But the battle to lead the next generation is a never-ending one in the gaming industry. And while none of the major console manufacturers wants to talk specifics, developers in the know say Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are already hard at work putting together their next systems.

Game machines typically are on the shelves for five or six years before a console manufacturer rolls out the next one. With the expense and success of this crop of systems–which have been out two to three years–it could be closer to eight years before we see the PlayStation 4, Xbox 720 and Nintendo “Us”–or whatever they end up being called.

“One of the things I like about this generation is we are still very early and there’s still a lot of room for growth … as we move down those price curves,” says Brian Farrell, CEO of THQ . “Those engines have a lot of steam left in them. We think it could be seven or eight years before new machines start to roll out.”

Epic Games, maker of the hit “Gears of War” series, agrees. President Mike Capps recently said the company estimates new systems will not hit shelves until somewhere between 2012 and 2018.

Both hardware and software manufacturers are already gearing up. Work on Epic’s “Unreal Engine 4,” a graphics engine for next-gen games, has been under way for almost two years now under the guidance of founder Tim Sweeney. “It’s not like there’s anything to show today,” notes Epic Vice President Mark Rein.

Prof Wolfgang Weileder, of Newcastle University, erected the exact replica of a Georgian terraced house in the Sunniside area of Sunderland.

The main construction, using light weight concrete blocks, was completed in four days - a procedure taking up to three weeks using traditional bricks.

It is part of a programme of public art being developed by Sunderland Council.

The installation, part of a project called Fold-Up, will be on show until 3 August, after which the building will be dismantled and recycled.

The replica was made using continental construction techniques, where blocks click together like LEGO bricks without using cement.

The 43-year-old professor of contemporary sculpture said: “I think the focus of the project goes beyond the pure aesthetics of the structure.

“I would like to think Fold-Up will inspire people to take ownership of where they live and be more critically aware of their built environment.

“I hope that people appreciated the experience of watching the house unfolding before their very eyes, a unique occurrence that very few people have ever witnessed before.”

Technorati Tags: lego, lego toys, toys, games

Building on the immense success of the ‘LEGO Star Wars’ series, gaming studio Traveler’s Tales stuck to a winning formula by once again combining the LEGO franchise with one of the most beloved film trilogies ever released.

No doubt also part of a cleverly constructed marketing campaign to have this game released alongside the latest Indiana Jones movie, it certainly bodes well for what will probably be another runaway hit for TT.

But have they done enough to warrant another exercise in a button-mashing, LEGO-building, puzzle solving adventure?

If you’ve played the ‘LEGO Star Wars’ trilogy, you will know exactly what to expect. It really is, in its purest form, another Star Wars game with a bunch of different characters and settings.

Is this a bad thing though? Not necessarily, but I for one would have liked to see a bit more innovation in the series. Sure, exploration and puzzle-solving take a slightly more important role in the Indy series, but for all intents and purposes the games are very similar.

Although we’re dealing for the most part with blocks here, do not expect to be amazed by the game’s graphical capabilities. A LEGO block is a LEGO block, and it really can only look so good.

But that doesn’t mean the game is an eyesore, or even remotely bad looking. For while all the characters, props and objects are made of LEGO, the backgrounds, foliage and buildings are not, and the game is a joy to behold in all it’s cartoony, colourful splendour.

Strangely enough, you would expect the game to run as smooth as silk when considering the fairly uncomplicated look of the game, but screen tearing pops up more frequently than is entirely acceptable. A deal-breaker? Not in the least.

LEGO Batman is equal parts crime fighting and crime committing. Half of the game you’ll play as the heroes, including such names as Batman and Robin. The villain side is a little more rotund, however, featuring everyone from The Riddler to the Joker. I wasn’t able to ascertain much of the story while getting some hands-on time with the game at E3 today, but needless to say the villains are trying to do evil and the good guys are trying to stop them. The story does progress with the same trademark humor that has existed in the previous games, featuring such situations as characters tumbling down a flight of stairs while running from the Joker.

LEGO Batman’s world is a mixture of Tim Burton and Joel Schumaker’s film visions. On one hand, the game is rather dark, but it features enough cartoony spunk and bright neon to make a player remember the days when the Batman suit once had nipples. During Batman’s segment in the game, I found myself jumping from rooftop to rooftop, chasing after Catwoman, and doing away with any mugger that crossed my path. The Joker’s portion was a bit more playful in terms of environment, as it featured a whacked out carnival complete with switches galore and even a giant Ferris wheel.

Leaning more towards the recent Indiana Jones game, LEGO Batman seems to focus a great deal on puzzles involving cooperation. During the Joker’s level, I found myself needing to split my costumed duo up, letting Harley work the upper level of a stage and the Joker the bottom portion.

As Harley came across a variety of switches, by stepping on each one she was able to let the Joker move along down the line to catch up with her, who was then able to return the favor by using machines and platforms to let Harley move through. It can be difficult to know when to switch back and forth when playing alone, but like previous LEGO games, LEGO Batman will have the option to allow two players to play the game together whenever they want. Sadly, much like the past games, there will be no online play options, relegating all cooperative play to local only.

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Gary Standford, 37, of Salford, spent more than £1,500 on about 500,000 pieces of Lego for the project - which he started 13 years ago.

The Maine Road ground, in Moss Side, was demolished in 2003 when the club moved to the city’s Eastlands complex.

But Mr Standford says he does not plan to replicate the new stadium.

He said that he dreamt of building the 3ft (91cm) replica when he was still at school and a big fan of Lego.

“I built a small-scale model but as I got older the Lego was put away in a box and I forgot about it,” said Mr Standford.

“For 12 years I never even looked at it. But when I moved into my own place I came across the box and found plans of Maine Road tucked away inside it.

“It was then that I decided to re-build a larger more exact model of the ground.”

Mr Standford worked on his replica about five hours a week and had to mould his own plastic for the more technical parts.

But like the club itself, Mr Standford’s model has endured a difficult history.

Potter bother

He had to bring the project to a standstill when the Harry Potter films stopped his supply of vital sky blue bricks from Lego in Denmark.

“When the Harry Potter films came out, the sky blue bricks were licensed for the Harry Potter model only - so I couldn’t buy them separately,” said Mr Standford.

“I had to adapt and also used burgundy bricks, the colour of City’s away strip, and took the bricks from the Star Wars models and figurines which were out at the time.”

He says he is thrilled with the final model even though the club moved to the City of Manchester Stadium in 2003.

“I was sad to see the end of Maine Road but I really like the new stadium.

“Despite it being a challenge and a real learning curve I don’t think I’ll be building a model of the new stadium as well.”

The new Sindy launches in autumn 2004 and will no longer have the height and long legs she shares with Barbie. Safeway shoppers will be the first to see the revamped incarnation later this month when a smaller six-inch version of the doll, under the sub-brand 100% Sindy, goes on sale. The range includes clothing and cosmetics.

100% Design & Development, a joint venture between Pedigree and New Moons licensing company, will handle marketing for Sindy’s relaunch and is in talks with ad agencies. Pedigree was the original licensor in 1962 and re-acquired the Sindy licence from Hasbro in 1999.

The Red Carpet Glam Hilary Duff Doll - wearing a polka-dot dress and red satin sash - will be available in early 2007.

‘Hilary is a great role model to girls,’ says Jamie Wood, Mattel’s vice president of Barbie marketing.

‘Not only is she a stylish entertainer, actor and fashion designer, but she also shows girls that there are no limits to what they can do.’

The 5ft 1in star will be following in the footsteps of Beyoncé Knowles and Reese Witherspoon, who have also had Barbie dolls made in their likeness.