May BIONICLE be the last CCBS-only theme for the forseeable future?

[TwistLaw]

This is pure speculation, no reason to hyperventilate.

As this article clearly statesHero Factory wasn't exactly the hit LEGO hoped it to be, something further confirmed by the fact that after two years on the shelves the danish company was already thinking about replacing it (back in 2012, with BIONICLE of course). With the recent surge in CCBS popping out in System themes like Super Heroes and Star Wars I have the feeling that LEGO is testing as much as possible to see if CCBS may be profitable in other ways rather than the easiest one, aka by a CCBS-only theme.

Now, the real question is: in case BIONICLE doesn't reach stellar sales, on HF levels if not lower, do you think that LEGO may pull the plug and let CCBS live only through System themes? Or they'll bite as long as they can with new themes until they hit the jackpot?

(please note: I'm assuming for the sake of discussion that BIONICLE G2 will have average sales, I'm not stating it currently has average sales)

Edited September 7, 2015 by TwistLaw

[arc]

I doubt lego would kill off action figure themes all together, I always thought things like ultrabuilds and such as more of a side dish to the main course of system based sets. CCBS is built to last and evolve, or so I've heard.

And let's not forget that Hero factory had a five year run. That's pretty long for the average theme. Even if it wasn't a hit like the early days of bionicle, it could still profit decent enough which I believe is the case. I'm sure one of our users like Aanchir or Deevee will be far more accurate than what I can say however.

[TwistLaw]

While five years were indeed a lot, HF was "axed" in 2012. Since BIONICLE wasn't ready yet, they kept on milking a mildly successful line until the cake wasn't baked.

[Lyichir]

While five years were indeed a lot, HF was "axed" in 2012. Since BIONICLE wasn't ready yet, they kept on milking a mildly successful line until the cake wasn't baked.

That's... not true. Not even close. Hero Factory continued to innovate throughout its last couple years, and while they were almost certainly prepping its successor (just like they were doing for the original Bionicle before its end was even decided on), to insist that they basically gave up on the theme two years before its actual end is disingenuous to say the least.

Anyway, I don't see any reason to assume that Bionicle is not successful, or that Lego would give up on in-house, dedicated constraction themes altogether even if it weren't.

[TwistLaw]

Where did I say HF stopped innovating? I just said that 2013-2014 were quieter years in the await of BIONICLE's return.

Also there's a reason to assume the impossible (or in this case unknown): discussing. I don't actually see anything wrong with that.

[Brickowski]

Where did I say HF stopped innovating? I just said that 2013-2014 were quieter years in the await of BIONICLE's return.

"Milking" is often used in a derogatory manner. You're posting largely in expression or hyperbole which makes it kind of hard to actually discuss this with you.

That being said, Technic pieces have been merged into regular System lines for many years and yet Technic is still clearly around. I'd say CCBS parts appearing in System sets just means designers are finding them useful outside of the original purpose and are taking advantage of that.

[bacem]

I know that this won't really speak for a mass, but at least in my country, G2 bionicle actually has better sales than hero factory was. (Find this when talking with Lego employee) so I think if the other countries also has similliar situation, i think G2 bionicle will stay longer. And i don't think Lego will Axe CCBS either, seeing that they even spread it to star wars lines with their buildable figures.

they kept on milking a mildly successful line until the cake wasn't baked.

I think terms "milking" would be more fitting if it was the case of just using the previous design, adds no new things in particular and just reused it for the next wave (like hasbro's repainter wars) in hero factory 2013-2014 case however, we can actually see significant difference on each wave. First wave of brain attack was a little bit plain, i admit, with the exception of furno xl. But then on the 2nd wave we get a dragon and a jetpack with automatic folding wings. In 2014 they changed into minifig piloted bipedal mech, and on the 2nd wave they even take it even further by changing it into multi legged walkers. I think those are significant enough to keep it from term "milking". If anything, I think bionicle revival actually has been planned since 2011, and hero factory actually used to test the potential of CCBS, both market potential and design potential.