Alien Conquest going away?

Rainstorm26

In the new Lego catalog, there are no AC sets. I know there have been some sales and such and Walmart is blowing them out.
Has there been any official word?

sidersdd

No official word. And some on this forum have indicated via either insider info or seeing the catalogs first hand that AC will return in the summer sets.

momof2boys99

Well, I was at 2 Walmarts today and they did not have all of the AC stuff on clearance, just part of the line. I don't know if that means much or not. I just thought I would add to the conversation.

brickupdate

I've heard both answers from people who felt they had reliable sources. Someone who has seen the official 2012 retailer catalog (that has all sets that stores can order from LEGO), and that AQ was included in the catalog. And others who have spoken to LEGO Store employees who have said it is going away to make room for other themes.

Clearly - I hope it stays, but then, I have no idea how LEGO balances the number of themes it handles at once.

sidersdd

I tend to believe the poster who saw the catalog (who has seemed to be accurate on predictions thus far).

Didn't Atlantis skip a season of new sets?

Yellowcastle

It would seem to be a waste of so many neat molds to have just one wave...

llanowarsoldier

If it does come back for a Wave 2 this summer I want to see more Alien sets minus the ED figures. Something like an Alien outpost or something to that effect. I did buy an extra AC Tri-Pod that is still sealed. I might keep that sealed for time being.

jocappy

I hope it's not gone my son and I have all the sets exept the poly bags. He loves invading bikini bottom!

LegoFanTexas

I would also tend to believe the retail catalog over Lego store employees. I have been told over and over that the retail store employees are generally told nothing in advance and really don't have any secrets. No matter how hard I press, even the general manager claims to have no real advance notice of what is going to happen.

Lego is wise to keep such information out of the stores, it would take but one leak to make nothing secret. Makes me wonder how high up the food chain it goes. Do the district managers know? Regional? At some point, someone in Lego USA has to know, curious who that is. Probably someone with profit sharing so they have a personal vested interest in making sure such things do not become public.

dougts

in today's retail world, themes are going to get turned over on most stores shelves pretty rapidly. So, AC will get clearanced out to make room for Superheroes, DINO, Friends, etc. the days of a non-mainstay theme sitting on the shelf for more than 6 months are over (TRU and LEGO stores being the exception.). It doesn't really mean the theme is done. but this wave is old and stale and won't sell very rapidly compared to new stuff that's available. if/when new AC sets come out in summer, those will be back on the shelves again. in 3 or 4 months Dino and this wave of superheroes and city will be getting blown off to make room for summer stuff. and on it goes. the stuff will still be available at LEGO for longer, but it's going to have a short life at most retailers.

atkinsar

If you take a look at the currently known 2012 themes, it would seem there's a classic derived space theme sized whole in the line-up. I don't think we've since the last of AC, which I personally would be delighted about.

dougts

as an owner of the full first wave of AC, I'll gladly accept a second wave next summer. It's classic fun theme with some great designs and delightful LEGO humor.

Yellowcastle

And only some of the AC sets have been reduced so that has to reinforce a 2nd wave opinion...

Odindusk

I hope it's not gone my son and I have all the sets exept the poly bags. He loves invading bikini bottom!

haha nice...

I used a legion (3) of Tripod Invaders to assault my MMV. Peasants were all like "HUH??"

legoDad

According to Brickipedia the Alien Conquest comic book storyline will have a tie-in to the DINO theme in 2012 so yeah...good chance at least another wave of AC.
Be a shame to make it a one and done.

Yellowcastle

They're going to invade Dino? Very cool...

Bosstone100

It's sounding more and more like AC will be back. I really enjoyed it. I picked up a couple of extra tripod walkers (three legs, squad of three). Now I'll have to pick up a couple more of the strikers and defenders and maybe another jet-copter. I already have another mobile HQ. I have to be careful though.. there are so many themes coming out this year so I don't want to burn my budget... plus I'm trying to finish off my Atlantis collection before that all goes away.

bluemoose

^^^ & ^^ there was a comment in the (IIRC) club magazine before last that the commander of the AC aliens had a plan to unleash a bunch of dinosaurs on Earth as part of their invasion plan ... I didn't read anything more into it than it being a bit of a teaser for the Dino theme (they've done this sort of thing before). Is there any reference source that suggests it's more than that?

I'm a fan of the AC theme, so I hope it isn't done with yet; I've been picking up a few extras of each set, so I've got some 'raw materials' to do some AC-influenced MOCs in the future :-)

tamamahm

I too hope this is simply a case of a second wave coming. My son has loved this theme, and most the themes that are coming out for 2012 he has no interest in. (luckily, we have clearance sets now. :-). )

Tammy

Legobuilder234567

I'm a Lego designer and I can tell you all with no fear of contradiction ac has no second wave planned. Sorry but lego ac is dead and gone.

Legoboy

^ He's fired! :o)

Shame all the same.

Sherlockbones

:O

He must be lying then!


Fingers crossed!

Dato

^^ He's not only a LEGO designer, but also a member of LEGO's board of directors on another thread. He's too important to be lego, sorry, I mean let go.

LuciusMalfoy7

He also insulted the AFOL community, shared insider information, and misspelled several words on another thread. All without capital letters.

vynsane

Well, I'm the President of the Moon, and I just told Denmark that we'd invade if LEGO didn't release a second wave of AC sets this year. I'm sure they'll cave under the political (and disintegration ray) pressure.

thecleator

Perhaps a Mega Block spy?

LegoFanTexas

@vynsane - oh yea? We'll I'm Emperor of Mars, and I say you leave Denmark alone, we need them to stop making these AC sets or they'll alert Earth to our pending invasion!

giraffefreckles

You all are hilarious. :P

mr_benn

^^ I have a suspicion that @LegoFanTexas actually has a brick-built Mars base, it's the only place big enough to store all his Lego boxes...

All hail our new Alien Leaders!

Sherlockbones

I'm on the island with Jacob and the Man in Black, if they do not make more AC sets, LEGO will be sorry

sidersdd

Back on topic - a little bit. I visited the LEGO store on Sunday, and was talking to the store manager about Alien Conquest. I was looking to get either the HQ or UFO Abduction, but they only had the mothership set. The store manager told me that they are no longer going to carry the AC line. Their store wasn't large enough. They were a Class 2 store, and only the Class 1 stores were going to continue stocking the AC line. I'm assuming the class 1 stores are the 5 flagship stores. Now, she knew nothing about a subsequent wave of AC sets, and I'm assuming this stocking plan is just for whatever is remaining for wave 1 of AC. I would assume if a wave 2 was released that they would stock it, and perhaps something else gets bumped out (remaining HP or Cars).

Sherlockbones

Well to be honest, I can't see anymore Harry Potter sets coming out. Story is done. That might make room for AC, there a a couple of other sets that need to go, Cars.

I hate the sets.

LONG LIVE AC!

davee123

FWIW, I believe the January catalog is often skimpy, and occasionally skips themes that LEGO isn't pushing at the moment.

I'm a Lego designer

... (and from another thread) ...

as a member of the lego board of directors

You're a LEGO designer, AND a member of the LEGO board of directors?

I can tell you all with no fear of contradiction ac has no second wave planned. Sorry but lego ac is dead and gone.

Hero factory will most likely die

Lego Dino has a second wave in the design stages

Umm... I've never seen anyone high up in the LEGO company be so forthcoming about future product lines... Could you reveal your identity?

DaveE

Yellowcastle

I am Spartacus.

StuBoy

^^ re: Legobuilder - Trolling? Or just a kid that managed to get on forum?

princedraven

I'm Brian and so is my wife!

Huw

Dave, She won't get a chance to reply, I've just banned her.

Sherlockbones

Well, if she/he is REALLY a LEGO expert, she/he will come back...

yys4u

I visited a LEGO store today with my friend to pick up series 6. And a store employee approached us and started geeking out with us for a good hour if not more, he was really into LEGO and knew as much if not more then I do on past and present themes. He talked about being a huge collector himself and went on to tell us that Alien Conquest is DEFINITELY being discontinued, and he too was pretty upset about it. I believe him because he was expressing his worry that LEGO is replacing all its "core themes" with licensed themes...

Rainstorm26

^Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was afraid of the licensed themes eliminating the core classic themes. Ever since the move to PoTC, I have been very afraid of this.

Guess its going to be Bricklink and garage sales from now on.

starfire2

^^ if that is true, we only have ourselves to blame. I'm sure more people buy liscenced sets than non liscenced.

legoDad

^It's Star Wars. That's what saved Lego, still makes a boat load of money for them, etc...built in fan following...you name it. Why not license...it'll help keep the company going and build capital to have more revenue to put into original ideas the Lego designers come up with.

davee123

^It's Star Wars. That's what saved Lego

Supposedly Bionicle, too. I recall someone saying that those two lines were pretty much the only major successes for LEGO during the "dark times" between 1998 and 2005. Harry Potter had a great *first* year, but the second year fell through. IIRC, 1998 was the first year LEGO had a loss financially, and things started turning around in 2006.

DaveE

tamamahm

My 5 year old will be sad to see it go. That was pretty much all he had on his list for Christmas. He built the head quarters and mothership this week, and has been playing with that a ton.

Tammy

legoDad

@tamamahm...don't fret for your 5 year old, look for the past 2 years of Space Police sets for some great figures and vehicles. I think they'd compliment Alien Conquest for kids.
I'd play it this way...The Space Police have heard of this abducting alien race and has been trying to track them down for years and finally they found them headed to Earth.
They team up with the ADU to bring them to justice.
The Aliens use the Space Police villains to 'cause havoc on Earth like hired mercs....or whatever comes to mind...;)

tamamahm

We have one or two sets, and I like your suggestion and we may have to hunt down more. Your storyline would need to be tweaked a bit.

All the aliens here are the good guys. Those evil humans are trying to catch them. The headquarters belong to the very nice aliens. :-)
Alien conquest was perfectly timed for him. He was on an alien kick before alien conquest came out, and that has only continued.

Tammy

Coolsplash

@legoDad, nice storyline :) We did the same with the Space Police but sadly didn't get more sets in that theme and have not touched Alien Conquest yet. Maybe I will buy these when/if they are available over here in a year or so :P

duilim

This is interesting if it's true that AC will not be continuing. For as long as I can remember, Lego have nearly always had a space theme going...... in fact, I can't remember a year when there wasn't one. It'll be a sad day if all this is true. I still have fond nostalgic memories of the space sets back in the 80's and even though I'm not a big fan of AC, I would like to see the space theme continue in some capacity. Perhaps Lego have stretched themselves too far with all the new themes coming out this year....

mr_benn

I think Star Wars is set in space, though to be fair it was a long time ago, in a galaxy quite a long way away. One could even describe it as being far!

I'm sure however you mean non-licensed space sets - and I agree, it will certainly be a shame, especially as the 'space exploration sets' - space centRE (not center!) and shuttle, satellite launcher etc all seem to have been discounted recently and are thus likely end of line as well.

Hopefully though, the secret Lego space division will be using this spare time to develop newer and more exciting Space themes! :)

Coolsplash

Something like the old Space theme. Red, Blue, Yellow, Black and White mini figures. Played with those so much.