Original GoldenEye designer doubts Activision’s sincerity about wanting to do game justice

By Rhody Tobin by Sep 3rd, '10 at 9:36am CST

It seems that Activision is the new EA. Official Nintendo Magazine interviewed Martin Hollis, the designer of the original Nintendo 64 version of GoldenEye. In the interview, he talks about the making of the original game, but when asked what he thought about the upcoming Wii version, he was certainly skeptical about Activision’s motivation, and caustic about Activision in general.

I imagine it is a business decision isn’t it? This name is valuable, let’s use it. I find it hard to picture Activision’s top management being excited about the original and wanting to do it justice. In fact, I find it hard to imagine them being excited about any game. It’s my perception that they are trying to be EA, only more so. I think they are doing a fine job at that.

Oh, snap. He did, however, have nice things to say about Eurocom, the developers of the Wii version of the game.

I know and like Eurocom. I’m confident they have done their very best.

Official Nintendo Magazine

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Categories: Wii
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About the Author: Rhody Tobin

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  • marocel

    Yikes, this kinda changes my perspective on the game, honestly. I wonder if Activision is really just how he says they are; never excited about making ANY game. Hmm…. Anyone's thoughts?

    • http://www.TheTanooki.com Jason Leavey

      Regardless of if Activision is just out for profit, it’s pretty obvious from all the interviews that the game’s developer Eurocom is extremely passionate about the game. Between their own love of the original, to all the new updates, I think the game is going to deliver in a big way.

    • Adam Cancer

      Do you HAVE to be excited about making a game for it to be good? I'm sure it helps, but I'm pretty sure you can still make a quality game. They are getting paid to make a good game after all.

      • marocel

        Your right. Honestly, I can't wait for this game. Dude, give me your FC when you get it, and I'll give you mine. ;)

  • Shasta_McShasta

    I don't think they CAN do it justice. Goldeneye 64 was revolutionary on so many levels (body part-specific damage, elements of stealth, and transferring PC controls comfortably to consoles – on what might be the worst controller of all time, no less). Now we have a slew of first person shooters, each building off of the innovations of G64 and adding more. I just don't see the remake making a splash for anything more than nostalgia's sake.

    • JasonLeavey

      Agreed in a sense. But you have to remember that GoldenEye for N64 is nearly unplayable today. Believe me, I've tried. Everything we love about the game was great for its time, but FPS titles have improved so greatly that it is very hard to go back and enjoy playing a game like GoldenEye. That is why a remake is exactly what the game deserves. Even if it was just a straight port with “modern” controls between Classic Controller Pro support, and Wii Remote/ Nunchuk, and graphical improvements, it would still be a great way to keep the franchise and name alive. But Eurocom is really doing a whole lot more than that.

      • Adam Cancer

        No joke about trying to play old FPS games. Play something like Modern Warfare or Halo 3, then try to play the original Doom or GoldenEye for the 64 (The burning in your eyes will stop eventually). If you truly are a fan of GoldenEye, you should welcome the graphic update. At least your eyes will appreciate it ;-)

      • Shasta_McShasta

        You have a point. Yeah, they made it work (for the time) on the notorious three-handed controller, but I'd dearly love to play Goldeneye with updated controls. Maybe I'm the gaming equivalent of a hipster saying “Yeah, but their first album was the best, then they did something different and sold out”, but part of the allure of the original for me are its unique N64 quirks. Dunno how much I'd like the updated graphics and physics. But then, the answer to that is obviously “if the original is what you want, play the original.”

      • JasonLeavey

        Haha, we are all gaming hipsters. We don't want our childhood messed with. But you said it perfectly, if you want the original, it's still there to be played with. I just think it's great that the impossible is happening, and a new version of an incredible N64 game is coming out, in less than two months. Regardless of how good it ends up being, we're lucky as hell.

  • N64 Goldeneye Geek

    The “Updated” Goldeneye game is alright. It is not updated at all. Just the first level, the “Damn” scene. Everything else reminds me of Quantum of Solace game. I wish there were multiplayer levels (6). That is where the fun is at. Maybe remake the Original Goldeneye levels to all being multiplayer with better graphics. Activision did horribly with the remake of G.E. I wish I had the knowledge of making FPS games.