It's official, Rare is now a Micorsoft First Party developer

[TheGame]

Originally posted by Shadow_Link
My opinion of Rare has not changed, I still think they make great games, and hope that even without the help that Nintendo offers Rare, they can maintain these high standards. It will be tough though, not just because Nintendo won't be backing them (hey can make great games without them), but because many key members have left, and are leaving. Reports suggest that some members now work at Retro (1st party of Nintendo), while others are gaining jobs at places like Capcom, which probably isn't a surprise seeing that Capcom are developing a ton of exclusive software for the GC...

Rare can always hire new and talented workers, and maybe Microsoft can switch a few key members from other development house to Rare.

Either way, both companis have gained alot. Microsoft, while having to pay 3 times the stock worth of Rare to Nintendo, gain not only a big name in the gaming world which could attract some gamers, but also some talelnted people. Nintendo on the othe hand, have gained a **** load of cash, with can not only be used in the fund Q project, but also be useful in securing more exclusive content from companies like Square, Enix, Sega, Rockstar/Remedy and maybe Konami.
Furhtermore, Nintendo have managed to nab a few Rare employees (such as the Retro example) for use in their internal development houses.

And alot of 'current' Rare employees have expressed anger at the fact that they have spent atleast 2 years on learning the ins and puts of the GC hardware, and that having to go to waste. These are the ones which are leaving to form separate development teams.

Rare's top developers left a long time ago to form a group called NRD (New Radical Design)... Funny, because Perfect Dark and Conker, Rare's two top rated games, came after they left. Developers can always be replaced. For one guy on a team of 50, there is 10 guys who know the ropes just as good.

I'm not going to say Rare is going to be the greatist thing ever on Xbox, I'm just saying most people are disrespecting the best 2nd party Nintendo had.