Algernon

I'm honestly a little shocked that 6212 is regarded as a terrible set by so many AFOLs. I still have mine built and I love it. The redesign (at least, the prelim version) isn't a huge update but it still definitely improved the accuracy a fair amount. Maybe I'm just a bad AFOL... I tend to like all the sets that everyone else hates.

Well, if the new LEGO Dino rumors prove true (and they pretty much have), LEGO might be more open to peaceful themes than before. That could bode well for a more recognizable throwback to classic Space. Although I still think it would be pretty foolish to hope for a completely faithful re-imagining of the first Space sets (LEGO, as well as the toy industry, has moved on from that) we could still get something in the same ballpark at least.

I don't really understand why so many people are voting for the Space Police... seeing as that theme has already been revived.

I don't get it. What's wrong with 6212? It's no more or less accurate than just about ever other minifig-scale LEGO set out there. And besides the accuracy, it's a very decent model; highly swooshable and sturdy.

What sets haven't we seen yet? Are the Y-wing and B-wing are still out there, or is that the full winter lineup?

Clearly someone has the retailer catalog. Just gotta wait for that someone to grace us poor blighters with gloriously blurry photographs.

The X-Wing has more improvements than you think, but the similar color scheme and basic shape make it looks a lot like the current version at first glance. I think it looks pretty good, but I wish LEGO would realize that X-wings are not white, but are in fact gray.

To be fair, that kind of size isn't often seen is non-licensed system sets. And the mothership is already fairly large, considering the price point. I think LEGO did an acceptable job with the concept. Will I be buying it? No, but I don't dislike the set. For perspective, compare it to the Mars Mission alien mothership.

Nice! It really sounds like dino island is making a comeback... makes me miss the old Johnny Thunder sets.

Although the only interesting one to me is the X-wing, I must say it looks quite nice. This will make Star Wars fans very happy.

Interesting... so it's just called LEGO "Dino". Has kind of an odd ring to it, but hey, maybe it'll grow on me. I don't think the picture is any indication of what the dinosaurs will look like, except yes, there will be dinosaurs. Alien Conquest's logo is a cartoon picture of a UFO, yet that had no bearing on how the actual models looked. Regardless, I'm still curious about this theme. I just hope the Megabloks vibe ends with the logo.

I actually had some of the Roboforce sets when I was a kid, and it always struck me as sort of an oddball theme. I didn't dislike it, though... it was just a little under-realized. A modern adaptation could be interesting, even though the chances of that ever happening approach zero.

I'm actually a little surprised that we're not getting a second wave - less successful themes have gone on for two years or more. Mars Mission was pretty much a bum note among AFOLs, but it stuck around for two more waves and improved immensely. Space Police III did the same. Even Atlantis got three waves. Why not Alien Conquest?? I agree, though, I think the Earth Defense HQ is one of the best Space sets we've gotten in quite awhile. I don't own it yet but I'm planning on picking it up this Christmas - I'd be very disappointed if I missed out on such a gem.

I pretty much agree with everything you've said here. Alien Conquest strikes me as a fresh, new twist on LEGO Space, and for that I like it. I'm also very fond of some of the designs. But, unfortunately I don't think we're getting a second wave. We'd have heard of it by now. :/

You're being pretty harsh. Actually, some of these criticisms aren't warranted at all. 1) The color scheme is busy, but I find it appealing. The purple and lime green perfectly suits the 50's vibe of the alien invaders, and although baby blue is a strange choice for the ADU, it works fine. Power Miners was worse, in my opinion. 2) I agree that the mothership is one of the weaker sets, but the alien vessels themselves are far from "garbage". The UFO Abduction set is pretty much the perfect LEGO representation of a flying saucer. The Tripod is lovely, as well. You're probably thinking of the smallish "throwaway" fliers that LEGO always includes with the larger sets to add play value. Although those are indeed unimpressive, they are not unique to Alien Conquest. The ADU sets are awesome - I'm not really sure I understand your issue with them. The Earth Defense HQ is possibly one of the finest sets to come out this year (I am not alone in this opinion). 3) It's goofy, sure, but that's kind of the idea, don't you think? The "futuristic" element was necessary for it to sell to the younger audience. There may not be much logic in it, but I think LEGO did a nice job of keeping the 50's vibe and the futuristic vibe in separate sets. For example, the Abduction set is clearly homage to every B-movie ever, and it goes without saying that the Tripod is referencing H.G. Wells. The Jet-Copter and the HQ are certainly more modern, possibly even comparable to Space Police III in design - but the designs are quite nice, and since the emphasis is on the futuristic element, I don't think it clashes at all. This isn't the first time LEGO Space has thrown two very different ideas into the same theme. Spyrius had giant robots and flying saucers - both new to LEGO Space at the time. I personally love Alien Conquest. I only have the two smallest sets, but I'm saving up for the HQ. It is definitely a quirky theme, but considering that LEGO also introduced NinjaGo this year, I'm not very put off by it. LEGO's just supposed to be fun, after all.

Seems rather pricey... I wonder how large this X-wing is going to be?

Difficult choice, but I voted for Ice Planet 2002 and M-Tron, two of my favorite Space themes that LEGO hasn't really looked at since their original release. An updated Ice Planet, especially, could be beyond awesome.

No Y-wing or B-wing?

This is getting silly. The helicopter is loaded with weapons, including what appears to be a chain gun, and all the tractor has a dynamite launcher (which is a little ludicrous in its own right). One theme is clearly more weapons-oriented than the other. I've already said, several times, that LEGO in general is more violent than it once was. Dino Attack was just an extreme example of that. Power Miners has violent elements, but fewer. Both themes are conflict based. If you're just going to pretend certain parts of my posts don't exist to make my points easier to disregard than I'm not going to waste my time. Frankly I'm not even sure what we're arguing about anymore.

You are missing the point. One of the more aggressive looking power miners sets doesn't appear nearly as mean-spirited as the most memorable set from the entire Dino Attack theme. Note the five-story high inferno on the box art. There may have been some questionable undertones in Power Miners, but Dino Attack was outspokenly bloodthirsty. There is a huge difference. Moreover, my point wasn't really to compare Power Miners with Dino Attack. I'm just glad LEGO is taking a different direction. After all, dinosaurs are just animals; no more evil than a rhinoceros.

Power Miners wasn't violent. You could argue that the premise might suggest violence, but there are no guns (unless you count the water guns from the second wave... I don't). Dino Attack had weapons out the wazoo. Sure, the vehicles looked nice with those guns, but it's still one of the most aggressive themes LEGO's come up with to date. It just didn't feel like LEGO to me. (And this is coming from somebody who actually liked Dino Attack) Besides, even if LEGO's grown more partial to violence over the years, that doesn't mean I'm happy about it. A shift back into more adventurous, man VS nature conflicts would be a nice change. I get tired of making "pew pew" noises sometimes.

Nice find on those catalog silhouettes - it definitely seems to confirm the B-wing, X-wing, and Y-wing. I do find it a little strange that we're getting another X-wing since there is still an X-wing available right now. But if the redesign is good, I won't complain. What is our usual source for leaks? I know a lot of foreign catalogs wind up with pictures earlier than LEGO intends, but I have no idea how people run into these.

Do people actually pay attention to the plot in those themes? Outside of the basic premise, that is. I never really understood the LEGO storyline aficionados. It's not exactly award-winning stuff. Am I the only one who's glad that this is more of a dino-friendly theme? With all of the recent LEGO violence, it's refreshing.

You're right about LotR - it's just wild speculation. But Dino 2012 is confirmed, we have set names already. It's going to be similar to the old Johnny Thunder dinosaur safari sets.

Unfortunately this is a very good point. Looks like Jake Raines and his crew are a one-year ordeal. Really a shame.