Understanding RARE

05 Rocktober 2009

• To increase your understanding of jobs in creative industries (esp. Games)• To assist you with Assignment 1.1 Recruitment Drive• To educate and inform

WTH? Why Are We Doing This?

Introducing RARE

Set the time machine for 1982

Welcome to Ultimate Play The Game

• The Sinclair ZX Spectrum• The Spectrum 16k• The Spectrum 48k• The Spectrum 128k

Activity: Discuss some things you might already know about the Sinclair series of computers

The Sinclair ZX Spectrum

No gaming – just a bit of programming

The Spectrum 16k – Welcome to Gaming: UK Style!• JetPac• Manic Miner• Chucky Egg• Horace and the Spiders• Horace goes Skiing• Frogger• AticAtac

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Introducing Chris & Tim Stamper

• In 1982 they had established a software company from their bedroom• One handled business• The other enjoyed fast cars and beautiful women!• (This was the 80s)

Question: How did they manage to do so well in a short space of time? Discuss!

Along Comes A Spider….

• In 1985 – UPTG became RARE after selling the name to US Gold • In 2002 RARE sold its assets to Microsoft • Microsoft paid $375m• Microsoft entered into full-time game development (and publishing from this point)• Chris & Tim Stamper remained sole-directors until 2007

Question: How did Microsoft manage to make money from the purchase of RARE?

A Star Is Born…

• GoldenEye is released in 1997• RARE presents with record profits and introduces the world to Banjo Kazooie, StarFox and Jet Set Gemini, Donkey Kong 64• RARE is the and remains the flagship developer for Xbox, Xbox 360

Discuss: what does it mean to be a flagship developer?

Trouble in Paradise

• Mostly kept a closely guarded secret the Stampers left creative control to Microsoft• One stayed as a silent partner• The other formed new companies• Both live within 10 miles of RARE

Question: Why spill the beans on all the bad stuff too? Discuss other factoids about companies that pertain to company biography

Sources

• Google Images• Wikipedia.org (RARE, UPTG, Sinclair)

Over to You• Look at Assignment 1.1• Let’s read it together• Ask questions