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Rare Founders Leave to 'Pursue Other Opportunities'
Chris and Tim Stamper left the company at the end of 2006.
Chris and Tim Stamper, two of Rare Ltd.'s (Goldeneye 007, Perfect Dark and Viva Pinata) three founders have left the studio. While the news surfaces in the wake of disappointing sales figures for Rare's excellent Viva Pinata, Microsoft told 1UP that sluggish Pinata sales had "absolutely" nothing to do with their departure.
"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."
The Stampers' exodus comes just four years after Microsoft acquired Rare from Nintendo for $375M. Since that acquisition, Rare has published five games for Microsoft Game Studios. In addition to Pinata, the Rare released Kameo and Perfect Dark Zero at the Xbox 360's launch and shipped Conker: Live & Reloaded and Grabbed By the Ghoulies on the original Xbox. While it seems unlikely that Microsoft has recouped their original investment in Rare, the company maintains that the studio is "the cornerstone of Microsoft Game Studios' broadening strategy."
Microsoft told 1UP that Mark Betteridge, a 19-year-veteran of the Rare team, and Gregg Mayles will succeed the Stampers as Studio Director and Creative Director, respectively.
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I like Kameo
Posted: May 31, 2009 12:00AM PST by� eugenivanitcki
I like Kameo is also cute.Viva Pi�ata looks good, some new ideas and not muscle bound marines with guns the size of tree trunks.The 360 Deluge seems to 'macho'games. I remember little of their last beginings and how to play the game Jetpac in 1983, but lost some games to Goldeneye, Perfect Dark and Jet Force Gemini and then again Kameo.It 's a totally different company, but now, although perhaps nostalgia is creeping in. http://imdb-film.com/� http://top.imdb-film.com/
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Old Timer
Posted: Sep 07, 2007 12:00AM PST by� weenox
I like Kameo,it's cute.Viva Pinata looks good too,some new ideas and no muscle bound marines with guns the size of tree trunks.The 360 does seem deluged with 'macho'games. I remember Rare from their beginings as Ultimate play the game and Jetpac back in 1983 but missed some games til Goldeneye,Perfect Dark and Jet Force Gemini and then came back to Kameo.It's a totally different company now though but maybe nostalgia is creeping in.
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Rare has been nothing like what they used to be
Posted: Jan 05, 2007 12:00AM PST by� Jonathon_Striker
back in the SNES days are when they had a few good games like Donkey Kong Country! And of course Goldeneye 007 was a popular runner for the N64 later on. Rare wasn't rare at all back then, but has become just that now, so it may be no wonder why the founders have left. Maybe they just don't have that same creative spark.
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Rare relevance.
Posted: Jan 04, 2007 12:00AM PST by� hiro_protaganist
I'm a fan of Rare and the games they have contributed to both Nintendo and Microsoft, but honestly they haven't been relevant for quite a while. Viva Pinata is an interesting and daring attempt at shaking things up, but that world was shook by Animal Crossing back on the Cube. I just want to know one thing what ever happened to the Killer Instinct License? Talk about a waste.
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DUDE!!!!
Posted: Jan 03, 2007 12:00AM PST by� Dragon_Knight22
What the hell? Why were those completely inoffensive, completely appropriate posts deleted? Everyone in the world knows that there is no concrete sales figures that have been announced yet. This makes no sense.
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Rarely Missed
Posted: Jan 03, 2007 12:00AM PST by� alienNinja
The funny thing about hearing this news is that over the new year holiday me and my brother played KI gold for about two hours. And we both agreed that rare has become a has been in the gaming industry they went from a Bungie caliber developer to a nobody all because they didnt listen to there real fans. If your fans ask for sequels to flag ship game franchises like Jet Force, KI, and Banjo why not thats my question. I dont care how good Viva is, give the real Rare back.
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Why delete my post 1up? Where is the source?
Posted: Jan 03, 2007 12:00AM PST by� vgjrockx
Maybe because I'm right. You have no source for your "disappointing sales figures" of viva pinata and want to start some BS up. You deleted my post asking for a source and the next two posts from the kid sourcing nextgen about good viva pinata sales figures. Now all these readers on here think the game is a flop. IT'S NOT! Until you can site a source for these supposed "disappointing sales figures", I'll come back and repost everyday.
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Not that big a deal for the company
Posted: Jan 03, 2007 12:00AM PST by� Grey1986
Anyone thinking this is going to have an impact upon the quality of Rare's titles, for better or worse, needs a bit of a reality check. When you're that high up in a company you don't really have much of a hands on role in the development of the games themselves, so the Stamper brothers leaving isn't going to make too much difference really. Will be interested to see what they do next though.
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Dont let the door hit ya!
Posted: Jan 03, 2007 12:00AM PST by� MicroGates
When Microsoft bought Rare, they should have just flushed that money right down the toilet! Yes Golden Eye was great and so was Banjo and such, but since they've been with Microsoft, it's been miss after miss (Actually they got Viva right, but too little too late there huh?). And as far as them being a corner stone!? Yeah right, if thats there corner stone, then Microsoft (Bungie) better be planning on like 20 Halo sequels, cause they aint getting shit out of Rare!
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I proudly bought viva pinata
Posted: Jan 03, 2007 12:00AM PST by� Cue..
not because of the cartoon, but because i think rare makes great games. shame it didnt sell that well because its a much better game then all these sims reduex and countless cookie cutter sequels. wish the best to these guys.
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RE:JonahFalcon
Posted: Jan 03, 2007 12:00AM PST by� Dragon_Knight22
Read this quote from the preceeding article. "While the news surfaces in the wake of disappointing sales figures for Rare's excellent Viva Pinata, Microsoft told 1UP that sluggish Pinata sales had "absolutely" nothing to do with their departure." So, it sold tons yet Microsoft is disappointed. Yeah, it's such a smashing success.[/sarcasm]
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To: Chris and Tim Stamper
Posted: Jan 03, 2007 12:00AM PST by� h8billg8ts
Please start another your own studio and head back to Nintendo ... I know the money looked good but you have enough now. Go back and make Donkey Kong Country and Banjoo games ...
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Too Bad
Posted: Jan 03, 2007 12:00AM PST by� newbity
RARE games on Nintendo systems were awesome... I still remember playing Donkey Kong Country for the first time... then, of course, Killer Instinct and Goldeneye. It's too bad that the founders left, but maybe they will make a new company and sign on with Nintendo again.
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well all
Posted: Jan 03, 2007 12:00AM PST by� bluesquall
I want from RARE is another Killer Instinct and some damn platformers...Good ones please.
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BTW
Posted: Jan 03, 2007 12:00AM PST by� Fee the Weasel
I am probably the only person looking forward to the new Banjo game. And does anyone know if Nintendo owns the rights to Killer Instinct? I would choke my own mama to play a 360 update to that series...
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He's not 19 years old...
Posted: Jan 03, 2007 12:00AM PST by� Fee the Weasel
...he's a 19 year veteran of Rare.
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19 yrs old
Posted: Jan 03, 2007 12:00AM PST by� RodWoodsonIsGod
and the studio director of a major game company...not bad!
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bargh! ! !
Posted: Jan 03, 2007 12:00AM PST by� BreakfastPills
Definately wasn't a fan of Kameo, so I'm hoping that their shameful resignation will bring back the Glory dDays of Rare... even if it's not with Intendo.
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bring back killer instinct
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� disfigured_clownboy
need i say more?
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Free Radical?
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� NIghtsDelusion
Lets not forget Zoonami. http://www.zoonami.com/briefing/2006-10-19-zendoku.php Though they have yet to release a game, they have a cool website.
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Looking into the future...
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� NPC
I'm interested to know what the two founders have planned next. I think their leave from Rare probably has something to do with the desire to develop for Wii. That's the first thing that comes to my mind at least. ... Now I'm wondering where they're going to do it. Will they form another company?
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Nothing?
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� JonahFalcon
"What have they made that was so great other than Goldeneye? Nothing, thats what." (cough) Conker's Bad Fur Day (cough)
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Idiotic statements
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� JonahFalcon
"Viva Pinata was doomed to fail from the beginning, no matter what system it was on. " Let me know how Viva Pinata "failed". Metascore of 89? Check. Sold tons? Check (see the Next Gen Biz link I gave). Maybe it failed with twits like you who assume something didn't sell because YOU didn't buy it. Little hint: You're not everyone.
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Hopefully..
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� TazJere
The Stampers will head back to Nintendo. And with 5 games and MS still not having recovered their original investment, that just shows how much influence Nintendo was with that company. Goldeneye was one of the few system selling games along with the Zelda games on the N64. Perfect Dark wasn't the same on the X-Box. Conker's Bad Fur Day was also a decent and funny/fun game.
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Rare is Overrated
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� Mikeyboy75
What have they made that was so great other than Goldeneye? Nothing, thats what. Well, maybe Viva Pinata but thats it. Rare got Lucky with Goldeneye and the proof is in the pudding. Just look at what they made since then, all average games. Not to mention PDZ which was horrible and the core guys who left Rare for their own company (Free Radical) made FPS's that were only slightly better than PDZ. (which is still horrible, Timesplitters sucked hard) So you know what, Rare got Lucky. If anything, their much better by making games like Viva Pinata. At least its original, its different and its something that 360 desperately needs. 360 has enough shooters and fighters. And please Rare, dont even think of making another Killer Instincts game. Its just another old game that wont live up to the hype. Keep making original games.
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RE: Whoever it was that made a reply to me
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� Dragon_Knight22
Who said anything about the PS3? Viva Pinata was doomed to fail from the beginning, no matter what system it was on. Having it on the 360 was just the final nail on the coffin. Apparently, I'm not the only one to think so. Your logic is wasted. Hardcore gamers buying out specific consoles has nothing to do with the popularity, or lack thereof, of Viva Pinata. People would have bought the game had it been on Nintendo's consoles because it would be expected for it to be there, having it on the CrapBox was a notoriously bad move. It made no business sense, it couldn't be marketed effectively, and it was targeting the completely WRONG demographic. All these reasons, plus the fact that Microsoft is a joke, is the real reason it failed. Rare is an excellent company, among the best, partnering with Microsoft was a bad idea that, hopefully, they won't repeat.
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no...
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� darksammy5
hats off to them for moving on but dose this mean no "Banjo Kazooie 3"? that would suck...
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Rare Is Done.
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� Co-opKnight
Stick a fork in Rare! Not only are they done, their well done with no trace of redness.
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That's Sad
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� snakeyfisher
but I can attest that Viva Pinata is a good game I have one
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no offense to the boys
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� freakin
but aside from Viva Pinata(which I have not played but have heard good things) they haven't exactly been making a good case for the new Rare. Kameo was fun, but a game that was in development for as long as it was shoulda at the very least been longer.
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Viva Pinata (sic): the Arrested Development of Video Games
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� Gamemasterflex18
not to mention it's the only good game they made since the buyout.
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Viva Pinata sold well, 1UP
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� JonahFalcon
"The Rare-developed title has appeared on the Amazon.com Xbox 360 top sellers charts since its launch and racked up positive reviews, but the game canâ??t change the Xbox image on its own and its overall impact has yet to be seen." http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4446&Itemid=2&limit=1&limitstart=2
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Woah...
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� dirtmonkey37
This is horrible. Of course, Mayles is a very promising replacement, and I haven't necesarily heard of the other guy, but considering he's been there for 19 years, I'm sure he'll succeed as well. Anyways, hopefully this doesn't hamper Rare's ability to put out stellar games. The two founders have left, along with some others, but I'm sure, in a sense, that Rare will continue it's reign of epic and fun games (minus all xbox Rare games and 360 launch games...) Viva Pinata is the start of hopefully something beautiful.
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Remember "Free Radical"
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� Ill-lusAlive
A long time ago they left Rare and made a game with the 007 engine called "Time Splitters".I think they were the Badboys of Rare.Watch out for their next project"Haze". http://www.frd.co.uk/haze/pressRelease.php
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Where is the source for viva pinata sales figures?
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� vgjrockx
Bad sales are stated as speculation for these guys departure but where is 1up getting these sales figures from? No NPD data, no best buy data, no nothing is stated as the source. Just 1up talking shit. In the stores around me in michigan you couldn't find this game. I had to go to walmart early in the morning to get it and then the salesperson said it was already the hot game of the day selling 15 copies. Toys r us ran out. best buy ran out. circuit city ran out. ebgames ran out. it was selling like hotcakes around here. 1up needs to start stating sources before they open their traps.
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The 360..
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� DeadMonkeys
seems to be a primarily shooter-oriented console. The XBOX fan-base consists mainly of hard-core and sometimes noobish/immature gamers who prefer what they have always known: shoot-em ups. The biggest titles for the 360 have been games like gears of war and the up-coming halo 3. Look at what happens when you try to innovate with Microsoft. Rare should have stayed with Nintendo.
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Hopefully they get back to the good old days(pre-Microcrap)...
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� dingledavey
They are responsable for one of the best games ever made(Goldeneye007) when they were a first party developer for Nintendo. This is why microsoft sucks. It is everything that is wrong in video gaming. I wish Microcrap would just die and go away. DIE MICROCRAP DIE.
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Right Dragon...
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� RaStarr420
and Viva Pinata would thrive on the PS3, get real... Viva Pinata is a hard sell right now because mostly the hardcore have bought the majority of consoles and not everyone will graviatate towards a title like Viva Pinata. At least it's an orignal title unlike a certain sequel heavy consoles lineup (ahemPS3!!!Ahem-just jivin Dragon gotta admire a man that sticks up bt his guns (no matter how fruitless-lol)
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HA!
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� Dragon_Knight22
The sluggish sales had nothing to do with Rare, it had everything to do with Microsoft. You can't put a game like Viva Pinata on the XBOX, it's like sentencing it to death.
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It's a shame to see them go
Posted: Jan 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by� Yum16
The two of them created one of the most influencial developers of all time and its sad they want to leave the company they founded. Founders typically leave studios to "pursue other opporutunities" because their current work environment too constraining. Best of luck to them.
