which i think is the likely scenario, they have been very busy with the NXE and Banjo, as some people have oh so kindly noted not a lot of people who worked there are still there, but some are. MS seems quite happy with RARE no doubt a lot of money is likely to fill in RARE's coffers to do with what they please, they prob did NXE in exchange for a big budget, small sacrifice for large gain.

be nice but Rare just isin't the same anymore

There wasn't much competition games wise for greatness on the N64 and their cartoon style look suited Nintendo perfectly. These reasons where why Rare was so significant, in combination with probable assistance from the big N, and these are all reasons why Rare would be better back with Nintendo but it aint gonna happen.

Some dev. will replace Rare by the end of this gen. in terms of star power on the Wii, whether its independents or big 3rd parties that eventually get off their ass, and they will prob. then be bought out by MS again.

From right now Next level games look like a good fit. Nintendo gave them two franchises to work with and not only did they not mess up they exceeded expectations both time.

lol. yeah a few of you are right. all of the good devs in rare left to join free radical. i mean look at haze. that game was awesome.

and nitendo didn't drop Rare. the stamper brothers sold their 51% stake to microsoft, and nitendo sold their 49% because that stock did nothing for them anymore.

all of rares games have been over the 80s on the metacritic scale.with the exception of ghoulies.

the only reason i can see that it would be a good idea for them to go back to nitendo, is for their great games to get the sales they deserve.

No, Rare should stay with Microsoft. The day Chris and Tim Stamper left the company is the day their quality went from ''as good as Nintendo'' to ''pretty nice, most of the time''. Then, there was the Microsoft purchase and the split-off of Free Radical and Zoonami.

Rare isn't worth all the money it would cost. I'd rather have Nintendo investing it in some nice first party games.

the stamper brothers didn't leave till late 2007. and as i said before free radical is a lemon.

Oh you poor souls who try to defend Rare now.  If only you had played Donkey Kong Country, Killer Instinct, Perfect Dark, Godleneye 007, Banjo 1 and 2, etc.  Then you would know exactly how a lot of us feel.  And if ya have played them and your still saying this, then I smell bias. 

Am I sure Ninty owned Rare?  Wow convo should have stopped there.  Go look it up... you have the abilities.  You should find Ninty had a plurality of ownership with Rare and an exclusive publishing agreement.  Closest thing to actually owning them.  Tell me when ya find that and then you may resume your argument.  

All I've ever said is Rare back when Ninty had them and Rare when MS have them are not the same company.  It has nothing to do with who owns them.  Just look at the change of people.

Oh, and btw. when microsoft bought them they changed the name from Rareware to just Rare.

@zucas

i have played 85% of their games, and i still am loving each new one they put out