Sega developing films and TV shows based on Altered Beast, Golden Axe, Crazy Taxi, more

Sega is working to develop its classic video game franchises, including Shinobi, Golden Axe, Altered Beast, Virtua Fighter and Crazy Taxi, into feature films, television shows and digital series, the company announced through its production arm, Stories International.

Stories International is a joint venture between Sega and Japanese advertising agency Hakuhodo DY Group. The subsidiary controls 40 Sega intellectual properties, including the aforementioned game franchises, as well as Streets of Rage and Rise of Nightmares.

The group named Evan Cholfin, formerly of Break Media, as head of development and production for the company's film, television and digital division. At Stories, Cholfin will focus on adapting Sega's video game properties into live action and animated movies, TV series and other digital entertainment.

Stories says it's "looking to partner with the major studios, A-list producers and filmmakers to adapt these properties."

Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog property is currently being tapped for an animated series, Sonic Boom. The company's The House of the Dead franchise was previously adapted for an Uwe Boll-directed feature in 2003.

Other game publishers have worked for years to adapt their video game properties into feature films, including Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed and Splinter Cell; Sony Computer Entertainment's Uncharted and Shadow of the Colossus; Konami's Metal Gear Solid; and Electronic Arts' Mass Effect and Dead Space.