Is a Third Generation Inevitable?

[Wiriamu]

It's tough to say-if the fandom remains as active as it did after G1, I could see Lego bringing it back. However, based on the the early cancellation of G2 and the fact that Lego is hardly lacking other properties, I could see them putting it away for good. If they were to bring it back, I would hope they'd do a good job.

[LewaLew]

It seems to me that more than a few people here are voting from within a BIONICLE-fan echo chamber. BIONICLE has never had a tremendous fanbase--not like Ninjago or non-LEGO properties. It has had a very devoted group of fans, as BZP and BS01 illustrate, but one problem has been that enthusiasm does not equal profit for a toyline. Even the most devoted fan is unlikely to buy more than one of any particular set, and some of them only bother to get one or two out of a series of six toa. Enthusiasm is only profitable for the sake of good word-of-mouth, but BIONICLE's fanbase has never been big enough to generate that kind of publicity. Not to mention that BIONICLE's heyday predated the social media era, which really increased the value of a strong online fanbase. If G1 had come out around the same time as Facebook and Twitter, it might have been a different beast, similar to other toylines like MLP that exploded thanks to social media.

 

As it stands, BIONICLE is a fairly small IP that has had its unique traits coopted by other LEGO themes, and I don't expect it to return unless LEGO is willing to completely blow up the tether to G1 and make it a new theme that is BIONICLE in name only.

 

I believe it should also be said that many older users of BZP had predicted long before that G2 would not be as deep as G1, since that depth is what led LEGO to cancel G1 in the first place. If there is a G3, I expect it to be simplified even more, not less.

[phinto]

i think i got ideas for the next G bionicle.

what if instead of bionicle being about robots.

 

i think humanoid animals that act like people (matoran). 

and (toa) as humanoid cyborgs that evolved from (matoran)

 

and i hope all joints will be all florescent color instead of BLACK, so they will look like they have elemental power as life source. and if i meant florescent i mean like transparent reddish-orange, neon-green, or something that glows under (UV blacklight).

so the bricks on there back will light up. (we need 4 new fluorescent colors so they will match toa elements)

and this time i think of 2 more toa. a yellow toa of lightning, and violet toa of psionics. 

and i would like to bring back krekaa and nidiki because there my favorite goons.

here is a link below...

3rd bionicle reboot 20??

toa heroes (protagonests)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

info toa example
(element)
(name: maincolor, armor, bodyjoints and eyes,)
(weapons: main1, main2, sub, mask.)
(info:)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(fire)
tahu the dragonoid: red, orange, T.red-orange
weapons: twin katanas, mask of barrier.
info: the leader of the toa crew, he was once a young dragon child,
but when his village is destroyed by evil piraka, he became the most fierce dragon toa of fire,
he is sometimes in a short-tamper, and gets jealous of kopaka but respects him and crew.

(water)
gali the mermaid-like: blue, cyan, T.Florescent-turquoise (medium-blue + alien-green)
weapons: giant hooks, fish fin blades, mask of waterbreathing.
info: she is a princess of aqua-nui, she isn't more of a princess, but like a fighter.
she is swift, smart, and care about living things even his friends.
she gets really annoyed when tahu and kopaka are fighting, as well as pohatu. 

(earth)
onua the human-golem: black, dark-gray, T.hot medium-violet (medium-blue + hot magenta-pink)
weapons: digging gauntlets, mask of super-strength.
info: born from his as a rock monster, he is made of any-type of rock or metal when he turned into a toa.
his family that he talked to are a bunch of rocks, that he can not truly insult.
he didn't talk allot and dosent use pronoun, but he is peace loving, wise, very kind, and friendly. 

(ice)
kopaka the wolfman: white, gray, T.medium-blue
weapons: ice blade shield, lance, mask of x-ray vision.
info: the silent hero who is clever and smart, he knows what is coming with his ears, eyes,
and his mask that helps him see what others don't, even through solid ice and rock. 
she is cold to the other toa. and often gets better then tahu because he is jealous.

(air)
lewa the avienoid: green, lime, T.florescent bright-green
weapons: twin axes, blade-wings, mask of flotation.
info: he is a jester of the toa, childish and playful and prone to taking foolish risks.
still he is a fun loving nature with a power to speak to animals on trees and ground.
he is the most reasonable to the toa when there's danger despite his bad jokes.

(dust)
pohatu the wombat: brown, ten, T.florescent-yellow (from 2001)
weapons: twin rapid energy guns, drifter skate feet, mask of super-speed.
info: Always one of the friendlier Toa, but talks very much and very fast due to his mask "kakama".
but is happy when toa are getting along, even lewa who also shared the same sense of humor with him.
he is a stunt-devil of super-sonic-speed but also a fierce fighter who outmatched the monsters.

(electricity)
volita the firefly: yellow, olive, T.lime
weapons: twin electric daggers, mask of super-charge.
info: the fun loving freedom fighter who likes to talk in L33T, she is like a combination to lewa and pohatu.
she often called "Volty" because of her electrical powers she uses to prank with lewa or to fight monsters.
she often very very serious and cares about her friends and family.

(psionics)
cenaa the lop: violet, pink, T.hot magenta-pink (from 2001)
weapons: staff of dreams, mask of mind-reading.
info: a smartest and reasonable entomologist and a perfectionist toa with her mantel magic. 
she is the rule follower to the toa, but she gets embarrassed for her wrong doings and clumsiness.
and gets annoyed and stress for getting interfered, and close to kopaka allot.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

monsters

(all those monsters from below have black secondary colors)

----------------------------------------------

(name: main color, eyes, powers,)

----------------------------------------------

bohrak: yellow, T.red-orange, shoot acid blasts.

rahkshi: blue, T.lime, fires negative effects.

vahki: silver, T.medium-violet, communicate others.

visorak: green, T.F-yellow, shoots venom spinners.

skrall: black-silver, hot magenta-pink, super strength.

skakdi: red, T.medium-blue, red lazer beams.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
possessed monsters
(advanced shadows)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

volcanic demon: giant spider-like beast with magma shooting pincer claws.
colors: black, T.neon-yellow, T.red-orange T.orange. 
powers: shoot magma bombs, immune to fire or lava, summons magma minions.
element: fire, earth, plasma.
guards: golden masks of electricity and fire.

earthquake demon: giant troll/gorilla like monster with 4 arms made of crystal and 2 heads.
colors: black, T.violet, T.neon-yellow, T.hot-pink, T.lime.
powers: making earthquakes with 4 arms, super-strength, splits into 2.
element: earth, psionics.
guards: golden masks of earth and psionics.

storm demon: giant electric bird neon glowing feathers, and huge colored wings produce storm elements electricity.
colors: black, T.lime, T.Medium-blue, T.medium-violet, silver.
powers: creating dangerous storms and electrical force-fields, shoots storm powers, splits itself into 3.
element: ice, air, electricity.
guards: golden masks of air and dust.

flood demon: giant sea-snake shark, with sharp teeth, and limbs.  
colors: black, T.medium-blue, T.neon-turquoise, T.cyan, dark-blue.
powers: fires water balls, creates tsunami to protect self, summons tsunami minions,
element: water, ice, wind.
guards: golden masks of ice and water.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
shadows

they are 3 diffrent types of shadows.

all limbs and joint parts are Trans-Black.

some colors of lego armor shells are ether titanium metallic or transparant neon. 

all masks of those are mixed with there neon transparant color and filled the center with titanium metallic.

eyes are trans-red.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
shadow basher: (T.yellow-green with masks of water or earth) sharp claws in chains. 

shadow assassin: (T.red-orange with masks of ice or electric) twin energy dual swords.

shadow hunter : (T.medium-blue with masks of fire or air) a stud luancher crossbow, with with wings.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
the makuta

(keep the color of there eyes of the light up brains as T.red or red-orange.)
(and make sure that the color of armor and masks are metallic with a mixture edges of black transparency)
(every set comes with a golden mask fragment to assemble a Mask of Ultimate-Power)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(acid)
makuta Nidiki: the muntated ex-toa
color: dark green, green silver, T.lime. 
weapons: Mask of Corruption, pincer-claws,
info: who is once a gentleman toa of air who betrayed his original 8 and then turned into a monsters insectoid makuta.
he is cunning, smart, but low patience. he gets annoyed by krekaa's destructive stupidity and eventually backfiring his plans.
he only dons a mas of corruption that allows him to turn anyone he shoots into his minions.
gear function: open and close claws, shoot from mouth, change 2 legs to 4 legs.
golden fragment: water (bottom right)

(metal)
makuta Krekaa: the armored cyber gorilla
color: dark blue, white silver, T.red-orange.
weapon: Mask of Destruction, super-strength, missiles, 
info: a powerful brute of the makuta team. very strong, but completely stupid. even with a lack of sense of direction, 
he recklesly destroys everything with his brute strength and his explosive weapons.
his deformed mask of destruction made krekaa more destructive when angered.
gear function: arms and waist rotate, twin stud shooter, open armor to use big cannon.
golden fragment: earth (top right)

(poison)
makuta Roodaka: the spider queen
color: violet, silver, T.medium-violet. 
weapons: Mask of Deceit, staff of webs, spider legs,
info: cold, cruel, and deceiving. she is once a matoran, then teridax turned her into a makuta queen of spiders.
because she is ordered to lead the horde of spider monsters to find the golden fragment. 
her mask of Deceit can alow her to transform into anything and anyone by will to trick the toa team.
gear function: rotating staff, transform into spider. arm blades like sirorak dose.
golden fragment: air (bottom left)

(sound)
makuta Umarak: the dark hunter
color: black, black-silver, gray, T.bright-green.
weapons: Mask of Possession, twin katanas, twin crossbow guns, shadow traps.
info: the ninja makuta who was born in the ninja clan as a deadly assassin, cunning & sneaky.
his only job is to retrieve the golden fragment to lord teridax, umarak is a commander of the makuta.
with his makuta mask of possession, he can telepathically enter toa's mind to do his biting.
gear function: rotating arms, zamor launchers (2006), extra bullets on his back, deploy 4 shadow traps.
golden fragment: ice (bottom mouth)
​
(death)
makuta Kulta: the skull pirate
color: silver, dark red, T.yellowish.
weapon: Mask of Hunger, twin pirate swords,
info: the makuta of the undead skull pirate clan, stealing and plundering not just any gold from villagers,
but under orders of lord teridax to find and retrieve a golden fragment.
he wore a mask of hunger thats giving him a power to aborb elemental energy from what or who ever he touches.
gear function: use extra arms, body turn 380, separate top and bottom into 2.
golden fragment: dust (topleft)
​
(darkness)
Lord Teridax
color: black, red, violet, black-silver, T.red-orange (for eyes), T.F. red-orange with the T.black at the end (for blade wings).
weapon: Mask of darkness, hyper-shadow wings, giant staff scythe.
info: is a toa master of darkness, the king of "the great ruins",
eldest son of matanui, brother of takanu, and leader of the shadow monsters and the makuta.
gear function: wings spread apart, arms rotation, transform into dragon form, shoot from mouth as dragon, staff change into scythe.
golden fragment: none (just the entire featureless mask with 6 holes for the fragments.)

(light)
takanu
color: white, silver, T.white (light up), T.light-blue (eyes). 
weapons: staff of light (sword), wings, mask of light.
info: the youngest son of matanui, 9th toa hero of light, and brother of makuta.
gear funtion: rotating waist and arms, light staff shift into sword, wings spread, brick (lights up) the entire body.
golden fragment: fire (top)

(all elements / creation)
god matanui
color: gold, silver, black-silver, T.lime (for eyes), T.rainbow? for wings,
weapons: golden staff of all elements (lights up), golden wings (rainbow), golden mask of life.
info: matanui is a great GOD of all bionicle,
he created life with his elemental powers including the 2 remaining elements as his sons.
one day when takanu gets glorey, his eldest son teridax forged an evil plot to outrank
his father and cast him out into the deep sleep...
gear funtion: waist rotation, staff lights up and spins, has golden cape as robe that an open up and close.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
nuva mode

they all have gear funtioning arms, and golden masks.

they can also be combined with there oun chronicle
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

tahu nuva: red, red-copper, T.red-orange
weapons: twin great swords, wings, advance mask of barrier.

gali nuva: blue, blue-silver, T.Florescent-turquoise (medium-blue + alien-green)
weapons: great trident, big fin blades, advance mask of waterbreathing.

onua nuva: black, dark-silver, T.hot medium-violet (medium-blue + hot magenta-pink)
weapons: great gauntlets, advance mask of super-strength.

kopaka nuva: white, white-silver, T.medium-blue
weapons: ice blade shields, advance mask of x-ray vision.

lewa nuva: green, olive-gold, T.florescent bright-green
weapons: twin katanas, wings, advance mask of flotation.

pohatu nuva: brown, warm-gold, T.florescent-yellow (from 2001)
weapons: gient rock hammer, drifter skate feet, advance mask of super-speed.

volita nuva: yellow, light-gold, T.lime
weapons: twin electric lances, advance mask of super-charge.

cenaa nuva: violet, violet-silver, T.hot magenta-pink (from 2001)
weapons: great staff of dreams, advance mask of mind-reading.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

chronicles

connected there body's to toa nuva backs

have all T.yellow-green eyes.

have light up cores located at there chest.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

jala
red, yellow, T.red-orange.
tools: noble tahu mask, fire shield, lance (energy gun),

hali
blue, terquoise, T.Florescent-turquoise.
tools: noble gali mask, water moters, energy gun, 

neperu
black, orange, T.hot medium-violet.
tools: noble onua mask, lazer drills, energy gun,

matoro
sand-blue, gray, T.medium-blue.
tools: noble kopaka mask, grapling hook, energy gun,

kongu
terquoise, lime, T.florescent bright-green.
tools: noble lewa mask, crossbow (energy gun),

huki
orange, ten, T.florescent-yellow.
tools: noble pohatu mask, twin energy guns, 

chira
yellow, cyan, T.lime.
tools: noble voltia mask, wings, energy gun.

vehli
white, violet, T.hot magenta-pink.
tools: noble ceena mask, lexicons (spell books), energy gun,


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OTHERS??? 

original 8 of the order of the toa. (past)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(fire)
toa lhikan the lion
color: gold, red, T.lime. 
weapon: LV3 Mask of barrier, twin golden swords, (T.F.orange) energy dick launcher.
info: known for his brave leadership, he is the chief commander of the original 8.
he respected nidiki as a brother even no one did, it crushed when he discover his true colors,
and he must find a new way to stop the evil spread by forming a new toa 8. 

(acid)
toa nidiki the insectoid
color: silver, green, T.red-orange.
weapon: LV2 mask of super-charge, 2x (T.F.green) energy dick launchers.
info: he is like a gentalman toa, cunning, and swift, he is once the offical member of the 8 toa. 
he has no respect from other toa members, he dicide to became somthing more then just a simple toa.
he became obsessed over power, until later he became the makuta monster himself.

(water)
toa tuyet the cat
color: silver, blue, T.hot-pink.
weapon: LV2 mask of water-breathing, Barbed Broadsword, (T.hot.magenta) energy dick launcher.
info: 

(tune)
densu the lop-like (bunny)
color: silver, white, T.medium-blue.
weapons: LV1 mask of mind-reading, tuneing staff, (T.light blue) energy disk launcher.
info: he is a very very silent toa who is very friendly, knows what is going 
on with only his ears that can hear far distance even the quiet ones.
he communicates with hand signs. 

(metal/iorn)
Fekurah the robot
color: orange, bronze, black-silver, T.neon-yellow.
weapons: LV1 mask of flotation, iorn gauntlets, X2 (T.F.orange) energy disk launchers.
info: is a blacksmith toa that can help toa forge any weapon, mask, or armor just in case they need one.
he is friendly to toa and matoran, and has a creative mojo into making unique masks.
he is a weapon since he is a metal toa, he can shapeshift his arms into any kind of weapon.

(plasma)
Toa Suluh the avien-like
color: bright-orange, T.neon yellow, T.lime 
weapons: heatwave lances (shooting zamors), LV1 mask of super-speed, (T.F.green) energy dick launchers.
info: is high on action, but low on temper.
so low she could foolishly risking in ether smelting or electricuting.
she gets used to help with toa Fekurah if needed in smelting armor material.

(gravity)
Toa Baala the bunny-like
color: dark-magenta, black-silver, T.hot-pink.
weapons: twin shields, LV1 mask of x-ray vision, (T.light blue) energy disk launcher.
info: 

(plant)
Toa Bonia the panda-like
color: terquoise, magenta, T.magenta.
weapons: wooden staff, LV1 mask of super-strength, (T.hot.magenta) energy dick launcher.
info:

(life)
Toa lolo the moth
color: white, light-pink, terquoise, T.glitter-white.
weapons: wings, staff of healing, mask of super-speed.
info:

it allot long... you get used to it.

Edited September 2, 2016 by phinto

[cytheguygeary]

I do hope they come back, and it is unsure of whether or not it will come back. They didn't do to good in G2, so TLG may not bring it back.

[phinto]

I do hope they come back, and it is unsure of whether or not it will come back. They didn't do to good in G2, so TLG may not bring it back.

lets hope they do. if they don't, why not making lego dreamkeepers instead?

[turaga edron]

I don't know I guess it could go either way. As for what I want that also could go either way. I didn't see anything wrong with G2, but If LEGO didn't want to continue it I can't see them trying it a third time.

[phinto]

I don't know I guess it could go either way. As for what I want that also could go either way. I didn't see anything wrong with G2, but If LEGO didn't want to continue it I can't see them trying it a third time.

we can work together into making it.

[Aanchir]

Yeah, I think it's pretty inevitable it'll come back. You see at this point BIONICLE isn't a Lego theme, it's a franchise. BIONICLE is a product with a massive following (despite weather people wish to admit it or not). It has one of the most vocal LEGO communities out there. I hear a lot of people like castle, yet I never see any forums about it. Ninjago is HUGE and it doesn't have nearly the fan support and content of BIONICLE. G2 didn't sell well because a lot of fans didn't buy it for their own reasons.

Concerning recent themes like Ninjago, it's worth remembering that they came about in the age of social media, so a lack of dedicated forums shouldn't be taken as evidence for a lack of fan engagement. I see way more Ninjago-related activity on sites like Twitter and Tumblr than Bionicle-related activity, and I hear there's quite a large community of Ninjago fans on Instagram as well.

 

That's not to say that the Bionicle fan community isn't still unusually strong. Just as one example, the Makuta contest on LEGO Rebrick has generated over 1500 submissions, far more than any previous Rebrick contest since the site was relaunched. But other themes shouldn't be sold short in terms of fan engagement just because their fan communities aren't organized in the same ways that Bionicle fans are. Frankly, even the Bionicle fan community is organized much differently than it used to be, and even if Bionicle returns to its former greatness at some point in the future, that won't necessarily mean a return to the type of forum culture that was typical a decade ago.

 

For my part, I think hypothetically Bionicle could come back in the future, but that's with the condition that we have no idea what kind of cultural changes are in store in the future. LEGO wasn't able to bring Bionicle back in a way that really resonated with kids this time around, but that doesn't mean there won't ever be a strategy that will work better or a generation of kids that's more receptive to Bionicle's core concepts. So I'd go with "could go either way".

 

As for whether I'd want it back… probably not right yet. Bionicle will probably always be important to me, so I'd definitely be open to it coming back in the future, but I don't see any kind of urgency to bringing it back when for all I know, entirely new concepts might be even more promising. Bionicle is a great theme, but not necessarily the greatest theme there's ever been, and certainly not the best theme there ever COULD be. So I'm not going to be waiting at the edge of my seat for new Bionicle when I could be enjoying whatever else the future has in store.

Edited August 31, 2016 by Aanchir

[Lyichir]

Yeah, I think it's pretty inevitable it'll come back. You see at this point BIONICLE isn't a Lego theme, it's a franchise. BIONICLE is a product with a massive following (despite weather people wish to admit it or not). It has one of the most vocal LEGO communities out there. I hear a lot of people like castle, yet I never see any forums about it. Ninjago is HUGE and it doesn't have nearly the fan support and content of BIONICLE. G2 didn't sell well because a lot of fans didn't buy it for their own reasons.

 

In addition to what my brother said above, there is in fact a forum dedicated solely to Castle: http://classic-castle.com/forum/

 

Even so, it's also worth acknowledging that most organized fandom for Lego themes besides Bionicle takes place on general Lego discussion forums that discuss multiple themes. The main reason why dedicated forums sprung up for Bionicle, unlike most other themes, is because early on the AFOL community at large was VERY hostile to Bionicle and to Constraction in general. They've since mellowed out a little, and discussion of Bionicle is now welcome on most Lego-related sites (though there are still plenty of naysayers), but back when Bionicle was first starting out it was impossible to really have positive discussion of the theme on existing Lego sites like LUGnet or Eurobricks.

[turaga edron]

I'd just be happy if they changed their minds and we had a third year of sets.

[phinto]

I'd just be happy if they changed their minds and we had a third year of sets.

i aggre for you... but the truth is that i really don't like bionicles at all... i prefer anime and furrs like this http://www.dreamkeeperscomic.com/ 

maybe bionicle would be like dreamkeepers like this link i posted.

[Bonkle]

Personally I think this revival was a one-off. Unless other themes start coming back I won't hope for anything.

 

Frankly, even if it was good the third time around I'm not sure I'd enjoy it. I really want Lego to try something new with constraction. That's the same reason I got sick of Transformers for a while; they just rehash the same guys from 30 years ago over and over.

[phinto]

Personally I think this revival was a one-off. Unless other themes start coming back I won't hope for anything.

 

Frankly, even if it was good the third time around I'm not sure I'd enjoy it. I really want Lego to try something new with constraction. That's the same reason I got sick of Transformers for a while; they just rehash the same guys from 30 years ago over and over.

do you think dreamkeepers will work?

 

btw look at my comics

[Bio Toa7]

I definitely think that Bionicle will have another go, just that after the third time Bionicle is re released but it fails like g2, it will be very hard to bring Bionicle back again. Retailers won't want to buy the sets therefore not allowing Bionicle back for a G4

[Cap'n Shirley J. Puma]

I thinks there's potential. It'd certainly have to be a couple of years down the line at the least, and I think we can agree that if a hypothetical G3 happens, it needs stronger marketing. If it does happen though, I'd hope it'll be the last. I'd imagine few of us want to see bionicle being dragged out of the closet every couple of years. And when it ends it must end on a good note. In my opinion, JTO had a terrible ending, and a giant robot boxing match wasn't very exciting either. Ah, well. Little can be done as of right now.

[BIzzy]

I believe that it is important to remember that Bionicle is a LEGO theme, retired or not. As long as people keep building with it and playing with it and sharing it, Bionicle will live on. It is true that many fans have dropped Bionicle along the way over time (story-wise and/or set wise), but it doesn't seem likely that stagnation will occur after this last discontinuation. The original story of Bionicle is finished, and for those fans that have stuck with it over the years, that will crystallize into Golden Memory... But the building never ends!

[Bio Toa7]

I'd say, if they do end up bringing Bionicle back again for a G3, they ought to listen to the community. TLG should invite some of the AFOLs from the Bionicle community, maybe some of the more popular ones like Shadowgear, TTV, etc., to start a new story possibly or continue old ones and set the Bionicle series back on track. TLG could even do polls for around the world, asking what their favorite parts of gen 1 and 2 were, then TLG could go off of that two.

like they did with Lego Universe, and it turned out a great game. It unfortunately shut down but it's still my favorite game.

Edited September 1, 2016 by Bio Toa7

[Iruini Nuva]

That's not to say that the Bionicle fan community isn't still unusually strong. Just as one example, the Makuta contest on LEGO Rebrick has generated over 1500 submissions, far more than any previous Rebrick contest since the site was relaunched.

Been watching those numbers too. I at least get some warm fuzzies watching Bionicle set the bar one more time.

 

Hopefully this gives the team over at Lego a sense of a job well-done.

Edited September 1, 2016 by Iruini Nuva

[phinto]

speaking of G3, do anyone want to see my ideas of G3? 

[Arzaki]

speaking of G3, do anyone want to see my ideas of G3? 

Didn't you already share them?

[phinto]

 

speaking of G3, do anyone want to see my ideas of G3? 

Didn't you already share them?

 

oh doh! i did! what do you guys think?

the makuta lord teridax was my favored set, because the mask of shadows did make a dragon head appearance so i think teridax can change from humanoid to dragon form.

also, the golden fragment lego pieces are in different makuta sets in order to make a rebooted mask of ultimate power.

[Lyichir]

I'd say, if they do end up bringing Bionicle back again for a G3, they ought to listen to the community. TLG should invite some of the AFOLs from the Bionicle community, maybe some of the more popular ones like Shadowgear, TTV, etc., to start a new story possibly or continue old ones and set the Bionicle series back on track. TLG could even do polls for around the world, asking what their favorite parts of gen 1 and 2 were, then TLG could go off of that two.

like they did with Lego Universe, and it turned out a great game. It unfortunately shut down but it's still my favorite game.

 

Not only did Lego already bring fans in when developing G2's sets and marketing, but I seriously doubt "like they did with Lego Universe" would be a good way to convince Lego to involve fans more in the process. As you even point out, it's not like Lego Universe was a success story by any stretch of the imagination.

[Daler99]

While I would love to think that BIONICLE will return for sure, I really think that it could go either way.  If LEGO realizes that they need more marketing and some way for people to know that BIONICLE even exists, then it might return eventually.  However, retailers might not like it, so if they do bring it back, it might start out as a LEGO Store exclusive?

 

As for the second question, I definitely want BIONICLE G3 to be a thing.  I think that the people working on G2 really cared about it, so I would like to think that whoever works on the hypothetical G3 would care as well.  Personally, I loved G2, and I think that I would love a G3 as well.

[phinto]

While I would love to think that BIONICLE will return for sure, I really think that it could go either way.  If LEGO realizes that they need more marketing and some way for people to know that BIONICLE even exists, then it might return eventually.  However, retailers might not like it, so if they do bring it back, it might start out as a LEGO Store exclusive?

 

As for the second question, I definitely want BIONICLE G3 to be a thing.  I think that the people working on G2 really cared about it, so I would like to think that whoever works on the hypothetical G3 would care as well.  Personally, I loved G2, and I think that I would love a G3 as well.

maybe some year.... 

why? you want the 8 beast toa, or a makuta gang? because i posed my ideas.

scroll up so you can see...

[Xboxtravis]

 

That's not to say that the Bionicle fan community isn't still unusually strong. Just as one example, the Makuta contest on LEGO Rebrick has generated over 1500 submissions, far more than any previous Rebrick contest since the site was relaunched.

Been watching those numbers too. I at least get some warm fuzzies watching Bionicle set the bar one more time.

 

Hopefully this gives the team over at Lego a sense of a job well-done.

That is actually a good sign. If Lego has data that shows the fan base is at least an active one, it might help them in the desicion making process in the future that could someday bring it back.

[meowmachine]

Right now, it exists in a market that doesn't really want them. Action figures are going down. I mean, in general, toys are going down simply because mobile apps are such a better investment of time and money. But, generally, action figures without marketing, by this I mean almost exclusively movies, are not selling. Walk to a local supermarket and they're downsizing their toy section. You probably won't see a single brand name or anything over $15. So, LEGO can't reach audiences there. Then, at the toy store, they're put next to the Star Wars constractions and the system LEGO. They can't compare with those either. I'd argue if LEGO can get a good Bionicle movie out and then sell Bionicle, it would work. Right now, it needs something to make it stand out. Chima failed for this reason. HF failed for this reason. The LEGO Movie proved this worked. The LEGO Batman Movie proves they are making movies to promote products.

[Lyichir]

Right now, it exists in a market that doesn't really want them. Action figures are going down. I mean, in general, toys are going down simply because mobile apps are such a better investment of time and money. But, generally, action figures without marketing, by this I mean almost exclusively movies, are not selling. Walk to a local supermarket and they're downsizing their toy section. You probably won't see a single brand name or anything over $15. So, LEGO can't reach audiences there. Then, at the toy store, they're put next to the Star Wars constractions and the system LEGO. They can't compare with those either. I'd argue if LEGO can get a good Bionicle movie out and then sell Bionicle, it would work. Right now, it needs something to make it stand out. Chima failed for this reason. HF failed for this reason. The LEGO Movie proved this worked. The LEGO Batman Movie proves they are making movies to promote products.

Chima lasted three years. Hero Factory lasted FIVE. I don't think it's fair to say that either of them "failed"—even if they didn't necessarily meet expectations, that doesn't mean that they didn't each get respectable runs. Keep in mind that a lifespan like that of G1 Bionicle or Ninjago is still the exception for story themes, not the norm.

 

I also don't think that a movie is any sort of guarantee of success for a theme. Lego Batman and Lego Ninjago are getting movies not because they're struggling, but rather because they're both wildly successful themes already and a movie will be able to capitalize on that. But apart from The Lego Movie (which covered a wide variety of past and current themes and as such could leverage the popularity of the entire Lego brand), Lego has never actually launched a theme with a full-length movie, and I imagine that doing so with a niche theme like Bionicle would be incredibly risky if not foolhardy.

[ToaTImeLord]

I don't know I guess it could go either way. As for what I want that also could go either way. I didn't see anything wrong with G2, but If LEGO didn't want to continue it I can't see them trying it a third time.

I think the Designers pulled the plug to save Bionicle before it's sales fell off the cliff.

This could have been the saving grace Bionicle needed.

Two possible things can happen.

Bionicle returns in two years time or Bionicle returns in ten years time.

 

Make of this as you will. This is my prediction and I stand by it.

[Arzaki]

Real picture of what goes on in Lego HQ: http://img.memecdn.com/i-hope-bionicle-will-back-in-2015_o_2892351.jpg

[Banana Gunz]

 

I don't know I guess it could go either way. As for what I want that also could go either way. I didn't see anything wrong with G2, but If LEGO didn't want to continue it I can't see them trying it a third time.

I think the Designers pulled the plug to save Bionicle before it's sales fell off the cliff.

This could have been the saving grace Bionicle needed.

Two possible things can happen.

Bionicle returns in two years time or Bionicle returns in ten years time.

 

Make of this as you will. This is my prediction and I stand by it.

 

 

But that's what everyone thought they did the first time. How many times can they pull the plug to save Bionicle before the stink of its failure becomes too great for retailers to want to deal with those sets?

 

The first time LEGO addressed the end of it pretty well, putting out one last wave of sets, but now it feels like LEGO deliberately doesn't want anything to do with the line anymore. I can understand ending it to save it as an explanation once, but second chances don't happen often in the business world, and if you still manage to screw it up like LEGO did then whether or not they pulled the plug on G2 to save it won't really matter. And LEGO knows that, so I don't think it likely that's what they did.

 

And even if you still think LEGO's just trying to save the theme again regardless, your statement is inaccurate because it's not the designers that pulled the plug on the theme. The designers likely had no say in the matter as to whether or not Bionicle lived or died as a theme. They're not business men, and the corporate side of LEGO probably does not share their enthusiasm and trust, because corporations do everything they do for money (no matter how pretty they may seem), and to revisit something again that doesn't promise success is not a very corporate move.

 

If it were up to the designers Bionicle would probably go on for decades, but it's not because in this sad sick reality we live in the world runs on numbers. Whether or not LEGO is a soulless, selfish company, they still need to survive in a world filled with gross ones that won't hesitate to take down a competitor like them.

 

And I do agree Bionicle has a chance of coming back, but at this point I believe that's all it is- a chance. Financially and business-wise it does not seem like it makes much sense to bring back Bionicle, but since Bionicle was something really powerful once and has managed to have the impact it had, it has a chance of being revived in one form or another.

 

If the name gets revived one day, I think it won't be for a long time. Definitely more than five years as a conventional LEGO line, probably getting closer to ten.

 

Still, it's nice to hear some optimism. Bionicle's future is so unclear that all we have to go on is speculation and hope and and uninformed theories. Perhaps Bionicle coming back is more likely than it seems to be, but I just don't know anymore.

[Xboxtravis]

There is perhaps a different explanation that has showed up for Bionicle being cancelled. Brickset just published an article saying that Lego has grown %11 financially, but has begun to suffer loses in North America across the board. With the rumors Bionicle wasn't selling well in North America, maybe it was cancelled to allow Lego to focus better on profitable sets and rebuild North American sales? Maybe Bionicle wasn't selling that bad, but was canned to prevent extreme losses in the market? Thoughts?

[Lyichir]

There is perhaps a different explanation that has showed up for Bionicle being cancelled. Brickset just published an article saying that Lego has grown %11 financially, but has begun to suffer loses in North America across the board. With the rumors Bionicle wasn't selling well in North America, maybe it was cancelled to allow Lego to focus better on profitable sets and rebuild North American sales? Maybe Bionicle wasn't selling that bad, but was canned to prevent extreme losses in the market? Thoughts?

It's possible. But there's another factor that might be at play. Part of the reason for lowered North American profits is that Lego could not meet demand for their most popular sets—Lego even decreased their marketing for those themes to try to compensate. And meanwhile, you have Bionicle, which despite Lego's best efforts is not selling as well as those top themes, occupying shelf space that retailers would much prefer go to those high-demand products. So yes, Lego may have chosen to refocus on their most profitable sets, but less because of any desperation to maintain sales numbers and more because other themes were outperforming them by that much more.

[Clyce]

 

There is perhaps a different explanation that has showed up for Bionicle being cancelled. Brickset just published an article saying that Lego has grown %11 financially, but has begun to suffer loses in North America across the board. With the rumors Bionicle wasn't selling well in North America, maybe it was cancelled to allow Lego to focus better on profitable sets and rebuild North American sales? Maybe Bionicle wasn't selling that bad, but was canned to prevent extreme losses in the market? Thoughts?

It's possible. But there's another factor that might be at play. Part of the reason for lowered North American profits is that Lego could not meet demand for their most popular sets—Lego even decreased their marketing for those themes to try to compensate. And meanwhile, you have Bionicle, which despite Lego's best efforts is not selling as well as those top themes, occupying shelf space that retailers would much prefer go to those high-demand products. So yes, Lego may have chosen to refocus on their most profitable sets, but less because of any desperation to maintain sales numbers and more because other themes were outperforming them by that much more.

 

I think these are both strong points as to why Gen 2 wasn't given the finances and marketing it needed to succeed. I also believe that Gen 3 is very likely since it is the most recognizable unlicensed LEGO product, but its revival will be far into the future in a time in which the licensed products aren't as big of a money making opportunity and much less of a distraction for the comapny. I think that eventually we will see the end of the major Marvel movie scene and a decline in Star Wars Lego products as the movies run their course. With that there will be consequently a decline in sales of the LEGO licensed products as interest declines. However, while it is difficult to forecast such failure, the real point I'm trying to get at is that LEGO will likely not focus on a Bionicle Gen 3 unless they find little profit in their licensed products or they need to pull it out as a last ditch effort to save the company (much like they did the first time). On a side note, it is also likely that when we do get another generation of Bionicle it will be very different than any of the prior generations and will probably stray from the "remembering our roots" course.

But that's just my prediction...

[Aanchir]

 

 

There is perhaps a different explanation that has showed up for Bionicle being cancelled. Brickset just published an article saying that Lego has grown %11 financially, but has begun to suffer loses in North America across the board. With the rumors Bionicle wasn't selling well in North America, maybe it was cancelled to allow Lego to focus better on profitable sets and rebuild North American sales? Maybe Bionicle wasn't selling that bad, but was canned to prevent extreme losses in the market? Thoughts?

It's possible. But there's another factor that might be at play. Part of the reason for lowered North American profits is that Lego could not meet demand for their most popular sets—Lego even decreased their marketing for those themes to try to compensate. And meanwhile, you have Bionicle, which despite Lego's best efforts is not selling as well as those top themes, occupying shelf space that retailers would much prefer go to those high-demand products. So yes, Lego may have chosen to refocus on their most profitable sets, but less because of any desperation to maintain sales numbers and more because other themes were outperforming them by that much more.

 

I think these are both strong points as to why Gen 2 wasn't given the finances and marketing it needed to succeed. I also believe that Gen 3 is very likely since it is the most recognizable unlicensed LEGO product, but its revival will be far into the future in a time in which the licensed products aren't as big of a money making opportunity and much less of a distraction for the comapny. I think that eventually we will see the end of the major Marvel movie scene and a decline in Star Wars Lego products as the movies run their course. With that there will be consequently a decline in sales of the LEGO licensed products as interest declines. However, while it is difficult to forecast such failure, the real point I'm trying to get at is that LEGO will likely not focus on a Bionicle Gen 3 unless they find little profit in their licensed products or they need to pull it out as a last ditch effort to save the company (much like they did the first time). On a side note, it is also likely that when we do get another generation of Bionicle it will be very different than any of the prior generations and will probably stray from the "remembering our roots" course.

But that's just my prediction...

 

I'm not sure I'd agree that Bionicle is "the most recognizable unlicensed LEGO product". If we're talking about what's recognizable for kids, I'd say it's more likely something like LEGO Ninjago, and in terms of what's recognizable for adults, I think it'd be one of the classic lines like LEGO Castle or LEGO Space. A lot of the older adults in my life could hardly tell a Bionicle from any other brand of buildable robot figure.

 

As I've mentioned before, I also don't think it's realistic to blame licensed products for Bionicle G2 not taking off. Licensed themes like Star Wars and Harry Potter were just as much (if not more) of a fixture in the LEGO portfolio during the early years of G1 as Star Wars and Super Heroes have been during G2. If anything's changed, it's that non-licensed themes like City, Friends, and Ninjago sell far better today than any non-licensed themes other than Bionicle did in G1's early years.

[Endless Sea (Alaki Nuva)]

It's kind of a sad thought.  Maybe Lego just doesn't think it needs to make Bionicle to be where it wants to be any more.

[Lyichir]

It's kind of a sad thought.  Maybe Lego just doesn't think it needs to make Bionicle to be where it wants to be any more.

Doesn't "think" it needs to make Bionicle? Let's be honest here—Lego DOESN'T need to make Bionicle to be successful. In fact, I'd argue that they haven't "needed" to make Bionicle since the early years of G1, when the company was in dire straits and Bionicle was one of their few successful themes. But now? They spent four and a half years without Bionicle, during which they enjoyed tremendous growth and success in their other themes, and while they chose to bring it back, "re-cancelling" it isn't likely to have much of an impact on their overall success. That's not to say I won't miss Bionicle, nor that I wouldn't be excited to see it return again. But the fact that Lego can survive without Bionicle now doesn't mean it can't come back. If it did, G2 wouldn't have happened in the first place.

Edited September 9, 2016 by Lyichir

[Toa Jaxus]

Personally, I would like to see a 3rd generation, but it really relies on what the managers in Lego see the failure of G2. If they see it as Bionicle as a failure in set design and as a story theme, then it'll have little interest in it's return. If they realise it was down to marketing and lack of brand awareness, they may be more open to another reboot. Either way, it'll be at least several years before we get anything.

 

But what interest me more is what they could do with it. Should they stick to what has gone before or do something quite different? I mean, could G3 see toa being matoran bound to giant mechanical warmachines, which are the construction sets, with their villages and other places of note being represented by more traditional lego sets. I don't why I had that idea but I did.

[Lenny7092]

Well, I believe that G3 would be inevitable. I mean, I am impressed with G2's torso and waist gearboxes mixed with CCBS. Torsos is one thing, but waists are another new thing in terms of gearboxes. I also like the idea that CCBS is also mixed with technic. All of these are what 2001 used to have. I really think that Lego tried its best on being that creative, too.

However, the story needs to be worked. I mean, we see the Toa that we and love just fight bad guys in most of the story, even though that I liked that Pohatu overcame his dislike on Ketar for being a scorpion and Umarak being a talented, skilled, and strategic villain.

For how I look at G2, it reminds me of The Amazing Spider-Man movie series in 2012 and 2014. Both Bionicle G2 and Spider-Man G2 are reboots that lasted shorter than and different from their 2000s versions, but they have some neat stuff here and there. They got cancelled because they got mixed reviews and have rushed endings. I got the comparisons right here: http://www.bzpower.com/board/topic/23229-bionicle-g2-and-the-amazing-spider-man-movies-are-alike/?do=findComment&comment=1093190 .

However, Marvel, people before Marvel Studios got the Spider-Man movie rights back as they share them with Sony, rebooted Spider-Man again to have him first appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in Captain America: Civil War in this year and a new Spider-Man film in 2017. People loved the new Spidey (the new actor for him as well) in the Civil War, so I believe new Spider-Man G3 movies will be as great as the MCU movies.

How come this happened? Well, it's because that Spider-Man is one of the most popular, loved, and successful things in Marvel, so Marvel will always make a Spider-Man movie of any kind. DC Comics has this idea with Batman as well (Marvel does a better job in my opinion). This may apply to Bionicle because during its run, it was a creative action figure toy line with an original that was one of Lego's most popular, loved, and successful themes in the 2000s and probably is on record, and saved Lego from bankruptcy in 2001 (Bionicle was Lego's hero). Lego is successful enough to make The Lego Movie in 2014, is able to run Ninjago and its TV series for more than 5 years (longer than other themes, like Legends of Chima), and is able to make The Lego Movie Cinematic Universe, including The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie, so I'll bet that Lego can try it with Bionicle G3. True, G2 is less good than G1, but let's think this way: Spider-Man G1 was more successful than G2, so Marvel seems to learn how to compare their successes, so they know how to make G3 as good as or better than G1 (I heard rumors that the 2017 movie would be based on Spidey's first comic book adventures). Also, both Bionicle G2 and Spider G2 have some new and better things than some in G1 in some ways (like the torso and waist gearboxes from Bionicle G2 are very new in CCBS while The Amazing Spider-Man is based more on the comics than the original trilogy, but the G1 stories in both franchises are better, though). Since Bionicle is in the similar situation as Spider-Man now, I will also bet that Lego would be able to make Bionicle G3 because, again, Bionicle is one of the most famous, loved, and successful themes, and Lego would also compare G1 and G2's successes. Plus, Lego said in Twitter that Bionicle was successful, despite that happened after its cancellation. I mean, if Marvel and DC Comics can revive and reboot their stuff (they did that twice on each) because the stuff are the most famous, loved, and successful that the companies have ever made, then the same could go to Lego with Bionicle. Bionicle is like Spider-Man and Batman by a lot of success, fame, and love.

Overall, I believe that Lego could doubtlessly make a Bionicle G3 in my opinion.

[Zacian]

Hmm...interesting question.

 

Will it come back?

 

Maybe, it could go either way. But to me, it would depend whether or not LEGO believes releasing a G3 would prove successful. Since G2's release however, it might (and I repeat MIGHT) be hard for retailers to welcome another similar theme, in this case, a BIONICLE G3, into their stores.

 

But sometimes I do think BIONICLE might get a comeback in about 6-10 years or so. This is because, well, BIONICLE was a very successful theme back in its day, and if LEGO gets much more creative and gives BIONICLE a better image of itself, I think retailers might give BIONICLE a third chance.

 

Do I want it to come back?

 

Sure, why not? But to some others, I don't think they'd see it the same way I do. Some people might say that BIONICLE's purity must be preserved while some others might say that they'd love to see BIONICLE alive again. But to be honest, I think I'm on the neutral side because if I see BIONICLE coming back then, "Sure, gr8." but if I see it doesn't, well then I completely understand and respect LEGO's decisions.

 

I totally loved BIONICLE as a child, and if it doesn't come back in 30 years or so, I might still think that BIONICLE would still be alive in at least some of our hearts.

Edited October 24, 2016 by Darth Kranie

[Sir Keksalot]

As we say on the Evolve forum, this thread has been Laz'd.