Capture The Case...

GoldenEye 007: Ourumov's Briefcase and Key

Longtime fans of GoldenEye 007 will surely be aware of Ourumov's Briefcase and Key...

"Unwinding after a hard day at the office."

The Silo mission (game's sixth level) was one of the very first missions to be created, and likely served as a test-level to figure out some of the basics.

Towards the end of the Silo, there's a brief confrontation with Colonel Ourumov (not yet a General, per the story).

The player can cause Ourumov to drop a few items, often by killing him.

For years, players assumed that the Briefcase and Key MUST lead to an absurd secret area that would somehow contain Oddjob or Mayday...

Collecting that Briefcase and Key is a relatively straight forward trick.
Simple enough using Cheats - Especially Gold PP7 and/or Bond Invisible.

Obtaining the Briefcase itself is useless in the finished game.

The Keycard is listed as a "dash" or "dot" in Bond's inventory.

Interestingly enough, the key can actually be used in the finished game. It seems to open all unlocked doors in the Silo (which isn't overly useful considering it's at the end of a mission).

Quickly opening the door and dashing back down the stairs...
It's possible to kill Ourumov before the "sees" Bond.

I's even possible to pull it off WITHOUT using Cheats.
Relatively simple, just gotta be crafty.

Taking aim on our target. Of course the door tends to close automatically...
Bond may have to climb back up the stairs and open it again.

The Ourumov character model will stand there and take bullets to the head (seemingly oblivious) until his armor and health become depleted. 

 

The General's Droppings...

Ourumov's Briefcase and Key on the Silo floor, along with his DD44 Officers' Pistol.

The "key" is technically a keycard.

The Ourumov character is also highly under-used in the GoldenEye game.
Integral to the story - But following Facility has just a couple brief appearances in Silo and Train...

He's completely absent from the Archives and Streets.

Even a model of his car exists in the memory, indicating the intentions for General Ourumov to serve a more prominent role.

Prequel Power...

The Dark Side Clouds Everything

A few more "beta" magazine scans, with Nintendo Power taking a look at Perfect Dark, Donkey Kong 64, and Star Wars Episode I: Racer.

Scan from Nintendo Power #120
May 1999

Scan from Nintendo Power #120
May 1999

Dark Dossier...

Breaking And Entering

Five pages scanned from Nintendo Power magazine (May 2000) just before the release of Perfect Dark.
Some minor changes to some of the textures along with a few other details.

Scan from Nintendo Power #130
May 2000

Scan from Nintendo Power #130
May 2000

Scan from Nintendo Power #130
May 2000

Scan from Nintendo Power #130
May 2000

Scan from Nintendo Power #130
May 2000

In Bloom...

Another random image collected ages ago...
Killer Instinct character design concept art for B. Orchid.

Apparently her original name was shortened from "Black Orchid".
Kinda explains her Goth-like / Zorro-ish apparel.
(Or with just a dash of imagination, a PVC clad dominatrix...)

The lady in green was a memorable character in the Rareware's Killer Instinct series, and the only female in the original Killer Instinct (1994).

Needless to say, she instantly became a fan favorite.












A quick peek at her bio:

B. Orchid as featured in Killer Instinct Gold (1996)

More female characters were introduced in KI Gold.
So much raw talent on display...

Kickin' Ass

Come on girls, play nice!
Is that a Jungle Aztec theme in the background?

GoldenEye Stuff...

"Rosika The Killer Cleaning Lady"
(one of 64 characters available via Button Code)

HOUSEKEEPING
Attempting to tidy up some of the many files in my GoldenEye-related folders...

Rosika is an "unused" character, similar to the Female Scientist. (Referenced in memory as "fat tech woman")

There's also a company called "Rosika Enterprises" that manufactures and/or distributes cleaning products. Coincidence?

POTATO GUN
Also found this image (saved ten years ago).
The Rocket Launcher, with Russian text, translated.
Unsure if this exists elsewhere on the web.

Always thought the standard text was "aim away from face".

Absolutely hate bringing my own potatoes to the battlefield.
Can we re-wire this thing to make French fries?

Also reminds me of a funny movie line:
"The fate of the planet is in the hands of a bunch of retards I wouldn't trust with a potato gun"
-Armageddon (1998)

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE...

General Ourumov bravely stands in front
of his troops and challenges Commander Bond...

Also have a whole bunch of "beta" GoldenEye screenshots that need to go somewhere.

General Ourumov appearing in a different part of the Silo mission than we encounter him in the final game.

He's also depicted without his briefcase. Doesn't really mean anything...

(We've also seen an abundance of "Mr. Blonde" guards being used in Perfect Dark during the testing stages)

Still, this snapshot of Ourumov is probably the most interesting "new" image that wasn't featured in the original "Beta" pages.

Pretty sure it's authentic - Even though he appears to be firing an automatic weapon... Just wonder why this screenshot wasn't floating around the web 25 years ago.

Perhaps General Ourumov would attempt to grab the briefcase and run? (Unless you hit him, similar to Xenia on the Train?)

Still personally think there was a connection to the DAT and the Briefcase. (OBJECTIVE C: Obtain Telemetric Data)
The Briefcase of course does nothing in the final version of the game.

Rareware stated that in early drafts, Ourumov's Briefcase could have contained information on the Pirate helicopter, or crucial details about the GoldenEye satellite. (Possible information regarding the GoldenEye satellite seems to sum up what the "DAT" is)

Behind the scenes: In the Action Block for Ourumov (0415) the game also checks if the player has completed the objective by collecting that particular object....

If You Spell 'Bananas' Backwards...

A file folder containing "Beta" Plans from GoldenEye 007.

One of many unused objects found inside the game's memory.

The most widely accepted fan theory is that the dossier was among the contents of Ourumov's Briefcase...
(which would of course contain plans for the Pirate helicopter, or information about the GoldenEye satellite)

Clearly stamped with Russian text resembling "BANANAS", rumors state the folder contains a top secret recipe for Banana Vodka Martinis.

"Does this yellow suit make my head look big?"

Others insist that it's a reference to DK Mode (the game's easiest-to-unlock cheat, by completing the Runway in 5 minutes, on the easiest difficulty).

Even the yellow Moonraker suits bear a resemblance to the banana...

Donkey goes ape over his bananas.

Another highly improbable scenario is that the Soviets had intentions of stealing Donkey Kong's Banana Hoard.

Pandora's Box...

Once upon a time, a small cardboard box yielded a world of mystery...
Still captivated by those snapshots on the back.

"The Future Looks Dark..."

Quick scan from Nintendo Power magazine showing pre-release Perfect Dark.
Nintendo Power #110 (July 1998)
Possibly the first image of PD that I ever laid eyes on...

A single screenshot inside Area 51 Infiltration (first of three missions on that base).

Possibly captured in Co-Operative mode (when another Joanna Dark was the default Buddy as a placeholder).

An Area 51 Guard is coming out of the door - Unclear in the screenshot whether he's wearing the unused "beta" helmet that matches the uniform...

Perfect Dark Preview from Nintendo Power

Also in the above screenshot, I believe Joanna Dark is wearing a slightly different Combat Uniform than she does in the final version.




Snapshot of the unused mask in Perfect Dark's Combat Simulator.
Joanna is also wearing her standard outfit.

Actual snapshot captured in Perfect Dark Plus.
(ROM Modification which also offers a Japanese Joanna...)

Welcome to The Jungle...

We have fun AND games...
Scan from a special Nintendo Preview (1999) of Rareware games Donkey Kong 64 and Perfect Dark.

Same pamphlet also features the GoldenEye 007 push button code for "64 Characters".
Third time they'd published the same code - But I just love the heading "Fresh Blood"
Favorite quote:

"Do the folks at Rare get together to play Multiplayer Mode?
If they do, do they choose their own characters or do they pick other characters?
We were just wondering."

Shark-Infested Waters... (to the "Secret Island" in GoldenEye 007)

Summer 1998: The Nintendo 64 was still "The Fun Machine".
Completed the one-player Missions of GoldenEye 007 and still felt hungry for more.

Finally "Conkered" Diddy Kong Racing, and had just finished a second playthrough of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

GoldenEye 007 was still shrouded in mystery.
Oddjob and Mayday rumored to be within the main game...
Moore, Dalton, Connery along with the Citadel...

And what was the distant "island" in the Dam mission for?

(Screen capture taken via GoldenEye Setup Editor)

Upon reading an article from Xpert Gamer magazine, it was decided that a Gameshark was absolutely essential to explore GoldenEye 007 to the fullest.




Here's the original code as it appeared in Xpert Gamer issue #51 (September 1998):

"We are very aware of the code for GoldenEye that allows the player to reach the extra island on the Dam level. The code was never meant for release as it is extremely glitchy and seldom works correctly. It was circulated among a few friends and may have been leaked onto the Web..."

-Statement from InterAct
(manufacturer of the Gameshark)

Drone gun turret

Guard tower

Ladder and "beta" glass

Looking out from atop the tower.

So much has been learned about this mysterious island since then.
(A brief summary of the "Beta Dam", hopefully to be re-added soon)

Two Thousand (Sixty Four)...

Couple pieces from the year 2000.
First is a quick scan from the Nintendo Power Bonus Issue featuring the "64 Characters Code" in GoldenEye 007:

From the same issue...
Previews of Perfect Dark and Zelda Gaiden (which would become Majora's Mask):

More Foreplay...

Finally found the magazine I was looking for.
It's Bond.... "Beta" Bond.

From GamePro Magazine (August 1997):
Two-page spread advertisement the month GoldenEye 007 was released.

Practically every single screenshot shows noticeable differences between the final version.

The Dark Side of Podracing...

Sebulba!
(He always wins...)

Nintendo Power magazine from May 1999 (Issue #120).
This issue features a few pages from E3, including bits of Donkey Kong 64, Star Wars Episode I: Racer and Perfect Dark.

Possibly mentioned this before, but I still think it's neat...
Alternate covers for the issue of that month's magazine (May 1999 / Issue #120).

Some of these podracer pilots are more interesting than the characters in the main story.
(I just love it when Sebulba threatens to squash Jar Jar)

It's Ratts Tyerell!
"Splats" Tyerell fatally flew his racing pod into a stalagmite in a cave on Tatooine during the Boonta Eve Classic. He lives to race another day here in Episode I: Racer.