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Spiritual Successor to Banjo-Kazooie
Topic Started: Feb 11 2015, 11:04 AM (543 Views)
Cee Jay HaychPosted Image
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"I didn't use the whole thing ...."
A group of decorated Rare developers, who were instrumental in creating some of the studio's most iconic games during the '90s, have formed a new indie studio with grand plans to create a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie.

The new studio, called Playtonic, was formed by Gavin Price and Chris Sutherland, two highly experienced Rare developers who were laid off in the summer last year.

Price started out in quality assurance at Rare, working on a broad range of N64 games, from Jet Force Gemini to Donkey Kong 64, Perfect Dark, Banjo Tooie, and Conker's Bad Fur Day. Later he went on to design some of Rare's more modern work, such as Kinect Sports.

Chris Sutherland, meanwhile, is a coder whose influence at the studio dates back to the late '80s when he was hired as an engineer. Sutherland, who also provided the voices of Banjo and Kazooie, was instrumental in coding Rare's most iconic games, such as Donkey Kong Country.

The two are joined by Steve Mayles, a renowned artist who created the Banjo Kazooie characters. Three other developers currently work at the studio, while Grant Kirkhope--a famed composer for many Rare games--has been hired for Playtonic's first game.

According a new article in Edge magazine, the current plan is to expand the team to around 15 people. It is expected that many of them will be former Rare developers.

The studio's debut game is called "Project Ukulele," and while details are thin for now, the game is expected to be a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie. A teaser image of the game has been posted online, and fans have already begun to speculate what characters it will depict.

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Josh the hedgehog
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Those who do good, do...
with the image, I'm not exactly sure if it is just me or not, but I think I see a bird's beak in the shadow, could that hint to something?
Betrayal is a dangerous thing...

"In my world...It's kill or be killed..." -Josh

"Better run, coward..."-Sinistar
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Sharizard
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Angel Island Act 1
Been waiting too long for this.
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HollyYoshiPosted Image
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I object to your claims
Did someone say 'concept art'?

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Source: http://nintendoeverything.com/project-ukulele-art/

Looks pretty nice, if I do say so myself.
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Cee Jay HaychPosted Image
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"I didn't use the whole thing ...."
Yeap, Defiantly has that Rareware look to it.
Rare was the only company to out-Nintendo Nintendo so I'm expecting big things from this.
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HollyYoshiPosted Image
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I object to your claims
As am I. It's been forever since I played a Rare game, but I still have fond memories of games like Banjo Kazooie and Diddy Kong Racing. I'm looking forward to seeing more information about this.

Also, some people are thinking that rhino character is supposed to be a Banjo expy of sorts. That could be. 'Course, we won't know until more information is revealed.
We have in-engine screenshots!

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And they look absolutely incredible. That last picture is freaking gorgeous.

Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-03-13-banjo-kazooie-spiritual-successor-heads-to-kickstarter
Edited by HollyYoshi, Mar 16 2015, 06:21 PM.
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Sharizard
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Angel Island Act 1
I'm in love already.
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HollyYoshiPosted Image
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I object to your claims
We have more info on the game; http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/mar/23/playtonic-rare-collaborate-banjo-kazooie-ukulele

So, Playtonic is still on good terms with Rare and wants to collaborate. That's cool. But I want to focus mainly on this passage right here;
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To this end, Playtonic has introduced a new collectible, known as “Pagies”. Each world in the game is accessed via its own magical story book which resides in the hub area; as players collect Pagies, they unlock new areas to the environment – the more pagies you put into a book, the more you expand the world. However, players can choose to go off an open new books and experience new worlds rather than expand current ones.

“You don’t just go into the worlds, milk them and move on,” says Price. “It will be more open and expansive. There is freedom to go where you want. You can go into another world or you can spend Pagies on your current world and expand it with new areas. I wanted to take away the linearity of the old experiences as much as possible. These days, people want to find their own way through games – and if you go off and explore and don’t get rewarded for it you’re like: ‘shit, I’ve just wasted my time’.”

The team has also talked about including a vast range of non-player characters in Project Ukulele, who will then star in their own spin-off titles.


First off, 'Pagies' makes me think of Jiggys from Banjo Kazooie. Are they going to be living things too? xD And I am up for an openworld experience.
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Shyna
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Ice Cap Act 1
Not only Banjo-Kazooie. Some of these environments remind me of something I'd see in Viva Piñata.

Though this open world expanding thing? I wonder how that will work out?

I hope this has lots of power-ups and upgrades too, like it's predecessor had.
Be sure to check me out on Deviant Art to see some of my various drawings and artworks. http://hexidextrous.deviantart.com/


Also, I would like to ask a favor from for anyone who is my friend here.
If someday we meet in person in the near future, and I had recently done anything that would confirm that I had become a Brony (which as of now I am not one), such as if I had posted on a Pony-related fan-site, drawn a Pony-themed artwork, contributed to a Pony fanfic, or anything else along those lines. If I have done anything like that, I want you to punch me in the face without warning. This make sound like I'm joking, but I am absolutely serious about this. Ignore any future statements retracting this if I ever make any. Though if you do, please first confirm that it is me who is doing it, and not some Brony who is posing as me and wants to see me get punched. I do not wish to go down the path of the Bronies, and hopefully those of you reading this will help me so that it stays that way, if god forbid I ever even attempt it.
Thank you.
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Cee Jay HaychPosted Image
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"I didn't use the whole thing ...."
Reveal time!

Say hello to Yooka-Laylee.
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Yooka is the chameleon and Laylee is the bat. According to IGN, Yooka can use his lizard tongue like a grappling hook, while Laylee can pick Yooka up and fly with him, but not for very long. This cooperative gameplay dynamic is quite similar to Banjo-Kazooie, where Banjo (a bear) and Kazooie (a bird) worked together to move through levels and solve puzzles using their unique attributes.

If the Yooka-Laylee Kickstarter is successful the game will be released for PC and Mac, as well as Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Wii U. However, it's possible that not all versions will be released at the same time, as timing will depend on the success of the Kickstarter.
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ashesfromsegaforums
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Character Select
I don't understand why everyone on different Sonic forums are suddenly discussing the new Banjo-Kazooie game.
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Cee Jay HaychPosted Image
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"I didn't use the whole thing ...."
Because we are allowed to talk about things other then Sonic.
That and there is not really any new Sonic related news to talk about at the moment.
Plus the obvious cross over of Sonic fans liking cartoony platformers.
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Chompman
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The Jaw-ggernaught of Justice.
Also because it's here. we do more than JUST Sonic-Themed stuffs here, Ashes. if this place was ALL sonic, we would be insane.

Stating the obvious here, but nobody likes a "one trick pony" forum.

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The Dark Jaws of Justice. My bark is as equally deadly as my bite. I'm CHOMPMAN!

Everything you need to know about me....right in here!!!
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HollyYoshiPosted Image
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I object to your claims
Whew. People really support this game. (not that I blame them);

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/yooka-laylee-passes-2-4-million-free-dlc-stretch-g/1100-6427300/

Also, meet Trowzer;

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/yooka-laylee-s-new-character-is-a-trouser-snake/1100-6427260/

Can't seem to get an image link of this, so have the website link instead. ;P
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