Aanchir

It would not surprise me if there were some kind of connection. However, I do think the new details about the G2 Mask of Time being older than Okoto, the world, and the stars might make an alternate universe scenario more plausible than just a far-flung future scenario. After all, the origins of the G1 Mask of Time are pretty well established. Consider: what if the Mask of Time has something to do with the origins of the G2 universe itself? What if either completing the mask or breaking it in two somehow reshaped reality, rewriting the G1 universe into a new universe with its own discrete history? Alternatively, what if just as the mask is broken in two, the G1 and G2 universes are themselves separate fragments of a larger reality, with only one half of each mask existing in each universe outside of legends? Then again, I've also seen other theories that the "complete" Mask of Time might in fact itself be a form of Makuta's Mask of Ultimate Power, a theory which is not wholly outrageous. The Mask of Ultimate Power disappeared during the great cataclysm — what if instead of being flung through space it was flung through TIME, with one fragment planting itself in the early history of the universe and another materializing in the future? This theory would not necessarily invoke a G1 connection, which isn't to say it couldn't. Overall, though, I think the idea of G2 being a straight continuation of G1 (i.e. a later point on the same timeline) still seems unlikely.

I don't particularly care about the difference in terms of aesthetics or accuracy, but as a bit of a LEGO color nerd, it would've been really cool if LEGO introduced a new reddish orange color for this set. They haven't really had any reddish orange colors that they've used extensively, aside from the various shades of Nougat (Flesh). That probably would've been way over-budget, though, both in terms of introducing a new brick color and recoloring all the parts to that color. With Bright Orange, at least SOME of the parts are already in production in that color thanks to other sets.

I'm kinda surprised at how many people here are saying they wish there was hand-of-god steering. Not because I don't like hand of god steering, but I'm just a casual Technic fan and I considered it one of the less realistic functional aspects of today's LEGO Technic vehicles, so I figured more serious Technic lovers might not like that kind of thing. Hand-of-god steering probably might have been an improvement and also might've also made it easier to motorize the steering, but I'm quite impressed that they went the extra mile to gear the steering to the actual steering column, since that's generally a lot more difficult and also something that a lot of recent Technic vehicles don't do. I'm confident that once this is released, one of the bright minds here on Eurobricks should be able to come up with a way to add hand-of-god steering or even motor steering without seriously diminishing the look of the model. :)

Weird! That's not I heard from New York Toy Fair reports. I wonder if these are May releases only at LEGO.com and LEGO brand stores, or at all retailers? Of course, it could also be that the site I got that NYTF info from made an error.

It's true that a lot of AFOLs don't heap praise on the latest waves of Castle and Pirates sets. But they do tend to have high praise for the classic Castle and Pirates sets which were aimed at more or less the same audience. And yes, of course what people do with MOCs goes way beyond what LEGO does with sets. This applies to ANY theme. But I wasn't taking issue with how people talk about MOCs (which is usually tends to be fairly respectful regardless of theme, and at worst a bit patronizing), but rather how they talk about actual LEGO sets and themes. The point still stands that LEGO designs themes like Nexo Knights and Ninjago for that higher age range for a reason. Generally, the LEGO Group doesn't design sets and then just haphazardly assign an age range to them after the fact. Rather, there's a target age range established when a theme is pitched, design sets with techniques appropriate to that age range, and make adjustments to it based on things like the size of the set. For City/Castle/Pirates/Friends, the base age range tends to be 5–12. For themes like Ninjago, Legends of Chima, and Nexo Knights, it tends to be 7–14. That is deliberate. If LEGO wanted the Ninjago or Nexo Knights sets to be for younger kids, I guarantee you they wouldn't hesitate to use simpler building techniques so they could capitalize on that audience. In fact, they've gone ahead and proven that by releasing Ninjago-themed Juniors sets that eschew the theme's usual more elaborate building techniques. The trickier building techniques of typical Ninjago sets are not just circumstantial, they are designed with those techniques in order to make them enjoyable for their target audience. The subject matter of each theme does not somehow lock it into a specific target age range, either. There's no reason you can't build a medieval set with more elaborate building techniques (like we've seen with the Medieval Market Village or Kingdoms Joust), or a ninja temple with simpler building techniques (like we've now seen with the Juniors Lost Temple). I still think the notion that certain aesthetics are inherently more childish than others is dubious. Sure, a lot of kids like bright colors, humorous details, and action-packed designs. But so do a lot of adults. The notion that adults prefer everything to be the picture of stuffy realism is a woefully outdated stereotype. Just look how many AFOLs loved the Guardians of the Galaxy sets, which were just as random, wacky, over-the-top, and colorful as many Ninjago sets (not to mention featured, among other characters, a giant tree man and his goofy animal sidekick). Look at how many AFOLs are nostalgic for old-school themes like M:Tron, which included a space helicopter with laser rotors in a startlingly bright color palette, plus a chunky mobile base with a giant glowing windscreen with wheels that could've come off a Tonka truck. Even Classic Space was full of smiley-face figures in multicolor jumpsuits that make many Ninjago costumes look subdued, many of them riding in or accompanied by goofy-looking robots. If legions of AFOLs can really celebrate and cherish these themes, and yet simultaneously treat the Nexo Knights and Ninjago sets as goofy, nonsensical kid stuff, am I wrong to think there's a bit of a double standard going on there? Again, I'm not saying that Ninjago and Nexo Knights aren't childish. I'm saying pretty much ALL play themes are childish, because they're first and foremost aimed at kids, and I wish the whole AFOL community would be a bit more aware and accepting of that instead of so many people trying to pretend the sets and themes they loved as kids were somehow more grown-up than the sets and themes kids love today. What AFOLs love about Castle, just like what other AFOLs love about Ninjago or Nexo Knights, doesn't come from any of those themes being aimed squarely at them. It comes from the interests they share with the kids who are those themes' real intended audience, and from the design attributes of LEGO that make it an enjoyable and versatile experience for all ages.

They do, on the top. But that's usually hard to see in these kinds of pics unless it's super high resolution.

In North America all the summer City sets are coming out in August. I think they might be coming sooner in Europe but don't know when specifically.

The camo would really make no sense for a final set. The point of camo like that on real cars is to hide their contours before they're officially revealed, but once it's announced the contours are a big part of how you identify the car as what it is. If LEGO were going to hide them it would defeat the purpose of designing it to look like this car specifically. Maybe the camo version might make sense as a limited "special edition" of the set but not as the regular retail version.

Believe me, the irony has not escaped me. It's baffling how often I hear themes like Ninjago, Chima, and Nexo Knights dismissed as "childish" or "kids' stuff" by AFOLs who have no trouble indulging classic themes like City, Castle, and Pirates that are routinely aimed at a younger audience! That's not to say that Ninjago and the like aren't for kids, because of course they are, but it's a little disingenuous for someone to treat that as a mark against them when the themes they prefer are geared towards an even younger demographic. I think to really be honest with yourself as an AFOL, you have to be prepared to admit that you're enjoying something that was generally not designed with you in mind, and to be OK with that. Even if you stick to buying 12+/14+/16+ sets like UCS Star Wars sets or modular buildings, or to building your own original creations, you should remember that the LEGO bricks and minifigures themselves were pioneered as toys for kids, and that purpose informs their design. On a lot of levels, I think LEGO is great because of its kid-friendly design philosophy, not in spite of it. Back on the subject of LEGO castles, I think it's definitely unrealistic to assume traditional LEGO Castle is never coming back. Nexo Knights is fun and novel but I don't necessarily believe it has the mojo to become an evergreen theme like City or Ninjago. That's not necessarily even the goal for themes like this. And when it ends, I doubt LEGO is going to want to do another future-medieval theme. Chances are, they'll want their next "big bang" IP to be something fresh and new. Space pirates, maybe, or wizard police, or robot cowboys. You get the idea — something that doesn't just feel like a rehash of another recent theme. And clearing up the medieval space means there'll be an opportunity for a more classic medieval theme as well.

Specifically, City of Stiix has Jay (original), Temple of Airjitzu has Wu (original) and Cole (original), Cole's Rock Roader has Kendo Cole (original), and The Lighthouse Siege has Lord Garmadon (original). So as of this summer there will have been five trading card tiles. I'm kind of surprised we got another version of Cole this year instead of another of the ninja. I guess it makes sense with Cole as the focus of that set, though.

Everything I've seen says it IS $20. Where are people getting $25 from?

The disk powers that made the Mask of Time in G1 weren't really elemental in nature. But I can definitely dig this sort of wacky time travel shenanigans! Actually, connecting the Mask of Time's origins with the Mask of Ultimate Power would be an interesting way of justifying bringing it into the sets in 2018, when the Mask of Ultimate Power will presumably be a key plot element. It's still pure speculation at this point, but it could make for an interesting development. Hard to tell how the "second half" of the Mask of Time would factor into that kind of scenario, though.

Well, one thing setting Castle apart from Nexo Knights, Ninjago, and the like (which I've brought up previously in this topic) is age range. LEGO Nexo Knights, Ninjago, and Elves are all ages 7+, LEGO Castle is traditionally ages 5+. Of course, with Ninjago now having expanded to include Juniors sets for ages 4–7, perhaps that age distinction might no longer work in favor of non-IP themes like Castle and Pirates. Then again, if LEGO really does have more themes than ever, that seems to indicate that they HAVE been able to introduce more than they have discontinued. So yes, for now they might be "at capacity", but they've shown that they are able to increase their capacity, and that isn't necessarily on the verge of stopping.

I do most of my building on the floor. It's a habit I've never really been able to break. When I build sets in the den or living room I will often do it on a table, but when building sets or MOCs in my room or in the basement, it's almost always the floor. Some day my knees might hate me for this.

Kryptarium Prison Breakout is not even a $25 set, it's a $20 set. With that in mind its somewhat meager size is fairly understandable. Architecturally, I don't think it's awful. The sliding gate looks nice, as do the prison cells. But there's just not a whole lot there.

BZPower's New York Toy Fair coverage mentioned it, so presumably they were able to confirm it there. This is one of the things that I think complicates the whole issue of whether the Mask of Time connects G1 and G2. I am not sure whether it's realistic to expect any official connection to directly follow up on specific loose ends from the G1 serials, especially considering how MANY of those there were.

While I'm not ruling out a connection between the two universes (it's looking increasingly plausible, and with new insights into how old the Mask of Time is, it's getting easier to narrow down the ways they might be connected), it's also not impossible for the mask of time to have the same name in two unconnected continuities. So we still don't have absolute confirmation that G1 and G2 are part of the same continuity. Sorry if I sound like a skeptic/wet blanket!

Well, I mean, it IS a set for grown-ups. If it were a Juniors set aimed at four-year-olds then I imagine they would have opted for printing, but they're probably safe in assuming we're experienced enough to apply a few stickers, even if some of us might grouse about it a bit beforehand. Stickers are standard fare for decorations in Technic sets, even the bigger ones, and it's been that way for at least two decades — half of the theme's existence. So if the Technic theme as a whole is doing well enough for LEGO to consider putting out a $300 "deluxe" set like this then stickers can't be hurting its sales that much. All in all, I can't imagine the stickers will be the deciding factor in whether somebody gets the set unless they're already looking for excuses not to get it.

I wouldn't say that. Let's not forget that the actual steel LEGO molds do wear out and have to be touched up and eventually replaced after frequent use. It's possible that these cracks might be a sign one or more of their molds is wearing out, and possibly that very slight changes could be made to the design of their replacements to prevent these issues from cropping up so soon. Everyone just keep reporting these problems to the LEGO Group as you encounter them. They have the resources to decide if/when/how something can be done about them.

The Helicarrier was already in review by the time LEGO was able to reveal they had a similar product coming out. Announcing the results for one review candidate before the review results as a whole is different than archiving an individual project before it gets to review. But Elsa's Sparkling Ice Castle was already on shelves by the time the Elsa's Ice Palace project got 10,000 supporters. So as x105black said, it's possible that it SHOULD have been archived before it reached review. Nobody's saying the LEGO Ideas team has had everything all figured out from the get-go. They're figuring out how to manage these specific kinds of scenarios as they go.

I think flick missiles, when attached some place you can flick them properly, are still reasonably effective. I was able to get the ones from Breez Flea Machine to sail clear across my bedroom. Overall, I don't think they're totally obsolete, and as long as the piece is in production LEGO might as well continue to use them as projectiles where they see fit. They're not too hard to remove or ignore if you don't like them, and clearly kids get enough enjoyment out of them for them to exist in the first place, so no point stopping using them as missiles entirely.

I don't think non-medieval licensed themes like Angry Birds really have any influence on what LEGO does with Castle proper. Now, Nexo Knights, that's a different story. It's been in development for several years (since 2009, I think I heard), so they seem to have timed its release specifically to coincide with a Castle hiatus. But that's not to say Nexo Knights would have to go away before capital-C Castle can come back.

It's a snapshot from ! The temple is based on preliminary concepts for the building that houses "LEGO Ninjago: The Ride" at LEGOLAND Billund and LEGOLAND California (as seen in this image), though it's not an exact likeness.

The LEGOLAND California Twitter page shared an even better version of the same image. The LEGOLAND parks in particular are using these new ninja costumes extensively in brick sculptures, attractions, and advertising.

Elemental powers may not be actual spells or curses or anything like that, but they could still qualify as magic. But I agree, there are a lot of directions they could go with a school setting, and I don't particularly expect them to leaning in a Harry Potter "magic school" direction. The way the synopsis we've heard puts things, it sounds like the ninja's school lives will be largely separate from their magical ninja lives.