iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Not Rare-related, but I loved this game as a kid and am a former Disney employee, so the overlap has always interested me. Exceptional reporting by Jack Yarwood. Here's hoping for some more info soon!

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

From the June 1996 issue of Nintendo Power Nintendo Power visited Rare HQ at Manor Farm in Twycross, England, a few years prior to their move to their current home at Manor Park (just down the road). They covered Killer Instinct Gold, Goldeneye, and made brief mention of Blast Corps.

Rare Connection

Ahead of the Race

Twycross, England is not a place where you would expect to find one of the world's top video game development companies, but there amidst the sheep and hedgerows you'll also find SGI Challenge computers and Lotus sports cars. "It's a bit nicer than Liverpool," says Simon Farmer of Rare Ltd. with expected British understatement. "It's very green and quiet and I think that keeps everyone focused on the work."

These days, Rare has focused much of its programming and artistic talent on the creation of Nintendo 64 titles. Killer Instinct, Blast Corps and Goldeneye 007 will be Rare's first N64 offerings from Nintendo, which holds a minority stake in the British company. Chris and Tim Stamper started the software house more than a decade ago and, over the years, they have proven that they have the stuff to make hits. The Battletoads (NES), Donkey Kong Country (Super NES) and Killer Instinct (arcade) each broke new ground and set new standards for the video game industry.

For Rare, the creation of games has always been something like the creation of a sports car, an analogy which isn't so farfetched when you see the Rare parking lot. Tim Stamper designs the sleek look of the car while his brother, Chris, builds an engine to match. That philosophy remains intact today, although the company has grown to include a development and support staff of almost one hundred and Tim and Chris no longer work intimately on every project. Simon Farmer, who recruits computer and art school grads for Rare, looks for a dedication to quality in new hires. During Power's recent trip to Rare, we saw evidence of that talent everywhere.

Killer Graphics

One of the highlights of our trip was the discussion we had with Killer Instinct's creator, product manager Mark Betteridge. Mark was obviously excited by the prospects for the KI N64 game, in part due to a recent breakthrough achieved by the development team. That breakthrough allows the new 3-D backgrounds for Killer Instinct to be displayed at 60 frames per second, equaling the speed of the rendered character sprites used in the arcade games. Mark demonstrated the difference between 30 frames per second, which is common to most N64 games, and the speed of the new KI.
The phrase "as solid-as-a-rock" comes to mind, because there is no shimmy or blur even when the camera moves quickly.
The biggest change for the N64 version of Killer Instinct will be the use of 3-D backgrounds and dramatic camera movements highlighting the effects of combo and special moves. "The camera can zoom in or shift its angle to highlight moves," Mark explained as he moved the camera perspective of the Alias-ren-dered background for T Combo's home arena to demonstrate how it will look on the Nintendo 64.
"You can use subtle camera shifts to emphasize the drama of a move and the 3-D backgrounds. For instance, the camera could drop to a low angle and tilt upward to watch the fighter make a particular combo. On another combo, the camera could zoom in to capture the action." Mark also explained why they didn't create 3-D, polygon fighting characters in addition to the back-grounds. "Certain views may not play well, even though they might look cool. For instance, you don't want to block the view of one player during the action. The way we're doing it, you'll still get the dramatic views, but the
2-D game mechanics that players already understand won't be compromised."
Another benefit of using a limited 3-D view is to maintain the sophisticated look of the rendered KI characters.
Mark revealed that two or

three new characters will be included in the game and that most of the characters used in KI 2 will return. "We get a lot of feedback from arcade players on which characters are the most popular," said Mark. "In most cases, that's what guides our decision to include or exclude a character."

NATURAL BORN KILLER

Killer Instinct
for the
Nintendo 64 will be more than a perfect arcade translation
"The goal has always been to make it even better than the arcade game," Mark pointed out. "In each KI, we've made improvements and that will be true of the game mechanics in this version, as well." The new fighting engine used in KI 2, however, will be the basis of the game, including such innovations as Super Moves and parrying. "The most important thing is to balance the play so that both pros and novices get something out of it," Mark con-tinued. "KI does that with the
idea of combos. You have all these moves that you can string together to get something even more incredible, but you can also just hit and block."

This eight megabyte Killer will also include stereo music, vocals and sound effects, blending four digital samples at a time. The richness of the music will be matched by the graphics since there is no loss of colors on the N64. The game's speed will also match the lightning quick play of the arcade game. Mark and his team are looking at ways to include handicaps and saves in the one-player mode. Some parts of the game are still in the think tank, Mark admitted. For exam-ple, they haven't quite decided how best to take advantage of the N64 controller.
They also have yet to decide which of the characters will be in the game, including the new characters. We do know that Fulgore and T Combo will be included, since we've seen the backgrounds for those two characters.
Finally, we asked Mark what he thought about working on the N64.

“It's very well thought out," he began.
"Some of the things I particularly like are the quality of the polygons, the speed and high end functions. You can do incredible things with reflections, for instance." Players will see many of those functions reflected in the new
Killer Instinct.

EQUALLY RARE

Power's visit to Rare also included stops with the teams working on Blast Corps and Goldeneye 007. We found the same mix of enthusiasm and talent in both groups. The Blast Corps team works
under the eaves of the converted farm house, which is the central building at Rare.
The red brick building dates back about 300 years, but the Onyx and Indigo SGI
computers found beneath its roof contain some of the most sophisticated technology available. We
found that several of the team members were rookies in the world of video games, having been hired straight out of school, but veteran designer Martin Wakeley and programmer, Richard Wilson, admitted that the rookies were showing them a thing or two. "I actually started out as a video game artist," Martin told us, "but when I look at the things these guys are doing, it amazes me." Some of the most amazing graphics are the animations of explosions, which actually look better on the N64 than on an SGI workstation.
We also discovered hidden talents in the Goldeneye 007 team. Prior to our arrival at Rare, the team had gathered new motion capture data in the studio.
Since they didn't have Pierce Brosnan handy to make the moves, they conscripted game designer Duncan
Botwood. "I had to die 20 different ways," Duncan admitted with a smile.
"It's a lot harder to die than you might think."
Of one thing we can be certain. Rare's Nintendo 64 (and other) video games won't die for lack of creativity and qual-ity. It goes to the heart of what Nintendo and Rare have always tried to achieve, which is to give players the most fun in the most advanced games. It's truly a rare partnership.

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jaccblacc204.bsky.social @jaccblacc204.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

More never seen before E3 footage of Twelve Tales: Conker 64 (archived by @GameHistoryOrg)

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Kotaku @kotaku.com · 16/07/2026

The DK Rap is a silly, yet beloved, cornerstone of Nintendo and Rare history. It was also recorded in a stuffy hallway by the game director and a programmer who was picked because he listened to Tupac sometimes. kotaku.com/stuffy-silly-arhythmic-h…

kotaku.com

The Story Of The Silly, Arhythmic Recording Of The DK Rap

‘It became clear to me that I had no musical capability at that point, at all’

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Rare Gamer @rare-gamer.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Did you know that Conker's Bad Fur Day had three chapters that were cut for time? Here's the three sequences that would have had Conker riding a hog air balloon, fighting a cheesy king, and revealing what was meant to be hidden inside the Windy Windmill!

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ScreenRant @screenrant.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

The iconic game franchise inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean, #SeaOfThieves, is officially getting a live-action adaptation under the direction of Spider-Man: Brand New Day's director. 🏴‍☠️ Source: Entertainment Weekly | Learn More: bit.ly/4eYDxjq

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Wishing Craig and Louise all the best as they move on to their next adventures. They have both been amazingly kind to me over the years, and they have both made a personal impact on my life in countless ways.

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Man, another year without new Sea of Thieves Tall Tales has really got me down :( I know they never wanted to be predictable, but the every two years thing was great. '19/'21/'23 And then suddenly three more years have passed, and nothing.

Sea of Thieves Tall Tales - Shores of Gold. An image of the Gold Hoarder, a skeleton with glowing emerald eyes and gold teeth

Sea of Thieves A Pirate's Life poster. It shows a skull with a red bandana, glowing green eye sockets, and two crossed swords behind it all.

Sea of Thieves - The Legend of Monkey Island poster depicting a ship sailing toward an island wify a small village, pine trees, and a tall peak with light and smoke at the top of it. The scene is at night with a large fool moon glowing over it

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Graslu00 @graslu00.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Playing Perfect Dark in VR was the best shooter experience I've had with virtual reality and it's just an alpha version. It's insane how well these games go with VR!

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Ten years ago today I had the opportunity to visit @rare.co.uk in Twycross and play @seaofthieves.com for the very first time. To this day it remains the highlight of my life. I met so many wonderful people and created so many incredible memories. Truly a voyage of a lifetime

Myself posing with two mascot Viva Piñata characters at Rare HQ

Me posing with a human sized Conker the Squirrel statue at Rare HQ

The outside of Rare HQ showing the main building on the left and Barn A on the right

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Somehow missed entirely that this was coming out. I’ve never actually considered ordering one of these til now. I don’t need it. I don’t need it. I don’t need it. I don’t need it. I don’t need it. I don’t need it. I don’t need it. I don’t need it. I don’t need it. I don’t need it. I don’t ne

A first4figure statue of the Jinjonator from the video game Banjo-Kazooie

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Today one of my 8th grade students came up to me and showed me this and asked if I like Funky Kong. I told him that I was, indeed, a big fan. He made it on a plastic lid from his school lunch that he sanded to create a surface to color on @winkysteve.bsky.social @kevbayliss.bsky.social

A coloring of Funky Kong from the Donkey Kong series on a plastic lid

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Freezer @freezer.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

This is canon.

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Freezer @freezer.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Everyone's favourite guy

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Time Extension @timeextension.com · 27/04/2026

"That Made Me Feel Good" - Xbox Co-Founder On The Rare Game "Strongly Echoed" By Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom. (Repost)

timeextension.com

"That Made Me Feel Good" - Xbox Co-Founder On The Rare Game "Strongly Echoed" By Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

"The creativity was still there at Rare"

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Happy 41st birthday to @rare.co.uk, incorporated in the UK on this date in 1985!

An incorporation document which reads:

FILE COPY
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF A PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY
No. 1905690
I hereby certify that
RARE LIMITED
is this day incorporated under the Companies Acts 1948 to 1981 as a private company and that the Company is limited.
Given under my hand at the Companies Registration Office, Cardiff the
16TH APRIL 1985
A.K. Phillys
MRS.A.K.FA/LPS
an authorised officer

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DK Vine @dkvine.com · 19/03/2026

Your pirate can get a free Jinjo emote, complete with a mention of Treasure Trove Cove in the description, right now in the Sea of Thieves Pirate Emporium.

A purchase screen for the Help Me emote in the Pirate Emporium showing the pirate Captain Cussin’ Russel doing a Jinjo “HELP!” pose.

“In far-off Treasure Trove Cove, this is recognised as a plea for help. On the Sea of Thieves, people will just think you've had too many grogs.”

Screenshot from Sea of Thieves.

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Chris Seavor 🎃👀🐿 @conkerhimself.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

The way AI has sowed such distrust, even with genuine artwork is yet another facet of the damage it is doing....

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

This artwork is wonderful, and the ignorance in the replies accusing Rare of using AI demonstrates a sad reality we live in. Folks are quick to accuse and jump on the bandwagon based on terrible AI detectors, and are too lazy to zoom in and verify brush strokes and that there are no AI oddities.

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Chris Marlow @chrismarlow666.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Just to clear things up. This cover artwork was definitely not created by AI, but by the incredibly talented Pete Hentze, a long time Rare artist, and one of the concept artists on Conker: Live and Reloaded! 🙂

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Cheers to 25 years of Conker's Bad Fur Day! From the first time I saw the cutscene that opened "The Assault" on IGN, I became obsessed with this game and followed it closely for the rest of its development. I paid an older kid to buy it for me at launch because I was 15 when it came out. Legendary.

A photo showing the instruction manual and N64 cartridge for Conker's Bad Fur Day. The cartridge is autographed by Robin Beanland and Chris Marlow

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Rare Ltd. @rare.co.uk · 27/02/2026

Want to carry 14 @rare.co.uk games in your pocket, but lack the spacious leg wallets of a '90s skater? Enter: The HyperMegaTech Super Pocket Rare Edition! 14 classic Rare titles built-in, Banjo-Kazooie optimised to work on a D-Pad, plays @evercade.co.uk carts, available in June.

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Rare Gamer @rare-gamer.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Back when Viva Piñata was released, Burger King gave away these fab figurines (they are hollow shells with a small gift inside) with their kids meals. Anyone else got these in their collection?

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Steve Burke @steveburkemusic.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

As a follow up to my previous post of unused music written for Viva Piñata, here is some music that was used in the game. Hurrah! Romance Dances... frolicking around in the freshly cut grass ;) Nearly the game's 20th Anniversary. #vivapinata youtu.be/PE9zHu2qAok?...

youtu.be

Viva Piñata - Romance Dances (from the Composer)

YouTube video by SteveBurkeMusic

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

Cheers to 40 years of The Legend of Zelda! Here's to the fourth greatest video game hero of all time (according to Cranky Kong)! --- Rare's ACM (Advanced Computer Modelling [pre-rendered]) take on Link from 1995's Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest

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James GHOULizio 👻 @theswweet.myatproto.social · 12/02/2026

don't tell anyone, but I got a little sneak peek at Pokopia

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Felt I had to wear this hat and jacket if I was going to visit the motherland

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Andy Robinson @andyrobinson.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

Banjo-Kazooie isn’t entirely made for ultra widescreen

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Banjo-Kazooie Recompiled is out! I have my TV's Game Mode overlay on here to show the frame rate (240 fps!). It looks incredible, can't wait to play it in all its buttery smooth glory

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Fangamer @fangamer.com · 22/01/2026

We refreshed our Banjo-Kazooie collection last week with new pins and throw blankets! Here's a look at some of what's currently available: www.fangamer.com/collections/...

A photo of the Tuneful Venture Banjo-Kazooie blanket resting over the top of an armchair, showing the large illustration of Banjo and Kazooie surrounded by items.

A photo of the Banjo-Kazooie plush set against a Banjo-themed background. The Banjo plush is facing backward to show the Kazooie plush poking its head and wings out of the included backpack.

A photo of two Looking for Gold moving pins, showing that the gold-tinted Banjo and Kazooie part of the pin can move around the edges of the pin, which is illustrated to resemble an area from the game as if viewed with a fisheye lens.

A photo of the Banjo-Kazooie PINVERSE pin pack at the head of a set of other packaged PINVERSE pins. The pack includes a card, stickers, a Banjo-Kazooie action pin, and a Jiggy pin, all packaged in a display box.

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Happy squirrel appreciation day to all who celebrate

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

I work at a middle school. Today one of our sixth graders walked by, saw my laptop's protective case and said, "Is that Rare, like from Banjo-Kazooie?" I couldn't have been more excited 🥹

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Kit & Krysta @kitandkrysta.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

Video game music legend @grantkirkhope.bsky.social joins us on a new Kit & Krysta Podcast to discuss how Banjo-Kazooie made it into Smash Ultimate, behind the scenes stories from the Rare Nintendo 64 era and much more! youtu.be/oJFYhnEz2rk

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

It's been so hard to be active on here. Between Everwild's cancellation, Perfect Dark's cancellation, Gregg Mayles's departure, Sea of Thieves's uninspiring season 17, and the general state of Playtonic, it feels akin to 2010 all over again. The Rarenaisance feels over, and I've been very sad.

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Mark | Making a Balloon Game @lithiumproject.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Find it astonishing Microsoft are remaking OG halo (again) when the solution to their problems are right here

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

What a sweet title screen. Makes me think of Galaxy Quest with its optimistically orchestral theme. 📺: Jet Force Gemini, Rare, 1999 (N64)

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

According to my Xbox, my current plan is Game Pass Ultimate, and it does not include Keeper. Microsoft, what are you even doing? 🥴 @xbox.com @doublefine.com

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Rolled credits on Yooka-Replaylee! What a fantastic remake - it looks, plays, and sounds infinitely better than the original. The additions were welcome and the changes were thoughtful and made the experience more enjoyable. I loved the experience start to finish. I give it a 5/10 out of 11/20.

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Five Down. Galleon Galaxy remains one of my favorite levels, based mostly on vibes. The color palette and music make it a joy to explore. And the galleon transformation is my favorite in the game. I struggled hard with the Kartos challenge, but got there eventually. Fun all around! 5 out of 10.

Galleon Galaxy with all Pagies, quills, Jiggys, and other collectibles collected.

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Jeph Perez - The Rare Historian @peg-leg-perez.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Shoutout to Gregg Mayles, the best footgolf coach a guy could ask for.

A group of people including myself and Gregg Mayles posing with footballs (soccer balls) in front of Rare HQ at Manor Park, Twycross, UK

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