Rare Founders Leave

January 3rd, 2007 Posted in Adventure, Business, RPG, Simulation, Strategy, Xbox 360

rarelogo.jpgChris and Tim Stamper, who founded Rare back in 1982, have now left the Microsoft owned company. Rare made classics such as GoldenEye, Perfect Dark, and most recently Viva Pinata for the Xbox 360. It’s rumored that the departure is a result of weak sales of Viva Pinata, but Microsoft dismissed the rumor, saying,

“Chris and Tim have helped shape Rare into the world-renowned development studio that is it today and their impact on the videogame industry as a whole is well known. They are simply leaving to pursue other opportunities and we wish them luck in their future endeavors.”

Back in 2001, Microsoft bought Rare from Nintendo for $374 million. Rare developed two games for the original Xbox, Conker: Live and Reloaded and Grabbed by The Ghoulies. In addition, they made three critically acclaimed Xbox 360 games, Perfect Dark Zero, Kameo, and Viva Pinata. The UK-based studio is currently working on a Banjo-Kazooie title for the Xbox 360.

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9 Responses to “Rare Founders Leave”

  1. Quartecks Says:

    Nintendo will always take you guys back……



  2. dominant Says:

    i just hope that doesn’t affect any possibility of goldeneye being released for xbla… that would be sweet!



  3. Jim2k Says:

    Man Rare made some classic titles, GoldenEye, Perfect Dark, Banjo Kazooie, Diddy Kong Racing, Killer Instinct.. all N64 hall of famers :)



  4. Alex Says:

    I remember the good times I had with GoldenEye, I must have played at least a few hudred hours of it. Clearly the best console shooter ever made.



  5. Jim2k Says:

    Yeah GoldenEye was genious, first game to offer “unlocks” if you completed a certain mission within a timeframe, then you got new weapons, multiplayer maps and so on. That was what hooked me :)



  6. tidles Says:

    They did nothing of any significance since the were bought from M$, obviously avoiding there better back catalogue titles for a opportunity like this…



  7. Zac Says:

    Rare were my favourite developing company before they were bought. It will be so weird, and kinda sad, seeing Banjo Kazooie on XB.. Such nice memories from playing Rare games on the N64.



  8. ksfl Says:

    After Starfox Adventures, I am not too sure Nintendo wants them back



  9. The Wickerman Says:

    haha come on killer instinct was snes it was good but not good as street fighter/mortal kombat..golden eye yes was one of the better console shooters for its time.Perfect dark was kinda sweet i never really got to play to much but yeah it was good when i did.But rare isnt gonna hurt anything they have 2 main games that ppl really liked golden eye and dark.dark sold good but u really cant remake golden eye unless the golden eye source team on hl2.they only remade the multi i cant wait till the single player version..



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