt white would be fair game since it was being used for all the Hero Cores. What bothers me more are the transparent red/orange/whatever shell on one of Furno's arms-- let's hope it's a sign name badges are sticking around-- and the fact that Breez's thigh shells are asymmetrical when she has such a balanced design elsewhere.

[MakutaNocturn]

...You are disturbed,aren't you?

OMG... Why are you so stiff? I'm joking only xP

[Cap'n Kopaka]

Oh right, I forgot that she needs "realistic" proportions in order to count as a female.

Bfa, you accomplished in one sentence what would have taken me an angry and dramatic tirade. <3

[Aanchir]

Bfa, you accomplished in one sentence what would have taken me an angry and dramatic tirade. <3

It uses alt text! Doesn't that give it like a two-sentence penalty?

I definitely agree that moving those shoulder pieces to her hips would not be necessary. While it's fun to challenge yourself as a MOCist to make a female character look more "womanly", there's a cutoff point as to when it's necessary. Most sets of female characters can be gender-ambiguous enough to be understood as female, while many (like Breez 1.0 and 2.0) even have visibly feminine characteristics to their design without going overboard and explicitly sculpting out each female sexual characteristic. You're welcome to mod your set if you prefer Breez a little more decidedly feminine, but it's not a design flaw for her femininity to be subtler.

[Bfahome]

It uses alt text! Doesn't that give it like a two-sentence penalty?

Hey, at most it'd be a parenthetical addition. It's totally within one sentence.

But personally I don't see the need for "femininity" at all. I mean, she's covered in giant plates of armor. And she's a robot. If I'm building Captain Space, Defender of the Universe, I'm going to give him or her something practical that works, not something meant to accentuate supposed gender traits.

[Housey98]

If you look at the backgrounds of the pictures (both heroes and villains) you can tell who will be the main enemy of each individual hero. It seems its like:

Furno VS Jawblade

Breez VS Thornraxx

Rocka VS Black Phantom

Surge VS Splitface

Evo VS Toxic Reapa

If you ask me, its a bit weird putting a hero based around fire in a water environment

[Tanma]

It uses alt text! Doesn't that give it like a two-sentence penalty?

I definitely agree that moving those shoulder pieces to her hips would not be necessary. While it's fun to challenge yourself as a MOCist to make a female character look more "womanly", there's a cutoff point as to when it's necessary. Most sets of female characters can be gender-ambiguous enough to be understood as female, while many (like Breez 1.0 and 2.0) even have visibly feminine characteristics to their design without going overboard and explicitly sculpting out each female sexual characteristic. You're welcome to mod your set if you prefer Breez a little more decidedly feminine, but it's not a design flaw for her femininity to be subtler.

I don't see why anyone expects her to have human female proportions. One; we have yet to see a human in the show or comics, though I think Earth was mentioned somewhere. So then where would they get the characteristics from? Two; correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure Breez is a robot. What difference is there between male robots and female robots anyway? And three, she is built as a member of a police force. I think in defending the galaxy, effective weapons and armor comes before asthetics.

[Zeon]

I'm starting to feel that the BP model is a placeholder as it is. They threw some armors on the old skeleton for the preliminary catalog. Seeing how the main vilians evolved (ok, IMO FL was a step back from VN) I'm sure they will have something super-awesome boss for the vilians. I don't think it even reaches the part count of the former titans. (It seems to be less bulky than firelord, if that's possible.)

So, I'm ready to make serious bets on a completely re-designed boss here. Thinking along the line of the lesser ones, maybe a fused together one from former evildoers.

Edited September 20, 2011 by Zeon

[Aanchir]

Now, let's not be too hasty jumping to the age-old "They're robot characters so they don't have to look like humans" defense. While this is valid to an extent, it ignores the fact that the Hero Factory line is intended for a human audience. Making the characters resemble humans, at least in some ways, makes it easier for the audience to identify with them. Consider voice acting as an example-- even though Breez is not modeled off a human, you would still want her to have a female voice actor so the audience understands she is female. A male voice actor might not be unrealistic for a female from some fantasy race, but it would confuse and distract the audience.

This doesn't necessarily extend to giving female characters extremely feminine armor designs. A real-life woman doesn't stop looking female (or human, for that matter) because she has modest clothing and moderate proportions. A male character can have boxy or irregularly-shaped armor that doesn't accentuate particular muscle groups, and so it shouldn't be obligatory for a female character to be "showing off" their figure so obviously either.

[MakutaNocturn]

If you look at the backgrounds of the pictures (both heroes and villains) you can tell who will be the main enemy of each individual hero. It seems its like:

Furno VS Jawblade

Breez VS Thornraxx

Rocka VS Black Phantom

Surge VS Splitface

Evo VS Toxic Reapa

If you ask me, its a bit weird putting a hero based around fire in a water environment

I think that Furno is going to fight with Black Phantom. I think that he is the leader of that group of heroes also.

[Darking]

I think that Furno is going to fight with Black Phantom. I think that he is the leader of that group of heroes also.

No. Furno's image shows him in a water enviroment, and Jawblade's image not only has the same background, but you can also see Furno on it.

[Dorek]

Just because his name is fire based doesn't mean he really has anything to do with fire =P. He doesn't have a fire-based weapon in 3.0 or 4.0, so he's perfectly fine being underwater. Heck, Jawblade has some weird versions of his previous fire blades, so there you go.

[Tanma]

Just because his name is fire based doesn't mean he really has anything to do with fire =P. He doesn't have a fire-based weapon in 3.0 or 4.0, so he's perfectly fine being underwater. Heck, Jawblade has some weird versions of his previous fire blades, so there you go.

Furno doesn't have a fire weapon in 2.0 either, his weapon was ice based. Still, odds are that he will be the leader, since he is the main character. Plus he has led teams at points, from the other rookies in the first saga to a squad in the Savage Planet plot. Hopefully we do get to see the whole hero cast in the 4.0 episodes, maybe Stormer and company are all captured and thus missed out on the upgrades.

[Omicron Squad Leader]

Furno doesn't have a fire weapon in 2.0 either, his weapon was ice based. Still, odds are that he will be the leader, since he is the main character. Plus he has led teams at points, from the other rookies in the first saga to a squad in the Savage Planet plot. Hopefully we do get to see the whole hero cast in the 4.0 episodes, maybe Stormer and company are all captured and thus missed out on the upgrades.

I doubt it. When we saw pictures of the Ordeal of Fire line for the first time the majority of people seemed to think that Bulk and Stringer had died somehow, when in reality they simply didn't attend the mission. I think it will be the same with this story. I don't believe that we will even get an explanation as to why they didn't tag along, again, just like Ordeal of Fire and Savage Planet. Stormer has been pivotal to the storyline in the past, so it's possible that he will supervise the mission from Hero Factory like in Core Crisis, or maybe he will retire completely; we'll just have to wait and see. As for Bulk, Stringer and Nex, I think a brief mention or a flashback sequence is all we'll get. Also, I think you mean *episode*; it's going to be another one hour special, it was revealed to have been commissioned a while ago, so unless it's referring to another September broadcast, this line will be having the same television treatment as Savage Planet.

Edited September 20, 2011 by Omicron Squad Leader

[Mesonak]

My personal opinion is that Stormer's retired or something, settled into a teaching job while Furno takes his place as leader of Alpha Team. Seems fitting, considering the direction the story's been going the past three waves.

[Cap'n Kopaka]

My personal opinion is that Stormer's retired or something, settled into a teaching job while Furno takes his place as leader of Alpha Team. Seems fitting, considering the direction the story's been going the past three waves.

My guess would be Stormer is off on a different mission with Nex, Stringer, Bulk, and a new hero, but my guess is as good as any other. I think your idea is pretty reasonable but something like Stormer dying is very unlikely.

It could just be the designers chose to leave him out of one team and he'll be back in the next mission. That would at least be the easiest way to go.

[The Crazy One]

Damn, a Hero team with Merrick Fortis and Preston Stormer in it. Then throw in Bulk, Rocka, Stringer and Nex and you are in business. Next wave anyone?

Anyway, has Evos shade of yellow changed? It seems a lot more orangey.

[Bfahome]

Anyway, has Evos shade of yellow changed? It seems a lot more orangey.

Could be that they switched it to keet, could be that the lighting is weird.

I'm hoping for the latter.

[BrotherDog]

BrotherDog you are asking colours that will possibly NEVER be on LEGO action figures.

I have yet to see Magenta on a LEGO set.

I guess I was just seeing things. Besides, if one is going fantasize about changes, why limit yourself to only an extremely finite group of colors like Lego has?

Edited September 21, 2011 by BrotherDog

[Tanma]

Could be that they switched it to keet, could be that the lighting is weird.

I'm hoping for the latter.

Agreed, if they have gotten rid of the purple, the least they could do is let him stay yellow. I will not accept another Orange Pohatu, I just won't do it. Not to mention how I have grown to dislike that color over the years. Toa of Stone are brown, not yellow-orange. Personal tastes aside, it might be nice to see the villian prison, I don't think it has been shown just yet.

[Phantoka Kopaka Nuva]

If you look at the backgrounds of the pictures (both heroes and villains) you can tell who will be the main enemy of each individual hero. It seems its like:

Furno VS Jawblade

Breez VS Thornraxx

Rocka VS Black Phantom

Surge VS Splitface

Evo VS Toxic Reapa

If you ask me, its a bit weird putting a hero based around fire in a water environment

Toa Jaller Mahri. Nuff said.

[Bundalings]

Yeah, but if you read the books you find Jaller was practically useless in the Mahri saga. =P

True, though, the Heroes don't typically have much to do with their elements.

[Vinyl Scratch]

I guess I was just seeing things. Besides, if one is going fantasize about changes, why limit yourself to only an extremely finite group of colors like Lego has?

I stand corrected. Je suis désolé

Still I find it very unlikely to see Magenta on HF lines.

...

Unless it's a special edition/limited edition set which always have recolors.

That reminds me I wonder if we will have a Special Set in this line, I miss sets like Bulk & Vapour

Edited September 21, 2011 by Vinyl Scratch

[ZORK64]

Just a short question:

Did I somewhere read something about a new body piece?