Rare: Jury still out on downloadable content

In a recent interview with GamesIndustry, videogame developer Rare Ltd. has revealed that it’s reluctant to develop more downloadable content for its game Viva Piñata until demand for it becomes clear. “It’s almost pointless doing a huge amount of work at this point because if it’s not going to be successful you may as well put that effort into making a new game,” said Gregg Mayles, lead designer at Rare.

The developer supported launch title Kameo: Elements of Power with some new material, and has supported the release of Viva Piñata in the U.S. with a modest amount of content, but it seems that production director Simon Farmer doesn’t feel that the uptake of content was any indication of the potential market.

The potential of Xbox Live is still acknowledged by Rare, however. According to Farmer, the content Rare would like to create would have to be value for money from the consumers perspective. “There’s no way we’re going to be in a position where we feel like we’re ripping the consumer off. We’ll have to look at it, and how it pans out with the other games on 360,” he said.

In a recent interview with GamesIndustry, videogame developer Rare Ltd. has revealed that it’s reluctant to develop more downloadable content for its game Viva Piñata until demand for it becomes clear. “It’s almost pointless doing a huge amount of work at this point because if it’s not going to be successful you may as well put that effort into making a new game,” said Gregg Mayles, lead designer at Rare.

The developer supported launch title Kameo: Elements of Power with some new material, and has supported the release of Viva Piñata in the U.S. with a modest amount of content, but it seems that production director Simon Farmer doesn’t feel that the uptake of content was any indication of the potential market.

The potential of Xbox Live is still acknowledged by Rare, however. According to Farmer, the content Rare would like to create would have to be value for money from the consumers perspective. “There’s no way we’re going to be in a position where we feel like we’re ripping the consumer off. We’ll have to look at it, and how it pans out with the other games on 360,” he said.