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-   -   It's official, Rare is now a Micorsoft First Party developer (http://www.gametavern.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3333)

DarkMaster 09-12-2002 03:13 PM

It's official, Rare is now a Micorsoft First Party developer
 
Yep, you read right, First Party. Here's the full story.

Numerous sources are confirming that Nintendo and long-time second party developer Rare are finally parting ways. This month's Star Fox Adventures is reported to be the last game from the company to see release on a Nintendo console.

Rare has yet to release a Gamecube game despite receiving some of the system's first development kits. Nintendo spokesman Yasuhiro Minagawa told Bloomberg today that losing the British developer would have "little impact for us," while Microsoft remained silent on the deal.

The split has been apparent for some time, with any mention of Rare projects outside SFA being completely absent for months, including at this past E3. With details of the deal still to be confirmed, a public announcement has been put on hold.

Though an accomplished developer since before the days of the NES, Rareware became stars with 1994's Donkey Kong Country. The Super Nintendo classic, one of the first games to completely feature prerendered graphics, represented what has become a trend for Nintendo - farming out franchises to outside talent.

Three years later, Rare took another dormant license and matched it with another classic game. James Bond returned in the 1997 blockbuster GoldenEye 007, which sold nearly 5 million copies in the U.S. alone and fully realized the idea of a complex first-person shooter on consoles.

But that was Rare's last smash. Despite being seen in the industry as a shining light of support for the Nintendo 64, critical acclaim would not translate into sales success for Rare's own franchises. The most notable examples were Conker's Bad Fur Day and the unofficial follow-up to GoldenEye, Perfect Dark.

The price for the Bond license increased exponentially after the success of GoldenEye, and the choice to not renew it led to the creation of Perfect Dark. The game was well-received by the press and sold nearly 600,000 copies, a healthy number for most games but a large disappointment in comparison.

Far more disappointing were the sales of Conker's Bad Fur Day, a raunchy and revolutionary platformer that began life as a cute Super Mario 64 clone and was in development for over four years. Conker the foul-mouthed squirrel was promoted heavily, including a close relationship with Playboy, but the high concept of cartoon debauchery failed at retail with a meager 200,000 copies sold.

Second parties have gradually become less a part of Nintendo's business plan as the company built relationships with powerhouses such as Capcom, Namco and Sega. These companies are working on Zelda, Starfox, and F-Zero games respectively.

With the return on Rare's games diminishing and development cycles steadily increasing in length, Nintendo turned down multiple chances to extend their 49% stake in Rare to full ownership over the past year. This led to rumors of a sale to Activision, and later the arrangement with Microsoft.

Nintendo owns the Banjo-Kazooie and Diddy Kong universes, which include Conker the squirrel, who quietly debuted as his originally cute self in Diddy Kong Racing in November of 1997.

The fate of confirmed Rare projects with Nintendo licenses, such as Donkey Kong Racing for the Gamecube, remains undetermined, as does the future of Rare-created content published by Nintendo such as Perfect Dark. The company's Game Boy Advance projects appear to be unaffected by the deal.

An official announcement is expected shortly, and Microsoft is set to debut Rare as a first-party developer at their X02 Europe event in Spain on the 24th of this month.

Source: Gameforms

Crono 09-12-2002 03:34 PM

...shouldnt this be in xbox forum? meh...

And the best part of this is that I dont care. :p I'm gonna buy an Xbox next year anyway...and without Nintendo supervising I have my doubts that their games will be as good as before.

Bond 09-12-2002 04:00 PM

Someone please move this to the Xbox forum when you get a chance.

BlueFire 09-12-2002 06:16 PM

T'was bound to happen. :unsure: Oh well. I hope I'll be getting an XBox, but i doubt that will happen anytime soon. :unsure:

Angrist 09-13-2002 09:42 AM

:unsure:

Professor S 09-13-2002 10:48 AM

I don't care what Nintendo says, this is a huge blow to them. Think about it.

10% of Nintendo's software profits came from Rare in 2001, a year when Rare didn't even release a game I believe. Take into account that conservative 40% of Nintendo's profits probably came from their Handhelds that year as Pokemon and the like were HUGE.

Now, that means that 17% of Nintendo's software profits from consoles came from one developer, in a year when they didn't release a game.

Wow.

Null 09-13-2002 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Strangler
I don't care what Nintendo says, this is a huge blow to them. Think about it.

10% of Nintendo's software profits came from Rare in 2001, a year when Rare didn't even release a game I believe. Take into account that conservative 40% of Nintendo's profits probably came from their Handhelds that year as Pokemon and the like were HUGE.

Now, that means that 17% of Nintendo's software profits from consoles came from one developer, in a year when they didn't release a game.

Wow.

which means its from people buying thier old games?

in which nintendo will still be getting the profits from thoes old games anyway. Correct?

thatmariolover 09-13-2002 12:40 PM

Technically it's not official yet.

Though I have no doubt that it will soon be announced, there has been no official press release from any of the three parties involved stating the news to be fact.

Don't say it's official until then. In the mean-time the topic should probably be edited (or don't bother, I guess it's not that big of a deal. Just misleading...)

And no, this shouldn't be in just the Xbox forum, it should be in both. This is news that effects Nintendo and Xbox fans.

Professor S 09-13-2002 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Null
which means its from people buying thier old games?

in which nintendo will still be getting the profits from thoes old games anyway. Correct?

In 2002 I think Rare has only made up for 1.5% or so of Nintedo's software sales, but that wasn't my point.

If Rare hs that significant of an impact in 2001, a year that they didn't even release a game, how do you think that will translate once MS starts releasing their games on the XBox. If Rare makes up 17% of Nintendo's console software profits in a year that they didn't release a game, what do you think the revenue will be when they release new games on the XBox? Plus Nintendo has to fill that void of losing a consistent revenue generator on the software end, plus a developer that pushes their console into homes (which I think they will do quite nicely, but its still future profits that will be lost when they could have pulled ahead instead of evening out)

Shadow_Link 09-13-2002 01:38 PM

Strangler, I believe they released a game in early 2001 (9.5%), but they haven't released a game in 2002 (1.5%).

Though it may result in a loss of some income, looking on the larger scale of things, 3rd parties are giving even more support for the GC, which makes up for that loss, and then some. Sqaure is definately a plus, and then you have 2 'new' RE's coming out for the GC (RE0 & RE4)...

Nintendo have also acquired new first and second parties, so I guess it's not all bad for Nintendo, and they also gain alot of money from the deal, apprarently recieving three times the value of their shares, which could be used to secure other deals, such as the next DW/DQ game (that's just an example, it probably won't happen)...

Then again, one could say, sure, Nintendo could have had all this PLUS the support of Rare. Needless to say, the GC will be getting alot out of Star Fox Adventures.

Perfect Stu 09-13-2002 02:42 PM

what does Nintendo need more right now:

a) the amazing talent of Rareware?
or
b) the large sum of money they're getting out of this deal?


now, what does Microsoft need more right now:

a) the amazing talent of Rareware?
or
b) the large sum of money they're buying Rare for?


I'm pretty sure the answers to both questions are a), especially with Microsoft, but I can see how the first question could be arguable...especially for Nintendo fans

Professor S 09-13-2002 02:52 PM

Excellent point Stu, at this point in such a young system I really think they could have used a great developer over a wad o' dough.

Trowser 09-13-2002 03:32 PM

Rare is overrated anyway.I HATE them because they delay EVERY game about 5 times before it is released.The only good thing was Banjo-Tooie and the FPS games.

Null 09-13-2002 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Trowser
Rare is overrated anyway.I HATE them because they delay EVERY game about 5 times before it is released.The only good thing was Banjo-Tooie and the FPS games.
wouldnt that mean you hate nintendo too?



and i dont think nintendo needs rare at all. if they did they wouldnt sell them.

Perfect Stu 09-13-2002 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Null
and i dont think nintendo needs rare at all. if they did they wouldnt sell them.
right, cause they're already dominating console hardware and software sales...

right?

:sneaky:

Professor S 09-13-2002 04:37 PM

Quote:

Rare is overrated anyway.I HATE them because they delay EVERY game about 5 times before it is released.The only good thing was Banjo-Tooie and the FPS games.
I like Sega right now, but if they sign up with Nintendo, they will then officially stink and will never have been any good.

That sounds logical, right?:D

playa_playa 09-14-2002 01:30 AM

first party?

misleading title.

Null 09-14-2002 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Perfect Stu
right, cause they're already dominating console hardware and software sales...

right?

:sneaky:

yea, and rare makes the difference in that, instead of using the money they get from rare to get more developers with them instead.

right?

:sneaky:

GameKinG 09-14-2002 02:44 AM

Sept. 9 mailbag for uncle tusk at Rareware.com says Banjo advance will we released for GBA soon. i.e. SFA will not be last...

GameKinG 09-14-2002 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BLueFire
T'was bound to happen. :unsure: Oh well. I hope I'll be getting an XBox, but i doubt that will happen anytime soon. :unsure:
Bound to happen? Who would have thought that microsoft would buy there way into the game biz, and pick up rareware as a first party...one of the most least likely things I think...

But, on a general basis, if you meant MS screwing millions of people pver and buying companies from good publishers that were good because of the publisher...then yeah, you got MS picked...

Bond 09-14-2002 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GameKinG
But, on a general basis, if you meant MS screwing millions of people pver and buying companies from good publishers that were good because of the publisher...then yeah, you got MS picked...
Well, if the reports are true. Nintendo basically gave up Rare. And if they've screwed anyone over, it would only be Nintendo fans.

DarkMaster 09-14-2002 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by playa_playa
first party?

misleading title.

its not misleading, reports say that microsoft completely bought them out, hence first party.

GameKinG 09-14-2002 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bond
Well, if the reports are true. Nintendo basically gave up Rare. And if they've screwed anyone over, it would only be Nintendo fans.
Yeah, there are millions of nintendo fans. And MS screwed us over by buying them as an exclusive company instead of Activision or somebody...I dont blame nintendo for taking the money.

Joeiss 09-14-2002 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GameKinG
Yeah, there are millions of nintendo fans. And MS screwed us over by buying them as an exclusive company instead of Activision or somebody...I dont blame nintendo for taking the money.
How did MS screw over Nintendo fans if Nintendo didn't capitalize on buying Rare when they could have?

Professor S 09-14-2002 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GameKinG
Yeah, there are millions of nintendo fans. And MS screwed us over by buying them as an exclusive company instead of Activision or somebody...I dont blame nintendo for taking the money.
Soimeone has his bitter grumpypants on...

Yoda9864 09-14-2002 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Trowser
Rare is overrated anyway.I HATE them because they delay EVERY game about 5 times before it is released.The only good thing was Banjo-Tooie and the FPS games.
Well, I don't think they are overrated, not at all. I think they are a very good developer. The talent is there, but they just have to work faster. I'm sorry, but I too am sick of them delaying every game when the game they release isn't even the best it could be. Sure Nintendo delays too, but the games they release are worht the delay.

I just think it's sad that Rare hasn't released a game for the GC yet when they were one of hte first to get dev kits. If they continue on that pace, I say screw them. It's not worth it for Nintendo to liscence out their characters to Rare when in return they only get one game in a whole year.

GameKinG 09-14-2002 07:56 PM

They probably saw not buying them as no threat to them actually leaving. They dont have to spend any more money on them (because they did make them loose a lot of money) but they can still make games for cube. I dont think they would imagine that a company they had not even competed with yet, would buy Rare from them. In the end its biz, and MS was the devil and offered offer so (too) much money they could resist.

The devil will do that, so Ive heard...

;)

Bond 09-14-2002 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GameKinG
They probably saw not buying them as no threat to them actually leaving. They dont have to spend any more money on them (because they did make them loose a lot of money) but they can still make games for cube. I dont think they would imagine that a company they had not even competed with yet, would buy Rare from them. In the end its biz, and MS was the devil and offered offer so (too) much money they could resist.

The devil will do that, so Ive heard...

;)

It's called business. It will win product and console wars, whether or not it is 'nice' it is business.

And would someone please move this to the Xbox forum?

GameKinG 09-14-2002 11:33 PM

"In the end its biz," I said.

Perfect Stu 09-15-2002 08:42 AM

but you're not bitter, right GameKinG?

:lol:

Angrist 09-15-2002 09:00 AM

I want the official word. :(

What about all those AGB games they were developing? They've spend so much money and time on those, are they just gonna drop them??? :unsure:

GameKinG 09-15-2002 01:56 PM

Rareware.com says Sabre Wulf and and Banjo will come out soon, no real word on Diddy Kong Pilot.

Joeiss 09-15-2002 02:09 PM

Yeah, they will still release GBA games.

Bond 09-15-2002 02:12 PM

If Rare releases games for the Game Boy Advance keep in mind Microsoft will also benefit.

Professor S 09-15-2002 02:27 PM

I'm pretty sure Microsoft is even developing games for the GBA themselves.

Joeiss 09-15-2002 02:28 PM

Exactly.

Isn't MS publishing some games for the GBA anyways?

Professor S 09-15-2002 02:29 PM

haha, beat you:D

Joeiss 09-15-2002 03:15 PM

Damn that was close!

DarkDemonic726 09-15-2002 03:55 PM

oh well i have all 3 next gen systems so where ever they move ill be able to buy or play their games or any game that comes out for that matter

GameKinG 09-15-2002 03:59 PM

Yep, Microsoft is publishing games for GBA already. So they have somewhat a connection with Nintendo. This may have helped in forming the deal.


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