LEGO Sci-Fi 2014 Pictures and Rumors

[bacem]

Yeah I could understand Ghostbusters because of the anniversary and maybe the license had started so wanted to get in out there but they must have some big problems or plans for the research institute to get ahead of it. I say big plans because maybe they are waiting for a part like a new classic space helmet. The delay seems to mean they don't care about it that much or they are planning something bigger. Yes the Exosuit looked really fragile but how long would it take to fix that?

just fixing the fragile part, that won't take too long. the real challange here is fixing the fragile part while at the same time tries to keep it as close as possible to the original model, which is i assume is what they're doing right now.

[rodiziorobs]

As far as how many they will make? Hard to guess, but if I had to speculate I would say at the lower end of the spectrum. Maybe somewhere around the Curiousity Rovers numbers. Definitely not in numbers like the DeLorean or Ecto 1. So buy it fast when you see it.

While you're probably right, it would not surprise me to see the Exo-Suit produced in similar numbers as the sets you mentioned. There is definitely interest and a market for it; mechas are probably the #1 thing that gets MOCed, yet are severely underrepresented in official sets. Those that are produced are very thematically tied-in as well (SH, Ninjago, Chima), so they don't fit in well with a generic setting or lend themselves to modding.

On the other hand, because this one is pretty thematically generic, it probably won't have a lot of specialized parts or colors, plus the lack of license would mean a bigger margin on production, possibly spurring TLG to increase the number of sets produced. We can hope, anyway.

If I like the final model, I would still try and snatch it up early, but I won't be surprised to see this set get a long run.

[Aanchir]

While you're probably right, it would not surprise me to see the Exo-Suit produced in similar numbers as the sets you mentioned. There is definitely interest and a market for it; mechas are probably the #1 thing that gets MOCed, yet are severely underrepresented in official sets. Those that are produced are very thematically tied-in as well (SH, Ninjago, Chima), so they don't fit in well with a generic setting or lend themselves to modding.

On the other hand, because this one is pretty thematically generic, it probably won't have a lot of specialized parts or colors, plus the lack of license would mean a bigger margin on production, possibly spurring TLG to increase the number of sets produced. We can hope, anyway.

If I like the final model, I would still try and snatch it up early, but I won't be surprised to see this set get a long run.

Well, something to keep in mind about LEGO Cuusoo/Ideas sets is that they're produced in small batches, but not necessarily in small numbers in the long term. Just look at the Minecraft set. There have been several production runs of that one in order to satisfy the incredible demand that was demonstrated with the first few production runs. The rate at which copies fly off the shelves could have a big impact on just how many batches can be expected in the long term.

[Faefrost]

I thought that they announced that Ghostbusters bumped ahead of it to better coincide with the movie's anniversary?

That I am sure is a part of it. But it's also telling that no real hints at a prototype for the Exosuit have been seen yet. They have had fan groups helping them with backstory and graphics but really not much info on the set itself.

[Faefrost]

Yeah I could understand Ghostbusters because of the anniversary and maybe the license had started so wanted to get in out there but they must have some big problems or plans for the research institute to get ahead of it. I say big plans because maybe they are waiting for a part like a new classic space helmet. The delay seems to mean they don't care about it that much or they are planning something bigger. Yes the Exosuit looked really fragile but how long would it take to fix that?

just fixing the fragile part, that won't take too long. the real challange here is fixing the fragile part while at the same time tries to keep it as close as possible to the original model, which is i assume is what they're doing right now.

I strongly think if they are waiting for any parts to become available it would be the new small ball joints. We know that the designer was unable to initially use them for this. With the delay it may have changed that and allowed them to further develop the design. That would be the logical new piece, given that it would seem to solve a lot of problems with the fragility of the original design while still preserving the scale and room for details.

We will most likely not be seeing a "new classic space helmet" anytime soon outside of something character specific like Benny. The original was retired for a pretty well known reason. Heck it's part of the gag with Benny. The newer helmets allow for much greater variety of use and play with the support for various clip on visors. The only people yearning for a return of the original are a small subset of aging AFOLs. Most of Legos actual customer base likely could not tell the difference. There is pretty much no business case behind remaking the old helmets. Monorail track has a better justification.

I would suspect that there is a much greater variance in how long it takes to turn an Ideas project into a set, than there is to simply making a regular new set. In the case of a new set, everyone in the chain is well familiar with the process, the capabilities, and what can and can not be done in a retail set based on requested parameters. It's their job. So they can plan it out very very well in advance. Whereas the Ideas sets involve adapting someone else's designs. And those can vary wildly. Some might be very very close to viable designs, like the Ecto 1, some not so much and may have design hurdles to overcome, like the Exo suit. The Research Institute is probably one of the easiest to adapt, with the most effort going to graphics and packaging. It is not a set focused around complex builds or designs.

Plus there are factors that we often fail to think about. The logistics of production can be baffling. How a set works into the schedule and where can be highly dependent on its needs. Do all the parts already exist in stock? If so in what factories? Do we need any parts in new colors? If so where are the molds now? Where and when will we have factory time to run them off? What needs to be where when? Which factories are available? Do the figs need double sided printing? Leg printing? How many parts? How many bags? Which packaging line do we need? How many hours of runtime will the set need where?

Just going by those questions it is likely that the Research Institute could easily be the fastest set to see final production. It proposed no new graphics. All of the Minifigs used pre existing art. They were all pretty current. And there is likely nothing in the set design that cannot be pulled off with parts already in stock in the warehouse. Just using minor substitutions as required.

So looking at the three most recent sets

Ecto Suit - a fragile complex project requiring a great deal of design time and adaption, and needing part production time and minifig graphics. (Given it's mostly single color I'm betting some new colors on parts will be needed.)

Ghostbusters - a well designed project requiring very little design time and adaption, but needing part production part printing and minifig graphics.

Research Institute - a very basic project requiring minimal design and adaption time, and needing no part production. Can likely be done using parts in stock in the warehouses.

You can kind of see where the shifting of the order might originate. If you throw in a desire to launch the GB set alongside the Anniversary you can easily see how things might shake out.

[Bob De Quatre]

Moved the discussion about Galaxy Squad knockoff here.

Please only discuss about original Lego products.

[AyliffeMakit]

This just popped up on Brickset:

[Bob De Quatre]

That's an order for sure. Plus it's cumulative with the Chima polybag

[DPrime]

This just popped up on Brickset:

I want several! :)

[Artanis I]

Cool! Got the polybag a few years ago, but that is a can't-miss, assuming it's available here.

[Roger_Smith]

...and here I was, thinking that my recent Lego purchase including Benny Spaceship!³ would be my last until the release of the next modular building...

Oh well, at least a couple of minifigures won't be too expensive. Also, this will be the first time I buy something focused solely on minifigures.

[LegoFjotten]

Love it! Hope I will be able to get my hands on multiple of those... If only they would release the Exo suit in July too...

[danth]

So this is a special set you only get if you buy from Lego.com during a certain time frame?

I want that so bad! In multiples! I wonder if it will have a new helmet sculpt.

Edited June 24, 2014 by danth

[SMC]

http://cdn.vanillaforums.com/brickset.vanillaforums.com/FileUpload/6c/6873fb92af888255cec660a1fef681.jpg

does this mean the exo suit is coming out soon?

btw the pic is not from me but someone on brickset

[Bob De Quatre]

Rumors said early august...

[danth]

Man, I'm dying of suspense over the Exo-Suit and can't wait to see it!

[AFOLguy1970]

This just popped up on Brickset:

I would really like to see this in the US. One has to wonder if it would cannibalize Exo suit sales, because the prime reason many people are wanting the Exo Suit is because they anticipate a white Classic space minifig. I would be among those people and would much rather buy this than pay $35 for a set when the main attraction is the spaceman. We already have Lex Luthor's warmech, a hero factory set, the Ent from Orthanc, and plan on getting Emmet's construction mech and maybe Metalbeard, so we feel like we are well covered with those type of creations.

Benny's SSS really seems to be a hit with many kids and AFOLS alike. It recalls Classic Space, but to me, one critical thing was missing from that set: a viable spaceman. The problem with Benny is that he has an artificially busted helmet in addition to the faded space logo. I would really like to have a pristine spaceman in the classic attire, and that has yet to surface. What you have pictured there would be ideal, because it looks a lot cheaper than the Exo Suit.

[Agent Fusion]

I would want to buy this set even without a classic Spaceman.

[Venkefedo]

I would really like to see this in the US. One has to wonder if it would cannibalize Exo suit sales, because the prime reason many people are wanting the Exo Suit is because they anticipate a white Classic space minifig. I would be among those people and would much rather buy this than pay $35 for a set when the main attraction is the spaceman. We already have Lex Luthor's warmech, a hero factory set, the Ent from Orthanc, and plan on getting Emmet's construction mech and maybe Metalbeard, so we feel like we are well covered with those type of creations.

Benny's SSS really seems to be a hit with many kids and AFOLS alike. It recalls Classic Space, but to me, one critical thing was missing from that set: a viable spaceman. The problem with Benny is that he has an artificially busted helmet in addition to the faded space logo. I would really like to have a pristine spaceman in the classic attire, and that has yet to surface. What you have pictured there would be ideal, because it looks a lot cheaper than the Exo Suit.

I'm looking forward to the Exo Suit mostly because of the Exo Suit, which seems to have a lot more of a greeble-filled construction than the other mech-ish constructs you listed. The potential for a pristine white-suited Classic Spaceman is just a bonus!

…tho I'd also love to have the spaceman/robot set pop up in the US. My very first Space set had a blue robot in it, and as I accumulated more sets/parts over the next couple years, I tried to build new robots very similar to the one in this promo set. SW Battle Droid minifigs have nuthin' on the Classic Space robots!

[AyliffeMakit]

Basically, this image appeared on Peter Reid's photostream:

Could this be the hint we're waiting for....? Either way, it looks like we'll find out in 24 hours....

[SMC]

Does anyone think the reason we are seeing a classic spaceman promo now is because we will not get a classic spaceman in the Exo suit, I hope this is the case as a classic spaceman with a modern helmet really bugs me and I would rather get an exclusive figure. Could this also be the start of something bigger like the next space line with element of classic space.

[Bob De Quatre]

I think it's a way to make the space fans buys Lego now and when the exo-suit is released

[lightningtiger]

Hey, that's a lot of paint roller frames in that shot !

Tie in for the Exo-suit ?

[AyliffeMakit]

Does anyone think the reason we are seeing a classic spaceman promo now is because we will not get a classic spaceman in the Exo suit, I hope this is the case as a classic spaceman with a modern helmet really bugs me and I would rather get an exclusive figure. Could this also be the start of something bigger like the next space line with element of classic space.

It could be because instead of having a standard yellow head, the set may include a fleshie minifig as the original proposal had one and this set is designed to, as Caperberry said on his New Elementary blog post about the subject, the set also had to fit in with the storyline that Peter had already set out in his book "Lego Space: Building the Future", which featured minifigures in flesh tones rather than in yellow. So basically, this is probably a clever move by TLG to calm down the AFOLs out there who wanted an ordinary classic space minifig within the set.

Hey, that's a lot of paint roller frames in that shot !

Tie in for the Exo-suit ?

That's what I thought. Anyway, we'll find out tomorrow....

Edited July 1, 2014 by AyliffeMakit

[SMC]

It could be because instead of having a standard yellow head, the set may include a fleshie minifig

Thanks how did I miss that, I have seen the picture many times and it just never click that it was a fleshie, I think it looks good, wonder if they will keep it as it will be the first fleshie in an unlicensed set but if they do you make a good point that this could be the reason for the promo fig.