Has Activision already purchased Nintendo\'s strongest software ally? The mud is beginning to stick...
18:44 Over the last couple of weeks, rumours about a possible Rare buyout have swept across the Web faster than the bubonic plague. First, whispers spread that Microsoft had bought out the Nintendo second-party, with Ken Lobb\'s move from Nintendo to Bill Gates\'s empire adding fuel to this speculative fire.
In recent days, however, Activision\'s name has been the surprising entry into the fray, with the rumours initially dismissed as baseless, especially with the tail-end of various high-profile April Fool\'s Day pranks in our midst. But the link between Activision and Rare has not gone away and sources are in fact pointing to its verity.
One source, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed to have seen actual evidence of the deal, and others also attest to having heard solid information that the transaction has been made.
If indeed true, the import of this should not be underestimated. UK-based Rare has been a stalwart of Nintendo hardware for many years, producing some of the greatest titles to appear on the various platforms. With hits including GoldenEye, Perfect Dark, Banjo Kazooie and Donkey Kong 64, the developer gave N64\'s oeuvre much-needed back-bone. Indeed, many consider the N64\'s very survival relied heavily on Rare\'s output, since third-party support was narrow and first-party releases infrequent.
More pertinently, Nintendo has also been relying heavily on Rare\'s forthcoming projects, which include Star Fox Adventure, Kameo and Perfect Dark Zero on GameCube, and Diddy Kong Pilot and Sabre Wulf on GBA. If the rumours prove true, it now seems increasingly likely that these titles will now go multiformat. In fact, a PS2 version of Star Fox Adventures has been rumoured for some time. And let\'s not forget the Christmas card Rare issued at the end of last year, which featured Xbox, PS2 and GameCube shaped presents under the true. Just a harmless joke?
But how could this happen? One school of thought suggests that, in the event of any buyout, Rare\'s motivating factor might be that GameCube is Nintendo\'s last piece of under-the-TV hardware, with the developer wishing to establish itself across all formats. Hot air? Maybe; maybe not.
The main stumbling block, of course, is Nintendo\'s stake in Rare and it does seem almost unbelievable that the Japanese giant would let such a valuable commodity slip through its fingers. But, as we\'ve said, the mud is beginning to stick. This could all be empty speculation, of course, but stranger things have happened. You\'re playing Sonic on a GameCube after all.
Spokespersons for Activision, Rare, and Nintendo remained unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/news/news_story.php?id=27795
