Rare: Is Microsoft Really to Blame for Ruining Them?

Gameplay Today's AJ Lysiak looks at the state of Rare and if Microsoft is really to blame for the famed developer going from making hits like Donkey Kong Country to motion-controlled titles and XBLA ports.

[GunShotEddy]

Simple answer: Yes!

[NYC_Gamer]

not really because most of the original team left before MS brought them

[Nitrowolf2]

I think the team was dead just before MS bought them. As you said many left as Nintendo were preparing to sell them. I think they just lost there way towards the end of Nintendo ownership.
I don't think MS is to blame for it.
For Nintendo this was a Financial problem thats why they were sold off.
For most not many of the original devs were at Rare Anymore before the sale.

Nintendo sold a dieing studio and MS got RARE names.

[Finger-Eater]

Banjo-Kazooie Nuts and bolts cant even compare to the original on N64.

[captain-obvious]

buying rare was a waste of money
instead they should have bought some other good developer like bioware when they where available
or even better
make new ones

[lastdual]

Yeah, the minds behind most of Rare's classics were already gone before MS made the purchase.

Too bad, as that was one heck of a team, but like other legendary developers that died off (Black Isle, Looking Glass Studios...), they're just a fond memory now, although I'm sure some of the members are off doing their own new things.

[Godmars290]

MS firing the rest and now laying off the entire art department certainly hasn't helped things.

And yet if Killer Instinct is announced people will go crazy. Even though there will literally be nothing to support that excitement besides Rare's gutted name.

[HolyOrangeCows]

Rare = Part of Microsoft

So, honestly, you're asking if Microsoft is to blame for Microsoft.

[BeaRye]

Do you spend all your time in ignorance Gunshot? Rare was and is a shell of itself. MS didnt ruin it. Nintendo let thier shares go because Rare was already dying.

[afterMoth]

Exactly, Nintendo let them go as they weren't going to produce anything of value. Sure enough they've completely sucked ass this generation.

[jonlynch]

I'm sorry, what!? First, I like all Rare games including Grabbed by the Ghoulies. Second, Rare wasn't ruined by Microsoft.

[Persistantthug]

Yes, it is true, alot of the talent left after MS bought RARE.

But isn't it the parent company's responsibility to replenish and nurture said company back to health?

Isn't it up to MICROSOFT's power to get them back on the right track, and provide them what they need so that their CREATIVE MUSCLE can get flexed and exercised back into shape?

If Microsoft had a clue on how to do this said nurturing, then one of the Greatests developers in history wouldn't be a shell of itself today.

That's why Bungie got on the first thing smokin to get the hell away from Microsoft As soon as possible, and it shows Microsofts ineptitude regarding game development.

Some things, money just can't buy.

[LeXxXiNgToN]

I agree, MS is sitting on some of the greatest I.P.s in gaming (perfect dark, Conker Bad fur day, Killer Instinct, Jet Force Gemini) But instead of hiring new talent and restoring these I.P.s to there past greatness, MS has Rare working on avatars and motion games that everyone will forget about in a few years.

[eggbert]

They were dead before Microsoft acquired them.

Microsoft just shafted themselves over by paying such an extraordinary amount for a now mediocre team. Nintendo executives probably had their trollfaces on during deal day.

[Persistantthug]

"Nintendo executives probably had their trollfaces on during deal day."

That was funny....bubble worthy.

Thanks for that.
lol

[ShyGuy13]

They made good games even after MS bought them. So, no.

[lazertroy]

Yes

[MasterD919]

I think Perfect Dark Zero ruined them...I bought it for 4 bucks and still feel ripped off.

[Kon]

Yes, lets blame microsoft, as usual.

[Nicaragua]

Microsoft turned my milk sour.

[jacksonmichael]

Windows 95 ruined my life. Because it couldn't load FFVII. lol.

[Silentmerc3nary]

In part, yes. If Microsoft didn't make them do all this Kinect tosh, they'd be great. Kameo and Banjo-Kazooie: Nut's and Bolt's were brill.

[StitchJones]

Yes, Microsoft is to blame for Rare's decline and demise.

[Happythedog]

Who else is there to blame? Lol, let's blame Sony.

[Uncharted3Goty]

i wont be suprised everyone is going to blame sony for something

.the world didnt end its sony falut LOL

.damn i got a parking ticket damn you sony

. those guys jumped me its they must be working for sony

and i could go on and on.

[Uncharted3Goty]

IN my opinion yes i would say Micosoft would be the one to blame here. Here me out first before you guys disagree

Rare made some of the best games when they where working for nintendo on the N64 they had

Diddy Kong Racing Nintendo 64
GoldenEye 007
Banjo-Kazooie Plus Sequel
Donkey Kong 64

Conker's Bad Fur Day

and many more i listed some of the best games back then

[NYC_Gamer]

you do understand that many of the talent behind those games left the company before they were sold

Edit@below
if most of the good talent leaves the studio to form other teams.......do you expect huge hits?

[Uncharted3Goty]

so your saying that everyone that was good left Left Rare and the ones who cant make games stayed ? sorry NYC-Gamer but i highly doubt.

my point is that there is no company out there that has lost every good worker the ones who cant do anything stayed there is always some one good still in a company.

Exp infinity award you could say the good ones left but your going to say there is no one who knows who to make games still there.

[HOSe]

microsoft bought a console developer (RARE) when they needed PC Game developers.

[lochdoun]

Microsoft didn't buy them solely for the team (who had mostly left when they were still working on Nintendo games).

They bought them for all of the great IPs.

Unfortunately they haven't done much with those IPs in the past 2-3 years.

[Moerdigan]

They bought them for the IP that, for the most part refuse to let them make games with, they gave banjo, Conker and Kameo a shot, and MS as of now aren't allowing follow ups in those series, and instead, we get kinect mini games.

[Iceman100]

"Is Microsoft Really to Blame for Ruining Them?"

yes yes they are.

[gcolley]

they hadn't really done a hell of a lot leading up to the purchase. just another developer riding on past glories. the only thing MS did wrong was buying a rubbish developer where most of the talent had moved on

[KongRudi]

Well, besides Turn 10 and Lionhead, I don't know any gamestudio wich have lasted, or thrived, at Microsoft.

Something tells me their not giving the people working for them enough leash to do their job, making new IP's or more build on their old ones.
Or if they do, they're not good at hiring the correct people to do it.

I really liked Ensamble, their PC-studio wich did the Age of Wonder-games, those were fun..
As for the rest, I don't know to much about them.

[erasure242]

So... When are we going to see the "Microsoft is the cause for poverty and world hunger" articles on n4g?

[lazertroy]

What companies has Sony or Nintendo destroyed if any?

[gamer7804]

Gotta love these loaded question articles. Answer is neither. In my opinion and with sales kinect sports is a grea game. i hope rare continues to make quality kinect titles.

[jay2]

Well obvously they are, the only decent game thats come out from them this gen is Kamio, but K. 2 was killed and they've been reduced to making Wii Sports HD for some of the best games out such as Banjo Kazooie.

[MeNoRasta]

Yes lets all blame Microsoft on the biggest ps3 fanboy website N4G.com.
But Sony never got hardly any blame about the psn hack on here because it was all "I forgive you Sony".

[gypsygib]

MS should have had them do something more with the Perfect Dark and Kameo series, both were good games for their time.