Yooka-Laylee: Spiritual Sucessor to Banjo-Kazooie by Ex-Rare staff

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=989297

Welcome to Playtonic Games, home of an all new 'rare-breed' of game creators!

Playtonic is a new 'indie' studio formed entirely from veterans of the legendary game developer Rare Ltd.

Having helped create many hits, including the Donkey Kong Country & Banjo Kazooie series of games, we're now on a mission to bring you the video game stars of the future that are inspired by our past!

"Why hello there!

If you’ve made it this far towards our fine internet abode, then you’ve probably worked out that we’re a new game developer, formed by some blokes who did those games you may or may not have liked as a nipper.

However, if you’ve stumbled here by accident in search of non-sexual relationship advice, allow us to explain what on Earth is going on…

Playtonic’s the name, and fun games, unique characters and absolutely-frickin-amazing worlds to explore are our game. Or at least they will be, once we eventually get around to releasing our first project instead of faffing around on Word Press.

Ahem. Currently we’re a sextet of artists, programmers and designers – sort of like The Pussycat Dolls with computer science degress – with one thing in common; we were all once core member of famous UK studio Rare, where we helmed franchises such as Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong Country and Viva Piñata.

We’ve got the bloke who programmed Donkey Kong Country, the character designer behind Banjo and Kazooie, and the artist who made your console fit to burst with lavish environments across a decade’s worth of adventure games.

Together, our all-star ensemble is aiming to build its debut game, ‘Project Ukulele’, into a worthy spiritual successor to those fondly remembered platforming adventures we built in the past.

By now, you might be thinking, ‘hold on mate, didn’t you make similar claims after drinking too many shandies in the pub in 2012, you muppet?’ Perhaps. But this time it’s real! We’re making a real, proper, actual game. Look: we even managed to trick convince Edge magazine to do us some pages!

You can read all about our venture and see the first artwork for our game in Edge issue 277, which is on sale from February 12.

So what’s next? Well first of all you need to know that our journey is at an early stage – we’ve barely left the Shire and Sean Bean’s still an alright guy.

Over the coming months we’ll reveal more about our project and future growth plans, and we very much intend to get you involved and listen to your views on our game’s direction. You’ll ultimately shape the destination of our project and we plan to continue exchanging sweet glances across cyberspace at you until we get there.

So go on then – follow us on Twitter, slap your thumbs up on our Facebook and sign up for updates. ‘ Cos it’s time to get this wagon rolling…"

Well, that's all right, I suppose. I admit, I was never really all that much into Rare, but I can't deny the quality of their work. Good to know they're back in business.

Well, this oughta be interesting. I didn't exactly grow with Rare games, but they definitely had a lot going for them. Let's see where this very British wagon rolls.

edited 10th Feb '15 4:23:49 PM by Elbruno

Sounds like a plan.

I wonder if they're at all resentful of Nintendo's Retro Studios for using their work without them.

Probably not they said they want to release the game on Wii U because they still liked working with Nintendo.

All game announcements should be written like this.

You almost hear the British twang in there.

For anyone interested, I brightened the teaser image◊.

Looks like the lead is some kinda lizard, possibly a snake judging from the long body? Can't quite tell if that's a beak between the other character's eyes, or a crest on the main's head.

Somebody on Gaf said they think the characters are a Green Hawaiian Lizard and a Red Cardinal because the project name they assume it takes place in Hawaii so they included animals that are native to Hawaii.

I could be remembering wrong but I think they said Red Cardinal.

The red cardinal is native to Hawaii? I see them in Toronto all the time.

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!

Seriously now, Donkey Kong Country was like the first video game I ever owned, so Rare is responsible for my formative years as a gamer.

I must have only remembered Red and Cardinal. I forgot crested.

Red-Crested Cardinals live in Hawaii but they aren't native.

edited 11th Feb '15 12:12:55 PM by Halberdier17

So, it's February 12th. Anyone got the latest issue of Edge to see?

I'll save my enthusiasm for AFTER they show something substantial this time.

As they admit, they've tried a spiritual successor before, but it never really came together.

YEEEEES!!!! Finally, a hope for something BK-related. After playing the disasterous third game (yes, I have also completed it, it sucks soooo much), I'm hoping that this will be a prayer to those wanting Banjo and Kazooie to return.

Playtonic grabs 3 Rare composers for Project Ukulele.

Grant Kirkhope, David Wise, and Steve Burke.

edited 18th Feb '15 9:59:14 AM by Halberdier17

David Wise AND Grant Kirkhope?! Excuse me for a second. *Fanboys to death.*

Double post because I'm bringing this thread back up with new information. Anyways, we have some awesome stuff regarding Ukelele including a potential protagonist, some engine-rendered screens, and more!

Playtonic releases first animated footage of Project Ukulele.

Edit* I just decided to link to their Twitter account because the Nintendolife link wasn't working.

edited 14th Apr '15 9:59:58 AM by Halberdier17

That link leads no where.

https://twitter.com/PlaytonicGames/status/587967246372331520

You think the developers of GoldenEye, Perfect Dark, and TimeSplitters are a part of Playtonic? Maybe they can make a successor to all three if they want to.

Hey, they just dropped the actual name of the game.

And you won't believe what they called it!

"Yooka-Laylee"

No. Really. That's its actual name. You see what they did there, though?

Source (spoiler-tagged to avoid ruining previous spoiler):

http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/04/playtonics_project_ukulele_becomes_yooka-laylee_wii_u_release_confirmed

Huh. They want to release it for the Wii U e-shop. Interesting choice.

Um...links ignore spoiler tags, everyone can still see the link URL.