Video game:Lego Racers

Whether you follow a design and instructions, or make your own creation, LEGO blocks have stimulated imaginations in children and adults since their introduction in 1958. These simple bricks join together to form millions of combinations, and have left a significant impression in popular culture and the way we play. Thanks to television and video games, users are not limited in the ways they choose to interact with LEGO pieces; they can build, control characters, and take part in interactive stories without ever leaving the couch.

Electronic Arts released the first LEGO video game in 1997. Entitled "LEGO Island," this computer game allowed players to explore a world made entirely out of LEGO pieces and complete different missions. "LEGO Island" received excellent reviews and led to the creation of two sequels, as well as many more LEGO games. Along with original worlds and storylines, LEGO also released video games that tied into popular franchises, such as "Harry Potter," "Star Wars," and "Lord of the Rings."

In 1999, LEGO Media released "LEGO Racers" for Windows, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, and the Game Boy Color. Gamers play this racing game as a single-player or in multiplayer mode. It allows players to use popular LEGO pieces to build their own go-kart to compete. The plot revolves around Rocket Racer, the fastest LEGO racer ever, who invites other drivers to participate in a tournament. Gamers must win several different circuits in order to become champion and prove themselves as the greatest racer in the galaxy.

"LEGO Racers" received mixed reviews from critics, who enjoyed the game on some systems, but found it "bland, boring, and frustrating" on others. For example, Sam Bishop of IGN called the PlayStation version of the game "average," while Winnie Imperio wrote, "[The N64 version] is perfect for players who are bored with traditional racing games and for racing fanatics who are looking for something original." Nevertheless, "LEGO Racers" became a best-seller and LEGO Software released a sequel in 2001.

In 1998, the National Toy Hall of Fame, calling the blocks "an ideal toy," inducted LEGO into its ranks. Two years later, "Fortune Magazine" named the LEGO brick "Toy of the Century." Computer animation has made it possible for LEGO figurines to appear in multiple television series, and in 2014, they starred in a full-length movie. This shows that more than 50 years after its initial release, LEGO?s interlocking plastic block remains popular and continues to evolve.