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BioWare was working on a spy game, 'Agent,' in 2009

Jessica Conditt — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:30:00 EST

Way back in the olden days of 2009, BioWare co-founder Trent Oster started work on a new, PS3-exclusive spy game called Agent, which "failed to survive the recession," Oster told Eurogamer. Agent was a mix of Jason Bourne and 007, Oster said, though we detected a hint of Deus Ex in his description as well:

"The concept was to do the other half of GoldenEye," Oster said. "The idea being that James Bond isn't just a gun that walks around the world and shoots people. He's a suave manipulator, he's a talented martial artist, he's a secret agent. We wanted to cross that 007 with Jason Bourne, where he's been modified in some way; you're not sure what, but he's definitely deadly.

"We really wanted to push the acting side, the digital acting. We really wanted to be very high drama, very intense scenes. I always think of the scene in the second Bourne movie where Jason Bourne's choking the guy out with a book and he's right in his face and it's this very intense moment. That was one of the key things we wanted to carry off."

No, Agent didn't have anything to do with the PS3-exclusive game that Rockstar announced in 2009, also dubbed Agent. EA "didn't believe in the concept" for BioWare's game and Agent was sent off on a mission from which it'd never return: counting all the grains of sand on a windy beach. Or just the recycle bin.

BioWare was working on a spy game, 'Agent,' in 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: Frontier's canned 'The Outsider' project was actually 'The Bourne Redemption,' and we've got the greenlight video [updated]

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:55:00 EST

It seems that the plot surrounding Frontier Developments' canceled project, "The Outsider," grows thicker. A video sent to Joystiq this morning by an anonymous source reveals that the game was actually a Jason Bourne-based project known as "The Bourne Redemption." But wait, that game footage looks mighty familiar -- is that The Outsider? Sure looks like it, but now it's known as "The Bourne Redemption." Interesting!

And given that the clip is interspersed with footage from the third Bourne film, "The Bourne Ultimatum," we're guessing that Frontier was hard at work on "The Outsider" / "The Bourne Redemption" when the project was canned for a variety of reasons. Moreover, the clip we were sent is specifically noted as the "greenlight" for the project, which either means it's moving forward or, more likely, this video was the original proof of concept that got the ball rolling on development.

We'd love to tell you more, but other than the clip above, we don't know much else. But perhaps you do? You're welcome to tip us with more info! We've reached out to both EA and Frontier for comment.

Update: We've added much more information on the subject, just past the break.

Continue reading Source: Frontier's canned 'The Outsider' project was actually 'The Bourne Redemption,' and we've got the greenlight video [updated]

Source: Frontier's canned 'The Outsider' project was actually 'The Bourne Redemption,' and we've got the greenlight video [updated] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Work on canned Bourne game 'Treadstone' revealed in vid

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 13 May 2011 17:58:00 EST

A reel showing off some rough in-game footage of Treadstone is making the rounds after being found by Superannuation. If you're suffering from a mild case of video game amnesia, allow us to refresh your memory: Three years ago, Treadstone was a multiplayer-focused title set in Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne universe being developed by Radical Entertainment.

If you're wondering why Treadstone was abandoned, one needs to recall the geopolitical business of games industry in 2008. At the time, Activision was cleaning house of the properties it obtained during the Vivendi merger and the Bourne IP was dumped back to Ludlum Entertainment. A short time later, Bourne landed at EA and ... well, that apparently hasn't gone much better.

Check out Radical's Treadstone work after the break.

Continue reading Work on canned Bourne game 'Treadstone' revealed in vid

Work on canned Bourne game 'Treadstone' revealed in vid originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 May 2011 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Bourne game is Starbreeze's canceled EA project

David Hinkle — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 09:08:00 EST

Yesterday, we reported that one of two Starbreeze games being developed for EA had gone the way of the dodo. Now, the LA Times blog reports that the canceled game is in fact the title based on the Bourne franchise -- and not the believed Syndicate reboot, Project RedLime.

This news doesn't eliminate the possibility for a new Bourne game sometime down the line, however. EA signed a ten-year deal with the Ludlum estate, and an EA spokesperson said, "EA and the Ludlum Estate are still discussing making a game based on the Bourne franchise."

Report: Bourne game is Starbreeze's canceled EA project originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 09:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Starbreeze confirms one EA collaboration is kaput

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:35:00 EST

Starbreeze Studios, developer of The Chronicles of Riddick games and The Darkness, has confirmed that one of its EA projects has ceased production. GI.biz translates that the ax has fallen on either the Jason Bourne game or Project RedLime, which is believed to be a revival of the classic Syndicate series.

Starbreeze CEO Johan Kristiansson has stated that the company's relationship with EA remains strong and all resources are being put toward the game that "demonstrated the greatest potential." We'll have to wait and see if the super spy or the cyborgs won out.

Starbreeze confirms one EA collaboration is kaput originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ludlum estate on EA vs. Activision: 'We're dealing with grown-ups now'

Richard Mitchell — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:56:00 EST

Filed under: Business

Variety is reporting more details on Electronic Arts' recent ten-year acquisition of the Robert Ludlum estate license, which grants the company rights to create games based on the Bourne novels, among other things. According to Ludlum estate CEO Jeffrey Weiner, Electronic Arts was the first choice for the license after it was dropped by Activision. Weiner said that EA CEO John Riccitiello almost bought the license in 2005 while he still worked for Elevation Partners, former owner of both Pandemic and BioWare. "So when Activision decided to terminate the license we reached out to him because we like John and it's a great company," said Weiner, "We feel we're in a much better position now."

Apparently, Vivendi didn't do a very good job with the Bourne license, as one Ludlum estate agent noted that EA "had the best take on the property, and they know how to grow the IP and have unquestioned worldwide market reach," adding, "We're dealing with grown-ups now."

Finally, Variety reports that Radical Entertainment's Treadstone project has been canceled, making the upcoming Starbreeze game the only Bourne project currently in the works (that we know about, anyway).

Ludlum estate on EA vs. Activision: 'We're dealing with grown-ups now' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bourne is born again at EA

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:30:00 EST

Assassin Jason Bourne has been detained by EA, as the publisher announced today it now holds "exclusive worldwide license" to games based on the works of Robert Ludlum. Starbreeze Studios, best known for the Riddick games and The Darkness, is handling the first Bourne title in the multi-year agreement between EA and Ludlum Entertainment.

EA gained the opportunity to pick up the Bourne license after Activision-Blizzard dropped the series to focus on its own machismo spy: Bond ... James Bond. This whole licensing reshuffle also leaves the rumored multiplayer Treadstone title, allegedly in development by Radical Entertainment, in an even more unclear position. There's currently no indication on when the new Bourne game will punch and parkour its way to stores.

Bourne is born again at EA originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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