LEGO 2015 Activity Book Contents Revealed

[Hapori Tohu]

Ameet's catalog of 2015 LEGO books has been released, including our first pictures of the LEGO Bionicle, LEGO Ninjago, and LEGO Elves activity books coming out later this year. Unsurprisingly, the bonus mask for the Bionicle activity book is not exclusive - it's the golden Protector mask featured in set 70795 Mask Maker vs. Skull Grinder. Likewise, the Ninjago activity book features the relatively common Kai Rebooted minifigure from last year. The Elves activity book's contents, while still not exclusive, are perhaps the most interesting : a brick-built bracelet built from gold chains and the four printed elemental icons from the LEGO Elves sets. There are also lots of other interesting LEGO books listed (some of which may not be released in the United States), so feel free to browse the catalog and see what's planned for publication this year!

 

View the full article

[Rooster Nui]

Well, that's a bit of a shame. I'm not too bothered, however. Ekimu's Protector mask might be hard to obtain for young kids, so the purchase of the Bionicle activity book should be a more affordable way of getting the mask.

[steelviper77]

The picture they provide of the book makes it look more like Protector of Fire's mask to me. I can't speak Polish but it looks like they're just showing ekimu's mask as an example. I'm on google translate as we speak though, and I'll send it to my polish friend if she comes online.

[Dorek]

"Unsurprisingly"? I don't think that's particularly fair to say. It wasn't a guarantee by any stretch, but there was reason enough to entertain the notion.

[xccj]

Way to dash all our hopes and dreams of a true exclusive!  (Granted, they should stop using that word.  Hard-to-find, sure, exclusive, no.)

 

Plus, that image sure looks inconsistent.  Maybe it's a random protector mask.  HEY GUYS mask packs are back, and now they come with a book. 

 

[steelviper77]

Google Translate to the rescue! Here's what it says, I've edited for clarity, although pm me if you want the polish text or original translation:

 

"Meet new fascinating stories from the world of LEGO Bionicle!
Long ago, all the inhabitants of the island of Okoto lived in total harmony. It was a place full of miracles and amazing landscapes. Two brothers, Makuta and Ekimu, used the original elements of the island and created masks of power. When those created by Ekimu turned out to be the most valuable, Makuta wanted to create the most powerful mask that had ever existed! Discover the secrets of the mask of creation!
 

[Not sure what to make of this, so leaving it as is] The book with the tasks, comics and LEGO Bionicle Mask
_{FORMAT 205 x 290 mm 32 pages}
 

[The tags to the side of the book]AUTUMN SOON

[Title on book, this one was different on many translators, so I'm taking liberties] QUEST FOR THE MASK OF POWER"

 

Okay so really nothing new in the summary, the comics that it mentions are probably the promotional ones and the ones on the back of the boxes, we knew it was coming in august. And all we know is that there is SOME protector mask given the shape of the plastic, because as mentioned, there is a picture of Ekimu's protector mask, but it looks like PoF's mask on the book.

[Lyichir]

Way to dash all our hopes and dreams of a true exclusive!  (Granted, they should stop using that word.  Hard-to-find, sure, exclusive, no.)

 

Plus, that image sure looks inconsistent.  Maybe it's a random protector mask.  HEY GUYS mask packs are back, and now they come with a book. 

 

Good thing they never used the word exclusive in relation to this activity book!

 

Seriously, I don't know why people were expecting an exclusive mask from this, considering there was no evidence for it and piles of evidence against it.

[Dorek]

 

Way to dash all our hopes and dreams of a true exclusive!  (Granted, they should stop using that word.  Hard-to-find, sure, exclusive, no.)

 

Plus, that image sure looks inconsistent.  Maybe it's a random protector mask.  HEY GUYS mask packs are back, and now they come with a book. 

 

 

Good thing they never used the word exclusive in relation to this activity book!

 

Seriously, I don't know why people were expecting an exclusive mask from this, considering there was no evidence for it and piles of evidence against it.

 

"Piles"? Pretty sure the only thing that was ever actually said was that it would come with a mask; since including the mask was a selling point (it's in the placeholder title on Amazon) people were hoping for an exclusive. So far they've already released three, and they release exclusive minifigs with other types of activity books, so it's certainly not a stretch to imagine this could have been something new.

[Aanchir]

 

 

Way to dash all our hopes and dreams of a true exclusive!  (Granted, they should stop using that word.  Hard-to-find, sure, exclusive, no.)

 

Plus, that image sure looks inconsistent.  Maybe it's a random protector mask.  HEY GUYS mask packs are back, and now they come with a book. 

 

 

Good thing they never used the word exclusive in relation to this activity book!

 

Seriously, I don't know why people were expecting an exclusive mask from this, considering there was no evidence for it and piles of evidence against it.

 

"Piles"? Pretty sure the only thing that was ever actually said was that it would come with a mask; since including the mask was a selling point (it's in the placeholder title on Amazon) people were hoping for an exclusive. So far they've already released three, and they release exclusive minifigs with other types of activity books, so it's certainly not a stretch to imagine this could have been something new.

 

 

LEGO has been releasing activity books of this sort for over half a decade and they have never included any exclusive parts. The placeholder title said "Activity Book with Mask", just as other activity books of this sort are identified as "Activity Book with Minifigure" or "Activity Book with Bricks". If the minifigures and bricks are never exclusive, why would the mask be?

 

Perhaps "piles of evidence" is an overstatement, but suffice it to say that there was never any evidence pointing to this mask being exclusive, and all the evidence there was pointed to it being just like any other activity book of its kind, except with a repackaged BIONICLE mask instead of repackaged bricks or a repackaged minifigure.

Edited June 13, 2015 by Aanchir

[Dorek]

 

 

 

Way to dash all our hopes and dreams of a true exclusive!  (Granted, they should stop using that word.  Hard-to-find, sure, exclusive, no.)

 

Plus, that image sure looks inconsistent.  Maybe it's a random protector mask.  HEY GUYS mask packs are back, and now they come with a book. 

 

 

Good thing they never used the word exclusive in relation to this activity book!

 

Seriously, I don't know why people were expecting an exclusive mask from this, considering there was no evidence for it and piles of evidence against it.

 

"Piles"? Pretty sure the only thing that was ever actually said was that it would come with a mask; since including the mask was a selling point (it's in the placeholder title on Amazon) people were hoping for an exclusive. So far they've already released three, and they release exclusive minifigs with other types of activity books, so it's certainly not a stretch to imagine this could have been something new.

 

 

LEGO has been releasing activity books of this sort for over half a decade and they have never included any exclusive parts. The placeholder title said "Activity Book with Mask", just as other activity books of this sort are identified as "Activity Book with Minifigure" or "Activity Book with Bricks". If the minifigures and bricks are never exclusive, why would the mask be?

 

Perhaps "piles of evidence" is an overstatement, but suffice it to say that there was never any evidence pointing to this mask being exclusive, and all the evidence there was pointed to it being just like any other activity book of its kind, except with a repackaged BIONICLE mask instead of repackaged bricks or a repackaged minifigure.

 

I think people might also have been expecting a previous "exclusive" mask, so as to technically have counted being released; so either of the "Hau"s or the Kaukau, which doesn't look to be seeing a wider release as of now. Personally, I was expecting the Trans-Orange Mask of Fire, since I can't imagine they didn't have a surplus of that.

[Aanchir]

 

 

 

 

Way to dash all our hopes and dreams of a true exclusive!  (Granted, they should stop using that word.  Hard-to-find, sure, exclusive, no.)

 

Plus, that image sure looks inconsistent.  Maybe it's a random protector mask.  HEY GUYS mask packs are back, and now they come with a book. 

 

 

Good thing they never used the word exclusive in relation to this activity book!

 

Seriously, I don't know why people were expecting an exclusive mask from this, considering there was no evidence for it and piles of evidence against it.

 

"Piles"? Pretty sure the only thing that was ever actually said was that it would come with a mask; since including the mask was a selling point (it's in the placeholder title on Amazon) people were hoping for an exclusive. So far they've already released three, and they release exclusive minifigs with other types of activity books, so it's certainly not a stretch to imagine this could have been something new.

 

 

LEGO has been releasing activity books of this sort for over half a decade and they have never included any exclusive parts. The placeholder title said "Activity Book with Mask", just as other activity books of this sort are identified as "Activity Book with Minifigure" or "Activity Book with Bricks". If the minifigures and bricks are never exclusive, why would the mask be?

 

Perhaps "piles of evidence" is an overstatement, but suffice it to say that there was never any evidence pointing to this mask being exclusive, and all the evidence there was pointed to it being just like any other activity book of its kind, except with a repackaged BIONICLE mask instead of repackaged bricks or a repackaged minifigure.

 

I think people might also have been expecting a previous "exclusive" mask, so as to technically have counted being released; so either of the "Hau"s or the Kaukau, which doesn't look to be seeing a wider release as of now. Personally, I was expecting the Trans-Orange Mask of Fire, since I can't imagine they didn't have a surplus of that.

 

True, a previous mask like the Tr. Flu. Reddish Orange Mask of Fire would have probably been possible. Then again, that mask was never advertised as "exclusive". The only thing that makes it any more exclusive than the gold Protector mask is that it was packaged in a gift-with-purchase rather than a retail set.

[xccj]

Hmm, but there have been plenty of books with "exclusive" figs and such.  Maybe it's a brand thing, where only some publishers can pull that off while others can't.  And I do know there have been recent examples where the advertised "exclusive" fig shows up in other sets, rendering them not exclusive.  Maybe that wasn't the case with this particular book, but all the same it has happened before and has brought a certain amount of expectation with it.

 

Edit: Eh, i guess the example I was thinkg of was "limited edition" which I guess has enough of a different meaning to remain valid.  Either way, it varies.

 

Edited June 13, 2015 by xccj

[Toa Smoke Monster]

I was most likely going to get this book anyway. So the mask, exclusive or not, just would've been a bonus for me. 

[Lyichir]

Hmm, but there have been plenty of books with "exclusive" figs and such.  Maybe it's a brand thing, where only some publishers can pull that off while others can't.  And I do know there have been recent examples where the advertised "exclusive" fig shows up in other sets, rendering them not exclusive.  Maybe that wasn't the case with this particular book, but all the same it has happened before and has brought a certain amount of expectation with it.

 

Edit: Eh, i guess the example I was thinkg of was "limited edition" which I guess has enough of a different meaning to remain valid.  Either way, it varies.

 

It's partly a brand thing (AMEET-published books have never, ever included exclusive figs or parts), but also a matter of content and price. The book in question is a $9 activity book, with mazes, connect the dots puzzles, etc.—it shouldn't be confused with the $19 (or more) reference guides by Dorling Kindersley that commonly include exclusive figures.

[Aanchir]

Hmm, but there have been plenty of books with "exclusive" figs and such.  Maybe it's a brand thing, where only some publishers can pull that off while others can't.  And I do know there have been recent examples where the advertised "exclusive" fig shows up in other sets, rendering them not exclusive.  Maybe that wasn't the case with this particular book, but all the same it has happened before and has brought a certain amount of expectation with it.

 

Edit: Eh, i guess the example I was thinkg of was "limited edition" which I guess has enough of a different meaning to remain valid.  Either way, it varies.

 

 

It's partly a brand thing, but also a budget thing. It's one thing to include an exclusive fig in an $18–22 guide book and another thing to include an exclusive fig in a $8–9 activity book.

 

EDIT: Ninja'd by my own brother!

Edited June 13, 2015 by Aanchir

[Toa Zaz]

I don't really mind that it's an existing mask per say (a new one would be nice but Lego's put existing masks in these books often before. They just might lose some customers like me). But what grinds my gears is that I was hoping that they'd make that trans-blue Mask of Water widely available through this. I really hope they make it available through a promotion or something like the trans-orange Mask of Fire (honestly maybe they should have released the Mask of Water in that deal, maximize nostalgia by tying it in with the Generation 1-themed wave), or otherwise I really do think that making it and inexplicably not giving it to anybody is a slap in the face to the fans.

 

Speaking of exclusive masks, hey BZPower staff, any plans to distribute that giant bag of trans-clear masks of fire that you have (https://www.flickr.com/photos/ahava516/15314313268/in/photostream/)? Were those going to be distributed through contests and such?

[steelviper77]

I don't really mind that it's an existing mask per say (a new one would be nice but Lego's put existing masks in these books often before. They just might lose some customers like me). But what grinds my gears is that I was hoping that they'd make that trans-blue Mask of Water widely available through this. I really hope they make it available through a promotion or something like the trans-orange Mask of Fire (honestly maybe they should have released the Mask of Water in that deal, maximize nostalgia by tying it in with the Generation 1-themed wave), or otherwise I really do think that making it and inexplicably not giving it to anybody is a slap in the face to the fans.

 

Speaking of exclusive masks, hey BZPower staff, any plans to distribute that giant bag of trans-clear masks of fire that you have (https://www.flickr.com/photos/ahava516/15314313268/in/photostream/)? Were those going to be distributed through contests and such?

Eh, I, like most people it seems, am over the whole "never going to be able to get this mask" craze. At this point I'd never really expect them to distribute those, unless it turns out that there's some huge surplus and they give them to someone else to distribute.

[Lyichir]

I don't really mind that it's an existing mask per say (a new one would be nice but Lego's put existing masks in these books often before. They just might lose some customers like me). But what grinds my gears is that I was hoping that they'd make that trans-blue Mask of Water widely available through this. I really hope they make it available through a promotion or something like the trans-orange Mask of Fire (honestly maybe they should have released the Mask of Water in that deal, maximize nostalgia by tying it in with the Generation 1-themed wave), or otherwise I really do think that making it and inexplicably not giving it to anybody is a slap in the face to the fans.

 

Speaking of exclusive masks, hey BZPower staff, any plans to distribute that giant bag of trans-clear masks of fire that you have (https://www.flickr.com/photos/ahava516/15314313268/in/photostream/)? Were those going to be distributed through contests and such?

There won't be any further availability for the Trans. Blue Gali mask. I was on the Inside Tour and asked specifically, and was told that they only produced 250 (200 of which were for the Inside Tour participants and 50 of which are going to be kept for internal use).

 

It's unfortunate for fans who want one, but it's hardly a "slap in the face"—it's a non-canon mask that only exists due to being produced for Inside Tour attendees. Fans are not entitled to every single item produced by Lego, and they never have been or will be. As for the Trans. Orange Mask of Fire being more widely available, is it any surprise? Tahu is by far the most popular and iconic Toa, so obviously his mask would take priority for a wide release.

 

Anyway, regarding the Transparent Masks of Fire, Deevee has already shared some through his blog, and will presumably be distributing more in the future.

Edited June 13, 2015 by Lyichir

[xccj]

 

Hmm, but there have been plenty of books with "exclusive" figs and such.  Maybe it's a brand thing, where only some publishers can pull that off while others can't.  And I do know there have been recent examples where the advertised "exclusive" fig shows up in other sets, rendering them not exclusive.  Maybe that wasn't the case with this particular book, but all the same it has happened before and has brought a certain amount of expectation with it.

 

Edit: Eh, i guess the example I was thinkg of was "limited edition" which I guess has enough of a different meaning to remain valid.  Either way, it varies.

 

 

It's partly a brand thing, but also a budget thing. It's one thing to include an exclusive fig in an $18–22 guide book and another thing to include an exclusive fig in a $8–9 activity book.

 

EDIT: Ninja'd by my own brother!

 

 

Part of it was also word for word!  You guys must share a brainwave!

 

[UnderscoreChronix]

aaand the crowd goes mild.

Seriously LEGO, disappointing. 

[Aanchir]

aaand the crowd goes mild.

Seriously LEGO, disappointing. 

 

Okay, I'll bite. What, if anything, were you expecting?

[Jobber]

Two steps forward, one step back, Lego.

[Lyichir]

Two steps forward, one step back, Lego.

What does this even mean?

[Aanchir]

I'm almost regretting posting this news article, since it seems like most of the people who actually cared about what would be in these books weren't going to be happy with any realistic answer to that question.

I mean, I can sort of understand if you're disappointed about the Ninjago minifigure, since it's neither a rare minifigure nor even a current one. But I have a feeling most people responding to this only care about the BIONICLE mask, which is... pretty much exactly the kind of mask we could have expected. I guess people might have been slightly happier if it had been a mask with greater story significance like the Mask of Creation, but if you wanted a completely exclusive mask you were really just setting yourself up for disappointment.

[steelviper77]

People just didn't know. The Chir bros are right in that there really wasn't a chance but I think most people don't pay as much attention to everything as them. No one in this thread should be expecting anything, but in reality we just thought this was like the other books. Thanks for shedding better light on it, at least for me. I need to learn to not believe in the hype as much.

[UnderscoreChronix]

 

aaand the crowd goes mild.

Seriously LEGO, disappointing. 

 

Okay, I'll bite. What, if anything, were you expecting?

 

Personally I think it would be more interesting to get either Tahu or Gali's dual-tone masks similar to those that come with the Skellingtons. 

This was a missed opportunity to give us a new mask, but instead we get one that already comes in a set. 

Sure, it isn't just about getting the mask, but including a new one would probably help the sales of the activity book as well as pleasing fans who enjoy collecting masks.

Edited June 14, 2015 by -Chronix Master of Stuff-

[Crunchyn]

Now hoping for an announcement for a BIONICLE Ult. Sticker Collection, because I guess the activity book doesn't come with them. I need more stickers to decorate stuff with.

[Lyichir]

 

 

aaand the crowd goes mild.

Seriously LEGO, disappointing.

 

Okay, I'll bite. What, if anything, were you expecting?

 

Personally I think it would be more interesting to get either Tahu or Gali's dual-tone masks similar to those that come with the Skellingtons. 

This was a missed opportunity to give us a new mask, but instead we get one that already comes in a set. 

Sure, it isn't just about getting the mask, but including a new one would probably help the sales of the activity book as well as pleasing fans who enjoy collecting masks.

 

People keep saying it was a "missed opportunity", but they need to realize that it was not an opportunity in the first place. If the economics of including a completely exclusive mask in a $9 activity book worked out, Lego would almost certainly be doing so for the exact reasons you mention. But the fact of the matter is that they don't. Whatever increase in sales might occur due to those masks would not be enough to offset the cost of putting a completely new element into production.

 

I would absolutely love to see Dorling Kindersley publish a "Bionicle Visual Dictionary" or "Bionicle Character Encyclopedia" within the next few years, and would hope for such books to include some sort of exclusive masks (maybe even the blended Tahu and Gali masks in question). But it's just unrealistic to hope for a brand-new mask in what essentially amounts to a coloring book that you can buy at grocery stores and pharmacies.

[Nidhiki of the Shadows]

Well, doesn't hurt to have more of Ekimu's mask. Pretty slick colour scheme. Interested to see what the book entails!

 

-NotS