1up yours rumour: Big 360 game canceled.

[Smash_Brother]

"PD was a shooter - something that by definition is more 360 than Wii. It sold well enough (given it was a launch title). Kameo was a new IP, not something Ninty fans have played for years.

BK is something a lot of Ninty fans (n64 era) will remember and recognise."

Thing is, if they were going to recognize it, why didn't they recognize Banjo-Tooie which sold less than half of the first game's sales? Usually sequels sell higher, not lower.

And like I said, if N64 owners wouldn't even pick up the second game on the same console, I have a hard time seeing former fans of BK picking up a $400 piece of hardware to play the 3rd one literally SEVEN years after the game has left the public eye.

"I think it will sell a lot better than all these. Firstly - it has to be a good game. Its also a platformer - which I agree is not a core 360 demographic. But that's the point of Rare titles right? To lure "new gamers" to the 360 platform - it never was going to be easy."

I agree that being a STELLAR game is a prerequisite for it having any kind of success, but many people I know loved Viva Pinata and yet the game tanked.

I just don't see this whole "lure Nintendo fans over to the console" working out, especially with franchises which only earned moderate success on Nintendo hardware in the past (compared to Nintendo's own franchises at the time). If 1.5 million N64 owners bought BK2 7 years ago a the height of its popularity, then that means 2.15 million N64 owners who bought the first one opted out of buying the sequel.

If a sequel underperformed on the N64 when the franchise was A) more popular, B) on the proper console for its demographic and C) on the same console as its predecessor, then what chance does a sequel have now which has absolutely none of the aforementioned going for it?

"I love BK as well - very fond memories of both games (not sure if I ever clocked the 2nd - probably :P). If MS get this right, and start cranking out lovely BK TV ads for the title - its going to be hard for me to resist a 360. 

Of all the brands MS bought with Rare - this is the one that actually has some value. Its a pity too - I can only imagine what a Rare developed BK title for the DS / Wii would be like (using the Galaxy engine? Mmmm...). "

The jury is still out for me. I'll wait to see if the game is actually any good, since Rare's recent offerings have suffered a bit.

Understand, though, that while there are some former Nintendo fans like you and I who still remember it, the vast majority isn't going to pay any attention to it.

It's been SEVEN years since the last console sequel, BK3 will be coming out on a console which is dominated by shooters and M-rated fare, the last sequel sold half of what the original did and the game is being made by a dev in a questionable state to begin with.

As much as I loved the bird and bear, if I had to look out for MS's bottom line, I would have put the breaks on this one a LONG time ago. Even if it isn't the one getting cancelled, I can't imagine the game will break even, let alone venture into the black.

Also, my GF thinks its Unreal 3. She said the PC version has been moving along fine but the console versions keep getting pushed and pushed. Take that as you will.