Movie Madness at E3

If it wasn't Sony touting gritty crime drama cum computerized caper The Getaway, it was Codemasters with the Days of Thunder-esque Pro Race Driver or Cacpom and house of horrors Resident Evil 4. Encouraged by Tinseltown's perennial summer blockbuster glut, publishers are upping storytelling stakes almost as much as they are budgets. Given that big-screen licensing deals have lately come calling for such franchises as House of the Dead, Fatal Frame and Dead or Alive 3, the software giants may be onto something.

For those otherwise inclined, resolute underdogs such as Take 2, Koei, Simon & Schuster, Acclaim and Midway continue to push scrappy new franchises. Even Microsoft, Sega, Sony and Nintendo are looking to their roots with a host of classic-inspired platform game content.

But, as always, Tinseltown tie-ins also had their day in the sun at E3, the giant three-day videogame expo that wrapped Friday. While not as prolific as in past years--due primarily to the gaming industry's newfound fascination with seating its own stars the director's chair--there are nonetheless plenty of mass-marketable franchises properties headed your way over the next year. Top contenders include:

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Vivendi Universal, PS2)--You're Frodo, Gandalf or Aragorn in a third-person action-adventure chronicling the events in Tolkien's famed novels. The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers (Electronic Arts, PS2)--To arms! Closely mirroring the movie, it's a comprehensive combat action game that accurately captures the feel and scale of grand battles. Star Wars: Bounty Hunter (LucasArts, GC/PS2)--Comb the stars' worst locales as antihero Jango Fett, who'll blast his way to glory with weapons in both hands. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (LucasArts, GameCube)--Pilot the vehicles that turned the tides of one of the most brutal conflicts the galaxy has ever witnessed. Star Wars: Galaxies (LucasArts, PC/PS2/Xbox)--This sprawling multiplayer online RPG allows upwards of 1 million players to live, battle and lord over the expansive Star Wars universe. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Electronic Arts, GC/PC/PSOne/PS2/Xbox/GBA/Game Boy Color)--Follow the second book/movie's storyline on a mystical action-adventure filled with Quidditch, spells and Muggles aplenty. Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb (LucasArts, Xbox)--The famed archaelogist's first foray into the Far East, whip, pistol, penchant for fistfights and all. Rocky (UbiSoft, GameCube/PS2/Xbox/GBA)--Go toe to toe with the Italian Stallion's most infamous opponents, including Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang, Ivan Drago and Tommy Gunn. Delta Force: Black Hawk Down (Novalogic, PC/PS2/Xbox)--Into Somalia one goes as a highly trained special operative. Close-quarters squad-level combat it promises to no end. X-Men: Wolverine's Revenge (Activision, PS2/Xbox/GC)--Featuring voice work by Mark Hamill and Patrick Stewart, this third-person adventure lets you take the mutant inside a super-secret lab in a search of his roots. Robocop (Titus, PS2)--Obey the prime directive while gunning down villains in a dark approximation of futuristic law enforcement. Tron 2.0 (Disney, PC)--Step inside the machine once again, enjoying the discs, light cycles and kitschy visuals that made the original film so timeless. The Sum of All Fears (UbiSoft, PC)--Clandestine operations, one-shot kills, and a lot of sneaking through corridors as you and your teammates hunt for terrorists. Blade II (Activision, PS2)--Wesley Snipes' half-human, half-vampire alter ego slays Reapers and nastier foes with a bloodthirsty vengeance. Disney's Lilo & Stitch (Sony, PSOne)--A loudmouthed little girl and her extraterrestrial pal shake things up throughout some fairly typical platform challenges. The Thing (PC/PS2/Xbox)--Cult horror masterpiece goes interactive; trust no one in this truly terrifying action-adventure.