Is rareware still working with Nintendo?

[Cmtz]

Here's an article I found. What's up?










Microsoft has quietly lent its support to Nintendo's DS handheld, it has been alleged, with wholly owned British studio Rare apparently already working on two titles for the new console.

According to US website GCAdvanced, senior Microsoft Game Studios exec Ken Lobb - the former Nintendo exec who now manages Microsoft's relationship with the Rare studio - confirmed at E3 last week that the developer is working on software for the DS.

He told a reporter for the site that Rare has DS development kits, and that two software titles are in the works for new platform - although he didn't provide details of which titles those might be.

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Rare has continued to work on the Game Boy Advance since it was bought by Microsoft in 2002, with GBA titles from the studio being published by THQ; this, however, is the first indication that it will be continuing its development efforts into the next generation of Nintendo handheld hardware.

The news that a Microsoft Game Studios subsidiary is to work on a new Nintendo platform is less surprising than it might seem at first. Microsoft has repeatedly asserted that it has no ambitions in the handheld console market - but the company is still likely to want to see Nintendo's system triumph over Sony's entry into the market.

As long as Nintendo continues to control the handheld market, that sector represents little threat to Microsoft - or so the conventional wisdom goes. On the other hand, should Sony grain a significant foothold in the market, it will give it a further advantage over Microsoft in the home console space, as the PSP is thought to be closely linked to the functionality of Sony's home systems.

[sisko]

The news that a Microsoft Game Studios subsidiary is to work on a new Nintendo platform is less surprising than it might seem at first. Microsoft has repeatedly asserted that it has no ambitions in the handheld console market - but the company is still likely to want to see Nintendo's system triumph over Sony's entry into the market.

That paragraph says it all.

RARE has also done a few GBA titles since Microsoft acquired them. Donkey Kong Country 2 is the first that springs to mind.

[Ed Oscuro]

As long as Nintendo continues to control the handheld market, that sector represents little threat to Microsoft - or so the conventional wisdom goes. On the other hand, should Sony grain a significant foothold in the market, it will give it a further advantage over Microsoft in the home console space, as the PSP is thought to be closely linked to the functionality of Sony's home systems.
I think this is the lynchpin the whole article depends on - how true is it really that the PSP and PS3 will be interchangable? Certainly I'd imagine Sony would like to keep that image of "all Sony stuff works on [new] Sony stuff." Have they made any announcement regarding UMD on PS3?

[Graham Mitchell]

This is interesting. Although, I'll admit that I wasn't too broken up when Microsoft bought Rare up a few years ago. In my opinion, outside of maybe the Conkers games or Goldeneye, Rare hasn't done anything too spectacular since the days of the NES. I can't think of one 16-bit title they did that was really amazing (DKC is just a sprite trick. Clever as the idea was, I don't think DKC is a spectacular game.) Maybe they'll do something really novel with the DS, though. Never give up hope, I suppose.

[sharp]

I don't expect too much from rare these days as there current output is a bit disapointing in my opinion. But maybe they nfind the way back to the top.

[grayrobertos]

yeh I heard this around the time of E3. The obvious game that should be made is a perfect dark game. With some 8 player multi going on.

[Graham Mitchell]

yeh I heard this around the time of E3. The obvious game that should be made is a perfect dark game. With some 8 player multi going on.

Good call, but I'd prefer to see RC Pro Am make an appearance. Even though Cobra Triangle has a bit more going on, I think RC Pro Am is probably the best game Rare ever made. I've played it regularly for 15 years or so. I'll never stop playing it.

[Flack]

I don't see why Microsoft wouldn't make games for the DS. Number one, MS doesn't have a handheld, so they're not competing with themselves. Two, Sony DOES have a handheld, so they are hurting them. And three, you know, that whole money making thing.

[GobopopRevisited]

Well Microsoft did license Age of Empires to Majesco for publishing on the DS.

[sabre2922]

Yeah Microsoft is definitely supporting the DS in a slightly sly way with RARE still developing and publishing games for it wich makes sense to me it can do nothing but help the DS against the PSP wich so far isnt the breadwinner that Sony thought it would be.