industry news
Treyarch On The Legacy Of EA's Sucky Bond Games
Posted by Luke Plunkett at 10:20 PM on July 24, 2008
Goldeneye was a good Bond game. The last good Bond game, really. Problem being, Goldeneye was a loooooong time ago, and there have been a lot of Bond games since. So that's a problem for current Bond developers Treyarch, right? Nope! Those sucky games were all EA's fault:
We're not trying to fix anything EA did wrong, because that's just what they did. I'm sure the series pissed off a lot of gamers over the last few years as the games started to go downhill, but we have no control over that.
Hope your body can cash those cheques your mouth's writing, Treyarch!
'Second-rate James Bond games a thing of the past' [MCV]

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Shabat0ge
Posted 3:17 AM 25/7/08
@Schoolimangooli the doogie mag goosie!:
* Die by the Sword (1998) - Good
* Die by the Sword: Limb from Limb (1998) (Expansion Pack)
* Triple Play 2000 (1999) - Good
* Draconus: Cult of the Wyrm (2000)- Never played
* Max Steel (2000) - Never played
* Triple Play 2001 (2000) - Good
* NHL 2K2 (2001) - Good
* Triple Play Baseball (2001) - Good
* Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer (2002) - Good
* Minority Report: Everybody Runs (2002) - Meh
* Spider-Man (2002)- Good
* NHL 2K3 (2002) - Good
* Call of Duty: United Offensive (2004) - GREAT
* Spider-Man 2 (2004) - GREAT
* Call of Duty 2: Big Red One (2005) - Good
* Ultimate Spider-Man (2005) - GREAT
* Call of Duty 3 (2006) - Good
* Spider-Man 3 (2007) (Only developed the Xbox 360 & PS3 version of the game) - Meh
Are any of these games good?
---- Hope that answers your question.
Shabat0ge
runandgun
Posted 2:56 AM 25/7/08
Everything or Nothing was one of my favorite games last generation, EA didn't hold back on that game. I agree everything else sucked.
runandgun
mfolwell
Posted 2:27 AM 25/7/08
Have to agree with most everyone here in saying that Everything or Nothing was really rather good.
On the other hand, from what little I've seen of Treyarch's offering, the perspective changes looking awfully disorientating. And from watching Casino Royale, FPS seems like a really bad choice (IIRC, two proper gunfights, and in one of them he avoids shooting anyone).
mfolwell
kidko
Posted 2:19 AM 25/7/08
Also rumor has it the multiplayer portion has been outsourced to a different company.
kidko
kemicon
Posted 2:07 AM 25/7/08
I would argue that Everything or Nothing was the last good Bond game. Is an 8.8 on GameSpot not good enough?
kemicon
stranger
Posted 1:38 AM 25/7/08
"I'm sure the series pissed off a lot of gamers over the last few years as the games started to go downhill, but we have no control over that."
...until now. Now gamers can feel free to get pissed off at us when Quantum of Solace ships as it'll be the mediocre rehash of someone else's good ideas and tech that everyone expects from Treyarch.
Bad Bond games are officially our fault now!
stranger
mlubczyk
Posted 1:32 AM 25/7/08
I'm still somewhat mad that only the Wii version of Quantom of Solace gets split-screen. Call of Duty 4 had split-screen so there's no reason the 360/PS3 versions should not have it.
I can't imagine how they could justify the Wii version of the game getting split-screen while the way more powerful systems do not.
mlubczyk
Jonaconda
Posted 1:19 AM 25/7/08
@Moggo: Surely you're referring to the games. Casino Royale gave a dead franchise a much-needed shot in the arm, and silenced even the most bitter Pierce Brosnan fans bitching that he wasn't back for one more go-around.
Ironically, the latter Brosnan movies would have been great videogames, with their increasingly reliance on ridiculous gadgetry, outlandish set pieces, and paint-by-numbers villains (the one guy with diamonds stuck in his face... yawn). Denise Richards as a nuclear physicist even seems plausible in a videogame, although hopefully the writers would have the sense to cut all those "Christmas comes twice this year" jokes that still haunt my memories to this day.
I was an ardent Craig hater when his casting was first revealed, but I can't wait for the Casino followup. All the core elements of Bond were intact, but streamlined and stripped down for a generation of fans expecting a bit of brains behind the action.
The Bond franchise is back with a vengeance in theaters. Hopefully Treyarch can add to what essentially remains a one-hit wonder in 007's gaming resume.
Jonaconda
chuffhoncho
Posted 1:08 AM 25/7/08
Are we sure Treyarch said this or could it have been an Activision suit like last time?
chuffhoncho
Spacecataz
Posted 1:05 AM 25/7/08
Nightfire had a pretty fun multiplayer, with the toy copters and such.
Spacecataz
Chrysalis
Posted 1:03 AM 25/7/08
More love for Everything or Nothing- It was actually one of my favorite last-gen action games. It felt like a pretty complete and original bond-movie, played very well, and had awesome co-op gameplay (a separate campaign. I've logged more co-op hours in it than I've logged in many a single-player game. If only I could find a full version of the song Mya did for it...
Don't get me started on From Russia With Love though- it cut off most of the things that made EoN great. Worst spiritual sequel ever.
Chrysalis
dionion
Posted 12:30 AM 25/7/08
I like how Treyarch has become Activision's lapdog: Need a Call of Duty every year but IW won't make it? Give it to Treyarch. Need a crappy movie tie-in? Give it to Treyarch. Smack down corporate arch-enemy EA. Give it to Treyarch. And so on...
dionion
Moggo
Posted 11:48 PM 24/7/08
Every single Bond game since Goldeneye has disappointed me, to the point where I gave up on the franchise at around the Nightfire point. I've never really heard of Everything or Nothing so I'll be keeping my eye on this one, just in case.
Seems to me though, that the Bond franchise is increasingly irrelevant.
Moggo
hamandcheeseUK
Posted 11:21 PM 24/7/08
Hey! Nightfire was good..
hamandcheeseUK
Mommar
Posted 11:18 PM 24/7/08
I agree with lots of others on here, Everything or Nothing really was a very fun game. From Russia... could have been better but I think the one thing that hindered it was the fact it was based off of a particular movie/story and not just the license like Everything or Nothing was.
Mommar
Shiryu
Posted 11:17 PM 24/7/08
Its messed up having to liveup to the phenomenon that is Goldeneye 64. However, COD4 engine powered, I believe Treyarch has a really "real" shot at it. My fingers are crossed, while COD5 is a definitive Wii purchase for me, im still not sure about 007...
Shiryu
greyhoundbus
Posted 11:15 PM 24/7/08
Stop saying there've been no good Bond games since Goldeneye. The last good Bond game was Everything Or Nothing. It was GREAT.
greyhoundbus
sachow
Posted 11:05 PM 24/7/08
I was wondering how long it would take for some dork to post about Call of Duty 6. Only took 3 posts, I'm impressed.
sachow
jacksbrokenego
Posted 11:05 PM 24/7/08
Obligatory request for Microsoft and and the big N to work it out and bring Goldeneye back for us - either on XBL or VC - it doesn't matter which, but please, for the love of all that's holy, let us play!
jacksbrokenego
Satis24
Posted 11:04 PM 24/7/08
@AngryEddy: I agree with you on Rouge Agent the idea was great, but the game play was terrible.
Satis24
Darth Navster
Posted 11:04 PM 24/7/08
I'm glad to see Everything or Nothing is getting love in the comments. I'd love for EA to make a 360/PS3 "sequel" in the same vein. Maybe focus on Daniel Craig's Bond before he became a double 0?
Darth Navster
LoopyChew
Posted 11:02 PM 24/7/08
I had incredible fun with Everything or Nothing, so I take umbrage at the concept that the last good Bond game was GoldenEye.
Also, Die by the Sword was awesome. At least, its demo was. I was too young to buy the game for myself at the time.
LoopyChew
dsmx
Posted 10:59 PM 24/7/08
Lies the last good bond game was Everything or Nothing and it was not just a good bond game it was a good gamer, period.
dsmx
AngryEddy
Posted 10:58 PM 24/7/08
Sure, Goldeneye was great - but I'm part of the camp that agrees that Everything or Nothing was actually pretty darn fun. And while it took liberties with the story, From Russia With Love was actually decent too. Not mind-blowing, but fun. What really pissed me off was Goldeneye: Rogue Agent. The idea of a rogue MI6 agent working alongside Goldfinger to take on rival Dr. No was actually really cool in a bizarre alternate universe sort of way - but the game was one of the most boring, by-the-numbers FPS games I've ever played. Garbage.
AngryEddy
Crawl to China
Posted 10:56 PM 24/7/08
@Schoolimangooli the doogie mag goosie!: Spider-man 1 and 2 were pretty sweet
Crawl to China
Lider
Posted 10:54 PM 24/7/08
Everything or Nothing was great. It seens Luke didn't play it. :P
Lider
dionion
Posted 10:44 PM 24/7/08
@gomerkyle9: [www.funnyordie.com]
dionion
gomerkyle9
Posted 10:41 PM 24/7/08
@dionion: Noooo.... Poor goose...
gomerkyle9
Satis24
Posted 10:40 PM 24/7/08
I have to agree, Goldeneye was by far the best Bond game. There was another that I enjoyed on the original xbox. I want to say nightfire but I'm not positive. The one with the railcars. But anyway I only enjoyed the multiplayer aspect, and not the online multiplayer either.
I really hope this new Bond game rejuvenates the Bond games, as Casino Royal did for the movies.
Satis24
dionion
Posted 10:39 PM 24/7/08
OMG, is that a Top Gun reference in the end? AWESOME.
dionion
Schoolimangooli the doogie mag goosie!
Posted 10:39 PM 24/7/08
* Die by the Sword (1998)
* Die by the Sword: Limb from Limb (1998) (Expansion Pack)
* Triple Play 2000 (1999)
* Draconus: Cult of the Wyrm (2000)
* Max Steel (2000)
* Triple Play 2001 (2000)
* NHL 2K2 (2001)
* Triple Play Baseball (2001)
* Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer (2002)
* Minority Report: Everybody Runs (2002)
* Spider-Man (2002)
* NHL 2K3 (2002)
* Call of Duty: United Offensive (2004)
* Spider-Man 2 (2004)
* Call of Duty 2: Big Red One (2005)
* Ultimate Spider-Man (2005)
* Call of Duty 3 (2006)
* Spider-Man 3 (2007) (Only developed the Xbox 360 & PS3 version of the game)
Are any of these games goo
Schoolimangooli the doogie mag goosie!
will
Posted 10:38 PM 24/7/08
Too bad it looks like they are making a completely sucky version of Quantum of Solace.
will
gomerkyle9
Posted 10:36 PM 24/7/08
@Dappa: Treyarch did alright with COD3, but Infinity Ward made a work of art.
gomerkyle9
hk458
Posted 10:35 PM 24/7/08
Oh Treyarch the only thing worse than your debacles are EA's.
hk458
floppylobster
Posted 10:34 PM 24/7/08
So what did EA have to do with Call of Duty 3 Treyarch?
floppylobster
Dappa
Posted 10:32 PM 24/7/08
I like Treyarch, they may not be right up there but i thought COD3 was good including the multiplayer.
To be perfectly honest there are so many developers who love to churn out shitty film conversion games for the kiddies and if it makes them money fair play but if they want some form of respect for that they need a good hard slap.
Dappa
Crawl to China
Posted 10:31 PM 24/7/08
EoN was pretty good, but I haven't enjoyed the multiplayer in a Bond game since Goldeneye. Favourite part of EoN was driving that motorcycle on the wrong side of the road and umpteen bajillion miles an hour, then crashing into a transport. Classic!
Crawl to China
Strangelove
Posted 10:30 PM 24/7/08
To be fair, the first 3rd person Bond game on PS2/Xbox (I think it was Tomorrow Never Dies) was pretty good (GTAIV stole its targeting system).
Strangelove
Flippy_D
Posted 10:27 PM 24/7/08
Good for him for having the balls to say that. It's completely true.
I hope for their sake they don't screw this up =P
It's easier than ever to make a decent shooter though.
Flippy_D
gomerkyle9
Posted 10:27 PM 24/7/08
As long as they don't completely eff up Call of Duty. I'm still looking forward to COD6 more.
gomerkyle9
Hendrixx
Posted 10:27 PM 24/7/08
I thought Everything or Nothing was pretty good! More entertaining than the film Die Another Day, at least...
Hendrixx
TheSpiller
Posted 10:23 PM 24/7/08
Everything or Nothing was good! But apart from that, just a lot of FPSes trying to copy Goldeneyes success
TheSpiller
OneUpChucks
Posted 4:03 AM 25/7/08
Nice to see the EoN love. Myself and about... 7 other people here worked on it. We're glad you guys liked it. :)
OneUpChucks
cihx
Posted 4:46 AM 25/7/08
yeah EoN was awesome.the only good bond game. and the need for speed guys did all the car levels as well.
cihx
Upi
Posted 4:40 AM 25/7/08
I'm a bit sad to see no love for The World is Not Enough on the N64. I thought it was about as good as you could expect a non-Rare made follow-up to Goldeneye to be.
Upi
Carlosftw
Posted 10:52 PM 24/7/08
EVERYTHING OR NOTHING! One of the best games I played
Carlosftw
Carlosftw
Posted 10:33 PM 24/7/08
Everything or Nothing was one of my favourite games!!!
Carlosftw
Carlosftw
Posted 10:30 PM 24/7/08
Everything or Nothing was one of my favourite games on the PS1. Absolutely amazing I thought.
Carlosftw
gomerkyle9
Posted 7:29 AM 25/7/08
@dionion: You can be my wingman anytime.
gomerkyle9
tk.
Posted 7:23 AM 25/7/08
They could make a whole game like that level in EoN where you are falling down the cliff trying to catch the girl and it would still be fun. It's like Kaboom! in reverse!
tk.
Oban
Posted 10:08 AM 25/7/08
Once you remove Scott Bandi and Taylor out of any equation the chance of a good title goes up at least 40fold.
Oban
Nimsim
Posted 8:06 PM 25/7/08
@OneUpChucks: If this is true, i would like to thank you and your crew. It was truly a great game, especially the Co-op.
Made me even fail some exams, cause the motorcycle ride was just fucking amazing.
On a side note, the multiplayer part really sucked, it would have been awesome with splitscreen...
Nimsim
Noctodemus
Posted 8:05 AM 26/7/08
As the guy who was told 2 weeks before Christmas in 2002 that he was a) now in charge of 007 at EA, b) had until January 9th 2003 to come up with a new vision for the Bond franchise and then c) after a successful pitch, that we had until September to finish the game, I'm pretty damned proud of what the EoN team accomplished. So bring it Treyarch. Show us what you got.
Noctodemus