Moore defends Rare's Xbox work

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.