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Showing posts with label archives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label archives. Show all posts

5/24/24

Keep On Truckin'

Standard Operating Procedures...

 

Promotional image scanned from the GoldenEye Special Edition DVD.



Natalya's lower back may distract one's attention from the legion of troops at the bottom portion of this "mini-poster".


Pair of trucks in photo with a backdrop that closely resembles the Dam/Runway of Arkangel(sk).
Can't seem to find these vehicles in the movie.
Two different trucks can be briefly seen parked outside the Archives in St. Petersburg.



Definitely perplexed by this image... Was it part of a scene?
It looks a bit to complex to be just a promotional still.

Pretty sure I don't recognize the central figure...
He's a bit heavier-set than the others (so I can only assume he's the ranking Officer).


The tank is obviously familiar military hardware.
In the movie, the soldiers definitely had Jeeps (or something similar, apparently called UAZ 31514).

Although with cardboard cut-outs, bluescreen and other effects, it's hard to say what's actually real.

(A moving Jeep was also something that was intended for the game, and was either never finished nor implemented completely)


It's the pair of trucks has caught my attention....


Of course there's a lone truck at the beginning of the Dam mission in the GoldenEye game. It may help "guide" a new player further into the level, and can be used as cover.

But was the truck completely invented for the game?
Or was it based on something from the movie?



The background of the photo appears to be a snowy landscape with trees - Closer to the Dam and Runway.

Re-watched the GoldenEye movie just to be sure, and couldn't spot a truck anywhere in the Dam-Runway sequences.


Right after Bond breaks out of the Archives, he subsequently steals a tank and takes to the Streets.
A couple of trucks can actually be seen parked in the yard (visible onscreen for about two seconds). These trucks outside the Archives appear different than the ones in the above photo.

The trucks are not part of the chase, but may very well have been the inspiration behind the truck model used in the Dam mission.

Familiar green military truck from the Dam mission.




Following on the heels of a daunting tanker truck chase scene in the previous Bond film License to Kill (Timothy Dalton's Bond versus Drug Lord Franz Sanchez), a truck scene in GoldenEye could have been tough to match...




EDITOR'S NOTE: Stumbled on a page where they've documented practically every single car or truck that's appeared in the entire 007 franchise... Even if the particular vehicle wasn't involved in the action.

https://www.007museum.com/goldeneye.htm


Just browsed the GoldenEye page on a whim, not expecting to find out truck - But there it is!
Parked right outside the Military Intelligence Archives or "Hall of Records".
(In the very same yard that James Bond steals a tank)


The truck in question is apparently a 1977 Ural 4320.

These trucks are often equipped with the big canopy/tarp/shelter/cover on the back - Which definitely changes the overall look of the truck. With this in mind, the pair of trucks on that poster could feasibly be the same trucks parked outside the Archives...



https://findblueprints.com/catalog/cars/ural/ural-4320-truck-1977




X-Ray Document Scanner


Also of interest:
"Other GoldenEye gadgetry from "Q" banch includes a leather belt with a 75-foot rappelling cord built into the buckle; a gun that fires a piton attached to a power-retractable high tensile wire designed to support Bond's weight; a silver tray which doubles as an X-ray document scanner; a pen that becomes a class-four grenade, and a laser-emitting watch that also serves as an arming device."
-GoldenEye Special Edition DVD Booklet



Mentioned only by name in the GoldenEye movie.
"X Ray Document Scanner"

Q doesn't explain much beyond that, but the viewer gets a brief demonstration.
The device appears to scan an envelope containing Bond's plane ticket to St. Petersburg.


Of particular interest, because this item was mentioned just once - And never mentioned again...
Normally, 007 manages to find a use for every single gadget that Q equips him with.







5/13/24

ARCHIVES: Textbook Play

Even More GoldenEye Homework...

Examining the path of a particular guard in the Archives Mission.

Bond hits the books to better his odds in the Military Intelligence Archives


This patrolling sentry is a deciding variable that will make or break a successful speedrun.
The goal is to finish within the Target Time of 1:20 as a 00 Agent (hardest difficulty).

Have previously commented that Super Mario Bros 3 is like a Pinball machine...
GoldenEye 007 is more like a game of Poker.

Even if you play your cards right - The unpredictability of other characters will make the whole run a total bust.



It's possible to finish the mission without even seeing this problem guard...
At the same time, he could be in the worst possible place - And there's absolutely nothing you can do about it.


The patrolling guards in the Facility are predictable (can almost set Bond's watch by it).
Most of the Facility patrollers don't travel through doors...

Computer-controlled characters often get stuck behind doors in the Archives, turning in circles until the door closes... At which point, they try again.



If the guard in the Archives navigates his course properly, he should arrive at a particular spot at a certain point in time - This seldom happens. If things go well, you might not even see him.



Interestingly enough, he's the same guard who patrols during one of the opening Intro Cameras.
(The angle that shows an outdoor area with other guards stationed around)

This area is just down the hall from where Bond stops to meet Mishkin (to complete OBJECTIVE C)



Exploring with Bond Invisible (the very same Cheat that's unlocked in this level with a successful run).

Not quite background ambience or random character animation, exactly...

The Russian Soldier guard can even get stuck in the corner with Mishkin before Bond even arrives in the room.

Get there quick enough, and the guard might just be leaving the room with his back to you.




Sometimes Bond gets to the meeting room, and the far door is wide open - Indicating the guard has just left.




After hundreds of playthroughs of this mission, and I saw something I'd never seen before...

It's Ajar.
(Normally there's a door here)



After exiting the meeting room with Mishkin (obtaining the bloody safe key & flight recorder), I raced down the hall to find the last door wide open...




There really should be "Push" and "Pull" signs on these Archives doors...



The only logical explanation is that the patrolling guard must have just finished passing through it.
He must have been stuck turning in circles behind the door while the meeting was in progress.


On another playthrough, the guard happened to catch sight of me just as I was sneaking by the basement bookcases... He technically passes through there for just a brief moment, as he travels from a hallway to enter the "big room".




Being harassed by other guards: Just as the patroller can cause problems, Bond might have a couple other guards that follow downstairs while the important meeting with Mishkin is underway.

Very few of them will manage to track you that far... But a couple of them might (occasionally even one of the black-coated guards who was holding Natalya).





On a separate but related note, all the GoldenEye speedrunning experts will use the additional strategy of looking down at the ground as they run and strafe...

Bond's always curious if the curtains match the carpet...

Apparently this speeds up the framerate, as the game is required to load fewer textures.
The Archives is an excellent mission to practice this technique.
Fewer guards to deal with, and straight, easy tiles and lines on the floors to follow.

While I definitely need more practice to be effective with this method, it's undeniably a time-saver that can shed a few additional seconds.








3/15/24

Archives Alternate Angles...

X PositionY PositionZ Position
-141.661819190.992340-274.181213
Lateral RotationVertical Rotation
200.0000000.000000

Comment:
ARCHIVES (moved camera 01 [overlooking the interior] to just inside office hallway, with one patrolling guard, one stationary)

 




X PositionY PositionZ Position
-277.88076865.993637239.020432
Lateral RotationVertical Rotation
2060.870117100.000000

Comment:
ARCHIVES just behind stationary guard outside Interrogation Room.
Visible in the distance is the Soldier who will ultimately enter Room to execute Bond.





X PositionY PositionZ Position
-524.60937529.996649650.540588
Lateral RotationVertical Rotation
1030.430054100.000000

Comment:
ARCHIVES basement, facing door where patrolling Soldier (Executioner) immediately walks through during intro.






X PositionY PositionZ Position
696.278015210.990112784.585449
Lateral RotationVertical Rotation
0.0000004000.000000

Comment:
ARCHIVES upstairs patrolling guard from default intro, camera moved over closer to him so he walks towards and just offscreen as it fades to black.





3/5/24

Bra Band Connection...

Pretty sure the real Natalya would slap that guy...


Stumbled upon one of those old Angelfire GoldenEye 007 fansites that still exists.
Was searching for a certain memorable quote...

"The DD44 Dostovei is a strong loud gun great for one on one.
But it's name sounds like a bra size
"

-Nick's GoldenEye 007 Page


Granted, the website hasn't been updated in a quarter century.
Talk of IE4, QuickTime 3, and ICQ.
(Not to mention 28.8 modems)
https://www.angelfire.com/ny/N64goldeneye007/




The quote, simplified:
"DD44 sounds like a bra size"





The Archives mission is particularly satisfying because you can grab a pair of 'em.
Remember to squeeze, don't pull!





All these years, I thought Boris' password was a reference to people wrapping on doors...


A loud screen presence in the Archives mission is especially fun with all that glass to break...

"Standard operating procedure.
Boys with toys
"



In Perfect Dark, the classic DD44 returns as the CC33.
(Which somehow isn't quite as fun...)

The video game guns were modeled after the TT33 Tokarev.





2/7/24

Awaiting Execution in the Archives...

The Archives mission begins in the Interrogation Room....
Wait long enough, and a Guard will come along to execute James Bond.



Programmed to attack with a random animation, the Soldier elects to pull a grenade - indoors, with other guards in the room.


Thinking quickly, Bond dashes to the other side of the room...
He survives the blast (without even messing up his hair).



This is why I love GoldenEye 007.
It's different every time.



Guard Characters in Multiplayer...

Russian Soldier, Russian Infantry, Russian Commandant, Janus Marine Naval Officer, Civilian (1), Civilian (2), Civilian (3) Civilian (4), Si...