SNES RareWare Graphics Workstation/Dev Box

[Mark30001]

I posted this on other forums and thought, sure, why not, some of you guys here might be interested in this kind of stuff.









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A Summary:

Basically RareWare used ACM (Advanced Computer Modeling) for Donkey Kong Country, Killer Instinct, and other titles on Silicon Graphics hardware and software, one being Alias Power Animator. The technique was rather different than most 2D animation. Real world graphics were created through a 3D wireframe model using an Indigo 2 workstation, a unit which revealed the true power of the Super Nintendo's graphics. After creating and testing models, they were transfered to even more powerful computers such as the Challenge XL or Challenge L, and were constructed into solid 3D images which you can find on the Super Nintendo Donkey Kong Country series.

[gdf]

Cool, I always wondered why DKC was psuedo 3D looking. It almost looks like clay models at points. Nice find Mark!

[SnesR0X]

This is one of the reasons DKC did so well, and I loved it so much

[VampDude]

RARE were next-gen compared to the other other companies releasing Super Nintendo games, I mean wow 3D Diddy Kong a good 4 years (or more due to the making of the game - pre 1994) before his big break onto the N64 (in full blown 3D) on Diddy Kong Racing back in 98.

[Shadowblind]

RARE has given us some of our best--Perfect Dark, Goldeneye, Conker( )

Then Microsoft bought them out...now they're just...RARE. Nothing good, nothing bad...sigh

[VampDude]

RARE has given us some of our best--Perfect Dark, Goldeneye, Conker( )

Then Microsoft bought them out...now they're just...RARE. Nothing good, nothing bad...sigh

Microsoft bought them so Nintendo couldn't have them, they released more titles when they were making games for Nintendo...

...Microsoft can afford to waste money on taking out the opposition, but not use what they've taken (thou with their first OS it's different cause they didn't buy it they stole it from Apple)

[quzar]

Trivia: did you know Rare was the first company to figure out how to get the NES to do split screen?

[VampDude]

Here is a good question:

RARE are owned by Microsoft, and own the rights to Donkey Kong and it's characters. But what happens if they ever wanted to make a remake of the original for a Microsoft console? Mario (a Nintendo character) is the bad guy in the original Donkey Kong, do Nintendo own any rights to the game which could stop such a remake being released if it was ever to arise?

[quzar]

Here is a good question:

RARE are owned by Microsoft, and own the rights to Donkey Kong and it's characters. But what happens if they ever wanted to make a remake of the original for a Microsoft console? Mario (a Nintendo character) is the bad guy in the original Donkey Kong, do Nintendo own any rights to the game which could stop such a remake being released if it was ever to arise?

Rare does not own Donkey Kong, Nintendo does. The Rare Donkey Kong games were made by Rare specifically for Nintendo. Nintendo still owns the IP as evidenced by the use of Donkey Kong in non-Rare games since.

[VampDude]

Rare does not own Donkey Kong, Nintendo does. The Rare Donkey Kong games were made by Rare specifically for Nintendo. Nintendo still owns the IP as evidenced by the use of Donkey Kong in non-Rare games since.

So Rare can never use Donkey Kong, but what about Donkey Kong's family (as seen in Donkey Kong Land/Country) such as Diddy, Dixie and the others since Rare created those - or do Nintendo own them as they're characters tied in with Donkey Kong?