Video game:Sony PlayStation 3 Lego Batman: The Video Game

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 2008, Warner Bros. Interactive and DC Comics paired with LEGO to release "LEGO Batman: The Videogame." Unlike other LEGO video games based on established series, "LEGO Batman" had an original plot. Gamers play as Batman and Robin in single-player or multiplayer mode, and must fight a legion of villains who have escaped from Arkham Asylum. Many of Batman's most notorious foes from the comic book series make an appearance in this game, including Riddler, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, and Joker. Once players pass a level, they may return in free play mode and play as any unlocked character, including the villains.

"LEGO Batman" received positive reviews from critics, who praised the game's settings and characters. In her review, Hilary Goldstein of IGN called the game "accessible and enjoyable," and praised the depiction of the Batman characters, as well as the game's replay value. By 2010, "LEGO Batman" had sold more than seven million copies. Because of its success, Warner Bros. released a sequel entitled "LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes" in 2012.

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." Thanks to computer animation, LEGO figurines appear in multiple television series, as well as a full-length movie. More than 50 years after its initial release, LEGO's interlocking plastic block remains popular and continues to evolve.