Rare, Ltd.

Rare Ltd. is an English game developer, based in Leicestershire and is most famous for titles such as Donkey Kong Country, Goldeneye, and Perfect Dark.

Overview

Rare has a long and detailed history which stretches back into the early history of Computer and Video Games. The organization now known as Rare Ltd was founded in 1982 by brothers Tim and Chris Stamper as a company called Ashby Computers and Graphics Limited (ACG) and published games under the name Ultimate Play the Game. They started creating games in the 8-bit era for all platforms when they released such popular games as Jetpac. The "Ultimate" name and catalog was sold in 1985 to U.S. Gold to prevent a buyout of the whole company.

The Stamper brothers then started creating games under the name "Rare: Designs on the Future" which was changed to RareWare, and then later shortened to simply "Rare". Rare continued to have success with its titles but began to focus solely on the extremely popular NES platform. In 1995 Rare entered an exclusive publishing agreement with Nintendo to develop games for their consoles, namely the upcoming Nintendo 64. Rare achieved great critical acclaim for N64 titles such as Goldeneye 007, Perfect Dark and Banjo-Kazooie.

In 2002 Rare was acquired by Microsoft to develop games on their Xbox platform, for a reported sum of $377 million. Rare was later moved on the become one of the flagship developers for Microsoft's new Xbox 360 console with the creation of two launch titles, Perfect Dark Zero and Kameo: Elements of Power. On 2 January 2007 Chris and Tim the original founders left the company in order to pursue other opportunities. The company continues under the leadership of Creative Director Gregg Mayles and Studio Director Mark Betteridge.

Game Chronology

1983

Atic Atac (BBC, SPEC) Cookie (SPEC)
Dragonskulle (C64)
Jetpac (BBC, SPEC, VC20)
Lunar Jetman (BBC, SPEC)
Pssst (SPEC)
Tranz Am (SPEC)

1984

Entombed (C64)
Knight Lore (BBC, CPC, FDS, MSX, SPEC)
Sabre Wulf (BBC, C64, CPC, SPEC)
The Staff of Karnath (C64)
Underwurlde (C64, SPEC)

1985

Alien 8 (BBC, CPC, MSX, SPEC)
Blackwyche (C64)
Imhotep (C64)
Nightshade (BBC, C64, CPC, MSX, SPEC)
Outlaws (C64)

1986

Cosmic Battlezones (BBC)
Cyberun (CPC, MSX, SPEC)
Gunfright (CPC, MSX, SPEC)
Pentagram (MSX, SPEC)

1987

Bubbler (CPC, MSK, SPEC)
California Games (NES port)
Martianoids (CPC, SPEC)
Slalom (NES)
Wizards & Warriors (NES)

1994

Company bought by Nintendo.
Donkey Kong Country (GBA, GBC, SNES, WSHP)
Killer Instinct (ARC, GB, SNES)
Monster Max (GB)

1995

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest (GBA, SNES, WSHP)
Donkey Kong Land (GB)

1996

Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! (GBA, SNES, WSHP)
Donkey Kong Land 2 (GB)
Ken Griffey, Jr.'s Winning Run (SNES)
Killer Instinct 2 (ARC)
Killer Instinct Gold (N64)

1997

Blast Corps (N64)
Diddy Kong Racing (N64)
Donkey Kong Land III (GB, GBC)
GoldenEye 007 (N64)

1998

Banjo-Kazooie (N64)

1999

Conker's Pocket Tales (GBC)
Donkey Kong 64 (N64)
Jet Force Gemini (N64)
Mickey's Racing Adventure (GBC)

2000

Banjo-Tooie (N64)
Mickey's Speedway USA (GBC, N64)
Perfect Dark (GBC, N64)

2001

Conker's Bad Fur Day (N64)

2002

Company bought by Microsoft.
Star Fox Adventures (GC)

2003

Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge (GBA)
Grabbed by the Ghoulies (XBOX)

2004

It's Mr. Pants (GBA)
Sabre Wulf (GBA)

2005

Banjo-Pilot (GBA)
Conker: Live & Reloaded (XBOX)
Kameo: Elements of Power (X360)
Perfect Dark Zero (X360)

2006

Viva Pinata (PC, X360)

2007

Founders Chris and Tim Stamper left the company.
Diddy Kong Racing DS (DS)
Jetpac Refuelled (XBLM)

2008

Banjo-Kazooie (XBLM)
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (X360)

Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise (DS)
Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise (X360)

2009

Banjo-Tooie (XBLM)

Photographic Headquarters Tour

Aerial View

Main Entrance

Summer View

Main Corridor

Winter View

forum	C'mon RARE show me something	mugugipan
blog	A Rare Moment	dankempster
forum	Well That Was Predictable Wasn't It? Natal Fit...	get2sammyb
forum	Rare to Share	Linkyshinks
forum	I hope Rare makes another Banjo Kazooie game.	big_jon
forum	No new games from Rare?	goodwood
forum	Will rare announce anything at E3?	Brontes_Muse
news	Big Huge Games: Hot for Kirkhope	Brad

Company Name	Rare, Ltd.
Street Address	Manor Park
City	Twycross
State	Leicestershire
Country	United Kingdom
Website	http://www.rareware.com/
Contact Email
Phone Number
Date Founded	Jan. 1, 1982
Count of Games Published	21
Count of Games Developed	96
Aliases

Diddy Kong first in Donkey Kong Country	9
Donkey Kong first in Donkey Kong Jr.	9
King K. Rool first in Donkey Kong Country	7
Squawks the Parrot first in Donkey Kong Country	6
Enguarde the Swordfish first in Donkey Kong Country	6
Mr. Pants first in Jet Force Gemini	6
Jetman first in Jetpac	6
Banjo first in Diddy Kong Racing	6
Cranky Kong first in Donkey Kong	5
Joanna Dark first in Perfect Dark	5