LEGO Atlantis

[onions]

Probably leaked, but i'm just geeking out over this. and i don't know... german? so i'm not sure if this is some sort of official news site or not:

http://www.e-duesse.it/News/Giocattoli/ ... -al-lancio

by way of

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sirdano/3811886276/

[Andi]

Looks more like Italian for me, definitely not German ;-)
wow, that could become an interesting theme.

[Draykov]

Google translate vs. Italian:

Lego Atlantis ready to launch

The new line will be supported by an intensive campaign on TV and the press and a dedicated website

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While it's tempting to pass judgment on a thumbnail that is likely not even the finalized set (I know we all wanted some more of these), new themes can bring a lot of good things to the LEGO palette. Neat! Should be interesting.

[Solo]

/me does a happy dance

All I can say is I can't wait to see the minifigures.

[fredjh]

Meh... looks like rock miners underwater. Maybe I'll get excited when I see more. Then again, I'm just an old fogy.

[SuperDave]

Something has to replace Power Miners and Agents; I'd guess this is the replacement for one of those.

[Puddleglum]

My first thought was that it looked like "Power Miners Underwater", and many others have said the same thing. It turns out that's not an accident, Flickr member John provided this Google translation of the text, which can be seen by creating an account with the site, emphasis mine:

The new line will be supported by an intensive campaign on TV and the press and a dedicated website
Following the successful Power Miners, Lego will launch in January 2010 a new team of explorers, this time equipped with high-tech underwater. Mission team: finding the legendary treasure of Atlantis hidden in darkness of the deep and protected by frightening sea creatures. The line, launched in January 2010, offers a highly differentiated vehicles underwater and marine platforms, new figures half man and half fish and new creatures. Will also be present in the pack, five unique keys that allow access to the treasure. Lego will support the launch with a massive marketing campaign (TV and print) and through an extensive program of materials for the store. In addition, starting in December 2009, will open a website dedicated to the new line - Atlantis.LEGO.com - with 3D content visible with special glasses in some of the packs.

[Iare Tosevite]

Whoa nice

[meeotch]

Oohhh! I'm very excited for this. Any new theme excites me, but especially ones that are more technology oriented (Power Miners, Agents, space, etc.)

[bluemoose]

It doesn't look like this is a replacement for Power Miners though; the two look to be running in parallel. Looks like at least 4 new Power Miners sets are scheduled to hit the shelves in Jan(ish) 2010.

Ian

[Draykov]

If this is intended to replace Power Miners or Agents, I'd be a bit surprised. Those 2 lines, it seems to me (based on no empirical data beyond the "what's hot now" list on Shop@Home), have been doing rather well. But, Aquaraiders and Dino Attack didn't even last more than a single wave, so I guess it shouldn't come as any shock. Play themes turn around pretty quick these days.

[RocketClone]

If this is intended to replace Power Miners or Agents, I'd be a bit surprised. Those 2 lines, it seems to me (based on no empirical data beyond the "what's hot now" list on Shop@Home), have been doing rather well. But, Aquaraiders and Dino Attack didn't even last more than a single wave, so I guess it shouldn't come as any shock. Play themes turn around pretty quick these days.

Sometimes i want to know what the heck is wrong with lego buyers sometimes the money is in the star wars,pirates,space police III but then again im just getting old.

[Chief]

I'm ecstatic about this line.

[Crusader]

The model itself doesn't look that great to me, but obviously it's a really small picture. The concept sounds good though, and fish people are pure win.

[GrayMattR]

It makes perfect sense that TLG would do an Atlantis theme. It keeps in line with the fantasy themes: vikings, castle, pirates, etc. Atlantis is a new possibility that should open up a lot of imagination.

[Marty]

Nice! Though, I think they're going more Aqua Sub / Adventure on this more than rock raiders / miners?
I wish though, they would have stuck to more old time myths rather than some futurist approach to this theme.
We have this one item to go on, and by the looks of it, it's got mars mission machines written all over it.
If Lego chooses to do something like an atlantis theme, at least read up on it!
Aqua people, okay I guess, it had to be more greek or something along that theme, they also, so the story goes had technology far greater than anyone at that time. So any subs / divers looking for treasure have to be less advanced.
A deep sea bell or old deep sea diver would have a good start here, it's never been done before and it would add a nice touch. To add the old treasure hunters & salvage boat as too sea monsters guarding the secret is a good way to go, it has Disney Atlantis written all over it.
I hope it does well, I'm looking forward to it, but I wish they'd do something better than the usual, this picture doesn't inspire me.

[Draykov]

If Lego chooses to do something like an atlantis theme, at least read up on it!

I think in this context, "Atlantis" is merely a way to relate to consumers that this is an underwater theme...and "Atlantis" is catchier than "Underwarter Theme."

[meeotch]

^^^Yeah, the impression I'm under (based on nothing but my own intuition and Lego's recent track record) is that this will be another "us v them" (although not necessarily in a violent way) theme. We'll have the intrepid human explorers, who will be in modern exploring vehicles with the red theme pictured on the box. Choosing the title Atlantis for the theme and the description that accompanied the picture suggests that, a la' Mars Mission and Space Police, some sets may include parts for an opposing faction made up of an underwater race. Simply calling the theme "Underwater Explorers" or something else doesn't necessarily imply an opposing force, whereas going with Atlantis conjurs mental images of merfolk and other fantastical tentacled creatures swimming among ruins. I think that the potential for this line, given those parameters, is amazing.

And once again, let's not make rash judgements on an entire theme based on one 100ish pixel picture!

[ShockZap]

By looking at teh top of teh box, I think meeotch is right. The two figures are running at each other.

[Marty]

I guess it's wrong of me to pass judgement, based on the cover of one box, but I'm going by Lego's track record here.
No divers theme, really made it in my view, except maybe the first one came close with the little yellow sub & the diver minifigures. Aquaraiders, was weird, though it had some nice points, and I won't even mention the OGEL theme, though I'll let you figure out why?
This Atlantis theme has the chance to put things right, and I wish they would, but as usual they will stick to an old tried trusted method, instead of something new.
That being said, it will probably be a one verses the other each with bigger and better machines to boot, but this has been done to death. If they "Lego" really want to sell this theme give's us something we haven't seen before, below is a few examples;

Old style diving bell, with salvage vessel, think movie sea witch.

Old style deep sea diver, with bell helmet, pump etc.

Greek temples ruins (like it's been under the sea.) along with old ship wreck to explore with some monster in it..

Lego even got one right, merepeople, in a technology advanced city.

This is what I get when I think of Atlantis, and if they really wanted to bring it up to date, then they should have made a "Stringray" theme with the terror fish, at least it was one take on it.

Disney Atlantis was another, with a crew on board a sub, with not all the crew was in it for the right reasons.

There you go my take on it, I'm sure it won't appeal to everybody, but I thought it was a good place to start.

What are your thoughts, also sorry to annoy, but this is my view.