Hero Factory 2013

[Infernum]

My Reapa lasted about... twenty minutes? And that's only because my time was occupied with opening other gifts. (Got him and Evo for Christmas in 2011.)

Ha, ha! That's how a lot of my sets end up too! Sometimes they stay intact for a while, but then I think to myself "I only need two pieces from the legs..." It all goes down hill from there.

[ZORK64]

Although I really enjoy making review for the sets, I also buy sets usually just for MOCing. However, I have still my Brain Attack sets and the Chima Builds intact - and the only one of these I actually updated was Chi Cragger.

Man, I can't wait till the new HF sets show up in German LEGO stores.

[Aanchir]

I get modifying, I'm just wondering at what point does it actually stop being the set that you are modifying, and a completely new (if similar in idea) creation? Maybe you don't actually like the set at all, just a few ideas that the set presents, or a specific piece that you intend to use similarly.

I do modifications to my sets mostly to increase functionality; I switch out the locked elbow joints on HF figures, for instance, but I rarely if ever add or take away pieces.

Well, yes, it's true that if you modify a set enough it essentially stops being the original set. But my point was that you can still LIKE the original set even if you prefer to scrap it for parts and completely re-imagine it. Sometimes it's a matter of loving the concept (in Dragon Bolt's case, "giant lightning dragon") but not being perfectly happy with the execution. Other times there are certain parts of the design that you think are brilliant and you want to redefine the design as a whole with a focus on those parts (this is what I did in a number of my BIONICLE drawings: I found a handful of recurring or otherwise distinctive motifs and I emphasized them, even if it meant re-imagining certain parts to fit those motifs). And then there are times when you just have a creative itch that won't let you leave well enough alone: you have to put your own spin on a set, regardless of whether you're satisfied with the original design.

Think of it in terms of the various "re-imaginings" of superhero franchises like Batman. Now, there's no doubt that a lot of people who have put their own spin on Batman have loved the character in at least one of his prior incarnations. But what they loved most about the character will vary from person to person. How they interpret the character they love so much becomes central to how they want the character to be portrayed. Whether it's a desire to put emphasis on the ideas and motifs central to their interpretation or just a desire to avoid retelling the same stories others have told before, a new writer will find a way to put their own creative fingerprint on the property. But that doesn't mean they didn't love the character's previous portrayal.

[DraikNova]

Like always, you explain it perfectly Aanchir. What I consider a great set is exactly that: a good concept with some good design ideas.

[Dorek]

Well, yes, it's true that if you modify a set enough it essentially stops being the original set. But my point was that you can still LIKE the original set even if you prefer to scrap it for parts and completely re-imagine it. Sometimes it's a matter of loving the concept (in Dragon Bolt's case, "giant lightning dragon") but not being perfectly happy with the execution. Other times there are certain parts of the design that you think are brilliant and you want to redefine the design as a whole with a focus on those parts (this is what I did in a number of my BIONICLE drawings: I found a handful of recurring or otherwise distinctive motifs and I emphasized them, even if it meant re-imagining certain parts to fit those motifs). And then there are times when you just have a creative itch that won't let you leave well enough alone: you have to put your own spin on a set, regardless of whether you're satisfied with the original design.

Exactly that; is being "satisfied" with something the same as not being able to leave it alone? To me, it isn't, which is why it always amuses me when people lump the two as if they're the same thing. "Acknowledging flaws and wanting to "fix" flaws are two very different actions, especially when the end result is two completely different creations.

It's mostly a matter of semantics, but it's common enough vernacular to give me pause and wonder if people can actually separate the concepts.

[Bfahome]

I get modifying, I'm just wondering at what point does it actually stop being the set that you are modifying, and a completely new (if similar in idea) creation? Maybe you don't actually like the set at all, just a few ideas that the set presents, or a specific piece that you intend to use similarly.

At that point I'd call it a revamp.

[Rocketbilly]

I'm considering making a Pick-A-Brick order, but before I do I was hoping somebody would be able to tell me if those "unprinted" parts that appeared for sale earlier this year (Breakout torso pieces, transparent Brain Attack visors etcetera) are, in fact, unprinted as they appear, or merely just some sort of anomaly or error in the system? ( I seem to recall them having different parts numbers to their printed equivalents) I doubt I'll bother making the order if I can't get them. The don't seem to be avaialble on Bricklink yet, and I doubt they really ever will be, either.

[Mesonak]

I'm considering making a Pick-A-Brick order, but before I do I was hoping somebody would be able to tell me if those "unprinted" parts that appeared for sale earlier this year (Breakout torso pieces, transparent Brain Attack visors etcetera) are, in fact, unprinted as they appear, or merely just some sort of anomaly or error in the system? ( I seem to recall them having different parts numbers to their printed equivalents) I doubt I'll bother making the order if I can't get them. The don't seem to be avaialble on Bricklink yet, and I doubt they really ever will be, either.

They are really unprinted. Several people purchased them and posted pictures (like this) showcasing them. I'd say go for it.

[Dorek]

Yup, they're unprinted; have a few of each myself. I'm sure they'll show up on bricklink eventually, but it might be hard to locate them because of the way they're classified.

[Bigger Fish]

I got Frost beast today and I decided to call him the Bumble, after the Rankin Bass rudolph special.

[bacem]

a little question: do they come out in California yet?

[Zorglorfian]

I second bacem's question!

[r4-g9]

They are out at toys r us in the US so I think that they will be out in California at toys r us, but I'm not certain

[ZORK64]

Does anyone knows when they'll come out in Germany?

I'm kinda jealous of you folks, because usually they're released here earlier.

[Vinyl Scratch]

Anyone remember the DK Readers "The Brain Wars" and "Brain Attack!"?

I sure forgot about them.

[Takanuinuva]

The summer wave of Brain Attack is available to buy online at ToysRUs.Ca http://www.toysrus.c...factory&x=0&y=0 All of them are there except Evo Aquagon and Dragon Bolt.

Edited May 25, 2013 by Takanuinuva

[Cahillrebel]

Brain Wars? Sounds like something that would happen in next year's storyline or at least after the Brain Attack episode.

[Chro]

I think that Brain Wars is probably just a book title for the Brain Attack event, not something we've not seen yet.

[xxlrocka]

Reminds me how everybody forgot about the Secret Mission books.

I might pick them up when they come out. Might see what it's about.

[Aanchir]

Reminds me how everybody forgot about the Secret Mission books.

I might pick them up when they come out. Might see what it's about.

I haven't forgotten them. Since I got back from college I haven't been able to get out to bookstores often, and the first time I did (last week) they didn't have a single copy of Mirror World.

The readers last year didn't offer a whole lot of info you can't get elsewhere (the most we really got from one last year was an explanation of just what was going on with Voltix in the beginning of the Breakout special), but perhaps now with the content reduction of the website they might have a little more redeeming value. I do kind of miss how BIONICLE's readers would have hand-drawn illustrations and brand-new stories instead of just screenshots, product images, and stock art, though.

[Xeros610]

UM guys there are some strange things on brickipedia, I would like you to tell me if YOU know what are these:

67895 Calender King

43564Dark Maker

54678 Dark Stringer

Then is also:

Online Games: Fate of Villainy

...and a title :Antagonist Team-Up is on the List of hero variations, all on the same URL: http://lego.wikia.co...ki/Hero_Factory , so that could probably be new info?...

Edited May 25, 2013 by Xeros610

[Zachattacx]

I going to have to go with....FAKE!

But Calender King sounds like something coming out of a time travel theme?

Interestingly enough on Pocketmego's fourm we were discussing that very topic of time travel.

[howie28]

Judging by the odd set numbers, I'm thinking this is fake. Unless these are exclusives, I doubt that these are real.

[Phantoka_Chirox]

Dark Maker definitely sounds like it came from some edgy 10 year old's head.

[howie28]

Dark Stringer could be plausible... It would explain his absence from brain attack. It might be a brain Stringer.