Children have played with blocks for centuries, but LEGO was the first to introduce unique building bricks that interlock. With a wide variety of shapes and colors available, as well as body parts, motors and other add-ons, LEGO bricks can be assembled into almost anything. The company even owns several theme parks, known as LEGOLAND, that feature large-scale models of famous landmarks and other well-known objects, all built entirely of LEGO bricks.

The company was founded in Denmark by Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter who opened a woodworking shop in 1916. He started by building furniture but later expanded his business to add toys, although they didn’t make him a lot of money initially. In 1934, he christened his business LEGO, which comes from the Danish words leg godt (“play well”).

As plastic became more widely used, LEGO started making toys with that material too, eventually introducing a plastic truck that children could pull apart and then reassemble. In 1947, the company came across toy bricks with hollow bottoms and pegs on top, enabling children to lock them together and then pull them apart. LEGO used the bricks, which had been created by a company named Kiddicraft, to start manufacturing similar ones in 1949.

Christiansen’s son, Godtfred, became junior managing director of the company in 1954. He began to expand the LEGO bricks idea, coming up with a toy system consisting of different sets that could be combined into a large one. He also modified the bricks’ design to their present one in 1958, the same year Ole Kirk passed away. Through the 1960s, the LEGO toys continued to expand, adding wheels and other accessories that gave children more building options. In 1968, the company sold 18 million LEGO sets and opened its first LEGOLAND in Billund, Denmark, the town where Ole Kirk first went into business.

LEGO continued to expand its increasingly popular toy line, introducing trains in 1966 and releasing the toddler-friendly DUPLO bricks in 1969. Technic, which is aimed at older children who want to build toys that use gears and motors, came out in 1977. In 1978, the company introduced mini figures that kids could use to populate their little worlds.

Since then, LEGO has introduced a wide variety of brick systems. Some, such as Mindstorm and Bionicle, were created internally. Others, such as Star Wars and Dora the Explorer, are based on properties licensed by the company. LEGO released its first Star Wars sets in 1999, the same year “The Phantom Menace” hit theaters.

Stumped? Then you may need some help, thanks to the cheat codes that are commonly placed in most video games. They allow you to, well, cheat and change the rules. This sometimes includes activating bonuses, unlocking secrets and new levels of gameplay.

To enable the cheats in LEGO Star Wars, visit Dexter’s diner and select “Enter Code.” Then simply enter the code shown below and press the Return key. Remember that the codes for characters only unlock them, which saves you from having to complete the level that unlocks them for you. You still need to purchase them from Dexter if you want to be able to use them for free play. You should also note that codes are not available for all the unlockable characters, such as Darth Vader.

You can use the extras, however, as soon as you enter their codes.

If you’re really stumped during a level, check out the excellent walk-through found at GameFAQs.com.

Just Like the Movie. A recreation of a scene from “Attack of the Clones”, featuring Obi Wan Kenobi’s fighter.

Let’s Take This Outside. A Jedi rumble breaks out in Dexter’s parking lot.

High Above the Rooftops. Obi Wan Kenobi joins the space battle.

You Won’t Catch Me This Time. General Grievous turns over the fight to his two bodyguards.