Summary
Rare alumni Brett Jones, who worked as an artist on the classic 1997 video gameGoldenEye 007for the Nintendo 64, sadly passed away earlier this week. Jones worked at Rare for a total of eight years, from 1994 to 2002. Aside fromGoldenEye 007, Jones also contributed to the 2000 first-person shooterPerfect Dark.
Jones had a hand in recreating some of James Bond’s most iconic outfits forGoldenEye 007and played a pivotal role in designing Joanna Dark,a federal secret agent and the protagonist ofPerfect Dark.GoldenEyewas based on the 1995 James Bond film of the same name starring Pierce Brosnan as 007. The title was released two years after the film it was based on, but right before the release of the film’s sequel,Tomorrow Never Dies. As forPerfect Dark, it serves as a spiritual successor toGoldenEye 007, which is seen by many gamers as one ofthe best spy espionage games. After leaving Rare in 2004, Jones would go on to flourish as a VFX artist for blockbuster movies such as Marvel’sGuardians of the Galaxy,Fast & Furious 6,The Last Jedi, and theFantastic Beastssequel, as well as TV shows likeDoctor Who.
It was Jones' former Rare colleague, Dr. David Doak, who broke the news of the artist’s passing on Twitter earlier today. “RIP Brett Jones - you absolute legend,” Droak wrote. “I’m so glad you got to meet Brett. So much of what madeGE007andPDspecial came from Brett’s talent and rascal humor.” Following Jones' passing, family and friends have organized a crowdfunding campaign to fund an art exhibition of Jones' work that will take place at Atkins Gallery in Leicestershire, UK.
Jones Flourished As A VFX Artist After Leaving Rare
The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics are currently working on a reboot of thePerfect Darkseries, which was announced four years ago at The Game Awards 2020. Last month,as part of the Xbox Games Showcase, Xbox unveiled a gameplay trailer for thePerfect Darkreboot. Jones was scheduled to sit down withTime Extensionto discuss his thoughts on the trailer, but after communicating that he wasn’t in good health, the interview was postponed.
Brett Jones' passing comes as a huge shock to the gaming community,who have enjoyed his work since the early ’90s. Representatives of the Atkins Gallery have informed attendees that the exhibition will “go ahead whatever happens.” Anyone wishing to donate to Jones' crowdfunding campaign and contribute to the £2,500 target can do so on theJustGivingwebsite.
GoldenEye 007
WHERE TO PLAY
James Bond returns! More than 20 years after the classic that introduced a generation to stealthy shooter gameplay first reached store shelves, GoldenEye 007 is back to thrill players old and new. Beginning in the heavily-guarded chemical weapons facility at the Byelomorye Dam, you’ll guide Bond on a globe-trotting covert operation to stop the devastating GoldenEye weapons satellite before its power can be unleashed upon the world. With 20 campaign missions to master at a range of difficulty levels, unlockable cheat modes and an iconic split-screen multiplayer for up to four players, GoldenEye 007 contains all of the action and excitement of the original game – not to mention Xbox achievements to unlock and a raft of new features that enhance the timeless gameplay for the modern day. Whether you’re a veteran player or you’re experiencing 007’s genre-defining adventure for the first time, GoldenEye 007 is not to be missed. And remember – you are licensed to kill
