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New Spider-Man, Family Guy due 2011

Transformers 3, Wipeout, X-Men, too.

A new Spider-Man game and a Family Guy game will launch this year, Activision has announced.

Confirmation came during the company's financial call to investors last night, during which Activision Publishing boss Eric Hirshberg explained why licensed games are so important to the behemoth.

"This year, we plan to release two movie-based titles," he said. "An all-new X-Men game, tied to the feature film X-Men: First Class, and Transformers 3, which will coincide with Michael Bay's blockbuster movie release.

"Also, this year, we plan to launch games based on the best-selling Spider-Man franchise, the toy phenomenon Bakugan, hit TV shows Wipeout and Family Guy, as well as the latest release in the long-standing Cabela's Hunting franchise.

"These are all strong franchises with passionate niche audiences that can achieve repeatable and profitable success."

Last month Activision revealed it had handed the Spider-Man reins to Shattered Dimensions developer Beenox.

Activision VP Patrick Kelly explained at the time: "Beenox's creative vision reinvigorated the Spider-Man gaming experience among critics and fans in Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions. We can't wait to see where this talented studio will take this franchise in the future."