For decades, Hollywood’s relationship with video games has come down to one word: licensing. Game publishers have been licensing and adapting movies all the way back to 1984′s E.T., and studios started doing the opposite with 1993′s Super Mario Bros. Both of those projects were infamous flops, as were many of their follow-ups, but neither side could long resist the easy name recognition and potential crossover audiences that came from the others’ properties.

In the last few years, however, the licensing flow out of Hollywood has slowed as studios increasingly produce their own video games. Warner Bros.’ recent $49-million purchase of Midway Games and the rapid growth of Disney Interactive Studios illustrate how two of the biggest movie companies are more interested in publishing their own games than having others do it for them.

Microsoft and Ubisoft are now turning the tables on Hollywood, and both are unveiling at Comic-Con a series of short films based on their bestselling game series, Halo and Assassin’s Creed. “Halo Legends” and the live action “Assassin’s Creed II: Lineage” represent a major shift in the relationship between game publishers and movie studios, but how will it affect the final product? Will Microsoft and Ubisoft ruin two of their biggest properties? As neither series of films is ready for full viewing yet (Assassin’s is in post and Halo is still in production), we’ll just have to wait and see.

Source: LA Times