Holey blocks! Is it Lego Batman on DS and PSP?

Considering both Lego and video games are about playing, in hindsight it's amazing how long it took for Lego-based video games to become so popular.

But following the success of the Lego Star Wars titles (try the PSP version, rather than the DS version), the next question is what's the limit? Or put another way, is there any kids' brand the joy of Lego can't be applied to?

The just announced Lego Batman will be an interesting case in point. One reason Lego Star Wars worked so well was the use of the Force to jiggle the in-game Lego blocks around.

The concepts behind Batman, however, are more technologically driven so it may be more difficult to inject the joy of Lego consistently into the game.

Anyhow, for now what we do know is the plot sees you tracking down the likes of The Joker and The Penguin who have escaped from Arkham Asylum. Expect gadgets a-plenty, of course, as well as the opportunity to build Batman's vehicles in Lego form – most people are probably just looking forward to the Lego Batmobile, not to mention Lego Catwoman.

Still, looking at the other film brands already available in Lego bricks, and thus likely to be made into Lego video games at some point, the obvious next tie-in would appear to be Harry Potter. Not only does it involve magic – great for re-arranging in-game blocks – but by the time any game would be made, all the books would have been released, providing the gamemakers with access to the entire plot arc, as well as all the characters, locations and events.

Other Lego-related brands such as Spider-Man, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Avatar: The Last Airbender just don't compare.

Exact platforms for Lego Batman: The Videogame haven't yet been announced but we'd expect DS, GBA and PSP versions to be present and correct when release date rolls round, sometime in 2008.

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