Microsoft defends relevance of Rare to Xbox business Options

[Xbox-Scene]

Microsoft defends relevance of Rare to Xbox business Posted by XanTium | September 18 16:00 EST | News Category: Xbox360

From gamesindustry.biz: [QUOTE] Microsoft's Phil Spencer has told GamesIndustry.biz that Rare is a studio central to the vision and future of the Xbox 360 business. The executive's statement comes in response to former Xbox boss Peter Moore's comments to The Guardian where he said the studio's skillsets "were from a different time and a different place and were not applicable in today's market." "Rare is a great studio that continuously delivers high-quality, award-winning titles for the Xbox platform and will continue to do so in the future," stated the newly appointed head of Microsoft Game Studios. "Rare plays a strategic role in delivering games and platform experiences that will help the Xbox achieve our long-term strategy of expanding the customer base to a mainstream audience." [/QUOTE] Full Story: gamesindustry.biz

[chorizo1]

Peter Moore is on EA's cock now, so it's easy to try to bash a competitor.

[Reaper527]

i'd just like to see another conker game seriously though, i've got nothing against rare. they are definitely a talented team, and they make their games worth the wait.

[Altima NEO]

Thats tough, RARE, because you havent released an award winning title since Conker for N64

[bucko]

At least Rare don't release '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08 games

[chorizo1]

At least Rare don't release '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08 games

LOL, yep. nor

halo 1 2 3 4 5

resistance 1 2 3 4 5

Sequels are destroying innovation in videogames.

People should demand better.




This post has been edited by chorizo1: Sep 19 2008, 12:01 AM

[MrFish]

Because, yeah, where would the 360 be without derivative, facile, overhyped crap? Rare, at least in its current incarnation, basically does one thing: take mere skeletons of games and pad them out with their trademark patronising cutesy aesthetic* (Pinata, Ghoulies, SpyrBanjo). I guess it's an improvement from making games that were horribly derivative and padding them with Myst-style turd-polish (The entire Donkey Kong series, including its horrible Mario Kart ripoffs).

* Now there's no escape, because it's invading the user interface of the whole entire console.

I'll admit they made a good FPS. Once. Its sequels have been dire (Check out the Perfect Dark demo: there's a reason the full game sells for £5, and that's because you play a Lara clone that can do backflips, but for some reason can't jump).

Also, anecdotally, their employees are all complete cocks, doubtless encouraged by their smug, self-satisfied corporate ethos. Rare's party line is that they're the best around, a blessed first-party developer, and the sun shines out their arse.


Which is where they can stick their past five years' output.

[Hiram]

Bring on the Battletoads remake!

[mannyman]

Peter Moore actually said that "the studio's skillsets were from a different time and a different place and were not applicable in today's market." !?!?!?!

I would agree that Rare has been underutilized under MS' control, but I think MS simply needs to do something about it. I think that over the past few years Nintendo would have done far more with Rare's assets.

[Ken_D]

I've loved all of Rare's games since the glory days of BK, GoldenEye and Conker, and going further back the Ultimate: Play The Game days on the Speccy. But I really, really wish MS hadn't bought them -their games had a far better demographic fit on the Nintendo platforms. The next Banjo game sounds perfect for the Wii ...

[gokyu]

Yeah they needed a new direction for the 360, but is there anyone key at Rare now. Seems like most have left that had anything to do with the glory years.

[Knasen]

Everyone seem to enjoy bashing at Rare and I can't really understand that. Ok, they might not be the best developer out there, but I really enjoyed Kameo and Viva Pinata / Party Animals and I'm sure the latest Pinata game is a whole lot of fun too.

It's a shame so many talks bad about the Pinata games when most of those haven't even tried to play them just because they think "bleh, it's a childs game". I'll tell you right now, I'm a bit over 30 but I'm enjoying the Pinata games anyhow, there are more strategy and skills involved to play them than most people think.

I agree some of their games haven't been that great, but hey, almost all developers have atleast a few crap games in their portfolio, so Rare is by no means alone with that.

This post has been edited by Knasen: Sep 19 2008, 07:14 PM

[Reaper527]

Everyone seem to enjoy bashing at Rare and I can't really understand that. Ok, they might not be the best developer out there, but I really enjoyed Kameo and Viva Pinata / Party Animals and I'm sure the latest Pinata game is a whole lot of fun too.

i loved kameo. that is still one of my favorite 360 games thus far.

I agree some of their games haven't been that great, but hey, almost all developers have atleast a few crap games in their portfolio, so Rare is by no means alone with that.

anyone who disagrees with this, look for a game called oni (a bungie mistake)

[stevenalvarado]

halo 1 2 3 4 5

resistance 1 2 3 4 5

Sequels are destroying innovation in videogames.

People should demand better.

It´s people that are demanding those games year after year
because they´re buying them year after year...

[big_sigh]

Peter Moore actually said that "the studio's skillsets were from a different time and a different place and were not applicable in today's market." !?!?!?!

I would agree that Rare has been underutilized under MS' control, but I think MS simply needs to do something about it. I think that over the past few years Nintendo would have done far more with Rare's assets.

I think Moore is absolutely right. When MS bought Rare they were out of touch with modern gamers. That's not to say MS haven't spent time and money on helping Rare adapt, and that they can't produce valuable content again (the new dashboard's avatar system is proof of this).