Rare Still in Trouble: Conker Latest to Slip
UK dev studio struggles to make any impact since massive sale.
From assembled information gathered by SPOnG, including high-level retail comment, Rare’s Conker: Live & Reloaded will miss its March 2005 release date, with the game now pencilled in for sometime in early summer.
Most sources this morning are quoting mid-June for the launch of what will only be the second Xbox title from the firm since Microsoft bought out the once-acclaimed studio in 2002. As you may know, only the dire and critically-mauled Grabbed by the Ghoulies has been released since the $375 million deal.
This news further compounds development issues at Rare and follows on from the unexpected and embarrassing news that Kameo has been pushed back indefinitely.
As you may be aware, Conker: Live & Reloaded, as exclusively revealed by SPOnG back in February of 2003 has been quite well received by the Xbox community at large and is an anticipated game for the system. However, should Rare be unable to deliver yet another key franchise update on time, surely someone within Microsoft Game Studios management will begin asking questions about the firm’s future.
Indeed, the impact on the bottom line of the Xbox project made by Rare must be staggering, a huge, cavernous hole in the finances. Remember that, as well as the $375 million initial outlay, complete running costs have had to be shouldered, including buildings and salaries.
And to date, the only thing balancing the books is the ill-fated Grabbed by the Ghoulies.
As ever, expect everything Rare-related, right here, as it breaks.
Most sources this morning are quoting mid-June for the launch of what will only be the second Xbox title from the firm since Microsoft bought out the once-acclaimed studio in 2002. As you may know, only the dire and critically-mauled Grabbed by the Ghoulies has been released since the $375 million deal.
This news further compounds development issues at Rare and follows on from the unexpected and embarrassing news that Kameo has been pushed back indefinitely.
As you may be aware, Conker: Live & Reloaded, as exclusively revealed by SPOnG back in February of 2003 has been quite well received by the Xbox community at large and is an anticipated game for the system. However, should Rare be unable to deliver yet another key franchise update on time, surely someone within Microsoft Game Studios management will begin asking questions about the firm’s future.
Indeed, the impact on the bottom line of the Xbox project made by Rare must be staggering, a huge, cavernous hole in the finances. Remember that, as well as the $375 million initial outlay, complete running costs have had to be shouldered, including buildings and salaries.
And to date, the only thing balancing the books is the ill-fated Grabbed by the Ghoulies.
As ever, expect everything Rare-related, right here, as it breaks.
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Comments
Ditto 16 Feb 2005 12:23
1/11
I was looking at Rare's jobs site the other day, and the company appears to be a lot bigger (with both R&D and Studios) than I thought.
The spark seems to have gone from Rare. Prehaps it might be a good thing for Microsoft to sell them to another company or if someone somehow made the business independant.
The spark seems to have gone from Rare. Prehaps it might be a good thing for Microsoft to sell them to another company or if someone somehow made the business independant.
the-bavis 16 Feb 2005 14:21
2/11
Just think how delayed a NEW game would be and not this re-hash.
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acidviper 16 Feb 2005 15:08
3/11
Grab the Ghoulies 2 will come out before Conker. At this rate Conker is going to be a swan song farewell game like it was on N64. Too little, too late. I think all the talent at Rare is gone from the GoldenEye 64 days. They haven't released a decent game in a long time. Hopefully, Zoonami and Free Radical Design make some awesome games and make M$ look reallyl stupid.
SPInGSPOnG 16 Feb 2005 16:52
4/11
Adam M wrote:
I was looking at Rare's jobs site the other day, and the company appears to be a lot bigger (with both R&D and Studios) than I thought.
Maybe Microsoft is pumping money and resources into Rare to try and make their purchase of Rare not look like the biggest mistake EVER.
ohms 16 Feb 2005 17:14
5/11
I think they're just working to have as many Rare titles for XBOX2 launch as possible... maybe.
Dreadknux 16 Feb 2005 18:44
6/11
ohms wrote:
I think they're just working to have as many Rare titles for XBOX2 launch as possible... maybe.
That might be their plan NOW - to be honest I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case (assuming Microsoft still has any faith left in RARE...).
But it's a very far cry from THREE whole years ago (in a few months time), where Microsoft said they'd be banging a RARE game out every year or so.
I'm about ready to laugh as heartily as that random aristocrat dude on Grabbed by the Ghoulies about the whole RARE situation... "Haw-Haw-Haw". (I got GBTG as a demo in my Project Gotham 2 game... it's all I really need instead of buying the game ;P)
fluffstardx 16 Feb 2005 20:47
7/11
Rod Todd wrote:
Maybe Microsoft is pumping money and resources into Rare to try and make their purchase of Rare not look like the biggest mistake EVER.
Like the Virtual Boy, then?
Or PSX...
kid_77 16 Feb 2005 20:56
8/11
Or this? But I don't know who made the bigger mistake. Sinclair or Hoover...
Pandaman 16 Feb 2005 22:31
9/11
Another Rare article another day where I wish I had saved all those Rare ex and current employee postings at the IGN boards where they spoke of the complete implosion of the company.
The absolute only thing that remains at Rare is the name.
The absolute only thing that remains at Rare is the name.
Smelly 17 Feb 2005 10:07
10/11
Erm.. how long can it possibly take to port an n64 game to the xbox?
billmill 17 Feb 2005 10:52
11/11
I really can't understand what Microsoft are up to. Less than one game a year for such an enourmous outlay simply shouldn't be an option.. particularly for a company with the resources that Rare has. How many teams do they have? Every game I've worked on has had a roughly 2 year dev period. It just doesnt add-up. They must have some serious talent there, even if most of the devs have never worked for any other game company. So that begs the question, what on earth are the management up to.. and why oh why are Microsoft letting them get away with it?? Theyre making Bill Gates look like a right softy. I really hope they do have a brace of XBOX2 launch titles ready.. but somehow I suspect thats asking too much.