BIONICLE Rebrick competition, The Makuta Challenge, launches
Posted by Huw,
BIONICLE might be coming to an end but it's going out on a high note thanks to a new Rebrick competition that's starting today: The Makuta Challenge. You can read the full rules at Rebrick by following that link but basically to enter you need to build the evil overlord Makuta from primarily constraction and Technic pieces.
The prizes include the entire generation 2 BIONICLE assortment and, far more interesting, a signed 120-page BIONICLE art book.
When I was in Denmark for the fan media days in June I met with the BIONICLE team and it was there that I learned of the theme's demise (but have been under NDA). I also saw a copy of the book (which is awesome) and several Makuta models they had built as inspiration. You will find pictures of both after the break.
Good luck if you enter!
Photos are courtesy of the LEGO BIONICLE team.
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14 comments on this article
If only they could give us one final set with Makuta and that incredible Mask of Ultimate Power mold.
Dang, that second makuta is sweet! Is there anywhere I can get information on that new mask mold? Is it being released in any way, perchance...?
I am no great fan of BIONICLE but wonder whether the range might have proven more popular if some had been larger, akin to those shown here. Some small sets are welcome, of course, but a few truly enormous models like 8998 Toa Mata Nui from the original series might have elicited a little more excitement from fans and drawn new customers to the theme.
Love the Hammerfall design of the first one, although the other two are great!
Why, why would they show us that amazing Overlord model (the second model) to us, with its new molds and prints, but not give it to us? Oh well, I submitted my model already, can't wait to see what you guys do!
How does one enter this contest?
Also, when's the deadline?
@CapnRex101: It's tough to say. Honestly, a lot of the complaints I've seen from fans trying to understand it's lack of success are people worrying the sets were TOO large. The main Toa characters from this year and last were $15 to $20, and had piece counts ranging from 66 to 143, whereas in in the first generation a Toa was generally $10 to $15 in today's money, with piece counts ranging from 30 to 74. But I'm skeptical of that theory, since Bionicle G2 prices in general are fairly low compared to other top-selling themes like LEGO Star Wars, City, Friends, and Ninjago, and even the Star Wars buildable figures seem to have sold better at $20 to $35.
What I do know is that generally the larger Bionicle sets from the first generation (and from Hero Factory) did not sell as well as the small and mid-range sets, hence why there were always so few sets above the $20 or $25 price point compared to the lower price points.
The art book is a brilliant prize since it's something a lot of Bionicle fans, including me, have long wanted. It's not something LEGO has really ever done before, certainly not as a contest prize. 120 pages is pretty substantial too! I hope somebody who gets their hands on it will share photos or scans of at least a few sample pages, since it's not planned for general distribution.
The "big box" of sets will certainly go to great use in the hands of whichever MOCists can generate the best entries in this contest. I think this is the third such contest prize LEGO has done, after a similar Legends of Chima "big box" for the LEGO Club and a LEGO City "big box" for some other contest or sweepstakes I can't remember the details about.
This contest looks fun and I definitely intend to enter, since even if I can't make one of the best models I'll still be eligible to win the art book just by entering. That said, it might be a while until I can have an entry ready, because my priority will be getting ready for BrickFair Virginia, which begins this week, and finishing my Bionicle reviews for New Elementary (I'll probably have to rethink my approach, considering the context that the sets I'm reviewing are now the last ones for the foreseeable future).
Bionicle's second generation may not have been a rousing success, but I definitely appreciate the level of engagement the creators have had with the fans and their willingness to share so many amazing behind-the-scenes details, from designer videos to concept art to MOCs created by LEGO designers. I've always been fascinated in what goes into creating the LEGO themes I enjoy, and one of the saddest things for me in the aftermath of Bionicle's cancellation is how many people recklessly assume this generation failed because its creators didn't put in any effort or care about the theme and its fans. I hope the artists and designers of this generation of Bionicle continue to create great things in the years to come!
I think for me I never was drawn to it as I don't watch the shows so I don't have a tie in to the sets at all. I realize one doesn't necessarily need that as I do buy other sets from shows with no knowledge of the storyline but those I buy because of the mini figures often. I do like the idea of a figure one can build and hope they come up with something other than Star Wars. That said I may cave a buy a few of those as a few seem excellent. I've just never been into Star Wars.
I would buy that second rendition of Makuta in a heartbeat.
Seriously Lego, that's probably the single best CCBS set you've ever designed. A shame it will never see the light of day.
Lol, nvm, just clicked the link.
I just want a Makuta set now...
Ikr. At least like, a promo with the mask, so I can make my own.
I'm totally entering in this!!!