Indiana Jones the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull offers several gaming experiences, including the LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures videogame. © Lucasarts.

Yet another franchise staple -- and one of the most anticipated summer movies of the year -- is Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and Indy is offering several videogame experiences.

One upcoming game from Lucasarts, several years in production, features the groundbreaking euphoria behavioral-simulation engine from NaturalMotion Ltd., creators of the award-winning Dynamic Motion Synthesis (DMS) technology. euphoria enables interactive characters -- from Indiana Jones to the foes he tangles with -- to move, act and even think like actual human beings without the limitations of traditional animation. Characters move and adapt realistically to their given situations on the fly, resulting in a series of experiences and payoffs that will never be the same twice.

This game becomes as unpredictable as Indy himself. Imagine a swaying rope bridge. With euphoria in action, characters visibly attempt to balance themselves, their feet stumbling, their arms flailing, and their hands reaching for security as the unpredictable movements of the bridge threaten to send them plummeting to their doom. Perhaps they all survive. Perhaps they all fall. The use of euphoria means the action is not scripted -- it's simulated -- so players are never be able to predict exactly what will happen, no matter how many times they have experienced a certain scenario.

However, another, stockier Indiana Jones is also hunting for archaeological treasure in the LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures videogame from Lucasarts/TT Games. This game follows the spirit of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, as Dr. Jones treks through the jungles of South America to the mountaintops of India.

The Incredible Hulk videogame shares key moments from the film, as well as additional plotlines and characters from The Hulk universe. All Hulk images © SEGA of America.

Players are invited to "build, battle and brawl your way through your favorite moments, from Indy's entanglements with snakes to his dashing boulder run." In the kid- and parent-friendly game, LEGO characters are fully immersed in their environment, are able to swim, climb, shimmy across rock ledges and pick up and carry objects. Players can use a variety of weapons from the environment such as chairs, guns, swords and bottles to fight enemies -- including Indy's whip, which can be used as a multi-purpose tool to attack, disarm, swing across gaps, activate levers and interact with a world of LEGO objects and puzzles.

This LEGO videogame is itself part of a franchise, following the success of the LEGO Star Wars franchise that sold more than 15 million units worldwide. An integrated $7 million marketing campaign, including TV, is targeting a broad range of gamers, and will be complemented by a strong online presence, print campaign and partnership with the movie promotional partners. This game is scheduled for release June 3.

Yet another game developer, THQ, is making its latest mobile phone game featuring the adventures of Indiana Jones and Mutt available to users as of May 1. Gamers play as Indy and Mutt Williams as they journey through the jungles, cemeteries and temples of Peru. Indy uses his legendary whip to defeat enemies and to swing his way over the gaps, obstacles and up to the higher platforms. Indy also has an ability to defeat enemies on lower platforms by attacking them from above.

Unique Content
In another effort to extend the movie experience, videogames are also offering unique content for players and fans.

Disney Interactive's FitzRandolph says that the The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian game expands beyond the events of the film to provide fans with different looks at Narnia. "The game starts with the fall of Cair Paravel, which happens between the events of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian," he adds. "In Prince Caspian, we see the ruins of Cair Paravel but only in the game do we see what happened. We were able to provide that while working closely with the C.S. Lewis estate."

In addition to content from the film, there are two original, live-action scenes only available in the videogame. "The scenes were shot on the film set in Prague, Czech Republic, during principal shooting and feature dialog revealing plot based on the events of the book, game and film," advises FitzRandolph. "The creation of the live action content was under the guidance of Andrew Adamson."

In SEGA's Iron Man videogame, players will be offering unlockable suits from the Marvel comic book history, including (but not limited to) the Extremis suit, the Classic suit and the Hulkbuster suit -- each of which features its own strengths and weapons.