One would think that with his own studios at Lionhead, Fable creator Peter Molyneux would have all the room he needs to flex his creative muscles. However, following his recent appointment to Creative Director for Microsoft Europe, it seems that he has a new goal in mind:
“One of the things I really want to do is help Rare have more of an identity,” he said in an interview with gamesindustry.biz of the Banjo and Viva Pinata developer. “And make sure the people at Rare are seen more within the industry,” he adds.
Indeed, since joining the Microsoft Game Studios fold, the one-time developer of hits for Nintendo such as Donkey Kong Country, Killer Instinct, Battletoads, and more has yet to really seem to hit their stride under the X-banner. From Grabbed by the Ghoulies to Conker Reloaded, and Perfect Dark Zero to Viva Pinata and Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, Rare has yet to see the kind of breakout hit that would see them placed alongside the likes of Halo, Fable, and Gears of War in the pantheon of Xbox greats.
“And unlike Lionhead or Bungie before it separated from Microsoft,” says gi.biz, “the company is still considered secretive and lacking a public profile.”
“I was totally blown away from the amount of talent that there is at Rare, but it’s just that they come from a background where Nintendo required them to be this very, very secretive company,” Molyneux put forth, adding “I just want to give them the confidence to tell the world what they’re doing. I hope you’re going to see more from Rare and I want to help them get well known.”
Of course, even though Molyneux is eager in his new position to help coax Rare out from under their proverbial bed, he wants to make it clear that he has no intentions of disrupting the creative process or “watering down” their style.
“You’ll definitely still recognise a Rare game,” he says.
