I wouldn't say that was current Rare that was 9 years ago that was released so 10-11 years ago when work started on that, with the staff turnover game companies have there won't be many controlling staff still there who worked on that especially as MS Studios internal recruitment means many will have moved about the various MS studios or moved to new companies or new industries. On top of that many of the top staff members are totally new, their current creative director only began there a year or so ago. The majority of the gaming public are quite young, they're unlikely to remember or even if they do... have any investment in the majority of Rare's back catalogue, christ a good portion of those on XBL/PSN were likely not even alive when Goldeneye was released. The only ones who remember Rare in high regard are those in their mid 20s and upwards of whom were never their true target audience and certainly wouldn't be now. The only way Nintendo has kept their lesser used franchises active and known about is by their addition in things like smash brothers and Mario kart, the majority of those who would have bought the Wii Donkey Kong will have more experience of him as party game character than Rare's platformers of the past. One of the few reasons Battletoads is remembered is because it inevitably turns up on various game media sites "Top 10 hardest games" lists and suchlike, and much like other NES games people like to feign interest in it.
Bad wording on my part. By "current" Rare, I meant "not golden age" Rareware. I just remembered an old rumor regarding Rare that was circulating the internet about a week ago. The rumor was that Nintendo was in talks with Microsoft to purchase Rare back in an attempt to reacquire the Banjo Kazooie IP. That rumor is most definitely bullshit since even Nintendo knows Rare isn't what they used to be, and if they wanted just the Banjo Kazooie IP, then they could just purchase that instead of the whole company. Plus, doesn't Microsoft technically own all of Rare's IPs now? I think the acquiring Rare part is bullshit, but I don't think it's all that unlikely for Nintendo to be interested in getting the Banjo Kazooie IP. Microsoft/Rare isn't doing anything with it, mostly because fans aren't happy with the changes they made to the art style and gameplay, and because their game sold nowhere near their expectations. Microsoft probably doesn't care too much about the IP, so they could probably be persuaded to sell it for the right price.
I want a KI3 damn right!!! Though I know it will never happen. I like KI a lot better then any other fighting game out there.
