Rare speaks – Massive updates for Banjo, Kameo, DK and loads more

Rare has updated its Scribes column, the firm’s regular feedback to the weird and wond..., no, just weird letters it receives from fans and haters from across the globe.

Speaking on questions regarding its release schedule, with particular reference to Kameo and the Conker update, Rare said, “At the end of the day, it's down to MS to decide when they want to release the games for maximum market impact and when they actually can fit them into the manufacture and release schedules.” Not too upbeat as you can see, which is something reflected in the overall tone of entire Scribes section.

Then onto the thorny subject of the five games Rare was supposed to be released per year, as heralded by Microsoft at its X02 event. As you will remember, during the triumphant revelation that MS had acquired the firm outright, to dispel any doubts about the massive price paid, five full Xbox releases a year were promised.

“What nobody seems to remember is that it wasn't us who said we'd crank out five games over two/three years - when we saw that reported we were all going "Five games? Really? Blimey." Nevertheless, we'd probably have gone for it if it wasn't for the fact that with all the activity over the last few years, it hasn't exactly been business as usual. Teams have been restructured and sized up, projects redesigned and/or carried over to the new system, all this first in preparation for the acquisition then afterwards in an attempt to find our feet in the MGS line-up - and it didn't make things any easier that we'd jumped right into the middle of a console's lifecycle. Anyway, the dust is still settling, but our internal schedules are looking pretty solid now and over the next year or so we'll really start getting back into our stride.”

On the sales of Grabbed by the Ghoulies and the possibility of a third Conker game, Rare said, “It’s a little-known fact (that even the Rare Witch Project boys haven’t found) that Banjo-Threeie was a secret unlockable feature in Ghoulies - but as no-one bought our splendid haunted house romp, no-one will ever play it. So there. When there is some Banjo information to share, you’ll be the first to know (along with the other five remaining Banjo fans) - although you may be too frail to even hold a controller by then…” Barbed indeed.

On the redesign and race-remould of Kameo, Rare said, “To be honest, I much prefer Kameo's new look (it's also more suited to the darker tone of the game these days). But there's been a whole range of opinions in the feedback we've had. Just goes to show, one man's meat is another man's clown boots, and so on. And as the lead artist says: “We prefer to think of the changes to Kameo as an evolution. You never know though, perhaps if you practice hard at the game and become a worthy enough warrior then you may just find a way to restore Kameo to her former self.””

Speaking on THQ’s somewhat understandable reticence to publish Mr Pants, the word is that “THQ has ultimately seen the light, bless them.” Bless them indeed.

On EA’s use of the GoldenEye title for it’s next Bond outing, Rare states, “We're philosophical about it - we're just curious to see the end result. Personally, though, I think the justification for using the name is 'fantastic'.”

On the possibility of development for Nintendo DS and PSP, we are told, “Not this again. Alright, well, I'd have thought one was more likely than the other, but on the other hand I'm not aware of any sealed deals, so anything I say is pure speculation (and therefore a world exclusive 100% confirmed fact front page story on SPOnG).” A rather backhanded way of thanking us for our world-beating Rare exclusives over the years. Still, at least we weren’t bought out by Microsoft, allegedly had half our staff leave and didn’t have to put our name to Grabbed by the Ghoulies. Miaow!

Following a question regarding a fantasised collaboration between Microsoft and Nintendo during the next round of hardware Rare seems surprisingly hopeful (or perhaps not given its current situation) about the concept, pointing out that Sony’s run at the top might be coming to an end. “It seems unlikely at best - Nintendo has always been very proud of its independence. And you never know, it might be in this coming generation that the balance tips, one way or another, without the need for any such alliance. Nobody's denying that Sony's done well in the last couple of generations, but it isn't going to hang onto that lead forever...”

For the rest of the freshened up Scribes, head over to Rare’s site here