Established in 1985 to focus on the expanding console market. Rare initially partnered with Nintendo on games like Donkey Kong Country to GoldenEye. The acquisition of Rare by Microsoft Game Studios came
about in 2002. Since then it has built Kameo, Perfect Dark Zero, Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts, the Viva Piñata franchise and the Xbox 360 Avatars. It has two bases, a custom-built rural HQ and a Birmingham team.
18 | Develop Industry Excellence Awards 2012 “It’s never been more
important to recognise the fantastic levels of talent and achievement we have here in Europe as the games industry continues to grow,” said Rare’s senior studio director Craig
Duncan. “The principles of innovation behind these accomplishments are equally vital to Rare’s own evolutionary story, so it’s a pleasure for us to partner with the Develop Industry Excellence Awards.”