Perfect Dark 2 canceled, may have evolved into something else
Natal to cost around 80 dollars, Rare “Hopeful” of a Natal FPS
Despite the rather odd silence around here, the past few weeks in the world of Rare news have been far from quiet. After CVG reporting that Kameo 2 was canceled, the internet media literally exploded as many websites reported that its death was essentially the fault of Microsoft’s upcoming Project Natal and Rare’s restructure mentioned months ago, as well as low sales of the first Kameo. The latter is certainly an interesting reason, as I could’ve sworn that one of Rare’s own employees said that both Kameo 1 and Perfect Dark Zero sold well. Apparently, and unfortunately, Microsoft and Rare did not see eye to eye regarding Kameo’s sales. According to CVG’s source, another “traditional” sequel was canceled as well as Kameo 2. The second title? Perfect Dark 2.
As this old footage from a former Rare employee shows, work on Perfect Dark 2 was done in 2007 before being scrapped as well as Kameo 2. Additionally, MundoRare has some exclusive information to share regarding Perfect Dark 2. According to our own sources, PD2 was indeed started in 2007, but by late 2007, it wasn’t greenlighted; it was a prototype instead. Chris Seavor from Conker and Killer Instinct fame was in charge of the project. By early 2008, the PD2 team was cut down to a 3-man team, effectively putting the game on hold. At the same time, our sources revealed that back then, it was “overwhelmingly unlikely” that PD2 would no longer be set in the PD universe. During early 2008, the game (which evolved into something that wasn’t PD2) was still in its early stages and with an uncertain future.
Now that your minds have been subsequently blown regarding what Not-Perfect Dark 2 could’ve been, let’s go to the next interesting point: Rare is “hopeful” of creating a Natal FPS. According to MCV, Mark Betteridge believes that a first person shooter on Natal is a “great opportunity to break new ground with content and gameplay” as well as a chance “to exercise some genre evolution.” Now, assuming that this is code for ‘Rare has a Natal-FPS in development’, the only question now is whether or not this Not-Perfect Dark 2 will be the FPS that Rare will release.
Keep in mind that Microsoft threw its usual “We don’t comment on rumors or speculation” in terms of Kameo 2 being canceled, as well as them commenting that Betteridge didn’t confirm an FPS in development.
Finally, this article ends with the latest rumor regarding Natal. According to MCV again, Natal will apparently be released in November 2010. In the UK, Microsoft is expecting to sell Natal for 50 Pounds, but is looking to see if it can sell it for even less, at 30 Pounds. In the US, they’re looking at around 80 Dollars. The launch will apparently coincide with 14 games, with something by Rare almost, if not entirely, expected.
Based on what was reported last week, these Rare Natal titles better be damn good to make up for Kameo and Perfect Dark 2/Not-Perfect Dark 2’s losses. Or else… I’ll do… something. In the end, as usual, time will tell whether or not these cancellations were justified. It would’ve been nice to see what Rare could’ve done with a PD title on the 360 were it not for its (ironically, considering its years in development) rushed launch in terms of Zero.
Somehow related news
- Rare may be working on the 360’s version of Wii Fit ()
- Planned 2010 Natal game canceled ()
- Load your Laptop Guns for March 17th ()
- ‘Bean’ gives credit to Perfect Dark XBLA rumour ()
- David Wise, composer since 1985, leaves Rare ()
24 Comments
Well I wasn’t exactly hoping for a fps rare title… As every other company in the world is making fps’ out the wazzu.. I go to rare for platforming. Yeah I like their shooting games but it was because they made plenty of both.. But in times like these where ALL there is is fps… Kinda disapponted.
Comment by Billy — 13.Nov.09 @ 3:29 am
Microsoft is holding Rare back. Seriously. Rare needs to work for higher class companies like Sony or go back to Nintendo and gain rights to Donkey Kong so Nintendo can stop fucking tieing his series to theirs! King K. Rool and Kritter in Mario Super Sluggers were dead give aways that the Donkey Kong series is dead and appearently Paon’s not living up to their position of recovering the series. Plus…. they made Cranky nice! His usual bitterness is no more. For what reason I don’t know, but they practically ruined Cranky forever. Anyway, since you say the cancels are unjustified at the moment maybe they’re just probably putting those projects aside to make room for Natal. I’m sure they’ll bounce back by 2012. Hopefully.
Comment by Hudson — 13.Nov.09 @ 3:51 am
See rare pissed me off even more they always cancel shit and i had high hopes for a sequel.What is rare gonna do? work on shitty baby games like banjo and viva pinata.
Comment by KI32010 — 13.Nov.09 @ 4:23 am
the evil empire strikes again.
Comment by saicambanjo — 13.Nov.09 @ 4:37 am
I really hope this is not true because MS needs all the IPs they can get and Rare makes great ones. If any thing MS should hire more workers for Rare so they can bring there games out quicker. Rare has so many great IPs that need to be brought to the 360 and Perfect Dark 2 could be another great IP for the Xbox brand other then just Halo and Fable.
Because you need lots of great games for the consoles other then a few games. So I hope MS will hire some day another 200 people for Rare. Just think what 50 more people could do for each team in Rare’s company. It would help out a lot.
So if this is true and a sequel to Perfect Dark 2 and not Perfect Dark Zero was getting a sequel that really sucks.
I so hope PD on Xbox Live Arcade sells loads so MS will allow Rare to make PD2.
http://www.gameguru.in/action/2007/15/rumor-101-perfect-dark-2-xbox-360s-next-humungous-killer-app/
There was some great ideas in there for PD2. So if Rare ever gets to work on PD2 again I hope they go back to these ideas.
All I can do now is hope PD2 comes out for Natal.
Comment by Johnny 5 — 13.Nov.09 @ 8:19 am
You’ve gotta be kidding me!! See! I knew they were working on PD2! Now my worst fear has come true! PD is an IP with such potential! Even PDZ showed that Rare was definitely on the right track! I’m sure they can pull-off a shooter of the caliber Call of Duty or Halo, but with that typical Rare feel to it!
Hopefully they will pick it up again some day!
Comment by PDzero — 13.Nov.09 @ 11:08 am
Wait; this footage is from a prototype that only 3 persons worked on? And one of them being an animator to pump out such detailed animations? What for, if it only was a prototype?
Sounds somewhat fishy to me. I fail to understand Rare’s management to handle resources like that – but then I also did’t understand how Rare managment could waste so much time, money and resources on developing a 360 port of Goldeneye *without* tying up the legal ends before greenlighting the project…
@KI32010: I suppose you’ve mastered both of them to call them “baby games”? While I am disappointed at Nuts & Bolts, Viva Pinata is a very fun & addicting game. It is in no way easy due to the fact that something is ALWAYS going on that you need to tend to. People don’t like Viva Pinata because they don’t have the kind of patience it takes to master the game.
Comment by Hudson — 13.Nov.09 @ 11:50 pm @Hudson I’ve played nuts n bolts it was bullshit viva pinata was a baby’s game and it’s so boring.You can’t get mad at me over opinions that i give.Rare always wanna cancel games.Kameo 2,perfect dark 2, hell whats next? Killer Instinct 3 and Battletoads 2?
Comment by KI32010 — 14.Nov.09 @ 1:37 am
Pero la nota dice: *Perfect Dark 2 cancelado, puede haber evolucionado en algo más* O sea que aun no se descarta la posibilidad de que salga para Natal o como??
Comment by Jose Alberto — 14.Nov.09 @ 4:05 am @KI32010: I never said I was mad nor did I imply it. I’m just expressing my opinion too. Both games require patience and understanding to master which you seem to lack. Calling them “baby games” just tells that you suck at them. I’m disappointed that Rare “put off” (I wouldn’t say canceled just yet) PD2 and Kameo 2 as well, but I can’t say their current projects are terrible. Nuts & Bolts may have been a HUGE step-back from Banjo-Kazooie games, but it was entertaining at some points if all the annoying challenges are dismissed. It also had a good music score, but what else do you expect from Rare and let’s not forget beautiful graphics. I wasn’t too impressed by the fast paced text and change to Grunty’s voice, but all the character’s new looks gave me something else to rave about. And calling Viva Pinata a bad game is like calling Super Smash Bros. Brawl a bad game. It’s all about patience and understanding.
Comment by Hudson — 14.Nov.09 @ 7:26 am Your saying that i *lack* at games? Ha nice one i’m trying to end this but you always want to debate against an opinion that’s something u lack at letting this discussion go -.-
Comment by KI32010 — 14.Nov.09 @ 10:45 pm Hudson
comparing Viva pinata to Brawl doesn’t sound right, but yes it’s a good game as is nuts and bolts.
KI32010
Those weren’t baby games, just cause they’re appropriate enough for the kids to play doesn’t mean it baby stuff.
I’m sure Rare will continue these projects someday but you both seem, to be going off a bit on this. Just stop before this turns in to something completely different.
Comment by saicambanjo — 14.Nov.09 @ 11:07 pm True. Truth be told, my first choice was Super Mario Galaxy.
Comment by Hudson — 15.Nov.09 @ 2:08 am
hahahahahah siacom and i both know what thats like, to get into a spat
Comment by billy — 15.Nov.09 @ 2:21 am
i’m losing hope in Rare. all i want is a new conker game!
Comment by jordan — 15.Nov.09 @ 5:26 am @Hudson
That makes more sense.
@billy
yes but you just misspelled my username… I thought we knew each other rather well enough to not make such a typo.
Rare……. is dead……. Rare…. is no more……..
R.I.P dumbas….i mean Rare Ware
Comment by Jack — 15.Nov.09 @ 5:15 pm This isn’t turning out to an argument i let it go.I’m showing maturity unlike some one =.= And in my opinion viva pinata is a baby’s game.I’ve played it and it reminds me of Animal Crossing Now Banjo in the other hands i thought might be something new but nope.Nothing really changed on banjo just updated graphics and different storyline still the same banjo.
Comment by KI32010 — 16.Nov.09 @ 12:29 am Ohh darn it. It was my iPod, it trys to fix everything I type hahah. Does more harm than good
Comment by Billy — 16.Nov.09 @ 4:26 am
No way!! please don’t cancel PD2!!!
Comment by Sean — 25.Nov.09 @ 7:49 am
I don’t remember where an it bugs me but I saw something somewhere of PD2 it was a pic of her she looked real and she had longer hair and that jumpsuit showing cleavege and she was smiling I really hope rare makes PD2 or else I’ll kill somebody
Comment by Sean patrick — 29.Nov.09 @ 7:44 am
Spring 2010
Comment by JoannaDark — 17.Dec.09 @ 12:05 am
By the look of the hands, on this video, I guess the graphical style would’ve been the same fugly PDZ one. If so I’m thankful that the game got canceled. It is too far from the Perfect Dark/Goldeneye feeling.
Comment by DragonSix — 13.Nov.09 @ 2:27 am