GameSlice: Behind the Scenes of the Computer and Video Game Industry

By Glen Jackson

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Usually news of a game based on a movie causes eyes to roll. That is with the notable exception of the James Bond franchise, still white-hot thanks to the phenomenal success of Goldeneye on the Nintendo 64. Now Electronic Arts is bringing Bond back to life with a multi-platform game based on the latest movie, The World is Not Enough. Living up to Goldeneye won't be easy, but EA has put some of the most talented developers on this ambitious new game, and also licensed the Quake 3 engine for the PC and PlayStation 2 versions.

PC Screenshot

While the World is Not Enough (TWINE) won't have it's official unveiling until later this week at the E3 in Los Angeles, Jon Horsley, the game's executive producer, agreed to give GameSlice the latest information on how one of EA's biggest games for the new millennium is shaping up.

GameSlice: As a rule, movie licenses don't work in the gaming industry. But Goldeneye is one of the best examples of an exception to that rule. What makes you think that you are going to be able to strike gold again with another Bond game? What do you think Goldeneye did right that you want to duplicate with The World Is Not Enough?

PlayStation 2 Screenshot

Jon: Our goal is to capture the essence of Bond – the exotic locations, the sexy women and the fantastic gadgets and weaponry. The challenge is to do so in a way that is entertaining to a game audience, not just a film audience. We’ve been careful to focus much of our attention on the second-to-second and minute-to-minute game play. Detailed, attentive focus on core aspects of game play combined with the unique elements of 007’s world should yield an entertaining experience.
In terms of the license, MGM and Danjaq’s James Bond franchise is one of the most highly coveted and successful licenses across all forms of entertainment. With 19 blockbuster films that span over 40 years, I’d say we have an established property (and game) that will match, if not exceed, past Bond-licensed games.
Next, find out about the Bond girls in TWINE >>>