RARE used to be the king of quality gaming. What happened?

Kuros

Kuros

CAGiversary!
Feedback
16 (100%)
Look at some of the quality games they made back years ago:

Wizards & Warriors
Battletoads
Killer Instinct
RC Pro-Am
GoldenEye 007
Donkey Kong Country
Conker's Bad Fur Day

But now they have a trend of making games that either aren't good, or just don't get any notice at all. Their last game for the Xbox, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, just sucked, and the next game coming out is a remake, with a couple of added features. What I'm wondering is: Are they just not trying anymore or do they need a change in staff?

They are a quality company that isn't acting like one. I think that with some work, they can get it back together.
 
Maybe they just lost sight of what's important, or they're loyal to Nintendo. Maybe they made a sucky game on XBox on purpose? Never played Grabbed by the Ghoulies, but I heard it wasn't that bad. Here's hoping they get their head on straight, they could turn the entire company around and possibly the game industry with the new Perfect Dark, whenever it's coming.
 
Actually they are doing an upgraded version of Conker for the Xbox. I just played the demo, amazing graphics but what's the point of playing the same mediocre game twice?
 
[quote name='zionoverfire']Actually they are doing an upgraded version of Conker for the Xbox. I just played the demo, amazing graphics but what's the point of playing the same mediocre game twice?[/quote]

That's one of the things I was referring to. It's a remake with added extras. Although I might get it, since I like Conker.
 
I'm suprised that they kept the Nintendo product in there. If you didn't know, when idle on the N64 version, Conker played Game Boy. In the XBox version, when idle, Conker will pull out a GBA SP. Nice nod.
 
Rare is famous for making good games. That said, the company has had a long string of commercial flops. Critical acclaim ain't worth anything in the video game industry, I'm sorry to say. Ask Sega. I'll break it down.

Banjo-Kazooie (N64): Moderately profitable.
Banjo-Tooie (N64): Huge flop.
Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge (GBA): HUGE flop.
Blast Corps (N64): Flop
Conker's Bad Fur Day (N64): HUGE flop despite critical acclaim.
Conker's Pocket Tales (GBC): Incredibly huge flop, resulting in Conker getting an attitude adjustment.
Diddy Kong Racing (N64): Rare's last true hit, though not the million seller Nintendo later shilled it as.
Donkey Kong 64 (N64): Sold well it's first week, sales dropped completely afterwards, resulting in a flop.
GoldenEye 007 (N64): Likely the best word-of-mouth seller ever released.
Jet Force Gemini (N64): Horrific flop, one of the biggest money-losing games ever made.
Killer Instinct Gold (N64): Huge flop.
Mickey's Speedway USA (N64): HUGE flop.
Perfect Dark (N64): Flopped. Sold well (about a quarter-million copies) but was overproduced (partially Nintendo's fault on that front).
Perfect Dark (GBC): Flopped
Sabre Wulf (GBA): HUGE Flop. This is why Mr. Pants hasn't hit America yet.
Star Fox Adventures (Gamecube): Huge flop... good bye Rare sayith Nintendo, and don't let the door hit you on the way out.

So they jump to Microsoft, launch Grabbed by the Ghoulies, and it sells under 10,000 copies. On tap? A game that's been in development for five years and a rehash of one of the biggest flops of all time.

Maker of good games? Sure. But not a company I would want to own.
 
I tend to agree with your general point, but how accurate are your assessments? I was most shocked by you calling Star Fox Adventures a huge flop. I've seen numbers to the contrary, including those at N-Sider: http://www.n-sider.com/gameview.php?gameid=155

Roughly 900,000 copies as of their last page update. Not a flop by any stretch of the imagination.

DK64 (over 2 mil copies in the U.S. alone): http://www.n-sider.com/gameview.php?gameid=13&region=1

Do I need to find more or can you justify your claims?

I think most of the profatibility issue is not how well the games sold but that Rare is so slow at releasing them.
 
[quote name='Survivor Charlie']The numbers I have might be grossly out of date. My appologies. Though it appears with those two exceptions I am correct.[/quote]

What exactly constitutes a flop? I just checked some of those games you mentioned at N-Sider and they all seemed to sell well, way above 100,000 for most of them.
 
The numbers I have might be grossly out of date. My appologies. Though it appears with those two exceptions I am correct.
Click to expand...

Were you fired by Rare? Your way off on more than two of the games.
 
[quote name='Kuros'][quote name='zionoverfire']Actually they are doing an upgraded version of Conker for the Xbox. I just played the demo, amazing graphics but what's the point of playing the same mediocre game twice?[/quote]

That's one of the things I was referring to. It's a remake with added extras. Although I might get it, since I like Conker.[/quote]

I'll be picking it up more than likely simply because I never had a chance to play the N64 version.
 
If you look at n-sider, it lists Blast Corps at 300000+, Perfect Dark at 1.2M+. Just a couple I threw out.

I think your figures are way out of wack. But I do agree with your argument that Rare's games have been lacking lately.

Jeremy
 
[quote name='Kuros']Look at some of the quality games they made back years ago:

Wizards & Warriors
Battletoads
Killer Instinct
RC Pro-Am
GoldenEye 007
Donkey Kong Country
Conker's Bad Fur Day

But now they have a trend of making games that either aren't good, or just don't get any notice at all. Their last game for the Xbox, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, just sucked, and the next game coming out is a remake, with a couple of added features. What I'm wondering is: Are they just not trying anymore or do they need a change in staff?

They are a quality company that isn't acting like one. I think that with some work, they can get it back together.[/quote]

I spy with my little eye one game that does not suck. It's called battlefrogs

rare was never the king of anything remotely related to quality
 
Actually I'm now sort of curious where that N-Sider got it's numbers from. Regardless, I know that Rare lost money on all the titles I listed as a flop. It was well documented what titles lost money around 2002 when Rare was sold to Microsoft. If Rare didn't lose money, Nintendo did (and it would have been their fault for over-producing them).
 
[quote name='Scorch']lol.. I forgot about Banjo-Tooie.. They made a Banjo-Kazooie for GBA!?[/quote]

I didn't know Rare made a GBA game either. I know somebody else did though.

And was Tooie good? I've been wanting to pick it up for quite some time...
 
[quote name='Rig'][quote name='Scorch']lol.. I forgot about Banjo-Tooie.. They made a Banjo-Kazooie for GBA!?[/quote]

I didn't know Rare made a GBA game either. I know somebody else did though.

And was Tooie good? I've been wanting to pick it up for quite some time...[/quote]

It was of pretty good quality, but nothing original.
 
Rare has made to date six games for the GBA that have been released.

Banjo-Kazooie (developed by Rare, published by THQ)
Saberwulf (see above)
Banjo Pilot (see above)
It's Mr. Pants! (has not been released in the United States, but has in Canada of all places. Figure that out)
Donkey Kong Country (GBA port was done by Rare)
Donkey Kong Country 2 (again, port was done by Rare)

At E3 many of Rare's most popular N64 games will likely be annouced for the DS.
 
Even if Survivor Charlies claims are correct, the number of hits they've had still makes them a formerly great company. Rockstar for example has very mediocre games (smugglers run, state of emergency) as well as mediocre sales for almost all of its games. Other than GTA 3 through San Andreas and Max Payne they have crap games.
 
[quote name='Morrigan Lover']Two words: Free Radical[/quote]

I think that's really it- all the guys with talent left to create Free Radical and that's why Nintendo sold Rare off afterwards- who can blame them?
 
Jet Force Gemini......if you say it sucks, you haven't played it. Or, you were one of those 1995-era Nintendo haters.

If you have a N64, you'd be doing yourself a favor by looking for that game. $5 can get you a copy, no problem.

You can freakin throw a bomb to an oil-filled canister, blow up an ant enemy, and see it's body parts and green blood fly all over the place! Aside from Mario 64 and Zelda Oot, Jet Force is THE game to have.

Lupus is the shit!
 
[quote name='RedvsBlue'][quote name='Kuros'][quote name='zionoverfire']Actually they are doing an upgraded version of Conker for the Xbox. I just played the demo, amazing graphics but what's the point of playing the same mediocre game twice?[/quote]

That's one of the things I was referring to. It's a remake with added extras. Although I might get it, since I like Conker.[/quote]

I'll be picking it up more than likely simply because I never had a chance to play the N64 version.[/quote]

Well the graphics are amazing, but it seems like such a waste.
 
Jet Force Gemini rocks, so does Blast Corps. I was never a big fan of Banjo or DK 64.. such stupid collect-a-thon games.

I got It's mr pants in the mail today.. strangeness reaches a new level..

Unused save slots are represented by a pair of underpants and mr pants yelling "clean!" used save slots with underpants and "Poo! smelly!"

:lol:
 
[quote name='Rig'][quote name='Scorch']lol.. I forgot about Banjo-Tooie.. They made a Banjo-Kazooie for GBA!?[/quote]

I didn't know Rare made a GBA game either. I know somebody else did though.

And was Tooie good? I've been wanting to pick it up for quite some time...[/quote]

If you liked the first BK then Tooie is great. I like games like those, Mario 64, DK 64, etc. 3d platformers based on collecting crap.
 
[quote name='Morrigan Lover']Two words: Free Radical[/quote]

yup. Also, I don't think Banjo2 was a flop - I thought it sold pretty well. Banjo-Kazooie is probably the greatest 3D collect-a-thon ever made.
 
[quote name='zionoverfire'][quote name='RedvsBlue'][quote name='Kuros'][quote name='zionoverfire']Actually they are doing an upgraded version of Conker for the Xbox. I just played the demo, amazing graphics but what's the point of playing the same mediocre game twice?[/quote]

That's one of the things I was referring to. It's a remake with added extras. Although I might get it, since I like Conker.[/quote]

I'll be picking it up more than likely simply because I never had a chance to play the N64 version.[/quote]

Well the graphics are amazing, but it seems like such a waste.[/quote]

The thing about Conker is it didnt fit Nintendo well. I was done with consoles after the Super Nes and only a few years ago picked up the N64 (which I again have sold off)

I specifically remember seeing the commercials and saying WOW Nintendo has that coming out?

See Microsoft will use that to their advantage and given the fact that PS1 sold more systems most likely the average gamer hasnt played it. So making Conker have more of an attitude and putting him on Microsoft will work. Unless they mess the game up.
 
[quote name='zionoverfire']Actually they are doing an upgraded version of Conker for the Xbox. I just played the demo, amazing graphics but what's the point of playing the same mediocre game twice?[/quote]

"mediocre"??
this is one of the best games ever created!!
 
[quote name='Survivor Charlie']Rare is famous for making good games. That said, the company has had a long string of commercial flops. Critical acclaim ain't worth anything in the video game industry, I'm sorry to say. Ask Sega. I'll break it down.

Banjo-Kazooie (N64): Moderately profitable.
Banjo-Tooie (N64): Huge flop.
Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge (GBA): HUGE flop.
Blast Corps (N64): Flop
Conker's Bad Fur Day (N64): HUGE flop despite critical acclaim.
Conker's Pocket Tales (GBC): Incredibly huge flop, resulting in Conker getting an attitude adjustment.
Diddy Kong Racing (N64): Rare's last true hit, though not the million seller Nintendo later shilled it as.
Donkey Kong 64 (N64): Sold well it's first week, sales dropped completely afterwards, resulting in a flop.
GoldenEye 007 (N64): Likely the best word-of-mouth seller ever released.
Jet Force Gemini (N64): Horrific flop, one of the biggest money-losing games ever made.
Killer Instinct Gold (N64): Huge flop.
Mickey's Speedway USA (N64): HUGE flop.
Perfect Dark (N64): Flopped. Sold well (about a quarter-million copies) but was overproduced (partially Nintendo's fault on that front).
Perfect Dark (GBC): Flopped
Sabre Wulf (GBA): HUGE Flop. This is why Mr. Pants hasn't hit America yet.
Star Fox Adventures (Gamecube): Huge flop... good bye Rare sayith Nintendo, and don't let the door hit you on the way out.

So they jump to Microsoft, launch Grabbed by the Ghoulies, and it sells under 10,000 copies. On tap? A game that's been in development for five years and a rehash of one of the biggest flops of all time.

Maker of good games? Sure. But not a company I would want to own.[/quote]

you don't know what you're talking about.
most of those forementioned games are truly remarkable and amazing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
bread's done
Back
Top