Difference between revisions of "Rare Ltd."
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===Microsoft era=== | ===Microsoft era=== | ||
Up from the end of 2000, people from Activision and Microsoft visited Rare. In November 2001, Microsoft trademarked It's Mr. Pants, a game that was released three years later. In September 2002, the Stamper brothers sold their 51% interest in Rare to Microsoft; following this, Nintendo sold their 49% stake in the company as well. Microsoft paid a total of $375 million for the company. Because of this, Rare is now a first-party developer for Microsoft's Xbox and its successors. This left Donkey Kong Racing, which was due to be released for the Nintendo GameCube, unreleased. The trademarks of the characters from the games that Rare made for Nintendo consoles (such as Conker of Conker's Bad Fur Day and Banjo of the Banjo-Kazooie series) were retained by Rare (apart from intellectual properties originally developed by Nintendo, including Donkey Kong and Star Fox). Despite the acquisition, Rare still developed games for Game Boy Advance, and now develops for the Nintendo DS, as Microsoft is currently not participating in the hand-held video game console market. Rare has never developed for Sony platforms. | [[File:329px-Rare_logo.svg.png|thumb|2010 Rare logo.]]Up from the end of 2000, people from Activision and Microsoft visited Rare. In November 2001, Microsoft trademarked It's Mr. Pants, a game that was released three years later. In September 2002, the Stamper brothers sold their 51% interest in Rare to Microsoft; following this, Nintendo sold their 49% stake in the company as well. Microsoft paid a total of $375 million for the company. Because of this, Rare is now a first-party developer for Microsoft's Xbox and its successors. This left Donkey Kong Racing, which was due to be released for the Nintendo GameCube, unreleased. The trademarks of the characters from the games that Rare made for Nintendo consoles (such as Conker of Conker's Bad Fur Day and Banjo of the Banjo-Kazooie series) were retained by Rare (apart from intellectual properties originally developed by Nintendo, including Donkey Kong and Star Fox). Despite the acquisition, Rare still developed games for Game Boy Advance, and now develops for the Nintendo DS, as Microsoft is currently not participating in the hand-held video game console market. Rare has never developed for Sony platforms. | ||
In 2002, Star Fox Adventures became the only Rare game released on the Nintendo GameCube with an average Metacritic score of 82/100. Rare's first Xbox game, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, was a beat 'em up action game. | In 2002, Star Fox Adventures became the only Rare game released on the Nintendo GameCube with an average Metacritic score of 82/100. Rare's first Xbox game, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, was a beat 'em up action game. | ||
In August 2003, Rare and Microsoft made a deal with THQ for Rare to publish games for the Game Boy Advance, which, as of December 2004, have included Sabre Wulf, a game based on its Ultimate character, [[Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge]], a "midquel" to the two Nintendo 64 games, and It's Mr. Pants!, a puzzle game that was originally developed as "Donkey Kong: Coconut Crackers", and featured the company's unofficial mascot. January 2005 saw the completion of this deal, with the release of [[Banjo Pilot]] (which, before being acquired by Microsoft, was in development as ''Diddy Kong Pilot"). Rare also ported and extended the Donkey Kong Country series, which was published by Nintendo.'' | In August 2003, Rare and Microsoft made a deal with THQ for Rare to publish games for the Game Boy Advance, which, as of December 2004, have included Sabre Wulf, a game based on its Ultimate character, [[Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge]], a "midquel" to the two Nintendo 64 games, and It's Mr. Pants!, a puzzle game that was originally developed as "Donkey Kong: Coconut Crackers", and featured the company's unofficial mascot. January 2005 saw the completion of this deal, with the release of [[Banjo Pilot]] (which, before being acquired by Microsoft, was in development as ''Diddy Kong Pilot"). Rare also ported and extended the Donkey Kong Country series, which was published by Nintendo.'' | ||
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In 2005, Rare released Conker: Live and Reloaded, a remake of the N64's Conker's Bad Fur Day with updated graphics and sound to suit the Xbox and a reworked multiplayer option. Previously due to be known as Conker: Live and Uncut. The game has an average Metacritic score of 78/100. | In 2005, Rare released Conker: Live and Reloaded, a remake of the N64's Conker's Bad Fur Day with updated graphics and sound to suit the Xbox and a reworked multiplayer option. Previously due to be known as Conker: Live and Uncut. The game has an average Metacritic score of 78/100. | ||
Rare made something of a resurgence when Microsoft's Xbox 360 console was released in late 2005. Two of the Xbox 360's launch games were developed by Rare, Kameo and Perfect Dark Zero, with Viva Piñata released the next year. The third Banjo-Kazooie game, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, was released in November 2008. | Rare made something of a resurgence when Microsoft's Xbox 360 console was released in late 2005. Two of the Xbox 360's launch games were developed by Rare, Kameo and Perfect Dark Zero, with Viva Piñata released the next year. The third Banjo-Kazooie game, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, was released in November 2008. | ||
Now Rare is primarily focused on Microsoft's Xbox Kinect peripheral, releasing the sports mingame collection Kinect Sports as one of the device's flagship launch titles in November 2010. On January 2, 2007, Rare founders Chris and Tim Stamper left the company to "pursue other opportunities".[6] Previous lead designer Gregg Mayles reviews as Creative Director. Mark Betteridge became Studio Director at the company, but was later replaced himself by Scott Henson from Microsoft Games Studios in 2010. | Now Rare is primarily focused on Microsoft's Xbox Kinect peripheral, releasing the sports mingame collection Kinect Sports as one of the device's flagship launch titles in November 2010. On January 2, 2007, Rare founders Chris and Tim Stamper left the company to "pursue other opportunities".[6] Previous lead designer Gregg Mayles reviews as Creative Director. Mark Betteridge became Studio Director at the company, but was later replaced himself by Scott Henson from Microsoft Games Studios in 2010. The company's logo was also changed in 2010 to be more abstract, featuring a negative space Rare "R" shape in various brightly coloured polygons and the company's name written in grey, rounded text. | ||
== Media-shy nature == | == Media-shy nature == | ||