Thanks to eBay, our new source of info on new minifigs, here's a close-up of the (Old) Republic Trooper from the LEGO Star Wars set 75001 Republic Troopers vs Sith Troopers which will be released in late 2012 / early 2013.

Superb minifigure with very elaborate screen printing, the torso is magnificent. The new helmet also thrills me. It is relatively faithful to the Star Wars The Old Republic version of the game.

This is enough to give a little freshness to our collections. Each new successful minifig that LEGO offers in its Star Wars range rekindles my interest in this never-ending collection which already takes up too much space in my home.

Over the years, I sometimes feel tired of the countless remakes, variations, evolutions ... I want something new, something fresh, something original. And there, I am served.

LEGO really should be doing something to make the designers showing their work in these videos do it a little bit more spirited ... Looks like the guy is presenting his plan to rob a bank ...

I pass you the brilliant demonstration of barrels that fly off with a simple push or the portal that you can yank out with the other thumb: The video speaks for itself and it's pathetic .

Let’s repeat it all in our hearts, so that LEGO can hear us: We buy your boxes for minifigs !!!

Once again, the Dutch retailer site brickshop.nl gives us some information on the sets of the LEGO Lord of the Rings (or The Hobbit) range for 2013.

It is confirmed that Frodo will make an appearance in the upcoming Peter Jackson trilogy which could place these sets in The Hobbit range.

4 new sets are referenced on this merchant site and the names of the sets are undoubtedly preliminary:

LEGO 79005 Frodo and Ringwraith (LOTR / The Hobbit?)
LEGO 79006 (no set name)
LEGO 79007 Eagles Nest (The Hobbit?)
LEGO 79008 Pirate Ship (Lord of the Rings?)

These 4 sets are announced on June 1, 2013.

(thanks to Daniel for his email)

Today is when the Nantes International Science Fiction Festival, better known to regulars asUtopial. This benchmark event for all SF enthusiasts will be held until November 12 at the city's Congress Center.

Obviously, AFOLs (including several members of the community BrickPirate) will be present in force with an exhibition bringing together various dioramas (Hoth, Clone Wars, Space ...) and I understand that Ar Sparfel's maxifigs will also be present.

In addition, if you are there on Friday, November 9, book your place to attend the round table on the theme "Design, LEGO and science fiction"which will take place from 20:30 p.m. at the Shayol space and of which here is the presentation text:

"... Art, street art, advertising, design use LEGO-type bricks to mobilize the collective imagination associated with them: childhood, toys, modularity, assembly ... Conversely, Adult LEGO users use these qualities in the first degree, like children, the bricks becoming a kind of material, both flexible and pixelated. So, teenage hobby, amateur design, 3D painting, popular sculpture? What is the name of the use of LEGO bricks by adults? How does a professional designer see these creations? ..."

Out of nowhere, here's what appears to be the Alien Trooper Series 9 collectible minifig that makes an appearance in a video on YouTube.

I took it upon myself to remove the dusty plates of the amateur videographer from the image to isolate the minifigure which is equipped with the same armor and helmet as the Space Trooper of the 7 series.

I personally am not a fan of the screen printing or the face of this minifigure, but I already know that some of you will love it ....