Original GoldenEye director and producer Martin Hollis shares his views on Activision's Wii remake, as well as Nintendo's digital strategy...

Martin Hollis has had a plentifully colourful career. Hitting the big-time at Rare directing and producing GoldenEye and Perfect Dark, he graduated to work at Nintendo of America to consult on the then-in-development GameCube, before forming his own studio Zoonami, based in Cambridge.

Most recently, Zoonami released the well-received Bonsai Barber on WiiWare. Speaking to gamesindustry.biz, Hollis shared his thoughts on Nintendo's strategy when it came to its digital service.

Q: Why do you think that not as much attention is given to WiiWare? What's stopping people from seeing the quality that is there?

Hollis: That's a very good question. Apple have had such massive success in capturing media attention - they've sucked all of the air out of it. I don't know that Nintendo's putting a great deal of energy into trying to generate PR for WiiWare or DSiWare.

Q: Why do you think that is? Is there a conflict of interest? Are platform owners undermining the success of their own traditional retail model if they over publicise their digital download services, are they scared up upsetting traditional retail partners by doing so?

Hollis: I think that has to be true. I haven't seen any evidence of that, but that has to be true, surely? It has to be true that they're making so much money at retail, and helping their partners make money at retail, there has to be some kind of organisational inertia there.

But I see Mr Iwata pushing the organisation towards digital. He made a statement at some point this year, that he expected digital distribution to overtake retail in a few years, he put a date on it, but I can't recall it. But that's a very interesting statement, and to me that's Mr Iwata trying to push the organisation towards WiiWare.

Maybe $50 dollar games will always be at retail and the $10 and the $5 and the $1 dollar games will be available digitally. My supposition is that that's what they're hoping to be able to generate.

Moving onto the irresistible topic of the Eurocom-developed GoldenEye 007 remake set to hit Wii next month, Hollis expressed his uncertainty concerning the game.

"I did read that Mr Iwata asked them to innovate (GoldenEye) and they did do some new things with the control at Eurocom, and I think that's great. But my feelings when I heard about that... You have mixed feelings. It's inevitable. You see it as your baby.

"Even when they ask, do you want to be involved, and you say no, it's still something that's connected to you and to your personality and that you want to cherish somehow. So there's maybe some irritation, or insecurity that comes out of that. That someone else is running with that ball, but then again it is pleasing that it still has currency, that the name is still valued. And how how many games have been remade twice? Those kind of things are pleasing."

Do you think Hollis is right to be wary of Activision's remake? Sound off in the comments...