Next to Mojang, it does sound a bit much.
We know how much MS paid for Rare, Mojang and Zenimax, but how about the other acquisitions like Compulsion, inXiles, etc? It's apublich company so surely that info much be accessible somehow?
On this day in 2002, Microsoft purchased Rare for $375 million. It almost turned into a disaster. Today, Rare is one of the most successful studios.
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Next to Mojang, it does sound a bit much.
We know how much MS paid for Rare, Mojang and Zenimax, but how about the other acquisitions like Compulsion, inXiles, etc? It's apublich company so surely that info much be accessible somehow?
I don't think what was on the poster's mind. I saw some reply on the first page questioning how can Rare be successful if their recent games weren't up to that poster's liking, which doesn't make any sense. I think that was EBomb's point.
Weirdly, I think Rare could probably succeed in today's Activision. At least as much as a studio like Vicarious Visions. I doubt they'd get to do new IP like Sea of Thieves or Everwild, but they'd probably be doing Banjo and Conker remasters and/or new games in those series, just as Vicarious found success with Tony Hawk and Crash remasters.
I don't see how you go from industry leading titles such as the DKC series, Killer Instinct and then an INSANE amount of output in the 64 era (Golden Eye, Perfect Dark, Banjo, Jet Force Gemini, Blast Corps, etc.) to the paltry offerings we've gotten up until Sea of Thieves and call it one of the most successful studios.
Emphatically disagree with the OP's title. What happened to Rare was damn near a tragedy for one of my favorite studios. Just recently have they been turning it around but that original talent and leadership is long gone.
Emphatically disagree with the OP's title. What happened to Rare was damn near a tragedy for one of my favorite studios. Just recently have they been turning it around but that original talent and leadership is long gone.
Because one game doesn't make for "one of the most successful studios".
Nuts and Bolts was fucking brilliant. In my eyes the only dud they ever made was perfect dark zero. Everything else they made I can feel the heart and personality in.
Sea of Thieves is a big success for Microsoft, but Rare was industry defining in the N64 days. We'll see what happens.
I've played a few Xbox-era Rare games and I've liked none of them. Kameo felt pretty gimmicky with how powers work and the combat wasn't very good. Nuts and Bolts is a game that becomes a bunch of boring vehicle-based fetch quests if you don't have the creativity needed to screw around with the building system and really get into it (and I don't). Kinect Sports wasn't even a good Wii Sports clone, it lacks the simple-but-brilliant game design ethos and nothing is as much of a homerun as bowling.
I've played a few Xbox-era Rare games and I've liked none of them. Kameo felt pretty gimmicky with how powers work and the combat wasn't very good. Nuts and Bolts is a game that becomes a bunch of boring vehicle-based fetch quests if you don't have the creativity needed to screw around with the building system and really get into it (and I don't). Kinect Sports wasn't even a good Wii Sports clone, it lacks the simple-but-brilliant game design ethos and nothing is as much of a homerun as bowling.
Seriously! For the longest time on GAF and elsewhere we all pointed to the Rare acquisition as proof that MS has mishandled this stuff (and interviews after the fact showed how Rare wanted Banjo 3 and MS execs weren't having it and forced some weird ass Nuts and Bolts crap instead). Also look at Lionhead Studios as well.
I still miss the experiences that Rare used to make back in the N64, and for me, their close to 20 years was rather mediocre until Sea of Thieves. That's when they started doing better. SoT is an impressive looking game, with some fun mechanics but zero appeal to me. Still, lot's of people seem to love it and I am happy for them, so I appreciate the game even if it's not for me. Everwild though....mmmm, that shit looks sexy! Can't wait to see more of that game. It looks just so inviting and interesting. Hopefully it has some RPG elements, and that will hook me up forever.
If you had told me back in 2002 that by the end of 2020, we still wouldn't have a proper Banjo sequel, I wouldn't have believed you. I miss the company that did games like Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie and Perfect Dark. They haven't felt like Rare since before Kinect Sports :(
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Also, yeah this. I don't think SoT success is enough to justify those 16-20 years of meh games output, and are they that successful?? I wouldn't count them in the top 5 of MS successful studios (pre-acquisition of zenimax. With Zenimax in, it's not even on my top 10), if you ask me. But that is just my personal opinion.
OP
OP
Actually, I always thought it was Microsoft who forced them to go Kinect. But it seems it was more complicated thant that:
Microsoft didn't push for Kinect development, Rare chose it
Kinect Sports was the largest Rare team The internet narrative has always been: Microsoft bought Rare (Banjo-Kazooie, GoldenEye) in 2002,...
www.destructoid.com
Seems like Nuts & Bolts wasn't MS's decision according to Mayles' recent tweets.
Great write-up, OP!
While I don't really play Rare's games now, seeing that they were able to survive all they've been through is nothing short of remarkable. If they were bought out by Activision, they would've been long dead by now.
And while I know many people lament not getting new games in their favorite series from Rare, replaying the old games on Xbox One is still such a delight!
As I was playing Super Mario 64 on the Super Mario 3D All-Stars Collection this week, all I could think about was how the Banjo-Kazooie games were remastered so much better than this, with proper controls, camera, actual widescreen, and playable in 4K!
I hope that Rare will continue to have a bright future ahead of them as they do now in the present.
While I don't really play Rare's games now, seeing that they were able to survive all they've been through is nothing short of remarkable. If they were bought out by Activision, they would've been long dead by now.
And while I know many people lament not getting new games in their favorite series from Rare, replaying the old games on Xbox One is still such a delight!
As I was playing Super Mario 64 on the Super Mario 3D All-Stars Collection this week, all I could think about was how the Banjo-Kazooie games were remastered so much better than this, with proper controls, camera, actual widescreen, and playable in 4K!
I hope that Rare will continue to have a bright future ahead of them as they do now in the present.
Actually, I always thought it was Microsoft who forced them to go Kinect. But it seems it was more complicated thant that:
Microsoft didn't push for Kinect development, Rare chose it
Kinect Sports was the largest Rare team The internet narrative has always been: Microsoft bought Rare (Banjo-Kazooie, GoldenEye) in 2002,...
Seems like Nuts & Bolts wasn't MS's decision according to Mayles' recent tweets.
Got it, I stand corrected. However, they should have done Banjo 3 lol
In retrospect, Nintendo did the right thing. I mean, waiting that long for the studio to go back to being a great one again and taking more than 10+ years is something that only Microsoft can afford.
Just turning them into a meat grinder for Banjo and Conker remasters/sequels would probably be worse, if you asked anyone who actually works at Rare.
Rare went through some dark times, which seem to have been a combination of poor support from Microsoft at the time, as well as a string of games that simply didn't sell well.
However, these days they seem to be the healthiest they've ever been from just about every perspective. The work culture of modern Rare seems really great and positive, and you get a really upbeat vibe from all of their dev update videos and stuff. I recall reading an article about the history of Rare, that said when they were in their "golden years", the studio was very small and insular, and socially were very clique-y. The teams working on different games kinda kept to themselves, and were competitive.
FInancially their games are doing as good as they've ever done. Employee-wise the studio is the biggest it has ever been, with at least three separate teams working on projects, working at that same beautiful studio in Twycross. They aren't the studio they used to be, but no studio would be after 35 years.
The last 5 years or so, Rare seem to be mostly left alone to do what they want. Sea of Thieves had a bit of a weird launch, but is in a very good place now. Everwild looks aesthetically amazing, and while I was bummed it still seems a long way off, I kinda liked that the project head was so open in admitting that they are still prototyping the gameplay, and that Microsoft were giving them the time they need.
And not for nothing, but their Microsoft game output is underrated by people who just wanted them to make the same kind of stuff they made for Nintendo until the end of time. Viva Pinata should be considered a classic. Nuts & Bolts was an innovative game that didn't get the respect it deserved because it wasn't a "proper" B&K sequel. These kinds of games flopping is what probably led to them being assigned Avatar stuff for a few years in the first place.
i just want viva piñata ports to PC :(
but yeah, they're still an incredible company. Sea of Thieves is brilliant. They released some of their best games under MS so i'll always find it weird people saying that MS ruined the studio
but yeah, they're still an incredible company. Sea of Thieves is brilliant. They released some of their best games under MS so i'll always find it weird people saying that MS ruined the studio
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Up until SoT, which was released half-baked and took a year+ to get it to a good spot, Rare has been completely underwhelming.
Someone like EA or Activision would have shut down Rare years ago.
Someone like EA or Activision would have shut down Rare years ago.
I haven't bought a rare game since 2000 with Perfect Dark for N64. I'm glad there doing well but I haven't jumped into their games lately.
I was a big rare guy too DKC1-3, Golden Eye, tons of NES games.
I was surprised they shut down Lionhead because I had bought Fable 2 and 3 which was way more recent than my Rare purchases.
I was a big rare guy too DKC1-3, Golden Eye, tons of NES games.
I was surprised they shut down Lionhead because I had bought Fable 2 and 3 which was way more recent than my Rare purchases.
at the time it seemed like a crazy deal, but in reality, its a drop in a bucket even with inflation its about half a billion, which Rare has proven itself in one way or another from generation to generation regardless of the gaming community's perception of those games. Immediately diversified the original xbox's lineup that was mostly western rpg and shooters with Conker and Ghoulies, then delivered 2 360 launch titles, Viva Pinata series and Banjo, then when kinect launched they were integral with the kinect sports series.
Fast forward to gamepass and Rare was again at the forefront with launch title. The investment in Rare has more then been worth it for Xbox in my opinion
Fast forward to gamepass and Rare was again at the forefront with launch title. The investment in Rare has more then been worth it for Xbox in my opinion
No issue from me on this argument. But the success of SoT is undeniable. The fact it also was something new and unique is an important factor for me in assessing the current trajectory of Rare.
Awesome write up. They're actually the very first Xbox first party title to release day 1 on GamePass. And they're currently the 2nd longest tenured studio on XGS. Which is kinda weird
I loved Battletoads when I was a kid, I can't say I liked any of their games since then, their games are just not for me.
Viva Pinata is sooo underrated. I'm still enjoying the first one and the kids has started playing it too and it has completely won them over leaving Minecraft behind them at the moment. Rare needs to make another one!
That long stretch where they were a Kinect studio doesn't do this argument many favors.
They had a couple of duds, then some good games with limited success, then... shovelware.
They had a couple of duds, then some good games with limited success, then... shovelware.
I have more than one point, which are you referring to?
Also 18 years...
Viva Pinata is adorable and Sea of Thieves is game of the generation so it was more than worth it tbh
Yea im not sure, we talk about this acquisition often still.
In the industry, at least in some circles, it's genuinely regarded as such a massive blown opportunity.
Rare could have been the naughty dog of today, if not bigger considering the appeal of their content.
What they could have been for MS.
In the industry, at least in some circles, it's genuinely regarded as such a massive blown opportunity.
Rare could have been the naughty dog of today, if not bigger considering the appeal of their content.
What they could have been for MS.
The only successful and worthy thing to come out of this deal was Sea of Thieves.
Rare is bland and will never be as creative as their 90s self.
Rare is bland and will never be as creative as their 90s self.
How you could look at Sea of Thieves or Everwild (or even stuff like Viva Pinata), and conclude "bland", is kinda incredible.
