Rare used to be Nintendo's behemoth, their go-to guys when it came to crafting first-party masterpieces. They really made their name on the N64, but afterwards their relationship with the Big N got a little more complicated and they now reside under the Microsoft umbrella. However, last year they released the rather sensational Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise, a game which regrettably undersold considering its huge quality.
Anyway, whether influenced by this or not, the decision was taken not to develop any more handheld games for a while, but Rare recently spoke out about this and wanted to let you Nintendo fans know not to count them out:
“I don’t think it’s fair to assume that we’ve permanently quit DS development, but yes, we are focusing on other things at the moment. Natal is a pretty big deal and needs a lot of attention.”
Of course, it probably doesn't help they're also working on bringing N64 classic Perfect Dark to Xbox Live Arcade, but all the same, it's good to know those boys and girls at Rare haven't forgotten about you Nintendo fans. Just keep calm, stay cool and be patient. Sit on your fingers if you have to - the Magic 8 Ball suggests they will return.
[source nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 40
Wonder if they think it's fun to get the fans' hopes up...
That is true, Damo, but it will be a long while from the way it sounds and by then Microsoft's Zune may have taken off and they make them produce stuff only for it
As long as Microsoft don't enter the handheld arena then there's every reason to expect more DS titles from Rare. They've supported that machine as well as the old GBA.
Yes, Rare on DS is not surprising...oh why do you toy with my heart and tempt me with goldeneye, Nintendolife?
YES!!! My life may just be complete!
You know that they can just buy out Rare from Microsoft and either become a independant third-party developer or sell it to Nintendo.
If they decide to do the latter, Nintendo better accept the purchase.
Oh, and Rare also developed Diddy Kong Racing DS.
If Natal doesn't take off, they really are boned.
I still think that secretly, they regret what happened after seeing how far they've fallen since the move.
Nintendo fans would have lapped up whatever they made for Gamecube and Wii, but instead they've made mostly forgettable titles for an audience that is used to mature games.
Die Natal die. Come back to the good side darth vader/Rare.
Really? That would be amazing. I knew Rare still cared about Nintendo, they must know the situation that they're in.
They might even be daring enough to put their old games on the Virtual Console.
Hope for Rare games coming to the Virtual Console is not lost!
rare has become a joke after there move i can careless about new games but a few vc games i would love
So this refers to DS development only, pity since I can't say I'm too interested in what Rare is making nowadays, and a new DS game from Rare is hardly something to get excited about IMO, other than VC releases which still looks as unlikely as ever I doubt I would be much interested in anything else from Rare.
Well if Rare decides to add more Virtual Console games for Nintendo, I would like to see DK64 and Diddy Kong Racing.
Rare as it exists now is very different to the Rare of the N64 days. A lot of key staff have moved on to other things, and even the Stamper brothers left, didn't they?
All I'm interested in is seeing more of their classics on the VC, which has never seemed likely.
I second dimlylitmonkey, Rare today has about as much in common with the Rare of the 90's as the Lynyrd Skynyrd of today has with the Skynyrd of old. It's just a name living off the reputation of its old songs, or in Rare's case games. One decent DS release doesn't change that.
I always use the word console to mean a set top box as opposed to a handheld device which makes the article title pretty deceiving. I guess it's not universal to distinguish game systems that way, though?
Honestly, though, Rare is just meh now, isn't it? They ran out of steam during the N64 days. Banjo Tooie? Donkey Kong 64? Soulless, right? Did I miss the part where they started making good games again? I thought everything they made for the 360 was mediocre at best. Why do we want them back? I suspect people just want Goldeneye or one of the great titles they made before falling.
My fave kart game has been Diddy Kong Racing and for me, nothing has really come close since it was released.
So... I was typing my comment before the last couple of posts.
jhuhn, I love to see a fellow Diddy Kong Racing fan, but what did you like about DK64? My wife and I played through that whole game and regretted it afterwards. Soooo boring. At least the final confrontation was inventive, the graphics were occasionally impressive for the time, but everything else was painful.
Rare was one of my favorite developers through the N64 age and up to Starfox Adventures. I'd love to have them back.
I'd love to have Rare back. They're one of my favorite developers.
I would love for Rare to be owned by Nintendo again. Under Microsoft, Rare's games were not nearly as good [like cough Banjo-Kazooie:Nuts & Bolts cough for example].
Rare would be no better off with Nintendo, it is not the company it was during the SNES/N64 eras, the exodus of staff changed it beyond recognition.
I love GoldenEye 007. They really have to put this on the Wii Shopping Channel or DS. But Rare owns it.
I have been waiting for Banjo Kazooie on the Virtual Consols since launch. PLEASE, PLEASE give it to us RARE!
yeah, this sure is a sneaky, heart breaking article. The days have changed and all we could ever get from a big crossover would be some timeless N64 classics on VC, but I don't see that happening. More DS games, great but Perfect Dark, 007, thats what we want.
By the way was Viva Pinata really that good? I never played it? Is there a review of it here? I'll have to look it up.
Just to counter those that seem overly hopeful: Rare isn't literally coming back to Nintendo and odds are you'll never see a Rare game (that they own) on the VC.
@Ren
It wasn't an issue of the actual quality of the game that made Viva Pinata sell poorly, but just the whole concept. It probably would have done better on the Wii where there are more younger gamers.
Heh, given their track record in the past 5 years, i wouldn't mind if they did forget all about Ninty development.
As was said, the Rare of today is not the Rare of the past (quite literally, with many of the developers/staff who were on board in the "2nd party" days having left the fold).
Please let them come back.
Wonder how Rare is doing without Chris and Tim...
Perfect Dark from the ground up for the Wii would be awesome!
I'm pretty sure Goldeneye is already on the DS...
Regardless, this statement is by no means a guarantee that more Rare games will come out on the DS, it just means that it'll still be a "possibility"(just like how Halo DS is still a "possibility").
crazy and completely random celebration dance
Someone want to explain to me how that quote promotes the fact they might develop on a Nintendo console? They said they are going to quit DS development, not start it. And Nintendo isn't even mentioned. I'm lost.
@XCWARRIOR
Apparently their Magic 8-ball knows something we don't.
Dang. I would've liked to see Rare do something with Jet Force Gemini on DS
Rare plz released all your awesome classics (Killer Instinct, Battletoads, Jet Force Gemini, Banjo Kazooie/Tooie, Blast Corp, Perfect Dark, etc.) for the DS/DSiWare before Microsoft invent their own handheld.
Yay! ...a bigger chance for RareWare Virtual Console games!
...by the way, why would I sit on my fingers for this?
@Marky
He just meant "be patient".
If they do make a new DS game, I hope it's a new game, especially a new IP. Really, so long as it's not a port or remake, I'd be happy.
Well, Just by seeing this...i can tell they know that their games just haven't be that great recently... Their DS games were pretty good, i agree with that. Well, all we can do right now is cross our fingers and hope they come back and work with nintendo.....Also, let's hope they make a true Banjo threeie*(lol). (not only banjo of course! -)
Its pathetic rare can bring n64 games for the xbox arcade but nintendo cant bring out rare games on the virtual console dont you agree fellow nintendo lifers
RARE should bring back games like donkey kong 64, Banjo Kazooie/Tooie and Perfect Dark for nintendo wii virtual console.
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