Excited for the return of gear functions?

[randomreviewerbros]

Well since looking at the pictures of the new awesome sets that are coming out next year, I saw that each of them have a yellow gear at the back of their bodies, which I would be guessing means the return of gear functions on BIONICLE sets.

I personally am very excited for this if that is the case 

What do you think about this if that is true and not just a part they put on for the prototype sets?

[Sumiki]

IM SO PUMPED IM GONNA GET A DOCTOR TO REPLACE MY SHOULDER BLADES WITH PLASTIC GEARS

[Cambion]

IM SO PUMPED IM GONNA SHOVE AN ENTIRE GEAR FUNCTION UP MY STOLEN JOKE

Edited October 11, 2014 by Arc

[Kuurai]

Yes! Absolutely feel ecstatic at the return of Technic funcionality! To me the integration of the Technic system with flexibility was really the heart and soul to the whole theme, second to the story and characters, of course

[Ballom Nom Nom]

IM SO PUMPED IM GONNA GET A DOCTOR TO REPLACE MY SHOULDER BLADES WITH PLASTIC GEARS

"Yeah, every time I belch, the plates shift and my legs give out. But man, what a view."

 

~B~

[Toa Smoke Monster]

I'm very happy that gears are being used on the Bionicle sets. I just hope they are as good as they were in the original Toa Mata and Toa Nuva sets. (And others sets at their time too.) 

[Tuuli]

I'm on the hype train about the new technic coming back and I think they will have mask packs again, hopefully.

[Irrie]

I personally don't like gear functions because they make a lot of the joints flimsy after using them for a while. Not that excited. 

[masterchirox580]

I'm so excited that I'm gonna patiently wait till they're released, what did you expect me to start eating my Toa nuva or something like that.

[randomreviewerbros]

I'm on the hype train about the new technic coming back and I think they will have mask packs again, hopefully.

Yes definitely, it seems that way at the moment! Would be great to get mask packs again!

Edited October 11, 2014 by randomreviewerbros

[Lyichir]

I'm so excited I'm gonna take lots of pictures of the new gearbox piece for y'all once I get home.

[bioniclepluslotr]

Not a fan. They make posing difficult and it's an eyesore from the back.

[Infamousevil]

Not a fan. They make posing difficult and it's an eyesore from the back.

Agreed they are terrible for poses and they are a horrible design idea. By the way I was with Bionicle from the begining.

[Lyichir]

Not a fan. They make posing difficult and it's an eyesore from the back.

 

Not a fan. They make posing difficult and it's an eyesore from the back.

Agreed they are terrible for poses and they are a horrible design idea. By the way I was with Bionicle from the begining.

 

So... have either of you actually used the new gearboxes? Because I'm seeing a lot of assumptions about them. The new gearboxes are very versatile, allowing numerous options for adding friction or armoring the back. I can say that because I not only have seen them in person, but actually own one. And you can rest assured that posing is nowhere near as difficult as it was back in the days of the Toa Mata or Metru.

Edited October 11, 2014 by Lyichir

[bioniclepluslotr]

 

Not a fan. They make posing difficult and it's an eyesore from the back.

 

Not a fan. They make posing difficult and it's an eyesore from the back.

Agreed they are terrible for poses and they are a horrible design idea. By the way I was with Bionicle from the begining.

 

So... have either of you actually used the new gearboxes? Because I'm seeing a lot of assumptions about them. The new gearboxes are very versatile, allowing numerous options for adding friction or armoring the back. I can say that because I not only have seen them in person, but actually own one. And you can rest assured that posing is nowhere near as difficult as it was back in the days of the Toa Mata or Metru.

 

Big yellow tho.

[Banana Gunz]

 

 

Not a fan. They make posing difficult and it's an eyesore from the back.

 

Not a fan. They make posing difficult and it's an eyesore from the back.

Agreed they are terrible for poses and they are a horrible design idea. By the way I was with Bionicle from the begining.

 

So... have either of you actually used the new gearboxes? Because I'm seeing a lot of assumptions about them. The new gearboxes are very versatile, allowing numerous options for adding friction or armoring the back. I can say that because I not only have seen them in person, but actually own one. And you can rest assured that posing is nowhere near as difficult as it was back in the days of the Toa Mata or Metru.

 

Big yellow tho.

 

 

That can be easily replaced though. The bigger problem for me was that they looked like they stuck out a little far, though I get the feeling that that can be fixed as well.

[Kaxix]

Yes, I am happy to see them back. I'd be even happier if they try to include them in the next summer sets with a different function.

[Liopleurodon]

Yes, I'm really excited to see gears returning!

[Lyichir]

 

So... have either of you actually used the new gearboxes? Because I'm seeing a lot of assumptions about them. The new gearboxes are very versatile, allowing numerous options for adding friction or armoring the back. I can say that because I not only have seen them in person, but actually own one. And you can rest assured that posing is nowhere near as difficult as it was back in the days of the Toa Mata or Metru.

Big yellow tho.

 

If that really bothers you, then as others said it's easy to replace. I do think that a yellow gear on the back to indicate a function is pretty far from an "eyesore" though (just like I felt that there was nothing wrong with the red button on Dragon Bolt's back).

 

That can be easily replaced though. The bigger problem for me was that they looked like they stuck out a little far, though I get the feeling that that can be fixed as well.

It works better with them sticking out like that, especially for those of us with huge adult hands. Heck, on the model I built at the Lego store event I had to use a Technic extender piece to make it stick out farther, since I put huge wings on the back that made it hard to reach the gear otherwise.

 

But yes, if you want to limit how far the gear sticks out, that too is customizable. The new "gearbox" is fairly compact (not even really a "box" at all), so you shouldn't have much trouble adjusting it to suit your personal taste.

[Banana Gunz]

 

That can be easily replaced though. The bigger problem for me was that they looked like they stuck out a little far, though I get the feeling that that can be fixed as well.

It works better with them sticking out like that, especially for those of us with huge adult hands. Heck, on the model I built at the Lego store event I had to use a Technic extender piece to make it stick out farther, since I put huge wings on the back that made it hard to reach the gear otherwise.

 

But yes, if you want to limit how far the gear sticks out, that too is customizable. The new "gearbox" is fairly compact (not even really a "box" at all), so you shouldn't have much trouble adjusting it to suit your personal taste.

 

 

That's definitely good to hear! The mix of the gearbox and CCBS is absolutely beautiful. Super customize-able, super functional, and super efficient!

[Tuuli]

 

 

Not a fan. They make posing difficult and it's an eyesore from the back.

Agreed they are terrible for poses and they are a horrible design idea. By the way I was with Bionicle from the begining.

Was with bionicle from the beginning and I LOVE gearboxes! So long suckers, this hype train is blazing the rails.

[bioniclepluslotr]

 

 

Not a fan. They make posing difficult and it's an eyesore from the back.

Agreed they are terrible for poses and they are a horrible design idea. By the way I was with Bionicle from the begining.

Was with bionicle from the beginning and I LOVE gearboxes! So long suckers, this hype train is blazing the rails.

 

please don't call me sucker.

[fishers64]

CCBS + Technic = win. 

 

I'm glad Lego FINALLY gets this. 

[Regitnui]

I started ignoring the gear functions a long while ago simply because they interfered with posing and MoCing. However, if these new models prove that the Posability can be combined with the Gear 'function' (flipping the arm up and down is not as amazing as it's made out to be), then I'm happy as a camper.

[Aanchir]

CCBS + Technic = win. 

 

I'm glad Lego FINALLY gets this.

That's not anything new, really... the 2013 and 2014 Hero Factory sets have had plenty of Technic parts, building styles, and functions. This is just the first time they've used gear functions specifically in $15 or $20 sets (the only two CCBS sets to have gear functions were the $35 Jet Rocka from 2013 and the $25 Evo XL Machine from 2014).

[Turaga Majice]

Kinda dislike the gear functions, actually. Historically, I find that the gear functions mean the limbs that use them are loose and swingy. I tend to prefer sets that lack gears and projectiles. If the gears turn out as I fear this time, I'll just modify the dealio.

[Banana Gunz]

Kinda dislike the gear functions, actually. Historically, I find that the gear functions mean the limbs that use them are loose and swingy. I tend to prefer sets that lack gears and projectiles. If the gears turn out as I fear this time, I'll just modify the dealio.

 

I think you can just move the arms forward to the open ball joints. I'm sure MOC'ing them to not have the functions shouldn't be horrendously difficult.

[Rooster Nui]

I'm very excited. I think the gear functions are great because they're simple to use but at the same time offer quite a bit of play value. I think that it is also great that we have a specialised piece for the gear function of each set that includes one, and being able to articulate the arms to however we want and still be able to turn a gear and the let the arms swing is just fantastic. 

 

I'd honestly prefer a gear function over a launcher any day.

[Regitnui]

I'd honestly prefer a gear function over a launcher any day.

Oh, completely seconded. Especially since every 'collectible' after the Zamors was basically unbuildable and was the only 'function' the set had. The Kanoka and Rhotuka launchers fitted into sets and pieces in a number of other ways. The zamor had storyline relevance, but those from the cordak onwards were just pitiful. So I'm a little iffy about the Protector's 'elemental launchers' maybe I'll pick.up one just to see how it would work.

[Aanchir]

Kinda dislike the gear functions, actually. Historically, I find that the gear functions mean the limbs that use them are loose and swingy. I tend to prefer sets that lack gears and projectiles. If the gears turn out as I fear this time, I'll just modify the dealio.

There should be no issue with that here. Most of the Toa's arms are geared to a friction pin. Most of the time these small "extra" gears are hidden inside (you can see some of them in this picture — look at the small gears behind Pohatu and Gali's necks), but you can see a much clearer example with Lewa's left armpit. It's sort of similar to how the original Toa Kaita Akamai and Wairuha had their legs geared to a ball joint on the crotch so they wouldn't flop around.

 

Onua has what is probably one of the heaviest weapon, and in his case it's unlikely that a single friction pin would be sufficient. But he demonstrates a more robust way to add friction — each shoulder has a ball joint with through hole and a Y-joint, so it adds twice as much friction as Akamai and Wairuha's legs had. You can sorta barely see in this picture I took. Someone else might have gotten a better photo of his back. But basically imagine Lewa's armpit with a ball joint and a Y-joint in place of the gears he actually uses.

[Nidhiki of the Shadows]

Immensely. I loved gear functions, but I also loved posebility. I thought they couldn't coexist... but this line is proving me dead wrong. The gear function seems to work perfect, but still allows for all the posebility of the constraction line. It's awesome, and a really cool system to implement which adds complexity and playability.

 

-NotS

[Toa Green Ninja]

Yes, very much so! And the fact that the new gear system is amazing enough to allow posing of the figures more easily takes away all of my worries about it.

[dee.3x3]

From what I've seen, the gear box seems to have an extra gear attatched with a friction pin that acts as a stabilizer, which is nice. Or at least room for one anyway.

 

But yeah, I'm excited for them. It's something new to ccbs, and so it's good to see them expanding and experimenting with the system to improve it.

[randomreviewerbros]

I'm so excited I'm gonna take lots of pictures of the new gearbox piece for y'all once I get home.

Yes! Did you get to build your own Toa at NYCC?

 

Kinda dislike the gear functions, actually. Historically, I find that the gear functions mean the limbs that use them are loose and swingy. I tend to prefer sets that lack gears and projectiles. If the gears turn out as I fear this time, I'll just modify the dealio.

There should be no issue with that here. Most of the Toa's arms are geared to a friction pin. Most of the time these small "extra" gears are hidden inside (you can see some of them in this picture — look at the small gears behind Pohatu and Gali's necks), but you can see a much clearer example with Lewa's left armpit. It's sort of similar to how the original Toa Kaita Akamai and Wairuha had their legs geared to a ball joint on the crotch so they wouldn't flop around.

 

Onua has what is probably one of the heaviest weapon, and in his case it's unlikely that a single friction pin would be sufficient. But he demonstrates a more robust way to add friction — each shoulder has a ball joint with through hole and a Y-joint, so it adds twice as much friction as Akamai and Wairuha's legs had. You can sorta barely see in this picture I took. Someone else might have gotten a better photo of his back. But basically imagine Lewa's armpit with a ball joint and a Y-joint in place of the gears he actually uses.

 

Do the gears work well with ccbs?

[Aanchir]

Do the gears work well with ccbs?

Pretty well, yeah! They're the same "knob gears" as the Ussanui and Boxor used, so they have the same smoothness as Hero Factory parts. The old gears are more likely to have stuck out like a sore thumb. The proportions of the new gearbox also make it easy to use with Hero Factory torso beams.

[fishers64]

 

Do the gears work well with ccbs?

Pretty well, yeah! They're the same "knob gears" as the Ussanui and Boxor used, so they have the same smoothness as Hero Factory parts. The old gears are more likely to have stuck out like a sore thumb. The proportions of the new gearbox also make it easy to use with Hero Factory torso beams.

 

Just to be clear, you mean these, right?

 

http://brickset.com/parts/4248204

 

[Zeb]

 

 

Do the gears work well with ccbs?

Pretty well, yeah! They're the same "knob gears" as the Ussanui and Boxor used, so they have the same smoothness as Hero Factory parts. The old gears are more likely to have stuck out like a sore thumb. The proportions of the new gearbox also make it easy to use with Hero Factory torso beams.

 

Just to be clear, you mean these, right?

 

http://brickset.com/parts/4248204

 

 

I'm not Aanchir, but those are the parts.

[boston100]

Thank mata nui FINALLY i missed gears so much. They were great for whacking stuff. LOL! Im hopping to see gears in more complexed sets that will do awesome things like jetrax. 

[Zeb]

The way they managed to take everything that makes the CCBS amazing and combine it with the full power of Bionicle gear functions makes me really excited!   I wonder how Lego is going to top this design. It feels like there's not much more they can do to improve.

[Akuna Toa of Sonics]

This was my reaction to seeing the new gears in that review of Tahu. Until I get my hands on the sets, I'm going to try and figure out how Lego did that by miserably failing to replicate the new gear box.

Edited October 12, 2014 by Akuna Toa of Sonics