http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/05/25/ne...ws_6099195.html
Microsoft denies Rare is developing for DS
Responding to numerous reports to the contrary, Microsoft denies that its Rare studio is working on any titles for the Nintendo DS.
Responding to numerous reports that Rare is in possession of Nintendo DS development kits and has at least two titles currently in the works for the upcoming handheld, Microsoft has recently issued the following statement:
'Microsoft and its studios are focusing all efforts on developing quality games for the Windows and Xbox platforms. Neither Microsoft Game Studios nor any of its developers are involved in developing games for DS at this time. Rare has developed, and is continuing to develop, Game Boy Advance games. At this time, there are no plans to support the DS.'
The reports, which surfaced shortly after E3, originated at GameCube Advanced, which claims to have obtained the information from Microsoft's own Ken Lobb (formerly of Nintendo of America) during a visit to Nintendo's E3 booth. Intriguingly, the site recently suggested that its E3 scoop has gained credibility in the form of a similar report in Nikkei, one of Japan's top financial news publications.
We'll bring you more information on this story as soon as it becomes available.
By Justin Calvert -- GameSpot
POSTED: 05/25/04 08:45AM PST
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http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/05/25/ne...ws_6099195.html
Microsoft denies Rare support for Nintendo DS
Rob Fahey 09:56 25/05/2004
Redmond based giant nixes reports of support for next-gen handheld
British studio Rare is not working on titles for the Nintendo DS, according to a statement from Microsoft denying reports which surfaced at E3 that the Microsoft Game Studios subsidiary had games in the pipeline for the forthcoming system.
Microsoft is 'focusing all efforts on developing games for the Windows and Xbox platforms,' according to the statement, which went on to say that 'at this time, there are no plans to support the DS.'
Rare has continued to develop titles for Nintendo's Game Boy Advance since its acquisition by Microsoft in 2002, with four announced titles being published by prolific GBA third-party publisher THQ.
The E3 reports, which originated on the GCAdvanced website, suggested at Microsoft exec Ken Lobb - who works closely with Rare, continuing a relationship he had with the company while at Nintendo of America - had told a reporter that the studio has development kits and is working on two unnamed titles for the DS.
While Microsoft's denial certainly makes this look unlikely, the terms of the denial still make it plausible that Rare could be in possession of DS development kits. Microsoft may not have any official plans at present to support the DS, but this doesn't preclude the possibility that Rare's handheld team is indeed creating prototypes for the hardware.
Another possibility is that the Rare handheld team has been moved onto development for Windows-based mobile devices, but no suggestion that this is the case has emerged from either company.
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