HERO Factory: 'From the makers of Bionicle characters'

 

  • HERO Factory: 'From the makers of Bionicle characters'

    Posted by Huw, 05 Jul 2010 14:43. Filed under Brickset.

    7167: William Furno
    HERO Factory, 2010
    More details...
    ©2010 LEGO Group

    I was surprised to find HERO Factory 'heroes' in my local Tesco today. I had a chuckle over the text on the front: 'From the makers of Bionicle characters', it claims. I don't think there could possibly be any doubt: the packaging is the same, the colours and parts are much the same and if it wasn't for the fancy H on the front of Bill Furno that I bought home [1] you'd think it was just another Bionicle. That's not necessarily a bad thing, just an observation...

    [1] I always liked to buy the red Bionicle in the series to see how they evolved. I suspect I'll do the same with HF.


    56 comments, latest one posted 34 months ago. (Commenting has ended on this article)
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Comments

Posted by kazooie_pack in United States, 05 Jul 2010 14:57

These "HERO Factory" thingys are interesting, but i miss the original BIONICLEs....those were the good days....

Posted by power miner2020 in United States, 05 Jul 2010 14:59

I hope that hero factory is good as bionicle

Posted by BIONICLEGuy in United Kingdom, 05 Jul 2010 14:59

At first I thought HERO Factory would be rubbish, but it will just be a new BIONICLE story, and the name has changed.
Nothing to worry about.

Posted by Imperial13 in United States, 05 Jul 2010 15:15

Funny, I always buy the green one!

Posted by refriedbeans in United States, 05 Jul 2010 15:23

Huw dont you mean William Furno?:)

Posted by superbrick in United States, 05 Jul 2010 15:33

I wish they would of continued BIONICLE. I think hero factory is going to fail.

Posted by Huw in United Kingdom, 05 Jul 2010 16:29

Bill is short for William (Will) in the UK :-)

Posted by TransformR in United States, 05 Jul 2010 16:32

They have the Building instructions for the Hero Factory sets on the HF microsite

Posted by legobob in United States, 05 Jul 2010 17:01

@kazooie_pack I agree
@power miner2010 trust me it won't be
@superbrick I agree
the hero factory story sucks bionicle is so much better I mean robots? I thought lego invented new stuff not took other peoples ideas

Posted by refriedbeans in United States, 05 Jul 2010 17:08

@Huw Oh sorry!:)

Posted by ceroknight in Canada, 05 Jul 2010 17:37

How come, unlike bionicle, the heroes are matoran/agori size and the villains are toa/glatorian size??
It was opposite with bionicle in the start: the villians were smaller (bohrok) or the same size(rakshi/rahi).
Maybe the heroes will 'grow' as they get older?

Posted by Sky-guardian in United States, 05 Jul 2010 18:08

Toys r us says bionicle hero factory. You just need to take off the "H" and you got another bionicle set.

@legobob How can you like bionicle and not like HF they're the same thing. I do agree with you though on the imagination part.

Posted by Jayko543 in United States, 05 Jul 2010 18:27

@ceroknight - I think its because when there is a villan/monster problem, they send out a team of heros, instead of a one-on-one type of battle.

When I went to Brickworld, LEGO Community Development Lead Coordinator Steve Witt said that Bionicle was never ment to have a continuing story, they knew that it needed an end. Not only that, but the sales for bionicle were going down slightly. It was just time for LEGO to move on.

Don't think that I don't miss bionicle, because I do! I am just saying that I understand LEGO's reasoning behind it, And I hope HF does well!

Posted by swlego@hf in United States, 05 Jul 2010 18:34

Yeah goofy that they put from the maker's of BIONICLE as lego has alway's been the "makers" of bionicle, big HAHAHA...
I picked up Mark Surge at my local Toy's R Us, I can't say it equal's bionicle, but it's not that bad of a set except for the darn legs which aren't very moveable...

Posted by cjg in United States, 05 Jul 2010 19:12

@Huw and refriedbeans: It's short for William (Will) in the U.S. too.

Posted by Super Robot Wars in Ireland, 05 Jul 2010 19:15

I've never been a big fan of bionicle but it did have to end sometime. I guess this is as close LEGO can get to bionicle without it actually being bionicle.

Posted by grelb32 in United States, 05 Jul 2010 19:18

@Ceroknight: I actually think that it's cool that they've finally started making the heroes smaller than the villains. Whenever I used to play with my toys (Bionicles, Legos, etc.), I always made the villains all really big, super hard to beat bad guys. That way, whenever I did (imaginarily) beat them, it was so much cooler, because the heroes overcame the impossible odds and beat a villain twice their size.

I'm guessing that that is Lego's thought behind making the heroes smaller than the villains; to make the victory over evil so much more fun for the kids that play with HF.

Posted by buriedbybricks in Canada, 05 Jul 2010 19:52

I used to buy the white ones and black ones. I'm an old fashioned G vs E guy. Haven't bought any in a while, have to check these out though, just in case.

Posted by ceroknight in Canada, 05 Jul 2010 20:03

@grelb32: thats true ... but it would be cool if LEGO brought back something like the Exo-Toa. That would make me want to buy HF ... I buy red,white and green(haha Italy) but this time maybe just Furno and Stormer ...

Posted by Morgan19 in United States, 05 Jul 2010 20:35

>> Yeah goofy that they put from the maker's of BIONICLE as lego has alway's been the "makers" of bionicle, big HAHAHA...

It's not "goofy" at all, it's pure marketing.

LEGO wanted to retire Bionicle and start fresh (so to speak) to inject some energy into the line, but they also want to reassure all the moms and dads going to the store to find what they know their kids like playing with-- which has been Bionicle. Even if the HF line *looks* the same, parents might still pass them over because they're looking for the Bionicle name.

By both changing the theme's name and keeping the "from the makers of Bionicle" moniker on it for a while, they accomplish both freshness and brand loyalty, ensuring a continuing profit.

Posted by Sky-guardian in United States, 05 Jul 2010 20:46

@morgan19 i see what you mean.

I'm not a fan of galactic enforcer type sets...but it seems to me lego loves them though. (space police, Hero Factory, ben ten, star wars, even atlantis seems a little that way even though that's not galactic). They need to branch out a little.

Posted by Captain Aardvark in United States, 05 Jul 2010 22:19

@:Sky-guardian: What do you mean by 'Galactic Enforcer' type sets?

Posted by ceroknight in Canada, 05 Jul 2010 22:49

Science Fiction I think....

Posted by voyanui8768 in United Kingdom, 06 Jul 2010 01:44

The villains look the best out of the lot, especially corroder and meltdown. Von Nebula is COOL ;) Are the pieces in the Bulk set silver or are they just grey. The packaging makes him look really shiny. Stringer is the same, he looks chrome more than black.

Posted by exo-man in Canada, 06 Jul 2010 02:24

Thats nice but being BZP and all I knew that months ago!
But I didn't know you collected the red(Fire) characters

Posted by DrathMaul1997 in United Kingdom, 06 Jul 2010 08:00

Still don't like them...

Posted by ndb in United States, 06 Jul 2010 09:17

Good to know that some people have found the awesome sets. So the hunt begins.

Posted by Sky-guardian in United States, 06 Jul 2010 13:00

@Captain Aardvark I mean a police force enforcing space.
@ceroknight That too.

Posted by bluemoose in United Kingdom, 06 Jul 2010 13:40

The HF sets were in my local Lego Brand Retail store today (Milton Keynes, UK).

Posted by MakutaBitil08 in United Kingdom, 06 Jul 2010 14:45

I went to Tesco and bought Will Furno, Duncan Bulk and Preston stormer

Posted by knuclear200x in United States, 06 Jul 2010 14:46

Whoo! theyre coming at long last! but I'll never understand why the "scout class" bionicles always have fixed joints. what if i dont want to pose them while their arms and knees are half bent?

Posted by power miner2020 in United States, 06 Jul 2010 15:48

Hope hero factory is not going to fail.You know i like the red ones in the story

Posted by legobob in United States, 06 Jul 2010 18:38

@sky-guardian because bionicle was a whole new universe and it had so many good ideas a great story and lots of locations people and a history plus for hero factory all you know is that they have all robots and there is evil theres no real though put into it

Posted by Shijima in United Kingdom, 06 Jul 2010 18:42

Ive never been into bionicle, but some of the badguys look pretty cool, at the very least I guess its possible to integrate some of the cooler looking pieces into regular lego builds. Ill have to pick some up when they go on sale like old Bionicle often did.

On a side note, on the Toysrus Canada website, they are listed as 'Lego Bionicle - Hero Factory'

Posted by grelb32 in United States, 06 Jul 2010 20:35

@legbob: I like the fact that Lego made a new story now. Whenever I played with my Bionicles, I really struggled to be creative about what I played. Gresh and Mata Nui were always the heroes, and everybody who was a bad-guy was strictly bad-guy (same with the good-guys). Thus, after a few times of playing the same plot with the same figures, I got bored. However, with these new guys, there's absolutely no plot. Meaning, I can pretend that these people are whoever I want them to be. I can make the red guy the main hero, or I can kill off the white guy early, or XPlode can become a good-guy in the end and help them kill of Von Nebula, etc.

But anyways, I think it's cool that they're making a new plot, because now, there's so much left to your imagination, that I doubt that it will be near as easy to get bored with the same old figures as it was with Bionicles.

Posted by Sky-guardian in United States, 06 Jul 2010 21:34

@legobob I think that's the reason they switched it There was no where else to go... But Yes HF has very little history and HF emergency phone line?????? What kind of plot is that?!?!

Posted by Orange Lemons in United States, 06 Jul 2010 22:09

Really Bionicle was really never that good after the first few waves. Now that I look back on it, they were never very good in the first place with all the over-specialized pieces that were only useful for a few situations most of the time (yes, I realize people have come up with tons of ways to use these pieces). I agree by looks, or at least without the 'H' on the front, it's exactly the same as Bionicle in my book, especially since I never bothered reading the story and didn't bother following it.

Posted by Dallas #15 in United States, 07 Jul 2010 00:19

I honestly dunno if this is going to fail....but it looks cool though!

Posted by cjg in United States, 07 Jul 2010 00:27

@legobob: I think HF will have a better story soon. They just haven't told everyone what it is yet.

Posted by patch in United Kingdom, 07 Jul 2010 06:06

looks okay, but the heroes hardly have any pieces!

Posted by legobob in United States, 07 Jul 2010 07:33

@grelb32 yes but with me it was easy to see the story plus there was still so much unknown at the end of the story that your bionicle MOCs could be anyone so I think bionicle is still better
@Sky-guardian well I sort of agree with you on that point but I could go somewhere else with the story I would for once make all Agori matoran toa ect. live in peace and build sets of their regular life but I agree on you with the emergency phone why would robots in the future use a phone
@cjg I agree but it definitely won't be as full and awesome as the bionicle universe

Posted by MakutaBitil08 in United Kingdom, 07 Jul 2010 13:24

Today I got all of the Hero Factory sets- Von Nebulas amazing!!

Posted by Dragon-fire in United Kingdom, 07 Jul 2010 13:44

I accept that Bionicle had to end at some point, but they cannot compare Hero Factory to Bionicle. The Bionicle plot is far more intricate and epic, and the sets were better. From what I've seen of these "heroes" they are a simple block body piece, with one pice arms and weapons, THEY ARE NOWHERE NEAR AS GOOD AS BIONICLE!!!

Posted by Sky-guardian in United States, 07 Jul 2010 17:57

Another thing with Hero factory is the heroes only have a weapon on one arm. And they think they're top of the line.

Posted by legobob in United States, 07 Jul 2010 20:04

@Dragon-fire exactly my point!
@Sky-guardian I agree thats pretty funny I mean you have to be a ninja to be top of the line with those linds of weapons I think HF members just have big egos (the opposite of modest)

Posted by Darren Coppinger in Ireland, 08 Jul 2010 17:45

I'll have to unforuantly wait until august for the sets

Posted by itsaturkey in United States, 08 Jul 2010 17:58

even though i am a bionicle fan, i will probably get one of the heroes (i always collect at least one set from the current bionicle theme, and though it isn't bionicle it re-placed it so i will keep with my tradition) but the villians are the ones that are cool, cuz they are bionicles with a differnet label (i mean even the main bad guy has hydroxans mask, only in black, how is that not awesome?) and remember, lego has to appeal to 4 differnt fan groups, little kid, pre-teens, teens, and AFOL's. its hard to make a theme that ALL age groups like. HF is obviosly for the littler kids, as technic is more for older teens and AFOL's.

Posted by cheese654 in United Kingdom, 09 Jul 2010 16:02

As figures i prefere bionicles, but their names also suffered from overcomplication

Posted by power miner2020 in United States, 09 Jul 2010 16:07

Guys,shhh dont tell legobob about this beacause he thinks lego hero factory is bad but did you know that Von nebula was once a good guy and mark surge is convinced he was biult with a flaw and fears he might end up in the side of bad?It's true.

Posted by ndb in United States, 09 Jul 2010 23:59

The Hero's part count. What is the big deal? The first Bioncle sets couldn't move like the HF sets can! Besides, next year the Heroes will be probably upgraded! Not to mention, with Bionicle's lowering sales, a new theme had to be rushed onto the scene, so they didn't have a lot of time to make new molds!

Posted by legofanatic2414 in United States, 10 Jul 2010 12:51

I still like Bionicles! hmnf! But this new series looks promising. But I read the little brochure that came with my magazine and they put SO much backstory into it! To be honest I hardly understood the Bionicle story! ;P

Posted by power miner2020 in United States, 10 Jul 2010 14:10

@ Sky-guardian I agree why does legobob not like HF and likes bionicle.They are like the same thing

Posted by lego legend89 in United States, 10 Jul 2010 20:21

If it's a factory that makes heroes, why don't they just make a million so they don't even have to worry about the bad guys? I think the bad guys are cooler in design and the heroes sound like they have big egos, kinda lame. These guys could actualy be bionicles just remove the giant H on their chests, and it will look like the belong in the bionicle series.

Posted by patch in United Kingdom, 11 Jul 2010 05:36

they should make a set with the actual factory that makes the heroes!

Posted by Yoda 56 in United States, 13 Jul 2010 20:37

I think they look better than the last few waves of Bionicles (except the Stars) so I will probably pick one up to see if they are as cool as the pictures! :)

Posted by maximiliam in United States, 14 Jul 2010 21:51

they should continue the bionicle saga and say hero factory is "future bionicles"

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