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Ed Bryan (artist on Banjo-Kazooie, DK64, Viva Pinata) joins Playtonic Games

Camjo-Z

Camjo-Z

Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,504


With this addition Playtonic now has every character artist from the Banjo games under their employ! Dr. Puzz was my favorite character from Yooka-Laylee so I'll be excited to see more of his designs, though I think we can all agree his talent is being wasted if they don't make him a voice actor.

 
Star-Lord

Star-Lord

Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,781
Camjo-Z said:


With this addition Playtonic now has every character artist from the Banjo games under their employ! Dr. Puzz was my favorite character from Yooka-Laylee so I'll be excited to see more of his designs, though I think we can all agree his talent is being wasted if they don't make him a voice actor.

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No way that's awesome to hear!
 
Arta

Arta

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
8,445
They need someone on their staff to tell them that the grunts and squeaks for voicework isn't cute and needs to be thrown out the window for some actual voiceover.
 
OP
OP
Camjo-Z

Camjo-Z

Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,504
Arta said:
They need someone on their staff to tell them that the grunts and squeaks for voicework isn't cute and needs to be thrown out the window for some actual voiceover.
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Zalman

Zalman

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Oct 25, 2017
5,896
It's amazing how much former Rare talent they've managed to get together. I would love to see what they could do with a bigger budget.
 
DarkStream

DarkStream

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Oct 27, 2017
623
Fuck yeah. The impossible lair has proven their abilities after the rough first game.
Can't wait for the next game.
 

Deleted member 2254

user requested account closure
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Oct 25, 2017
21,467
Microsoft and Rare should just make a contract with them to build an official Banjo game. They have the interest and skills to do it, and obviously Rare is interested in exploring new IPs and ideas rather than going back to the stuff they were doing 20 years ago. This way you could please everyone: PlayTonic can stop building pretend-Banjo games and do the official ones instead (plus that Microsoft money comes in handy for sure), Rare can still make innovative games without people bugging them for going back to their roots, Microsoft gets to satisfy nostalgic gamers, and fans get a great Banjo game judging by the two YL games so far. It seems like such an obvious way to solve all the issues around Banjo and other historic Rare franchises.
 
PersianPrince

PersianPrince

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Feb 12, 2019
1,655
I wonder if they will go back to making a 3D platformer again (Yooka-Laylee 2?) Based on their feedback of the first game. They have potential to make a game even better than Banjo-Kazooie!
 
Algorum

Algorum

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FairyEmpire said:
Microsoft and Rare should just make a contract with them to build an official Banjo game. They have the interest and skills to do it, and obviously Rare is interested in exploring new IPs and ideas rather than going back to the stuff they were doing 20 years ago. This way you could please everyone: PlayTonic can stop building pretend-Banjo games and do the official ones instead (plus that Microsoft money comes in handy for sure), Rare can still make innovative games without people bugging them for going back to their roots, Microsoft gets to satisfy nostalgic gamers, and fans get a great Banjo game judging by the two YL games so far. It seems like such an obvious way to solve all the issues around Banjo and other historic Rare franchises.
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Yes, yes and YESSS.
 

SpokkX

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
2,495
FairyEmpire said:
Microsoft and Rare should just make a contract with them to build an official Banjo game. They have the interest and skills to do it, and obviously Rare is interested in exploring new IPs and ideas rather than going back to the stuff they were doing 20 years ago. This way you could please everyone: PlayTonic can stop building pretend-Banjo games and do the official ones instead (plus that Microsoft money comes in handy for sure), Rare can still make innovative games without people bugging them for going back to their roots, Microsoft gets to satisfy nostalgic gamers, and fans get a great Banjo game judging by the two YL games so far. It seems like such an obvious way to solve all the issues around Banjo and other historic Rare franchises.
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This would not be a bad idea for imo

With their current budgets Playtonic will never make a "modern" Banjo with animation like Luigis Mansion 3

With MS budget they absolutely could (with outsourcing etc)
 
SunBroDave

SunBroDave

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Oct 25, 2017
13,143
Impossible Lair is no joke one of the best games of the year. Super excited to see what they do next
 
Velezcora

Velezcora

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It would be cool to see what Playtonic could do with some Nintendo cash. Like the old times when Rare worked with Nintendo. Could get some western exclusives under their belt. Microsoft would also be a good choice but I think Nintendo probably understands their vision a lot more than MS does.
 
watkinzez

watkinzez

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Oct 25, 2017
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Straya mate
I recall Ed being a bit down in his tweets after being laid off from his job making children's storybook apps, so I'm glad he's found his feet again.
 
GJ

GJ

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Oct 25, 2017
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Funny, I think Dr. Puzz is by far the worst design in Yooka-Laylee and it doesn't fit with the rest of the cast at all. I'm sure he can come up with great designs though. I'm excited for their next project!
 
Fuchsia

Fuchsia

Member
Oct 28, 2017
6,640
FairyEmpire said:
Microsoft and Rare should just make a contract with them to build an official Banjo game. They have the interest and skills to do it, and obviously Rare is interested in exploring new IPs and ideas rather than going back to the stuff they were doing 20 years ago. This way you could please everyone: PlayTonic can stop building pretend-Banjo games and do the official ones instead (plus that Microsoft money comes in handy for sure), Rare can still make innovative games without people bugging them for going back to their roots, Microsoft gets to satisfy nostalgic gamers, and fans get a great Banjo game judging by the two YL games so far. It seems like such an obvious way to solve all the issues around Banjo and other historic Rare franchises.
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I've been thinking this for a long time. Makes perfect sense!
 
Weiss

Weiss

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Oct 25, 2017
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Give us Yooka Laylee Racing.

Or better yet, Indie Karting All-Stars.
 
Vinc

Vinc

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Oct 25, 2017
7,387
Congrats to Ed and Playtonic! Glad to see they're still expanding and doing well. Even though I backed it, I didn't enjoy Yooka-Laylee 1 all that much. I still had fun with it, but it just wasn't all that great to me.

Impossible Lair, on the other hand, was incredible and I loved every minute of it. One of my favorite games this gen without a doubt. I really, really want a sequel. Preferably a dark-toned one similar to DKC2. I'm still chasing the feelings that game is able to give me.
 
Byronic Hero

Byronic Hero

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Oct 27, 2017
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At this point, seems like the only people they're missing from back in the day are the Stamper brothers at this point. Rare 2.0 in full force. Can't wait to see what they do next.
 
StarPhlox

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Oct 25, 2017
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I was lukewarm on Impossible Lair as the first but ended up having an incredible time and went for 100% over the weekend (not including the ludicrous no-bee challenge). Easily one of my favorites of the year and I now want to go back to play the original.
 

Deleted member 7148

Oct 25, 2017
6,827
Great news. I love Playtonic and can't wait to see what they do next. Impossible Lair is one of my favorite games this year and the original Yooka Laylee is underrated as hell.
 
Bomblord

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Camwi said:
As someone with two daughters who love Yooka-Laylee and can't read yet, I agree.
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When I was barely able to read I once annoyed my grandma who was babysitting me because I kept stopping her from mowing the yard to come in and read all of Gruntilda's snippets to me as I was walking around the Banjo Kazooie hub world.
 
big_z

big_z

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Nov 2, 2017
7,794
Three way partnership between Nintendo, Microsoft and Playtonic would be cool.

Bomblord said:
Nah they'll make a Kinect 3 bird game.
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Nah the force at Microsoft pushing Kinect is no longer there. The studios are free to make what they want.


Phantom said:
Hire Chris Seavor next and do a next-gen Conker game
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He loves the character and a sequel was fully designed out apparently but I'm not sure he wants to work in it anymore.
 
Phantom

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big_z said:
Three way partnership between Nintendo, Microsoft and Playtonic would be cool.



Nah the force at Microsoft pushing Kinect is no longer there. The studios are free to make what they want.




He loves the character and a sequel was fully designed out apparently but I'm not sure he wants to work in it anymore.
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Pretty sure he would say yes given the chance. It's his magnum opus.
 
Pryme

Pryme

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Aug 23, 2018
8,164
FairyEmpire said:
Microsoft and Rare should just make a contract with them to build an official Banjo game. They have the interest and skills to do it, and obviously Rare is interested in exploring new IPs and ideas rather than going back to the stuff they were doing 20 years ago. This way you could please everyone: PlayTonic can stop building pretend-Banjo games and do the official ones instead (plus that Microsoft money comes in handy for sure), Rare can still make innovative games without people bugging them for going back to their roots, Microsoft gets to satisfy nostalgic gamers, and fans get a great Banjo game judging by the two YL games so far. It seems like such an obvious way to solve all the issues around Banjo and other historic Rare franchises.
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Their 'spiritual successor' to Banjo was critically panned and sold relatively poorly.
 
daTRUballin

daTRUballin

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Oct 25, 2017
3,139
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Byronic Hero said:
Wow, I genuinely didn't realize both Mayles don't work for Playtonic. I incorrectly assumed they both left Rare to start it up. I stand corrected, they're missing 3 of the big names from back in the day.
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You're still missing probably about a hundred more.

Playtonic doesn't represent old Rareware at large. Only really the Banjo team. Quite a few are even still at Rare.

Phantom said:
Hire Chris Seavor next and do a next-gen Conker game
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Why would Seavor need to collaborate with the former Banjo team at Playtonic when he would probably need to collaborate with Rare who still have some key members from the Conker team working there (Robin Beanland, Chris Marlow, Louise O' Connor)?
 
Username-required

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Sep 29, 2019
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Pryme said:
Their 'spiritual successor' to Banjo was critically panned and sold relatively poorly.
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But that game was done on a relatively small budget and timeframe. With rare and MS input they would have more money, bigger team, much more recognised character and also can use the the feedback from YL (which is really underrated in my opinion) to make a solid Banjo game.
 
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