Hero Factory 2014 Discussion

[VBBN]

Hey, guys, do you remember the (possibly) articulated arms Aanchir found in Lego's database a couple months ago ? Now we're absolutely sure they won't be used for HF minifigs, so their actual purpose is still a mystery...

Also, something I wondered (maybe I should ask on one of the reviews' topic). VBBN, could you show us how does the Machines' cockpit look like with other canopies (especially this and this) ?

Unfortunately I do not have either of those two variants. I haven't purchased really any system sets the last few years so I only have the older versions of those cockpits. (The ones without the clip connection point) I can see what I can do with the older cockpits but it'll be tricky to connect them.

Hey VBBN can you post all the comics for the new sets please

As I said it's a large request and I still have not had adequate time to complete it

[Aethersprite]

I'm sure Lego will have the set instructions online soon enough, we'll able have easy access to all the comics then. No need to trouble VBBN already, all those reviews must have taken quite some time!

[coolcab1]

yea sorry vbbn

[Shakar]

I know it sounds a bit obvious, but I just realized how the Summer sets packaging art is going to look like: no more urban backgrounds, we're going into the nest. So, we're getting those neat crystal caves as background theme. So, a bluish palette in Winter, while green is going to dominate in Summer. Reminds me of 2008 BIONICLE.

[Leewan]

Just saw this in the LoC 2014 thread. More #8 armors, more keetorange. Well, it won't be easy to use in MOCs, but this is still a welcome addition to the keetorange HF parts selection.

[VBBN]

I'm actually a huge fan of the 8L pieces, and have been meaning to stockpile on some of the trans yellow ones, the introduction of yet another color is welcome regardless of what it is.

Though I must say it's a rather odd choice of part to be used in that assembly, but it works.

[Aethersprite]

Wow. I really didn't see HF shells being used this way, that's interesting.

[Shakar]

Wait.. are those 8M? Seems more likely that they'd reuse the 6M size from Jetbug. 8M shells have pretty much disappeared after 2011.

[Pate-keetongu]

They look 8M to me. The great thing is that they come in a SYSTEM set, so they will be rather common in Bricklink, in similar way than the small red shells from the small Ninjago mech.

[Leewan]

New sets are avalible on the s@h in UK. I hope they will quickly become avalible in the rest of the world.

[Pate-keetongu]

Uh-oh, Flyer Beast seems to be 18€ in Northern Europe. Not sure if I'll buy it or not... Hopefully this won't be another year without buying any action figure sets (thanks to the EB's contest prizes I still got some 2013 sets). Rocka's machine is a obvious no-go with eighteen Euro but Evo Mech's 30€ seems pretty reasonable - Too bad that set doesn't have very much interesting parts.

[Gatanui]

Uh-oh, Flyer Beast seems to be 18€ in Northern Europe. Not sure if I'll buy it or not... Hopefully this won't be another year without buying any action figure sets (thanks to the EB's contest prizes I still got some 2013 sets). Rocka's machine is a obvious no-go with eighteen Euro but Evo Mech's 30€ seems pretty reasonable - Too bad that set doesn't have very much interesting parts.

Where are you getting those prices from? They seem to be more expensive in Finland than where I live.

-Gata

Edited December 26, 2013 by Gatanui

[Pate-keetongu]

Where are you getting those prices from? They seem to be more expensive in Finland than where I live.

-Gata

Shop@home. They are not listed on the theme products page on most European countries, but if you go to the British product page on each set you can swich the country and see the prizes.

[bacem]

they're also available at S@H australia

[BrickBuilder3213]

Those new prices for the 2014 sets are unacceptable! I mean, just LOOK at the difference between the prices that we had this year!

Small Set- £7.99 in 2013, £8.99 in 2014

Medium Set- £9.99 in 2013, £12.99 in 2014

Titan Set (Small Titan)- £14.99 in 2013, £17.99 in 2014

Titan Set (Larger Titan)- £17.99 in 2013, £19.99 in 2014

[Shakar]

Luckily sets in Italy are the same prices as those ones from the German site that leaked the list back in September.

How odd Jaw Beast's missing. Anyway, I'll wait for them to appear on Amazon with marked down prices.

[BrickBuilder3213]

Lego, I hope you're reading this...

I feel that you're asking for too much money for these sets. The prices shouldn't be this high for such a small amount of pieces per set.

If you reverted all the prices for the 2014 sets back to the same kind of prices you had for the 2013 sets, then I'd consider buying them all. However, after seeing the upscaled prices... I've lost interest in getting them all. I'll probably only get a few of them.

[Aanchir]

Those new prices for the 2014 sets are unacceptable! I mean, just LOOK at the difference between the prices that we had this year!

Small Set- £7.99 in 2013, £8.99 in 2014

Medium Set- £9.99 in 2013, £12.99 in 2014

Titan Set (Small Titan)- £14.99 in 2013, £17.99 in 2014

Titan Set (Larger Titan)- £17.99 in 2013, £19.99 in 2014

I'd hesitate to pass judgment until we know the weight of the sets. I was looking at the weights of sets recently on Brickset out if curiosity and found that by weight, prices for sets by weight tended to stay somewhat consistent, only rising significantly among the smallest sets when they switched from canisters to lighter foil packaging that didn't add so much to the total weight.

Comparing prices by weight even explains some quandaries that seem to emerge when looking at price-per-piece, such as why Pyrox is a medium-sized set despite a rather pitiful piece count.

The medium-sized sets, at any rate, are rising in price in all markets in 2014. And this seems fair, since by piece count they are in fact larger than previous medium-sized sets.

[BrickBuilder3213]

I'd hesitate to pass judgment until we know the weight of the sets. I was looking at the weights of sets recently on Brickset out if curiosity and found that by weight, prices for sets by weight tended to stay somewhat consistent, only rising significantly among the smallest sets when they switched from canisters to lighter foil packaging that didn't add so much to the total weight.

Comparing prices by weight even explains some quandaries that seem to emerge when looking at price-per-piece, such as why Pyrox is a medium-sized set despite a rather pitiful piece count.

The medium-sized sets, at any rate, are rising in price in all markets in 2014. And this seems fair, since by piece count they are in fact larger than previous medium-sized sets.

But that's because of the minifigures and Jumpers. Think about it... Each minifigure is made up of 9 pieces (the head, helmet, torso, armour, four limbs and the Hero Core). The Jumpers are made up of three pieces each. So, that's at least an average of 12 extra pieces per Medium set. And really, minifigures should NOT be driving up the price like that.

[Pate-keetongu]

And really, minifigures should NOT be driving up the price like that.

Why not? They add play value, they have heaps of new parts, they include more plastic. Of course they drive up the prices.

I agree with Aanchir here, the weight is the real meter of value here. And the best way to send a message to TLC is just buy the sets or not - Complaining about the price rise makes no sense if you buy the sets anyway. TLC is a big company, I bet they have done research to set the price so that they get the maximal profit. I don't see these prizes being so bad, as having a buildable plastic warrior toy (or, in my case, a pile of plastic warrior toy parts) isn't really a basic need in life. The sets are mostly well designed and they look cool and they will undoubtly make many kids (and some AFOLs, of course) very happy, but I can live without them anyway (and throw my money into Bricklink).

Edited December 26, 2013 by pig

[bacem]

But that's because of the minifigures and Jumpers. Think about it... Each minifigure is made up of 9 pieces (the head, helmet, torso, armour, four limbs and the Hero Core). The Jumpers are made up of three pieces each. So, that's at least an average of 12 extra pieces per Medium set. And really, minifigures should NOT be driving up the price like that.

actually, minifigures did driving up the price in reality. notice how the price of legend beasts and mixels differs a lot just because the legend beast have a minifigs, even tough the beast itself have the piece count not far from mixels. this is probably because minifigs become a main reason for some of the afol to buy sets. by adding minifigs, lego hope that HF can also attract non HF fan to turn into HF, in which they already used to think that price increase by minifigs are perfectly normal.

[ZORK64]

actually, minifigures did driving up the price in reality. notice how the price of legend beasts and mixels differs a lot just because the legend beast have a minifigs, even tough the beast itself have the piece count not far from mixels. this is probably because minifigs become a main reason for some of the afol to buy sets. by adding minifigs, lego hope that HF can also attract non HF fan to turn into HF, in which they already used to think that price increase by minifigs are perfectly normal.

In the German LEGO catalogue, Mixels are priced 3,99 €, while the Legend Beasts cost 9,99 €, and as far as I can tell, the Mixels have at least not as many new joints as the beasts, but they are built out of plenty of pieces, and the Chima figs come with unique specific molds and the like. Hmmm...

[Takanuinuva]

I agree that the prices are higher due to minifigures. Making molds for new minifigure parts can be expensive. I just hope the new sets appear on the Canadian shop at home soon.

[vexorian]

The best thing about those keetorange bricks is that they will be cheap in BL when purists start flooding it with them.

I have no idea why the designers did that. It is a very odd usage. Maybe it is away to allow a play function that needs articulation in that area, and the HF shells allow to still have good looks.

[bacem]

now germany have them too