Rare used to be a prolific high end developer. During the lifetime of the 64 they delivered no less then eleven titles to the console, and had two cancelled projects. From there things went south in a major way. For the Gamecube they delivered only one title, and had two cancelled. Then for the Xbox they delivered two titles, and had two cancelled over to the 360. This current generation they have already delivered three titles to the 360 those being Perfect Dark Zero, Kameo, and Viva Pinata. With a further title arriving this year in BKIII. So that will make four titles by the end of this year.

That shows a significant positive trend compared to the previous two lackluster console outings. They have already matched both previous consoles combined in less then three years. So do you think there is a potential before the end of this generation to be seeing Rare return to their delivery stride they were enjoying eight years ago? To a point where we can see two or even three Rare developed titles a year. I have always enjoyed Rare as a developer, and if they are working their way out of the funk this generation it could be a fantastic boost to the library more along the lines of what Microsoft must have expected when they acquired the developer. 

What is most interesting about this development is the fact that Rare was a bigger developer of platforming titles for the 64 then even Nintendo. They after all delivered two banjo titles, a Conker title, Donkey Kong, and Jet Force Gemini.  Many argue this has been one of Microsoft's weakest areas this generation so if Rare can manage to get the lead out they could make a considerable impact. Does anyone have any thoughts? 

Please no fanboy bullshit. No flame wars. No two sentence replies. No gaffs, puns, or retarded nonsense. I am asking this ahead of time so do me the courtesy of not ruining this thread through idiotic pettiness. I want to have a serious discussion with those that are fans of the developer and what they think the prospects for its future are. There are enough flame bait threads to go troll this isn't one of them. 

Doubt it, but conker really pushed xbox 1 graphically. At least they still know how to make pretty games.

Rare has not become as bad as everyone has stated. Last generation was a huge fall from grace, but this gen so far, they've released three titles that have all garned very positive cumulative review scores. It's hard to say Rare doesn't have it again after seeing what was done with Viva Pinata. I forgive Kameo and Perfect Dark Zero the same way I forgive Resistance as they were the big launch titles and needed to be presented on day one, no exceptions. Of course a little polish is going to get thrown to the wolves. I have a lot of faith in Banjo Kazooie 3 being a respectable sequel to two of the N64's finest titles. The team is still there, supposedly almost in full, and I feel 8 years has given them plenty of innovative apporaches to take this franchise. After that who knows?

I'd personally love a new Killer Instinct if they still hold the license but I feel with mo-cap sprites being beyond yesturday's news and scrolling FMV backgrounds also ancient as Fear Effect, I suspect one of the main drawing points of the game is lost at this point. Maybe an Xbox Live sequel for $20 would be fitting.

In a perfect world for me, Rare would dump the PD franchise and FPS games entirely and focus solely on bringing their other franchises like Conker and Banjo back to prominence. Viva Pinata can stay, too. It was a seriously underrated game.

For the life of me, I can't understand why Kameo even existed. It should have been a Conker or Banjo game. It was a decent game but on a console that lacks platform games, a more established franchise would have been welcomed.

In any case, Rare has a lot riding on Banjo. I think this will be the true test whether they're "back" or not. Their delivery cycle has improved and Kameo was decent and Viva Pinata was pretty damned good. Now they need to take the next step with their premiere franchise and make Banjo rival SMG. Unlikely, but since Rare's Banjo team is still relatively intact from the N64 days, it might be possible.

hasn't Rare really changed staff-wise during these years?
do they still really have their great developers of the time of GoldenEye and the N64?

I thought many guys left years ago..

A new Conker game and Kameo 2 for the 360 would be great.

Kameo was actually designed for an entirely different library. The title began development as a title for the GameCube. Then when Microsoft acquired Rare it went into development for the Xbox then thanks to that consoles short life cycle it finally found its way to the 360. So it was more of a answer to a problem that Nintendo had rather then a answer to a problem Microsoft had.

they need to go back to nintendo to get there groove back, they need shigerus advice

Good point. Forgot about that. It probably explains the mediocre parts of the game and the title's length.

Well it can go either way, but I agree with Rocketpig here Banjo has a lot riding on it, though I wasn't a huge fan of it back in the N64 days I loved the rest of Rares games so if Banjo is really good and gets good sales that could mean their other games could make a return and be impressive (more money means better budgets for upcoming games!) I really hope for a new Conker game though, and I would suggest if MS wanted to get into Japan use Rare to do it, make a good Wii game get them hooked, then make the squeal on the 360. I mean Rare made a DS game I don't see anything wrong with a Wii game.