Rare Founders Head For Greener Pastures
Chris and Tim Stamper, brothers who founded Rare more than 20 years ago, have left their renowned game development studio. The Stamper Brothers and their UK studio (known by the Rareware logo until after its 2002 acquisition by Microsoft, now simply ‘Rare’) pumped out some of the most recognizable franchises in recent history, such as Donkey Kong Country, Banjo Kazooie, Perfect Dark, GoldenEye 007 and plenty more, including the recent whimsical hit, Viva Pinata.
Microsoft confirmed the duo’s departure:
“Chris and Tim have helped shape Rare into the world-beating renowned development studio that it is today and their impact on the videogame industry as a whole is well known. They are simply leaving to pursue other opportunities and we wish them luck in their future endeavours.”
Viva Pinata lead designer Gregg Mayles and studio director Mark Betteridge will assume day-to-day leadership of Rare, which is now turning its gamesmithy to the next installment of the Banjo Kazooie series.
Why the Stamper Bros. left Rare may be academic – for a pair who has nurtured games from as far back as Wizards & Warriors up to Perfect Dark Zero, a change of scenery is hardly too much to ask. We wish them the best of luck (unlike Microsoft, we mean it!) and thanks for all the great games, guys!
Stamper brothers leave Rare [GamesIndustry.biz]
tiny dancer
Posted to on 3 January 2007
· Comments (3)
Other stuff like this: chris stamper, microsoft, perfect dark zero, rare, stamper brothers, tim stamper, viva pinata
My favorite part from the 1up post: “Microsoft told 1UP that sluggish Pinata sales had “absolutely” nothing to do with their departure.”
Sure, MS, keep saying that. While that won’t likely impact MS, this is certainly a loss for Rare (now Rare in name only?) and I hope that both Chris and Tim finds themselves a new home that comes with an audience that will appreciate their efforts.
Personally, I think Rare got screwed when they sold out to Microsoft, cause Nintendo had the rights to all their hot products (Donkey Kong, Star Fox). Honestly, my boyfriend and I both think that Microsoft put a lot of pressure on them about their latest titles and they pretty much said “to hell with this.”
well, heres hoping they return to Nintendo. the Stamper Bros and Nintendo were made for each other.