Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts

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  • Flawless
    Bang-bang! Down-down!
    • Mar 2004
    • 16780

    #1

    Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts

    Not much at all is known about the new Banjo and I'm not sure if Banjo-Threeie will be the name, but Rare has been dropping a little info lately and some vague hints in their scribes.

    Gregg Mayles the creative director of the Banjo series answers some questions.

    Q: Will the next Banjo-Kazooie game take place after the events of Banjo-Tooie?
    YES - But a lot has changed since 2000. What have Banjo and Grunty been doing for all these years?

    Q: Is there any multiplayer component planned?
    YES - Not like Banjo-Tooie's though. No FPS sections, either. I think there are enough FPS games out there!

    Q: Is this new Jiggy system gonna stray too far away from the old one?
    YES and NO - The 'not 100' Jiggies are still used to progress through the game, but the way they are obtained and used is different. Also expect changes to the Notes and Jinjos (oops, I think I may have answered a couple more questions there!)

    Q: A lot has changed since the original Banjo-Kazooie came out, which was almost ten years ago. Games today, in my opinion anyway, seem to stray a lot from core, simple gameplay elements and focus too much on other things. One thing I loved about the original game is that you guys got the story out of the way pretty much first thing. Witch is ugly, Witch needs to remove ugly, Witch steals cute little Bear-girl, game starts. After that, it was pretty much 100% game until you got to the end and knocked the old hag off her own tower. It was simple, and it set the player up with what they needed, a reason, to play through the game.

    Not that story isn't important, but when 40% of a game these days is spent watching rather than playing, it makes me wonder where the "game" part of "video game" went

    Basically, the original game relied on much of its own charm. The lushness of the worlds, the characters, and the rich array of abilities and puzzles. So... my question is: Does this remain?
    YES - Don't worry, we may be introducing something different to the Banjo universe but this remains a Banjo game.

    Q: You said the gameplay had evolved some time ago and it would not be like it was before. Have we seen this new style of gameplay in another game?
    NO (Well, I don't think so. Let's just say you certainly won't have seen it in a Banjo game!)

    Q: Will there be any old levels remade in the game?
    YES - But probably not how you expect!

    Q: Will Grunty bring back her loveable rhyming again in this game?
    Her silly comments will be a pain, yes the witch will rhyme again.
    Scribes

    Q: Why did the appearance of Banjo and Kazooie undergo such a radical change? I saw pictures of them for Banjo-Threeie about 10 minutes prior to writing this and, well, they've changed a lot. I know it's probably nostalgia getting in the way, but will they take this appearance in the new game? (Which I'm stoked about by the way, the last I saw of Banjo and Kazooie they were a stuffed head and an umbrella handle.) Is it the Microsoft move that has caused the change?

    "Banjo's new look resulted from Rare's opinion that he needed an update. The previous games were very young-looking and the industry has moved on. Even younger gamers do not want their games to look overly young. We think the updated look has a distinctive style and really suits the whole theme of the new game (of course this means absolutely nothing to you at the moment as we haven't revealed what it is)."

    Q: What rating are you aiming at for Banjo 3? Other than the stealth kills and decapitations I would rate it pretty harmless to a kid, just wondering, 'cause ya know what happened to Twelve Tales... Secondly congrats on your return to form Rare! (Don't kill me.) Viva Piñata and the sequels and now Banjo 3, great job!

    "Have no fear – Banjo will remain E-rated and Banjo fans will be pleased to know the same 'rough around the edges' humour will remain. Although recent Microsoft directives have decreed that all games must have at least 20 guns to choose from and include a gritty level based in a real life city. Only joking. Make the most of our 'return to form' as after Banjo we're going to be doing rubbish again."

    Q: Anyway, I must now get to the main point of my letter. It has now been over a year since you showed us that short but oh so sweet Banjo trailer at X06 (am I the only one who likes the new graphical style?). I must ask, can you please, please, please give us some information about it? Anything will do. And I mean anything. Just as long as it isn't something along the lines of "the green monsters on the Isle o' Hags who run around and attack you will return". Come on, please?

    "How about this for Banjo information? 'There are no green monsters in the Isle of Hags and there is no Isle of Hags.' OK, perhaps that wasn't much. Oh, and you might be interested to know that Banjo and Kazooie haven't got many of the abilities that they used in previous games. Now that's confused you, hasn't it?"

    Q: Finally, and which is the reason why I'm writing you, I've heard tales that the Banjo team has confessed that past Banjo games were extremely difficult and the team was considering making the next installment 'easier'. I'm here to write, ask, demand and plea that you keep this Banjo game crazy-hard like its brethren. One of the biggest reasons I love BK is because of its overall challenge in terms of puzzles, controls/manuevers, levels, etc. So, can you give some word on how the overall gameplay and difficulties are compared to past games? (Just don't dull it down because a handful of people griped that past BK games were too hard. All I hear from that is, "Boo-hoo.")

    "I wouldn't consider the Banjo games extremely difficult, unless of course you're like Banjo's musician Grant who lacks any semblance of hand-eye co-ordination," insists Gregg. "We tried to pitch the Jiggy tasks in the previous games so that they varied from simple to difficult, so if you came across one you couldn't complete you could miss it out and try another. The new game, Banjo-Needsanamie, adopts a different approach due to its core gameplay mechanic. It will all become clear when we actually reveal what we have been up to these last few years, but for now all I'm going to say is that the player will determine the difficulty level by how they approach the Jiggy tasks. The same task could be really simple and take just a few seconds for some players, but others may find it very hard and take hours. That's given the game away – it's Banjo-Sudoku. Further suggestions to drive sales into the millions: attach the Gundam licence somehow and throw in a few brain/eyesight-training minigames where you count up blurry Jinjos and that"

    Q: So, is the 360 finally powerful enough for you to do all you want in the Banjo world, or can we expect some of the usual ingenuity for fixing "Crap our game's so powerful it blew the system again!!!" problems?

    Handing over to the team for their thoughts on TEH SYSTAM POWAR: "Contrary to what others may tell you, it doesn't matter how powerful the system is, developers will soon find a way of taxing it to its limits and wanting more. Having said that, the 360 is extremely powerful and without it we would not be able to take the approach to the new Banjo game that we have (that should make the PR guys happy)."

    Q: Id like to ask a question about one of the things you said where rare is going to use the same spiral mountain from Banjo Kazooie and place it into the new game. Like a copy paste thing but Im not sure if you were being sarcastic about it because you usually have sarcastic remarks. So could you just confirm if the copy past (as some people say) is true because I dont really think rare would do that. Now I say that because in the BK3 trailer when banjo gets out side of the house it shows the spiral mountain as being an actual spiral. So whats up with that. I like the spiral concept and I hope rare makes the mountain the way it was in the trailer.

    "In addition to the answers somewhere above (or below if Leigh craftily reorders everything), I can dramatically confirm with appropriate fanfare that Spiral Mountain will return, it will be an all-new shiny model with a gazillion polygons and we will be using it differently than in the previous games. So if that doesn't satisfy your spirally cravings, I don't know what will."
    Go Noles!!! >>----->
  • CaptainZombie
    Brains
    • Jul 2003
    • 37851

    #2
    Re: Banjo-Threeie (360)

    Originally posted by Flawless
    Not much at all is known about the new Banjo and I'm not sure if Banjo-Threeie will be the name, but Rare has been dropping a little info lately and some vague hints in their scribes.

    Gregg Mayles the creative director of the Banjo series answers some questions.



    Scribes
    Thanks Flaw, I really hope that this turns out to be good.
    HDMovie Room

    Comment

    • bkfount
      All Star
      • Oct 2004
      • 8467

      #3
      Re: Banjo-Threeie (360)

      hope it's nice. I liked this franchise back on the N64, but I loved plenty of Rare games back then. They've seemed to have struggled lately.

      Comment

      • SageInfinite
        Stop The GOAT Talk
        • Jul 2002
        • 11896

        #4
        Re: Banjo-Threeie (360)

        The 1st Banjo was CLASSIC. The 2nd 1 I didnt get a chance to play all the way thru but I would love to if I ever get the chance. Cant wait for this 1.
        http://twitter.com/sageinfinite

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        Comment

        • ThaGenecyst
          MVP
          • Sep 2004
          • 4404

          #5
          Re: Banjo-Threeie (360)

          Fiery Overworld for Latest Banjo Title?
          31st December 2007 01:37 - Posted by Kola

          Following on from the initial six, Gregg Mayles has answered the final Banjo Threeie questions. Some of the answers have posed furthers questions and speculation, such as the description of "Conflagration Violent" as a possible clue to the name of the new overworld. Enjoy the read and join us on our forums to discuss the answers and contribute to the discussion.

          Question 7
          Is this game going to have more or equal freedom to the previous Banjo games?
          YES - Ignore the bit that says 'or equal'.

          Question 8
          Is the game going to be physically much larger in terms of levels, overworld, etc?
          NO - I agree that some of the worlds in Banjo-Tooie were a little too complicated and we have tried to ensure the worlds in the new game are interesting to navigate without being overly complex.

          Question 9
          Will there be a new hub world this time?
          YES - You've seen Grunty's Lair and Isle o' Hags, now get ready for "Conflagration Violent" (work this out and you'll have the answer to one of richjonny's questions)

          Question 10

          Are there clues in the Christmas card related to Banjo-Threeie?
          YES - Even we wouldn't be so cruel as to send you completely in the wrong direction!

          Question 11

          Are you more than half way finished with the game?
          YES - Also more than halfway towards a nervous breakdown! There, that neatly sidestepped putting my neck on the block as regards a release date!

          Question 12
          (I thought it only fair to answer the first one asked...)
          Is Mumbo going to be the main Shaman in B3 (e.g performing the transformations again, assuming transformations are back)?
          YES - But he has a new role. As does Humba.

          Bonus Question
          Is that Grunty's head in the fireplace of your Christmas Card?
          YES

          Gregg leaves us with a creative Grunty styled poem;

          This festive fun is at an end,
          Many questions you did send,

          Sorry to those that got no reply,
          Grunty will laugh if you have a cry,

          Thanks to all the fans on here,
          Hope you have a happy new year!

          A very large thanks to Gregg for joining the Rare Witch Project Community and providing us with the opportunity to answer some of the fans' questions.


          http://www.rarewitchproject.com/?id=1608
          http://www.myspace.com/phillthegenesis
          http://www.myspace.com/sagetheinfinite

          SageTheInfinite = GOAT.

          Comment

          • Flawless
            Bang-bang! Down-down!
            • Mar 2004
            • 16780

            #6
            Re: Banjo-Threeie (360)

            Shane Kim says it is coming this holiday

            “Banjo Kazooie 3“

            I was asking about whether Microsoft-owned development studio Rare was going to stick to all-ages games or whether it would be tasked with making M-rated games again as well. Kim said both directions may still be taken, adding “I’m super-excited about what they’re doing with ‘Banjo.’ I think ‘Banjo’ is going to be a big hit for us this holiday.”
            Go Noles!!! >>----->

            Comment

            • Flawless
              Bang-bang! Down-down!
              • Mar 2004
              • 16780

              #7
              Re: Banjo-Threeie (360)

              New Scribes with Banjo stuff

              "Banjo won't be a shooter (unless we sell no copies like Ghoulies and out of desperation give him a gun for the next game) but it also won't be a traditional platformer," teases the head of the team. "We somewhat grandly like to think that it will be a different take on the genre. Some would say a brave gamble but I'm confident it's the right decision, and when people see it I'm sure they will say 'although the old games are clearly brilliant, this new one is even better. So good in fact that I am going to sell all my worldly possessions and give the money to the Banjo team'.

              "We aren't in the business of crushing little boys' dreams so your multiplayer hopes will be answered. The 'new direction' that Banjo is taking should offer a multiplayer experience unique to anything currently available.
              "We are honoured that Banjo fans have hung around and stuck with us this last decade. We really hope that the new Banjo game will be sufficient reward for their dedication and they can be assured that there will be plenty of in-jokes and references to the previous games for them to discover."
              "Clanker fans worldwide will be pleased to know that Clanker is making his comeback in the new Banjo game (in fact, I think that's what we'll call it – New Banjo Game). Also making a welcome return is the snowman from Freezeezy Peak, the Mad Monster Mansion and of course videogames' premier toilet – Loggo." Hang on, what's this? More information than was strictly requested? When did we start doing that? Who drafted this crazy policy?
              "As we couldn't think up a clever new way to start the game we're going to be using Spiral Mountain yet again. We also thought we could get away with using the old N64 background but unfortunately someone noticed. We have however managed to come up with some clever ways of reusing this background. So if you liked Spiral Mountain it's all good. But if you didn't you may be a little unhappy. Actually, if you disliked Spiral Mountain and don't like cacti you could even be angry. So if we then come up with an awful name for the game it may be enough to tip some fans over the edge so that they refuse to buy it. Oh dear.

              "Both Mumbo and Humba will return, having spent the lengthy time between games learning new skills. Bottles will also be back but loudmouth Jamjars was fired for being too annoying and has been consigned to the videogame character Hall of Shame, where he spends the day chatting about the weather to Candy Kong and playing dominoes with the Battletoads."
              Just for Banjo we have invented a future industry standard called u619455 which prints more lines of resolution than even the Hubble telescope can see. Seriously, just assume that Banjo will look good."
              No name yet, to my knowledge. Banjo-Threeie would make sense, but has the disadvantage of sounding bloody awful.
              "I'm still not decided on whether to use orchestra on the new Banjo game or not. The Banjo games have always been a real mixture of instruments, some orchestral, some not. You'll just have to wait and see, won't you... but, would you believe it, Robin is helping out on the music with Banjo so your dream is two thirds complete... hehe!"
              "I think it would be brash and very un-British to claim that the new Banjo is the future of platforming games. So we will modestly claim that we are trying to offer something that takes platforming games in a new direction. Whether this direction is a one-off or does create a future remains to be seen. But I totally agree with you that this genre has lost its way in current years. Despite pulling out hair on a daily basis while wrestling with issues that Banjo has never seen before, I love the fact that we are committed to making something different rather than more of the same.

              I hope we see the game at GDC next week.
              Last edited by Flawless; 02-14-2008, 02:52 PM.
              Go Noles!!! >>----->

              Comment

              • ThaGenecyst
                MVP
                • Sep 2004
                • 4404

                #8
                Re: Banjo-Threeie (360)

                This is new... stuff

                The QnA style "stupid Rare letters page" known as Scribes has just been updated on the dev's official site. Without doubt, the most interesting stuff to come out of the update is some new hints as to what the new Banjo-Kazooie will be all about. The info itself may be hidden under oodles of mocking, teasing text, but there is still some info in there nonetheless. If you want why not wade through the update yourself, or if you value your sanity read the interesting Banjo information below we collected for you.

                "Banjo won't be a shooter (unless we sell no copies like Ghoulies and out of desperation give him a gun for the next game) but it also won't be a traditional platformer," humorously comments the update. "We somewhat grandly like to think that it will be a different take on the genre. Some would say a brave gamble but I'm confident it's the right decision,"

                Then on the subject of multiplayer the site says. "We aren't in the business of crushing little boys' dreams so your multiplayer hopes will be answered. The 'new direction' that Banjo is taking should offer a multiplayer experience unique to anything currently available."

                So, there you have it, that's all the Banjo stuff. But other interesting info to come out of the update seems to hint that Rare did all the work on Halo and Bungie instead developed Grabbed by the Ghoulies. Amazing! We knew something was fishy, and now we know the truth.

                http://www.myspace.com/phillthegenesis
                http://www.myspace.com/sagetheinfinite

                SageTheInfinite = GOAT.

                Comment

                • Flawless
                  Bang-bang! Down-down!
                  • Mar 2004
                  • 16780

                  #9
                  Re: Banjo-Threeie (360)

                  Those are fake. They were created by a fan on the Rare forums as a joke.
                  Go Noles!!! >>----->

                  Comment

                  • ThaGenecyst
                    MVP
                    • Sep 2004
                    • 4404

                    #10
                    Re: Banjo-Threeie (360)

                    booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
                    http://www.myspace.com/phillthegenesis
                    http://www.myspace.com/sagetheinfinite

                    SageTheInfinite = GOAT.

                    Comment

                    • Flawless
                      Bang-bang! Down-down!
                      • Mar 2004
                      • 16780

                      #11
                      Re: Banjo-Threeie (360)

                      Microsoft launches Banjo-Kazooie teaser site.

                      Spinning Jiggy and Coming Soon.





                      It’s happening. With Banjo-Kazooie 360’s 2008 release speedily approaching, Microsoft/Rare have launched the official Banjo-Kazooie website. Although it currently showcases nothing more than a blue print with gears, what appears to be a boat propellor, and spinning Jiggy in the middle of the page with Banjo’s head and the words ‘coming soon’ alternating inside the Jiggy, we expect that we’ll be seeing some updates to this site fairly soon. If not, then during/after this years Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in mid-July.

                      *UPDATE* After searching through the site’s source code, it appears that it will have quite the features available including its own Forums, Blog, Leaderboards and Newsletters We’ll keep you up-to-date on any further findings as we continue to investigate.
                      The site's source code also reveals a PhotoMode.
                      Go Noles!!! >>----->

                      Comment

                      • Fresh Tendrils
                        Strike Hard and Fade Away
                        • Jul 2002
                        • 36131

                        #12
                        Re: Banjo-Threeie (360)

                        I just want this game to be out already.



                        Comment

                        • CM1847
                          Bacon
                          • Jul 2002
                          • 5372

                          #13
                          Re: Banjo-Threeie (360)

                          The first one was one of the most pure-fun games I've ever played, this game has a LOT to live up to.

                          Comment

                          • ChaseB
                            #BringBackFaceuary
                            • Oct 2003
                            • 9844

                            #14
                            Re: Banjo-Threeie (360)

                            So wait am I the only one who despised this series, specifically the 2nd game? This series was like the epitome of how collecting completely arbitrary and useless items can kill an experience.

                            Hoping for the best with number 3, but oh man did two especially leave a bad taste in my mouth.
                            I won't ask for Christmas or birthday gifts if you subscribe to the Operation Sports Newsletter (Not Just Another Roster Update). I write it, and it hits your inbox every Friday morning (for freeeeeee). We also have an official OS Discord you can now join.

                            Comment

                            • Fresh Tendrils
                              Strike Hard and Fade Away
                              • Jul 2002
                              • 36131

                              #15
                              Re: Banjo-Threeie (360)

                              Originally posted by Slizeezyc
                              So wait am I the only one who despised this series, specifically the 2nd game? This series was like the epitome of how collecting completely arbitrary and useless items can kill an experience.

                              Hoping for the best with number 3, but oh man did two especially leave a bad taste in my mouth.
                              Most likely.



                              Comment

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