Project Natal has claimed its first victim, with the followup to Rare's 2005 adventure game Kameo thrown on the scrapheap to make way for projects involving Microsoft's magical waggle monster. According to rumors, Kameo 2 was just one of several "traditional" projects quietly murdered in the name of Natal.
As a premier Microsoft studio, it's clear that Rare will be in the vanguard of Project Natal's march. The company is hard at work on motion-sensing nonsense and doesn't have time for old-fashioned games. It's also been reported that the poor sales of the original Kameo helped make the decision far easier. Let's be honest, Kameo was never going to be a major franchise and this could almost be seen as a mercy killing.
Kameo 2 isn't exactly a big loss, but it makes one wonder what else has been thrown away in favor of this new gimmick. I hate hearing that games have been scrapped because some new piece of kit is hitting the market, and I hope that this doesn't become a running theme.
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Contest:
9:20 AM on 11.02.2009
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So, it's too bad that this project was cancelled. What Natal exclusive game is Rare working on right now? And is there any information on when it will be released? I ask because I am skeptical of the rumored Fall 2009 window, what with no software announcements.
I think MICROSOFT will try to do that, but I don't think the 360 developers will. For starters, it's a more powerful console, so people have certain standards for graphics quality, since it's a HD console with some fantastic looking games already out. Plus the achievements system being regulated etc, MS won't want to make it easy for shovelware to allow casual gamers to quickly catch up to "hardcore" gamers easily, because that will piss of a large portion of the userbase who care about Gamerscore.
On the other hand. Microsoft loves money. The Wii is a money printing machine. MS want some of that pie. But they're greedy and want the whole damn thing, so they're likely to jump in with both feet and change marketing stances completely to entice Wii owners.
And we all know what happened last time MS jumped in with both feet for something. It led to a lot of bright red lights.
Yes I said it.
Then my wife will love the Xbox again. Currently she wants to throw it out the window because of Borderland.
Also, Kameo was alright but nothing spectacular. The controls took me forever to get used to.
I'd love to have a new IP that concentrated more on having fun then being an ultra-realistic future war simulator, but I think the first Kameo was enough for that IP.
Definitely want another Viva Pinata though.
What? Are you saying there are only FPS games in the 360/PS3 library? Or do you just enjoy FPS?
I have more NON-FPS games in my own 360/PS3 collection and I have over 30 games.
You obviously don't know what the hell you are talking about.
Lionhead should be leading this project more directly as they seem more concerned in my opinion, especially as it is Molyneaux's lair.
They've diminished imo, but the company has seen many changes I suppose. Hopefully they can make another great change.
I'm keeping an open mind with Natal projects, especially ones headed by companies and staff who've made projects I've really liked in the past.
after Banjo-Kazooie 3? No. I don't care anymore.
Nuts and Bolts was not BK3. It was a spinoff with a few similar elements and characters. It was an excellent game, by the way, especially at the $40 price point it was released at. I'd love a sequel to that game.
I'd also love a TRUE BK sequel too.
It was a launch title, but damn.
I liked Kameo. I would have loved a sequel. Oh, well. No money for you from me, Rare.
Maybe we will have Viva Pinata Natal instead.