Kind of an updated version of the classic
puzzle game Pipemania, where you have to
stop a runaway nuclear missile carrier from
colliding with objects by swapping between
construction vehicles and clearing the way.BLAST CORPS 1997
Now part of Microsoft’s fleet of
internal game studios, Rare might
have seen better days, but during their
prime years as a Nintendo-owned
studio in the 1990s, their name was a
watchword for innovation and quality.
This was particular true during the
Nintendo 64 era, where Rare played
Pixar to Nintendo’s Disney, propping
up the console’s software library with
a succession of hits that breathed new
life into ailing Nintendo heroes such
as Donkey Kong – and gave birth to
several new ones, too.
The British-born outfit showcased
the imagination and versatility that
would go on to serve them so well
under Nintendo’s stewardship right
from the very beginning. Founded
in 1982 by brothers Chris and TimStamper under the name Ashby
Computers & Graphics Ltd, and trading
under the more recognisable name
Ultimate Play the Game, the team that
would evolve into Rare were major
players on the ZX Spectrum scene,
their revolutionary isometric Filmation
game engine giving rise to numerous
adventures, such as Knight Lore (p.18)
thought beyond the scope of the
Spectrum’s humble capabilities.
One of the first western developers to
court the notoriously-insular Nintendo,
Rare were rewarded for their creativity
with a near-unlimited budget. Their
investment in 3D graphics during the
SNES era made them one of the most
technically-advanced studios going, and
the research left Rare well-placed to
dominate during the N64 era.Classic Developer The British studio that, for a
short while, out-Nintendo’d Nintendo
Founded 1982 (as Ultimate Play The Game)
Headquarters Tw ycr o s s , L ei ce s t er shir e
Years active 1982-current
Lead platform Nintendo 64