Here we go again with a newly baked episode of the never-ending but always-interesting GoldenEye XBLA drama. Some weeks ago we published several comments coming from Microsoft about this sensitive topic. You don’t see representatives from gaming companies commenting on unofficial games everyday, and if the unofficial game in question is the epicentre of a licensing conflict between three major developers, the chances of getting a single word equal zero. That’s why we felt both shocked and confused when they told us that “the rights to the title [meaning GoldenEye 007] are shared between Microsoft and Nintendo.” As we said then, we would ask Microsoft again about that part just to make sure we heard well.

And apparently, we did. “We share the rights with Nintendo on the title and they are the ones who have prevented it from happening” is their new and crystal-clear answer, as quoted by Rare’s George Kelion. It is important to note that knowing this, one of the key factors of the equation disappears from it. Of course, we are talking about Activision, the current James Bond licence holders and the ones who, according to the latest versions of the story, would have ultimately killed the GoldenEye XBLA project by keeping the 007 rights away from Microsoft at Nintendo’s request. But if Nintendo does hold some rights over GoldenEye 007 anyway, they obviously didn’t need to press Activision and would have cancelled the project by themselves right away. Just like Microsoft says.

Rest of the article here: http://mundorare.com/news/2008/03/nintendo-still-holds-legal-power-over-goldeneye-007/

Good, Goldeneye only belongs on a Nintendo system. It was my favorite N64 game.

So wait, Rare and Nintendo hold rights over Goldeneye 007 and activision hold rights over the 007 title.

Thats one title that will never ever be republished then, three license holders is going to keep that game in legal limbo.

The game doesn't need to be revisited anyways. The gameplay that felt so fresh back in the days is so dated by today's standards. Activision should just make a new Bond FPS that captures the magic of what made GoldenEye 007 great in the first place which was local multiplayer, obviously online multiplayer now too.

My favorite game ever. So does all this mean that there won't be a Bond game on Wii now? Just thinking out loud.

There can be a Bond game on Wii, just not GoldenEye. I'm pretty sure ActivisionBlizzard will make a Wii version of whatever Bond game they come out with this year or next.

No activision can still make new bond games on which ever console they want.


I honestly feel like they shoudl

1) leave goldeneye alone
2) share the love. Release it on WiiWare and XBLA as a revised game with updated graphics and online support. Cross platform onlien would be could but dreaming lol

I kinda wish i'd played this game.

I could play it now, but I'd rather go back in time and play it then because now I'd be unimpressed.

i hope they eventually just release it for both systems

also, there is currently a wii 007 in production, tho it won't be as good as goldeneye :(

I like how MS and Nintendo can't agree and Microsofty says its Nintendo who is holding it up. I am sure they have a price, everyone does it si business, but Microsoft obvisouly thinks it is too high.

They probably offerd Goldeneye for the VC in exchange for the new one going ot XBLA. Nintendo said no and probably demanded the game for Wiiware. Rare would have to reprogramm the whole game so no way they were going to do that. They probably counted with some cash and maybe rights to a crappy game or two for the VC like Glover.

Nintendo does not need money but does want good games.

What I think is that if MS wants to get this done they need to offer Nintendo the rights to release the entire N64 Rare catalog on the VC. MS could make some money and they would get their classic shooter and Nintendo could get a bevy of classics to release.

Maybe I just like the idea of getting Blast Core on the VC.