Ideas for New Action Themes

[Mazin]

Very true

Let's hope we won't have to collect classic sets only with upcoming Lego Movies

But than again, with Chima, Ninjago and all robo-crap around being promoted, i higly doubt that they will risk releasing such "normal" themes. I dream about it, but to be honest, we can see easily that their menagament is so vigorously spending money on those overdone franchises plus dozens of licensed product to put new stuff on the shelves that could take a lot of attention from major products.

Therefore i guess they would have to resign from releasing chima and ninjago kind of stuff, and focus on classic approach, or reshape all those adventurers themes, so that they would look "cool" enough.

Obviously there was a reason that they've canceled Pirates just after one year!

And i don't believe that it was only because they wanted to focus on POTC instead.

[Peppermint_M]

Chima is ending soon, there isn't much word on a replacement. There is the fact that the pattern of products is rolling back around to some of the old favourites:

City is getting a few Space Port sets, there are more Pirates out there. Ultra Agents is a return to the Spy sub-theme. So you look at it like this:

Agents was a 2007/8 theme

Power Miners were a 2009/10 theme

Pharaoh's Quest was 2011

Atlantis was 2011/12

Dino was 2012

There is a slight pattern or cycle that is sort of followed and may come up with a return to an old favourite or some new experiment (Like World Racers or Time Twisters). Who knows?

The joy of LEGO is that we can adapt what is out there to make our own stories, sets. MOCs and games to play!

[Mazin]

That's very true. Though i don't believe that there's a pattern. Well... They might be testing a market systematically and consequently. But... They way i look at it it's just a management's play. Not something that would end with new and stabile and longlasting franchise.

And still, as much as well all look for sets and parts that we could reuse and adapt, we still have to pay for a lot of parts that we don't reallt need. For a design that we don't always like. Of course we can choose not to buy it. But than we could end up with no parts at all :wink:Therefore building new worlds using adapted parts is rather expensive. And so it's obvious we are looking more and more to something that we could enjoy as whole.

Though, as new Lego Pirates line shows, there's no chance everyone will be satisfied, as there are will always be some changes that a lot of us will not like

[Peppermint_M]

I've been following back LEGO "Action" Themes for years, Aquanauts and Aquasharks, Hydronauts, Aqua Raiders, Atlantis... Rock Raiders and Power Miners, Alpha Team, Agents, Ultra Agents. If it isn't a pattern there is as much a cycle in these action themes as there is in City or Technic. (Say, Police-Fire-Hospital-Delivery/Trasport. And Technic has supercars, heavy duty vehicles, helicopters etc)

Market and Media patterns might dictate how something is developed and what is released and licenses might disrupt some things but the phenomenal success of Bionicle and Ninjago means it isn't impossible for TLG to develop in-house franchises. Though I am not one to demand a franchise (too much of a headache managaging a seperation between Media property and Toy/Sets) a new or returning subtheme is always welcome.

[Dr.Cogg]

Though Adventurers returning would be nice I would really like to see what modern Lego could do with themes that have been gone for years, like:

Time Twisters (Steam Punk Version)

Aqua Zone (Futuristic Version)

Ice Planet (a kind of Cold Planet like Version)

Lego Island (Modern Version)

Exo Force (more like Titan Fall, less Anime)

[Mazin]

Very true

Generaly i hate when a company spends time and money use a lot of effort to build a theme or entire franchize and then after a while abandons it. I believe that such energy and workers' dedication should should not go away, being considered just some kind of numbers &v statistics, that could be kicked into a corner, but that something once created should be reused, at least from time to time.

Luckily Lego is still around, it didn't changed that much, only within it's own backyard... but there's been dozens of great toy lines that disappeared just like that, like Joes or Dino-Riders, classic Turtles and more... that's a waste and waste is something we should never even take under consideration.

[rodiziorobs]

Though Adventurers returning would be nice I would really like to see what modern Lego could do with themes that have been gone for years, like:

Time Twisters (Steam Punk Version)

Aqua Zone (Futuristic Version)

Ice Planet (a kind of Cold Planet like Version)

Lego Island (Modern Version)

Exo Force (more like Titan Fall, less Anime)

All of those are great ones, and I can see myself easily getting multiple sets from each theme. Did you hear that, LEGO?

[Digger of Bricks]

I would love to see an aviator centric Adventurers theme with Sky-Fi/Dieselpunk elements, while also retaining the original theme's exploration and lost civilization elements.

Perhaps it could be set in the mid to late 1940's, with many references and homages to the original Adventurers theme, even being a chronological successor to it. Maybe an older Johnny Thunder could even be a supporting main character!

Edited January 12, 2018 by Digger of Bricks

[Digger of Bricks]

Other than a Dieselpunk/Sky-Fi inspired theme, I'd also hope to see a Steampunk, Jules Verne inspired take on the Adventurers theme, taking after novels of Verne's such as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Mysterious Island, Around the World in 80 Days, and From the Earth to the Moon. Perhaps one of the central characters of this theme could be Captain Nemo himself, either as a protagonist or a antagonist.

[Dr.Cogg]

I would like an original space theme from Lego that is not Star Wars or Nexo Knights, with cruisers, fighters, Space Bases and Aliens.

[Digger of Bricks]

7 hours ago, Dr.Cogg said:

I would like an original space theme from Lego that is not Star Wars or Nexo Knights, with cruisers, fighters, Space Bases and Aliens.

While discussion of Space based themes is suggested to be discussed over on the Sci-Fi subforum, I will soundly agree with you on that point.

I've stated my own wish for this on other topics before, but I'd hope to see an original Space theme inspired after the style and storylines of Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers comic strips. 

[Fenghuang0296]

On 09/01/2012 at 10:52 PM, Legoist said:

Not really going to happen, but I would like to see action themes with more than 2 factions... you know, like World of Warcraft where there's the Alliance, the Horde and (IIRC) an undead faction and a demonic faction.

Not counting WoW which would be a licensed theme, I'd like to see something based on elements, such as fire, water, earth, air, ice, lightning... same idea already used in NinjaGo, but each element (not necessarily all of them... pick 3 for a start) developed into a faction with its own creatures and stuff.

Like the sort of thing the Lightseekers franchise does? Could be cool, though they've kind of done it already with Chima, and that didn't work out well, so I don't think they're likely to do it again. 

As for me, I know that 2019 is the 40th anniversary of Pirates, so I really hope we see some sort of Pirate Big Bang theme. We could have, like, One Piece in Lego. Wouldn't that be amazing?

15 hours ago, Dr.Cogg said:

I would like an original space theme from Lego that is not Star Wars or Nexo Knights, with cruisers, fighters, Space Bases and Aliens.

Ooh, maybe we'll get Space Pirates? That could be cool.

[Digger of Bricks]

I hope to someday see an action/adventure theme that changes up the typical good guy/bad guy dynamic by adding a third party. Rather than simply having a team of heroes defend themselves against a hoard/army of bad guys, how about instead having the theme's heroes defending a more vulnerable group from the theme's antagonists.

For example, how about...

1. A space theme focused on a crew of intergalactic explorers defending a planet's native inhabitants from a army of extraterrestrial conquerors?
2. An Adventurers theme revolving around a team of cartographers and explorers finding themselves in the middle of a war between an indigenous population and an imperial army of conquerors?

19 hours ago, Feng-huang0296 said:

As for me, I know that 2019 is the 40th anniversary of Pirates, so I really hope we see some sort of Pirate Big Bang theme.

This honestly could very well be, and while I'd like to see a Space Pirates approach myself too, I don't think that will ever happen thanks to Star Wars.

Besides, traditional Pirate fans probably would want to see a more historically rooted take for a "big bang" Pirates theme anyway.

P.S. 2019 actually will be the theme's 30th anniversary, as it first came around in 1989.

[Fenghuang0296]

3 hours ago, Digger of Bricks said:

 

1. A space theme focused on a crew of intergalactic explorers defending a planet's native inhabitants from a army of extraterrestrial conquerors?
2. An Adventurers theme revolving around a team of cartographers and explorers finding themselves in the middle of a war between an indigenous population and an imperial army of conquerors?

P.S. 2019 actually will be the theme's 30th anniversary, as it first came around in 1989.

Small problem with your theories; we know now that Lego slates Big Bang themes to last three years specifically. Those plot elements would probably only last one year at a stretch, especially if the new Nexo Knights standard of a 20 episode series per year happens again. (I hope it will.) Though they could probably come up with sequel plots . . .

Oh - my bad, sorry. 

[Digger of Bricks]

On 1/17/2012 at 4:38 PM, Peppermint_M said:

I would love to see some more World Race like sets, but with Planes or even weirder vehicles to race.

My gosh, that's brilliant!  Forgive me for responding to a six year-old reply, but this idea of yours for an aeronautic racing theme would be perfect for an official Lego Sky-Fi theme! Whereas most Sky-Fi lore pertaining to Lego creations focuses upon air warfare, aeronautic racing on the other hand would make for the most perfect path into the genre for a company that strays as far as it can from warfare-related subject matters. Plus, the colorful nature of many Sky-Fi fan creations would fit quite nicely into a racing narrative! 

 

[Peppermint_M]

That is dedication there! 

Yes, I would love a new racing theme still. The Speed Champions are nice, but I like Wacky Races, Speed Racer and well, Mario Kart!

[Aanchir]

One idea that I've had for some time (that could potentially work as either an action-adventure theme or an action figure theme) is a "cyberspace" theme, in the spirit of stories like Tron, Code Lyoko, Megaman Battle Network/Megaman NT Warrior, Digimon, Cyberchase, ReBoot, etc. There's a lot of creative freedom with how the setting could be depicted — the most specific requirement is just that it have lots of colorful lights and futuristic/tech-related imagery, much like past action-adventure themes like Nexo Knights and Ultra Agents. But there's all kinds of fun ways you can play around with computer/internet jargon to take advantage of the setting. What about computer bugs that are actually bug shaped? Firewalls that are literal walls of fire (perhaps using the angular fire elements from LEGO Hero Factory)? An Internet forum that's a literal public space? A magic-casting Installation Wizard? Etc.

[Robert8]

I'd like a new horror theme

After Monster Figthers and Scooby Doo I would like to see maybe a Witch Hunters theme.

Though a horror licensed theme is more likely. 

[Digger of Bricks]

13 hours ago, Robert8 said:

I'd like a new horror theme

After Monster Figthers and Scooby Doo I would like to see maybe a Witch Hunters theme.

As a spiritual successor to Monster Fighters, I'd kinda like to see a new action line that crosses that playtheme with Dino Attack in a way, one that pits its heroes against large mythical/literary beasts rather than humanoid monsters taken from Universal Monster movies. 

On 10/12/2018 at 1:54 PM, Peppermint_M said:

Yes, I would love a new racing theme still. The Speed Champions are nice, but I like Wacky Races, Speed Racer and well, Mario Kart!

Well, perhaps Warner Brothers' stalled spin-off, The Billion Brick Race, may very well give us something like that, if they find another director for it again that is.

[GrandDukeofKumquats]

Who else would like to see a revamped Dino theme? I know that the Jurassic World licence is still going, but the money's not exactly coming from the brand .  Another (perhaps cheaper) venue for LEGO dinosaurs would be a smash! It would also let them experiment with new dinosaur moulds and set styles; polybags with smaller dinosaurs, separately packaged dinosaur figures, scientifically accurate raptor moulds? The possibilities are nearly endless !

[Digger of Bricks]

11 hours ago, GrandDukeofKumquats said:

Who else would like to see a revamped Dino theme?

If it were to be set during the 1920's/1930's like Adventurers' Dino Island subtheme, sign me right up! 

11 hours ago, GrandDukeofKumquats said:

Another (perhaps cheaper) venue for LEGO dinosaurs would be a smash! It would also let them experiment with new dinosaur moulds and set styles; polybags with smaller dinosaurs, separately packaged dinosaur figures, scientifically accurate raptor moulds?

Kinda like 2001's Dinosaurs?

[Aanchir]

12 hours ago, GrandDukeofKumquats said:

Who else would like to see a revamped Dino theme? I know that the Jurassic World licence is still going, but the money's not exactly coming from the brand .  Another (perhaps cheaper) venue for LEGO dinosaurs would be a smash! It would also let them experiment with new dinosaur moulds and set styles; polybags with smaller dinosaurs, separately packaged dinosaur figures, scientifically accurate raptor moulds? The possibilities are nearly endless !

I doubt the prices of a non-licensed Dino theme would be much cheaper than those of the Jurassic World sets unless they went for primarily brick-built dinosaurs (more like the Ninjago or Elves dragons) rather than molded ones. So much of the cost of the recent dino themes has been based on the number of large, specially molded, printed, and/or pre-assembled elements, rather than on whether or not they are licensed. Overall, in the US, the 2012 Dino sets averaged 14.7 cents per piece and 6.5 cents per gram. The 2015 Jurassic World sets averaged 12.3 cents per piece and 6.3 cents per gram. And this year's Jurassic World sets (not counting Juniors and Duplo) averaged 12.8 cents per piece and 7.1 cents per gram. The Jurassic World theme as a whole comes to 12.6 cents per piece and 6.7 cents per gram — the former being considerably better than the Dino theme, the latter being only slightly worse.

Granted, some of this probably just comes from the fact that the Dino theme had to do a lot more of the heavy lifting in terms of subsidizing the cost of new molds, while the Jurassic World sets have generally needed fewer new molds thanks to having so many existing ones to pull from. 2012 Dino sets introduced a whopping 30 new molds across just 7 sets (about 4.3 per set on average), while 2015 Jurassic World sets introduced just 12 new molds across 6 sets (2 per set on average) and 2018 Jurassic World sets introduced 13 molds across 8 sets (1.6 per set on average). Unless it were trying to completely reinvent the style of molded dinosaurs (which it may very well have to do if it is going for scientific accuracy), a new dino theme like you describe would probably be able to keep its costs down in a similar way. But the sheer size, complexity, and specificity of both the new molds it might introduce and the existing dino molds it might reuse would still probably result in prices more similar to the Jurassic World sets than to the "10 cents per piece" benchmark that AFOLs tend to prefer.

I also don't know that I'd say the money for Jurassic World isn't coming from the brand. As much of a mess as the movies are from a critical standpoint, since their inception the Jurassic World and Jurassic Park movies have had a HUGE influence in both the popularity of dinosaur toys in any given year and the way the public tends to think about dinosaurs. And both Jurassic World movies have been massive successes at the box office. As far as LEGO sets go, the fact that the Jurassic World sets have been as popular as they are says a lot when you consider that the original Dino theme in 2012 didn't really seem to command nearly as much attention.

Having said all this — I would certainly appreciate if LEGO made an in-house dino theme with a greater variety of species, particularly if it featured dinosaurs more accurate to (or at least recognizably inspired by) current science, and even more so if the dinosaurs were primarily brick-built like the LEGO Elves and LEGO Ninjago dragons. I saw the original Jurassic Park movie as an adult and enjoyed it, but otherwise I have no real love for the Jurassic Park/Jurassic World brand, particularly considering how its once groundbreaking approach to scientific accuracy has stagnated and the premises of the individual movies have become increasingly absurd.

[Peppermint_M]

Personally I would like a more Dinotopia styled take on Dinosaurs. 

Or an Arthur Conan Doyle Lost World adventure.

Both would be opportunities for a fun action theme and put use to Dinosaurs we have available in LEGO currently.  

[Anonknee Muss]

Something we very rarely see, and haven’t had a dedicated theme in decades, it’s a Wild West theme. I don’t see it lasting 3 years would be nice for a year. Perhaps, year long Big Bang themes? One 3 year, one 1 year and have a repeating cycle because let’s face there are so many themes Lego could create that might not last 3 years but could concentrated into 1 year could do really well.

[Digger of Bricks]

3 hours ago, Aanchir said:

Having said all this — I would certainly appreciate if LEGO made an in-house dino theme with a greater variety of species, particularly if it featured dinosaurs more accurate to (or at least recognizably inspired by) current science, and even more so if the dinosaurs were primarily brick-built like the LEGO Elves and LEGO Ninjago dragons.

Well, dinosaurs are a reoccurring subject matter that the Three-In-One Creator line likes to revisit; so, why couldn't they simply introduce an annual line of Creator Expert Dinosaur builds in lieu of a new theme, kinda like this guy's rejected LEGO Ideas project?

LEGO Ideas - Bricksauria | Tyrannosaurus Rex