So what the hell happened to Rare???

[Guden Oden]

Mucho hoopla for a short while when MS bought them up, and that was quite a while ago now. After that they released one title which did not cause any stir at all really and seems to be pretty universally regarded as non-spectacular from most respects.

What else are those guys in Twycross busy cooking up? When will anything be released??? Seems even Nintendo got tired of Rare's constant over-cooking of every pot they ever put on the stove, wonder how long it will take for MS to lose patience.

They'd better release something big, and soon, because right now they've just about completely lost their reputation as a triple-A software house. They haven't released anything innovative or highly acclaimed in years. Hell, they've barely released ANYTHING in years - not that they were very productive to begin with.

Is Rare a has-been, or are they just too damn secretive for their own good?

 

[Evil_Cloud]

I believe this is Joanna Dark (check those lips & dot ), so I think Rare will come up with some nice titles. They have been recruiting people for months last year.

 

[Paul]

Expect an Xbox2 game as it's late for them to come up with an Xbox one, unless it's going to come very late in the Xbox's life.

 

[hey69]

maybe very late in the Xbox 2's life.

 

[Guden Oden]

There's still 1.5 years of XBox life left at minimum. If that is not enough for Rare they're just plain incompetent... When were they sold to MS anyway?

 

[DeathKnight]

Kameo and Conker are their last two games for the Xbox. Perfect Dark is likely slipping to Xbox 2.

 

[Qroach]

Guden Oden,

Was this more of a thread designed to rip Rare? Or were you actually looking for new information. Judging by what you wrote, it didn't seem like you were looking all that hard.

http://www.mundorare.com

http://www.rare-extreme.com/?sectio...grand_tour.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The door slid open and I was confronted with a lengthy corridor lined either side with large cubicles. This is the heart and soul of Rare, and is where the main development of each game takes place. The barn we were investigating was mainly focused on developing Kameo, and it became clearly evident that Kameo was indeed close to completion for the Xbox. The last two partitioned areas of the corridor housed Catherine, my friendly savoir from the earlier bus fiasco. Noticing there was an entire section beyond a flight of stairs, I enquired whether we were allowed to venture upstairs. I received a firm no. Something told me one very special title was hidden away…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When asked about Killer Instinct 3, Jet force Gemini and Rare’s rumoured MMONRPG, our guides response basically revealed that if a character is established, there is always chance of it re-appearing in the future… a notion we can attribute to Killer Instinct quite strongly…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The tour guide returned and I again drilled him with questions. I enquired as to how many games Rare would publish in 2004, and Rare confirmed that at least 3 titles would be on shelve stores by December. The guide was reluctant to speculate how many titles of these were either for the Xbox or GBA, but noted that it would be a combination of both.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's not that hard to keep up to date on rare if that's what you really want. happy now?

 

[Guden Oden]

Was this more of a thread designed to rip Rare?

Not really, though I guess me pointing out the lack of released titles on their part could be construded as - valid - criticism. They were damn slow developers even when working for Nintendo, and towards the end what they produced wasn't even very good.

Of the games they released after Goldeneye I only really enjoyed Banjo-Kazooie, and even that game had flaws. I mean, hyping the game with the code-name "dream", and then it turns out the main protagonist is a stupid redneck bear from the deep south whose major utterances is limited to "ga-huck!" and similar noises... One could blame Nintendo for the overly kiddified games Rare put out I guess, but I think a large portion of the blame must be placed at Rare too.

Or were you actually looking for new information. Judging by what you wrote, it didn't seem like you were looking all that hard.

You know, I don't really keep track of all the million of Rare fansites out there... After all why should I, it was like half a decade since they released a game I truly enjoyed.

it became clearly evident that Kameo was indeed close to completion

I sure hope this was snipped from a recent article, and not posted around this time LAST year... That would be typical of Rare, even slight delays extending into 6-8 months of extra development time. Maybe MS can hold them on a tighter leash, thus preventing release dates slipping to such an extreme degree as was the norm when they were collaborating with Nintendo. While fine wine gets better with age, the same isn't neccessarily the case with games. Sometimes it just seems it is a lack of vision and direction during development, and this was quite apparent with Rare. Pretty much every game involved jumping from platforms collecting weird sh!t; little aliens, honeycombs, spirits, bananas of every color of the rainbow, etc etc.

Time for a new formula, hopefully there will be NO collecting weird sh!t in Kameo, or I'd be mighty upset (had I owned a Box that is).

It's not that hard to keep up to date on rare if that's what you really want. happy now?

Well, informing myself is only half of the fun. The other comes from discussing the subject on a message board!

 

[Qroach]

Time for a new formula, hopefully there will be NO collecting weird sh!t in Kameo, or I'd be mighty upset (had I owned a Box that is).

So you don't own an xbox then? why would you care about what rare is doing (while complaining about them) if you don't own an xbox? That's sure a lot of ranting and complaining about rare as a company without anyone really asking for your thoughts on that subject. It just seems went a little out of your way to complain about them that's all.

Anyway, I don't agree with everything you've written, but I'm not going to bother arguing as it's merely opinion.

 

[cthellis42]

Just recently on MagicBox:

- Rare mentioned they will release at least three new Xbox titles in US by December 2004, the three game titles will also appear on GameBoy Advance.

 

[Ali-G]

Rare mentioned they will release at least three new Xbox titles in US by December 2004

They were originally supposed to have 5 games out for XBox by mid 2004 AFAIR. Its no suprise to me that its already dropped to 4 games by the end of 2004. Anyone want to bet against more delays?

 

[cybamerc]

cthellis42:

> Just recently on MagicBox:

- Rare mentioned they will release at least three new Xbox titles in US by December 2004, the three game titles will also appear on GameBoy Advance.

Whoever posted that can't read. It's (at least) three titles in total. Probably 2 for GBA and 1-2 for Xbox.

 

[Guden Oden]

So you don't own an xbox then? why would you care about what rare is doing (while complaining about them) if you don't own an xbox?

Never you mind why I care, hon!

That's sure a lot of ranting and complaining about rare as a company without anyone really asking for your thoughts on that subject.

Actually, I don't really care wether you want my opinion or not, sweetie. I don't need your permission to express my views on any subject.

Anyway, I don't agree with everything you've written, but I'm not going to bother arguing as it's merely opinion.

Then why did you bother to reply at all? You barely said anything that wasn't impolite, pointless or both.


If you'd asked in a nice way why I asked about Rare, I'd have told you it was out of pure curiosity. They were a major publisher once after all, and held to very high regard. These days they've been so quiet, and the one title they did release disappeared very quickly without making much of a splash at all. I just wanted to know where they went and what they're doing now, that's it. That I bitch some about how slow they are shouldn't be a surprise to anyone because they ARE slow, and the game design in their last few Nintendo titles sucks as well, most of their titles were basically Mario or Zelda rip-offs. Why shouldn't I be allowed to say that when it's TRUE?

Now I think YOU should stop whining, because while I whine about things that have a basis in reality, you whine about me whining, which is rather pathetic. You're not friends with people working at Rare and feel offended on their behalf or something like that, hm?

 

[Qroach]

Then why did you bother to reply at all? You barely said anything that wasn't impolite, pointless or both.

I certainly wasn't rude, I just asked a question. Why did I reply? I replied because I was interested in your reasons for creating the thread to begin with. It seemed a bit more like bait for an argument, then someone asking a real question. I wasn't interested in your views on rare as I simply don't agree with what the majoirty of hardcore nintendo fans have said about them since the sale. On that issue, I've argued more than enough aroudn here.

If you'd asked in a nice way why I asked about Rare, I'd have told you it was out of pure curiosity.

I did ask in a nice way, and put my reasons for asking. Anyway, like I said before, if you were interested in rare you could have found the information out instead of throwing in a rant about it. Your first post doesn't seem like you were really asking, it seemed mor elike a question trying to hide a flame regarding Rare. I'm just telling you what your post looked like, but I'm not taking the bait into arguing opinions of Rare any futher, as it's completly pointless.

Also, you say you were "curious" about Rare, but you didn't bother to check the links I posted to see if that information was recent (and it was). So, why didn't you check the links I posted to see how current the information was if you were really curious about Rare?

Now I think YOU should stop whining, because while I whine about things that have a basis in reality, you whine about me whining, which is rather pathetic.

I wouldn't call your opinion of Rare a "reality". I don't think what you wrote is even close to reality IMO. I'm not whining here, I asked you a straight question, yet your answer doesn't seem to jive with what you were saying. If you were curious about rare, why didn't you have a look at the links I posted to see if that information I quoted was recent?

You're not friends with people working at Rare and feel offended on their behalf or something like that, hm?

You wouldn't have any idea who I'm friends with. I even have a friend (that I haven't spoken to in ages) that works for Nintendo of Japan, he worked on Pikmin btw. The game industry is a lot smaller than you think.

 

[Goldni]

Well I think many of us old long time Rare Ninty fans hit the nail on the head way back when the Rare MS buyout took place that it'd be a long while before XB fans would be seeing any games on XB. I remember arguing with ppl on net forums about the "spring 2003" release BS Rare and MS was putting out. Did'nt happen. I also remember arguing about how Rare's games would be accepted by the PC heavy and casual heavy XB fanbase. The old RAre is a memory as we know it. Too many ppl have now shifted to other companies. Yet it is a good sign that they are still hiring. I still have 'some' hope for them. But it'll be hard too regain thier days of glory back on the N64.

 

[Brimstone]

Well I think many of us old long time Rare Ninty fans hit the nail on the head way back when the Rare MS buyout took place that it'd be a long while before XB fans would be seeing any games on XB. I remember arguing with ppl on net forums about the "spring 2003" release BS Rare and MS was putting out. Did'nt happen. I also remember arguing about how Rare's games would be accepted by the PC heavy and casual heavy XB fanbase. The old RAre is a memory as we know it. Too many ppl have now shifted to other companies. Yet it is a good sign that they are still hiring. I still have 'some' hope for them. But it'll be hard too regain thier days of glory back on the N64.

According to the http://www.rare-extreme.com article, plans are in the works to expand the Rare campus.

Interestingly, our tour guide explained that due to the Microsoft acquisition, there were plans to construct an additional development barn in the near future. A move of this scale clearly indicates how rapidly Rare as a developer is growing. An extra development barn means an additional two development teams, and with plans to expand Rare so drastically in the near future it becomes obvious at how committed Rare are to the Xbox and Microsoft’s next generation hardware.

 

[Guden Oden]

It's a little weird though that Rare goes straight from being a Nintendo lapdog to being a MS slave instead... One would think if they felt restricted by Nintendo, what's to stop them from feeling restricted when they again work with just one console manufacturer?

Besides, they're intentionally limiting their market reach... One reason EA is as big as they are is the multi-platform approach.

 

[Qroach]

It's a little weird though that Rare goes straight from being a Nintendo lapdog to being a MS slave instead...

What exactly is giving you the impression they are a "MS Slave"? MS isn't forcing Rare to use specific characters or make specific types games AFAIK. It sounds like recent articles seem to think Rare is doing fine and even expanding.

Also, one thing I just though of. A lot of people think MS over paid for Rare, but did anyone bother to ask if the land and buildings were included in that purchase? That alone could be worth a few hundred million.

 

[Brimstone]

It's a little weird though that Rare goes straight from being a Nintendo lapdog to being a MS slave instead... One would think if they felt restricted by Nintendo, what's to stop them from feeling restricted when they again work with just one console manufacturer?

Besides, they're intentionally limiting their market reach... One reason EA is as big as they are is the multi-platform approach.

The ownership situation is different now isn't it? Nintendo owned half and the Stamper brothers owned the other half. Now Microsoft owns RARE 100%, which makes things different for the workers. So as Microsoft does well as a corporation, so do all the workers at RARE.

No one is forced to work at RARE. If they don't like, they can pack their bags and leave. Microsoft didn't become one of the most powerful companies on the planet by treating its workers like dirt (slaves). On the other hand, from what I've read, Japanese companies aren't that pleasant to work for: Underpaid and overworked is the theme I've read about most Japanese game makers. Maybe Nintendo's cultural attitude towards work ethics played a role in the selling of RARE.

 

[Guden Oden]

What exactly is giving you the impression they are a "MS Slave"?

Overreacting a bit, aren't we? I didn't see you saying anything about me calling them Nintendo's lapdog. Jesus man, it's just a figure of speech, calm down.

Also, one thing I just though of. A lot of people think MS over paid for Rare, but did anyone bother to ask if the land and buildings were included in that purchase?

I seem to remember they (meaning MS) bought up Nintendo's Rare stock, so that should mean they own at least part of the infrastructure too. Are the Stampers still majority shareholders?