Microsoft reportedly pulls plug on follow-up to Rare's 2005 Xbox 360 launch title due to focus on Natal.
Source: UK-based gaming site CVG.
What we heard: Microsoft is expected to launch its camera-based motion-sensing device currently known as Project Natal in 2010. As software support will factor heavily into the success of the Xbox 360 add-on, the publisher has already signaled its intent to have its internal studios heavily back Project Natal. Last month, Peter Molyneux confirmed that Fable III will make use of the device, and Microsoft has indicated through a host of job listings that it is building out an all-new studio dedicated to Project Natal development.
Of course, Banjo-Kazooie developer Rare, which Microsoft purchased in 2002, is also at work on Project Natal software. However, according to CVG, the studio's Natal development has apparently come at the expense of a sequel to the Xbox 360 launch title Kameo: Elements of Power. Citing unnamed sources, the site reports that Microsoft also ceased Kameo 2 development due to disappointing sales of the critically praised original.
CVG's sources went on to note that Kameo 2 was taken out of the development pipeline around the time that the publisher restructured Rare earlier this year. At that time, Microsoft Game Studios reps declined to comment on whether the restructuring effort would affect any in-development projects. However, the publisher did indicate that it would be "implementing a new approach to current projects in the pipeline."
The official story: Microsoft had not responded to a request for comment as of press time.
Bogus or not bogus?: Looking not bogus. According to the NPD Group, the original Kameo has sold just over 300,000 units in the US since its November 2005 launch despite being offered at a lower price point than normal 360 titles. That figure is markedly lower than even Rare's other launch title, Perfect Dark Zero, which has moved some 655,000 units over the same period of time, according to NPD.
Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.
Man it sucks they didn't make a sequel. Maybe if we started a petition? You know, get people to put their names down for whoever wants the development of Kameo 2 to continue. All in favour say "AYE!" Anyone agree for good game development that Natal is Fatal?
Rare sucks. They have taken the deepest nosedive of any game developer in the last 10 years. they are a shell of their former self.
Go away Microsoft! You are screwing up Rare big time!!! Let them make Kameo 2 it was a GREAT GAME. You expect it to be popular on the first day of xbox 360 sales? News flash, xbox 360 sales SUCKED back then and Kameo was lost in time like many MANY popular games have been. Eventually they get noticed or do not get noticed, either way you have a top of the line game and if you push marketing maybe people will buy it this time!
............i have a damn wii, i don't want any motion sensor bull**** from sony or microsoft, Microsoft, let Rare make the games they want, a Banjo Kazooie 3, Kameo 2, Conker's Bad Fur Day 2 (god knows many of us want it, and i never played the original or its remake)
Oh, and somebody should keep Peter Molyneux on a tighter leash. This is just getting crazy...
I'm still hoping this is bogus. I think I'm one of the few people that actually loved all of Rare's games for the 360. Perfect Dark Zero may not seem like much now, but it was a superb game when it was first released. Kameo remains one of my favourite games on the 360. I'll never understand why it had such low sales. It was praised among critics and it was the best 360 launch title. Truly a shame. I also really liked the two Viva Piñata games. They were one of the few games that really hit the balance between depth for older players and accessibility for younger ones. As for Nuts & Bolts... I totally loved it. As soon as I got over the fact that it wasn't a REAL Banjo-Kazooie game (whatever that means, as the two "real" banjo's only make up for two fifths of the series), I realized that it was an extremely fun, ambitious and truly next-gen game. It's also one of my favourites of this generation of consoles. Natal looks like a nice piece of hardware to me, but the idea that a game such as Kameo 2 would be cancelled in favour of it makes me sick. If people want motion controlled games, fine, let them have it. But as far as I know, there just isn't a whole lot of consumer demand for motion control among 360 owners. Everybody's is just being forced to use motion control ever since the Wii (AKA flawed virtual console) became a widespread casual succes. Same story with 3D in cinemas and now with TVs. It's just ridiculous.
Rare's greatest hits: Donkey Kong 64, Perfect Dark Zero, and Kamo:Elements of Power. All of my Rare Favorites.
Well, I guess Natal will not only be a new evolution of gaming, but also the destruction of old gaming. Thanks Natal, you took away Kameo 2, thanks a lot.
I'm surprised they were making a sequel. The first one had very disappointing sales. 'Cause that's what matters, right?
I think MS should just close down Rare instead of letting them crash and burn, which is what they've been doing since '02. On the other hand, This whole Natal nonsense is just a next-generation 32X.
I agree with lobotomies4free... as well as diggyman. If Rareware was half as good as it was with Nintendo as it is now with Microsoft, I probably would have bought a 360 by now. The DKC trilogy, DK64, Battletoads, Perfect Dark, BanjoKazooie, Conker and, my personal favorite, Jet Force Gemini were amazing games... but once they hit Star Fox Adventures, everything went downhill. On top of that, they turned two great series into crappy ones... with Nuts & Bolts, as well as PD0, so I'm almost scared to hope for a Jet Force Gemini sequel. All they seem to do now is claim the ideas as their own after copying Nintendo, screw up, at one time, great series of games annnnnd release Pinata games.
at this point it would be nice to see them working on ANYTHING. when did we last hear from them? besides a DS game
I'd hate to say it, but Rare Seemed like a bigger beast when it was with Nintendo. Battletoads, Donkey Kong Country, and Golden Eye, Banjo, Conker, and PD1? Killer games. All this Kameo, Pinata, PD0 business is for the birds. Even the new Banjo is Blah. The original staff must not be there anymore. Maybe a new (and good) Battletoads game can bring a shock back to the company name.
Why is there so much hate for Natal? Are you all so lazy that the idea of standing up and MOVING is that bad? Yes, eyetoy turned out to be a flop, but from the looks of things Microsoft is actually trying something with Natal. I for one would love to see something come out of it. Fighting games would be wicked.
Rare sucks now so it doesn't really matter. I still remember those SNES and N64 days when Rare could do no wrong and Nintendo could make a real system not shrinking their past version and sellling it for tice the price.
dam :( I loved that game, a god bit of whimsical fantasy fun without any of the super edgy "realistic"rubbish other games on the 360 force you through Hey dont get me wrong i love my "realistic" games but sometimes you need a game like kameo to balence the mix
I am still not sold on purchasing an advanced eye toy for my 360, at the moment kameo 2 would be preferred, in my opinion...
So instead of making a sequel to a good game, Microsoft wants Rare to focus on making an expensive add-on technology that may or may not sell. I knew Kameo didn't garnished enough sales but really who rather want to see a new Banjo-Kazooie/Tooie, Perfect Dark 2, Kameo 2, Jet Force Gemini 2, Conker's Bad Fur Day 2, or Killer Instinct 3 than waiting for a chance to experience the controller-less tech of NATAL.
I think Kameo was underrated and they should have released the sequel ages ago then they could have concentrated on NATEL more now does anyone see NATEL as hype I kinda do,
And by the way, I don't know why Rare's games haven't been selling as Banjo Kazooie: Nuts And Bolts was awesome.
They need to make Perfect Dark 2 already. And give Joanna her British accent and make Carrington british again as well. How embarassing do they think it was for us gamers to first glimpse Carrington in a kilt!?!?!?!?
Kameo was such a great game would have loved to see Kameo 2. Microsoft instead is investing it's time on a 32X.
Too bad. I liked Kameo, it was pretty good but with some changes, the sequel could have been amazing.
"According to the NPD Group, the original Kameo has sold just over 300,000 units in the US since its November 2005 launch " WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH AMERICA!!! I don't even own a 360 and I'd want this game :( Just for this I hope that Natal fails (not that it wouldn't fail anyway)
Kameo was excellent, so it's a shame there won't be a second. I'm not really interested in this camera/motion crap Microsoft and Sony are planning on bringing out. I play video games to relax, not to stand there and look like a moron.
that was the first game that made me think. now this is next gen graphics. there might be better looking games now, but nothing near to what this was over last gens game`s graphics.
hmm, what's really sad is that these games were pretty good, as compared to a lot of the generic shooters / adventure games that come out every year and sell millions. i bought each at full price when the 360 launched, and was not disappointed.
Aww, it's sad to see how Rare's games don't sell well. I enjoyed the new Banjo a lot but the sales just didn't do well.
too bad kameo was a fun game especially for a launch title. i was looking foward to a sequel.
@boxofwit - You do know that the AA or AAA is just a thing companys use to indicate how much marketing money is behind a game. A triple A title isn't nessecarely a high quallity game or a good game but just a game that the publisher puts alot of marketing money behind.
Well, that's a shame. Kameo was by no means an amazing game, but it really was quite good, especially considering that it was a launch title. With a bit of spit and polish, a sequel could have been REALLY great. Also, Banjo-Kazooie Nuts and Bolts was really great, IMO. Definitely an under appreciated game. It's not easy to turn the platforming genre on it's head and look at it in a whole new way, but Rare pretty much nailed it, and I commend them for it.
Never played Kameo, but it's still kinda lame that they gotta kill off an entire game just to focus on something that might single-handedly alienate the entire gaming industry
Rare just isn't good anymore... Name one game not called Viva Pinata that has been well received. You have to go all the way back to the N64 days.
Plenty of original, funny, visually stunning, and fun-filled moments await in Kameo: Elements of Power, which is the first Xbox 360 action adventure game, as well as a standard-setter.
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