Activision has released some new details on its next big game based on the X-Men movie franchise. The game is currently being called X-Men: The Official Movie Game (working title) and is being developed for current generation consoles and Nintendo's hand-helds.

The script for the game is being co-written by Zak Penn, the screenwriter of movies X2: X-Men United and X-Men: The Last Stand, and comic book writer Chris Claremont (who is a household name among X-Men series fans). The story is being billed as a backstory to the epic plotlines being written for X-Men The Last Stand.

Players will get to use three key characters: the perennial favorite Wolverine, Iceman and Nightcrawler. The play for these three characters will allow gamers to use the signature powers of these three utilizing a new and advanced control scheme. While details on what and how many powers will be available for each character, players will be able to upgrade them and further improve them (via a new system called the Mutant Evolution System) as they go through the game. At a glance Wolverine will be able to use his claws and make use of combat rage for extra damage; Iceman will be able to use his cold powers to combat enemies and ride across ice bridges in the air like in the comics and Nightcrawler will be able to use his acrobatic expertise and teleporting abilities.

Players will also interact with a variety of X-Men allies and foes, with many friends offering an assist during various missions in the game. These missions will run the gauntlet of styles - including stealth style missions, out and out action and time based trials.

These missions will use environments specifically designed to showcase each character's abilities, according to Activision, which means each playable team member's roles will be integral to the game.

While many of this game's features and background are being kept under wraps, we can tell you that the game will begin before the events of the next film, X-Men The Last Stand. The game will serve as a prequel to the film and set up many of the plot lines that will inevitably be revealed. The game will also explain certain elements of the film, like Nightcrawler's absence as a main character, and the background stories on both the X-Men and the Brotherhood's roles leading into the film. By the end of the game, players should have a good grasp on what's going on X-Men The Last Stand.

The Xbox, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 2 versions of the game are being handled by Z-Axis, while Hypnos is handling the GameCube version, Amaze is creating the Nintendo DS version, Wayfoward will be developing the Game Boy Advance version and Beenox will bring the game to life on the PC. Many of the games will have platform specific features: the Xbox 360 version promises HD support, the hand-held versions will offer exclusive characters and the Nintendo DS will roll stylus support on the system.

While it's way to early to speculate on how this game is going to turn out, it looks like Activision and it's development teams are well on their way in creating all these games and having them in working order before their release this spring. We'll have more on these games as we inch closer towards release. X-Men: The Official Movie Game (working title) will be released in May. The game has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

Be sure to check out the new concept art and the new screenshots from this game. The screens show off all three playable characters in action!