In mid-November last year, news emerged that Activision was ‘considering its options’ as far as the future of internal Bizarre Creations was concerned, following the release of a pair of poorly-performing titles created at the studio, namely Blur and James Bond 007: Blood Stone.

At the time, Activision was looking to either sell the developer, consolidate the talent within the studio, or close the company outright.

Now, over two months later and with no serious potential buyers, Activision may be forced to close Bizarre.

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Every man wants to be him, every girl wants to be with him. James Bond is an icon and legend. His movies have not won many awards, nor have they been exceptionally well made with profound subtext to get the smart people thinking. The world of 007’s movies have been about fun and exciting action.

The same cannot be said about James Bond games, however. The odd game impresses a few critics and gamers alike, and sometimes they even sell a few copies. Goldeneye on the Nintendo 64 was a huge hit (even though I think it’s overrated) and the more recently released Quantum of Solace game was not too bad either. Blood Stone, however, is not based on any of Ian Fleming’s marvelous books, nor one of the movies made thus far. This is a game based on an original story, and aims to make a stand for itself regardless of accompanying movie or not.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of James Bond 007: Blood Stone.

Severe rumours have begun blustering around the tubes that veteran videogame developer Bizarre Creations (Geometry Wars, Project Gotham Racing, Blur) faces closure following a string of poorly performing titles, while the last game developed at the studio, James Bond 007: Blood Stone, received anything but stellar critical and commercial success.

Now Activision Publishing, the owners of Bizarre for over three years, is considering what it can do to make use of the obvious talent within the studio, while the option to either sell or close the developer is also on the cards.

Speaking to Kotaku, an Activision spokesperson commented:

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The football mad populace comprising ‘the UK’ has this week turned out in droves to purchase SEGA’s latest management simulation title, Football Manager 2011, thus ensuring the game a place atop Chart Track’s UK Software Sales listing ahead of big hitters FIFA 11 and Fable III.

This is the second PC-exclusive title to hit the No. 1 spot on the chart in 2010, following StarCraft II’s appearance earlier this year.

Despite the release of this interloper, FIFA 11 (sales down 24%) is a non-mover at No. 2 this week, but Fable III (sales down 64%) shifts from No. 1 to No. 3.

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For fans of James Bond, this week must be pretty special with the release of the first-person shooter Wii title, GoldenEye: 007, as well as this other action title, James Bond 007: Blood Stone.

Perhaps you’ve heard of it.

Blood Stone eschews the first-person side of things seen in Activision’s previous James Bond game, Quantum of Solace, and goes all out with the third-person action as you snap, crack, pop and break enemy’s arms, necks and collar bones with reckless abandon.

Naturally, you’ll get to shoot a weapon or two, and drive very fast cars very fast, thanks to developer Bizarre Creations’ racing pedigree.

Watch the launch trailer for James Bond 007: Blood Stone below, and see some hectic action sequences transpire:

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When was the first time you heard the term ‘CQC’? C’mon, don’t be embarrassed if Metal Gear Solid taught you about ‘Close Quarters Combat!’ Videogames teach us all a thing or two, like about the realities of nuclear war and private military companies.

Hang on a bit… those were also in Metal Gear Solid! What does this mean?

I know what it doesn’t mean: It doesn’t mean we’ll be free from thinking about Metal Gear Solid while playing the next James Bond game, Blood Stone.

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Activision has released a batch of new screenshots for the new James Bond game currently in development at Bizarre Creations.

If you’ve seen any of the trailers (like the Istanbul one we posted earlier), you’ll notice that James Bond 007: Blood Stone features the same brand of action we’ve come to expect after the previous Bond game, Quantum of Solace. Only this time Bizarre has drawn on their talents as a racing game studio to add a few racing sequences to the mix.

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One of the trailers to come out of the recently held gamescom in Cologne, Germany was a new Istanbul trailer for James Bond 007: Blood Stone.

Watch below to see Bond in action as he’s authorised to do whatever he has to, by any means necessary, to get the job done, resulting in explosions, gunfire, car chases and lots of action. You can also browse through our previous coverage of the title and look forward to our hands-on impressions of the game very soon.

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A new James Bond game is currently in development at Bizarre Creations, and seems to feature the same brand of action found in the previous Bond game, Quantum of Solace, only this time infused with a few racing sequences to mix up the experience (and make use of Bizarre’s talents as a racing game studio).

The game also features an all-star cast of voice talent, including current Bond guy Daniel Craig, as well as Judi Dench (as ‘M’) and music artist Joss Stone.

The opening credits sequence for James Bond 007: Blood Stone was recently released and features a song written and performed by Joss Stone, with visuals that faithfully follow the ‘fine’ tradition of the James Bond series of films (and previous games), culminating in an altogether theatrical sequence.

Watch below:

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Activision has officially taken the lid off of its next James Bond game, titled ‘James Bond 007: Blood Stone’ and currently in development at Bizarre Creations for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, with a DS version of the game in the works at n-Space.

James Bond 007: Blood Stone is set to be an action epic featuring cover-mechanic based firefights, hand-to-hand combat and “explosive adrenaline-fuelled” driving sequences, all while travelling to exotic locales around the world, visiting places like Athens, Istanbul, Monaco and Bangkok on a “global chase” to unravel an international conspiracy.

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