The Truth behind MS and Rare

[Veknoid_Outcast]

Azzanation said:

Veknoid_Outcast said:
This is already well documented, Azzanation. When Microsoft bought Rare it had already lost some of its best talent; there's a reason Nintendo didn't want to subsidize the studio. Breaking from Nintendo's orbit and then losing the Stampers' leadership only accelerated the decline. Microsoft's laissez-faire management probably made things worse.

I am not here trying to stick up for MS on this one. They could have managed Rare better however it seems many still like to point the blame game solely on MS because that's when Rare had there major declines. The truth that a lot of people seem to miss is that Rare wanted out from Nintendo hence they were looking for a buyer. They need support and cash and Nintendo just weren't doing that for them anymore. Which is a shame because when Rare and Nintendo were firing on all cylinders they were unstoppable. Sega, Nintendo's arch rival did not have a counter to Rare neither did Sony.

Yeah, I think Nintendo's conservatism didn't work with Rare's ambition. It was time for a split.

It worked out well for both entities. Nintendo spent its money on Retro Studios in 1998 -- a smaller, more cost-effective studio that turned in several all-time great games -- and Rare got a large corporation to subsidize its larger-scale projects. 

But my point was, basically, that anyone who's paying attention knows that Microsoft didn't "kill" Rare. It just overpaid for, and then failed to improve or inspire, what had become, by 2003, a middle-of-the-road studio.