Rare: We've been battling against the Xbox demographic

Rare was acquired by Microsoft back in 2002 and has been at the heart of the platform holder's internal development, but only now, with the upcoming launch of Natal, does the developer feel it and Microsoft are on the same page.

Speaking to VideoGamer.com about Natal prior to gamescom, Rare design director George Andreas explained just why the motion sensing technology is such a big deal.

[I am Legend]

Hopefully it's good.

[All-3]

> "I do feel in many ways that – and I’ve said this to some people as well – for me this is really the first time that Microsoft and Rare are on a very similar path," said Andreas. "We’ve obviously been tasked to create experiences that nobody else can create, which explains things like your Kameos and your Piñatas and your Banjos. But obviously the hardware is aimed at a different demographic, and so we’ve always battled against that.

The hardware may be aimed at a different demographic, but that still doesn't explain why Rare games for the Xbox 360 have fallen short on quality experiences.

[N4G king]

oh Rare

i got nothing else to say

[Troll-Killer]

....keep it that way.

[Godmars290]

they were suppose to be expanding the Xbox's demographic. All they're really saying is that they're not doing their job.

[Cajun Chicken]

Pretty much. But I admit, Nuts and Bolts is actually pretty good.

[raztad]

Nobody see the xbox as the "Nuts and bolts" console, just the contrary the shooter "Halo" console. MS has done nothing to change that image, its not enough to bring some rpgs in, you need to promote them more and less Halo.

Rare said everything: "We are battling against xbox demographics" == teens playing Halo, Gears and cod4.

[Lightsaber]

kameo was a great game that should of sold really well but there was no marketing behind it.

"teens playing Halo, Gears and cod4."

I play gears and I'm havent been a teen for a loooooong time

[Halo_Reach]

No more RaRe hardcore games...

Confirmed.RaRe u can leave MS.

Bye

[Godmars290]

Or rather, Rare's founders got fired after what? The second Viva Pinata?

[TheMART]

"N4G king - 3 minutes ago

PM
Track
Ignore2 -
oh Rare

i got nothing else to say "

Then just STFU and get the f*ck out to the BluRayStation 3 slim news or the KZ2/Resistance 2/Motorstorm 2 pricedrop to 29,95 failures!

[Mo0eY]

Awww

[The gaming GOD]

Isn't that the same kind of thing you do when YOU go to ps3 new articles?

At least he didn't say anything remotely fanboy like the way YOU always do. Even your reply is fanboy orientated.

"Then just STFU and get the f*ck out to the BluRayStation 3 slim news or the KZ2/Resistance 2/Motorstorm 2 pricedrop to 29,95 failures!"

[PirateThom]

Hahahaha, Mart's having a complete mental breakdown as the PS3 kicks ass worldwide.

[Man_of_the_year]

Well when you are behind, i guess the only thing infront of you is the ass that you need to kick...

[Boody-Bandit]

Sorry Thom but MotY is an expert so he might be on to something.
Like your ass! ;)

The odd thing I am noticing from all the responses in the gamer and open zone is nobody is giving MS any grief for this at all. Why was Rare once great until MS took over? Are people saying MS has no influence what so ever over a company they own?

I have been waiting for ever for a sequel to Kameo, Conker, Kill Instinct, a new PD0 or Golden Eye spin off, or an entirely new IP from Rare and all we got was a sequel Viva Pinata and a vehicle based Banjo.

Shouldn't MS share some of the blame for Rare fallen from grace?

Edit:
Oh come on MotY I was just making light of the Open Zone. It wasn't personal it's just my sense of humor. I guess it doesn't appeal to everyone.

BTW are you offering or just mocking me?
Don't get my hopes up big boy!

[Man_of_the_year]

Funny how Brutallyhonest converts a non-homosexual comment into a homosexual comment...Gee i wonder what is on Brutallyhonest's mind...Gay much there Brutallyhonest? Why is homosexual thoughts going on in your mind.

MS wanted to have a bit of everything on the console. So they had RARE make games that are targeted to a different demographic than what the other games coming out were targeting. The 360 has plenty of shooters, fighters, racing games, WRPG's, JRPG's etc. So MS wanted RARE to create some games for the younger and female audiance's out there to show that there is something for everyone on the 360. i didn't think this was so hard to think of...well in the case of Brutallyhonest's mind which is full of homosexual acts, i can see why this thought never came to him.

Eye for an eye...right.

No hard feelings.

[Boody-Bandit]

You make a me so horny!
Me love you long time! :)

Dang dude relax already. Some one sure seems a little homophobic. Maybe you should talk to your pastor, preacher or find a good counselor who can help you out with that hate you carry around inside. Hate will kill yah man. Let it go. Smile and be happy. Remember puff, puff, pass. ;) <-- just joking Im too old for that sh!t any more.

I purchased Kameo, Conker (remake on the original XBox) and PD0 so I guess that makes me the younger audience? What is it with people that tag platform titles like the ones mentioned above and Ratchet and Clank type titles as kid games?

So I guess I'm a kid in a man's body and kids that play mature rated titles are the opposite. I mean if you really think about it more kids play adult rated games online that adults do. At least that has been my experience. Online gaming makes me feel old some times.

Most of my "adult" friends like those "kiddie games" more than most of the kids I know do. We grew up playing those types of games. What's wrong with still enjoying them today?

Edit: MotY it's all in good fun.

[Awesomeo3000]

im so tired of rare we only know them for goldeneye and that was like 12 years ago motion controls isnt going to make them awesome again they should just work on more avatars lol

[PirateThom]

Not just Goldeneye, there was a period when they used to produce hit game after hit game, especially on the N64.

Donkey Kong Country, Perfect Dark, Jet Force Gemini, Conker, Banjo-Kazooie, Battletoads.

Sadly, that Rare no longer exists, they exist in name and IP only and have produced good games on the 360, don't get me wrong, but nothing close to their lofty peaks and it's unlikely they'll ever recapture it.

[Jdoki]

PirateThom, you speak the truth.

The story of Rare is indeed a sad one. I agree that their 360 games have been OK (Kameo really needs a sequel), but compared to the glory days when they known as Ultimate, and latterly the N64 era, they've been a frustrating source of disappointment.

I think Nintendo could see the writing was on the wall with StarFox Adventures and the realtionship had soured too much - which is why they probably laughed all the way to the bank when they offloaded Rare to MS!

Fingers crossed Rare return to form - but the talent that made hit after hit on N64 must be long gone by now.

[Godmars290]

Regardless, you're still talking about titles that are 12 years and 2 console generations ago.

[Serg]

To this day I still wait for Killer Instinct 3, but I just can't see it happening with Microsofts claws wrapped around them. If you look back, Rare disappeared from the "Awesome developers" list around the time they have been acquired by Microsoft, coincidence? Doubt it.

So far MS has used the team for nothing but kids games and abominations of nature (Miivatars), Viva Pinata, Nuts and Bolts, nothing comes close to their Nintendo lineup back in the day, Killer Instinct, Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, Conker, none of them kids games. Well they had E rated games as well, awesome games, but right now that's the only thing MS is giving them to do and stuff like Viva Pinata is no match for titles like Banjo Kazooie.

[from the beach]

Have to interject here, I think Rare have been one of the most consistently excellent developers right through the years and to the present day. Their absolute best games - the DKC trilogy and Goldeneye - were in the past, but those are of a standard few developers ever manage to reach. They're just legendary.

As for Rare's recent output, the Viva Pinata games and Nuts and Bolts are certainly worthy of being included in the secondary tier of Rare greatness, amongst the likes of Diddy Kong Racing, the Killer Instinct games, Jet Force Gemini and so forth.

And I've no doubt whatsoever that their Natal games will be too!

[cyclindk]

The demographic they're talking about are all the kids with Master Chief helmets as their avatar...

[Double Toasted]

what about Killer Instinct?

[carajito]

I will always love you.
Hopefully you can give us magic once again .. so stop talking, get to work a prove all of us wrong.

[DARK WITNESS]

in other words;

our games are aimed at the casual market and now the 360 is aiming at the casual market. Translate; we don't know how to make hardcore games anymore for a hardcore fan base.

Well to each his own. I actually enjoy the more hardcore games and have no interest in anything from rare. If MS was to go the way of nin and go all casual, as much as i like the xbox i could quite easily see myself selling my 360's and just spending the rest of my happy gaming days on the ps3.

Natal sounds cool, but i am as interested in it as i am in the wii and ps3 motion controlling stuff; in other words -zero.

[lordkemp007]

Rare was acquired by Microsoft back in 2002 -- And they have been sh*t ever since.

What happened to the glory days of Goldeneye on N64?

[Freak of Nature]

I always hope that RARE will recapture their old magic....

This all sounds like "a massive CASUALS market" push with all the "expanding the Xbox's demographic" talk....

Just give me Conker and or a new Platforming IP with all the push and backing of Microsoft,all stops pulled,new innovative gameplay mechanic and quirky stylish charm...Bring back that old magic but in a new creative way with this new gen system....

In the end perhaps perfect dark or KI3 will be announced along with "casuals gaming galore"...

Oh how I long for the days of Conker/Banjo/cart racing/platforming from rare....At least LBP is alive and kicking...