Chris Seavor - Nowadays, Conker would be impossible

new interview with the man behind the Conker we know.

He talks a bit about how Conker became to be, sheds a bit of light on the Other Bad Day that never happened, his opinions on the industry, his love of Nintendo, a little bit about Rare, and what he's been up to. A pretty good read IMO.

"As you may have gathered i'm a big fan of Nintendo , not just their games but also their way of doing things which incidentally sits very much in line with how Rare used to do things… ie: They make the games they want to. They take as long as they need to take. They make hardware purely to support the needs of these aforementioned games."

This explains why Rare was my favorite developer in the period 1997-2000.

Yeah I read that earlier today. Was a really good read, that guy sounds like one really cool person. Making his own beer and stuff.

"As you may have gathered i'm a big fan of Nintendo , not just their games but also their way of doing things which incidentally sits very much in line with how Rare used to do things… ie: They make the games they want to. They take as long as they need to take. They make hardware purely to support the needs of these aforementioned games."

This explains why Rare was my favorite developer in the period 1997-2000.

SuperFlakeman

They were fantastic practically since their beginning.

DKC and Banjo Kazooie are my favorite games from them.

lol very contrary to the fact that nintendo dropped them... So much for they made games how they wanted, how ever long it took them...ect just like nintendo...

Good read. Chris Seavor and the talent at Rare were really something special back in the day. Sad to know that the company has been reduced to being a kinect factory. I hope the era of bloated big budget/casual fad games come to an end so that we can have developers like the old Rare making gamers games we used to enjoy.

"As you may have gathered i'm a big fan of Nintendo , not just their games but also their way of doing things which incidentally sits very much in line with how Rare used to do things… ie: They make the games they want to. They take as long as they need to take. They make hardware purely to support the needs of these aforementioned games."

This explains why Rare was my favorite developer in the period 1997-2000.

lol very contrary to the fact that nintendo dropped them... So much for they made games how they wanted, how ever long it took them...ect just like nintendo...

WilliamRLBaker

Good read, thanks for posting TC. Played through Live & Reloaded a few years ago after playing a lot of the N64 version. I sadly have to agree that the game would be almost impossible to make these days.

Good read, thanks for posting TC. Played through Live & Reloaded a few years ago after playing a lot of the N64 version. I sadly have to agree that the game would be almost impossible to make these days.

G-Lord

It wouldn't be impossible to make. It'd be impossible to sell. Unless it was on PC of course, because you can sell anything via Steam sales. :P

It would be possible on PC, but not on consoles. Perfect example of this is Privates. A platformer where you explore sexual organs. Released on PC, canceled on 360.

If we can't have a game like Conker haven't we gone backwards?

I feel like console gaming is getting to a point where there's only going to be 3 games, big budget, indie, casual and pretty much nothing in between.

I feel like console gaming is getting to a point where there's only going to be 3 games, big budget, indie, casual and pretty much nothing in between.

Jolt_counter119

Yeah the mid-tier dev died and if not, they are just imitating big budget games.

We didn't ask for a 3D CV with god of war gameplay and lotr presentation, ****.

"As you may have gathered i'm a big fan of Nintendo , not just their games but also their way of doing things which incidentally sits very much in line with how Rare used to do things… ie: They make the games they want to. They take as long as they need to take. They make hardware purely to support the needs of these aforementioned games."

This explains why Rare was my favorite developer in the period 1997-2000.

SuperFlakeman

If we can't have a game like Conker haven't we gone backwards?

JLF1MarkII

Exactly.

"As you may have gathered i'm a big fan of Nintendo , not just their games but also their way of doing things which incidentally sits very much in line with how Rare used to do things… ie: They make the games they want to. They take as long as they need to take. They make hardware purely to support the needs of these aforementioned games."

This explains why Rare was my favorite developer in the period 1997-2000.

It would be possible on PC, but not on consoles. Perfect example of this is Privates. A platformer where you explore sexual organs. Released on PC, canceled on 360.

AdrianWerner

Sure, PC would be the place to go for a similar game, but I still think that it wouldn't be possible to go through the same process. Funding would probably need crowdsourcing.

[QUOTE="AdrianWerner"]

It would be possible on PC, but not on consoles. Perfect example of this is Privates. A platformer where you explore sexual organs. Released on PC, canceled on 360.

G-Lord

Sure, PC would be the place to go for a similar game, but I still think that it wouldn't be possible to go through the same process. Funding would probably need crowdsourcing.

Funding was the main problem he stated. Same story as always. Publishers aren't willing to fund innovative or new/original ideas.

I love his rip on CoD for that reason. All the advertising it could have is a tattoo on some dude's ass and it'll still push 10 million copies.

Great read, I love how he's just taking the piss most of the time. Now you've made me feel all nostalgic about Rare's glory days of the late 90s and early 00s. I remember how Conker's Bad Fur Day was such a technical marvel back then. The graphics were amazing, and it was one of the few N64 games to feature full voice acting (which was difficult due to the technical limitations of the N64). The game had truly excellent writing, and humour that actually made me roll over the floor laughing at times. And the multiplayer, God was it perfect. In other words: unbelievable how such a magnificent IP only ever got a partial remake (which WAS great, by the way).

Sad to see where the company, and to an extent, gaming as a whole have gone. But like Seavor said, it will all backfire eventually.

He's probably right. The game would have "kiddy" graphics, thus would be dismissed by "mature gamers that only play mature games" and it would have violence and swearing which would mean that parents wouldn't be willing to buy the game for their kid's.

He's probably right. The game would have "kiddy" graphics, thus would be dismissed by "mature gamers that only play mature games" and it would have violence and swearing which would mean that parents wouldn't be willing to buy the game for their kid's.

nameless12345

True, but this was a problem back then as well. They were afraid people would mistake it for another Mario-like game, so they put huge disclaimers on the box underlining that it's only for a mature audience.

I guess this and the fact that the game had a launch price of about €100 (in other valuta of course) made it into the cult hit it became rather than some hugely popular game.

Great read, I love how he's just taking the piss most of the time. Now you've made me feel all nostalgic about Rare's glory days of the late 90s and early 00s. I remember how Conker's Bad Fur Day was such a technical marvel back then. The graphics were amazing, and it was one of the few N64 games to feature full voice acting (which was difficult due to the technical limitations of the N64). The game had truly excellent writing, and humour that actually made me roll over the floor laughing at times. And the multiplayer, God was it perfect. In other words: unbelievable how such a magnificent IP only ever got a partial remake (which WAS great, by the way).

Sad to see where the company, and to an extent, gaming as a whole have gone. But like Seavor said, it will all backfire eventually.

DraugenCP

Storage size was the only thing holding back VA from games on the N64. Yet many devs found ways around it. I really do feel all nostalgic though after reading that. Makes me want to buy a copy of L&R so I can play it again, since I don't have an N64 anymore. The MP truly is godlike.

He's probably right. The game would have "kiddy" graphics, thus would be dismissed by "mature gamers that only play mature games" and it would have violence and swearing which would mean that parents wouldn't be willing to buy the game for their kid's.

nameless12345

Reviewers would claim all the violence and swearing is fit for only teenagers, who were probably the designers and writers. Like they do for any other game like that these days.

But making a generic FPSes for the last 7 years is 100% f**cking ok and mature.

Not impossible as will be evident when a new Conker launches with the next box. :o :P

[QUOTE="WilliamRLBaker"]

lol very contrary to the fact that nintendo dropped them... So much for they made games how they wanted, how ever long it took them...ect just like nintendo...

Scythes777

Right, owners sold to the highest bidders which obviously was Microsoft.

Not impossible as will be evident when a new Conker launches with the next box. :o :P

SecretPolice

[QUOTE="SecretPolice"]

Not impossible as will be evident when a new Conker launches with the next box. :o :P

Heil68

Anyhoo, c'mon, you know that money grubbing MS can't pass up the...

..$$$$$$. :cool:

[QUOTE="AdrianWerner"]

It would be possible on PC, but not on consoles. Perfect example of this is Privates. A platformer where you explore sexual organs. Released on PC, canceled on 360.

G-Lord

Sure, PC would be the place to go for a similar game, but I still think that it wouldn't be possible to go through the same process. Funding would probably need crowdsourcing.

-lack of overhead control of what's being published

-much lowe costs of making and marketing games

-many more ways to finance your project (from traditional publishing, through self funding and crowdsourcing to findig investor willing to finance a free game)

Anyhoo, c'mon, you know that money grubbing MS can't pass up the...SecretPolice

[QUOTE="SecretPolice"]Anyhoo, c'mon, you know that money grubbing MS can't pass up the...Heil68

I've been in gaming since consoles first came out. The PS1 and PS2 days I spent countless hours each day playing games on multiple consoles.

Sorry, but I've always argued that Conket sucked and was more driven by hype and "no they di'int" mentality than actual quality. Rare was a success because they took were handed Nintendo's IPs and made some good games under Nintendo's supervision.

The reason Conker would be impossible today is because nobody is willing to dump a bunch of money into a crap game with mediocre (at best) graphics and relies purely on potty humour to "shock" an audience that isn't old enough to actually buy the game in stores anyway. And Conker was especially propped up because it was on a 'family friendly" console, the N64. There was no real "M" competition. Hell, there was very little competition period since the N64 didn't have anywhere close the the game support that the PS1 had.

I think the fact that Rare itself became a non-entity the day they left Nintendo pretty much says it all about who was the real talent behind their success.

I've been in gaming since consoles first came out. The PS1 and PS2 days I spent countless hours each day playing games on multiple consoles.

Sorry, but I've always argued that Conket sucked and was more driven by hype and "no they di'int" mentality than actual quality. Rare was a success because they took were handed Nintendo's IPs and made some good games under Nintendo's supervision.

The reason Conker would be impossible today is because nobody is willing to dump a bunch of money into a crap game with mediocre (at best) graphics and relies purely on potty humour to "shock" an audience that isn't old enough to actually buy the game in stores anyway. And Conker was especially propped up because it was on a 'family friendly" console, the N64. There was no real "M" competition. Hell, there was very little competition period since the N64 didn't have anywhere close the the game support that the PS1 had.

I think the fact that Rare itself became a non-entity the day they left Nintendo pretty much says it all about who was the real talent behind their success.

ZIMdoom

Oh rly?

[QUOTE="SuperFlakeman"]

"As you may have gathered i'm a big fan of Nintendo , not just their games but also their way of doing things which incidentally sits very much in line with how Rare used to do things… ie: They make the games they want to. They take as long as they need to take. They make hardware purely to support the needs of these aforementioned games."

This explains why Rare was my favorite developer in the period 1997-2000.

DrakesHaloGears

Microsoft did not ruin Rare, Rare ruined Rare. Seriously go look at how Rare used to operate, it made Rockstar crunch time look like a vacation. It is hard to keep employees when they are working 80-90 hour weeks with little to no slow down. Simply put most of the people who made Rare, well Rare, left during the Nintendo 64 days.

Microsoft did not ruin Rare, Rare ruined Rare. Seriously go look at how Rare used to operate, it made Rockstar crunch time look like a vacation. It is hard to keep employees when they are working 80-90 hour weeks with little to no slow down. Simply put most of the people who made Rare, well Rare, left during the Nintendo 64 days.

DarkGamer007

I totally disagree, a lot of good games came out on Xbox by Rare (Kameo, Viva Pinata even banjo-kazooie) sure they weren't as amazing as their SNES-N64 titles but they were still damn good to even great games. The point where MS turned them into making Xbox Avatars( & their clothes and whatnot) and Kinect games is the point where MS absolutely destroyed them.

Rare even teased us with a new KI game, they wanted to make one, MS wanted them to make Kinect sports ... we all know how it turned out.

[QUOTE="G-Lord"]

Good read, thanks for posting TC. Played through Live & Reloaded a few years ago after playing a lot of the N64 version. I sadly have to agree that the game would be almost impossible to make these days.

ChubbyGuy40

It wouldn't be impossible to make. It'd be impossible to sell. Unless it was on PC of course, because you can sell anything via Steam sales. :P

[QUOTE="nameless12345"]

He's probably right. The game would have "kiddy" graphics, thus would be dismissed by "mature gamers that only play mature games" and it would have violence and swearing which would mean that parents wouldn't be willing to buy the game for their kid's.

ChubbyGuy40

Reviewers would claim all the violence and swearing is fit for only teenagers, who were probably the designers and writers. Like they do for any other game like that these days.

But making a generic FPSes for the last 7 years is 100% f**cking ok and mature.

Really, did Seavor just say Nintendo published Bad Fur Day? That would mean Nintendo had... three strikes.

[QUOTE="DarkGamer007"]

Microsoft did not ruin Rare, Rare ruined Rare. Seriously go look at how Rare used to operate, it made Rockstar crunch time look like a vacation. It is hard to keep employees when they are working 80-90 hour weeks with little to no slow down. Simply put most of the people who made Rare, well Rare, left during the Nintendo 64 days.

R4gn4r0k

I totally disagree, a lot of good games came out on Xbox by Rare (Kameo, Viva Pinata even banjo-kazooie) sure they weren't as amazing as their SNES-N64 titles but they were still damn good to even great games. The point where MS turned them into making Xbox Avatars( & their clothes and whatnot) and Kinect games is the point where MS absolutely destroyed them.

Rare even teased us with a new KI game, they wanted to make one, MS wanted them to make Kinect sports ... we all know how it turned out.

Why don't they make Kinect games with their big franchises at least?

[QUOTE="R4gn4r0k"]

[QUOTE="DarkGamer007"]

Microsoft did not ruin Rare, Rare ruined Rare. Seriously go look at how Rare used to operate, it made Rockstar crunch time look like a vacation. It is hard to keep employees when they are working 80-90 hour weeks with little to no slow down. Simply put most of the people who made Rare, well Rare, left during the Nintendo 64 days.

GameboyTroy

I totally disagree, a lot of good games came out on Xbox by Rare (Kameo, Viva Pinata even banjo-kazooie) sure they weren't as amazing as their SNES-N64 titles but they were still damn good to even great games. The point where MS turned them into making Xbox Avatars( & their clothes and whatnot) and Kinect games is the point where MS absolutely destroyed them.

Rare even teased us with a new KI game, they wanted to make one, MS wanted them to make Kinect sports ... we all know how it turned out.

Why don't they make Kinect games with their big franchises?

Because Rare's characters don't sell to casuals.

They have to be soulless random avatars. Look at Wii Sports, for example.

Anything with complex-looking character designs represents a complex game. Look at Angry Birds, with ball-shaped characters. Simple for casuals to delve into.

Really, did Seavor just say Nintendo published Bad Fur Day? That would mean Nintendo had... three strikes.

nintendoboy16

Nintendo actually secretly published it (also known as distribution). Their publishing logo isn't on the front of the box, at least for North America. THQ published it in Europe.

North American boxart-

[QUOTE="GameboyTroy"]

[QUOTE="R4gn4r0k"]

I totally disagree, a lot of good games came out on Xbox by Rare (Kameo, Viva Pinata even banjo-kazooie) sure they weren't as amazing as their SNES-N64 titles but they were still damn good to even great games. The point where MS turned them into making Xbox Avatars( & their clothes and whatnot) and Kinect games is the point where MS absolutely destroyed them.

Rare even teased us with a new KI game, they wanted to make one, MS wanted them to make Kinect sports ... we all know how it turned out.

GameShtopper

Why don't they make Kinect games with their big franchises?

Because Rare's characters don't sell to casuals.

They have to be soulless random avatars. Look at Wii Sports, for example.

Anything with complex-looking character designs represents a complex game. Look at Angry Birds, with ball-shaped characters. Simple for casuals to delve into.

And Conker was especially propped up because it was on a 'family friendly" console, the N64. There was no real "M" competition.

ZIMdoom

[QUOTE="GameboyTroy"]

[QUOTE="R4gn4r0k"]

I totally disagree, a lot of good games came out on Xbox by Rare (Kameo, Viva Pinata even banjo-kazooie) sure they weren't as amazing as their SNES-N64 titles but they were still damn good to even great games. The point where MS turned them into making Xbox Avatars( & their clothes and whatnot) and Kinect games is the point where MS absolutely destroyed them.

Rare even teased us with a new KI game, they wanted to make one, MS wanted them to make Kinect sports ... we all know how it turned out.

GameShtopper

Why don't they make Kinect games with their big franchises?

Because Rare's characters don't sell to casuals.

They have to be soulless random avatars. Look at Wii Sports, for example.

Anything with complex-looking character designs represents a complex game. Look at Angry Birds, with ball-shaped characters. Simple for casuals to delve into.

Indeed, I wouldn't mind Killer Instinct being a kinect fighting game but what they make now is just ... soulless:(

[QUOTE="nintendoboy16"]

Really, did Seavor just say Nintendo published Bad Fur Day? That would mean Nintendo had... three strikes.

GameShtopper

Nintendo actually secretly published it (also known as distribution). Their publishing logo isn't on the front of the box, at least for North America. THQ published it in Europe.

North American boxart-

Guess the best they can do is publish third party games for that audience (Nintendo of Europe is publishing Capcom's Resident Evil: Revelations).

Storage size was the only thing holding back VA from games on the N64. Yet many devs found ways around it. I really do feel all nostalgic though after reading that. Makes me want to buy a copy of L&R so I can play it again, since I don't have an N64 anymore. The MP truly is godlike.ChubbyGuy40

Oh yes, some of the most TPS fun I've ever had. I still have the copy I got around launch, but no working Xbox. I wanna play it now. :(

[QUOTE="ZIMdoom"]And Conker was especially propped up because it was on a 'family friendly" console, the N64. There was no real "M" competition.

nintendoboy16

I think all of them did well on the N64.

Turok did really well if it didn't do good on the N64 why did they make Turok Rage Wars and Turok 3: Shadows of Oblivion exclusive to N64 and Gameboy Color?

When Turok and Turok 2 were on N64 and Windows with Turok 2 also being on the Gameboy Color.