Hero Recon Team (website)
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Parent Page: Media
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Hero Recon Team was an online application on LEGO.com, which offered the opportunity of personalizing unique Hero Factory figures. Released in April 2011, it allowed builders to design their own Heroes from a wide range of different Hero Factory elements online and purchase them through LEGO's Design byME service. An armor piece co-injected with black and silver plastic was exclusive to purchases within this service, though it has since been discontinued as of September 2011. The unique armor piece was designed to designate the hero's membership in the Hero Factory Recon Team.
Heroes designed with Hero Recon Team were playable as characters in the online game Mission 2: Ordeal of Fire and Mission 3: Savage Planet. In addition, you could create a hero to play as in the games, on HeroFactory.com.
On January 18, 2012, LEGO Design byME was cancelled, with Hero Recon Team slated to continue as its own entity. The purchasing aspect of the Hero Recon Team was also later removed, and the creator ported over to the main Hero Factory website as a digital designer while the Hero Recon website was redirected to the new creator.
History
The site was first teased in March 21, 2011, with a splash page featuring a Hero under construction and displaying the words "Coming in April 2011." The 2011 sets also teased the site. The Hero had a glowing Hero Core which, when clicked, revealed a small information box about the Recon Team and Merrick Fortis.
In April 4, 2011, on schedule, the Hero Recon Team website was released, featuring a "Create your own Hero" section as well as a number of other activities and sections revolving around the Recon Team concept. There was a message in BZPower promoting the website in April 5.[BZPower April 5, 2011]
In May 5, 2011, the website became the best selling product in the aisles of LEGOShop@Home.[BZPower May 2011 (May 5, 2011)]
A month later, in June 28, 2011, the Hero Recon Team started a contest called a Hero Recon Spy Contest, where entrants would submit their Hero creations to the Design byME team, and 15 winners would receive prizes. The contest lasted for a week, and the winners were later posted in the news section of Hero Recon Team.
As part of an update revealed in the storyline section in August 15, 2011, Hero Recon Team gained new elements from the Savage Planet wave of the Hero Factory line, as well as new "combined-elements", and more total pieces on the order.
In August 26, 2011, the exclusive two-toned armor piece was announced to be discontinued in September.
In September 7, 2011, the Hero Creator was updated with new pieces from the 3.0 line, and some more pieces from the 2.0 line.
In November 3, 2011, the 3.0 parts were used for the custom-built Hero sets.
As of April 11, 2012, the capability to purchase custom heroes was discontinued, with the website restructuring to emphasize the digital building process.[BZPower - Recon Hero Builder Goes Digital (February 7, 2012)] The Hero Recon Team website was ultimately removed and replaced by a new creator in the Games section of HeroFactory.com, marketed as the "Hero Factory Figure Builder". Existing models were imported to the gallery feature of the new creator, though not able to be edited. The Hero Recon Team web domain name redirects to HeroFactory.com. This Hero Factory Figure Builder was also eventually removed for the 2013 update to the website.
Sections
Hero Creator
After the homepage, the first section was the Hero Creator itself. It allowed users to design heroes in five stages: basic armor, tools, extras and cladding, accessories, and finishing touches. The final stage allowed the user to choose a name and some personality traits before the Hero is added to the online gallery. Users can also choose not to display their Hero publicly.
The Hero was initially restricted to 31 elements total, but the September 2011 update increased the limit to 35 elements.
Gallery
The gallery section allows users to view completed Hero designs. There are two categories: My Heroes, which includes Heroes designed by the users, and the public gallery, which includes other users' hero designs they chose to display publicly. Users can purchase or edit heroes in the My Heroes section, whereas in the public gallery they could either purchase other users' heroes or copy them to "My Heroes".
Once the hero is created, it was upgraded to "Agent" and the user could edit the Hero's name, personal statistics, and assign a mission. Then, the user could purchase their hero from the My Heroes section, and enter the code given with their purchase in the online game Mission: Ordeal of Fire as their custom hero. A LEGO Shop account was required to purchase a Hero.
Storyline
The storyline section tells the story of the Recon Team. This section is divided into various episodes. The first episode, "What is Hero Recon Team?", describes the origin of the Recon Team. The second, "Our Mission", describes what heroes on the team are like and what types of missions they are assigned to. The third, "Join Hero Recon Team", describes how the user can design heroes and have them upgraded to "Agent". In August 2011, a fourth episode was added, entitled "Combined Elements", detailing Merrick Fortis and his attempts to produce new elements for the Recon Team agents to use. In September, a fifth episode titled "Fortis 3.0" was added, describing Fortis's new form and all the gear he has been equipped with for his mission on Quatros.
About
The about section of the site is a message from the LEGO Design byME team which describes what the Hero Recon Team site offers and links to the LEGO Digital Designer website where the LEGO Digital Designer application (which also allows users to design models with Hero Factory parts and order them through Design byME) can be downloaded.
Subsections of the About page, including News, FAQ, and Terms give further details about the services the site offers, as well as keeping the viewers updated with changes to the creator. There is also a link to an online survey where users can rate the site according to various criteria.
Quadal's Quote
In the teaser site for the website, there was a quote by Quadal:
"Hero Recon Team was formed shortly after the creation of Hero Factory. The founder, Mr. Makuro, realized that the organization needed to understand the evils that exist in the galaxy if it was successfully to maintain peace and prosperity. Mr. Makuro signed one of Hero Factory's top heroes Merrick Fortis to help form and lead this new intelligence division. Fortis set up headquarters in a secret location in Makuhero City, and set about recruiting the best and brightest heroes to gather intelligence for Hero Factory."
― Quadal, Hero Recon Team teaser site
Storyline Episodes
Our Mission
Hero Recon Team members are experts at collecting and studying information from around the galaxy. They are never far behind, searching for clues through battlegrounds and the wreckage left by villains and monsters. They then report their findings to Hero Factory designers, mission managers and Hero team leaders, who use the information to improve all aspects of Hero Factory.
Hero Recon Team members are often recognized by their unique black and silver chest plate but all Heroes from the Recon unit can wear multiple types of armor and are trained to use different types of weapons and parts - even those used by Villains, like the Lava Blaster and transparent cladding.
Our motto: “Knowledge Is Strength"
What is Hero Recon Team?
Shortly after the creation of Hero Factory Mr. Makuro realized that the organization needed to understand the evils that exist in the galaxy, so he formed the secret Hero Recon Team.
Merrick Fortis was handpicked by Mr. Makuro to help form and lead this new intelligence division. Fortis set up headquarters in a secret location in Makuhero City, and set about recruiting the best and brightest heroes.
Join Hero Recon Team
Hero Recon Team operates secretly and often behind enemy lines, where they gather crucial intelligence about Monsters and Villains all around the galaxy.
To become a member of Hero Recon Team you have to create your own Hero in the Hero Creator.
Upgrade to Agent? Your custom Hero is promoted to the rank of Agent once you decide to order your Hero and have it sent to your home. At the same time you will be able to add personal stats, skills and a mission to your Hero Recon Agent.
Along with your Agent you will get a special unlock code for the online game.
Enter the Hero Creator here
Combined Elements
As commander of Hero Recon Team Merrick Fortis has access to all the newest Hero Factory elements. During his numerous Recon missions he has collected tons of intelligence which has given him vital knowledge he uses for improving different Hero Recon equipment that will benefit his Agents when faced with the dangers that lurk in the galaxy.
At this moment, in the top secret Hero Recon control room, Merrick is working on combining different Hero Factory elements. When the elements have finished processing they will appear here.
In the background a monitor is keeping a close eye on a remote jungle planet, but why? What could Merrick be planning…
Merrick 3.0
Not long ago the planet Quatros was almost destroyed by the evil Witch Doctor, but thankfully Stormer, Rocka, Furno and the other Heroes defeated the evil mastermind and rescued the planet from exploding.
Now it is time for Merrick to show off his skills! His upcoming mission is of great importance to Hero Factory. Merrick has to closely study every part of Quatros in search of possible leads to the whereabouts of other Villains. It is still uncertain whether Witch Doctor had contact with other Villains out there in the galaxy!
In order to safely move around on the savage planet Merrick must be upgraded with some of the newest Hero Factory elements:
1. Powerful hand with four sharp claws: Ideal for holding on to the steep cliffs and cutting through the dense jungle.
2. Eagle wings: Helping Merrick moving from each corner of the planet in eagle speed.
3. Good old trustworthy: Merrick’s favored tool. Just in case a villain should attack.
Trivia
- The Hero Creator on the Hero Recon Team website and HeroFactory.com was designed by Advance Relations, an in-house partner company of the advertising agency Advance. Advance Relations is also responsible for the Comic Builder on the LEGO City and LEGO Hero Factory websites.
- When the Hero purchasing service was first launched, a production error caused a delay in order shipments. To make up for the delay, an additional flame element was included, as well as a letter from Merrick Fortis stating that the production factory was attacked by villains as an in-story explanation.
See also
External links
- The former Hero Recon Team website (unavailable)
- 2011 (archived)
- 2011, with 3.0 content (archived)
- 2011, with a link to Mission: Savage Planet (archived)
- 2012 (archived)
- Mission: Ordeal of Fire/Mission: Savage Planet Hero Creator (unavailable)
- The Hero Recon Team online survey (unavailable)
- The Hero Recon Team online survey (archived)
- The new Hero Factory Figure Builder (unavailable)
| Websites | ||
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| Official | HeroFactory.com (Testimonials | Story | Hero Factory FM | HeroPad) | Hero Recon Team | Toys "R" Us Hong Kong Microsite | YTV Microsite | |
| Fan Sites | HEROsector01 | |
