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."
With the Perfect Dark reboot set to launch later this year, it's time to look back at Perfect Dark Zero, nearly 20 years later.
At the rate xbox is going you'll have another 20 years to play the original before the reboot arrives
Perfect Dark Zero launched alongside the Xbox 360 back in 2005, to much criticism. 18 years later, is it worth another look?
Perfect Dark Zero was the first game that I purchased for my XBOX 360. I still have the game in my collection. I think I played it for about 45 minutes in total over the past 18 years. It's a really bad game, and I was so disappointed when I first fired it up almost 20 years ago.
I had fun with the mutiplayer. Didnt feel like Perfect Dark, but still had some fun with it
Kameo: Elements of Power arrived as an Xbox 360 launch title. It didn't reinvent the wheel, but deserves more respect than you might think.
There was a sequel in the works but got canceled because of the Kinect......
I doubt we'll see a follow up.
Wasn't a fan.
I give it another try every few years, but it always falls flat for me.
I remember following this game when it was a N64/GCN game. By the time it came out I didn't even care anymore. It spanned 4 consoles by the time it finally released. It was ridiculous. lol
Rare leaving nintendo was the worst choice they have ever made.
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.
.. there would have been no incentive to "defend" them in the first place.
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.
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,