Have you ever considered how the Matoran went from mindless artificial intelligence to a richly realized culture and society? There must have been something that first initiated the change. Well, author Paleo has taken on the subject in his fascinating (and first) short story "Care". With some well-written prose and an interesting concept, it may be quite short, but it's also brilliant, and definitely worth a look.

Advance, a major Lego contractor, recently posted on their blog that "We’re launching an exciting new Hero Factory project soon that will have some social media elements built into it." What could it be and what implications does this have for the future of HF and Lego in general? In my opinion, considering we are now on wave 4.0 of Hero Factory, it's about time for something new and exciting.

It's true: Our Lego friends aren't always the best dressers. Luckily, the LEGO Friends site has been updated with a dress-up game that will give us practice for the real world. You'll have to install the Unity3D web player to access it, but afterward, your sartorial imaginings can come to (digital) life.

Minecraft players rejoice! The Lego CUUSOO Blog announced this morning that the project to create a Minecraft-themed set has passed the review stage and is now in the works! The post says that they are "developing a concept that celebrates the best aspects of building with the LEGO system and in Minecraft." Does this mean working nether portals? Custom diamond blocks? Exploding creeper figures? The only way to know is to wait. In the meantime, we better get back to building, both in game and out.

Ninjago has a new game online, pairing the newly armored ninjas and their spinning techniques against the vicious Serpentine. Level-ups give a boost against the ninjas' foes, but watch out for various traps! Check it out here for yourself, and you can even log in to keep track of your proegress.

Last week it was Aragorn, this week Legolas graces the latest poster for the upcoming LEGO Lord of the Rings line. I don't like this one quite as much as the Aragorn one, but there's still a lot of interesting details. Look at that hairpiece with the elf ears. And how does it work with the bow and arrows on his back? The hype is certainly building for this line.

It's been a little bit since our last 2012 Hero Factory review, but fear not! We have not forgotten about you guys. Today Sisen takes a look at the big set from the first wave - Black Phantom. Will this villain mastermind his escape or will he end up back in jail on the toy stores' shelves?  

What's this? Why, I believe it's the first comic to be featured on the Member Creation Spotlight: a seminal event, to be sure! Indeed, author Taka Nuvia's hand-drawn style and skillful attention to coloring and details make for some excellent artwork, and--coupled with some unique humor--a very enjoyable read. Thus far, there are a total of six comics, plus some concept art, for your viewing pleasure. So take a stroll down to the Comics section of the Artwork forum sometime and give A Slightly Different Tale a read!

Both the General Art and Comics forums are planning contests, and they are looking for member input. The premise in the Art Contest thread is to come up with a theme that encourages various Lego based entries, not purely Bionicle. For the first ever (purely) Comics contest, the staff is looking for theme ideas and any suggestions regarding the contest structure. Both these forums would welcome ideas and comments from outsiders as well as regulars, so consider giving them a look and applying your mind to the questions at hand.

LEGO has put out a press release clarifying their girl-friendly initiatives. LEGO Friends got a bit maligned a while back, but naturally, it isn't the only offering for girls. Additionally, the sets do require constructing, and are presented just like "traditional" sets. Read the full statement here.

It's not often we see great-looking vehicles built from Bionicle, and even less that we see those vehicles modeled after the beautiful simplicity of the Mata Nui Online Game, but BZPower member Little Taggy has managed to do just that. Not only does his water/aircraft hybrid look like it was pulled direct from a slightly futuristic version of MNOG, it features working fins and rudders, retractable wings, an engine under the hood, and a nicely furbished cockpit for your favorite contraband-toting matoran. Check it out!  

LEGOLAND Miniland is usually filled with iconic sights an skylines from across the globe, but coming in March the display in Windsor, England, will contain faces from a galaxy far, far away. Stormtroopers, royal guards, heroes and villains have all been reported to have been placed in the Miniland displays, ready for opening day in March, along with themed rooms in the hotel from some classic LEGO themes. As if you needed another reason to visit LEGOLAND.

LEGO has released a new teaser poster for the upcoming Lord of the Rings sets. It features Aragorn, Ranger of the North, and what can only be Anduril, the sword that was broken. Are you as excited as me? Check it out right here!

The public portion of BrickFair Alabama kicks off in about an hour. There's no real Bionicle presence, but myself, Watashi Wa, and Emzee are there having a good time. If you come find me today or tomorrow at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex between 11AM and 4PM, I'll take you to the BZPower guestbook and give you a prototype piece. I'm wearing a shirt that says 'Black Six' on the back, so it shouldn't be too hard to find me. See you there!

Ever wondered what a Vahki might look like in real life? How about a Vahki Bordakh? Well, to see a miniature version of said Vahki, go take a look at Heir of the Chronicler's Custom Repainted Bordahk Statuette. It's an amazing piece with an insane amount of detail, right down to those little pistons. And it's set on a custom base with some rather tenacious-looking Morbuzakh vines. In the topic you can scroll through the entire creative process from beginning to end. Overall, some excellent artistry and model work here, definitely worthy of your time.

Jim Foulds, Community Guru over at LEGO, has taken a huge risk and revealed some information about the sets coming out, not next year, but 2014. Here's the paraphrase:

There will be red 2x4 bricks. There will be new minifig designs. And there will be something with wheels.

You heard it here first guys!