Moore defends Rare's Xbox work

By Tom Bramwell Published 18 May, 2007

PDZ, Kameo, Viva Piñata all good.

Microsoft's Peter Moore has paid tribute to Rare's recent product history, defending the Twycross-based developer against claims that its output has struggled to keep touch with the critical and commercial successes of its output prior to its acquisition by the Xbox platform holder.

Xbox 360 launch titles Perfect Dark Zero and Kameo: Elements of Power had a "platform-driving presence", Moore, who is Microsoft's corporate vice president of entertainment and devices, told Newsweek. "It signalled that this wasn't going to be the same as Xbox 1, which was dominated by Mature-rated games, if you will, and for many people will go down in history as the Halo box or the shooter box. Kameo was very important. Kameo has done well; Perfect Dark Zero hit our expectations from a sales point of view; but these were two launch titles - and in Kameo's case, brand new intellectual property - that allowed us to get where we needed to go very, very quickly."

Moore went on to say that while he felt Rare's strength was in titles for broad audiences, he wouldn't rule out more mature titles from the developer just because Bungie (Halo) and Epic Games (Gears of War) seem to give Microsoft the edge in that area already. "We always allow them the reins to sit down with us when we do concept reviews and allow their creativity to say, 'Here's something three of us have been working on. We've got an idea, and we'd like to prototype this out.'" Which was effectively how Viva Piñata came about, as you'll know if you read our in-depth feature on the game's development. "Always very willing to hear that from Rare," Moore concludes.

For, er, "Moore", check out the rest of the Newsweek piece.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (55) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Les #1 5 years ago

    Hahaha

    "more mature titles from the developer just because Bungie (Halo) and Epic Games (Gears of War) seem to give Microsoft the edge in that area already."

    They're undoubtedly big games and give MS an edge. But I'd hardly call their players mature...
    Edited by 1 at 18/05/07 @ 08:48

  • CrunchinJelly #2 5 years ago

    Kameo is still the best looking game on any console.

    The textures and lighting are absolutely gob smacking.

  • the_dudefather #3 5 years ago

    to be fair kameo and PDZ are not that bad, just not the games you would have been happy slashing out 50 quid for in a forced bundle at launch

  • plok #4 5 years ago

    I really enjoyed playing Kameo, it didn't really do anything wrong in my opinion. Viva Pinata is sheer brilliance but unfortunately probably more suited to the user base of the Wii. Looking forward to Banjo...I don't think Rare's output needs defending, its all been solid so far. Maybe Mr Moore could do with selling his Xbox do a wider range of people and not just shooting and racing fans.

  • lordofdeadside #5 5 years ago

    but kameo lacks any kind of artistic direction. its just a tech demo, of how shiny they can make textures.
    Edited by 1 at 18/05/07 @ 08:59

  • Xerx3s #6 5 years ago

    I really enjoyed PDZ in MP for a while. It's not the best game ever but good enough for launch. And VP is absolute brilliance imo. That JPR game is very nice and addicting as well if only I wasn't so shit at it. :(

  • johnboy_johsnon #7 5 years ago

    I've all three and think they are all very good (Viva being the stand out). I think there only let down was that they were all developed as XBox 1 games initially. I'll be very interested to see how Banjoo game turns out. Could be excellent!!!!!!!

  • Steroyd #8 5 years ago

    Yeah they're games are good but i don't think the they were good enough for the Money you bought Rare for hey Peter Moore?

  • souljacker2000 #9 5 years ago

    I have played all 3. Still have Viva Pinata, just love smacking those Sour Pinatas. Kameo, did look amazing but was quite short and overly easy. PDZ, i thought played well but kinda looked crap. Still cant wait to see BANJO

  • Eighthours #10 5 years ago

    Perfect Dark Zero hit our expectations from a sales point of view...

    Those words are very revealing indeed! :)

  • Xerx3s #11 5 years ago

    Yeah they're games are good but i don't think the they were good enough for the Money you bought Rare for hey Peter Moore?

    Value can be expressed in more ways than money. Rare is a MGS, if they can access a certain niche area than that is value as well. Because VP may make a loss, but nobody buys a platform for one game.

    And making yourself known as other things than a hardcore fps platform is value as well. Not directly visible though.

    I don't think mgs had any illusions about making a direct profit when they started with VP. Simply put, there was no market for it on the xbox platform. But by releasing games like this they are making a market.

  • Xerx3s #12 5 years ago

    Banjo is the first 360 developed game, right?

  • CrunchinJelly #13 5 years ago

    >>> Banjo is the first 360 developed game, right?

    I think so.

  • reality_cheque #14 5 years ago

    Well I wasn't a fan of PDZ, but I'm loving Kameo at the moment.

    My controlpads aren't though due to the time spent as Pummelweed!

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #15 5 years ago

    I think their output's been great, so far; PDZ was a disappointment insofar as it wasn't as good as its prequel. Kameo was good, and Viva Pinata is amazing (although it could be even better - hurry up with a sequel!). And I'm looking forward to Banjo, too!

    Overall, I think the quality of their games and the creative cachet they give MS means they're worth their money.

  • Steroyd #16 5 years ago

    Value can be expressed in more ways than money. Rare is a MGS, if they can access a certain niche area than that is value as well. Because VP may make a loss, but nobody buys a platform for one game.

    Did Chelsea spend £30 million on Andriy Shevchencko just so he can be a striking consultant for Dider Drogba I'm sorry but this was screaming a football comparison.

    It's a load of crap you don't spend upwards of $300 million on a company with a huge reputation like RARE and don't expect an influx of quality titles in the same vein as Goldeneye, Project Dark, Banjo Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64, Jet Force Gemini etc, no matter how rich you are.

  • Darren #17 5 years ago

    On the Xbox, Grabbed by the Ghoulies was a disappointment but Conker: Live & Reloaded was very, very nice even if it was only an N64 remake. Perfect Dark Zero was a victim of a rushed launch and could (and should) have been so much better had Microsoft let Rare finish it at their own pace. Kameo was fantastic and surprisingly polished for a 360 launch game. Viva Pinata is perhaps Rare's best game to date on the Xbox platform though.

    I still can't help thinking that Rare would have had more success had it stuck with Nintendo though, their colourful mostly-family friendly games seem more suited to that platform somehow rather than a console that is seemingly dominated by macho shooting games. Somehow I cannot see the forthcoming Banjo-Kazooie 3 being a huge hit on the 360 (it's one of my most wanted games though!) unless Rare add an online multiplayer mode that involves lots of shooting... ;)

  • EmiliasHorse #18 5 years ago

    Rare titles are always worth getting a little excited about, PDZ and Kameo as launch titles did the job nicely. Viva however is so good it makes me weep tears of joy just thinking about it. I disagree that it would be more suited for the Wii, on the grounds that the Wii would struggle to load the intro video. VP is as much a visual treat as it is an involved micro management title, that may appear cute but has a dark side most children will not understand so therefore just assume further cuteness.

    Was MS right to buy Rare? Yes. From a financial point maybe not but all the Xbox and 360 releases have been worthy of attention. I still like to be Grabbed by the Goulies every now and then.

  • Dizzy #19 5 years ago

    Viva Pinata. Nuff said.

  • Steroyd #20 5 years ago

    I still can't help thinking that Rare would have had more success had it stuck with Nintendo though.

    I don't Rare's form was dipping near the end of the N64 and the begginning of the Gamecube era, much like how Nintendo's games on he Gamecube, were subpar compared to their games on the N64.

    The jury is still out on Nintendo's titles to me to be honest but who knows if waggle might have re-invigorated Rare, guess we'll never know.

  • morriss #21 5 years ago

    Viva Rare!! \o/

  • chrisjm #22 5 years ago

    will we get Banjo this year?

  • jonsaan #23 5 years ago

    Kameo is a great game. I played it all the way through and THAT is saying something. So many games start to bore me about halfway through.

  • JYM60 #24 5 years ago

    I though kameo was utter dump, PDZ as well, this coming from someone who's favourite game is goldeneye.

    VP is good, but not good enough to make up for the other crap.
    Edited by 1 at 18/05/07 @ 10:23

  • JYM60 #25 5 years ago

    Rarelol

  • EmiliasHorse #26 5 years ago

    JYM60 you are wrong.

  • jonsaan #27 5 years ago

    In fact, the only crap thing about Rare games is that they are all released on the 360 and you can't play them for more than about three months before the console red rings and you have to send it back.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #28 5 years ago

    I feel sorry for peter Moore after he was eliminated from the Eurovision Song Contest in the semi-final (far left)

    [link url=http://info.rsr.ch/xobix_media/imag es/tsr/2007/swisstxt20070510_7807540_3.jpg
    ]http://in fo.rsr.ch/xobix_media/images/ts...[/link]

    Calling yourself DJ Bobo and representing Switzerland won't help you hide, Pete.

  • MrFlintBlackman #29 5 years ago

    Perfect Dark Zero was quite poor gameplay wise, it also looks terrible.

    Kameo was fine though.

  • dsmx #30 5 years ago

    Just remember the people who made all those classic games on the n64 left and went to free radical software, so your not going to see the heights of those games from rare.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #31 5 years ago

    But then we haven't seen the likes of those from Free Radical, either, really, have we?

  • JYM60 #32 5 years ago

    @Emilia'sHorse

    Is there any right or wrong?

    Anyway, Rare isn't really Rare anymore, most of the more talented ones left. Thats not to say that they shouldn't be produceing AAA games, which imo they aren't.

    Please make Banjo good.

  • The-Bodybuilder #33 5 years ago

    >" Kameo has done well; Perfect Dark Zero hit our expectations from a sales point of view"

    Notice the subtle difference.
    Even Moore knows PDZ is crap.

  • EmiliasHorse #34 5 years ago

    @JYM60 you are right.

  • Dezm0nd #35 5 years ago

    PDZ was tripe, Kameo was mediocre and VP was good for that type of game.

  • AcidSnake #36 5 years ago

    I found TimeSplitters 2 hugely enjoyable!...
    Though it didn't feel as precise as Goldeneye...Mainly because of the enemy cartoonish posture...

  • Monkey_Puncher #37 5 years ago

    The Goldeneye team left and made Free Radical, the Banjo team is still there though. Sure PDZ wasn't the best game ever, but even though I wouldn't go back to it now, it was still a good solid launch title that was fun at the time. Kameo and Viva Pinata were a different story, I thought they were good high quality titles and certainly made a change from the usual games you find on Xbox.

    I personally can't wait to play Banjo, been waiting for a sequel for years.

  • groovychainsaw #38 5 years ago

    Perfect Dark Zero was one of the worst shooters I've ever had the misfortune to play - traded it in 7 days after i bought my 360 - appalling. However, Kameo and VP were much,much better. Obviously they have lost their shooter talents (Free Radicals...), but can still go for the younger market. What MS need is another studio to do the same to lead, 2 games does not make the console 'youth' friendly.

  • EmiliasHorse #39 5 years ago

    360 has tons of youth friendly games; Cars, Meet the Robinsons, Lego Bionicals, Shrek 3...and probably more, the problem is they are all a bit shit and not worthy of being on 360/PS3. Viva and Kameo are worthy and the difference shows.

  • ZuluHero #40 5 years ago

    well i still own and play PDZ and Kameo - which is more than can be said for other games i've bought.

    They were the best and most polished games ive seen of any console launch (exluding Zelda on the Wii ofc :p)

    It sure beats the usual 'buying a console at launch and waiting for good games to appear' ;)

  • FrostyPhoenixxx #41 5 years ago

    Viva Pinata is one of the top 5 best 360 games, easily. PD0 has horrible voice work, story, they turned Joanna Dark into a two bit hooker, horrible textures

    yet it still plays ok.

    never played Kameo but found the demo kinda average.

  • Geowolf #42 5 years ago

    Kameo is very good. I'd love to see a sequel. Viva Pinata is excellent at what it does however it kind of prices itself out of the market it targets.

    I like Rare's output. There's a worrying trend of people wishing to jump on the bash Rare bandwagon. Targetting a development company beacuse you have a particular hardware bias seems very lame. Tell you what, let's continue bashing Bizarre Creations, Rockstar North, JAM and pretty soon we can rid ourselves of the UK development scene. Geez, if you can't get support from home...

  • JYM60 #43 5 years ago

    I think we will support Rare whenever they deliver what is expected. Not since N64 have they delivered a AAA title which was their forte back in the day.

    I don't think that there is bashing because they are a MS company, just that they haven't lived up to expectations, when MS announced the Buyout a lot were pissed but a lot were excited as well because they wanted to see what they could do with the resources MS have. They have not done anything truely spectacular, now most people are just a bit 'meh' towards rare.

    Of course if Banjo is any good I couldn't care less about their failings.

  • RexRunti #44 5 years ago

    I don't think MS have to do any defending of Rare. Ok PDZ was a dissapointment, but Kameo is a cult classic, there are many people who love this game to death and Viva Pinata has received huge critcal acclaim. As for "Rare would do better with nintendo" comments. Well duh, that's why MS bought them. Whenever someone says "the 360 is all driving games and shooters" the xbot can respond "what about Kameo and VP?" OK that's about it for the younger audiance (excluding XBLA) but 3rd party publishers won't release a game on a system if a game released earlier in the same genre hasn't succeded.

  • bonker #45 5 years ago

    "more mature titles from the developer just because Bungie (Halo) and Epic Games (Gears of War) seem to give Microsoft the edge in that area already"

    Halo & GOW 'mature'?

    They're the biggest kids games on the console aren't they?!

  • SimonM7 #46 5 years ago

    I don't buy that Rare is a "platform driving" company. I honestly think Kameo pales in comparison to just about any action adventure on the rivaling formats (Zelda especially), and the reason it sold was the lack of comparable games on the 360. PDZ however had Call of Duty 2 to fend off, while fighting in a genre where goofy characters and colourful locales just aren't really accepted. Of course, beyond that it struggled with its single player experience after having devoted all resources to its co-op campaign, but that's a bit beside the point.

    I think it's unfair to expect one company to replace lack of content in the action adventure genre, and maybe the reason people are being so harsh towards them is really frustration over said issue.

  • kangarootoo #47 5 years ago

    @bonker

    I've always found the use of the term "mature" to be a little confusing when it comes to games. It usually seems to apply to content that would result in an age restriction on purchase, which is not necessarily the same thing as mature in the more traditional sense.

    Duke Nukem 3D may have had "adult" content, but it could hardly be described as a mature game (not dismissing it overall, it had some very good mechanics and I enjoyed playing it).

  • DUFFKING #48 5 years ago

    Kameo = Good solid fun
    VP = one of the best games of both Xbox and Xbox 360

  • souljacker2000 #49 5 years ago

    going home from work to play vp! Love it
    so addicted at the mo

  • JYM60 #50 5 years ago

    Kameo cult classic??!?

    I hated it and I though it was regarded as being pretty shite. Not a patch on their earlier games.

    VP is pretty good though.

  • Carrybagma #51 5 years ago

    So. Microsoft are looking to flog Rare then.

  • bit_mite #52 5 years ago

    Enjoyed all three of these games, especially VP. Anyone know if Rare are working on anything other than the Banjo sequel?

  • captain-future #53 5 years ago

    Kameo was good/ok, but not great.

    Banjo should do the job! Overall I'm not seeing that Rare was worth the mega-deal.

  • davisorle #54 5 years ago

    I dont know what you're guys talking about. All I want to see from Rare right now is a new Conqer or something like that wasnt it called? Live and reloaded was like Scary movie of games. That shit was funny.

  • dynarama #55 5 years ago

    Just bought VP new for £20 - it was too expensive before but now I'm in business