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Disappointed: No Space Theme in 2012

jtrjtr Member Posts: 37
edited February 2012 in Collecting
Anybody else disappointed that there's no new lego space theme this year ?

My fav lego has always been the Space theme, since the early 80's, so I am prejudiced. I found that it was only limited by your own imagination and the parts that where available.

The last real space theme was mission to mars ! I wouldn't consider Alien conquest to be part of the space theme, it sits in the middle of city and space (although I did collect all the sets).

I really think there's too much focus on licensed sets, that clutters the catalogue, and deprives both the designers and consumers the opportunity to be imaginative.

starwars, harry potter, cars (terrible movie and theme), sponge bob, Indiana Jones, Prince of Persia, Pirates of Caribbean, Super Heroes, LOTR, toy story did I miss any ?

I understand it's about money, but the licensed themes should take over and be the focus.

Anyway . . . bring back the Space theme, please . . .

Comments

  • y2joshy2josh Member Posts: 1,996
    I'd be all over the Space theme if only they'd bring back the original Blacktrons. I know they were the 'bad guys,' but man... those were the coolest minifigs. At least back in the day.
  • Lego_Lord_MayorcaLego_Lord_Mayorca Member Posts: 619
    Uh, did you somehow miss out on the wonderful Space Police (III) theme that ran from 2009 to 2010? I'd call that more of a "Space" theme than the Mars Mission sets.

    Perhaps Lego will try again someday with Space "something". Maybe Blacktron will get a proper resurgence in lieu of small homages on mini-figures and pieces in recent years.
  • mathewmathew Member Posts: 2,099
    I hear ya'. I personally would like to see Lego revisit Futuron. The original sets were not all that great, but I love some of the stuff done in the MOC realm with the concept. Perhaps make it a little more adult oriented and introduce some minimal robotics. I would love to see an advanced version of the Futuron Monotrain though it will never happen.
  • LegoFanTexasLegoFanTexas Member Posts: 8,404
    My understanding is that Space Police III did not sell well, or at least not well enough...

    I still find them on shelves from time to time, picked one up from TJ Maxx the other day and can still buy them for less than RRP over a year later...

    Not a good sign...
  • y2joshy2josh Member Posts: 1,996
    edited February 2012
    The Futuron Monorail was awesome... but I found the other Futuron sets pretty bland.

    As for the Blacktron 'resurgence,' that was actually Blacktron Future Generation. I'm not aware of any classic Blacktron ('87-'88) homages in any recent sets or minifigures... though the Master Builder Academy did feature a really fantastic Blacktron Intelligence Agency MOC last year. If they wanted to publish instructions for that set... I'd track down the pieces in a New York minute.

    Also... while we're at it... let's go ahead and bring back M-Tron, too... though I personally couldn't stand those sets.
  • jtrjtr Member Posts: 37
    Sorry yes I completely forgot about the space police III theme - which i collected with great enthusiasm - love the glacial enforcer, and undercover cruiser. Wish there had been more large "bad guys" sets.

    I guess I was hoping for something new this year, considering last year was quiet for space theme (AC).

    I love the blacktron theme, my favourite set is the blacktron base - wish I could find the renegade somewhere for a decent price.
  • y2joshy2josh Member Posts: 1,996
    Which Blacktron base? Message-Intercept Base or Alpha Centauri Outpost? As much as I wasn't fond of Blacktron Future Generation, Alpha Centauri Outpost was a pretty good set. Of course, Message-Intercept Base was also amazing, AND had a much more appealing color scheme to boot.
  • jtrjtr Member Posts: 37
    Message-Intercept Base, yes it's awesome. I've been trying to find parts so I can extend the base, more hallways, and rooms, maybe a row of rocket lunchers so I can hold the space world to ransom.

    You can tell the blakctron guys a really bad because they're always smiling as they plot their evil. eheheh
  • canuhandle23canuhandle23 Member Posts: 104
    doesnt star wars happen in space tooo
  • LegoFanTexasLegoFanTexas Member Posts: 8,404
    edited February 2012
    ^ No... Star Wars happens:
  • Rainstorm26Rainstorm26 Member Posts: 1,013
    edited March 2012
    So I was at my local Walmart yesterday and I came across three of the Alien Conquest sets (Jet-copter, Tri-pod and the smallest set). I initially thought, wow this is great, these should be at clearance prices. When I went to scan them they were at full price and they had normal shelf tags. What gives. I thought they cleared out these sets and they wouldn't be re-stocked. I guess it is a good thing for those people who didn't get a chance to pick them up. Maybe they'll end up clearing them out again over the summer? Anybody know what's going on?
  • graphitegraphite Member Posts: 3,275
    It's called Walmart. No rhyme or reason to anything they do.
  • gmpirategmpirate Member Posts: 1,654
    I posted this in the Walmart thread. Alien conquest and other lines have been restocked and priced back at full RRP at many Walmarts.
  • sidersddsidersdd Member Posts: 2,432
    Not just Wal-Mart - I've seem them restocked well at Target and Meijer as well. I think the only one EOL'd is the smallest one - 7049 Alien Striker. I've heard that the larger LEGO stores (MOA, Anaheim, Orlando, Rockefeller, and Chicago perhaps) will continue to carry the entire line (minus the Striker), while some of the smaller stores will only carry the battlepack and Mothership. They will then end in the summer along with the Harry Potter.
  • LegoFanTexasLegoFanTexas Member Posts: 8,404
    Amazon restocked them as well, go figure...
  • OldfanOldfan Member Posts: 706
    Message-Intercept Base, yes it's awesome. I've been trying to find parts so I can extend the base, more hallways, and rooms, maybe a row of rocket lunchers so I can hold the space world to ransom.

    You can tell the blakctron guys a really bad because they're always smiling as they plot their evil. eheheh
    Search for "Blacktron Intelligence Agency" on the web and be amazed and inspired!

  • Si_UKNZSi_UKNZ Member Posts: 4,179
    You space-heads are never happy! Last year you had 4 space themes ... City Space, Alien Conquest, Star Wars and, ahem, Buzz Lightyear.
  • BrickDancerBrickDancer Member Posts: 3,639
    @Oldfan you're right, my head just exploded from all that MOC goodness!
  • prevereprevere Member Posts: 2,923
    edited March 2012
    ^ I now see the world through trans-yellow glasses of Blacktron awesomeness.
  • legoDadlegoDad Member Posts: 529
    Love the Space theme but Star Wars takes away sales from them.
    I feel it will be back enforce in 2013.
  • OdinduskOdindusk Member Posts: 763
    edited March 2012
    I heart AC and have them all, but it didn't feel like a true space theme to me since the storyline takes place on Earth.

    City Space just doesn't cut it for me. It's too... City. heh

    Star Wars is a licensed theme, and one that I don't collect so it doesn't fulfill my space needs either. Original > licensed (to me)

    I am really looking forward to the next, original space theme that LEGO puts out. I think I'd fall over if I ever read that Blacktron (yellow and black) was being revisited with new models.
  • The_Brick_BuilderThe_Brick_Builder Member Posts: 658
    City Space was a major disappointment for me.
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    You got Intergalatic Girl in CMF series 6. Is that not enough?
  • prof1515prof1515 Member Posts: 1,550
    All of the following Space Police sets are still available for MSRP.

    5969 Squidman's Escape
    5972 Truck Getaway
    5973 Hyperspeed Pursuit
    5974 Galactic Enforcer
    5983 Undercover Cruiser
    5984 Lunar Limo

    You just have to know where to look. :-)
  • joeejoee Member Posts: 42
    I thought Space Police 3 really lacked. I wasn't too interested in gangster Aliens. I just want a space theme of explorers in helemets (visors optional) in tiny to large ships with the odd land rover or base. That shouldn't be too much to ask.
  • OdinduskOdindusk Member Posts: 763
    ^ yes, which pretty much would pay homage to classic space sets. I too would love to just see simple little moon bases, on moon-textured baseplates, and some random vehicles.

    I guess that premise just isn't as exciting these days.
  • GIR3691GIR3691 Member Posts: 674
    Man... there's a lot of "we don't get enough space themes...except that, and that... but those sucked" going on in this thread. I guess hard-core spacers won't be happy until we get Blacktron back.
  • mathewmathew Member Posts: 2,099
    I've always like the moon bases. It would be cool if they released a Creator moon base model.
  • YpresYpres Member Posts: 200
    I've never been a fan of classic space... and quite honestly hate the stuff from the 80s. I did, however, enjoy searching Blacktron into Google images and finding the great MOCs people made. It was amazing to see the scale of models people built using such old fashioned pieces. My only complaint about a "blacktron revival" would be it not living up to the enthusiasts' expectations given the scale of grandure we're used to seeing from the MOCs online. Some might shrug at the thought, but I certainly saw that sentiment when reading a few comments about Lord of the Rings.

    Remember, no space line will be introduced that potentially competes with Lego's Starwars sets. Lego certainly does cater to us adult collectors, so perhaps if enough people band together they can push for an "exclusive" blacktron model.
  • RobbRobb Member Posts: 144
    Level 1, Kit 1 of MBA is a great little space set. The designs are good enough to support a little retro space theme on their own.
  • dimefielddimefield Member Posts: 314
    I saw all the large Alien Conquest sets on display and in large quantities at TRU today, looks like that is your space theme for this year again.
  • jwsmartjwsmart Member Posts: 298
    @GIR3691 - I agree completely. We don't get enough space themes, several of them sucked, and I want BlackTron back.

    Seriously though. Blacktron was 5 sets... spread out over two years... Sure, there was also Futuron getting released at the same time, but Futuron just doesn't get the love that Blacktron gets. It's not because there weren't 2-3 good Futuron sets per year, it's because there were so many mediocre Futuron sets, that it drowned out the real gems.

    Space Police III was the same way - a few real gems, and a ton of middling sets.

    So my point is this: even at the height of LEGO space, we only got 3-5 really good sets per year and they weren't all in the same theme. Unfortunately, I suspect it's because it was hard to compete with Star Wars, but the number of extremely questionable themes (Exploriens, RoboForce, UFO, Insectiods) preceding Star Wars would suggest that space was faltering before the Phantom Menace.

    I also don't think it's fair to call it quits for Space in 2012. I wouldn't be surprised at all if there's a new space theme coming out early 2013, and we see sets hit store shelves late this year.
  • sergiorfsergiorf Member Posts: 6
    What about Ice Planet 2002? I miss that...
  • snowtygersnowtyger Member Posts: 47
    Was in the lego store yesterday, and heard that AC would be back; considering they just discounted all the current sets though, I find it difficult to believe
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,787
    I miss Blacktron 1's color scheme, it just was nice to see, and you know who the 'bad guys' were.. I guess LEGO has an issue with that, but I'm guessing that the line sold fairly well between it and Space Police (first generation SP)
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,787
    Was in the lego store yesterday, and heard that AC would be back; considering they just discounted all the current sets though, I find it difficult to believe
    Well Any line could come back, look at Space Police, HP, LEGO Batma, etc.., but it may not be back this year but a year from now..

    I think LEGO is relying on SW to get people their Space 'fix'. Maybe AC took away sales from the SW line, and Lord knows LEGO does not want that.
  • BrickarmorBrickarmor Member Posts: 1,258
    I squealed when the Hypersonic Operations Aircraft package arrived. This was 3 weeks ago and I'm a grown man. My son (6) developed a knack for astronomy by himself--and I don't mean the aliens-and-saucers anything goes type but the "Daddy did you know Miranda has 14 mile high ice cliffs?" and he has to explain to me that it's one of Neptune's moons type--so we naturally started with Mars. I personally prefer the Life on Mars theme because it doesn't rehearse the well-worn and tiresome Us vs. Them drama. Additionally, the way the sets can be broken into chunks and recombined (Explorer with Trike, excavation Searcher with Mechs, and so forth) is very impressive. Do any other themes have this feature? Seriously, I'd like to know!

    I'll be looking into more space sets as money becomes available, but Star Wars, Space Police, and AC are not at the top of my list. Will somebody clue me in to what makes the best older sets (late 80s to 90s) so irresistable? Unique functions are what I'm curious about, because awesomeness is something I can kinda visually assess but the set may not "do" much, if that makes sense... Just a few pointers would be appreciated, I can't read ALL the reviews of Blacktron today!

    To wind things up with a flagrant opinion: the SW sets just seem too derivative to me, like "hey, look at us, we're just like the movie!" It's less "space" than Hollywood, less imagination than imitation. Not that they're not cool looking or fun to build...!
  • prof1515prof1515 Member Posts: 1,550
    Themes vary from year-to-year. There's no really decent "historical" (I use that term loosely in regard to Lego) theme this year either. Lord of the Rings doesn't cut it since it's fantasy crap. Monster Fighters certainly doesn't either. Aside from the Kingdoms Joust the offerings this year are pretty slim. That's the problem with licenses taking up all the production slots for a year.
  • StuBoyStuBoy Member Posts: 623
    ^^
    Additionally, the way the sets can be broken into chunks and recombined (Explorer with Trike, excavation Searcher with Mechs, and so forth) is very impressive. Do any other themes have this feature? Seriously, I'd like to know!
    I'm sure there are others, but the only one I'm familiar with personally is the Blacktron 2 sets. Not sure how the ones you mentioned interchange, but the Blacktron ones are mainly just the cockpits that can be removed and used as a smaller craft and clipped into other vehicles. Pretty cool though.
  • cheshirecatcheshirecat Member Posts: 5,331
    edited April 2012
    Futuron gets a bad press, but at the time I really liked it. There was just something about it and the time it was released - it was new it was special, it was the future. Just little things like the minifig design was so much more futuristic than the all-the-same-colour classic space suits. Throw in lots of trans blue and some funky new pieces - people may not like them but panels are much more futuristic than bricks - plus we had lights and sounds and to a child it was just so much better. Then blacktron comes with the all black minifigs and black visors and all that black and trans yellow, wow such a great theme at the time. It was the pinnacle for space in my mind (apologies to classic space lovers) and although the occasional set since has been good (6955 Lock-Up Isolation Base for example) i'm not sure it has ever been quite so perfect.

    I pieced together some of my old blacktron sets a while back for my kids, and boy does that colour scheme just say bad guy all over - even after 25 years.
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