N64 team working on Banjo 360

By Johnny Minkley Published 2 October, 2006

So says top Microsoft exec.

Good news for fans of the N64 originals - a top Microsoft exec has told Eurogamer that the original team responsible for Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie is working on the new 360 instalment announced at last week's X06.

Rare's platforming double act took the Nintendo console by storm in the '90s. And while the series' return has been anticipated for some time, Microsoft Game Studios general manager Phil Spencer wanted to reassure gamers that Banjo's 360 debut is very much in the right hands.

He revealed: "Team sizes are so different now and we have more animators now than the full Banjo 1 team, but the key core team is really the same."

Spencer was also keen to play down suggestions that Banjo-Kazooie 360 is being created for younger gamers, insisting: "Certain people look at the bear and the bird and think it's a kids' game. What we think is that Banjo as an intellectual property has the ability to span audiences.

"For us in the next Banjo game it was about evolving the gameplay while keeping the approachability of the characters, but the depth of the gameplay is very important. This can't turn into some minigame-based paper game. It has to be something that has a ton of substance."

Given the Fort Knox-style levels of secrecy at the Twycross-based developer, specifics are predictably thin on the ground at this stage, but Spencer had a few more vague snippets for us.

"I think where we are with that game right now is something that is extremely innovative," he continued. "We're not talking about the game idea yet, but what you'll see coming from Banjo is a game that has even more depth than Banjo-Kazooie or Banjo-Tooie, more variability, more gameplay - but keeps the face that is Banjo on the game to make it more approachable.

"It'll be familiar to fans of the originals in terms of style, absolutely, and in terms of setting, story and characters. In terms of it being another platformer? I think that genres evolve, and that's what we're doing with this game. So you might call it something else when it comes out - but it's the same team and it's staying true to that team and what it believes in."

It's worth noting that this will also be $375 million Microsoft studio Rare's first 360 game that actually originated on the platform. Kameo and Perfect Dark Zero were first GameCube then Xbox 1 games, while Viva Pinata started out on Xbox 1 and came to 360 via mobile devices.

"Banjo has never seen another platform," Spencer confirmed. "The original gameplay ideas were on this box [Xbox 360] and that's where they'll ship." But it looks like we'll have a bit of a wait on our hands before we learn exactly what these "original gameplay ideas" are, sadly.

Spencer added: "There's some very good gameplay in the game, but we want to show it in a way that creates the excitement that it should. We're probably a little ways away - not too far - but a little ways away from showing it in all its glory. But the gameplay is already solid."

Picture of Johnny.

About Johnny Minkley

Eurogamer TV's Johnny Minkley is a veteran journalist with a lifelong passion for games and the games industry. He uses Twitter more than most people use air.

Read more articles from Johnny by visiting the Johnny Minkley archive page.

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Comments (38) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • kissthestick #1 5 years ago

    *tries hard to have faith in rare*

  • Blerk #2 5 years ago

    It's worth noting that this will also be $375 million Microsoft studio Rare's first 360 game that actually originated on the platform. Kameo and Perfect Dark Zero were first GameCube then Xbox 1 games, while Viva Pinata started out on Xbox 1 and came to 360 via mobile devices.

    So expect to see Banjo Threeie coming to the Xbox 720 sometime in 2012.

  • Fozzie_bear #3 5 years ago

    \o/

    There should be more games with bears in. Bears are great.

  • X #4 5 years ago

    I think they'll do the biz.

  • AcidSnake #5 5 years ago

    Try to focus on the camera as well as the gameplay, eh lads?

  • chupachups #6 5 years ago

    "Try to focus on the camera as well as the gameplay, eh lads?"

    Has there ever been a 3D platform game where reviews haven't complained about the camera angles?

  • Zomoniac #7 5 years ago

    Has there ever been a 3D platform game where reviews haven't complained about the camera angles?

    Nope. God Of War is the only 3rd person game I've ever played, ever, where the camera angle hasn't pissed me off at any point.

  • repairmanjack #8 5 years ago

    *tries hard to have faith in rare*

    It's almost impossible now, isn't it?

  • jaxon58 #9 5 years ago

    Although good news, i'm sceptical that all the same dev team that worked on the N64 version are still at Rare. 10 years at the same developer is very unusual.

  • kissthestick #10 5 years ago

    Jak2?

  • snick #11 5 years ago

    psssh i wanna hear about diddy kong racing on the ds. the flying battle game from the N64 was the roXXor

  • Darren #12 5 years ago

    I thought the camera in both Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie was fine and I can't think of any bits of the games where it annoyed me particularly.

    Banjo-Kazooie 3 sounds interesting and it's fantastic news that the team who made the first two games are developing it. I just wonder how look we'll have to wait for the game though as I can't see it coming out before Christmas 2008 somehow.

  • Darren #13 5 years ago

    "Although good news, i'm sceptical that all the same dev team that worked on the N64 version are still at Rare. 10 years at the same developer is very unusual." - Jaxon58

    I doubt that it's the whole of the original team; more likely it's the core team that created the game that are still there.

    *EDIT* Well it says that in the article, in fact! LOL
    Edited by 1 at 02/10/06 @ 16:15

  • Tiger_Walts #14 5 years ago

    I think I might fire up the first N64 game when I get home. The attract mode is always good for a cheer-up.

  • Sko #15 5 years ago

    The same team worked on the second as the first? That's a bit disappointing. I thought the second one was pretty mediocre - a bit of a re-tread. Probably have a bit more faith in this title if it turned out the second one was a different bunch of guys.

  • NOSAVIOUR #16 5 years ago

    Bring us Jet force Gemini too! Gotta love those scary friggin eyed kids

  • Darren #17 5 years ago

    @ Sko - Banjo-Tooie wasn't as good as the first game, true, but it was still a brilliant game and it really pushed the N64 to its limits. I'd rather have the original developers creating sequels personally as they know the characters and exactly what the game is about. The article infers that this 360 sequel isn't a platform game in the tradional sense anyway so it certainly doesn't sound like this new game is going to be a retread.

  • NOSAVIOUR #18 5 years ago

    The second one felt a bit half hearted.

    Waited with baited breath for 2 years after completing the first game, seeing the ending telling you about secrets which Banjo-tooie would reveal and yet never did! What went wrong?!!
    Edited by 3 at 02/10/06 @ 16:24

  • AcidSnake #19 5 years ago

    "What went wrong?!!"
    That fancy plug-in cart cost too much I'd think...

    Jet Force Gemini was a love it or hate it game..
    I hated it...
    It should stay in it's spacey tomb...

  • peterfll #20 5 years ago

    The camera certainly was inferior to Super Mario 64 in both games, but was still miles better than most other 3d platformers at the time.

    I agree that Rare don't have the credibility they once used to. A lot of faith has been lost.

    *sigh*

  • Chim_chimma_nee! #21 5 years ago

    Too little too late was always the story with Rare.

  • Eighthours #22 5 years ago

    Let's just hope that it isn't turned into a platformy shooter!

  • Icebox #23 5 years ago

    <em>It's worth noting that this will also be $375 million Microsoft studio Rare's first 360 game that actually originated on the platform</em>

    Is this a completely scrapped game, I presume: http://xo omer.alice.it/mononline/unseen/... ?

  • polymorph #24 5 years ago

    Lets give rare a little bit of le-way. As the piece says its the first game they have made exclusevly from the ground up for 360.
    The origanal banjo was very good, ok i preferred mario 64 but who didnt.
    XBOX 360 needs more games like this if its really going to compete with sony and nintendo, and as we all know both will have there own platform games in development.

    Oh and i HATED jet force jemini.

  • Xerx3s #25 5 years ago

    while Viva Pinata started out on Xbox 1 and came to 360 via mobile devices.

    Eh? The first time I heard about it was that they revealed it to be a 360 game.

  • L0cky #26 5 years ago

    'The camera certainly was inferior to Super Mario 64 in both games, but was still miles better than most other 3d platformers at the time.'

    Horses for courses I guess. I despised the cam in Mario and found Banjo's to be completely intuitive. :shrug:

    I guess it's down to how you expect it to work compared to how it does. I generally ignore camera complaints in reviews for 3d platformers for that reason (although some games are just completely frustrating).

  • RodHull #27 5 years ago

    "Is this a completely scrapped game, I presume: http://xo omer.alice.it/mononline/unseen/... ?"

    From what I recall, that was a presentation created for the GameCube announcement in 2000, much akin to the one MS did when they scoffed up Rare at X02. It was mainly to show how many characters the machine could show on screen at the time (much like Kameo did for the 360).

    For one, I'm looking forward to this game. Whilst BT was essentailly a BK retread it added enough new features to keep me playing for fifty odd hours. And I didn't have a problem with the camera, unlike certain other N64 games (Mario and Zelda I is looking right at yuz).
    Edited by 1 at 02/10/06 @ 19:10

  • The-Bodybuilder #28 5 years ago

    Grabbed by the ghoulies?
    Conker: Live & Uncut?
    Kameo (actually pretty good, disregarding EG's aweful review)
    PDZ?????? (LOL)

  • Pirotic #29 5 years ago

    lies! I know for a fact over half the Banzoo team left, some joined Zoonami, others vanished from the face of the earth.

  • Bates #30 5 years ago

    But clearly they left the monkeys behind :D

  • Nikanoru #31 5 years ago

    And I didn't have a problem with the camera, unlike certain other N64 games (Mario and Zelda I is looking right at yuz).

    You're going to have to explain that one. I've finished both countless times and I don't know what on earth you mean.


    Nope. God Of War is the only 3rd person game I've ever played, ever, where the camera angle hasn't pissed me off at any point.

    Even the (admittedly very good) GoW camera had a few moments of irritation - I remember one bit where you have to jump off a moving platform, and the exact moment you jump, the camera switches direction, causing you to plummet off the side to your death. Grr.

    I swear I was totally going to mention that exact same thing.

    That godawful POS called Devil May Cry was absolutely filled with those kinds of moments though.

  • SexyBodyBuilderDude #32 5 years ago

    This is going to be a cool game!

    Banjo is a great game series, and I loved them on the N64!

    Perfect Dark Zero on the Xbox 360 had super graphics, but it did start out as a Gamecube game before coming to the Xbox 360, so the graphics obviously weren't fully customized for the Xbox 360.

    I think it is great that Microsoft took the time to make sure that the original development team for Banjo will be developing the Xbox 360!

    Being able to take advantage of the Xbox 360 in a customized way will be great!

    FUN, FUN, FUN!!! Bodacious, Baby!!!

  • spongebob #33 5 years ago

    I have no clue what MS sees in Rare.

  • gaselite #34 5 years ago

    I'm not exactly sure how that's a good thing, I mean logically:

    Banjo Kazooie > Banjo Tooie > Banjo Threeie

    :p

  • Bru-Man #35 5 years ago

    "I have no clue what MS sees in Rare."

    The $375 million they paid for them presumably. Ouch.

  • ant-bankz #36 5 years ago

    Scoop! a new banjo kazooie game! who did that suprise

    it's not a new game Im guessing that it was devoloped for N64 then Gamecube like dinosaur planet for the N64 then ported to the Gamecube called starfox, note in the gamecube build of banjo 3 it's like N64 but higher texture and more sprites.

    praise the lord their thinking of changing the name back to banjo kazooie instead of that nonesence banjo THREEIE?? i mean how are you sopposed to even say that LOL

  • Tricky #37 5 years ago

    while Viva Pinata started out on Xbox 1 and came to 360 via mobile devices.

    Eh? The first time I heard about it was that they revealed it to be a 360 game.

    Nah, it was definitely on Xbox 1 originally - they said so in the article in EDGE last month.

    I've got to say that I'm really looking forward to this - both Banjo games on the N64 were huge and a lot of fun. Just a shame that we're going to be waiting a while for it.

  • SexyBodyBuilderDude #38 5 years ago

    Dude,

    I love Perfect Dark on the N64, and I love Perfect Dark Zero on the Xbox 360 even more!

    I paid $60 for the Collectors Edition of Perfect Dark Zero when it was released, and I was happy to do so. Perfect Dark Zero is a sweet game, dude! You can get it now for only $29, since it is part of the Platinum Hits game series.

    Trust me, dude, get Perfect Dark Zero, and you will love it!

    Games like that are why Microsoft things Rare is sweet!