Activision bought out Rare!!!!!?!?!?!?!

[BigJustinW]

look at these interesting tidbits from IGN

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/357/357301p1.html

A Rare Situation

There is a phenomenal amount of hubbub surrounding the recent story of Rare, the most prominent and important second-party developer in Nintendo's stable. The details are far from clear, and the rumors are growing ridiculously out of proportion by the minute, but from what we can gather, there are a few details that are reliable.

First, Rare is at the end of a five-year contract with Nintendo (Gekko) and both parties are at the negotiating table, discussing what they want, and how to resign another contract. Nintendo owns a minority stake in the private company, with the Stamper Brothers owning the majority. Sources say that neither party is interested in resigning the contract (Myself), and with the phenomenal amount of change going on at Nintendo of America, there's reason to believe that the two may be parting ways. Either that, or they resign a different kind of contract, one that positions Rare as a third-party developer, or perhaps even as a publishers of its own games on various systems.

The fact is Rare could potentially make a lot more money if it did strike out on its own, reaping higher profits with multiple skus, and working with multiple publishers (Xantar/Mike). We all know the company has the ability to create unbelievably fun games, so why should they share the wealth on all systems? But the possible parting of the twain also spells trouble for Nintendo, whose harem of second-party companies is slowly dwindling (Left Field, Retro), and Rare has, pardon the pun, rarely let Nintendo down. Just look at what it did for N64 -- Blast Corps, Goldeneye 007, Diddy Kong Racing, Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Kazooie 2, Perfect Dark, and Conker's bad Fur Day.

[gekko]

It would almost be be funny seeing Rare leave. Everyone expects Rare quality games no matter what, forgetting many things.

1. They are the first to get the hardware and development tools (and it's free)
2. First to get any upgraded tools
3. Know all the secrets in Nintendo's camp ahead of anyone
4. They are paid by Nintendo until they get a game out and the game starts to pay (many 3rd party games suck because developers need to sell the game to afford working on the next one)
5. (In Nintendo's camp) they can delay a game until it's really ready to get on the shelves without pressure from the publisher
6. They don't pay for costs of publishing, marketing distribution, etc.
7. If the games is not that great as expected, they don't have to survive on the bad sales of the game.
8. Free support from the 1st party develoment teams in crucial part of games (designers, writers, programers, engines, tools, codes)

1. Development tools will be at Activision too. Of course, come the next line of systems, they will be getting them later, and that means the quality of their games will suffer because they will begin development of beta kits.

2. Rare will have to wait to get the new technology.

3. Rare won't know all of Nintendo's secrets now. In fact, they get to wait like everyone else.

4. Rare will be forced to release games by a deadline. Nintendo delays games a lot? Look at how many are from Rare Rare's games are good because Nintendo funds them until they are perfect. Rare won't have that luxury, their games will be unfinished, and unpolished, and not the quality you would expect from Rare.

5. Activision will need the money. None of this million-and-a-half StarFox Adventure and Perfect Dark delays.

6. Now Activision is going to have to fork over money to try to sell a crappy game. Of course, when it sells like crap too, Activision takes most of the money, and Rare gets very little for their next game.

7. If the game sucks (and you know Rare's would for a few years), they are still going to have to pray it sells. Also, by releasing these horrible games, Rare looses it's reputation as a quality developer.

8. No more of Nintendo's help mastering the system, help with game design, and all that stuff. Of course, in the process your programmers also have to figure out Xbox and PS2, too.


Now maybe it's just me, but Rare is nothing without Nintendo. It's like A1 steak sauce, put it on some nice juicy NY Strip steak, and you got a great dinner. Eat it alone, and it's not very good (Ok, me starving, using food examples). Rare is only good because of Nintendo, they work as a team. If they leave and go with Activision, they can potentially make more money, but they are going to spend a hell of a lot more, and they won't have the luxury of making their games perfect. And once they release a few low-quality games, Rare will be no more. Once they lose their reputation, it's all over.

[Perfect Stu]

I'm not gonna say much, other than the fact that it's really interesting that all Nintendo fans are saying that this is impossible. Other than maybe BaB, who didn't say much.

We'll see at E3...or earlier...

[Joeiss]

Originally posted by Perfect Stu
I'm not gonna say much, other than the fact that it's really interesting that all Nintendo fans are saying that this is impossible. Other than maybe BaB, who didn't say much.

We'll see at E3...or earlier...

haha.. I wouldn't doubt that this announcement will be made in late summer. Like in the middle of August.

Hell, I doubt there will be an announcement any time soon. And this is all probably one HUGE rumour that has no truth behind it.

[Bond]

I think that if Rare did leave it would just shake Nintendo's already unstable boat even more.

Wait until E3.

[Shadow_Link]

Originally posted by Bond
Wait until E3.

And I thought only Nintendo zealots used that phrase .

[Perfect Stu]

Originally posted by Shadow_Link


And I thought only Nintendo zealots used that phrase .

you should know, shouldn't you

[Shadow_Link]

Originally posted by Perfect Stu


you should know, shouldn't you

Not really Stu, since I do own all three (four inc. GBA) systems . But maybe YOU would know, hehe.

Oh, and did anyone check out the letter section at GS? Here:

The reply to the first question in the section seems to quash the rumours. I don't know. I reckon that this whole excerise could have been a trial balloon or something of that sort.

For those who don't know: a trial balloon iswhen a person or a company purposely leaks information to see the reaction of the public.

But anything goes I guess...

[Blix]

I don't know how they could possibly focus on more than one platform since it takes them about 20 years to get each game out, heh. BTW, I think the rumor is flase. Only wishful thinking guys would think it's true. I'm not saying it can't happen, just that it'll most likely not.

[Bond]

Originally posted by Shadow_Link

Oh, and did anyone check out the letter section at GS? Here:

Now lets not even get into that idiot known as Shane, ok?

Also look at this:
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...y.php?id=27795

18:44 Over the last couple of weeks, rumours about a possible Rare buyout have swept across the Web faster than the bubonic plague. First, whispers spread that Microsoft had bought out the Nintendo second-party, with Ken Lobb's move from Nintendo to Bill Gates's empire adding fuel to this speculative fire.
In recent days, however, Activision's name has been the surprising entry into the fray, with the rumours initially dismissed as baseless, especially with the tail-end of various high-profile April Fool's Day pranks in our midst. But the link between Activision and Rare has not gone away and sources are in fact pointing to its verity.

One source, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed to have seen actual evidence of the deal, and others also attest to having heard solid information that the transaction has been made.

If indeed true, the import of this should not be underestimated. UK-based Rare has been a stalwart of Nintendo hardware for many years, producing some of the greatest titles to appear on the various platforms. With hits including GoldenEye, Perfect Dark, Banjo Kazooie and Donkey Kong 64, the developer gave N64's oeuvre much-needed back-bone. Indeed, many consider the N64's very survival relied heavily on Rare's output, since third-party support was narrow and first-party releases infrequent.

More pertinently, Nintendo has also been relying heavily on Rare's forthcoming projects, which include Star Fox Adventure, Kameo and Perfect Dark Zero on GameCube, and Diddy Kong Pilot and Sabre Wulf on GBA. If the rumours prove true, it now seems increasingly likely that these titles will now go multiformat. In fact, a PS2 version of Star Fox Adventures has been rumoured for some time. And let's not forget the Christmas card Rare issued at the end of last year, which featured Xbox, PS2 and GameCube shaped presents under the true. Just a harmless joke?

But how could this happen? One school of thought suggests that, in the event of any buyout, Rare's motivating factor might be that GameCube is Nintendo's last piece of under-the-TV hardware, with the developer wishing to establish itself across all formats. Hot air? Maybe; maybe not.

The main stumbling block, of course, is Nintendo's stake in Rare and it does seem almost unbelievable that the Japanese giant would let such a valuable commodity slip through its fingers. But, as we've said, the mud is beginning to stick. This could all be empty speculation, of course, but stranger things have happened. You're playing Sonic on a GameCube after all.

Spokespersons for Activision, Rare, and Nintendo remained unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.

[BigJustinW]

Originally posted by Nemesis
I don't know how they could possibly focus on more than one platform since it takes them about 20 years to get each game out, heh. BTW, I think the rumor is flase. Only wishful thinking guys would think it's true. I'm not saying it can't happen, just that it'll most likely not.

Well, it's not like they really have to focus on all 3 systems... look at every other developer. They focus on the Ps2 product first, then everything else will be ports. So it's not like they are going to be putting seperate effort into all three systems.

Also, don't forget, Activision has a huge amount of developers. This means a Nintendo group of 100 Rare developers can become 3 groups of Activision developers (just take the top 33 from each group). It won't hurt the qulity either, because a great game has a great formula, and it only takes a few developers to give out that formula (Look atTimesplitters, it has about 10 developers from the Goldeneye007 project (for N64), and look how good it's turning out.

[Shadow_Link]

Originally posted by Bond
In fact, a PS2 version of Star Fox Adventures has been rumoured for some time.

Now isn't it wierd how a game with nintendo mascots can appear on the PS2?

[BreakABone]

Originally posted by BigJustinW


Well, it's not like they really have to focus on all 3 systems... look at every other developer. They focus on the Ps2 product first, then everything else will be ports. So it's not like they are going to be putting seperate effort into all three systems.

Also, don't forget, Activision has a huge amount of developers. This means a Nintendo group of 100 Rare developers can become 3 groups of Activision developers (just take the top 33 from each group). It won't hurt the qulity either, because a great game has a great formula, and it only takes a few developers to give out that formula (Look atTimesplitters, it has about 10 developers from the Goldeneye007 project (for N64), and look how good it's turning out.

Hmm.. now here is a question. Which of the 3 platforms will they actually focus on?

And what you mean every other developer?
There are a few that actually make all 3 games seperate such as Acclaim with Turok and Vexx.

And well for the rest of your post. I won't even bother to comment on it.

[Joeiss]

Originally posted by Shadow_Link


Now isn't it wierd how a game with nintendo mascots can appear on the PS2?

No. Rare will not be making Nintendo-franshise games on other consoles. If RareWare departs, they will have to create their own mascots and characters to put on Xbox and PS2. And then they can still make Nitendo-franchise games for GCN and GBA.

[Bond]

Originally posted by Shadow_Link


Now isn't it wierd how a game with nintendo mascots can appear on the PS2?

I didn't say that Shadow_Link. The article said that.