A real-life version of the iconic Remote Mine from GoldenEye 007 is doing the rounds on social media thanks to original game developer David Doak.
Doak, known for his work on GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark during his time at Rare, sparked fresh intrigue in the Remote Mine replicas by posting a photo and a short video clip to his Twitter account this morning.
Doak notes that he’s received ‘a fresh consignment of mines’, with the accompanying photograph showcasing an extremely detailed replica alongside a handwritten note from the creator.
The GoldenEye 007 Remote Mine replica comes courtesy of French artist Xavier, under the brand name MakingTheMine.
Xavier’s replica demonstrates a high level of detail which he explained to me over email. ‘The mines I do are 1:2 scaled replicas of the larger one, complete with blinking LEDs, sound effects, a magnetic back, and something I’m particularly proud of; a small vibration motor, as if you could feel the explosive heart of the bomb’.
The Origin Of The Remote Mine
Xavier first discovered the world of James Bond through GoldenEye 007 for the N64. ‘It’s a vivid memory because it was my first console and the first game I played on it’, said the Parisian-born artist when I asked him about the origins of the Remote Mine prop.
‘The mine from Goldeneye 007 is particularly iconic to me as it’s a key weapon in the game and is clearly seen in the movie. Its distinctive shape and graphic appeal are what draw me to it’.
In 2012, Xavier discovered the Remote Mine from the GoldenEye movie was made from the base of a Saitek Joystick. ‘It blew my mind that movie props could be created from items I could buy on eBay’!
Xavier is enjoying fulfilling a childhood fantasy with his Remote Mine replicas from GoldenEye 007, saying that ‘the eight-year-old version of myself find this incredibly cool’.
Much like the adventures of James Bond though, it’s not all been plain sailing, with several failed prototypes documented on the MakingTheMine Instagram page. The support of the Bond community seemed to carry the creator through the hardships to produce the replicas that impress David Doak today.
‘As it’s a niche subject, Bond enthusiasts found me quickly, and everyone provided very positive feedback on my project, which was very encouraging. I’m immensely grateful to everyone as they’ve all been kind and supportive so far’.
Shaken, Not Stirred
Arguably the most deadly explosive in GoldenEye 007, many multiplayer rounds were won and lost, and friendships sacrificed during intense local battles on one of the most popular Nintendo 64 games of all time.
Based on their appearance in Pierce Brosnan’s 007 debut, the Remote Mines provide a tactical method for gamers to get one over on each other in the seminal spy shooter. The Remote Mine is one of three surface mounted explosives in GoldenEye 007, and Xavier has even created versions of the other two devices, the Timed Mine and the Proximity Mine, seen above.
While Xavier’s replicas are winning the hearts and minds of GoldenEye fans online, he already has plans for the future.
‘For now, I only create replicas of mines from the movie and game, but I may begin working on a new prop replica in the next few months, which will be the door decoder seen in the GoldenEye’s opening scene’.
Xavier admits that the door decoder is a very niche subject for a replica, and it’s one that only hardcore GoldenEye movie fans may recognise as the artist muses that the door decoder is ‘not featured in the game, and it’s only seen for less than 3 seconds in the movie’.
