Moore Defends Rare's Xbox Work

In Part III of Newsweek's interview with Microsoft's Peter Moore he pays tribute to Rare's recent product history, defending the developer against claims that its output has struggled to keep touch with the critical and commercial successes of its output prior to its acquisition by Microsoft.

He describes Xbox 360 launch titles, Perfect Dark Zero and Kameo: Elements of Power, as having a "platform-driving presence" and how things were gonna be different for this generation with games like Kameo and Viva Pinata appealing to a different type of audience.

He also mentioned that Rare have a unique British sense of humor which he respects and how one of their strengths is their ability to come up with "great ideas for games that are potentially a little off-center."

[VirusE]

Rare leaving nintendo was the worst choice they have ever made.

[kewlkat007]

Independent Developer, once they have become acquired by a much bigger entity, they seem to loose their EDGE, and other Indie qualities that may have existed prior. This happens all the time, look at all the companies EA has swallowed.

A good solution(eventho it would never happen) is to acquire the smaller developer, but let them have full rights and creativity with what they want to create, while having the "umbrella company" there, as financial backing.

We all know creativity goes out the door once a kid knows they are being watched or monitored. Something about the human mind just doesn't float the same. Especially when there is a lot of money at stake and the pressure is on to bring out a game before the next X-MAS. (just ask EA)

Then again I know a lot of to honchos that I think has left RARE since they were acquired and that also plays a role. All the sudden the companies Vision has hanged and so has the developers. IT becomes MS's vision.

On another NOTE, I'm still waiting for Killer Instinct on XBL or a new game. How about a new Donkey Kong with Nintendo's Approval...After all they did come out with Diddy's racing for the DS.

[Observer]

.. there would have been no incentive to "defend" them in the first place.

[PS360WII]

ohh snap

[Dick Jones]

Best games for the system. Just like I dont have to worry about buying a new nintendo game and it not being fun, same goes for a rare game.

[THAMMER1]

I liked Kameo because it was fun to play with my Wife and little girl, plus the combos were fun for me to learn. I have very mixed emotions about Perfect dark 0. I think that game would have been much better if they would have has some more time to flesh out the character animations and story line. But the Multi player is fun I play all the time. My family is hooked on Viva pinta(I play too when no one is looking.)

But over all M$ has Rare and is better off with them than with out them. Rare just needs to produce a block buster game,

[Kastrol]

RARE like making kiddie games not that its a bad thing but i loved banjo kazooie

maybe its not the right relation when you consider xbox is a hardcore fans console

[kewlkat007]

They make a lot of platform games, Donkey Kong Country really pushed SNES's Hardware, that was the kewlest looking game when it came out. Same thing happened with GOW for the 360.

The PS2 is a hard-care machine but they have plenty of platformers.(so-called kiddie games)

[God of Gaming]

Kameo and Viva were fantastic! Perfect Dark was obviously rushed and what they needed to do was start over from scratch.

But other than that...2 great games in a year is not a bad thing.

[PhinneousD]

love me some rare.

[Xi]

And banjo will sell too. Rare has a lot of great liscense under their name, and bringing back the classic games like conkers, banjo and killer instinct will sell better than their new titles because they have street credit.

[Covenant]

Kameo and Viva Pinata are two of my favorite games for the 360, and Viva has become an addiction for me, my wife, and my son. (We each have our own garden). Kameo's gameplay, with its combos and frequent action, make it an underrated gem.

However, I too was disappointed with PD:Zero. It felt rushed, and was a so-so follow up to one of the definitive games of recent years.

Rare's Xbox releases were a mixed bag. Although Conker: Live and Reloaded was fun, Grabbed by the Ghoulies was just awful. Terrible controls were its downfall.

Rare's reputation has suffered a bit because of the "disappointing" sales of PD:Zero, Kameo, and Viva Pinata (though the former two both sold over a million copies each). The new Banjo-Kazooie may be what Rare needs to re-establish its reputation as a major developer.