Hobbies And Interests
The Evolution of Legos
Originally sold just as sets of blocks with no specific outcome intended, the children's building blocks have found increased sales success by selling sets that, when assembled, form a specific toy. This has led to numerous product lines featuring themes such as space exploration, medieval times and pirates. But the company's largest success has been its tie-in with Lucasfilm for the Lego Star Wars line. These kits include all of the major characters from the movies, their various spaceships and other well-known set pieces. The success of the line has led the company to create other tie-ins, including Lego Indiana Jones and Lego Batman.
Lego Batman: The Toys
The original Lego Batman toys released in 2006 included two-inch tall recreations of Batman, Robin and many of the major villains from the franchise. There were also sets that included vehicles driven or flown by both the heroes and the bad guys. Batman's car, the Batmobile, was released in several different Lego incarnations, including a more traditional version, and "The Tumbler," which has appeared in the two most recent Batman movies. Since then, it appears the toys have been shelved. They are no longer available on the Lego Web site. While they can be found on the Internet, the prices have risen significantly due to scarcity and demand.
Lego Batman: The Video Game
Out of the partnership between Lego and DC Comics also came a video game. Following the path forged by a similar game for the Lego Star Wars franchise, Lego Batman: The Videogame was released. The popular title enables players to portray both heroes and villains undertaking a series of missions. Much like its Star Wars-themed predecessor, Lego Batman: The Videogame features cartoon violence, a whimsical take on the characters and a series of puzzles for players to solve. The game is currently available for most major consoles, as well as for several handheld gaming systems.
Lego Batman Meets Ronald McDonald
At the time the video game was released, McDonalds issued a series of Lego Batman toys that corresponded with characters from the toy sets and the video game. The toys came with special codes that enabled the players to unlock special characters and abilities hidden within the game.
Lego Batman: The Controversy
The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC), a lobbying group that decries marketing aimed at children and champions the return of imagination, nominated Lego Batman: The Videogame as one of five finalists in its first-ever T.O.A.D.Y. (Toys Oppressive And Destructive to Young children) Awards in 2009. Despite tying for last in the voting with only 10 percent of the group's membership believing the game to be harmful, the CCFC still released these comments by members justifying why they consider the game one of the worst for children. One member commented, "It boggles the mind how one can take a wonderful, open-ended toy like Lego blocks and turn it into a one-dimensional, imagination-inhibiting, worthless time waster." Another added, "A formerly creative toy, branded with a violent character and made into a closed-ended video game with a McDonald's endorsement. A perfect trifecta of toy terrorism."