'Quantum of Solace' Game Levels Previewed

GamePro has posted an all-new preview of some of the levels that will feature in Activision’s Quantum of Solace.

The website scored a one-hour gameplay session with the forthcoming James Bond title and tested out three levels: two from the Quantum of Solace section and one from the Casino Royale flashback section.

Quantum of Solace box art

‘There’s no way that a game developer can tell you how to play a game, and the end result is a series of discoveries. This can be good and bad. Thankfully in Bond’s case, it’s good–we found more depth and open-ended action than we expected.’ – GamePro

The site reports that all of the three levels–Siena Underground, Siena Rooftops and Casino Royale–demonstrated ‘relentless pacing and top-notch shooter action’.

Of particular notice were the responsive A.I. enemies, the large selection of weaponry and also Bond’s ability to hack into security equipment, such as cameras. Additionally, the site reports that there are even more powerful weapons, such as magnum revolvers, hidden throughout some of the levels.

Their overall verdict? ‘Overall, we came away from this play session fairly impressed. The controls are tight, and the pacing is excellent mirroring the more physical fast-paced action in the latest Bond movie.’

Click here to read GamePro’s full report on the Quantum of Solace game, including details on yet another level, Casino Royale‘s Miami airport.

Stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for the most complete and up-to-date coverage of Activision’s Quantum of Solace.

Quantum of Solace will be released on 31 October in the UK and 4 November in the US on the following formats: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Playstation 2, Nintendo DS and Windows PC.

'By Royal Command' Signed Limited Edition Available Now

Charlie Higson’s By Royal Command

Following up yesterday’s release of the fifth Young James Bond novel, By Royal Command, the Young Bond Dossier informs us that the signed and numbered limited edition is also now available.

Higson signed 2,000 copies of this special edition of By Royal Command, which are now available in various independent bookstores throughout the UK.

This edition is identical to the regular hardback with the obvious exception of Higson’s signature and the number stamp on the title page.

Special editions have appeared for all four of the previous Young Bond novels in the past.

• Order the UK hardback edition of By Royal Command from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the UK audiobook edition of By Royal Command from Amazon.co.uk

Stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest By Royal Command and literary James Bond coverage.

Sony Going Global With James Bond Campaign

The Sony Corporation will apparently pull out all the stops for its global marketing campaign for Quantum of Solace.

Sony Insider reports that the corporation has recently unveiled a massive campaign for Daniel Craig’s second James Bond film that ‘takes the Bond persona beyond the big screen into another realm’.

Quantum of Solace

While promoting the 007 film, the campaign will simultaneously be highlighting Sony’s High Definition product capabilities worldwide, while still allowing each region to customize elements based on local market preferences.

‘Sophistication, quality and international appeal make James Bond a perfect fit with the Sony brand,’ said Andrew House, Chief Marketing Officer, Sony Corporation. ‘This is the first time we have integrated our film and electronics marketing efforts at such a deep level, bringing together Sony’s leadership in high definition with one of the world’s most powerful movie franchises. Sony is unique in its ability to create a global marketing campaign that combines technological innovation with entertainment content in this way.’

Set to launch this month, the far-reaching campaign will include broadcast, digital, outdoor, print and retail ads promoting Sony’s BRAVIA LCD flat-panel televisions, Blu-ray Disc Players, Handycam camcorders, Cyber-shot digital still cameras and VAIO computers.

Furthermore, Sony Style online stores in Europe and North America will offer licensed 007 products including VAIO computers and Micro Vault USB storage media, with VAIO computers available only in Sony Style retail and direct online at sonystyle.com.

Click here for further details on the many different companies involved in the promotional campaign for Quantum of Solace.

Stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest news and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

Coke Zero Bonding With 'Quantum of Solace'

In addition to the several high-profile companies that will be showcasing their brands in Quantum of Solace, news today comes in on another new marketing partner for the 22nd James Bond film: Coca-Cola Zero.

Click here for a snapshot of the new ‘Zero Zero 7’ Coca-Cola bottles that will tie-in with Quantum of Solace.

The press release follows:

Coke Zero Teams Up With ‘Quantum Of Solace’

Coca-Cola has teamed up with Sony Entertainment and the hotly anticipated 22th instalment of James Bond, Quantum of Solace, to promote its Coke Zero brand and has rebranded as Zero Zero 7.

The multi-million pound deal is part of a broader global partnership and is the first major collaboration for the Coca-Cola Zero brand on an international stage since its launch in 2006.

Quantum of Solace stars Daniel Craig in his second outing as 007 and will be released first in the UK on 31 October 2008. In the new film, Bond battles Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), a member of the Quantum organisation posing as an environmentalist, who intends to stage a coup d’état in Bolivia to take control of its water supply.

Coke Zero will be supporting the film release with a through-the-line advertising campaign alongside promotional and on-pack marketing initiatives across a number of global markets.

The launch of the Zero brand was the Coca-Cola company’s biggest brand launch since the arrival of ‘diet Coke’ twenty five years ago.

Bobby Brittain, Brand Director, Coca-Cola Great Britain, said, “We’re delighted to be involved in this exciting project. The new edgier Bond persona is the ultimate embodiment of the ‘Coke Zero’ brand personality, and is expected to deepen the brand’s engagement with its core target audience of 20 something men.”

Other brands that have singed up with the newest James Bond flick include Ford, Omega, Heineken, Virgin Atlantic, Bollinger and Turnbull & Asser.

Last month Coca-Cola launched a major integrated campaign to mark its 80th anniversary as sponsor of the Olympic Games.

The drinks giant celebrated its anniversary by launching a limited edition Olympic Games glass bottle to commemorate the 2012 handover to London. The bottles, include an image created by photographer Rankin to kick-off the countdown to London 2012.

As always, keep watching the CommanderBond.net main page for the most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

Ian Fleming 007 Novels Sell For $58,000 At Auction

Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale

A collection of first edition James Bond novels by Ian Fleming sold today for £31,000 ($58,000) at an auction.

As earlier reported by CommanderBond.net, the collection had belonged to Sir Fitzroy Maclean, a lifelong friend of Fleming, and some say a real-life inspiration for the character of 007.

The sale price of the entire collection far surpassed the estimate of £20,000.

Maclean’s passport, invitations from a French ambassador to cocktail parties, visas and photographs of the diplomat with Tito in Yugoslavia were among the items sold.

The early editions of the Bond novels, including Casino Royale, were bought by the London book dealer Adrian Harrington, a Bond specialist.

Purchaser John Gilbert said: ‘The books will be used as background material for a bibliography I am writing on Fleming. They will prove invaluable to my research. I have the full support of the Fleming family and the book will be published in the next 18 months.’

Maclean was a founder member of the SAS and trusted friend of Sir Winston Churchill. A friend of Fleming’s since their days at Eton, his wartime exploits included working inside the Soviet Union in the 1930s.

Maclean, who died in 1996, was also suspected at times of being a British spy (which he denied) and was also an associate of the double-agent Kim Philby and is said to have suspected him.

His son Sir Charles Maclean stated that the family decided to sell the Bond novels that had been in his father’s colection so that they could be treasured by Fleming collectors.

‘They gave my father much pleasure,’ he said, ‘and I hope they will bring someone else the same.’

Keep watching the CommanderBond.net main page for the most complete coverage of all the latest literary James Bond news.

Young Bond Returns In Charlie Higson's 'By Royal Command'

After months and months of waiting for eager literary 007 fans around the world, the newest instalment in Charlie Higson’s Young Bond series, By Royal Command, is published today by Puffin in the UK.

Plus, get your first look at the eye-catching cover artwork accompanying this release that keeps in line with the ‘royal’ theme of the novel.

The official press announcement follows:

Cover Artwork For Charlie Higson’s Fifth Young Bond Book Revealed:
BY ROYAL COMMAND

Wednesday 3rd September sees the publication of By Royal Command, the fifth instalment of the globally popular Young Bond series and the eagerly anticipated unveiling of its cover. In keeping with the royal theme of the novel, the artwork is in striking red, black and silver with an embossed union-jack and regal-red edged pages.

By Royal Command sees James Bond thrown into the midst of a dangerous, spy-ridden plot that threatens to put both King and country at risk. Set between the two World Wars and moving between Eton and the chilling slopes of the Austrian Alps, By Royal Command sees the young James Bond put to the test as never before. Not only are his bravery and loyalty on trial, but the arrival of a pretty, young maid at Eton also teaches him a lesson of the heart.

The Young Bond books have to date sold over three quarters of a million copies in Britain alone and have been translated in to 24 different languages. The series was launched with SilverFin in March 2005 and was followed by Blood Fever, Double or Die and Hurricane Gold.

Charlie Higson’s By Royal Command

Higson’s By Royal Command is currently available in hardback and audiobook format, retailing for £12.99 each. Amazon.co.uk ordering links are also available:

• Order the UK hardback edition of By Royal Command from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the UK audiobook edition of By Royal Command from Amazon.co.uk

In addition, Young Bond fans can partake in the currently running alternate reality game, The Shadow War.

Stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for a review of By Royal Command and continued coverage of the literary James Bond.

Michael Pate (1920-2008)

Actor Michael Pate has died at the age of 88.

The Australian actor had starred in more than 50 films and was a regular guest star on American TV shows in the 1950’s and 60’s including Mission: Impossible, Get Smart and The Man from U.N.C.L.E..

Pate died of respiratory failure on Monday, 1 September 2008 after being admitted with pneumonia at Gosford Hospital on the central coast of New South Wales in Australia.

James Bond fans will best remember the actor as Clarence Leiter in the CBS CLIMAX! Mystery Theatre television adaptation of Casino Royale.

Acting alongside Barry Nelson, Peter Lorre and Linda Christian, Pate’s character was adapted from the similarly named Felix Leiter of the novel.

CommanderBond.net wishes the best to his family and close friends.

Australian film, TV actor Michael Pate dies at 88

Australian actor Michael Pate, who appeared in more than 50 films and was a regular guest star on American TV shows in the 1950s and 60s, has died of respiratory failure at age 88, health officials said Tuesday.

Pate died late Monday at Gosford Hospital on the central coast of New South Wales after being admitted with pneumonia.

Born in Sydney in 1920, Pate began his career as a writer and broadcaster for Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio, before moving to the United States.

He spent almost 20 years there, guest starring in various Westerns and a number of popular TV shows including Batman, Mission: Impossible, Get Smart and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

ABC quoted an earlier interview with Pate in which he said he had worked with “some marvelous people,” including Marlon Brando, David Niven, John Wayne and Randolph Scott.

Pate told ABC he had a reputation in Hollywood for playing Indians in Western movies.

“It was very unusual for a white (person) to be playing Indians or Mexicans or cowboys in any case. It was very unusual for an Australian over in America to be doing it,” he said.

Pate returned to Australia in the late 1960s to act, write and direct. From 1971, he starred in the Australian crime drama Matlock Police, for which he won a Penguin Award for best actor.

He also won two Logie Awards — Australian television awards — for television production and adapted the award-winning screenplay for the movie Tim, starring Mel Gibson.

Pate costarred with his son, Christopher, in the play Mass Appeal, which toured Australia from 1982 to 1984.

Family friend Jacqui Bosanac told ABC that Pate had been working on a film script before he died and that his son would likely finish it.

Pate is also survived by his wife, actress Felippa Rock, and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Press Release

'Quantum of Solace' – Official Blog Report #24

The official Quantum of Solace blog has been updated today with another crew member from the 22nd James Bond 007 film: picture vehicle supervisor Graham Kelly.

Watch The Graham Kelly Blog Report Online

‘I’m the picture vehicle supervisor,’ says Graham Kelly. ‘I’m responsible for all the vehicles: planes, boats, cars, motorbikes, anything with ignition keys. And basically just getting all the vehicles to the locations and making them work, really.’

‘On a daily basis, we’re moving 20 to 30 cars around. We had seven Aston Martins, eight Alfa Romeos, ten trucks and 40 background cars. In order to make it feel real, you need to have background cars, even if they’re just flying around for a split-second on screen.’

He continues: ‘They’re interacting with stunt cars and people driving at very high speeds going all over the road. We had 60 or 70 cars just moving around the streets.’

Stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for the most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

Charlie Higson On The Future Of Young Bond

Charlie Higson was the featured guest on today’s BBC Breakfest where the topic of discussion was–you guessed it–Young Bond.

The center of the discussion was the latest addition to the popular series, By Royal Command, which officially hits bookstores tomorrow morning in the UK.

Speaking about the book, Higson mentioned that it starts with James Bond learning how to ski and eventually moves into some ‘full-blown spying’ for the first time in the series.

The most intriguing aspect of the interview is Higson’s reply when asked if By Royal Command represented the end of the Young Bond books: ‘No. I’m taking a break for the time being.’

He continues: ‘I’d always had a series of five books worked out and I knew where the fifth one ended up because there’s a very famous obituary in one of the Fleming books which is the only time he tells us about Bond’s childhood. In that, he says that he was thrown out of Eton after a short time for misbehaving with one of the maids–which is what this book is about–it’s about Bond falling in love with this maid and the consequences of that, which are actually of a more serious nature than Fleming hinted at.’

Check out this YouTube link for the entire interview, including Higson discussing why he was chosen for the job by the Ian Fleming estate and much more.

As always, stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest Young Bond news.

• Order the UK hardback edition of By Royal Command from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the UK audiobook edition of By Royal Command from Amazon.co.uk

Details On 'Quantum of Solace' Game Collector's Edition

Quantum of Solace Xbox 360 box art

Last month, CommanderBond.net was the first James Bond site to report on a special Collector’s Edition of the Quantum of Solace that had been listed online at Amazon.com.

While details were scarce at the time, what was known was that this version of Activision’s upcoming game was listed for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms and had an increased retail price of $69.99.

Today, new information has been revealed thanks to a submission for the game on the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) website.

Listed are 13 different videos which will likely appear as special features on this collector’s edition. Totaling for more than 20 minutes, they range from level design to movie-to-game design to set visits by the actors starring in Quantum of Solace. Click here for the full listing.

Details on any differences in this box artwork for this collector’s edition are yet to be announced.

Stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for the most complete and up-to-date coverage of Activision’s Quantum of Solace.

Quantum of Solace will be released on 31 October in the UK and 4 November in the US on the following formats: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Playstation 2, Nintendo DS and Windows PC.