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Popular TagsRare's Scribes: Viva Pinata DS, Donkey Kong Country
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Rare's latest edition of Scribes confirms the completion of Viva Pinata for DS and answers some interesting VC-related questions.
- Complete Scribes rundown
Q: I really liked some of your old games like B-K, B-T, DKR and DK64. As I'm sure you know Nintendo has the Virtual Console for the Wii. Now they have already released all of the DKCs, but what if they wanted to release Diddy Kong Racing. Diddy Kong Racing was just released on the DS as a remake, but would the original ever appear on the VC even though Banjo and Conker are in it? Banjo and Conker were replaced with Tiny Kong and Dixie Kong in the DS version because they have their own series so now I'm wondering if they would want to put the original. Can you guys help me out here?
Duncan Lockhart
Scribes: To be honest... dunno. There's nothing to suggest that Nintendo are in the habit of changing games for their VC appearances, and DKR DS was a cheeky remake rather than a straight port so there was always some leeway to tinker with the more troublesome elements. So I'd be tempted to say it'd probably stay intact on VC. But don't quote me on that.
I've heard no talk of it happening anyway, so chances are this is all academic. Nintendo's back catalogue isn't exactly flimsy, and "highly unlikely" is the best VC prediction I can get from someone who worked on DKR DS.
Q: But I have another little, tiny, portable question. Viva Piñata DS. How is it going in terms of development and do you think we will be able to have a little, tiny, portable garden in our pockets within the year? Well that's it, that's all, I'm out. Thank you again for your time.
Scribes: And Viva Piñata DS is complete. We are just waiting for our army of university interns, illegal immigrants and small children from the local schools to assemble the hand-made cartridges that we'll be selling at all good flea markets this Sunday.
Q: I'm sure you've been inundated with emails of a similar theme to this one since the last Scribes on Feb 13th but I'm going ask you anyway. In one of your replies to another fan you mentioned that "The Viva Piñata team is working on a new title that we hope to be able to tell you about soon, and should be in the shops before the end of the year (it's not Banjo)" and I wondered how soon is soon?! Is this mystery project going to be revealed before E3?
Scribes: Actually, that little nugget seemed to fly under the radar for some reason. I suppose everyone's too busy asking whether Tooty is related to Candy Kong and there'll be collectible macadamia nuts and Leaky the bucket will be playable and Mumbo will turn Banjo into a toasted sandwich maker or a bag of compost.
An official VP team quote: "Revealed before E3? Yes, yes it will." Or will it? I suppose it has to be, they wouldn't lie just for the sake of it. Or would they?
Q: I've recently been going back through Donkey Kong Country 2 (Player's Choice version on the SNES, if it makes a difference). During my play-through, I noticed something I'd noticed every other time I've played the game: There are clumps of bananas shaped as letters. This was all well and good, until now. I realized that maybe these letters mean something... something far more sinister than ever imagined. SO. My question is, if any Donkey Kong Country 2 team members still exist that would know what the heck's going on, could you kindly ask them what the heck's going on?
Scribes: According to a man in the know, who is of course Gregg but I thought I'd try to introduce him in a new and mysterious way to make it sound less like he's written three-quarters of this edition of Scribes, "the letters usually spell out the button you should be pressing when you see them, as some kind of not-very-secret secret. Unless of course you get to the extra-secret secret area that contains the swear words made up from bananas".
Not many DKC team members still exist who know what the heck's going on with anything, let alone the meanings behind specific banana formations, so you got lucky there. Haha OMG I said they is all old and mental, did you see teh funny?
Duncan Lockhart
Scribes: To be honest... dunno. There's nothing to suggest that Nintendo are in the habit of changing games for their VC appearances, and DKR DS was a cheeky remake rather than a straight port so there was always some leeway to tinker with the more troublesome elements. So I'd be tempted to say it'd probably stay intact on VC. But don't quote me on that.
I've heard no talk of it happening anyway, so chances are this is all academic. Nintendo's back catalogue isn't exactly flimsy, and "highly unlikely" is the best VC prediction I can get from someone who worked on DKR DS.
Q: But I have another little, tiny, portable question. Viva Piñata DS. How is it going in terms of development and do you think we will be able to have a little, tiny, portable garden in our pockets within the year? Well that's it, that's all, I'm out. Thank you again for your time.
Scribes: And Viva Piñata DS is complete. We are just waiting for our army of university interns, illegal immigrants and small children from the local schools to assemble the hand-made cartridges that we'll be selling at all good flea markets this Sunday.
Q: I'm sure you've been inundated with emails of a similar theme to this one since the last Scribes on Feb 13th but I'm going ask you anyway. In one of your replies to another fan you mentioned that "The Viva Piñata team is working on a new title that we hope to be able to tell you about soon, and should be in the shops before the end of the year (it's not Banjo)" and I wondered how soon is soon?! Is this mystery project going to be revealed before E3?
Scribes: Actually, that little nugget seemed to fly under the radar for some reason. I suppose everyone's too busy asking whether Tooty is related to Candy Kong and there'll be collectible macadamia nuts and Leaky the bucket will be playable and Mumbo will turn Banjo into a toasted sandwich maker or a bag of compost.
An official VP team quote: "Revealed before E3? Yes, yes it will." Or will it? I suppose it has to be, they wouldn't lie just for the sake of it. Or would they?
Q: I've recently been going back through Donkey Kong Country 2 (Player's Choice version on the SNES, if it makes a difference). During my play-through, I noticed something I'd noticed every other time I've played the game: There are clumps of bananas shaped as letters. This was all well and good, until now. I realized that maybe these letters mean something... something far more sinister than ever imagined. SO. My question is, if any Donkey Kong Country 2 team members still exist that would know what the heck's going on, could you kindly ask them what the heck's going on?
Scribes: According to a man in the know, who is of course Gregg but I thought I'd try to introduce him in a new and mysterious way to make it sound less like he's written three-quarters of this edition of Scribes, "the letters usually spell out the button you should be pressing when you see them, as some kind of not-very-secret secret. Unless of course you get to the extra-secret secret area that contains the swear words made up from bananas".
Not many DKC team members still exist who know what the heck's going on with anything, let alone the meanings behind specific banana formations, so you got lucky there. Haha OMG I said they is all old and mental, did you see teh funny?
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1
Linkyshinks Reply Quote #1
L100 Eternal Master
7231 
763 
15.02.2007 
LinkyshinksWell I still have my DKR cart on N64 thankfully, but what as shame that it might never arrive on the VC. DKR was more fun than MK64, it also had better graphics and sound. It's a big shame that younger players will not be able to play that great game.
Atsushi Inaba
-God Hand--MadWorld-
Atsushi Inaba
-God Hand--MadWorld-
jb Reply Quote #2
Founder/Admin
14234 890 04.01.2003 jbcubed3.Linkyshinks said:
Well I still have my DKR cart on N64 thankfully, but what as shame that it might never arrive on the VC. DKR was more fun than MK64, it also had better graphics and sound. It's a big shame that younger players will not be able to play that great game.
Well I still have my DKR cart on N64 thankfully, but what as shame that it might never arrive on the VC. DKR was more fun than MK64, it also had better graphics and sound. It's a big shame that younger players will not be able to play that great game.
Tis true, the DS one is very good, but it isn't the same. Hopefully they'll come to some agreement with VC titles.
jb(at)cubed3.com
Wiill Reply Quote #3
L11 Kooper Trooper
103 24 07.05.2007 WiillIt's also quite clear that Viva Piniata DS will easily outsell the Xbox 360 version...
Rare really should have stuck with Nintendo.
Rare really should have stuck with Nintendo.
SuperLink Reply Quote #4
C3 Mod
14424 762 19.01.2005 Link / SuperLink9I'm not sure if they had a choice. Sure Nintendo and Rare weren't getting on so well anyway, but Microsoft bought them out.
Funnily enough, Conker remake on XBOX is more censored than the N64 version. That's horribly horribly ironic considering Nintendo is usually considered kiddy. I wonder why Rare did that?
DKR-DS is good, but nowhere near as good as the N64 version. It just seems to be lacking the magic, and the awesome intro is gone, and the voice acting is awful.
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Funnily enough, Conker remake on XBOX is more censored than the N64 version. That's horribly horribly ironic considering Nintendo is usually considered kiddy. I wonder why Rare did that?
DKR-DS is good, but nowhere near as good as the N64 version. It just seems to be lacking the magic, and the awesome intro is gone, and the voice acting is awful.
~League of Kings - King - "The One"~ | May the League of Kings always reign supreme!
C3 SHENMUE III DECADE | 18.06.2009
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Ikana Reply Quote #5
L58 Hylian Knight
1316 149 07.06.2006 IkanaSuperLink said:
DKR-DS is good, but nowhere near as good as the N64 version. It just seems to be lacking the magic, and the awesome intro is gone, and the voice acting is awful.
DKR-DS is good, but nowhere near as good as the N64 version. It just seems to be lacking the magic, and the awesome intro is gone, and the voice acting is awful.
The awesome intro is gone?!
*Scratches DKR DS off his 'to buy' list*.
Grumbro Reply Quote #6
L100 Eternal Master
11601 1480 11.07.2005 noneSuperLink said:
Funnily enough, Conker remake on XBOX is more censored than the N64 version. That's horribly horribly ironic considering Nintendo is usually considered kiddy. I wonder why Rare did that?
Funnily enough, Conker remake on XBOX is more censored than the N64 version. That's horribly horribly ironic considering Nintendo is usually considered kiddy. I wonder why Rare did that?
Well Nintendo refused to even distribute it, so it was entirely in Rare/THQs hands. On the Xbox which lacked kids games, Microsoft would have wanted a lower rating.
It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.
jb Reply Quote #7
Founder/Admin
14234 890 04.01.2003 jbcubed3.It wasn't Rare's doing - Nintendo let go of Rare and Microsoft seized the opportunity.
Rare's a bit pap these days anyway, haven't played a decent game from them in ages. Hopefully BK3 will be a big turnaround!
jb(at)cubed3.com
Rare's a bit pap these days anyway, haven't played a decent game from them in ages. Hopefully BK3 will be a big turnaround!
jb(at)cubed3.com
SuperLink Reply Quote #8
C3 Mod
14424 762 19.01.2005 Link / SuperLink9Grumbro said:
Well Nintendo refused to even distribute it, so it was entirely in Rare/THQs hands. On the Xbox which lacked kids games, Microsoft would have wanted a lower rating.
Well Nintendo refused to even distribute it, so it was entirely in Rare/THQs hands. On the Xbox which lacked kids games, Microsoft would have wanted a lower rating.
Yeah that was a bit silly, even though it was mentioned and praised in NOM (But not Nintendo Power).
Of all the games to censor on XBOX, it had to be the one that thrives most from it's swearing and toilet humour. It's a shame really, I would have gotten it if it wasn't censored. (And if it ran on 360, that I'm not sure about)
~League of Kings - King - "The One"~ | May the League of Kings always reign supreme!
C3 SHENMUE III DECADE | 18.06.2009
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dojo Reply Quote #9
L96 Secondary Guard
4682 319 06.05.2006 benjSuperLink said:
Yeah that was a bit silly, even though it was mentioned and praised in NOM (But not Nintendo Power).
Of all the games to censor on XBOX, it had to be the one that thrives most from it's swearing and toilet humour. It's a shame really, I would have gotten it if it wasn't censored. (And if it ran on 360, that I'm not sure about)
Grumbro said:
Well Nintendo refused to even distribute it, so it was entirely in Rare/THQs hands. On the Xbox which lacked kids games, Microsoft would have wanted a lower rating.
Well Nintendo refused to even distribute it, so it was entirely in Rare/THQs hands. On the Xbox which lacked kids games, Microsoft would have wanted a lower rating.
Yeah that was a bit silly, even though it was mentioned and praised in NOM (But not Nintendo Power).
Of all the games to censor on XBOX, it had to be the one that thrives most from it's swearing and toilet humour. It's a shame really, I would have gotten it if it wasn't censored. (And if it ran on 360, that I'm not sure about)
It works on the 360, yes. Some tiny glitches and slowdown during Live matches (they still have people playing!) but that's about it.
Smash Bros. FC: 1032-2747-6707
Chris R Reply Quote #10
L2 Toad
19 1 20.03.2008 noneTo be honest, if it's not Goldeneye I don't care. My N64 no longer works and I'm remembering the whole game in sepia tones. Sigh...
But, yeah, Banjo-Kazooie was one of the good ones.
But, yeah, Banjo-Kazooie was one of the good ones.
Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.
Fruit flies like a banana.
Martin_ Reply Quote #11
L100 Eternal Master
6585 729 05.09.2004 noneI've been on scribes twice, and I've only written in twice, as well.
Are you crazy? Rare were the best developers in the world, at that point. Only four of their N64 games were less than amazing (Jet Force Gemini, DK64, Killer Instinct Gold, and Mickey's Speedway USA). Even they were all still very good. Everything else were timeless gaming classics, and have to be played by any serious gamer. These are-
Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Tooie
Blast Corpse
Conker's BAD FUR DAY
Diddy Kong Racing
GoldenEye 007
Perfect Dark( Edited 11.05.2008 21:33 by Oni-Ninja )
Chris R said:
To be honest, if it's not Goldeneye I don't care. My N64 no longer works and I'm remembering the whole game in sepia tones. Sigh...
But, yeah, Banjo-Kazooie was one of the good ones.
To be honest, if it's not Goldeneye I don't care. My N64 no longer works and I'm remembering the whole game in sepia tones. Sigh...
But, yeah, Banjo-Kazooie was one of the good ones.
Are you crazy? Rare were the best developers in the world, at that point. Only four of their N64 games were less than amazing (Jet Force Gemini, DK64, Killer Instinct Gold, and Mickey's Speedway USA). Even they were all still very good. Everything else were timeless gaming classics, and have to be played by any serious gamer. These are-
Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo-Tooie
Blast Corpse
Conker's BAD FUR DAY
Diddy Kong Racing
GoldenEye 007
Perfect Dark( Edited 11.05.2008 21:33 by Oni-Ninja )
SuperLink Reply Quote #12
C3 Mod
14424 762 19.01.2005 Link / SuperLink9For anyone who didn't know already, there are a couple of leaked Banjo Threeie screenshots somewhere on Rare Witch Project that Marzy told me about.
Looks a bit weird TBH. Not liking the look of it so far. Amazing graphics though.
~League of Kings - King - "The One"~ | May the League of Kings always reign supreme!
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Looks a bit weird TBH. Not liking the look of it so far. Amazing graphics though.
~League of Kings - King - "The One"~ | May the League of Kings always reign supreme!
C3 SHENMUE III DECADE | 18.06.2009
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Andrezao Reply Quote #13
L13 Spore Spawn
124 21 17.04.2007 AndrezaoWHAT??? DK64 not a classic???? I LOVED THAT GAME!!! I bought my N64 last yr (when i came to Aus i had to give mine away to my cuz in Brasil (damn!)) so i rebought it specifically for Dk64! Ah, when i bought it with the game, I asked if they had the Expansion pak, the guy said no, so something told me to look in the N64. I opened up the lid, and.... voila! it was there! So he let me have it for free! 
But i love DK64, can't see where all the hate comes from... oh and i bought Turok 2 Seeds of evil. Fantastic games!!
I LOVED THAT GAME!!! I bought my N64 last yr (when i came to Aus i had to give mine away to my cuz in Brasil (damn!)) so i rebought it specifically for Dk64! Ah, when i bought it with the game, I asked if they had the Expansion pak, the guy said no, so something told me to look in the N64. I opened up the lid, and.... voila! it was there! So he let me have it for free! But i love DK64, can't see where all the hate comes from... oh and i bought Turok 2 Seeds of evil. Fantastic games!!Flynnie Reply Quote #14
L72 Samus
2280 320 27.04.2005 FlynnieDK64 wasnt a classic but it wasnt as shit as most people say it was.
Nintendo made a good bit of money letting go of Rare, the only bloddy good thing theyve done in years is the DKR remake on the DS. Perfect Dark 0 was so-so and Grabbed by the Ghoolies...well i didnt want to play it...
Ive just completed Conkers Live and Reloaded on the Xbox (played on the 360) Like superlink said its mostly censored...like he said which is ironic because of the Nintendo kiddy image. I think the Nintendo version only censored like the word F*ck. I dont remember it censoring nething else. Jeez Live and Reloaded censored the word "twat"! Thank god ive still got my N64 version all safe and pristine.
Rare are usless now...its ashame after what great games they delivered between 1993-2001.
Nintendo made a good bit of money letting go of Rare, the only bloddy good thing theyve done in years is the DKR remake on the DS. Perfect Dark 0 was so-so and Grabbed by the Ghoolies...well i didnt want to play it...
Ive just completed Conkers Live and Reloaded on the Xbox (played on the 360) Like superlink said its mostly censored...like he said which is ironic because of the Nintendo kiddy image. I think the Nintendo version only censored like the word F*ck. I dont remember it censoring nething else. Jeez Live and Reloaded censored the word "twat"! Thank god ive still got my N64 version all safe and pristine.
Rare are usless now...its ashame after what great games they delivered between 1993-2001.
SuperLink Reply Quote #15
C3 Mod
14424 762 19.01.2005 Link / SuperLink9Flynnie said:
Jeez Live and Reloaded censored the word "twat"! Thank god ive still got my N64 version all safe and pristine.
Jeez Live and Reloaded censored the word "twat"! Thank god ive still got my N64 version all safe and pristine.
They basically ruined the Great Mighty Poo's song.( Edited 12.05.2008 09:59 by SuperLink )
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C3 SHENMUE III DECADE | 18.06.2009
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jesusraz Reply Quote #16
News Editor
10731 434 22.01.2003 noneI saw the trailer for BK3 yesterday and thought 'WTF?' That's nothing like the BK I remember! Apparently the team's changing quite a lot now the Stampers have left, despite what current higher-ups will have us believe...I think the blowing up of Mario in the trailer kind of shows that as well, since when the Stampers were around there was always that ounce of respect for Nintendo post-sale.
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