A Guide to Da Vinci Code: Game, Movie, Book, etc

Released in 2003, The Da Vinci Code rapidly became one of the biggest selling novels of all time. With over 60 million copies sold, the book has been translated into 44 different languages, creating an international sensation. Dealing with religious history and controversial ideas, the film blends fact with fiction to weave a tale that has been at the center of much discussion over the last few years.

Written by Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code follows the adventures of Harvard symbology professor Richard Langdon as he investigates the death of the Louvre's curator. As the story unravels, he discovers himself to be embroiled in a large conspiracy involving secret societies, including the influential Catholic arm, Opus Dei. The result is a book that has captivated millions of readers and enraged quite a few with its alternate theories on the development and history of the Catholic Church.

With the popularity of the book, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood came knocking. Released on May 19, 2006, the Da Vinci Code movie was an immediate success, pulling in close to 80 million dollars domestically on its opening weekend. Starring Tom Hanks and Audrey Tatou, the film was directed by Ron Howard. As with the book, filming included a little controversy, with a number of churches refusing access to the production.

In addition to the book and film, the Da Vinci Code phenomenon has also inspired a number of games. From board games to video games, the scavenger hunt structure of the book has lent itself successfully to these other formats according to fans. In fact, the success of this book has even helped increase public interest in a number of Dan Brown's other books, such as Angels and Demons, in which Robert Langdon is once again the protagonist.