Still hoping for Goldeneye on Virtual Console? Rare may have put a downer on your weekend...

Ever since the Wii launched alongside its Virtual Console service, speculation has been intense on the question of whether N64 classic Goldeneye 007 would make an encore appearence for Nintendo gamers. With original developers Rare now part of the Microsoft family, Nintendo still holding publishing rights of the game and 3rd party publisher Activision having ownership of the Bond name, the topic of re-releasing the game on any service has been something of a legal minefield.

Now though, Rare has spoken out with a statement that may at last bring us final closure on Goldeneye.

"That was some time ago, my friend. Fate was against us that day. Destiny conspired to raise the hurdles even as we attempted to clear them, resulting in unpleasant groinal injury. I suspect we're long past the stage where an agreement was on the cards, but you never know. Stranger things have happened� somewhere� probably."

That statment was also referring to a possibility of a release on Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade service, so it looks like no-one will be getting the game at any point in the realistic future.

Would you be disappointed with no Goldeneye re-release on VC or XBLA? Or is it always better to dig an N64 out?