Is Banjo really that bad? It looks fun to me. It's one of the few games tempting me to get a 360.

Though I never played the old Banjos to compare.

The game will break 750k, assuming it isn't discontinued ala Tales of Vesperia. 

And there's also the liklihood MS will eventually bundle it like Viva Pinata, which will probably put it past a million.  But the game is likely ot break 750k on its on.

Once you start building up your stock of parts and can start experimenting it can be pretty fun. Tinkering with a vehicle to optimize it for a challenge is arguably the most fun part of the game. However if you were a fan of the first two games (or even just the first, I didn't like tooie) it can make you a little... bitter. I spent the first half of the game cursing it for being different, but once I got that out of my system I had a good time.

Felt like a tech demo. Worst part is I enjoyed the platforming parts, but there just isn't enough there. I got tired of building vechicles fast and it was way too easy to give up on the game and never return.

It's too hard for kids and not satisfying enough for fans or core gamers. I can't blame people for not buying it. It would make a better bundle then Sega Superstars Tennis, hopefully that's where it'll end up.

So I was checking out Rare's other holiday release, Viva Pinata 2, and it's sitting at a measly 350k. Why are these guys still around, while Ensemble Studios, the creators of Microsoft's second best selling franchise (and one of my favorites), get the axe?

Really, that only makes me fear for Rare. Microsoft has been decreasing the size of its first parties for a couple of years now, starting with FASA Studios in...2006? I think? Rare has been kept around primarily because they are the crux of Microsoft's new family-oriented games strategy, but with sales this low, and with a 360 that seems to be selling quite well primarily due to price rather than titles like Banjo, will they be kept alive?

I absolutely loved the game and I'm disappointed in the sales. However it should build some decent legs. People bitch all the time about sequels that are essentially rehashes and when someone tries something new you guys don't buy it even if its a great attempt at something new. You hypocrites are whats wrong with gaming.

I don't know what the recommended retail price was, but the game had a 54€ sticker everywhere in Spain. Just as Viva Piñata 2.

I don't think they want to axe an investment of $377 million so lightly ( that would basically confirm that Rare acquisition was a huge mistake ).

Also I heard that Rare provides tools for the Xbox 360 .

sadly, i believe its been overtracked here.
it has sold 140k according to NPD till december, and only sold like 40k in UK, so multiply it by 3 and it gets to 120k. The game has probably sold less than 400k, which is awful for a BK game. I would like to see how much the XBLA BK sold. My guess is that it sold better, which may be a hint that people wanted a traditional game.

No one wants to make cute, cuddly games for the 360 (besides Jonathan Blow, and he's only made one).

Microsoft pays Rare to do what they think they need but that no one else wants to do because it doesn't sell.

Ah, they might also develop middleware/tools for the X360 (Turn10 said they were using Rare code).

Then there's the odd-job here and there, like the Avatars.