NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - It ain't easy being a non-corporeal, deposed evil overlord these days, let me tell you.

Allow me to introduce myself. Name's Sauron. I used to rule Middle Earth, until some twit came around and lopped off my hand -- and my lucky ring along with it. Things kind of went downhill from there. Lost my body. Lost my kingdom. Pretty much all I retained was a lingering rage, one big honkin', lidless eye and nine henchmen -- the Nazgul.

I dispatched them to find my ring, which I can use to return to power. Not too long ago, it seemed this wouldn't be a problem. I sent all nine to the New Line Cinema studios, which made a blockbuster film trilogy based on my story. The Nazgul were making pretty good progress, too. Then the video game companies had to jump in and stir the pot.

Electronic Arts (ERTS: Research, Estimates) was first, capturing my attention last winter with "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," a game based on the film. Released on all platforms, the game sold more than 1 million copies and garnered pretty good reviews. Something this popular had to be addressed, so I diverted one of the Nazgul away from Hollywood to scour the game. No big deal.

My Nazgul attempt to talk with Gandalf in EA's "Return of the King." He wasn't too helpful.

Almost simultaneously, though, Vivendi Universal's (V: Research, Estimates) gaming unit put out their own title, "The Fellowship of the Ring," which was based on the J.R.R. Tolkien books, rather than Hollywood's interpretation of them. Sales of this title also topped 1 million worldwide. I'm thorough, if nothing else, so I sent another Nazgul into that game to keep an eye out for me, so to speak.

I figured those two henchmen would be able to adequately cover the gaming world. I mean, yeah, it's a $10.3 billion industry and all, but it's still just a niche, right? Shows how much I know.

There are now an additional five "Lord of the Rings" video games in the works -- most due to hit stores later this year or early next year. EA has another sure-fire hit on its hands this November with "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King," again based on the film and again incorporating footage that won't be seen in theaters. Vivendi, meanwhile, will release "The Treason of Isengard" and "The Hobbit" this fall. Next spring, Vivendi's "The War of the Ring" will hit shelves. And sometime next year, Vivendi strikes again with "Middle Earth Online" -- a massively multiplayer online game based in my former kingdom that will welcome thousands of simultaneous players. And you just know that's going to mean an explosion in the elf and hobbit population around here.

The Balrog in Vivendi's "Middle Earth Online" wasn't too helpful either.

Look, I appreciate all the interest in my ring. And I appreciate the incredible focus being paid to Middle Earth. It's done wonders for tourism. But aren't we starting to go a little overboard here?

The only theme more popular than my lost ring at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo was World War II, with at least 11 separate games currently in development. (There might be more. My eye began to glaze over as I counted them from atop Mount Doom.)

If there's one saving grace, it's that the two publishers working on all these titles both typically do a good job. And the idea of a massively multiplayer "Lord of the Rings" game actually sounds like one of the few that has a chance at standing out from the crowd.

But c'mon folks, I'm running out of Nazgul, here!

Orc clicking leads to archives, I hear.

Gaming is supposed to lead the entertainment pack when it comes to innovation. As the industry grows financially, though, it's forgetting what made it so successful -- offering fresh, original alternatives to other forms of entertainment. Sequels and licensed properties are threatening to overwhelm it over the next year.

I mean, if my henchmen can't keep up with all the LOTR properties, how is the average fan supposed to?  

Sauron is the deposed dark lord of Middle Earth. Click here to send him an e-mail - especially if you've seen his ring.