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Goldeneye 007 review: For England, James
Activision had an interesting balancing act on its hands with Goldeneye. It knew that this was a nostalgia title for the Nintendo 64 crowd, yet it had to be wary of "copying" anything from the Rare-developed 1997 title of the same name for legal reasons. So the company goes back to the source material (the film, that is), replaces Pierce Brosnan with Daniel Craig, and builds an entirely new game -- yet all the while hoping it rides its name recognition right off the shelves. "Somebody's remaking Goldeneye! Remember Goldeneye? Goldeneye!" This isn't a remake. It's a new Bond game based on an older film. Remember when EA made a video game version of From Russia With Love in 2005? It's like that, but if they replaced Sean Connery with Daniel Craig. And gave him a smartphone. %Gallery-97627%
GoldenEye 007 trailer flips on multiplayer modifiers
GoldenEye 007 gets all up in our face 1997-style, with a trailer featuring some of the multiplayer modifiers and combinations found in the Wii update. So, let's do "License to Kill" with "Slappers Only!" Ready? GO!
GoldenEye 007 DS preview: 'A thinking man's FPS'
Developer n-Space has been responsible for the DS installments of Activision's biggest FPS franchise, Call of Duty. With handheld versions of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, World at War and Modern Warfare: Mobilized under its belt, the studio is readying for its next release, the DS version of GoldenEye 007, which will launch alongside the Wii remake on November 2. Last week, I chatted with creative director Ted Newman and played a bit of GoldenEye 007 on the DS.%Gallery-102043%
GoldenEye 007 Wii preview: 'Striking a balance between nostalgia and the modern'
Activision is taking a risk with its GoldenEye 007 remake for Wii. Legal precautions aside (Microsoft and Rare still have rights to the original game), GoldenEye for N64, or simply "Bond," is a beloved, iconic console FPS. So, to re-imagine this game on the Wii, Activision risks both tarnishing us old-timers' fond memories and further alienating a newer generation that wonders, "What's the big deal?" At a recent preview event, I checked out two levels of the new GoldenEye and spoke with Activision brand manager Eric Spielman. "We thought, if we're going to bring it back, we need to have a commitment to authenticity; and the original game was on Nintendo -- we wanted to be on Nintendo again," Spielman told me, when asked why Activision had focused its remake solely on the Wii (a DS version will also be released). "If you look at the Wii, it's very much about people together, in the same room, having fun, playing games together. It all added up to us getting the exclusive, and Nintendo has been a big help every step of the way." %Gallery-101953%
Overheard @ Gamescom: A development house divided
Like many Wii games before it, the upcoming revival of Goldeneye 007 supports a number of different controllers. You'll be able to play with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, the Classic Controller, a GameCube controller or even the Wii Zapper. But surely one of these myriad methods must be the preferred control scheme among the development team, right? Well, no, not really. "There's a house divided, at least amongst ourselves," said Activision production coordinator Graham Hagmaier while presenting a demo of the game at Gamescom this week. "A lot of us play with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. I prefer this particular scheme [the Classic Controller], just because I used to play a lot of FPS games on [the Xbox] 360 and PS3, and for a lot of people those are very popular formats. But it just depends on your proficiency with the controller." The team's proficiency with the Wii Zapper was left unaddressed.
Wii Classic Controller Pro gets gilded for revamped GoldenEye 007
Alright, gamers -- time to fess up. Even if you're a self-proclaimed new schooler, there's no way you're passing up the option to flash back to yesteryear in order to play GoldenEye 007 the way it was meant to be played. The Wii remake of the game actually doesn't look all that different than the original when it comes to polygon count, but for those who aren't keen on taking control of Pierce Brosnan (let us dream, okay?) with a Wiimote, there's the gilded Classic Controller Pro. The limited run controller itself is a familiar beast, but rather than being coated in a standard black hue, this one will be doused in much the same color as 007's Golden Gun. It'll reportedly ship later this year within a "Classic Edition" game + accessory bundle for $69.99 (a $20 upcharge over the software alone), but it's still unclear if it'll be available as a standalone peripheral. Not like it matters -- you know you're buying this game, anyway.
Report: New GoldenEye coming in November, to be revealed at E3
More evidence to support the circulating rumors of a GoldenEye remake surfaced this past week. The most convincing comes from Eurogamer, which reports that a source has confirmed Activision is working on a revamped version of the classic Nintendo 64 shooter for the Wii and DS to be released this November. The game is supposedly being developed by n-Space and Eurocom, the latter of which created the N64 version of The World is Not Enough. The source also mentioned the publisher will showcase the title for the very first time at E3, so we won't have to wait long to learn if this unnamed tipster is on the money. A slightly more suspect piece of evidence comes to us via GoNintendo, which posted a series of images from an anonymous source, purportedly stripped from a survey referencing a GoldenEye Wii-make. This survey mentions "a modernized version of the classic story with the new Bond (Daniel Craig)," which, if true, would be a minor travesty. Don't get us wrong, we love Craig -- but you really can't out-Brosnan Brosnan, you know?
Activision registers new domain for GoldenEye game
The saga of a new GoldenEye game -- or the possible re-release of the original -- has acquired yet another new wrinkle. Said wrinkle comes in the form of a new internet domain registered by Activision. The domain in question, uncovered by superannuation, is goldeneyegame.com, which certainly points to some sort of revival for the storied title. While the prospects of an actual re-release of Rare's N64 classic have been all but crushed, an artist's resume discovered in October 2009 did mention work on a GoldenEye 2010 for Activision. Assuming the resume was accurate, Activision could be securing the domain in advance of an announcement. It's also unclear if any of this ties into James Bond: Bloodstone, the alleged title of the Bond game in development at Bizarre. We know Activision has Bond plans for 2010, but could the company be preparing us for a double-0 dose of espionage, perhaps rolling out a new version of GoldenEye to drum up interest for Bloodstone? Or maybe the company is simply getting its ducks in a row in case it does decide to revive GoldenEye. Whatever it is, something is definitely stirring shaking at Activision.
Perfect Dark XBLA will keep GoldenEye maps
While you probably won't be experiencing any classic GoldenEye action on Xbox Live Arcade anytime soon, it looks like Perfect Dark will let you do the next best thing! Yes, the real GoldenEye will likely never see the light of day on XBLA, but that doesn't mean its maps and weapons can't appear in Perfect Dark. According to Kotaku, Microsoft's Ken Lobb has confirmed at DICE that the unlockable GoldenEye weapons and maps featured in the N64 version of Perfect Dark will be included in the upcoming XBLA version as well. Of course, there really wasn't any reason to think they wouldn't be, but it's nice to hear all the same. So, if you've got the unlocking talent, you'll be mowing down your friends with a Klobb* in the Felicity, Temple and Complex maps in no time. *Yes, GoldenEye fanboys, or the RCP-90.
Rumor: Animator resume lists work on 'GoldenEye 2010'
It'll probably look a bit better than this Shortly before being pulled from the internet's intimidating view, an animator's online resume may have let out a secret -- concerning an iconic secret agent. According to the eagle-eyed Superannuation, Craig Peck listed work on a game dubbed "GoldenEye 2010 (Wii)," created in association with British developer Eurocom. Eurocom previously worked on the PlayStation 2 version of Activision's Quantum of Solace tie-in. Assuming "GoldenEye 2010" isn't merely a nostalgic codename, it seems the publisher could be looking to a well-regarded classic for inspiration on a new James Bond game. Alas, Hollywood can't keep up with Activision's annual aspirations. The publisher won't divulge any of its plans this early, leaving us to wait for further information or for our time-traveling correspondent to confirm the game's existence. He's really more of a GoldenEye 2020 fan -- looking back, that really was the best of the remakes.
Free Radical founder forms Facebook studio
We promise this isn't one of our bizarre and contrived theme days, we just happen to have two stories about now-defunct Free Radical, the founder of which has gone on to form his own Facebook game design studio. It's called (tragically) Zinkyzonk.Before he created the House That TimeSplitters Built, David Doak was one of the designers on GoldenEye, so he's definitely got the experience and chops. But if he's looking to unseat Dolphin Olympics 2 as Facebook game king, he'd better get that nose to the grindstone yesterday.
Top 5: Licensed Games That Don't Stink
Apparently, happy is the new angry (Uggh, I apologize; I hate the "X is the new Y" phrase as much as anyone). While the Angry Video Game Nerd series continues to grow in popularity, a legion of imitators -- err, "inspirées" -- have arisen from the depths of YouTube. While most appear to simply swap "Angry Video Game Nerd" with a few synonyms and reduce the effort, quality, and obtainable entertainment of the video, one manages to make the formula something completely his own. Alaskan native Derek, AKA lophatjello, has created the "Happy Video Game Nerd." While the self-explanatory premise may sound eye-roll-inducing, one would be hard-pressed to ignore his passion for the retro games he highlights after watching a video of his. And that is a quality which I value greatly: unbridled passion and optimism for gaming. We're too often deluged by a flood of pessimism and jaded cynicism from the gaming world. Very recently, Derek covered the NES semi-classic Ducktales. He labels it as a "kick-ass licensed game." This is a notable statement, as conventional gaming knowledge tells us that a license is often indicative of a terrible game. While there are always exceptions to rules, I feel confident that most who are reading this post can agree that licenses are too often a kiss of death. Yet the HVGN is correct; Ducktales is a pretty awesome licensed game. Here, in my humble opinion, are the Top 5 games based on popular film and television. NEXT >> #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; } The Top 5 is a weekly feature that provides us with a forum to share our opinions on various aspects of the video game culture, and provides you with a forum to tell us how wrong we are. To further voice your opinions, submit a vote in the Wii Fanboy Poll, and take part in the daily discussions of Wii Warm Up.
Top 5: Multiplayer Experiences
As someone who writes on the Internets, I do a lot of reading as well. As just about any successful author will advise, if I want to be a better writer then I should be reading as much as possible. Thus, I tend to spend a good amount of time scouring the gaming websites and reading commentary from just about anyone. I wouldn't insult anyone by pointing out flaws in their work (as I'm host to many of my own), but it is sufficient to say that there is great diversity in the quality and other general attributes of gaming commentary. One source that I do consistently enjoy comes from GoNintendo's head honcho, known as RawmeatCowboy. Equal parts Nintendo fan and beard enthusiast, RMC has a passion for gaming unmatched by nearly anyone else in the entire industry. Whereas some journalists and commentators may give off an impression of jaded cynicism, this particular blogger is a bundle of video game-loving joy. Though he's not quite the wordsmith of a Jerry Holkins, his joy and optimism transcend any potential criticism. And after all, that should be the reason we play video games: for happiness. Stepping away from worshipping his shrine, I'll get back on target. In a recent post, RMC discusses offline multiplayer via a get-together involving several friends of his trying out Guitar Hero: World Tour. He states that multiplayer is more enjoyable in person than online, and I find it difficult to disagree. That is not to say that online multiplayer is garbage; quite the opposite is true. Aside from the obvious pragmatics of not always being able to round up a few friends to play a game you enjoy, there's the global aspect behind online gaming. Though I've been battling people online via chess years before any major console had such capabilities, the enormous power of the technology didn't register with me until very recently. As I was connecting to an online race in Mario Kart Wii, the identification of racers on the globe really hit home. Realizing that I was simultaneously connecting with individuals from Japan, China, Germany, and England was strangely beautiful. Despite the fascinating global implications of such connections, I remain a bit of a luddite in that I don't think there's anything better than having your friends in the same room with you while fighting with or against each other. Here's the Top 5 ways we recommend that you enjoy such opportunities. NEXT >> #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; } The Top 5 is a weekly feature that provides us with a forum to share our opinions on various aspects of the video game culture, and provides you with a forum to tell us how wrong we are. To further voice your opinions, submit a vote in the Wii Fanboy Poll, and take part in the daily discussions of Wii Warm Up.
Free Radical asks us to vote on TimeSplitters 4 platform
Free Radical, the folks behind the TimeSplitters games and former Rare employees responsible for GoldenEye 007, have tossed up a poll on their website asking one and all which platform they'd like to see TimeSplitters 4 release on. We all know it's coming, they know we know and now are asking us which system we prefer? At the time of writing this post, it looks like more people would like to see the thing release on PS3, but the system isn't winning by that much.If you want TimeSplitters 4 on Wii, we'd suggest you head over there and make your voice heard. If you don't know what TimeSplitters 4 is, then we suggest you play all of the previous games or, in the least, the best title in the series. We just hope the new game still has a level editor.Oh, and they also have some artwork up on their site, featuring a cat on wheels and one hot chainsaw-toting nun.[Thanks, hvnlysoldr!]
Red tape preventing GoldenEye revival
Microsoft wants it. Nintendo wants it. Rare has no control over it. Such is the situation with GoldenEye 007, fondly remembered and much-loved N64 shooter of yesteryear.Speaking to Videogamer.com, Rare senior software engineer Nick Burton said that the bid to bring the eleven-year-old game to either the Virtual Console or Xbox Live Arcade was "locked in this no man's land," and that it was up to the separate license holders to play nice before the greatest Bond game of all time could be made available for download on any service. "The ball's not in anybody at Rare's court really," sighed Burton. "It's squarely in the license holders' courts. It's a shame. There's nothing on LIVE Arcade, there's nothing on Wii."It's not solely about Microsoft or Nintendo reaching an agreement, either -- the revival of GoldenEye also hinges on those who own the license to the game rights now, the parties that have the licence to Bond as an IP, and "umpteen licensees." Man, looks like eBay is still your best bet if you yearn for some RCP-90 action.
XBLA GoldenEye sitting in 'no man's land'
GoldenEye on the Xbox Live Arcade. We've heard the rumor, have even seen it in action, but til this day, nothing has come close to releasing. And from the looks of things, a GoldenEye XBLA release probably isn't going to happen.Talking to videogamer.com, Rare's senior software engineer Nick Burton acknowledged the GoldenEye development difficulties they've gone through saying that "it's incredibly hard to solve because there's so many licence holders involved. You've got the guys that own the license to the gaming rights now, the guys that have the licence to Bond as an IP, and there are umpteen licensees." Burton further explained that Rare doesn't have control over the project anymore and that it's in the hands of licenesee holders, making it almost "locked in this no man's land" of development hell. Long story short: GoldenEye XBLA is vaporware, turning out to be nothing but a sparkle of a dream of hope and nothingness. Got it?[Via Joystiq]
GoldenEye XBLA stuck in 'no man's land'
Having foiled countless doomsday devices, monologuing masterminds and aesthetically pleasing assassins, James Bond has felt the bite of reality and become inextricably entangled in a web of legal nonsense. Though an Xbox Live Arcade version of the classic N64 FPS, GoldenEye, continues to make appearances both in dreams and alleged screenshots, nobody's been able to pull the game out of a web spun by numerous lawyers and license holders. "It's kind of locked in this no man's land."That's according to Rare's senior software engineer, Nick Burton, who recently discussed the game's fate with VideoGamer.com. "It's incredibly hard to solve because there's so many licence holders involved," explained Burton. "You've got the guys that own the license to the gaming rights now, the guys that have the licence to Bond as an IP, and there are umpteen licensees." Last time we checked, "umpteen" was quite a lot ... at least 37 or so.Burton goes on to explain that the game's release is no longer in Rare's hands -- it's up to the publishers to figure out how Microsoft can get its hands on a Nintendo game starring one of Activision's favorite characters. "It's probably going to go down in the annuls of gaming history as one of the big mysteries." Wait ... the "annuls" of gaming history? What an appropriate misspelling.
Video: GoldenEye 007 running on Wii 'Homebrew Channel'
The inventiveness of the homebrew scene never ceases to amaze us. Take for instance the above video. What you see in it is, in fact, GoldenEye 007 for Nintendo 64 running on a Wii with the "Homebrew Channel" installed.The poster of the video states that he was able to get the game ROM working with the emulator used by the Virtual Console version of Sin & Punishment. He gives no details on how he managed the feat, mentioning only that the game works "for the most part" with occasional slowdown and a broken borked save system. Hopefully Nintendo will see this video and, rather than simply order it pulled offline, realize just how much people really want a proper Virtual Console release of the game.[Via Wii Fanboy]
Homebrewer hacks GoldenEye to run on Wii
Sit down if you aren't and don't start taking a sip of something before you click the play button on the video above: someone managed to get GoldenEye 007 to run on the Wii. As evidenced above, the title can be emulated on the Wii, but not in perfect form. There are still some issues with saving and frame rates dipping here and there. But, all in all, pretty impressive and manages to only strengthen our desire to have this one show up on the Virtual Console.[Thanks, trefox!] The homebrew community has been hard at work creating wonderful experiences for you to enjoy with your Wii. Did you know about homebrew game Masteroids? Or how about the shmup OpenTyrian? Outside of games, people have been using the Balance Board to come up with some really neat stuff. Keep up with the homebrew scene by staying current with our Homebrew category!
GoldenEye 007's KLOBB returns in Too Human
Silicon Knights' long-awaited Xbox 360 action game Too Human is giving a shout out to a N64 classic, according to Wired. GoldenEye 007, the groundbreaking console FPS developed by Rare, featured a gun called the "KLOBB" – a nod to then Nintendo designer Ken Lobb, who helped out during the game's development. The gun was also the weakest in the game. D'oh!Too Human promises hundreds of items ... and one of them, as Wired has uncovered, is the KLOBB. Not surprising considering that Ken Lobb is now serving as Creative Director at Microsoft Game Studios and is working closely with Silicon Knights on its game. For the record, it has a damage rating of 18.%Gallery-16464%
