Zarkan

Yesterday I rented Super Paper Mario. Honestly, I'm not super impressed. I agree with my friend that they kinda ruined it by taking out the battle scenes - which were far more fun in the first two games than in this game. The game's still fun, but not nearly as fun. *sad* In other news, I've realized that SSB Brawl really nailed the computers programing in every aspect, even more so than I originally thought. Now even the fights you do to unlock characters are actually challenging. I still haven't gotten the last character... *sing*

Wow! Congrats on that win, hewkii! The most I've ever won that's lego related is a free poster and starwars mini in a lego club raffle that I didn't even know about.... :-P

Interesting discussion going on here. Let me add my thoughts as well: I've been a big fan of bionicle since 2004, and over the years I have seen quality of sets increase and decrease. In 2004 Bionicle was at a high point. 2005 sunk it to it's lowest level, and I never bought very many kits from it. In 2006 I hated the piraka when I first saw them, but eventually I grew to like them, as well as some of the inika and all of the titans and voyatoran. Then came 2007, where it seemed that Bionicle was finally back to utter awesomeness. For the first time since the original year, we had totally non-clone sets that surpassed even the Toa Mata in uniqueness among each other. We also got several mask recolors, which hadn't been done since 2004, with the exception of Toa Norik's mask. The canisters sets were hits and misses, but mostly hits. Mantax, Kalmah, Takadox and Ehlek were genuinely creepy without looking butt-ugly, and Jaller and Hahli were some of the best toa we've ever had. But without a doubt, the best part of 2007 was the story. Besides all the internet exclusives, the main story was awesome because it tried something bold and new by making the whole year underwater. The toa Mahri grew from inexperienced newbies to mature toa, and Matoro's battle with himself was quite something. The return of old characters. Interesting new chararacters like the semi suffering Hydraxon and the mind-wiped Mahritoran. All this made it totally enjoyable for me. In 2008... not quite as much. So far, the titans have disapointed me, and the canisters sets partly as well. But the story is still hanging on, and I can't wait to see what comes next. Still, I wish the sets were better, but I do have one thing that comforts me: the assurance that if the sets sell well Bionicle will still live to see another day, and a new angle that I may love even more than before. I remember reading a post some time ago where someone quoted resident BZP S&T geek Bonesiii, where he mentioned that "anything that sells well is good for bionicle, PERIOD." Obviously, the guy didn't like that, and it sure sounds crazy on the outside. But believe it or not, there is sound logic in that statement. Fact is, buisnesswise, anything that sells well IS good for a theme, PERIOD. Why do you think they keep making crazy shooters? Because they sell well. Why did they stop making brown canisters sets? Becaus they didn't sell well. It's all a money issue, and the majority of the customers doesn't lie in a buisness setting. Sadly, you, I, and everyone both on here and BZP are NOT the majority of the customers. The majority of the customers probably haven't even discovered internet forums yet, because they are too busy playing with their legos to care about anything else. I'm talking about the 8-10 year olds who we used to be. Okay, we're all different, but you gotta admit that when you are young, you have a different mindset than when you are older and mature. TLC never meant bionicle to be a toy for obssessed adults and teens like us, they meant it to be for the kids that we used to be. So, when it all boils down, our opinions do not make sales, the kids out there make sales, and we just have to accept that TLC is doing what's best for the company - unless of course, they fail to sell kits. Or, you could always try to join TLC and see what you can do about it. :-P

Hey, another bionicle fan! Welcome. ;-) I am curious though: it seems you like technic the most, but do you like system themes like Town and Space as well? If not, that I highly suggest you try them out, as it's always good to broaden your horizions by trying a new theme. :-)

Will do. Sorry UFO, guess I got carried away again. :-/ Now, anyway, I think you were on to something with your MOC, but it needs a little more work put into it. I think the main problem, besides the color scheme, is that you tried too hard to make a complex body. Not that it's a bad thing to do that (I try to as well), but it seems a bit too mishmeshed. I think it would be better to take off some of that armor and go for a more simple design. Also, It would be best to work a bit more on the arms and make those more unique. Finally, it'd be cool if you worked more on your diorama. Right now it just seems like two MOC's standing on a baseplate. But, you have talent, that's for sure, and I'd really like to see a new version, even if it's not for a contest. ;-)

Worst ever = Galidor, which still stands as the only theme in the history of lego to lack a SINGLE stud (even znap had studs on their technic motors). Besides, it was just hideous, lacking anything remotely resembling lego pieces, and on top of that, it was based on a flopped tv show. Need I say more? :-X Oh, and by the way, for those of you who are considering voting for bionicle, remember, TLC might not be here today without it. Besides, unlike Galidor,, you can actually build tons of things with the pieces. Without it, we wouldn't have amazing MOC's from people like Jinzo and Bigfatslob. *sweet* This topic seriously should be about which theme is the worst, not "which theme I hate the most," because just because you hate a theme doesn't mean that it is bad. ;-)

Ah yes, the classic excuse. Seriously, I don't consider nude photos art, and statues are different, as they are not actual people subjecting themselves to the public. And you know, the greeks and romans had a pretty sex filled culture that should be at least partly frowned on today, despite all their good qualities. Yes, nude does not porn make, but only in certain cases. Seriously, Kimt has a sig that will be seen in absolutely every topic he posts in, and while it may not be as bad as it could be, it still isn't exactly fitting in a site where we talk about plastic building blocks. *wacko*

Good cause, bleah. That sig needs to die. I mean, come on, this isn't a porn site! :-X Oh, and interesting diorama, UFO. Honestly though, it just seems way too mishmeshed colorwise to really impress me. Good try, though. ;-)

Hm, I think this poll could be (and possibly is) interpreted more than one way, because it doesn't seem to specificly specify whether you are just talking about CAR cars, or the entire wheeled vehicle line. 8-| After all, while some people wish that all lego vehicles were four studs wide like in the old days, others like having a variety of sizes - 4 wide cars, 6 wide trucks, and 8 wide construction equipment. I personally go with the latter, because IMO the big vehicles like fire trucks and ambulances just look silly being only 4 wide. But, each to his own I guess. ;-)

I get your point, but making a toy line similar to another toy line is different than blatantly pretending that your are someone else. Megabloks has been doing their own thing for a while, instead of directly copying desgins like Shifty and other pirates have done. Sure, you can say that Neo Shifters is a rip off of Bionicle and Dragons is a rip off of Castle, but you can't really compare the styles, aside from the fact that they both have studs. Besides, technically they DO have the right, since TLC FAILED to renew the patnent on the lego brick. Don't blame megabloks and other clone brands for taking advantage of the opportunity. It's called the free market. ;-) Oh, and BTW, someone already did TRY to impersonate GregF on this forum. He's forever chambered, as his title says. X-D

Today... Brawl is finally MINE. >:-) And man, is it ever good! I must have spent three hours or so playing it (that's a LOT for someone like me). As we all suspected, it feels like Melee on steroids and with a mega load of new content. Some observations: - Computers are smarter than in the previous two games. In the original, computers were wusses and spent the majority of the time doging, and in Melee, they spent so much time on the offensive that it was easy to get them to walk into attacks. But in Brawl, it seems that they finally have a good balance in the computers. Level 9's are both good at offense and defense, attacking hard and doging frequently. I have my work cut out for me.... |-/ ;-) - Subspace Emmisary ROCKS! Great cutscenes, lots of combat and platforming, and character team-ups never seen before in the history of video games! The cutscenes are particuarly amazing - they look like they should belong in a high end CGI movie instead of a video game. *sweet* - Graphics are stunning - best on the Wii as of now, and that may not change for a while. Practically everything that could be detailed on the characters is super pretty. Of course, this means that Kirby and Pikachu still are really cartoony, but you can't really avoid that in any way. :-P - You can get smash coins a LOT easier in this game, and they come in greater quantities. This is good, because you need a ton in the Coin Shooter, possibly the single most amazing addition in Brawl. Okay, maybe not, but I am seriously obsessed with this little thing. Combining space shooters with trophy collecting works perfectly, and it's extremely addicting. *wub* Yeah, my day was busy. :-P

Yeah, come on, do you really think anyone here would want that noobish MOC made into a set (with apologies to the builder - sorry, but I think you could do a LOT better now)? :-P

Awesome review, Dunamis. I know I wouldn't have the patience to upload all those pictures.... ;-) And, WOW. This set is just incredible. The attention to detail is just AMAZING. All the little touches (the fire escape, the grandfather clock, the freezer, the lamp, the awning, the rodent hole) make this feel more like a minaturized version of a real building then a toy. This has truly brought TLC's standards in sets up to the levels of AFOLs, and it makes me wish that I had the money to buy it and the hundreds of other sets I've missed out on. *sad* Ah well, at least TLC will still be around when I am an adult and have a job - with sets like this, there's no way TLC could ever go out of buisness, permitting that they keep it up. *y*

Let me get this straight - you play only ONE game out of the thousands of games on the PC, and don't even invest in any other consoles. .....Dude, you are OBSESSED! *sing* :-P Right now, I'm homing up on my Smash Brothers skills with Melee, in anticipation of the US release of the most epic game in the history of video games - wait, do I really need to even tell you what it is? X-D Tomorow, I'm going to a tournament at the local Gamestop, and the day after that, Brawl shall finally be MINE! >:-)

Late again.... oh well, happy birthday. :-)

Well, today I went to TRU and saw that all the bionicle canister sets were on sale for 2 dollars less than normal. The problem was that all my money is currently pledged to my preordered copy of Super Smash Brothers Brawl, so I really couldn't pay for them myself. Fortunately, my mom said that she would buy Lewa Nuva and Antroz (the only two I want) for me so I could take advantage of the great deal, on the condition that I don't actually open them until I earn the money needed to pay for them. And with spring weather coming, I'll be doing some yardwork, so it shouldn't be too long a wait. :-) Yeah, I have a great mom... who somehow totally understands my obession with the plastic pieces known as lego. :-P

So am I, as always. *sad* Ah well, happy birthday guys. And I hope you both get lots of lego goodness from your friends and family - if you didn't already. :-P

I agree - this comic was miles ahead of all the 2007 comics. It kinda reminds me of the great comic we got in March of 2006 - fairly long, with a good balance between story and action. Oh, and back then, Sayger actually was turning out GOOD art, not the lazy crud he gave us in 2007. |-/

Concerning the canister sets and small sets - yes, they are getting more junorized. However, IMO, the titans still are fairly complex, and have a good mix of regular technic and bionicle specific pieces. Look at Maxilos&Spinax, Brutaka, Nocturn, and Takanuva this year. I think they are at least on par with the first bionicle sets, in terms of design. ;-) For me, I'd love to see some playsets employing regular sized figures and contraptions like chariots, catapaluts (not guns), and other things, all built with technic and bionicle. I think that would be a lot cooler than the mediocre playsets we got in the last three years, and it would give more variety to bionicle. :-)

Awesome news, Legomilk! I sure hope the even more recent brickmaster revalations are true, because an elven faction would rock in lego! *sweet* Of course, I hope we see the return of the other factions too. I still am waiting for my hundred dollar skeleton fortress..... ;-)

Hm, not bad, not bad at all. Of course, the battle scenes consist more of quick come back lines than actual battling, but there were lots of good scenes too: Lewa's memories of the founding of Karda Nui, Icarax's page, and the best - the creation of the Toa Ignika. And of course, the drawing is miles ahead of Sayger's art. :-) What I'm most concerned about is the preview at the bottom of the last page: coming in JULY? What, are we only getting three comics a year? I sure hope not.... 8-|

Great, that makes two times that some greedy lego hog has tricked stores and buyers, all in the name of quick and easy profit. And I bet it won't be the last time, either... |-/

Ugly because of poor design, or ugly just because they aren't official lego products? :-P Yeah, but I agree, this isn't really the best idea for a theme, in our modern age of wars and terrorist attacks. *sad*

Hey, that's actually not that bad! Certainly better than the summer makuta set names. :-)