Activision`s Treyarch studio to create James Bond licenced videogames

15-Jul-2006 • Gaming

It has been revealed that Treyarch has been handed another high-profile franchise under Activision - reports Gamespot. A job listing on the Activision Web site is currently accepting applications for the position of "Gameplay Designer, Bond." "Treyarch is looking for a Gameplay Designer for our upcoming Bond title," reads the listing.

Besides being the developer of the Spider-Man games, the Santa Monica-based, Activision-owned developer is working one of its parent company's biggest titles--Call of Duty 3 for the Wii, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.

The job post goes on to emphasize that "the studio is focusing on developing and hiring for next-gen titles," indicating that the Bond game in question will appear on at least one next-generation console. Inquiries sent to Activision regard which platforms had gone unanswered as of press time.

In May, Activision acquired "worldwide rights to create video games for all current- and next-generation consoles, PC and handheld platforms" based on the James Bond character. Previously, Electronic Arts had the license, but opted out of its contract with MGM and the production company EON, owners of the James Bond film license. Recently, Sony bought MGM in a multibillion-dollar deal.

The Activision deal includes both original games set in the Bond universe and games based on new films, such as the forthcoming Casino Royale. Royale will be the first film to feature Daniel Craig in the role of Agent 007, and is slated to hit theaters on November 17.

MI6 was first to report on the ill-fated "Casino royale" project undertaken by EA and then later canned, thus no 007 videogame will be released in 2006.

Treyarch, which was founded in 1996 and has released over 20 titles, also including Ultimate Spider-Man, Minority Report and Spider-Man: The Movie, will have only recently begun working on the franchise, following its May acquisition by Activision.

Thanks to `Brad` & `Cool_007` for the alerts.