Los Angeles ? Call it “The Return of the Killer Game Part III.”

With billions of dollars on the line, the video gaming industry is relying on brand-name recognition to weather the raging competition between personal computer systems, Microsoft’s Xbox, Nintendo’s GameCube and Sony’s PlayStation2.

Game makers are relying on brand-name recognition like Lara Croft in the game Tomb

Thus, the coming year’s video gaming offerings on display at last week’s Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles are larded with sequels and movie adaptations.

Sequels to the innovative games “The Legend of Zelda,” “Tomb Raider” and “Black & White” are in the works, along with a stack of games based on films like “Harry Potter,” “Tron” and “Indiana Jones.” Many sport the numerals “II” or “III” in their titles.

How important are such franchises to a console’s success?

“It’s everything,” said Perrin Kaplan, vice president for corporate affairs at Nintendo of America. “Nintendo is built on a couple cornerstones, and character franchise is a really huge one and not to be underestimated. We don’t take it lightly.”

The second-place console GameCube is hoping to fuel more sales with the release of the spin-off “Super Mario Sunshine,” a cartoon-style version of “The Legend of Zelda,” and the futuristic “Star Fox Adventures,” a hand-to-paw fighter derived from the original “Star Fox” flying game.

Nintendo is also hoping to lure more adult gamers with the gory prequel “Resident Evil 0” and the alien shoot-’em-up “Metroid Prime,” an update on the 1980s hit sci-fi game.

PS2, the leading console in sales, will feature “Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness,” the sixth title in that series; a follow-up to the anti-social adventure “Grand Theft Auto III” subtitled “Vice City;” the 3-D role-playing game “Dark Cloud 2” and a console version of the PC hit “The Sims.”

Among its original games are the robot chase “Ratchet & Clank” and “The Getaway,” a gritty crime saga set in the London underworld.

Disney in the equation

With nearly 30 million units sold worldwide, PS2 also plans to attract more users with a handful of Disney-based games. Those include “Kingdom Hearts,” a “Final Fantasy”-style role-play game set in the worlds of Mickey Mouse, Peter Pan and the Little Mermaid; and “Disney’s Stitch,” a prequel to the upcoming animated film “Lilo & Stitch.”

The high profile of Disney-based characters has made the entertainment company a top partner for video game developers.

“Everybody is trying to create a trend,” said Jan Smith, president of Disney Interactive. “We combine stories that people know and characters they know, and that’s what everybody is looking for.”

Xbox seeks expansion

After debuting only last year, Xbox still lacks the character recognition of Nintendo or the “Tomb Raider” and “Grand Theft Auto” franchise games of PS2.

However, Microsoft has franchise aspirations for many of its original titles, particularly “Blinx: The Time Sweeper,” said Robbie Bach, Microsoft’s chief Xbox officer.

That game features an anthropomorphized cat that cleans up disturbances in time, which enables him to slow down enemies, freeze moments and travel backward to stage multiple attacks on villains

But Xbox will feature a few sequels, such as the racing game “Midtown Madness 3” and “Frogger Classic,” an updated version of the 1980s dodging game.

Xbox is also offering TV and movie adaptations such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”