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Bionicle Rumors/Leaks: A Different Take


fishers64

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I'm going to unpack this from what I think is a logical perspective. So we know that:

 

A. A new constraction line is coming in 2015 (or is rumored to be coming, we don't know: all we really know is that someone is working on one).

B. That there were leaked images with the Bionicle name on them.

C. The proclamation that "Bionicle is not coming back for the foreseeable future" was removed from the LMB.

D. Greg is now less willing to deny plans for a future Bionicle.

 

So that leaves us with three possibilities, logically:

 

1. That Bionicle is coming back

2. That some new constraction line is coming, NOT Bionicle

3. That some constraction line was proposed for 2015 and scrapped.

 

I'm confident that the evidence A-D is consistent with all three possibilities.

 

Picture this: You're a guy at Billund with an idea for a new constraction figure line. You're probably a set designer, and you build some cool stuff with the CCBS, but it doesn't fit with HF or Chima. You pitch it to the right people, somewhere the marketing and story people get on board, and then they reach a decision: what to call the new line.

 

Then someone comes in: "Wait. This could work for a Bionicle return."

 

Freeze.

 

With that one line, they've changed the entire status of Bionicle. Previously, there was no plans to bring it back. It was off the table, if not in the recycle bin. Bionicle is now on the table for discussion.

 

Unfreeze.

 

The other guys at the table nod. It's possible, yeah. In fact, they consider it a strong possibility. This is a strong enough possibility that they call the concept artists and put a few images on the table to see how this idea will look with the Bionicle name on it. There's your leaked images.

 

And then the concept people sit around and discuss it, and this information gets to the Lego webmasters (who have to design the websites for next year's theme in advance, web design takes time, yo) and Greg, that a discussion is happening. Thereby "There are no plans to bring Bionicle back for the foreseeable future." is no longer true. So the notice is taken off the LMB, and Greg stops spouting it.

 

But the decision between possibilities 1, 2, and 3 still hasn't been made. Or, likely as not, it has been made, but we don't know what it is yet. Discussing Bionicle in terms of the new line doesn't mean that they decided to go with it. Also, having someone working on a project doesn't mean that they decided to go with it either. It's by essence a vague term - someone could work on a project for two hours a day and be considered to be working on it.

 

However, two positive conclusions can be drawn:

 

1. Bionicle was brought to the table for discussion. In short, the Bionicle people got in the door. We've jumped from "not for the foreseeable future/we have no plans/get out" to "maybe we'll consider it?".

 

2. It is considerably unlikely that, IF there is a new line, it will be like HF storywise. Whatever story plan they had, SOMETHING about this new line was close enough to Bionicle for someone to say that it could BE Bionicle. Also, considering the fact that HF already exists, a new line would have to be very different to be considered.

 

So when this new line comes, even if it isn't the big B, it will probably be another Ninjago in terms of story. Which is fine lol, Ninjago is good. :) I see good reason to be excited about that.

 

That is, if a new line is coming. :P I hear no official enouncements on zis number. Lots of dead air. Which means, as of right now, we still know nothing useful.

 

And now I'm posting it here so it will not get buried under 10 posts in 5 minutes, and also because it is long.

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So when this new line comes, even if it isn't the big B, it will probably be another Ninjago in terms of story. Which is fine lol, Ninjago is good.

 

The urge to make a snarky remark about some prior controversy is strong, but I'll refrain and simply agree, considering I do enjoy Ninjago's story quite a bit.

 

This was quite an interesting look from an interesting perspective indeed. Granted, two things come to mind.

 

1. I can believe one concept made for fun, but multiple is a little difficult to believe. I can't go into much detail due to the rules, but still.

2. Considering the Lego development process, I doubt that any of the employees would pitch that kind of thing and see how far it goes. =P From what I understand, they figure out some certain things regarding a theme first, design the sets, then stick a story to them.

 

Those are the only two things I can think to make mention of. Otherwise, quite an interesting perspective.

 

LJ

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Keep in mind how the new constraction theme for 2015 was revealed. Specifically, it was on the LinkedIn resume of Asger Johansen, an Advance employee. He's since edited the resume to remove specific mention of constraction, but it's still listed as "Ongoing projects: Concept, story and communication for a new LEGO theme." A constraction theme that was considered and scrapped would not be listed as an "ongoing project". Therefore, the idea that a new constraction theme was considered and dismissed is not one of the possibilities on the table. Whether the new constraction theme is BIONICLE or not, we know it's still happening.

 

The subject matter and origin of the leaked images also guarantees that it's not just "concept art", but I can't really discuss what's in the images or where they came from on this site due to the leaked image policy.

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This is a strong enough possibility that they call the concept artists and put a few images on the table to see how this idea will look with the Bionicle name on it. There's your leaked images.

I'm not convinced. Why, out of anything, would they make images of a cardboard shelf to try out how the concept would look like? Also, that's not really consistent with where those images are supposed to come from, why would LEGO send such concept images to a third party company?

 

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The urge to make a snarky remark about some prior controversy is strong, but I'll refrain and simply agree, considering I do enjoy Ninjago's story quite a bit.

Snarking is fine; Ninjago is deep into that enough that I actually used it for a school paper on the very thing. :P But despite all, I still like Ninjago. :)

 

I may try to post the paper one of these days, but it's long and stirring up old controversies that can lead to flame wars is not a good idea.

 

This was quite an interesting look from an interesting perspective indeed. Granted, two things come to mind.

 

1. I can believe one concept made for fun, but multiple is a little difficult to believe. I can't go into much detail due to the rules, but still.

2. Considering the Lego development process, I doubt that any of the employees would pitch that kind of thing and see how far it goes. =P From what I understand, they figure out some certain things regarding a theme first, design the sets, then stick a story to them.

 

Those are the only two things I can think to make mention of. Otherwise, quite an interesting perspective.

 

LJ

My knowledge of the Lego development process is not the greatest. But regardless, somebody had to come up with the idea and spread it around Lego enough for the company to consider it, then somewhere along that process someone mentioned Bionicle. 

 

Second, I would imagine that they would have multiple concept images on the table for preliminary analysis. I don't think the leaks I saw were final sets by any means. :shrugs:

 

@Aanchir: You make some good points. However, removing the word "constraction" could indicate that it's no longer a constraction line, which could make it even more like Ninjago. :shrugs:

 

@Gata: Good question. Maybe they were looking for their input or something? :shrugs: Sometimes Advance works with Lego on their story ideas. 

 

All right, let's just say that I'm no expert on the leaks at this point, and leave it at that. Otherwise I'll have to shut this down to comply with the leaked content policy. 

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@Gata: Good question. Maybe they were looking for their input or something? :shrugs: Sometimes Advance works with Lego on their story ideas.

I don't think LEGO needs feedback from a company that produces packaging... And I suppose Advance would be heavily involved in a return of BIONICLE, considering all their contributions to its first iteration.

 

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Just speaking hypothetically, if a part like the new rapid-fire shooters in the 2015 set 75084 (which were not known about or even speculated about before this week) were to show up clearly in an alleged leaked image, from a number of different angles, would that make them more convincing? Not saying that has happened, of course.... but if it were to happen, that's the sort of thing that would be very, very hard to fabricate without some sort of uncanny prior knowledge of the LEGO Group's upcoming products.

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But if you know, couldn't they know? 

Not if, hypothetically, the new image were just a clearer version of the same image that had been circulating all month. Even if it weren't, four days would not be a lot of time to draw and/or render a part from different angles that had only ever been seen by the public from a single angle prior to Comic-Con.

 

There's a point at which skepticism stops being rational, and you have to assume superhuman skill, talent, and precognition on the part of a random internet troll in order to consider the possibility of a hoax realistic.

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True. But this hypothetical event has not yet occurred, so my skepticism will be maintained. 

 

This is because I will experience no injury from maintaining it if I am wrong, and will gain if this is, indeed, a hoax. I also will continue to logically evaluate the information the best I can against the possibility of hoax or confirmation. 

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After all this nonsense going around on BZP and it seems like some people are beginning to believe BIONICLE will return.

 

For the people who do, congratulations.

 

All of what's occurring with Hero factory proves BIONICLE returning very likely, but possibly necessary, with no other constraction theme besides CHIMA figs, Lego will have to re-boot the line somehow.

 

And I DO, 100% know BIONICLE will return, but I haven't any reasonable evidence that BZP staff and crew will accept as liable.

 

(sigh) It's only a matter of time before we all find out the truth.

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Interesting theory, Fishers, although I can tell you that the leaked images are definitely not from a Lego discussion room in Billund or something like that... Lego has definitely decided 100% that there will be Bionicle sets in 2015. That's not to say that "let's call these sets Bionicle" (as opposed to "let's bring back Bionicle and design sets") isn't the case.

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