A moment from Star Wars and (above) Marlon Brando in The GodfatherA poster of the forthcoming Batman film Batman Begins

A game version of a Hollywood movie is more the norm than the exception these days. Allowing viewers to enter and participate in the movie they have just seen helps studios earn millions. As more and more big-ticket movies ready for release this year, work continues in feverish mode on their PC, Playstation 2, Xbox or GameCube versions. Here?s a look at a few of the big ones?

Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith

May the force be with the Jedi embarking on the game version of the final prequel of the Star Wars series! The Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi duel of good and evil is replayed in the interactive version. As Anakin, players can unleash the power of the dark side in ruthless lightsaber and Force attacks. As Obi-Wan, they strive to save the galaxy from darkness.

Releasing two weeks before the film, the game will offer a sneak peek into the movie ahead, besides battling through 16 levels (including some never-before-seen locations inspired by the film) and unlocking other characters, locations and bonuses.

Working closely with the stunt co-ordinator of the film series Nick Gillard, ?the most authentic lightsaber combat ever? has been created for the game, with choreography taken directly from the films as well as new stunts created exclusively under the auspices of Gillard.

Release Date: May 5, fortnight before film

A poster of the forthcoming Batman film Batman Begins

Batman Begins

There is a huge hype over this film which looks at the origin of Batman. And the game, scheduled to release on the same date as the movie, only adds to it. Also from the Electronic Arts stable, the game invites you to step into the shadows of Gotham City?s perilous criminal underworld and true to the character of Batman, use fear as your ultimate weapon.

Gamers get to play both as Bruce Wayne and his masked crusader avatar Batman as he tackles some of his most challenging foes like the Scarecrow, Ra?s Al Ghul and Carmine Falcone. Batman being an urban legend, each enemy has a fear rating, and depending on their level of fear, fight bravely, poorly or simply run for their lives.

The game locales extend from the halls of Arkham Asylum and the alleys of Gotham City to an ancient monastery high in the Himalayas. Lots of high-tech gadgetry is on offer through the Bat Utility Belt, including the Batgrapple, Batarang, Optic Cables and Lock Picks, besides riding the Batmobile.

The voice cast for the game is almost identical to the movie with Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne/Batman), Michael Caine (Alfred Pennyworth), Liam Neeson (Henri Ducard), Katie Holmes (Rachel Dawes), Cillian Murphy (Dr Jonathan Crane), Tom Wilkinson (Carmine Falcone) and Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox) recreating their roles.

Release date: June 17, with movie

The Godfather: The Game

The Mario Puzo-penned Francis Ford Coppola classic makes its game transition with remarkably lifelike graphics and star cast of voiceover artistes from the movie. The coupe de grace for the producers was getting Marlon Brando to provide the voice, only six months before his death, for Don Corleone. James Caan returns as Sonny Corleone and Robert Duvall as consigliere Tom Hagen but unfortunately, Al Pacino refused to offer his services for Michael Corleone?s character.

In the Electronic Arts game, the player joins the Corleone family, America?s most famous criminal organisation, to earn respect through loyalty and fear while he rises through the ranks to become Don in a 1945-1955 New York. There will be missions from the film as well as new and original missions with characters from the film to complete.

The opening sequence of the game, released as a trailer, is a frame-by-frame replication of the Don?s shooting scene rendered in stunning 3-D computer graphics.

The only sour note in this melody is the displeasure expressed by Coppola himself. He slammed Paramount Pictures for selling the game rights to the movie and not asking him whether he thought it was a good idea or not. Coppola was further annoyed going through a preview build of the game and observed that it uses ?characters everyone knows, and then for the next hour they shoot and kill each other?.

Release date: 2005 fourth quarter

From Russia With Love

Actors including Pierce Brosnan, Judi Dench and John Cleese have lent their voice to James Bond games in the past, but this classic movie to game transition has none other than the original Bond, Sean Connery, recording the dialogues.

?As an artiste, I see this as another way to explore the creative process,? Connery has said. ?Video games are an extremely popular form of entertainment today, and I am looking forward to seeing how it all fits together,? the actor who made his second appearance as Bond with From Russia? offered.

This game, which follows the 1963 movie closely (including the battle on the Orient Express and the boat chase sequence), will also be released by Electronic Arts. The company achieved considerable success with 2004?s GoldenEye: Rogue Agent, which put players in the shoes of the villain GoldenEye and From Russia? should be no different.

As Bond, the player can visit exotic locales, drive vintage cars and meet beautiful women, as well as utilise cool toys like the jetpack, a Q-copter and the trusty Walther PPK handgun. The experience is likely to leave you shaken? and stirred.

Release date: November 2005

As plans are firmed up for new movies, the list of games directly spun off or inspired by them will also grow. Particularly in case of sequels in progress like Harry Potter or Spider-Man.

In fact, Electronic Art has just announced the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire videogame scheduled for a November 2005 release in conjunction with the movie.

In this version, a new spell-casting system allows players to feel the magic as the controller shakes and reacts with every flick of the wand, while co-operative play can combine magic to produce more powerful spells than ever. Highlights: the Quidditch World Cup campsite and a duel with Lord Voldemort himself.