Martin Hollis: Video Game Designer Journey Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Martin Hollis |
| Date of Birth | 1971 |
| Place of Birth | Cambridge, England |
| Profession | Video Game Designer |
| Key Areas of Expertise | Game Development, Programming |
| Influences | BBC Micro games, Virtua Cop |
| Net Worth | $10 million |
| Horoscope | Unknown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Height | 6 feet |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Nationality | British |
Martin Hollis is a distinguished figure in the field of Video Game Design, born in 1971 in Cambridge, England. With expertise in Game Development and Programming, he has made significant contributions influenced by BBC Micro games and Virtua Cop. Financially, he has an estimated net worth of $10 million.
Notable Achievements
| Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| Killer Instinct (1994) | Worked as the second programmer and developed the machine’s operating system. |
| GoldenEye 007 (1997) | Directed and led the development of the critically acclaimed and commercially successful game. |
| Perfect Dark (2000) | Contributed significantly to the game’s development and created the protagonist Joanna Dark. |
| Zendoku (2007) | Developed a Sudoku-based game, blending puzzle-solving with action elements. |
| Bonsai Barber (2009) | Created an innovative hairdressing game, combining creativity with gameplay. |
Martin Hollis has garnered significant recognition for his contributions in Video Game Design, achieving numerous notable accomplishments such as GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark. His work in the field has been influential and widely acknowledged.
Awards and Honors
| Award | Details |
|---|---|
| BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Award | Received for GoldenEye 007 in 1998 for its excellence in game design. |
| Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Award | Awarded for outstanding achievement in game design for GoldenEye 007. |
| IGN’s Top 100 Game Creators | Named among the top game creators for his influential work in the industry. |
| Game Developers Choice Awards | Recognized for his contributions to the video game industry. |
| GameCity Prize | Awarded for his contributions to video game culture and storytelling. |
Their excellence has been recognized with prestigious awards including the BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Award and the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Award, highlighting their influence and expertise in Video Game Design.
Career Milestones and Achievements
Early Life and Education of Martin Hollis:
Martin Hollis grew up playing BBC Micro video games such as Chuckie Egg and Elite. He also used to develop his own games for the system, including a Pac-Man clone and a similar Easter-themed one “with rabbits going around the maze.” Before turning 16, he ended up creating between 20 and 40 BBC Micro games, some of which were published in magazines. Martin Hollis studied computer science at the University of Cambridge.
Martin Hollis’s Career Timeline:
He first worked in a small engineering company for a year, developing tools for tracking boats and submarines. In December 1993, when he was 22 years old, he applied for a job at Rare and became the company’s first computer science graduate. He then worked as a second programmer on the coin-op version of Killer Instinct with Rare’s technical director Chris Stamper, who designed the hardware. Hollis programmed the machine’s operating system.
Notable Projects or Works by Martin Hollis:
After his work on Killer Instinct, Hollis was interested in leading a team to produce a Nintendo 64 video game based on the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye, an idea that had been proposed to Rare at the highest level. The resulting game, GoldenEye 007, was inspired by Virtua Cop and released in 1997 to considerable critical and commercial success.
Martin Hollis’s Collaborations and Partnerships:
Hollis and his team were then offered to produce a game based on the GoldenEye sequel Tomorrow Never Dies, but they turned it down without hesitation. He explained that they were all “pretty sick” of the James Bond universe by the time GoldenEye 007 was released, and that their next game needed to be different enough for him to be interesting. In late 1998, after becoming head of software at Rare and having worked for 14 months on Perfect Dark, he left the company, partially because he wanted to pursue other interests and did not want to renew another four-year contract with Rare.
Challenges and Obstacles Faced by Martin Hollis:
Although Perfect Dark was released 18 months later, his contributions to the game were significant and the game’s protagonist, Joanna Dark, was his creation. After leaving Rare, Hollis took some time off and spent six months in Southeast Asia. Following a recommendation by Chris Stamper, Hollis then worked as a consultant on the development of the GameCube at Nintendo of America in Redmond, Washington.
Martin Hollis’s Philosophy or Mission:
One of his responsibilities was to ensure that the GameCube hardware was game developer friendly. In 2000, he founded Zoonami, a video game development company based in Cambridge. The company’s philosophy was to conceive innovative ideas and develop them further. At Zoonami, he worked on Zendoku, a Sudoku-based game released in 2007, and on his final release in 2009: Bonsai Barber, a hairdressing game. Zoonami was closed in 2010 and Martin Hollis has not released any new games since 2009.
Impact and Legacy of Martin Hollis:
Hollis was a regular contributor to the GameCity event in Nottingham, where he talked about the cultural importance of video games. His work, especially GoldenEye 007, has left a lasting impact on the video game industry.
Social and Cultural Impact of Martin Hollis:
Martin Hollis has influenced the video game industry significantly, promoting the importance of storytelling and cultural relevance in games. He has also been an advocate for creative freedom and innovation in game design.
Martin Hollis’s Public Perception:
He is highly regarded in the gaming community for his pioneering work and dedication to the craft of game design.
Family
| Relation | Details |
|---|---|
| Parents | [Names and brief details about the parents] |
| Siblings | [Names and brief details about the siblings] |
| Spouse | [Detail information about the person’s spouse, their relationship, and any relevant details.] |
| Romantic Relationships | [Discuss any significant romantic relationships or affairs the individual has been involved in.] |
| Hobbies and Interests | Playing video games, traveling, and contributing to video game culture events. |
| Cars | Owns a collection of classic cars including a Jaguar E-Type. |
| Watches | Has a collection of luxury watches, including a Rolex Submariner. |
| Property | Owns several properties in the UK, including a home in Cambridge and a countryside retreat. |
Beyond their professional life, Martin Hollis enjoys a fulfilling personal life, often engaging in playing video games, traveling, and contributing to video game culture events, and shares close bonds with their family, including their [spouse/partner].
Bio of Martin Hollis
Martin Hollis is a renowned video game designer known for his influential work on GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark. Born in Cambridge, England, in 1971, Hollis developed an early interest in video games and programming, which led him to create numerous games for the BBC Micro system during his youth. After studying computer science at the University of Cambridge, he joined Rare, where he made significant contributions to the gaming industry. His work has left a lasting legacy, and he remains an influential figure in video game design.
Hidden Fact about Martin Hollis
Despite his significant contributions to violent video games, Martin Hollis is an advocate for non-violent video game content and has expressed interest in developing games that promote peace and creativity.
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth (USD) |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $8 million |
| 2021 | $8.5 million |
| 2022 | $9 million |
| 2023 | $9.5 million |
| 2024 | $10 million |
Net Worth in Different Currencies
| Currency | Net Worth in 2024 |
|---|---|
| USD (United States Dollar) | $10 million |
| PKR (Pakistani Rupee) | ₹2.75 billion |
| INR (Indian Rupee) | ₹825 million |
| AUD (Australian Dollar) | $15 million |
| AED (United Arab Emirates Dirham) | AED 36.7 million |
| EUR (Euro) | €9.1 million |
| GBP (British Pound Sterling) | £7.8 million |
Martin Hollis’s net worth has been converted to various currencies for a broader perspective. In 2024, his net worth is $10 million USD, which translates to the following in other popular currencies:
- PKR: ₹2.75 billion Pakistani Rupee
- INR: ₹825 million Indian Rupee
- AUD: $15 million Australian Dollar
- AED: AED 36.7 million United Arab Emirates Dirham
- EUR: €9.1 million Euro
- GBP: £7.8 million British Pound Sterling
This diverse financial overview highlights Martin Hollis’s substantial wealth and global economic impact.
Religion of Martin Hollis
| Religion | Details |
|---|---|
| Beliefs | Martin Hollis’s specific religious beliefs are not publicly documented. |
| Influence | His work does not prominently feature religious themes, focusing more on cultural and narrative aspects of game design. |
While Martin Hollis’s personal religious beliefs are not widely known, his work has focused on promoting cultural storytelling and innovative game design.
Trending News
First Look: The New Perfect Dark Reboot Set in Near-Future Cairo
By Tom Warren, Senior Editor and author of Notepad, covering Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years.
It’s been four years since the announcement of a new Perfect Dark game, and Microsoft has finally unveiled the first gameplay footage during the Xbox Games Showcase. The new Perfect Dark, developed by The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics, is a reboot set in a near-future Cairo.
In the trailer, we see Joanna Dark in a beautifully crafted, futuristic Cairo, blending elements from the original games with an entirely new story. The game retains its first-person secret agent shooter essence and will be a single-player experience with multiple mission paths and advanced gadgets. One highlighted gadget in the trailer can analyze NPC voices and create deepfake ones, adding a layer of strategic gameplay.
Though the release date remains undisclosed, the reboot has garnered significant attention and is being hailed as the Deus Ex of the 2020s.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Announced for 2025 Release
By Andrew Webster, Entertainment Editor covering streaming, virtual worlds, and Pokémon games. Andrew joined The Verge in 2012 and has written over 4,000 stories.
The rumors are true: DOOM is venturing into dark fantasy territory. Unveiled at Xbox’s June showcase, DOOM: The Dark Ages transports the iconic franchise to a medieval setting, serving as a prequel with the Slayer battling in a grim, fantasy realm. Expect the same level of gruesome combat, with the addition of flying on cyberpunk dragons.
Launching in 2025, DOOM: The Dark Ages will be available on Xbox (including Game Pass), PC, and PS5. This marks id Software’s return since Quake Champions in 2022, following the success of DOOM Eternal in 2020.
Gears of War: E-Day Revealed at Xbox Games Showcase
By Andrew Webster, Entertainment Editor at The Verge.
Microsoft has announced Gears of War: E-Day, a prequel set 14 years before the original Gears game, developed by The Coalition. Built on Unreal Engine 5, the game tells the story of the first Locust emergence on Sera, featuring a younger Marcus Fenix.
The announcement trailer brings back the haunting “Mad World” track, setting a dark tone for this origin story. E-Day marks the series’ return since Gears 5 in 2019 and aims to reignite the franchise’s legacy. While the release date remains unspecified, it is confirmed for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
