6 MCV 23/07/10 NEWS
Activision backs Bond to shine as Hollywood future remains in doubt
by Christopher Dring Blood Stone and GoldenEye to satisfy consumers’ 007 lust in absence of 23rd movie
THERE IS NO new Bond movie on the horizon, but Activision says it can help plug the gap with two blockbuster Christmas releases. The 23rd Bond movie was postponed indefinitely in April due to uncertainty over the future of film company MGM. But that hasn’t derailed Activision’s plans for the licence – which it picked up in 2006.
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“The lines between the video game and movie experiences are becoming increasingly blurred. This isn’t the next Bond movie, clearly, but it is a very authentic brand-new narrative that will be big news for the Bond world this year.” James Bond: Blood Stone is developed by acclaimed British studio Bizarre Creations, and features a story written by regular Bond writer, Bruce Feirstein. The game also features
This isn’t the next Bond movie, but it will be big news for the Bond world.
David Tyler, Activision
The firm will launch a re- imagining of GoldenEye for Wii at Christmas, along with a brand new adventure, Blood Stone, for Xbox 360 and PS3. “It is exciting that we have an
original Bond-based narrative,” said Activision’s general manager of its European Licensed Business Unit, David Tyler.
its own James Bond song, written and recorded by Joss Stone (who also plays a Bond girl in the game). Activision hopes that these elements will help win over the Bond faithful. “We know how passionate fans are about the treatment of this property,” added Tyler. “So it’s important to get an authentic
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YOOSTAR BOSS Greg Fischbach has told MCV he is looking for the industry’s ‘next Rod Cousens’.
Games veteran Fischbach –
who helped set up Activision Europe and Acclaim – is looking for an exec to head-up Yoostar’s new UK office. He said: “We’re looking for a real generalist – a unique individual who is very entrepreneurial. Pretty much as we did when we started Activision in the early ‘80s, and later Acclaim. “Rod Cousens was
instrumental when we set up Acclaim and Geoff Heath was instrumental when we set up
Industry veteran Fischbach searches for a rising star to head up Yoostar’s UK operations
Activision, so it’s that kind of personality we’re looking for – only younger.”
Fischbach returned to games earlier this year when he was
UK singer Joss Stone will star as the Bond girl and provide the title theme for James Bond: Blood Stone
Bond experience into the game. That comes through the music, narrative, visuals and so on. “We are investing a lot of time, effort and resource to get these games right. Bizarre has been working on Blood Stone for quite some time, and we’ve always been excited about how good it is looking.”
Both games will benefit from extensive marketing, with GoldenEye also receiving support from Nintendo. “The GoldenEye game is exclusive to Nintendo platforms, so we are working really hard with Nintendo to bring this to the market,” added Tyler. Activision: 020 3060 1000
Yoostar seeks ‘the next Rod Cousens’
appointed CEO of Yoostar – publisher of upcoming Kinect and Move-compatible Yoostar 2, which allows players to take part in famous movie scenes.
The publisher is in the process of partnering with a distributor and interviewing people for its UK office. “We would look to get as broad a footprint as we can at retail and for the distribution to be as deep and as wide as possible,” said Fischbach. “We’re looking for someone who has great distribution skills and can assist with marketing.” Yoostar currently has offices in New York and Los Angeles. Its upcoming game is scheduled for release during or shortly after the launch of Xbox 360 Kinect and PlayStation Move later this year.
www.yoostar.com
New British video games league debuts
THE BEST UK gamers can win up to £30,000 in a new video game league.
Play the Gamer kicked off earlier this month, and is run by events agency Living It Loving It – better known for its live poker and crime scene nights in the UK, US and Europe. The new scheme lets UK venues host their own video game leagues. “We want to get people out talking to each other at a live event for low cost and high value,” Living It Loving It MD Dave Brannan told MCV. “No-one has managed to run a live league in the UK before, and we have invested £100,000 so far in order to produce a successful league like we have done in the past.”
Sites such as pubs or halls who sign up have to pay £65 per month while entrants are charged a minimum £1 each week to compete in games of FIFA 10, Need for Speed: Shift and Modern Warfare 2. The firm has also promised a £20 GAME voucher to any entrant who persuades a venue to take part.
GAME and Gamestation’s head of UK communications and PR Neil Ashurst added: “We know our customers love playing – wherever, whenever. So this new league will attract lots of attention from them. “Along with several other tournaments happening this year, it is a great way for people to prove their gaming pedigree.”
www.playthegamer.com
WWW.MCVUK.COM
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