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[Shpeshal Nick]

Oh please no! I don't want to see this nonsense happen to games that I want to play. I don't want to collect toys, I have no use (nor room) for yet more clutter. It really puzzles me, this trend. People tend to complain a lot about locking parts of games behind DLC paywalls, yet there doesn't seem to be must resistance toward locking parts of game functionality behind physical figurines.

Because in the case of Disney Infinity and Skylanders (not amiibo though), the game is simply there to facilitate the figurines. You're not really buying the game for the game itself. You're buying the game to "activate" the figures and fulfill their purpose.

Nintendo have missed that boat. Their games were already planned and going to happen. Amiibos were shoehorned in, hence why they're so god damned useless.

If Microsoft does something similar, you'll find they'll go the Skylanders/Disney Infinity route and make some placeholder game to facilitate the existence of the toys. But they'll fail miserably because the Pinatas aren't characters anyone cares about owning. So Microsoft might be forced to actually make a genuinely good game to go with them. They don't have a large enough stable of worthy characters to go the amiibo route.

 

[LinkToTheFuture]

Is it an epidemia, the need to blindly go into a Rare thread and shit on Rare? As a Rare- and Sonic-fan I feel extremely annoyed by these dumb drive-by-postings.

Was just about to say the same thing. As if anyone here knows Rare's entire employee list and whether or not they have the potential to make a great game. Must have missed the memo that said only the old rare could make good games

 

[Shpeshal Nick]

Was just about to say the same thing. As if anyone here knows Rare's entire employee list and whether or not they have the potential to make a great game. Must have missed the memo that said only the old rare could make good games

Will people say the same thing about Naughty Dog in 10-15 years time? Plenty of people have left there in the last 2 years.

 

[Maxrunner]

I don't understand why anybody is getting excited for a new Rare game. Rare is a shell, of a shell, of its former self. Almost everybody who worked on games that were actually any good have left. All that's left are the dregs and people who were hired to create Kinect games. And if Rare is simply being used to dredge out old IPs, why would anyone be happy about that? Having familiar faces show up in a pile of garbage doesn't make for a fun experience, it's playing off the nostalgia of people who loved those IPs back when they were developed by a talented group of game developers. Rare is a different beast and it's better to let the cherished franchises of the past be remembered for what they were rather than being dug out of the ground and paraded around as sad, broken facsimiles of their former glory to make a quick buck. Let their tombstones stand proudly, marking their place in gaming history for those who were able to enjoy them and appreciated them for their time. Banjo is dead, Battletoads is dead, Perfect Dark is dead, Conker is dead, Rare is dead. It's better that way.

Yeah, i wonder why MS still hasn't closed the studio, they have closed others with more output than Rare under the Ms studios. They just outsource the IPS everyone wants. Killer instinct is probably one of the first, Battletoads probably being the second.

 

[Surface of Me]

Yeah, i wonder why MS still hasn't closed the studio, they have closed others with more output than Rare under the Ms studios. They just outsource the IPS everyone wants. Killer instinct is probably one of the first, Battletoads probably being the second.

I imagine not so much now, but they did almost all of the Avatar stuff by themselves and are known for helping other MS devs on the tech side of things.

 

[REMEMBER CITADEL]

They don't have a large enough stable of worthy characters to go the amiibo route.

I'd disagree with that, actually, but regardless, I just don't want any more toys in my life. I wouldn't be completely against that if they were to allow paying a fraction of the price to just unlock everything digitally, but that's not going to happen, so I'd rather Microsoft not go down that road at all.

 

[Steverulez]

Yeah, i wonder why MS still hasn't closed the studio, they have closed others with more output than Rare under the Ms studios. They just outsource the IPS everyone wants. Killer instinct is probably one of the first, Battletoads probably being the second.

Avatars and Kinect Sports made big money. Apps did well for them, PDZ and Kameo both sold over 1m, and they've done other tech stuff.

Im not sure how VP sold, first one did well and the second didn't? Banjo was obviously a bomb, dunno about Conker on Xbox...

A lot of their other studios (like Ensemble) were expensive to run, ran over budget and delayed their games lots. I don't think Rare has had the same problems in the 360 years, there was just a lot of management changes which caused cancellations etc. When they needed to "evolve" and be different they were and made a ton of money, now they need to "evolve" again and be different (because Kinect isn't so much a thing and KSR bombed) and they are.

I doubt MS will shutter many studios now with the whole AAA thing going on, it takes too much time and costs too much money to make new studios when they have a perfectly capable one, I suspect if their latest efforts whatever they are (Banjo? Battle toads? etc) are unsuccessful they will just make something completely different - more likely a more serious AAA new IP or something, go cinematic.

 

[LoganNotABoganYouKnowIt!!]

Because in the case of Disney Infinity and Skylanders (not amiibo though), the game is simply there to facilitate the figurines. You're not really buying the game for the game itself. You're buying the game to "activate" the figures and fulfill their purpose.

Yet you're still paying for the game.

It's like buying a game called "Mr Technology" where the base game is two 2 hour "data packages" and if you want more you'll have to buy some more "data packages" and fulfill their purpose of being downloadable and playable.

That's if you don't like figurines. If you do, then, hey, maybe you got your money's worth with the figurine alone, but I doubt these things would be selling as well if they weren't locking content or a character to play in a game. Other people don't want to be forced to pay for something they're not interested in taking up space, when there's a simpler option of having it be downloadable.

Then that price needs to be reasonable. Then maybe some kids will think "why am I paying for this when it's so much cheaper online?" Then the toys won't sell as well, so there will be less promotion, less awareness, less sales. Then, Mickey Mouse'll be crying what I hope will be tears of blood.

Or the two models could coexist as kids might not give a care. Maybe they'll make more money from people dissuaded from buying the game due to the figures, and in this reality, the tears Mickey cries won't be made of blood; they'll be made of joy.

Either way, options are good. Maybe not for Disney, but for people.

Disney Skylanders is a scam.

Love to you all. xx

 

[Sydle]

I imagine not so much now, but they did almost all of the Avatar stuff by themselves and are known for helping other MS devs on the tech side of things.

Looks like Microsoft is moving Avatar development to Redmond. Hopefully it was to free up resources at Rare to work on games.

 

[abadguy]

Will people say the same thing about Naughty Dog in 10-15 years time? Plenty of people have left there in the last 2 years.

Exactly. It can be said of any dev that has been around for over 20 years.

 

[Surface of Me]

Looks like Microsoft is moving Avatar development to Redmond. Hopefully it was to free up resources at Rare to work on games.

I didnt even think MS was still making Avatar stuff, it vanished from the limelight rather quickly in the grand scheme of things.

 

[MaverickHunterAsh]

A new, legit Banjo-Kazooie game is pretty much the one thing that could get me to buy an Xbox One, or at least find a friend's to borrow for as long as it takes me to 100% it.

Please let it be Banjo. He's been long overdue for a 3D platforming comeback.

 

[Yoshi]

A new, legit Banjo-Kazooie game is pretty much the one thing that could get me to buy an Xbox One, or at least find a friend's to borrow for as long as it takes me to 100% it.

Please let it be Banjo. He's been long overdue for a 3D platforming comeback.

Yeah, I hope Banjo-Threeie outsells the Xbox One ;D.

 

[Salty Hippo]

Kirkhope talked about Threeie yesterday on AGDQ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGV2nVaOnFw#t=5159

Very hard to extract anything, was expecting it to be more hinty. Either he was extra careful not to let anything slip or he doesn't actually know if a new game is in the works or not.

 

[synce]

Does anyone really have confidence in Rare anymore? I tried to play most of their recent games. PDZ, Kameo, even going back to Starfox Adventures. They were all really colorful and nice looking but the writing and more importantly the gameplay was GOD AWFUL. Like, completely unplayable. I never finished any of the games.

 

[Salty Hippo]

Does anyone really have confidence in Rare anymore? I tried to play most of their recent games. PDZ, Kameo, even going back to Starfox Adventures. They were all really colorful and nice looking but the writing and more importantly the gameplay was GOD AWFUL. Like, completely unplayable. I never finished any of the games.

Games released in 2002 and 2005 are recent?

And while I have no love for any of the games you mentioned, they are far from unplayable. Especially Kameo.

 

[Surface of Me]

Does anyone really have confidence in Rare anymore? I tried to play most of their recent games. PDZ, Kameo, even going back to Starfox Adventures. They were all really colorful and nice looking but the writing and more importantly the gameplay was GOD AWFUL. Like, completely unplayable. I never finished any of the games.

Kameo was fun, and their more recent titles were better than the ones you listed IMO. (Banjo and VP)

 

[Diddy Kong]

Kirkhope talked about Threeie yesterday on AGDQ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGV2nVaOnFw#t=5159

Very hard to extract anything, was expecting it to be more hinty. Either he was extra careful not to let anything slip or he doesn't actually know if a new game is in the works or not.

Doesn't sound like he knows of anything to me.

Pretty interesting that Rare thought Nintendo would be done with consoles after the Gamecube.

 

[pachuco]

Am I the only person who hopes this is a new IP?

 

[Elchele]

Does anyone really have confidence in Rare anymore? I tried to play most of their recent games. PDZ, Kameo, even going back to Starfox Adventures. They were all really colorful and nice looking but the writing and more importantly the gameplay was GOD AWFUL. Like, completely unplayable. I never finished any of the games.

Viva Piñata was superb. But pretty much everybody (relevant ones) left when they shifted to Kinect stuff, so its just a hollow name now

 

[Alx]

Am I the only person who hopes this is a new IP?

Nah, so do I. It's much more exciting to get something new. I think most people forget that many of the good Rare games were also interesting because they were new. Asking for sequels is saying "hey that game was really unique... now make another one like that !". I'd rather have another unique game.

 

[Regret Upon Approval]

Was just about to say the same thing. As if anyone here knows Rare's entire employee list and whether or not they have the potential to make a great game. Must have missed the memo that said only the old rare could make good games

Yeah, people can be pretty rough on Rare, makes me feel kinda bad for them.
Hopefully they get a chance to do a project they can give their best and something that lets them do something they've been itching to do.

The TV show actually came out before the game, so no. They expected it to be the next Pokémon, and it failed miserably.

I remember that show. I liked it.

 

[REMEMBER CITADEL]

Does anyone really have confidence in Rare anymore? I tried to play most of their recent games. PDZ, Kameo, even going back to Starfox Adventures. They were all really colorful and nice looking but the writing and more importantly the gameplay was GOD AWFUL. Like, completely unplayable. I never finished any of the games.

PDZ was not a great game for sure (although not awful either), but the rest of their Xbox 360 games were, including Kinect Sports, and there's nothing wrong with either their writing or gameplay. Kameo is one of my last gen favorites, just a superbly enjoyable game all around, once you get used to the strange controls. I liked it more than the first Banjo-Kazooie, so I guess I do have confidence in Rare.

 

[Chubzdoomer]

Rare hasn't been relevant or even made great games in forever, so I'm not really sure why so many people are excited about this.

 

[-MD-]

Rare hasn't been relevant or even made great games in forever, so I'm not really sure why so many people are excited about this.

It's the IP that most of us are interested in.

--

Also, at the time of release PDZ's multiplayer was incredible. I played it for months non stop.

 

[Yoshi]

Nah, so do I. It's much more exciting to get something new. I think most people forget that many of the good Rare games were also interesting because they were new. Asking for sequels is saying "hey that game was really unique... now make another one like that !". I'd rather have another unique game.

It's not really abolut uniqueness. Banjo-Kazooie was very similar to Super Mario 64 and later games like Super Mario Sunshine, Donkey Kong 64, Spyro (though it hurts to mention this shit-fest even in the same sentence as Banjo) and Vexx, but about being a fantastic game. Banjo-Kazooie is one of my all time favourite games and I think it has a near perfect sense of level design, feel and general gameplay (don't discuss camera controls here, I'm aware that these could easily be improved on today, still the camera worked quite well), so I want a sequel to this game, because it's from an extinct breed of games I particularly love and Rare have mastered this style of game over all other developers. That's why I want a new Banjo, not because it was so hugely unique. That would be something I'd say about Blast Corps, where I also want a sequel, but not as badly as for Banjo.

Regarding Rare's recent output: Considering Kameo is among my three favourite PS360 games, I can definitely say I'm confident in Rare. Even besides Kameo, since the Microsoft acquisition they've made a lot of games I had a lot of fun with: Banjo Grunty's Revenge, Banjo Pilot, Banjo Nuts & Bolts, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, Sabre Wulf, even the Pinatas was fun for me, even though I hate, hate, hate the simulation genre (and don't want another Pinata). Kinect Sports also was really well made, even though it's not my style of game. So Rare definitely is one of my most appreciated developers and if they were to make a game that fits my taste well, I'm sure it'll be among my favourite PS4/Bone games again.

 

[Prine]

PDZ multiplayer was good, it had really interesting ideas such as 3rd person cover, jetpacks (which was the first time I encountered this type of implementation ) inventive combat, for example I bought a jetpack l, riddled it with sticky mines, flew over to the enemy camp, planted the jetpack waltz back to our base, shortly our opponents approached us, with boobie trapped jetpack I requested all my team members to look up in the sky, pushed the switch and we all watched the fireworks. It was one of the few games that did 32 player matches including bots. I enjoyed it and would challenge anyone that said it was unplayable. I would have loved to see another but with a overhauled single player, because that was dissapointing.

Also, the king of reload animation is still PDZ

 

[Hubble]

I love Conker. It's amazing and one of the best games ever made imo. It was hilarious and an awesome platformer.

I suspect a Banjo type game since it's more rounded for the Xbox portfolio. They need to make it a third person platformer, and emulate exactly the Super Mario's. The Xbox is missing their Crash Bandicoot, Super Mario character and Banjo or Conker couldve been it.

I actually think all of Kameo and its element characters would've been the face of Xbox for a platformer and a perfect role. We all easily relate to all of the elements. It was a great game too. I wish they did make a sequel.

 

[Yoshi]

I love Conker. It's amazing and one of the best games ever made imo. It was hilarious and an awesome platformer.

I suspect a Banjo type game since it's more rounded for the Xbox portfolio. They need to make it a third person platformer, and emulate exactly the Super Mario's. The Xbox is missing their Crash Bandicoot, Super Mario character and Banjo or Conker couldve been it.

Emulate exactly Super Mario? Mario hasn't been a collectathon since Sunshine in 2002, since then they've completely changed directions to motor-skill based platforming. Which is fine, but not really fitting to Banjo.

 

[Salty Hippo]

Emulate exactly Super Mario? Mario hasn't been a collectathon since Sunshine in 2002, since then they've completely changed directions to motor-skill based platforming. Which is fine, but not really fitting to Banjo.

They need to strike the right balance between collectathon and platforming though. I, like you, adore the design of the first Banjo, but it doesn't hold up very well today. They need to evolve the formula in some way. I would throughly enjoy the game if it was just more of the same (more of B-K, not B-T), but I want the game to be well received by critics and people who never played Banjo before. And I feel like they need to take the original design and up it to another level for that to happen.

 

[SensibleSucker]

I love Conker. It's amazing and one of the best games ever made imo. It was hilarious and an awesome platformer.

I suspect a Banjo type game since it's more rounded for the Xbox portfolio. They need to make it a third person platformer, and emulate exactly the Super Mario's. The Xbox is missing their Crash Bandicoot, Super Mario character and Banjo or Conker couldve been it.

I actually think all of Kameo and its element characters would've been the face of Xbox for a platformer and a perfect role. We all easily relate to all of the elements. It was a great game too. I wish they did make a sequel.

I agree that they do need a 3rd person cartoony style platform IP. Sunset Overdrive ticked many of those boxes to an extent (despite being more shooter than platformer), but I still want to see a genuine 3rd person 3D platform game.

 

[Maxrunner]

Pretty interesting that Rare thought Nintendo would be done with consoles after the Gamecube.

What?

 

[Yoshi]

They need to strike the right balance between collectathon and platforming though. I, like you, adore the design of the first Banjo, but it doesn't hold up very well today. They need to evolve the formula in some way. I would throughly enjoy the game if it was just more of the same (more of B-K, not B-T), but I want the game to be well received by critics and people who never played Banjo before. And I feel like they need to take the original design and up it to another level for that to happen.

Of course I'm fine with improving the skill-based platforming, but Banjo should retain its identitiy and not copy Mario's new direction.

 

[Tntnico]

I want a Banjo-Kazooie sequel, a new adventure IP from Rare and a new adventure racer ala Diddy Kong Racing. And why not some smaller games from Rare ? They only released JetPac Refuelled on XBLA.

I definitely need more "Rare vibe" on today games. E3 can't come soon enough !

 

[radeonxt]

Kameo enchanted kingdom?

https://twitter.com/TheRealBeano/status/552399922428116993

 

[SEGAvangelist]

Kameo enchanted kingdom?

https://twitter.com/TheRealBeano/status/552399922428116993

That snippet is to small to say, really.

EDIT: Seems like a good guess, though.

 

[Yoshi]

Kameo enchanted kingdom?

https://twitter.com/TheRealBeano/status/552399922428116993

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C3m5Lno_20#t=26 ?
I'm not a music expert at all (just basic school-stuff), but the notes there let me instantly think of these four sounds in the Banjo intro.

 

[Sydle]

A huge year for Rare? I want to believe that means more than one game will be revealed and at least one of them is releasing this year.

 

[JonnyKong]

I'm always clinging onto the hope that 2 new games gets announced this year instead of just the one. Are Rare now officially a one game at a time type company like Retro? I seem to remember a new Rare game coming out on the N64 quite frequently.

I can't honestly decide if I'd prefer another Banjo or another Conker, I'd be excited for both. Just a 3d platformer in general would really please me.

And I would really love a sequel to Gemini, just to see what they could do with the Xbone's power behind it.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

I'd love a new Kameo. It's long overdue, but I just don't see it. It's probably a reference to Banjo or Grabbed by the Ghoulies.

Or maybe they've resurrected one of the many IP they had in the concept/planning stages before Kinect became their entire world?

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=707691

 

[SEGAvangelist]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C3m5Lno_20#t=26 ?
I'm not a music expert at all (just basic school-stuff), but the notes there let me instantly think of these four sounds in the Banjo intro.

The music is transcribed using 2 treble clef staves so it's likely not written for piano (treble + bass is traditional). Banjo music could be written in that way, but the second staff doesn't look like what you'd normally see for banjo music. The music is probably just written for multiple voices (instruments) read in treble clef and we're missing the other parts.

 

[MAX PAYMENT]

Does any member of the Rare we remember still work at the Rare we know today?

I'd think rare is just a company name, not the creative minds that made the classics.

 

[VinFTW]

Does any member of the Rare we remember still work at the Rare we know today?

I'd think rare is just a company name, not the creative minds that made the classics.

I think we get 1-2 of these posts per page now.

 

[JeffG]

Does any member of the Rare we remember still work at the Rare we know today?

I'd think rare is just a company name, not the creative minds that made the classics.

Yes, and there is no chance any of those people have any creativity. Only Ex-Rare staff are able to be creative.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

I think we get 1-2 of these posts per page now.

Yup. Obvious drive-by posts since these questions have been answered in this very thread.

 

[flkraven]

Yup. Obvious drive-by posts since these questions have been answered in this very thread.

And not just once.

 

[MAX PAYMENT]

Yes, and there is no chance any of those people have any creativity. Only Ex-Rare staff are able to be creative.

This is probably true.

I'm just saying people shouldn't be more excited because the studio is called "Rare"

 

[flak57]

This is probably true.

I'm just saying people shouldn't be more excited because the studio is called "Rare"

Creator of the Banjo IP is still there. He was lead designer on DKC1-2, BK1-2 (and N&B), and Viva Pinata. Next page someone else will ask this question again anyway though, lol.

 

[MAX PAYMENT]

Creator of the Banjo IP is still there. He was lead designer on DKC1-2, BK1-2 (and N&B), and Viva Pinata. Next page someone else will ask this question again anyway though, lol.

What would I do without you?
satisfy myself? Never.

 

[flkraven]

Chris Marlow is still there (joined in 1996)

Here is a list of the other people I found on Linkedin that are still at Rare in various roles that joined either 2001 or before. There are a couple of others from the mid-90s I'm pretty sure are still there, but not 100%. They list leaving school in mid-90s and Rare are their only employer mentioned but as I said, not 100% certain.

Robin Beanland – Head of Music – 1994 onwards
Gregg Mayles – Designer – 1989 onwards
Nick Burton – New Technology Development Lead – 1998 onwards
Louise Ridgeway – Art Director – 1999 onwards
Andy Wilson – Producer – 2000 onwards
Steve Mayles – Principal Artist – 1992 onwards
Peter Hentze – Lead Concept Artist – 2000 onwards
Ryan Stevenson – Senior Concept Artist – 2001 onwards
Dave Rose – Principal Environment Artist – 1997 onwards
Paul Cunningham – Assistant Art Director – 1995 onwards
Brent Poynton – Producer – 2001 onwards
James Thomas – Gameplay Engineer Supervisor – 2002 onwards
Gary Talbot – Animator – 2000 onwards
Huw Ward – Test Principal – 1983 onwards
David Wong – Senior Test Lead – 1997 onwards
Paul Machacek – Test Manager – 1988 onwards
Mark Wilson - Infrastructure Engineer - 1989 onwards
Andrew Betts - Principal Artist - 1996 onwards
Rich Cousins - Live Operations Manager - 2000 onwards
Justin Cook - Principle Designer - Joined in 1999, left in 2009 to BigBig then SEGA and came back in 2012

This list isn't taking into account anyone who might have left with these layoffs, of course...

Its not a big list, but longer than I thought it would be.

This post was quoted on the first page, but maybe we should compile them and requote at the top of each page.