Difference between revisions of "Rare Ltd."
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[[File:Rare2015.png|thumb|150px|Rare logo since June 14th, 2015.]] | [[File:Rare2015.png|thumb|150px|Rare logo since June 14th, 2015.]] | ||
'''Rare, Ltd.''' (formerly known as '''Rareware''') is the video game company that created the [[Banjo-Kazooie series]]. They also created many other series, such as ''Perfect Dark'', ''Donkey Kong Country'', | '''Rare, Ltd.''' (formerly known as '''Rareware''') is the video game company that created the [[Banjo-Kazooie series]]. They also created many other series, such as ''Perfect Dark'', ''Donkey Kong Country'', ''Viva Piñata'', and ''Sea of Thieves''. They began an exclusive publishing agreement with Nintendo in 1994, which lasted until Rare was purchased by Microsoft in 2002. | ||
Rare is located in Twycross, Leicestershire, UK. It has developed many games for Nintendo's gaming consoles, including Battletoads, Donkey Kong Country (and its sequels), ''Killer Instinct'', ''[[Banjo-Kazooie]]'', ''[[Banjo-Tooie]]'', ''Blast Corps'', ''GoldenEye 007'', ''Perfect Dark'', ''Conker's Bad Fur Day'', ''Diddy Kong Racing'', ''Donkey Kong 64'', ''Jet Force Gemini'', ''Star Fox Adventures'', ''Diddy Kong Racing DS'', and most recently as of 2008, ''Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise''. | |||
After being aquired by Microsoft, they developed games for Microsoft's Xbox line of consoles, including ''Grabbed by the Ghoulies'', ''[[Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts]]'', ''Viva Piñata'', ''Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise'', and most recently in 2018, ''Sea of Thieves''. | |||
One of Rare's most critically acclaimed and popular series was the Donkey Kong Country series on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, due to its use of pre-framed 3D graphics on a largely 2D console. Rare then released several critically acclaimed platform games for the Nintendo 64, such as Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64, Banjo-Tooie and Conker's Bad Fur Day. | One of Rare's most critically acclaimed and popular series was the Donkey Kong Country series on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, due to its use of pre-framed 3D graphics on a largely 2D console. Rare then released several critically acclaimed platform games for the Nintendo 64, such as Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64, Banjo-Tooie and Conker's Bad Fur Day. | ||
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===Microsoft era=== | ===Microsoft era=== | ||
[[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 through Microsoft (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 through Microsoft (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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== Games for Xbox Live Arcade == | == Games for Xbox Live Arcade == | ||
Jetpac (released by Ultimate Play the Game in 1983) was released for Xbox Live Arcade on March 28, 2007 as Jetpac Refuelled. In this release, the game was updated with overhauled high-definition graphics and also included Xbox supplements (leader-boards, achievements). | Jetpac (released by Ultimate Play the Game in 1983) was released for Xbox Live Arcade on March 28, 2007 as Jetpac Refuelled. In this release, the game was updated with overhauled high-definition graphics and also included Xbox supplements (leader-boards, achievements). | ||
GoldenEye 007 was set for release, Microsoft approached Nintendo with a deal that would allow the game to be released on both Xbox Live Arcade and Nintendo's Virtual Console, but Nintendo refused this offer. | GoldenEye 007 was set for release, Microsoft approached Nintendo with a deal that would allow the game to be released on both Xbox Live Arcade and Nintendo's Virtual Console, but Nintendo refused this offer. | ||