Video games based on movies have an extremely spotty tracked record, especially titles that are released during the same window as the feature films on which they're based. The shortened development cycle has never been particularly kind to these types of games.

And yet here we are: another blockbuster movie coming out with a simultaneously developed, multi-platform game adaptation. Publishers roll together some slick animation coupled with some celebrity voice acting talent and cross their fingers that the brand name is strong enough to sell a major movie license with mediocre gameplay and a hackneyed narrative (I'm looking at you, Iron Man).

Will Quantum of Solace be any different than the legions of disappointing movie adaptations? It just might. Treyarch gave media members a first look at the game during Activision's pre-E3 preview event last month (along with another Treyarch title, Call of Duty: World at War). And here's the good news: first and foremost, the game uses the Call of Duty 4 graphics engine (also being using for Call of Duty: World at War) and visuals look sharp. Also, Quantum of Solace will include both the new Bond film as well as the 2005 blockbuster reboot "Casino Royale." And finally, Daniel Craig is providing his voice and likeness to the game; and from the looks of the demo, Treyarch has done an excellent job rendering the actor.

Quantum of Solace features Daniel Craig as James Bond - just like the movie.

That's the good news. But there is some not-so-good news. The game is coming to the PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii, as well as the PlayStation 2 and DS. And here's the catch: Treyarch is developing only the 360 and PS3 version of the game. So what about the PC version? That's being developed by Beenox, which is also doing the Wii version. No, that's not a misprint. Beenox is probably best known for the Bee Movie Game and for porting more than a dozen of Activision console titles to the PC. To be sure, the concern over the PC version isn't a knock against Beenox; the developer clearly has enough experience making PC ports.

The issue that I had with Quantum of Solace was the fact that a secondary developer was doing the job of porting both the PC and the Wii versions of this game. This is a little unusual, considering that the architecture for the Xbox 360 and PC aren't all that different. Typically, you'll see the lead developer design a major multi-platform game for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC since those three platforms are based on more high-powered graphics technology - unlike the Wii.

But Activision and Treyarch have passed off the PC job to someone else, which is a little disappointing. During a brief Q&A session with Treyarch officials at the Quantum of Solace preview event, I asked the team why the decision was made. Treyarch simply explained that the developer was concerned about its resource (Treyarch is also working on World at War) and that it wanted to have a dedicated team to work on the PC version, adding that there were some "interface challenges" porting Quantum of Solace to the PC.

Perhaps the PC version of Quantum of Solace will be on the same level as the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. We won't know for some time, since Treyarch demoed the Xbox 360 version of the game at the preview event. And despite my griping about the PC port, Quantum of Solace does look promising. The graphics aren't quite as brilliant as Call of Duty 4, but they're still impressive. More importantly, Treyarch has nailed the look and feel of the movies - well, at least "Casino Royale." The preview only showed off the parts of the game that are based on the older film, while any content belonging to the film "Quantum of Solace" was kept under wraps.

But the sections based on "Casino Royale" were enough to show the promise of the newest Bond title. For one, Treyarch has devised an interesting gameplay mechanic that blends first-person shooter action with third-person cover system. The first section of the game Treyarch showed was the Venice finale from "Casino Royale," which features riveting shootouts within the collapsing building.

Garrett Young, Treyarch executive producer, explained that the developer spent much of its time focusing on enemy artificial intelligence to make it more complex and unpredictable. In fact, Young said that Activision and Treyarch began working on the new Bond game before "Casino Royale" even opened in November of 2006 (major production on the title began in January of last year, giving a little less than two years for actual development). At that stage of pre-development, Treyarch only had three or four people brainstorming about how to take the thrilling action sequences of the movie and build on them for a game. If the demo levels shown at Activision's preview event are any indication, then Treyarch has succeeded in that task.

The developer showed off two more sections of Quantum of Solace based on "Casino Royale," including the frantic, acrobatic foot chase scene in Madagascar and a shootout at the Casino Royale Hotel in Montenegro. True to Treyarch's claim, the enemy AI was strong, preventing villains from engaging in scripted responses. When demonstrating the same sequence from the Casino Royale Hotel shootout, the enemy NPCs engaged in different behavior each time. If the AI in the rest of the game is as good as advertised in the demo, then Quantum of Solace may be something special.

The Quantum of Solace demo exhibited strong enemy AI.

Another positive for the game is the fact that Treyarch enjoyed a "strong relationship" with the filmmakers. Members of the development team visited the movie's set several time during production, and the producers sent stills of the set and the film along the way. In fact, Treyarch received a copy of the script the moment it got the greenlight. However, Young said that led to some challenges, since whenever the writers and producers decided to change the script, Treyarch had to change the game.

Young also said that the filmmakers were helpful and receptive to Treyarch's ideas on how to expand and build on the movies' action scenes for the game. Young also told a brief anecdote about meeting Daniel Craig on the set of "Quantum of Solace." Treyarch brought an early build of the game with a developer's kit to Craig's trailer, hoping to get the actor's feedback. Not knowing whether or not Craig was much of a gamer, Young was surprised to find the actor playing Guitar Hero after a long day of shooting.

Young said that Craig got into the demo and really enjoyed the game. In fact, Craig liked it so much that he asked Treyarch if he could keep it so that his friends could try it. Young said that the team was heading home the next day and didn't want to leave one of the few developer kits with the game behind. But in the end, Young said they decided to make an exception for Craig because, "after all, he is James Bond."

Treyarch unfortunately kept any multiplayer features hidden from the media, long with any "Quantum of Solace" related content, during the preview event. But the developer did say that it would be revealing more details about Quantum of Solace in the near future (perhaps at its E3 press conference tonight). Hopefully, Treyarch will be able to reboot the Bond game franchise as well as the filmmakers revamped the movie franchise.

The game is scheduled to launch around the time of the movie's release this fall on the PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2 and DS. Stay tuned for more on Quantum of Solace on Tom's Games.

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