Playtonic, the promising ex-Rare developers behind Project Ukulele, have been interviewed by The Guardian. There’s a wealth of information contained within the interview, especially about Rare of the past and of the present. Interestingly one of the former staff members says that Microsoft gave Rare more freedom than they had with Nintendo. You can read the full interview, right here.
“I still chat to them, I know what they were working on when I left last year,” says Playtonic’s studio head, Gavin Price, who worked for Rare for 20 years, having joined as a tester in the 1990s. “It sounds really good.”
“I want them to do well,” says Price. “They’re mates and we left them behind to come and do this. I’m looking forward to what they’re doing next – people will be really happy to see it.” Asked whether it would be a Kinect-focused title, like the studio’s other recent projects, he replied: “I can’t say for sure what they are or aren’t doing with that piece of hardware that Microsoft isn’t supporting much anymore.”
The team has also talked about including a vast range of non-player characters in Project Ukulele, who will then star in their own spin-off titles. Intriguingly, they have even expressed an interest in working with Rare again in some capacity. “You never know, there are some good old mates of ours down the road, they may might want to do a little multi-studio collaboration,” says Price. “We’re just going to be open minded. We’re not trying to look too far ahead. We’ll make the right decision when we get there.”
“For me, it was more about [Rare founders] Tim and Chris Stamper leaving,” says Playtonic technical director Jens Restemeier, who worked at Rare handling handheld conversions of key titles. “There was no sense of progression about what the company was going to do from that point on. The story people want to hear is that Microsoft came in and destroyed everything. It wasn’t like that. They gave us freedom, almost more freedom than Nintendo gave us.”
Sonic Boom screenshot that is.
https://youtu.be/0caSZ7sj_3I
While the more freedom than Nintendo comment may be true, Nintendo gave them a reason to exist, and excel. With their direction, they became extremely successful. Microsoft hasn’t really given them that, but it’s still Nintendo’s loss.
He said almost more freedom than Nintendo gave them
almost* more freedom. :P
Sickr: Interestingly one of the former staff members says that Microsoft gave Rare more freedom than they had with Nintendo.
Former Rare employee: They gave us freedom, almost more freedom than Nintendo gave us.
Microsoft gave them freedom to do Kinect Sports…. Oh and the sequel.
And look how their game turned out. Steaming pile of SHIT.
Yet Rare was only cool with Nintendo
This is nice. It’s cool how they still care about their company even though that company is in hell.
https://youtu.be/NAPSTcKhtxM?t=37s
reveal nintendo commander darksamus reïncarnated already xd
He has changed himself to become more Mobile.
screw you commander. nobody want to read your nonsense.
People might think of Rare with only the Kinect games but they’ve made an underrated game called Viva Pinata which gotten a sequel and a pocket edition to the DS.
Not only what I said above, but with the new head for Xbox, it looks like he will bring Rare to a better direction than only doing the Kinect games.
I guess the developers from Rare either like or hated Microsoft.
No. The REAL devs of the REAL Rare back from Nintendo’s days have fled after Microsoft fucked their reputation over and realized letting them buy Rare away was a HUGE mistake.
He doesn’t even say that Microsoft gave them more freedom than Nintendo… He clearly says that they ALMOST gave them more freedom than Nintendo. Should fix that.
Microsoft gave freedom? You call being forced to make nothing but Kinect games freedom?
yes
Then you must like Kinect garbage. Fucking idiot
LMAO I was joking XD
Technically that may have been Rare’s decision with Microsoft seeing the potential in sales. Of course that failed.
How much were they payed to say that?
Apparently a lot. Look at 3 comments down
“The story people want to hear is that Microsoft came in and destroyed everything. It wasn’t like that. They gave us freedom, almost more freedom than Nintendo gave us.”
Go fuck yourself Playtonic.
Oh fucking cry me a new planet of water. Playtronic has no fucking idea how popular and loved Rare was when the old team was with Nintendo. So let’s ask those assholes this question: If Microsoft “granted them more freedom”, then explain 1. Why the old team left and 2. Why did the new team keep making GARBAGE that tanked the studio’s reputation straight to hell?
THIS!! ^^^^^^ X 9000000 AGREE
As of matter of fact, I’m gonna see if I can email those questions or ask them on FB, Twitter, whatever because these idiots seriously asked to be schooled for defending bullshit and garbage like Microsoft/DEADRare
If Microsoft gave them freedom then their games should have to just as great as their days at Nintendo. Even if they meant in regards to what they want to do with their products like where they wanted to take Donkey Kong, them forced to change Dinosaur planet in Star Fox Adventures, and Nintendo not funding Goldeneye 007. Rare gave it time and it gain lots of acclaim. Since the Microsoft buyout Rare released sequels/remakes such as Perfect Dark Zero, Conker Bad Fur Day, Killer Instinct, and Banjo & Kazooie Nuts and Bolts, all of which are necessary “bad games” but for die hard fans they just weren’t great
what does Grant Kirkhope think? LOLOLOLOLOL
http://mynintendonews.com/2012/07/06/former-rare-composer-microsoft-has-completely-ruined-rare/
If a true Banjo Threeie comes out I’m buying an Xbox One.
I rather butcher my left hand off than buy that fucking garbage DRM fire hazard of a console for one game that’s potentially gonna be AS WORSE as Nuts and Bolts. Rare is dead and everything else with it became a laughing stock of the world. Banjo and Conker are no more as well.
Freedom doesn’t mean Microsoft did what was right. Microsoft left them to rot. If you are going to buy a company, you should have pans for them or be capable of making plans for that company. Microsoft just bought them and said… “Okay, now do some stuff. I’ll be sitting over here. Make us some money.”
If Nintendo didn’t want Rare, then they did the right thing in not doing anything they possibly could to buy them out. But, Microsoft bought Rare and did nothing…
All that freedom meant nothing. At least Rare had something to work for when they were partnering with Nintendo.
Nintendo was stupid letting Rare go. Didn’t they see the Banjo Kazooie, Starfox Adventures and DK64 quality and support they had. That was stupid.
Ultimately, it was Rare’s final say to accept being with Microsoft or Nintendo. They made their choice to leave and paid the ultimate price. Remember what I said, that buyout (which was unnecessary from the start) was like making a deal with the devil and to me, it sounded like that Rare was once a lost cause until Nintendo stepped in, gave them something to do and taught them how it should be done to unlock their true potential (kinda like acting as their parents/mentor) which made them very lovable and reliable back then. But when the day came that either they betrayed Nintendo and left them for empty promises for $ and freedom with Microsoft or decided they’re old enough to survive on their own at a young age, they had nothing to do nor had any idea what to do or where to go because Microsoft just left them alone to do whatever without a hint of direction to take so the old team left and felt ashamed for leaving Nintendo ever since.
You know the old wise saying: Freedom is never free and freedom always come at a price.
Oh wow freedom! It sure has made them a lot better…
Nuts and Bolts would like to have a word with these sad PR dumbasses.
Just… don’t d anything that’s going to mean it’s an Xbox exclusive.
I kind of have a lot of hope for Playtonic, but it does me no good if it ends up on just PC or a console I don’t want.
Omg, you missquoted your own fact. They didn’t say they got “more freedom” , you literally quote them as saying “They gave us freedom, almost more freedom than Nintendo gave us.” Almost. Not more, not the same amount, but slightly less. Nice.
Omg, you missquoted your own fact. They didn’t say they got “more freedom” , you literally quote them as saying “They gave us freedom, almost more freedom than Nintendo gave us.” Almost. Not more, not the same amount, but slightly less. Nice…
This interview sounds like Nintendo aren’t interested in playtonic and they are now reaching out to Microsoft! Any company that respects Microsoft can go fuck themselves. Looks like ninty may have spotted this and thought the same?
Gave Rare more freedom than ever? Ha! Then explain why are they still making even more embarrassing garbage like Nuts and Bolts and fucking Project Spark that degraded both Banjo and Conker from ever coming back to the spotlight that NINTENDO GAVE THEM?! Keep in mind, this new Rare is NOT the old Rare we use to know and love so much so this little “Our way is better than theirs” excuse is not gonna work. RARE IS DEAD and MICROSOFT STOLE & KILLED THEM. That’s the only real truth about them now.
<<>>
I know that’s you Commander. Stop with the dramatic “corrupt evolution” BS act. I know you’re pissed and I’m pissed too; at Nintendo. But this is seriously not helping. lol
“Almost more freedom”
So…less freedom?