There's no denying that British developer Rare has fallen from grace since it was acquired by Microsoft in 2002. Some would say that the quality of Rare's games have suffered, but Rare believes it's a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, with the Xbox demographic not interested in its latest offerings. Fortunately, Project Natal will fix everything, because motion control is the FUTURE OF ALL THINGS!
"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," offers design director George 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.
"Whereas now with Natal, it looks like the roads are on the same path. It’s a union of the two philosophies of the different companies, I guess. Natal is supposed to reach out to a broader audience and a broader consumer, and Rare’s products are always aiming in that direction as well. So from that perspective the future looks incredibly bright for us really. It’s definitely something everyone’s enthused about and energized about."
I'm really worried about people who think that Project Natal is the answer to all their problems. Okay, so motion control worked for Nintendo, but that's mainly because Nintendo got in first. Microsoft trying to follow Nintendo is no guarantee that a wider, more mainstream audience will come. Maybe it will, but there are a lot of eggs being counted before they hatch.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
2:40 PM on 08.25.2009
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Or make a new Battletoads.
Those will put you back in the spotlight, Rare.
How about using the tile
'RARE has been battling the 'People who like GOOD games demographic'?!
Ok, so maybe that's a bit of hyperbole, but this really just smells like innovation for innovation's sake. Was there really a demand for this outside of geekdom?
There's a rumour going round that RARE will make Killer Instinct with NATAL.
Which means, Dumbing down for the win!!
Coincidence, or symbolism?
Sadly it seems most of the people that buy 360's are just meat heads that like guns.
Rare would have done a lot better at Sony.
Picture dad, jr, princess, and mom sitting on a couch playing the racing game from the demo on stage at E3. Now, equip Xbox Live voice chat.
"WHAT THE F*CK YOU CUT ME OFF YOU FAG! F***** N*****!!!!!" Soccer mom goes and bans kids from playing Xbox. They return it the next day and buy a Wii.
I think it's just think that RARE has yet to evolve past the N64 era. Their mechanics and workmanship always seem...dated.
I've enjoyed Rare's games right along. I feel like I'm the only person who recognizes that their older games weren't perfect (though they were awesome) and that their new games are both fun and different (again, awesome). Sales though? Different thing, but I can't escape the feeling that a big part of that is from the stigma of "new" and "old" Rare.
Because I think the reason their games haven't been successful lately is because of a false impression they changed (can't ignore some staff changes though), I think a campaign saying they're changing again may help their plight.
Rare's games on 360 have been terrible. Viva Piniata was ok, the best one I guess, but even it was just a shadow of similar games on other platforms.
MS wants to rule the livingroom and get everyone to be some kind of gamer, but in the end I really feel the Natal will be this generation's 32X.
I don't see how this constitutes the horrible string of LOLable failures that so many reference.
Seriously, I don't even like cutesy games, I'm at shooter-loving Xbro and proud of it... but I clocked more than a hundred hours on Trouble in Paradise. Don't knock it till you've tried it.
Time for a change before it is too late.
Now obviously it isn't everyone. I for instance love my fag games. It does mean that if you want to sell massive amounts there is a big demographic that is hard to win over on the 360 with anything that isn't a brown shooter. Natal won't fix this.
Make a good new Conker or make a new IP. Then I'll care.
Blame me for accidentally opening Photoshop.
does anyone else find it ironic that a company named Rare apparently has always been making games for the masses?