Free Tickets to the G-Phoria Award Show on July 31!

In June, CBn reported that James Bond: Everything Or Nothing had been nominated for the G-Phoria Awards — the Award Show For Gamers. Please check out the original CBn Article G-Phoria Awards Nominate: “James Bond: Everything Or Nothing” for details on the nominations, how to vote, and when you can watch the show on G4tech TV).

Now for the great news, not only has EA Games’ James Bond: Everything Or Nothing been nominated but you can be a part of the exclusive G-Phoria Award Show and Party when Everything Or Nothing wins (we hope)! That’s right… if you would like to be a guest at G-Phoria, head on over to 1iota.com and register. After registering, you will be able to request tickets to the show (2 tickets per member). Every 1-iota member who attends the entire show will be eligable to win one of two I-Pods or a $50 gift certificate.

G-Phoria: The Award Show For Gamers
Presented by EB Games, Jeep and Stuff Magazine
Saturday July 31, 2004 @ 6:00-10:00 PM

Shrine Exposition Center
733 11th Ave
Los Angeles, CA

Hosted by Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro
Performances by: Phantom Planet, Jadakiss and Chronic Future

G-Phoria celebrates 2004’s hottest games, stars, music and trends that define the gamer lifestyle. Dozens of celebrity gamers are scheduled to attend – as nominees, presenters and special guests. This event with have one main stage and three aditional entertainment areas, including game kiosks and celebrity studded lounge.

The Small Print…

• You must be at least 21 years old to attend a taping.
• You must upload a photo to your 1-iota account
• We ask that you do not wear any white clothing, elaborate patterns or logos, as they are not camera-friendly.
• No cameras, recorders, cell phones, pagers, books, food etc. will be allowed in the studio.
• Everyone attending the show must go through a security check before gaining access to the studio. Please downsize any purses or bags you are bringing with you.
• Please be aware, reservations are not guaranteed. Shows can cancel or change at any time. If your show should cancel or require a specialized audience, we will notify you as soon as possible, and do our best to reschedule you for another taping without too much inconvenience.

Ken Adam's Moonraker Level Concept Art for "Rogue Agent"

Up Close With The ‘GoldenEye: Rogue Agent’ Team
w/ Executive Producer Patrick Gilmore
To read this article please visit this page on EA Game’s Official Site.

Ken Adams’ Moonraker Level Concept for ‘Rogue Agent’

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge.

GoldenEye: Rogue Agent Available For Pre-Order

“Why Save the World When You Can Rule It?”

– GoldenEye: Rogue Agent tagline

Although 2004 has been a rather desolate twelve months for fans of the cinematic and literary incarnations of James Bond, with both Bond 21 and the new Young James Bond novels to be released in 2005, it has been a bumper year for 007 gamers. Mid-February saw the release of Everything or Nothing, which saw the line between film and gaming blur, as Pierce Brosnan and a host of A-list actors “performed” from a script penned by three-time Bond screenwriter Bruce Feirstein. Rather than try and top this highly cinematic effort, Electronic Arts decided to take a step in a different direction, focussing the next Bond game on a rogue MI6 agent, placing the player square in control of the villain, in GoldenEye: Rogue Agent, set for release in November 2004.

Going where no previous James Bond game has dared to tread, GoldenEye: Rogue Agent breaks all the rules. Transport to the dark side of the Bond universe to experience life as a high-rolling, cold-hearted villain.

As an aspiring 00 agent gone bad, you’re recruited by Auric Goldfinger in a ruthless war against Dr. No for control of the Bond underworld. A brutal encounter with Dr. No costs you an eye, but Goldfinger’s technicians replace it with a gold-hued, synthetic eye, earning you the name ‘GoldenEye’. With the ability to customize and upgrade your villain persona, wreak havoc as you make your unrelenting rise through the ranks.

On globe-spanning missions of vengeance and demolition, cross paths with such infamous allies and enemies as Oddjob, Scaramanga, Xenia Onatopp, and of course, Pussy Galore.

Villains rule in GoldenEye: Rogue Agent.

– Official GoldenEye: Rogue Agent synopsis

An exact shipping date is yet to be confirmed, but Electronic Arts have this week listed the game for pre-order at the EA Store, the company’s official on-line shop. Pre-release orders are available across all three platforms, for $49.95 each. To pre-order GoldenEye: Rogue Agent at the EA Store check out the links below…

• GameCube
• Xbox
• PlayStation 2

Electronic Arts is offering all those who pre-order Rogue Agent from their official store free shipping, by entering the promotional code, GOLDEOSFSC, upon reaching the checkout.

Key Features:

• Build your own personalized villain, equipped with a customizable synthetic eye and physical attributes.
• E.V.I.L. AI engine motivates enemies to react intelligently to your actions and their surroundings to make every shootout more believable, intense, and unpredictable.
• GoldenEye: Rogue Agent integrates single-player, multiplayer split-screen, and online gameplay for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system across all game modes.
• Featured game modes include story-based campaign missions, deathmatch style simulator trials, and objective-based team war games.
• Fight with and against legendary villains and Bond girls such as Oddjob, Dr. No, Goldfinger, Pussy Galore, and Xenia Onatopp.
• Travel to famous and original Bond locations from the mountains of Switzerland to the streets of Hong Kong and from Fort Knox to Dr. No’s Crab Key lair in the Caribbean.
• Production design by Academy Award winning Sir Ken Adam, visionary creator for the look of the Bond film universe.
• Character models from Rene Morel (Final Fantasy) and wardrobe designed by Kym Barrett (The Matrix, Titan A.E.).

Cover art is, as yet, unavailable, however we’ll bring it to you as soon as it is on hand. Stay tuned to CBn for more coverage of the game leading up to its release.

'Rogue Agent' Official Trailer

EA Games’ new upcoming James Bond video game “GoldenEye: Rogue Agent” focuses on the darker side of MI6 and the Bond villains and is surprisingly lacking the major presence of 007. But that last aspect doesn’t seem to hurt what could becoming the next video game hit for EA. CBn brings you, compliments of EA Games, the “GoldenEye: Rogue Agent” trailer…

“GoldenEye: Rogue Agent” trailer

• Low Resolution
• Medium Resolution
• High Resolution

“007 warned us about you. Your tactics are inexcusable… An inappropriate use of firepower, an extreme body count and unwarranted brutality. There’s no place at MI6 for an agent like you. You’re dismissed.”

M in the Rogue Agent Trailer

James Bond does appear briefly in the trailer, he’s the man who is hanging of the ledge and who’s hand is stepped on causing him to fall. That ties in with what we know about Bond being “killed” in the Fort Knox sequence.

NightFire for Mac Now Available

James Bond 007: NightFire for the Mac is now available with free shipping from online retailer Amazon.com.

Nightfire was originally released for other game systems in 2002. The game isn’t much different from the PC version. Besides the various extensive levels there are to play to get through the story section of the game, there is a multi-player mode that supports up to 32 Mac-to-Mac players across 15 maps in death match, team death match, or capture the flag scenarios.

Based on the Beta version, Mac gamers will be getting a seemingly improved intelligence of a decent PC game. The only problem is that the PC original is two years old. The genre of first person shooters has evolved in that time, but that can hardly be held against Nightfire. Mac gamers can expect to get balanced and solid gameplay.

System requirements for NightFire for Mac call for system OS / X with at least a 500 MHz G3 with 256 MB RAM and 1 Gig of open drive space and a DVD drive.

G-Phoria Awards Nominate "James Bond 007: Everything Or Nothing"

G4techTV announced today that the 2nd Annual “G-Phoria: The Award Show for Gamers” will take place at the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles, California on Saturday, July 31st. James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing has been nominated in several categories.

2004 G-PHORIA Nominations for ‘James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing’ (Electronic Arts)

• Best Adaptation: James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing

Best Voice Performance – Female

• Heidi Klum (likeness: Dr. Katya Nadanova)
• Mya (likeness: Agent Mya Starling)
• Shannon Elizabeth (likeness: Serena St. Germaine)

Best Voice Performance – Male

• Pierce Brosnan (likeness: James Bond 007)

G4techTV (the only 24-hour television network plugged into games, gear, gadgets, and gigabytes) will host, “G-Phoria” which celebrates 2004’s hottest games, stars, music and trends that define the gamer lifestyle. Dozens of celebrity gamers are scheduled to attend — as nominees, presenters and special guests.

“G-Phoria” will be broadcast exclusively on G4techTV on Friday August 6th at 8:00 pm ET / 5:00 PM PT, with the pre-show broadcast starting at 7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PT.

For more information about “G-Phoria” and to vote for James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing‘s nominations visit G-Phoria’s Official Web-site.

NightFire for Mac

There has been a delay, but James Bond 007: NightFire for the Mac is closer than you think. In a little over a month the James Bond franchise — which has spanned 40 years, 20 films, 12 video games, and seemingly countless novels — will make its debut on Macintosh computers with Aspyr Media’s release of James Bond 007: Nightfire.

InsideMacGames.com was able to shake and stir a beta build of James Bond 007: Nightfire. The Game isn’t much different from the PC version. Besides the various extensive levels there are to play to get through the story section of the game, there is a multi-player mode that supports up to 32 Mac-to-Mac players across 15 maps in death match, team death match, or capture the flag scenarios.

In this beta version that InsideMacGames.com got a hold of, portions of the graphs where not quite finished. What was finished looked good, but nothing that pushed the envelope. Nightfire was originally released for other game systems in 2002, and the graphics defiantly reflect that. Nightfire< for Mac just won't compete with today's graphical advances. The sounds in the game are adequate, but what was impressive two years ago is standard today.

You can’t talk about a Bond game without recognizing the 1997 release of GoldenEye 007 for Nintendo 64. It’s amazing when you reflect back on GoldenEye as a definitive evolution in first-person shooters. It is equally amazing to realize that in the seven years that have followed GoldenEye’s release, no one has yet to surpass, much less equal, the effort.

That being said, overall it looks like Nightfire for Mac is sizing up to be an average first-person shooters. Unfortunately, some players may take this to be a bad thing. It isn’t. Mac gamers will be getting a seemingly improved intelligence of a decent PC game. The only problem is that the PC original is two years old. The genre of first person shooters has evolved in that time, but that can hardly be held against Nightfire. Mac gamers can expect to get balanced and solid gameplay. It probably won’t be a huge hit, but based on the beta build, it won’t disappoint either.

System requirements for NightFire for Mac call for at least a 500 MHz G3 with 256 MB RAM and 1 Gig of open drive space.

IN ROGUE

Electronic Arts yesterday launched its new website for their upcoming 007 first-person shooter GoldenEye: Rogue Agent.

The site is relatively devoid of content at this early stage, however it does feature some neat artwork, including a peek at some of the character models that will feature in the game, including Dr. No, Xenia Onatopp, Auric Goldfinger and Oddjob, all of whom bearing startling resemblances to their filmic counterparts.

Only three screenshots from the game presently appear on the site, although they’re the ones that appeared elsewhere on the web in the previous week.

Users also have the option to sign up for the 007 Communiqué newsletter, a feature that was also offered during production on Everything or Nothing, where members regularly receive exclusive updates and content to their e-mail inboxes.

EA promises regular updates to the site, so it shouldn’t be long before fans are offered a more in-depth look into the development of this game.

The site also confirms that the game will be compatible with Microsoft’s new X-Box Live technology, something that had been earlier rumoured, but never confirmed through any official channels.

To access the site, click HERE.

In other Rogue Agent news, IGN Insider has revealed that techno cult star Paul Oakenfold will be creating the music for the game. Also Gamesport recently got their hands on some art from the new game, including a spectacular concept piece showing a chopper that has crashed through the roof of Fort Knox, which, one speculates, will take place during Rogue Agent’s re-imagined climax of Goldfinger.

More "GoldenEye: Rogue Agent" Details Emerge

Following EA’s press release announcing the current status of their new game, as well as its new title, Gamespot has interviewed Chris Plummer, the senior producer at Electronic Arts, who divulged even more information about the upcoming game.

GoldenEye: Rogue Agent will take the Bond franchise into its darkest territory yet when players take control of an agent tossed out of Her Majesty’s Secret Service for reckless brutality.

The game begins during Bond’s assault at Fort Knox against Operation: Grandslam, Auric Goldfinger’s infamous plan to set off a nuclear bomb within the gold suppository. As an aspiring 00-agent, your character is working alongside James Bond to put an end to Goldfinger’s scheme. However, when you get a little over-enthusiastic about the job in hand, MI6 dismisses you for being reckless.

After being cast out from the organisation, you find your way to working for Auric Goldfinger himself, whereupon your character receives the physical deformity that results in your monikor, GoldenEye. EA’s press release mentioned the golden synthetic eye the character possesses, but never touched on how it became acquired.

The rumoured working title for the game that was a precursor to GoldenEye 2, was GoldenEye: Dr. No vs. Goldfinger, which has its basis in the latest news to surface, which is that there is a bitter battle between the two supervillains for control of the criminal underworld. The battle hits hits peak when your character gets caught in the crossfire and loses his eye, which is then replaced with a synthetic one. GoldenEye then embarks on revenge against Dr. Julius No, the man responsible for his physical deformity. From there, your goal as GoldenEye, is to rise to become the ultimate Bond villain.

Moving away from the storyline, Plummer revealed that the game has been in development for a year, whilst the idea was formed about a year-and-a-half ago. The game has been in full production for several months, aiming for a November 2004 release.

Plummer revealed that the general idea is to create a Bond game that will “live up to the legacy” of Rare’s 1997 masterpiece of the same name, and ultimately deliver the best first-person shooter experience on consoles. Plummer hopes that the new game will bring everything people loved about the original GoldenEye but updated for the latest generation of consoles.

Like Everything or Nothing, GoldenEye: Rogue Agent will employ Hollywood talent behind-the-scenes, including legendary Bond production designer, Ken Adams, Academy Award-winning costume designer Kym Barret and Final Fantasy: The Movie character artist René Morel. Further, the game will contain a plethora of classic Bond characters, including Dr. No, Goldfinger, Oddjob, Xenia Onatopp and Pussy Galore, shaking and stirring the Bond mythology.

As for the all-important aspect of weapons within a first-person shooter, Plummer says that GoldenEye: Rogue Agent will contain a number of real-world weapons, in addition to weapons that have been designed specifically for the game. Grenades, especially, will play an integral part in the game, says Plummer. They are “more gadget-like” and will allow players to take out enemies in “more creative ways”. Your player will also carry around a special weapon, which is, as Plummer puts it, “your baby”. As you continue through the game, you can add to and customise your own weapon. The game will also employ a brand new hand-to-hand combat fighting system.

Like the original GoldenEye, split-screen multiplayer will be an important part of the new EA game (in fact, work on the multiplayer aspect began before the single-player missions). The game will feature more multiplayer levels than single-player levels. There will also be on-line play for the PlayStation 2. No word on the rumour that surfaced last month that the game would utilise X-Box Live, however.

Plummer outlined EA’s plans to unveil the game at the upcoming E3 convention, where two missions will be displayed: the aforementioned opening sequence of Operation: Grandslam (from the PS2 version) as well as multiplayer map in the form of Drax’s Moonraker launch complex (from the X-Box version).

Most impressive is the very first footage of the first-person shooter in action, which appears very reminiscent of Rare’s original game. The footage, as well as the interview with Chris Plummer, can be viewed here.

EA Announces "GoldenEye: Rogue Agent"

EA Games announced today what up until now EA and Bond fans have called “GoldenEye 2”. GoldenEye: Rogue Agent will not be a sequel to the N64 1997 hit game GoldenEye, nor will it feature 007 as its main character. Instead, the first-person shooter will feature a dismissed double-O agent who takes on a series of memorable James Bond villains from the past. The game is due for release November 1, 2004.

The following press release comes from EA Games.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 5, 2004 – Why save the world when you can rule it? Going where no previous James Bond game has dared to tread, the upcoming GoldenEye: Rogue Agent first-person shooter from Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) breaks all the rules by transporting players to the dark side of the Bond universe to experience life as a high-rolling, cold-hearted villain. The highly anticipated game is scheduled to ship this fall on the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, and the Nintendo GameCube under the EA GAMES brand.

As an aspiring 00 agent dismissed from MI6 for reckless brutality, the player is hired as an enforcer by Auric Goldfinger, the wealthy super-villain with a lust for all things gold. Goldfinger is locked in a ruthless war against his archenemy, the brilliant scientist Dr. No. The prize is control of the world’s greatest criminal organization. A brutal encounter with Dr. No costs the player an eye, but Goldfinger’s technicians replace it with a gold-hued, synthetic eye, earning the player the name ‘GoldenEye’. Players have the ability to customize and upgrade their villain persona and wreak havoc as they make their unrelenting rise through the ranks.

With a radical twist to the Bond franchise that makes the player’s goal to rule the world rather than save it, GoldenEye: Rogue Agent is the ultimate thrill ride through the 007 underworld. Players will cross paths with such legendary allies and enemies as Oddjob, Scaramanga, Xenia Onatopp, and, of course, Pussy Galore on globe-spanning missions of vengeance and demolition. Players will travel to famous and original Bond locations from the mountains of Switzerland to the streets of Hong Kong and from Fort Knox to Dr. No’s Crab Key lair in the Caribbean. Enemies will react intelligently in combat situations and use the environment to their advantage for intense and unpredictable shootouts.

GoldenEye: Rogue Agent seamlessly integrates single-player, multiplayer split-screen, and online gameplay for the PlayStation 2 console* across all game modes. Featured modes include story-driven campaign missions, deathmatch style simulator trials, and objective-based war games. Officially licensed by MGM Interactive, GoldenEye: Rogue Agent is being developed by EA’s Los Angeles studio. This game has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

*PlayStation 2 online play requires Internet connection, Network Adaptor and Memory Card for the PlayStation 2.

Key Features:

• Build your own personalized villain, equipped with a customizable synthetic eye and physical attributes.
• E.V.I.L. AI engine motivates enemies to react intelligently to your actions and their surroundings to make every shootout more believable, intense, and unpredictable.
• GoldenEye: Rogue Agent integrates single-player, multiplayer split-screen, and online gameplay for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system across all game modes.
• Featured game modes include story-based campaign missions, deathmatch style simulator trials, and objective-based team war games.
• Fight with and against legendary villains and Bond girls such as Oddjob, Dr. No, Goldfinger, Pussy Galore, and Xenia Onatopp.
• Travel to famous and original Bond locations from the mountains of Switzerland to the streets Hong Kong and from Fort Knox to Dr. No’s Crab Key lair in the Caribbean.
• Production design by Academy Award winning Sir Ken Adam, visionary creator for the look of the Bond film universe.
• Character models from Rene Morel (Final Fantasy film) and wardrobe designed by Kym Barrett (Matrix films, Titan A.E.)