Hey guys,
Just back from a short trip to Raleigh, NC for a story meeting. Most of the team was over there for 2008 focus groups, so the franchise manager kindly carved out some time in the schedule for me to meet with them (possibly saving me a trip to Denmark next month).
A few news items:
-- I saw for the first time all the proposed canister figures for 2008. There were 16 figures on display, of which 12 will be chosen to be sold. They looked quite different from the prototypes I had seen and apparently have gone over well in the groups.
-- The meeting was on BIONICLE 2009 and beyond -- so if you see someone on here spreading rumors that BIONICLE is ending in 2008, don't believe them. The story is CHANGING in 2009 in a lot of ways, but not ending. It was a very productive three hours, we got a ton done, and I came home with a few new projects I have to work on for the team. Extra work, but not complaining -- it's stuff I volunteered for to help advance BIONICLE.
The first meeting at which ideas are presented to corporate will be in mid-May, so that is when the franchise manager will discuss with the big bosses what we decided yesterday. Hopefully, they will like the ideas and we will be given the green light to proceed with story material.
Greg
Back From Raleigh
Posted by GregF on
For your sake, I do hope that you were saved from a trip to Denmark, it sounds like it would be a stress in life that you wouldn't need.
Changing? I know you can't answer it (so this is a rhetorical question), but how? Is Mata Nui gonna awaken...? The reasons I recall you saying that Bionicle would change a lot was if either
1) It wasn't making enough money (causing it to go in a radical new direction
2) Mata Nui awakens...
Oh well, I'll find out in 2009, won't I?
I seriously hope that the feedback with the story goes well, because I'd hate to not see the comic anymore.
Thanks for the update Greg
-
added storyline!
piraka slayer :wakeup2:
*the fallowing is a crazy guess that was partially made up for comedic reasons, viewer discretion is advised*
The whole world will blow up and they will be teleported to a new world and have to start all over again, and History will repeat itself in one way or another (like it does here).
Ok enough with the crazy guessing,
Do you get to travel a lot Greg? Have you ever tried communicating over live footage Video? (like the film makers did in POTC and LOTR?) That might save a trip too... but I suppose it isn't the same, specially when you get to look at all the brand new toys
Oh I wish I had about $200 and the chapters near me had the new books so I can go and Buy them all... then maybe a coffee... and some socks.
Did you have that Slushy I prescribed you for your Vacation?
Ithranna
I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2007, and it’s good to know 2008 and 2009 and beyond are also in planning modes. I sure hope Bionicle keeps going strong…
It will as long as we are strong!
Ithranna
~shadow
Man, can I take over your job? It sure sounds awesome...
Any new colours up there?
Ithranna - I travel some. I usually have two or so Club meetings a year I have to go to, plus Comic-Con, and now that story is being seen as really important for BIONICLE by the global team, we are spending a lot more time on story meetings -- this is our third one in the last 10 months (used to be once a year). I have done some on video-conference, but they just don't seem to work as well.
Greg
Ithranna
Thanks for all that news
-CF
A change in the storyline, eh. That's very nice to hear. I look forward to '09 and beyond (As I do every year). Man, I wish my dad had your job.
-CF
Matt Murdock -- BZPers can speculate about all sorts of things, that is part of being fans. They almost always are talking about stuff way in the future, but they don't really have any info on it, they are just making guesses.
Ithranna -- Comic-Con is fun and exhausting. I usually bring a few hundred dollars (which I try to get rid of by the end of the weekend, last year on DVDs and posters -- comics tend to be REALLY expensive there). Most of my time is spent sitting at the booth, signing autographs or answering questions. If I don't have to work, I wander the con until it is closing time, then I go back to the hotel, have dinner, call my wife, and sack out.
I used to do more traveling than I do now -- back in 2003, I think I had 10 trips -- but now that I am writing for Scholastic, I don't have as much free time to do it. Trips take away writing time. But in the next, say, couple months I am in NYC four times for family or fun, so I bought a laptop to bring with me.
Greg