GoldenEye 007 released!

Thirteen years later, GoldenEye is back! Based on the original 1997 Nintendo 64 video game and 1995 film starring Pierce Brosnan, developer Eurocom has reimagined GoldenEye for a new audience starring current 007 Daniel Craig with Judi Dench reprising her role as M.

Publisher’s pitch

Developed exclusively for Wii and based on the GoldenEye film, GoldenEye 007 gives players the chance to use the lethal, gritty style of Daniel Craig’s James Bond to outwit, outmaneuver and overtake an arms syndicate that threatens the world in an innovative, modern take on the legendary GoldenEye movie. GoldenEye 007 features an unprecedented lineup of four-player split-screen multiplayer options that encourage social gaming, with over 50 total characters, including eight classic Bond characters, ten maps, three standard modes and 17 special modifiers that allow gamers to create hundreds of game combinations. GoldenEye 007 also features online multiplayer for up to eight players designed for seasoned FPS online gamers with unique modes and a robust XP system for unlockables and achievements. GoldenEye is back. Get Your Friends.

The single player

The game’s script was written by James Bond veteran Bruce Feirstein who is best known to Bond fans for his work on three Bond films: GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough. He also wrote the scripts for the 007 games Everything or Nothing, From Russia with Love and Blood Stone. David Arnold who has composed the music for every James Bond film since 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies will compose the score with Nicole Scherzinger performing the theme originally done by Tina Turner.

Based on the 1995 James Bond film of the same name, the 2010 edition of GoldenEye has gone through several story changes. For example, Valentin Zukovsky (played by Robbie Coltrane in the film) no longer has any connection to the KGB and Alec Trevelyan (played by Sean Bean in the film) is no longer a Lienz Cossack. Bond’s trusty watch used in both the original game and film has been replaced by a cellphone that 007 not only uses to communicate with M, but also scans documents, takes photos and has a GPS amongst a number of other functions.

GoldenEye 007 runs on an updated version of the Dead Space: Extraction engine which was also developed by Eurocom. The game has been designed to be controlled several different ways including the use of the stock Wii Remote with Nunchuk, the Wii Zapper, the Classic Controller, the Classic Controller Pro (a gold edition is available as a pack-in with the GoldenEye collector’s edition), and even the Nintendo GameCube controller.

Bond will take advantage of regenerating health for three of the game’s four difficulty levels, leaving players choosing the “Classic mode” to conserve their health as best as possible. All of the original unlockable cheats for the single player are also included with few exclusions such as Big Head Mode.

Facility level from GoldenEye 007 (2010)

The multiplayer

Red Grant in GoldenEye 007 (2010)

GoldenEye 007 borrows much from the original Nintendo 64 game for its multiplayer mode, but expands the original concept with many more features. The multiplayer offers an eight-player online mode as well as a traditional four-player split screen mode. It features 10 different maps and over 50 characters including characters from previous Bond adventures such as Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Francisco Scaramanga, Doctor No, Rosa Klebb, Jaws, Oddjob, Red Grant, and Baron Samedi in addition to GoldenEye’s unique characters such as Alec Trevelyan.

Similar to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series, GoldenEye’s online mode will have XP progression giving players experience points for every kill that raises the player’s level to unlock more abilities, modifiers and modes. New modifiers put a twist on the traditional gametype’s like Melee Only, You Only Live Twice, and Paintball.

Nintendo DS

Although marketing claims GoldenEye 007 is exclusive to the Wii, a version has also been developed for the Nintendo DS by developer n-Space. The Nintendo DS version features a six-player online wireless (local) and Wi-Fi Connection (global) multiplayer. It includes many of the same gametypes in the Wii version such as Golden Gun and Flag Tag.

Trailers and video

• E3 Reveal Trailer
• July 2010 Trailer
• Multiplayer Trailer
• Reimagining GoldenEye 007
• Invisibility Mode
• Tag Mode
• Characters Vignette Part I
• Behind the Scenes: Multiplayer
• Modes and Mods Vignette
• Maps Vignette
• Villains, New Choices and Weapons
• Classic Characters Part II
• Behind the Scenes: The Story
• Behind the Scenes: Stunts
• Tank Vignette
• Behind the Scenes: Richard Kiel
• GoldenEye – Title Sequence
• Behind the Music: Nicole Scherzinger

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Blood Stone released!

James Bond is back in an original story by James Bond veteran Bruce Feirstein. Blood Stone was developed by Bizarre Creations for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, by n-Space for the Nintendo DS, and by High Moon Studios for Microsoft Windows. The game stars Daniel Craig as James Bond 007, Judi Dench as M, and features an original theme performed by Joss Stone who doubles as the Bond girl of the story.

Publisher’s pitch

James Bond 007: Blood Stone features the likeness and voice talent of Daniel Craig, Joss Stone and Judi Dench and features an epic, original story developed by legendary screenwriter Bruce Feirstein. Players can engage in cover-based firefights, lethal hand-to-hand combat and speed their way through explosive adrenaline-fueled driving sequences as they embark on a global chase leading to action on land and sea through Athens, Istanbul, Monaco and Bangkok. Gamers can also feel what it is like to be a 00 agent, as they take the battle online in several robust 16-person multiplayer modes that require skill, teamwork and strategy as players compete in matches that will have spies battling mercenaries.

The single player

The game’s script was written by James Bond veteran Bruce Feirstein who is best known to Bond fans for his work on three Bond films: GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough. He also wrote the scripts for the 007 games Everything or Nothing, From Russia with Love and GoldenEye 007 (2010). James Bond (voiced by Daniel Craig) and wealthy socialite Nicole Hunter (voiced by Joss Stone) must stop a plot involving weaponised biological agents against terrorists led by a man named Pomerov. The game takes place across five locations: Athens, Istanbul, Monaco, Siberia and Bangkok. The game’s music is composed by Richard Jacques while the theme, “I’ll Take It All,” was written by Joss Stone along with Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics and performed by Stone.

While James Bond is most notable in video games for his first-person shooters, Blood Stone takes another attempt at a third-person shooter in the same vein as Everything or Nothing and From Russia with Love. Blood Stone uses Bizarre Creations’ bespoke engine which was created for their previous game The Club. It features cover-based gunplay, hand-to-hand combat, and tactical firefights where Bond can use the environment to finish off his enemies. The game also features explosive adrenaline-fueled driving sequences which Bizarre Creations as the developer of the Project Gotham Racing series is best known for.

The multiplayer

Unlike two other recent Activision releases, GoldenEye 007 and Call of Duty: Black Ops, Blood Stone‘s multiplayer mode has not been mentioned much by either its publisher or developer. It features a 16 player or eight-on-eight spies (MI6) vs mercenaries multiplayer with a few known standard gametypes such as team deathmatch. Objective-based matches are also included that force players to work together to accomplish certain goals and tasks.

Nintendo DS

In addition to being released on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows, Blood Stone also has a port for Nintendo’s DS handheld system. This port is developed by n-Space who also developed a port of GoldenEye 007 for the DS as well.

A helicopter chases Bond in James Bond 007: Blood Stone

Trailers and videos

• Reveal Trailer
• Title Sequence
• Istanbul Trailer
• Istanbul Trailer Re-Cut
• Combat Trailer
• Behind the Scenes: Driving and Vehicles
• Behind the Scenes: Classic Bond
• 3D screenshot Athens Boat Level Lighthouse destruction
• 3D screenshot Athens Boat Level
• 3D screenshot Istanbul Driving Level
• Blood Stone Launch Trailer

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Project X manuscript imminent

Jeffery Deaver’s forthcoming James Bond novel Project X is right on schedule, it seems.

Back in June, we reported the author was set to deliver the book’s manuscript on 30 October. A recent update on the official Project X website has confirmed Deaver is putting the finishing touches to the manuscript.

28.10.10 – Stop press: Rumours of a manuscript

Rumours are circulating that Mr Deaver has nearly finished writing Project X, and that the papers will soon be delivered to a top-secret location. This is causing huge excitement in the Hodder and Ian Fleming offices and we can’t wait to read it. Although, like you, we’re going to have to wait until May next year to discover James Bond’s latest adventure.

Little is known about Project X (working title only), except that it is the first in a brand new series of James Bond novels set in the present day. Each book will be written by a different author.

Project X will be published around the world on 28 May 2011.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for the latest James Bond news.

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007 Magazine Archive Files: The James Bond Girls – File #2 The 1970s

007 Magazine Archive Files:
The James Bond Girls -
File #2 The 1960s

The next issue of 007 Magazine Archive Files is now shipping: The James Bond Girls – File #2 The 1970s, which is the second part of an ‘Archive Files’ series focussing on the Bond girls of each decade, as usual written and designed by Graham Rye.

The features of each issue are as follows:
• The Bond Girls covered by each decade!
• Major new picture content throughout!
• 2010 updated text!
• Never-before-seen images!
• Rare behind-the-scenes photographs!
• The ideal souvenir brochure for autographs!
• A Deluxe Limited Edition Publication!

007 Magazine Archive Files: The James Bond Girls File #3: 1980s and File #4: 1990s will be available soon.

'007 Magazine Archive Files: The James Bond Girls':
File #1 The 1960s, File #3 The 1980s, File #4 The 1990s

Bond fans can purchase 007 Magazine Archive Files: The James Bond Girls – File #2 The 1970s at the official 007 Magazine website for the following prices: £9.99 (UK) | $15.99 (US) | €11.99 (EU) | £9.99 (Worldwide). Please be aware that prices do not include shipping.

Click here for further details and inquiries.

MGM's creditors approve Spyglass deal

MGM’s creditors have officially approved the restructuring “Plan” that places Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum as co-CEOs of MGM and essentially wipes away $4 billion in debt in exchange for 95.3 percent equity in the new company. The plan will be put into action immediately following MGM’s recovery from chapter 11 bankruptcy that should take about 30 days to complete.

It’s still unknown what the new MGM will become, essentially whether they will continue to distribute films or not. In the event that it doesn’t, Bond 23 as well as future Bond films will become a major point of contention between the other big distributors, specifically Columbia Pictures, Warner Bros, Fox, and Paramount. One thing is known, the new MGM will have greater emphasis in scripted and reality television shows for cable TV.

MGM Press Release

October 29, 2010- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. (“MGM”) today announced that the secured lenders voting in the Company’s solicitation process have overwhelmingly approved its proposed plan of reorganization (“Plan”). MGM will now move expeditiously to implement that Plan, which will dramatically reduce its debt load and put the Company in a strong position to execute its business strategy. MGM is appreciative of the lenders’ support.

Blood Stone behind the scenes and 3D screenshots

Another video for Blood Stone has landed on our desk. This one goes behind-the-scenes with Bizarre Creations to explore the many facets of James Bond. Additionally, we also have some 3D screenshots from Blood Stone’s Athens Boat level and Istanbul Driving level.

We’ve been getting a lot of videos from Activision, not all of them have necessitated a main page post, but if you want to see them all make sure you’re watching the Intercepted Headlines section. Also follow CBn on YouTube. We added a couple from GoldenEye below.

GoldenEye 007

For GoldenEye we uploaded a “Tank vignette” yesterday and before that a behind the scenes look at GoldenEye’s stunts.

007's original Aston Martin from 'Goldfinger' and 'Thunderball' sold

Ejector seat? You must be joking...

Going – going – gone. The ‘most famous car in the world’ – James Bond’s Aston Martin from Goldfinger and Thunderball was sold yesterday at the ‘Automobiles of London’ auction. While the original estimate of about £3.5 million ($5 million US) was not quite achieved, it still made a nice £2.9 million ($4.6 million US; €3.33 million), a sum that unfortunately exceeded Commanderbond.net’s own funds by far. For further details, please read the full press release from RM Auctions below:

BOND DB5 MOVIE CAR GOES FOR £3 MILLION
Automobiles of London

LONDON (27 October, 2010) – The world famous James Bond 1964 Aston Martin DB5 movie car driven by Sean Connery in Goldfinger and Thunderball, and factory-fitted with the full complement of operational ‘Q-Branch’ gadgets, was sold at auction in London today by RM Auctions, in association with Sotheby’s, in front of a packed audience for *£2,912,000 ($4,608,500 US).

“RM has just established the price of fame,” said Rob Myers, Chairman and Founder, RM Auctions. ”We had a fabulous time during the promotion of the sale of 007’s DB5 and we’re really pleased to have been able to assist with finding it a great new home.”

The successful bidder, Harry Yeaggy, an American business man, is only the second ex-factory owner of the Mr. Bond’s ride. The car’s seller, Mr. Jerry Lee, an American radio broadcaster based in Philadelphia, PA, purchased it directly from the Aston Martin Lagonda factory for $12,000 in 1969.

“This is a car that I’ve always wanted, after all it is the most famous car in the world,” said Mr. Yeaggy about the purchase of the Bond DB5. “My plan is to display it in my private car museum in Ohio just as it is.”

Mr. Lee plans to use the proceeds from the sale to further the charitable work of The Jerry Lee Foundation, a multi-national initiative dedicated to solving social problems associated with poverty, with an emphasis on crime prevention. Of particular benefit will be the Jerry Lee Center of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania and the Jerry Lee Centre of Experimental Criminology at the University of Cambridge. (http://jerryleefoundation.com/)

“The James Bond car has brought me much enjoyment for some 40 years,” said Jerry Lee. “Even as I sell it and use the proceeds to fund the Jerry Lee Foundation, the car will continue to give me great pleasure as it furthers the mission of the Foundation to do good around the world.”

In addition to acquiring the ‘most famous car in the world’, today’s winning bidder receives commemorative Dormeiul ‘Vanquish II’ fabric woven with solid gold thread from famous British tailoring house Gieves & Hawkes, who dressed Sean Connery with bespoke tailoring for all six of his appearances as James Bond. This certified fabric will be made into a handmade bespoke suit by the craftsmen at Gieves & Hawkes of No. 1 Savile Row, London for an estimated value of £30,000. What better sartorial statement could one make when driving or exhibiting this iconic automobile?

Another exciting and valuable addition for the 007 DB5’s new owner is an exclusive seven-night stay for 10 guests valued at £40,000 at the relaunched GoldenEye Resort in Jamaica – Ian Fleming’s original Caribbean Estate. The luxury getaway will enable the guests to revel in the history and the inspirational surroundings where all 14 James Bond novels were written, and sit at Fleming’s original desk where the Goldfinger car and Q gadgets were conceived.

Complete results of RM Auctions fourth annual ‘Automobiles of London’ will be available online at www.rmauctions.com.
*Footnote: The final figures include 12% buyer’s premium. Exchange rates: 1GBP = 1.5826 USD/1GBP = 0.6319 Euro

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007 movie screenings in San Francisco Bay area with Richard Kiel

The 13th Annual California Independent Film Festival will be screening The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker as part of their classic films program. Not only will the films get honored on the big screen but they will be followed by a Q&A and lobby appearance by the menacing Jaws himself. That’s right Richard Kiel, who I might add is not menacing in real life, is looking forward to bonding with you!

Location:
The New Rheem Theater
350 Park Street
Moraga, CA 94556
(Moraga is an East Bay community near Walnut Creek and Lafayette east of the Oakland and Berkeley)

Screenings
followed by Q&A w/ Richard Kiel
For advanced tickets: http://www.caiff.org/classicfilm.html

• Friday, November 5th at 7:00 PM
  The Spy Who Loved Me
• Saturday November 6th at 7:00 PM
  Moonraker

Don’t miss this opportunity to see these films on the big screen one more time. Especially Moonraker! During the Q&A ask Richard about his recent involvement in the new James Bond GoldenEye video game and his voice over work in Disney’s new animated movie Tangled.

To discuss this news visit this thread in CBn’s Bond 21 forums. Thank you to Richard Kiel from bringing this event to our attention. Keep watching the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest news on James Bond-related events occurring worldwide.

Benson teams with John Milius for Homefront

Cover for Homefront by John Milius and Raymond Benson

Former James Bond author Raymond Benson is teaming up with screenwriter and director John Milius for his next book, a novelisation of the upcoming video game Homefront. Milius is best known for his screenwriting contributions to such films as Apocalypse Now and Clear and Present Danger. He also wrote and directed Red Dawn and Conan the Barbarian. Additionally, he wrote script for Homefront which in many ways is similar to Red Dawn.

In 2027 a unified Korea joined by Japan invades the United States setting up what publisher THQ hopes to be a series. Milius said, “Homefront represents a fascinating vision of the near-future. After completing my work on the game, it became clear that there were many more stories to tell, and this book will offer a chilling look at this near-future world.”

This is not Benson’s first foray into novelising a video game. In 2004 Benson was the first to use the pseudonym David Michaels which he used to write the first two Splinter Cell novels under the Tom Clancy brand. Later in 2008 and 2009 he wrote the first two novelisations of Metal Gear Solid.

Homefront will be published this upcoming March.

Next year will also see the release of Raymond Benson’s next original novel titled The Black Stiletto in September.

Behind the Scenes: GoldenEye and Blood Stone

Two new behind the scenes videos have been provided to us for the upcoming James Bond video games Blood Stone and GoldenEye 007.

The first video is a behind the scenes look at GoldenEye 007‘s story featuring Bruce Feirstein who not only penned both this game and Blood Stone, but also the Pierce Brosnan films GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, and The World Is Not Enough.

The second video is a behind the scenes look at the vehicles and driving sequences of Blood Stone.