Hero Factory 2014 Discussion

[bacem]

no, the xl official combi mode just seems... well it kinda sucks. so i made one of just them. calling it the brawler machine. ill see if i can take a few good pics and post it up.

agreed. it sucks. it's like,

"hey, what should we do for evl xl machine combi?"

"oh, let's just slap all the mech's arms into him"

"cool!"

kinda half assed, if i do say myself.

tough if similiar concept were to apply on the summer mechs sets, it might actually work tough.

[Dorek]

Nice little spread of HF in this month's LEGO mag. Too bad they axed the online ones, this would have been fun to have.

[bacem]

Nice little spread of HF in this month's LEGO mag. Too bad they axed the online ones, this would have been fun to have.

really? could you show me the page?

[exxtrooper]

Are there any known images of the summer combo models?

[ShadowWolfHount]

Are there any known images of the summer combo models?

I don't think there are any sadly.

I just bought the Furno Jet Machine at Walmart, but they didn't have the entire wave, just the Jet Machine, Splitter Beast, and Evo XL. Are all of the stores splitting the waves like this?

They are not putting up all of them, only some right now. At my Walmart (a creepy thing is that Walmart gotten the new HF set out first) they only had Evo Titan (not calling it a XL) first then a day or two later they gotten Furno Jet Machine, the Rocka and right now Splitter Beast. So mainly they are putting them out slowly but the good thing is, that you not going get all of them at once because if you do, it just going to get really, boring really fast.

[Kalhiki]

The Walmart closest to me doesn't have any Hero Factory sets. At all.

Luckily I live in an area surrounded by stores, so finding the sets wasn't that hard.

[Takanuinuva]

I was lucky enough to get to the Lego Store in Edmonton and pick up Jaw Beast, Flyer Beast, Splitter Beast, Furno Jet Machine and Stormer Freeze Machine. I adore the Beasts head designs. Though there heads are smaller than I thought.

Edited March 7, 2014 by Takanuinuva

[3rdeye88]

I was lucky enough to get to the Lego Store in Edmonton and pick up Jaw Beast, Flyer Beast, Splitter Beast, Furno Jet Machine and Stormer Freeze Machine. I adore the Beasts head designs. Though there heads are smaller than I thought.

How big/smaller than you realized are their heads? Can someone take a picture of the head pieces on a baseplate so I can count studs?

Thanks.

[ShadowWolfHount]

I was lucky enough to get to the Lego Store in Edmonton and pick up Jaw Beast, Flyer Beast, Splitter Beast, Furno Jet Machine and Stormer Freeze Machine. I adore the Beasts head designs. Though there heads are smaller than I thought.

The head size it good and it the same size as it shown on the box.

Also I was told that Flyer Beast wing (the tail piece) was had a harder plastic then the other, is this true or no?

[Vinyl Scratch]

You know what I realized? We literally know everything about this year's story. Everything.

We won't get any story-related news until 2015. This is something I will say I dislike from Hero Factory, they literally tell the whole story at the beginning and there's nothing else to be hyped for besides the sets.

[Dorek]

You know what I realized? We literally know everything about this year's story. Everything.

We won't get any story-related news until 2015. This is something I will say I dislike from Hero Factory, they literally tell the whole story at the beginning and there's nothing else to be hyped for besides the sets.

This is why we should have the episode(s) broken up into fragments; the pacing won't seem as rushed and we can actually experience the story.

Buuuut it'll probably repeat the cycle for next year too.

[3rdeye88]

You know what I realized? We literally know everything about this year's story. Everything.

We won't get any story-related news until 2015. This is something I will say I dislike from Hero Factory, they literally tell the whole story at the beginning and there's nothing else to be hyped for besides the sets.

This is why we should have the episode(s) broken up into fragments; the pacing won't seem as rushed and we can actually experience the story.

Buuuut it'll probably repeat the cycle for next year too.

Its really that simple guys. If you're not happy with the story or pacing of it for HF, stop following it. I've watched the TV spots because up until IFB they've at least been somewhat amusing. But I've never been all that invested in the story. I'm into HF purely for the sets, and even then its for the parts. The builds are lack luster and (again) amusing at best. This feels very much like the bionicle comics getting thinner every year. Lego's Checkin out on HF maan. ^{_{The end is nigh...}}

[The Kumquat Alchemist]

Its really that simple guys. If you're not happy with the story or pacing of it for HF, stop following it. I've watched the TV spots because up until IFB they've at least been somewhat amusing. But I've never been all that invested in the story. I'm into HF purely for the sets, and even then its for the parts. The builds are lack luster and (again) amusing at best. This feels very much like the bionicle comics getting thinner every year. Lego's Checkin out on HF maan. ^{_{The end is nigh...}}

All the better if it is; it can only mean more interesting components if we get a whole new constraction line in place of HF. A better story would just be a bonus on top of shiny new components.

[Aanchir]

Its really that simple guys. If you're not happy with the story or pacing of it for HF, stop following it. I've watched the TV spots because up until IFB they've at least been somewhat amusing. But I've never been all that invested in the story. I'm into HF purely for the sets, and even then its for the parts. The builds are lack luster and (again) amusing at best. This feels very much like the bionicle comics getting thinner every year. Lego's Checkin out on HF maan. ^{_{The end is nigh...}}

I sort of agree. I enjoy keeping up with the Hero Factory storyline mainly because I like the characters, but it's not a huge factor in why I enjoy the theme. The media supplements the sets and the play and building experience for me, not the other way around. It's nice to have a personality to attach to characters like Breez, Rocka, and Bulk so that if I build my own versions of those characters (or new equipment for them), their personalities can help inform my creative efforts. But I don't need those personalities to be terribly complex any more than I did with BIONICLE. And I don't need to see the characters go on all sorts of adventures throughout a single year when I'm free to make up my own.

Think about BIONICLE in 2001. Yes, there was a lot of story media, but it wasn't overly concerned with telling a complete story, meaning fans were able to create their own quests to fill the gaps. The second comic even ended in a double-cliffhanger which was never resolved. And a lot of LEGO themes get far less story media than Hero Factory does. Look at LEGO Galaxy Squad last year. It had 10 sets with 14 unique minifigure characters, spread across an entire year, but it had no core media telling a complete and cohesive story. Just a handful of LEGO Club Magazine comics, games, and videos.

At the same time, I do sort of understand why some people take the story for LEGO themes more seriously. BIONICLE's elaborate, multi-platform story was a big part of its appeal, and a lot of people hope for Hero Factory and other subsequent constraction lines to fill that same niche in their range of interests.

With that said, not everyone wants to devote themselves to following a story that grows and evolves over the course of a year. And there are still themes like Ninjago for those who do. Personally, Hero Factory has been able to maintain my interest in it on its own merits, and I haven't felt any huge desire for it to be anything more than what it is. I would like it if the TV episodes were better, but I don't feel like more of them are necessary to tell a complete story.

[ShadowWolfHount]

Its really that simple guys. If you're not happy with the story or pacing of it for HF, stop following it. I've watched the TV spots because up until IFB they've at least been somewhat amusing. But I've never been all that invested in the story. I'm into HF purely for the sets, and even then its for the parts. The builds are lack luster and (again) amusing at best. This feels very much like the bionicle comics getting thinner every year. Lego's Checkin out on HF maan. ^{_{The end is nigh...}}

THANK YOU

I hardly make any of my own story on the Hero Factory theme (Same with Bionicle), I mainly making my own Story and theme. Plus I think I agree with you on the thing that it's getting thinner every year.

I would like it if the TV episodes were better, but I don't feel like more of them are necessary to tell a complete story.

Well I think a 2, 3 or 4 part episodes would be good because it will help show more about the character, how they think and there history; Just take a look at Rise of the Rookies, Savage Planet and somewhat Breakout.

[Timeline15]

Its really that simple guys. If you're not happy with the story or pacing of it for HF, stop following it. I've watched the TV spots because up until IFB they've at least been somewhat amusing. But I've never been all that invested in the story. I'm into HF purely for the sets, and even then its for the parts. The builds are lack luster and (again) amusing at best. This feels very much like the bionicle comics getting thinner every year. Lego's Checkin out on HF maan. ^{_{The end is nigh...}}

oh great, ANOTHER "If you don't like it don't watch it" argument. People have every right to complain about something they dislike. Criticism is an engine for change, unlikely as it is that LEGO listens. I'm so tired of the "if you can't say something positive, don't say anything" view. Its just stupid. There need to be people saying negative things, so people notice when they are doing stuff wrong.

For the record, I have no issue with the HF story, so this isn't particular to this thread, but I'm just so sick of people spouting this argument like criticism isn't legitimate.

Edited March 10, 2014 by Timeline15

[korpen4444]

oh great, ANOTHER "If you don't like it don't watch it" argument. People have every right to complain about something they dislike. Criticism is an engine for change, unlikely as it is that LEGO listens. I'm so tired of the "if you can't say something positive, don't say anything" view. Its just stupid. There need to be people saying negative things, so people notice when they are doing stuff wrong.

For the record, I have no issue with the HF story, so this isn't particular to this thread, but I'm just so sick of people spouting this argument like criticism isn't legitimate.

To be fair, complaining about a kids toy makes no sense. Don't like it, don't pay it no mind. "People have the right to complain", we then have the right to say "don't complain, just don't watch". Y'know why? 'Cause all some people do(I'm not talking about anyone in particular) is complain. Okay, that's all I have to say.

[ShadowWolfHount]

oh great, ANOTHER "If you don't like it don't watch it" argument. People have every right to complain about something they dislike. Criticism is an engine for change, unlikely as it is that LEGO listens. I'm so tired of the "if you can't say something positive, don't say anything" view. Its just stupid. There need to be people saying negative things, so people notice when they are doing stuff wrong.

For the record, I have no issue with the HF story, so this isn't particular to this thread, but I'm just so sick of people spouting this argument like criticism isn't legitimate.

I didn't think he was talking about the *if you don't like it don't watch it* because if he did I would be doing the same thing as what you're doing. Plus there are a lot of thing I can say that are bad, looks odd and just think of why did they did that; *cough cough* Evo Titan Machine having a gear sticking out of it crotch *cough cough*.

[Vinyl Scratch]

Hey hey hey I never said I don't like the story. I /love/ the HF story, but I just HATE getting over it in less than a month with 11 months of filler.

[3rdeye88]

THANK YOU

I hardly make any of my own story on the Hero Factory theme (Same with Bionicle), I mainly making my own Story and theme. Plus I think I agree with you on the thing that it's getting thinner every year.

Well I think a 2, 3 or 4 part episodes would be good because it will help show more about the character, how they think and there history; Just take a look at Rise of the Rookies, Savage Planet and somewhat Breakout.

I know what you mean I came sooo close to adding a character in the Hero Factory world with Rodney Dieter, but then I went and created my own world of sentient robots and tied Grayskay., 5pr1nt3r and, Furnace which are all older MOCs into that world as well. And now its a world about Sentient robot liberation. I just could never find anything that interesting to build on the HF theme, but there's a lot more room to do so than bionicle. Its much easier to say "this guy is a Hero who operates on Planet blah blah as a blah blah specialist" or something like that. I still like to throw my own MOCs into the Bionicle Universe and it takes at least an hour or two of researching Biosector01 to get the necessary information about a particular place and knowing how to weave my character into the fabric of the lore in a more natural way. Its a bit of a challenge but I enjoy it. A good example of me doing that I think is Turaga Kumignasi.

Well think about it. The first year had 4 episodes(plus some other stuff to right?), 2.0 only one, then Savage planet and Breakout had two, then BA and IFB only one again. So its been pretty inconsistent as well.

[3rdeye88]

oh great, ANOTHER "If you don't like it don't watch it" argument. People have every right to complain about something they dislike. Criticism is an engine for change, unlikely as it is that LEGO listens. I'm so tired of the "if you can't say something positive, don't say anything" view. Its just stupid. There need to be people saying negative things, so people notice when they are doing stuff wrong.

For the record, I have no issue with the HF story, so this isn't particular to this thread, but I'm just so sick of people spouting this argument like criticism isn't legitimate.

To be fair, complaining about a kids toy makes no sense. Don't like it, don't pay it no mind. "People have the right to complain", we then have the right to say "don't complain, just don't watch". Y'know why? 'Cause all some people do(I'm not talking about anyone in particular) is complain. Okay, that's all I have to say.

I didn't think he was talking about the *if you don't like it don't watch it* because if he did I would be doing the same thing as what you're doing. Plus there are a lot of thing I can say that are bad, looks odd and just think of why did they did that; *cough cough* Evo Titan Machine having a gear sticking out of it crotch *cough cough*.

I really agree with Korpen's response. Yes, I was saying "don't like it, don't watch it then." However, the emphasis was more on the fact that people act like they have to follow the story then are disappointed and unhappy with it. Like I said its Optional you don't have to follow it if you aren't enjoying. That's why I generated the Morpheus Meme and included it.

At this point the story aspect feels more like an obligation than anything. If lego went the rout of Galaxy Squad Like Aanchir mentioned I'd be fine with that if things like IFB are going to be what they put on the table. Give us sets with a loose quick little description and let us be on our way to MOCing and set/new parts appreciation. I have a few of the GS sets and I liked how the narrative didn't really get in the way. I understood what was going on and got right to enjoying the sets as builds and the new parts I got from them. "Oh that's a cool generic space marine dude. I'm sure the minifig guys dig this" *slips him into tiny ziplock bag and tosses in drawer with other sealed up minifigs and enjoys set* There was no "Aww man they made Jack McBugmurder lame this time around I liked him more in wave 1."

Since Lego insists on adding a story element to HF then I suggest following it with low expectations and when it lives up to them, don't be surprised or disappointed. Like Korpen said, don't just complain about it. Pretty much from the beginning I'd watch an episode and go "that was lame, but mildly amusing" and carry on about my activity as a MOCer, it wasn't untill IFB that its quality was shockingly bad to the point I bothered voicing my opinion about it(like writing a journal on DA titled "OH THE HORROR").

[Dorek]

The expectations argument is definitely legitimate (you need to understand what you should be able to get out of something) but that doesn't make certain criticisms any less so. Creep dislikes that the story (which he enjoys) is disseminated in such a way that leaves nothing to support the later year. Nothing wrong with thinking that.

[Aanchir]

The expectations argument is definitely legitimate (you need to understand what you should be able to get out of something) but that doesn't make certain criticisms any less so. Creep dislikes that the story (which he enjoys) is disseminated in such a way that leaves nothing to support the later year. Nothing wrong with thinking that.

But to be fair, we don't know that there's nothing due later in the year. We usually get one or two LEGO Club Magazine comics per year, not to mention the possibility of other web-based media. But of course, it's true that the core media (the television episodes) are all wrapped up for this year.

[Vinyl Scratch]

But to be fair, we don't know that there's nothing due later in the year. We usually get one or two LEGO Club Magazine comics per year, not to mention the possibility of other web-based media. But of course, it's true that the core media (the television episodes) are all wrapped up for this year.

Not too thrilled of having hype for two pages of corny comic action that isn't even part of the canon. :v

[3rdeye88]

The expectations argument is definitely legitimate (you need to understand what you should be able to get out of something) but that doesn't make certain criticisms any less so. Creep dislikes that the story (which he enjoys) is disseminated in such a way that leaves nothing to support the later year. Nothing wrong with thinking that.

I understand that and I'm in complete agreement with that criticism about it being done and over with before my garden gnomes have had a chance to thaw out(Oh who am I kidding, I live in California, its never too cold here). And I agree with Vinyl Scratch. Wooooo a two page comic and maybe a few other derpy things that have nothing to do with the actual story. I can't tell if my excitement meter twitched a little or if it's just me flicking it to see if its still responding. XD