They didn't "leave". MS bought them over, much to my frustration. xD
And yeah, Ave, patience ftw. I mean, they're VERY VERY SLOWLY adding N64 games (it's like, what, once a month now) and I mean c'mon, CRUIS'N USA?! WHAT IDIOTS!! Sorry... I'll calm down. xD

But I mean, there are FAR FAR FAR superior N64 games some of us are dying to see appear... Patience has its limits...

C'mon guys. DK64 ftw!!! :o

EARTHBOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY THE HEck ISN'T NINTENDO PUTTING THAT ON!!!!!?????

Actually, I'm not sure if this is the case. Someone needs to check this, but I think that everything Donkey Kong related DOES belong 100% to Nintendo, even if someone else made it in the first place.

Yes, but they still need rares permission, the game is copyrighted by rare. Rare would happily re-release their games, but nintendo has to have their permission, much like nintendo need permission for other games. I mean, they released a game only released on japan, if another company japanese etc.. made it, they'd need permission for it.

Yes donkey kong is 100% owned by nintendo, it's their own character. However they'd still need rares permission, although rare would say yes, as we already know this with the whole banjo kazooie etc.. since they said themselves it's up to nintendo they'd happily put it on the VC.

however, right now i don't believe rare will be converting anymore games [or for the least banjo team] as they are working on Banjo Kazooie 3. So, any new banjo kazooie hope for the Wii's VC, not anytime until at least after xmas, as they've stated numerous times, they are not going to stop development on banjo kazooie 3 just so they can convert this game, for the XBLA or VC [up to nintendo]

I believe as rare originally made this game for the N64 nintendo also has rights to stop rare from releasing it onto the XBLA, although if thats true i've yet to know.

Either way, any new rare games, from the peopel who created or worked on the BANJO team, won't be released anytime soon.

Additionally, Rare sold their 51% share in their own company to microsoft, they weren't bought out, as they sold it on their own free will, even if microsoft approached them, they didn't have to sell.

Is Banjo-Kazooie really that great? I should try it out.

Yes it is. I hate to compare games, but if i did, i'd say it's the best on the N64, discluding it's sequel.

The game in some retrospects seem similar to that of super mario 64. But the game is a classic collector adventure platformer, which is pretty amazing. And trust me if you have an N64, or if it ends up comming out on the Wii's VC you won't be disappointed.

This game is one of the few with a massive cult fanbase, still awaiting the third game in the series, which is being released on the xbox360 in the fourth quater this year. But as usual, rare are keeping all the secrets about the game close ot their chests. Damn those brits ;], at least the stupid rhymes made my laugh my ass off, go britain =D