Banjo-Kazooie on XBLA

I'd love to type more about it, but I've been trying to post this for 15 minutes now without a well-formed HTML error.

Edit: Wow, 17th time is a charm, now to edit this post.  For those that picked up their preorder bonus codes (I got mine last week), they went live late last night and BK is up on XBLA now.  Looks pretty good, I'd be super-excited if I didn't have this stack of games calling for my attention next to my PS3 and 360 (sorry Wii!).  The "new" old level should prove interesting.

I got my preorder code from gamestop two days ago when I got Fallout 3, and it was quite comical given that the clerk totally understood that I was more excited about the XBLA game than the 360 title. HiResDes

Hah, same here. All I wanted to know before putting down for the pre-order was whether or not that download code for the XBLA game was included or not.

I got my preorder code from gamestop two days ago when I got Fallout 3, and it was quite comical given that the clerk totally understood that I was more excited about the XBLA game than the 360 title. HiResDes

Yeah, mine noted that people who preordered the game seemed far more interested about when they could pick up the code than the game itself.

I guess they did the whole pick it up with the game because that's when most stores expected them in, but mine got the code early.  Plus the guys like me there (and why not, I preorder a lot and preorders keep their jobs) and they know I won't be a jerk and cancel the preorder as soon as I get the code.  So I guess it went by a store by store basis.  The code itself is on a separate card, just like the Fable 2 Pub Games code and the MotorStorm demo and Resistance 2 beta code.

Oh, the game has a day one patch, something I haven't seen from a downloadable title before.  I hear there was bugged collectables in one level.

I missed the original Banjo back in the day so im excited to nab this one and play a classic, alas it may be some time till I get around to it though.GodModeEnabled

It's one of the few notable games that I missed that I want to play, hence me really looking forward to it after all the good things I heard.  That plus I love platformers and good ones are rare these days.  I do remember mentioning this in many of my 16 initial attempts to post this thread.  Stupid forums.  It's been how many years that bug was around now?

How did this deal to allow an N64 game on XBL come about. Nintendo should be allowed to put it on VC too. I want to play :(dvader654

When MS bought Rare, they also bought the rights to many Rare games - generally anything without a Nintendo mascot in it.  Hence why Conker appeared on the original Xbox, PDZ and Banjo here.  I think Rare technically controlled these rights all along, so they came over automatically when MS bought them, but basically they seem to control the fate, or large portions of it, of most Rare games.

It's absolutely righteous. It still plays like a dream and as far as colors go, it's still pretty even today. It looks better than I remember it looking, too. I wonder if they reworked some of the assets? Regardless, this is one of the crown jewels from the 64's era, and it's a steal even at 1200 points, and flat highway robbery when had for free just for preordering the new game.

Now, give me Jet Force Gemini and Killer Instinct, Rare.

EDIT: And I too got my card a week ago and had just been systematically trying to redeem it every night when I got home from work.

How did this deal to allow an N64 game on XBL come about. Nintendo should be allowed to put it on VC too. I want to play :(dvader654

Based on what I could tell from the trailer on XBL, it appears to be a remake as opposed to a straight port of the N64 game.

[QUOTE="argianas"]

[QUOTE="dvader654"]How did this deal to allow an N64 game on XBL come about. Nintendo should be allowed to put it on VC too. I want to play :(dvader654

When MS bought Rare, they also bought the rights to many Rare games - generally anything without a Nintendo mascot in it. Hence why Conker appeared on the original Xbox, PDZ and Banjo here. I think Rare technically controlled these rights all along, so they came over automatically when MS bought them, but basically they seem to control the fate, or large portions of it, of most Rare games.

Oh, so whats the hold up with Goldeneye then?

There's a summary here.  Basically, for some reason, Nintendo and Microsoft jointly hold the rights to the game (most likely due to Nintendo and Rare jointly holding them when it was made, but that's just a guess on my part).  The two seem to have made a verbal deal to release it at the same time on the VC and XBLA, but Nintendo allegedly reconsidered and didn't allow it (supposedly due to the XBLA version being notably better than the ROM dump).  Also in the mix is Activision, who currently own the Bond license so they have to greenlight it too since they get all say on Bond games getting released while they have the license.  It's weird, it's hard to tell for sure because this is all verbal agreements that "technically" didn't happen because they never officially announced the game (the only reason we know about it is because a former Rare employee stole a build and showed it to a magazine). However, it seems the most likely reason this is all getting held up is Nintendo's ego.

And shameus, they did some other little tinkering...

Graphically, the game appears so much sharper than the N64 version from which it originated. The resolution has been greatly improved, as well as the draw distance. One can see so much farther into a world compared to the original version. Yet it's just as well; the higher graphical resolution made a visually great game for its time even greater, as it's still a sight to behold.

However, it seems the most likely reason this is all getting held up is Nintendo's ego.argianas

[QUOTE="argianas"]However, it seems the most likely reason this is all getting held up is Nintendo's ego.ViewtifulScott

Correct, last night after I turned off my computer I remembered that I forgot to include this.  MS made the deal with Nintendo of America, who were very supportive of the idea.  When corporate in Japan found out, they immediately killed the agreement.  It's certainly Iwata's influence that killed it, as Reggie was for it.  Whatever, it still sucks, and very contradictory of everything Nintendo preaches.

Woot, Gamestop delivered today. I received the code for Banjo-Kazooie and the Messenger Bag for Mirror's Edge. :D

To his credit, it was said Reggie totally green lighted this whole thing, it was the egotistical fools at Nintendo Japan who cock blocked the whole deal, and denied everyone the ability to play this game again. Funny thing is, they supposedly stopped it because the XBLA version looks so much better. Gosh, what happened to graphics not being important, Nintendo? "Graphics don't matter.... ZOMG their Goldeneye looks way, way better, that's no fair deal cancelled screw you gamers, screw all of you, here have more mini games".ViewtifulScott

wouldn't the xbla version have had online multiplayer as well, and the vc version wouldn't? updated graphics and online multiplayer and the xbla goldeneye would have been another another level over the vc version...

about banjo kazooie, i never had the chance to play it, and the preorder bonus as well as the discounted price tag were extremely tempting, but i'm holding off until until i'm through with the 10 or 11 other games i want to play first...

Banjo-Kazooie needs to be released on the Virtual Console.vgmrsepitome

[QUOTE="vgmrsepitome"]Banjo-Kazooie needs to be released on the Virtual Console.Archangel3371

No offense to the folks over at Nintendo who have been responsible for quite a few of the greatest games all time, but after having experienced Banjo on XBLA, I think it would make a straight port of the original look vile in comparison.  

I totally slipped on preordering Nuts & Bolts so as to get this free however I'm still purchasing both anyway. Banjo Kazooie is a fantastic game and is definately worth the 1200 points and from my time with the Nuts & Bolts demo it's worth the $40 for sure. I also hope that Rare brings out some of their other games like Killer Instinct on XBLA.Archangel3371

With online play the version made for the 64 would be a hell of a lot of fun play, especially with enhanced visuals. 

[QUOTE="Archangel3371"][QUOTE="vgmrsepitome"]Banjo-Kazooie needs to be released on the Virtual Console.HiResDes

No offense to the folks over at Nintendo who have been responsible for quite a few of the greatest games all time, but after having experienced Banjo on XBLA, I think it would make a straight port of the original look vile in comparison.  

It wouldn't look vile. I still own the N64 version, and the graphics have held up a lot better than many other games for the system. Probably even its sequel, Banjo-Tooie, which is kind of strange. That said, I agree that the XBLA version looks much cleaner and I really hope they follow up with a re-release of Banjo-Tooie. *crosses fingers* 

Microsoft already said that Tooie is coming out early next year, so expect it in January I think.

But yeah, overall, it's the same great game, but now I can actually see what is happening on my HDTV. The only hitch is that the framerate drops every once in a while, but it is always in the same spots and usually in an underwater part where timing isn't important. If I was playing on my old set from back in 97, I doubt I could tell the difference besides the slowdown, but when I played Banjo on my HDTV a few years back, it actually made the game look WORSE.

Microsoft already said that Tooie is coming out early next year, so expect it in January I think.

AtomicTangerine

Sweet! I already have Tooie aswell, but that's one less reason to have to dust off the 64 and play on my old TV (I agree that the game looks worse on an HDTV).