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In the eyes of many, Nintendo is a cutsy-pie company who's mission in life is to bring love, peace and fun games to the world... but in reality, Nintendo is a money-making, profits first, corporate business, who wouldn't even look at the games industry if they didn't think they could make the millions they do.
Rare are the same. Granted, they're not as prolific in stature or size as Nintendo, but they don't churn out masterpiece after masterpiece because they want to bless us with great games... it's their strategy.
All this Activision buy-out nonsense is really bugging me... because, in reality, it won't happen. Why? Here's the list:
1. Because Rare employs a measley amount of workers (under 250)
This amount of workers is nowhere near enough to sustain demand for a company that develops for three consoles... or even two. Rare can't even get 1 game out without 3 delays! (Launch to Jan - Jan to June - June to Sept) I'm not knocking the company, I love them, they're my favourite developer... but Sony and Microsoft won't stand for the delays... Rare will rush the games out and Quality will fade.
2. Nintendo has Rare on a leash
Nintendo holds a much bigger steak in Rare than Sony do in Square. Rare's biggest franchise (Donkey Kong... believe me, it is) is owned by Nintendo. The time and effort that has gone into StarFox is more than Rare would have used if they were going multi-format. While Nintendo relies on Rare to churn out classics, Nintendo supports Rare just as much financially. StarFox is actually a CO-DEVELOPED Project... just because a Rare guy programmed it, doesn't mean it's a Rare only game!
3. While Rare are telented, they're not that good.
Before you hit me, let me explain. For Rare to go multi-format, they'd need to have a good understanding of the PS2 and X-Box, none of which they'll have used (at least to any significant degree), to-date. By the time they can do for the PS2 what they can for the Cube, the PS3 will be out and the time will be wasted. They could get to grips with the X-Box in time, but....
4. The majority of Rare's franchises are for kids.
Banjo, Donkey Kong, Jet Force Gemini, StarFox... these are just a few titles that are aimed at kids... The only games that could be released on other consoles are Perfect Dark, Killer Instinct and maybe Conker and Blast Corps... Rare COULD release the other games on PS2 and the Box, but it'd be crap because of the time constraints on PS2, and no-one would buy it on X-Box because of the target market.
5. Rare aren't stupid.
The Stamper brothers didn't get this far by being twáts. They have business sense, going multi-format won't bake them any bread for a good two years... and even if Activision employed loads more people to Rare, the communication circles would widen, and the lack of communication in itself would make the games crapper!
6. They'd be blown up by Nintendo fans.
Exactly what the sub-title says. Goodbye Manorhouse Farm! (Or whatever it's called!)
On a personal note, i'd love for Rare to stay exclusive to Nintendo, and I genuinely believe they will. Should this shocking story be true, it won't be the end of the world... maybe of an Era... but look at all the other games coming out... and it's not as if Rare will STOP making Cube games... if anything, Activision will finance MORE projects so we get the games quicker.
But what am I saying this for... it won't happen. Period.
Game
Rare are the same. Granted, they're not as prolific in stature or size as Nintendo, but they don't churn out masterpiece after masterpiece because they want to bless us with great games... it's their strategy.
All this Activision buy-out nonsense is really bugging me... because, in reality, it won't happen. Why? Here's the list:
1. Because Rare employs a measley amount of workers (under 250)
This amount of workers is nowhere near enough to sustain demand for a company that develops for three consoles... or even two. Rare can't even get 1 game out without 3 delays! (Launch to Jan - Jan to June - June to Sept) I'm not knocking the company, I love them, they're my favourite developer... but Sony and Microsoft won't stand for the delays... Rare will rush the games out and Quality will fade.
2. Nintendo has Rare on a leash
Nintendo holds a much bigger steak in Rare than Sony do in Square. Rare's biggest franchise (Donkey Kong... believe me, it is) is owned by Nintendo. The time and effort that has gone into StarFox is more than Rare would have used if they were going multi-format. While Nintendo relies on Rare to churn out classics, Nintendo supports Rare just as much financially. StarFox is actually a CO-DEVELOPED Project... just because a Rare guy programmed it, doesn't mean it's a Rare only game!
3. While Rare are telented, they're not that good.
Before you hit me, let me explain. For Rare to go multi-format, they'd need to have a good understanding of the PS2 and X-Box, none of which they'll have used (at least to any significant degree), to-date. By the time they can do for the PS2 what they can for the Cube, the PS3 will be out and the time will be wasted. They could get to grips with the X-Box in time, but....
4. The majority of Rare's franchises are for kids.
Banjo, Donkey Kong, Jet Force Gemini, StarFox... these are just a few titles that are aimed at kids... The only games that could be released on other consoles are Perfect Dark, Killer Instinct and maybe Conker and Blast Corps... Rare COULD release the other games on PS2 and the Box, but it'd be crap because of the time constraints on PS2, and no-one would buy it on X-Box because of the target market.
5. Rare aren't stupid.
The Stamper brothers didn't get this far by being twáts. They have business sense, going multi-format won't bake them any bread for a good two years... and even if Activision employed loads more people to Rare, the communication circles would widen, and the lack of communication in itself would make the games crapper!
6. They'd be blown up by Nintendo fans.
Exactly what the sub-title says. Goodbye Manorhouse Farm! (Or whatever it's called!)
On a personal note, i'd love for Rare to stay exclusive to Nintendo, and I genuinely believe they will. Should this shocking story be true, it won't be the end of the world... maybe of an Era... but look at all the other games coming out... and it's not as if Rare will STOP making Cube games... if anything, Activision will finance MORE projects so we get the games quicker.
But what am I saying this for... it won't happen. Period.
Game
Good point about learning the PS2/X-Box code, by the way. Not going to happen anytime soon.
You're completely right Game. Anyone who believes this is...
Well.
Let me tell you a little I've learnt about Rareware.
Rare have a quite sadistic sense of humour, which I find brilliant. It all started when they released Goldeneye a bit... unfinished. :0)
1) The manual had pictures of an earlier version of the game. They had originally wanted to put all the Bond's in the game, all the actors, even. Unfortunatly, there was a picture of the character selection screen with Sean Connery as a selectable character. It wasn't available in the game, and was removed because MGM are grumps. I believe.
2) On the first level, there's an island across from a bed of water, that's completely 3D and has doors and stuff. It looks like it could be accessible. Originally, Bond was to get in a boat and go across to the island, but it was too difficult to program at the time, so they decided to leave it out.
3) On a later level, Ouromov [sp] drop's a key and a suitcase if you shoot him in the hand. On the same level, you can also, for some reason, open some doors above a rocket that looks like it could be launched. These things were also supposed to be for missions that were taken out.
But, of course, the emails came.
"Do you have a beta version in Rareware headquarters with all the Bonds on?"
So they reply.
"Maybe."
But then the emails came, and they started winding people up. It's now a tradition for them.
So then, comes this Christmas card.
News stories across the world report Rare are going third party, because there are consoles everywhere.
Their answer:
"Our designer wants all the consoles for Christmas. Because he likes games."
Fantastic really.
But they kinda did beat around the bush with this as well... But really, half the stuff you hear about Rare is denied on the website in almost every update you see. And it's not "Rareware official deny becoming a third party", it's more "If you believe this crap, you're a" and so on. :0)
But really, if you hear stuff about Rare, it's usually crap. Wait for their version first.
You're completely right Game. Anyone who believes this is...
Well.
Let me tell you a little I've learnt about Rareware.
Rare have a quite sadistic sense of humour, which I find brilliant. It all started when they released Goldeneye a bit... unfinished. :0)
1) The manual had pictures of an earlier version of the game. They had originally wanted to put all the Bond's in the game, all the actors, even. Unfortunatly, there was a picture of the character selection screen with Sean Connery as a selectable character. It wasn't available in the game, and was removed because MGM are grumps. I believe.
2) On the first level, there's an island across from a bed of water, that's completely 3D and has doors and stuff. It looks like it could be accessible. Originally, Bond was to get in a boat and go across to the island, but it was too difficult to program at the time, so they decided to leave it out.
3) On a later level, Ouromov [sp] drop's a key and a suitcase if you shoot him in the hand. On the same level, you can also, for some reason, open some doors above a rocket that looks like it could be launched. These things were also supposed to be for missions that were taken out.
But, of course, the emails came.
"Do you have a beta version in Rareware headquarters with all the Bonds on?"
So they reply.
"Maybe."
But then the emails came, and they started winding people up. It's now a tradition for them.
So then, comes this Christmas card.
News stories across the world report Rare are going third party, because there are consoles everywhere.
Their answer:
"Our designer wants all the consoles for Christmas. Because he likes games."
Fantastic really.
But they kinda did beat around the bush with this as well... But really, half the stuff you hear about Rare is denied on the website in almost every update you see. And it's not "Rareware official deny becoming a third party", it's more "If you believe this crap, you're a" and so on. :0)
But really, if you hear stuff about Rare, it's usually crap. Wait for their version first.
Sorry to dig up old stories, but I've just found this. Yes, it's from a PS2 site, but the 'facts' seem entirely plausible.
From http://ps2.ign.com/articles/357/357301p1.html
-----
A Rare Situation
There is a phenomenal amount of hubbub surrounding the recent story of Rare, the most prominent and important second-party developer in Nintendo's stable. The details are far from clear, and the rumors are growing ridiculously out of proportion by the minute, but from what we can gather, there are a few details that are reliable.
First, Rare is at the end of a five-year contract with Nintendo and both parties are at the negotiating table, discussing what they want, and how to resign another contract. Nintendo owns a minority stake in the private company, with the Stamper Brothers owning the majority. Sources say that neither party is interested in resigning the contract, and with the phenomenal amount of change going on at Nintendo of America, there's reason to believe that the two may be parting ways. Either that, or they resign a different kind of contract, one that positions Rare as a third-party developer, or perhaps even as a publishers of its own games on various systems.
The fact is Rare could potentially make a lot more money if it did strike out on its own, reaping higher profits with multiple skus, and working with multiple publishers. We all know the company has the ability to create unbelievably fun games, so why should they share the wealth on all systems? But the possible parting of the twain also spells trouble for Nintendo, whose harem of second-party companies is slowly dwindling (Left Field, Retro), and Rare has, pardon the pun, rarely let Nintendo down. Just look at what it did for N64 -- Blast Corps, Goldeneye 007, Diddy Kong Racing, Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Kazooie 2, Perfect Dark, and Conker's bad Fur Day.
And to think, all of this started from an innocent little Christmas card. Sheesh.
From http://ps2.ign.com/articles/357/357301p1.html
-----
A Rare Situation
There is a phenomenal amount of hubbub surrounding the recent story of Rare, the most prominent and important second-party developer in Nintendo's stable. The details are far from clear, and the rumors are growing ridiculously out of proportion by the minute, but from what we can gather, there are a few details that are reliable.
First, Rare is at the end of a five-year contract with Nintendo and both parties are at the negotiating table, discussing what they want, and how to resign another contract. Nintendo owns a minority stake in the private company, with the Stamper Brothers owning the majority. Sources say that neither party is interested in resigning the contract, and with the phenomenal amount of change going on at Nintendo of America, there's reason to believe that the two may be parting ways. Either that, or they resign a different kind of contract, one that positions Rare as a third-party developer, or perhaps even as a publishers of its own games on various systems.
The fact is Rare could potentially make a lot more money if it did strike out on its own, reaping higher profits with multiple skus, and working with multiple publishers. We all know the company has the ability to create unbelievably fun games, so why should they share the wealth on all systems? But the possible parting of the twain also spells trouble for Nintendo, whose harem of second-party companies is slowly dwindling (Left Field, Retro), and Rare has, pardon the pun, rarely let Nintendo down. Just look at what it did for N64 -- Blast Corps, Goldeneye 007, Diddy Kong Racing, Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Kazooie 2, Perfect Dark, and Conker's bad Fur Day.
And to think, all of this started from an innocent little Christmas card. Sheesh.
The Game wrote:
> Nintendo holds a much bigger steak in Rare than Sony do in Square.
Really?
D'ya think it's about a 30oz-er?
:-D
> Nintendo holds a much bigger steak in Rare than Sony do in Square.
Really?
D'ya think it's about a 30oz-er?
:-D
People say that if Rare lost StarFox they'd be screwed. Doesn't anyone remember a small game called Dinasaur Planet? That would have been just as good without the StarFox characters, but Nintendo offered them to Rare, and so Rare the kind hearted company it is, took them!
So Rare don't really rely too heavely on Nintendo's characters. Only Donkey Kong really!
But I still can't see anyone buying out Rare! It's such a stupid statement!
:)
So Rare don't really rely too heavely on Nintendo's characters. Only Donkey Kong really!
But I still can't see anyone buying out Rare! It's such a stupid statement!
:)
I see it as quite impossible to see Rare operating on a non-Nintendo console. Though not wholly owned by big brother Nintendo, they do have a large enough stake in Rare to render any buy-out talk as nonsense without Nintendo's complete compliance. They have the veto. Plus, Ninty bankroll Rare programmers, the licenses are Ninty-owned but Rare-programmed, the whole thing is just nothing more than a publicity stunt. And judging by the response, it works. Rare need Nintendo, Nintendo need Rare, and while it is so mutually fruitful for both parties to have the other, all takeover talk is pure fabrication.
You need to be aware that RARE do need other companies to stay afloat, the fact is it has been well over a year since RARE released a game (CONKER!!!!) can a company of 250 survive for about a year and a half on Conker? You see Nintendo are willing to pay them as they know how long great games take, Activision has Tony Hawks Pro Skater 5 in discussion with Neversoft!
And leaving Nintendo causes a bigger strain on their budget they lose a massive franchise in the form of Star Fox Adventures and an even bigger and their biggest game in the form of Donkey Kong... DK racing is a while from finishing and it is already a confirmed Gamecube title, i wouldn't expect this until 2003 so if any announcement will take place it won't be for an age or this game will be canned. Also and more importantly they'll lose EAD, Silicon Knight needed EAD for Eternal Darkness, Retro Studios cant live without EAD for Metroid and Rare will use EAD just as much they'll lose Nintendo's own coders...
I believe ACtivision may publish RARE games though but exclusivly for Nintendo that would not surprise me as that could be where the rumour came from.
And leaving Nintendo causes a bigger strain on their budget they lose a massive franchise in the form of Star Fox Adventures and an even bigger and their biggest game in the form of Donkey Kong... DK racing is a while from finishing and it is already a confirmed Gamecube title, i wouldn't expect this until 2003 so if any announcement will take place it won't be for an age or this game will be canned. Also and more importantly they'll lose EAD, Silicon Knight needed EAD for Eternal Darkness, Retro Studios cant live without EAD for Metroid and Rare will use EAD just as much they'll lose Nintendo's own coders...
I believe ACtivision may publish RARE games though but exclusivly for Nintendo that would not surprise me as that could be where the rumour came from.
The Game wrote:
> Nintendo holds a much bigger steak in Rare than Sony do in Square.
Okay, this isn't suggesting that Nintendo WILL sell, but...
Never assume that someone won't sell if offered the right price!
> Nintendo holds a much bigger steak in Rare than Sony do in Square.
Okay, this isn't suggesting that Nintendo WILL sell, but...
Never assume that someone won't sell if offered the right price!
In the eyes of many, Nintendo is a cutsy-pie company who's mission in life is to bring love, peace and fun games to the world... but in reality, Nintendo is a money-making, profits first, corporate business, who wouldn't even look at the games industry if they didn't think they could make the millions they do.
Rare are the same. Granted, they're not as prolific in stature or size as Nintendo, but they don't churn out masterpiece after masterpiece because they want to bless us with great games... it's their strategy.
All this Activision buy-out nonsense is really bugging me... because, in reality, it won't happen. Why? Here's the list:
1. Because Rare employs a measley amount of workers (under 250)
This amount of workers is nowhere near enough to sustain demand for a company that develops for three consoles... or even two. Rare can't even get 1 game out without 3 delays! (Launch to Jan - Jan to June - June to Sept) I'm not knocking the company, I love them, they're my favourite developer... but Sony and Microsoft won't stand for the delays... Rare will rush the games out and Quality will fade.
2. Nintendo has Rare on a leash
Nintendo holds a much bigger steak in Rare than Sony do in Square. Rare's biggest franchise (Donkey Kong... believe me, it is) is owned by Nintendo. The time and effort that has gone into StarFox is more than Rare would have used if they were going multi-format. While Nintendo relies on Rare to churn out classics, Nintendo supports Rare just as much financially. StarFox is actually a CO-DEVELOPED Project... just because a Rare guy programmed it, doesn't mean it's a Rare only game!
3. While Rare are telented, they're not that good.
Before you hit me, let me explain. For Rare to go multi-format, they'd need to have a good understanding of the PS2 and X-Box, none of which they'll have used (at least to any significant degree), to-date. By the time they can do for the PS2 what they can for the Cube, the PS3 will be out and the time will be wasted. They could get to grips with the X-Box in time, but....
4. The majority of Rare's franchises are for kids.
Banjo, Donkey Kong, Jet Force Gemini, StarFox... these are just a few titles that are aimed at kids... The only games that could be released on other consoles are Perfect Dark, Killer Instinct and maybe Conker and Blast Corps... Rare COULD release the other games on PS2 and the Box, but it'd be crap because of the time constraints on PS2, and no-one would buy it on X-Box because of the target market.
5. Rare aren't stupid.
The Stamper brothers didn't get this far by being twáts. They have business sense, going multi-format won't bake them any bread for a good two years... and even if Activision employed loads more people to Rare, the communication circles would widen, and the lack of communication in itself would make the games crapper!
6. They'd be blown up by Nintendo fans.
Exactly what the sub-title says. Goodbye Manorhouse Farm! (Or whatever it's called!)
On a personal note, i'd love for Rare to stay exclusive to Nintendo, and I genuinely believe they will. Should this shocking story be true, it won't be the end of the world... maybe of an Era... but look at all the other games coming out... and it's not as if Rare will STOP making Cube games... if anything, Activision will finance MORE projects so we get the games quicker.
But what am I saying this for... it won't happen. Period.
Game
Rare are the same. Granted, they're not as prolific in stature or size as Nintendo, but they don't churn out masterpiece after masterpiece because they want to bless us with great games... it's their strategy.
All this Activision buy-out nonsense is really bugging me... because, in reality, it won't happen. Why? Here's the list:
1. Because Rare employs a measley amount of workers (under 250)
This amount of workers is nowhere near enough to sustain demand for a company that develops for three consoles... or even two. Rare can't even get 1 game out without 3 delays! (Launch to Jan - Jan to June - June to Sept) I'm not knocking the company, I love them, they're my favourite developer... but Sony and Microsoft won't stand for the delays... Rare will rush the games out and Quality will fade.
2. Nintendo has Rare on a leash
Nintendo holds a much bigger steak in Rare than Sony do in Square. Rare's biggest franchise (Donkey Kong... believe me, it is) is owned by Nintendo. The time and effort that has gone into StarFox is more than Rare would have used if they were going multi-format. While Nintendo relies on Rare to churn out classics, Nintendo supports Rare just as much financially. StarFox is actually a CO-DEVELOPED Project... just because a Rare guy programmed it, doesn't mean it's a Rare only game!
3. While Rare are telented, they're not that good.
Before you hit me, let me explain. For Rare to go multi-format, they'd need to have a good understanding of the PS2 and X-Box, none of which they'll have used (at least to any significant degree), to-date. By the time they can do for the PS2 what they can for the Cube, the PS3 will be out and the time will be wasted. They could get to grips with the X-Box in time, but....
4. The majority of Rare's franchises are for kids.
Banjo, Donkey Kong, Jet Force Gemini, StarFox... these are just a few titles that are aimed at kids... The only games that could be released on other consoles are Perfect Dark, Killer Instinct and maybe Conker and Blast Corps... Rare COULD release the other games on PS2 and the Box, but it'd be crap because of the time constraints on PS2, and no-one would buy it on X-Box because of the target market.
5. Rare aren't stupid.
The Stamper brothers didn't get this far by being twáts. They have business sense, going multi-format won't bake them any bread for a good two years... and even if Activision employed loads more people to Rare, the communication circles would widen, and the lack of communication in itself would make the games crapper!
6. They'd be blown up by Nintendo fans.
Exactly what the sub-title says. Goodbye Manorhouse Farm! (Or whatever it's called!)
On a personal note, i'd love for Rare to stay exclusive to Nintendo, and I genuinely believe they will. Should this shocking story be true, it won't be the end of the world... maybe of an Era... but look at all the other games coming out... and it's not as if Rare will STOP making Cube games... if anything, Activision will finance MORE projects so we get the games quicker.
But what am I saying this for... it won't happen. Period.
Game