Just after the announcement that Perfect Dark will be coming to the Xbox Live Arcade next month comes some more information and possibilities for the game. According to Kenn Lobb, Microsoft Game Studios’s Creative Director and executive producer of Perfect Dark, the game may see DLC based on the audience’s reaction to the game after it releases.

It’s currently all speculation but DLC has been tossed around with the XBLA port and the decision will rest mainly in the “audience” (aka you!). Some potential DLC content could include new maps and even new guns. Lobb also explained that the game will have several different controller layouts available (original, COD-style and Halo-style). I’m assuming that the Halo-style will allow for full screen control of the crosshair while COD and original might not (remember there were no dual joysticks back in the day).

Pefect Dark XBLA Could Get More New Maps, Weapons [Kotaku]

Rare has sent out the news that the remake of Nintento 64 classic Perfect Dark will be playable at the Microsoft X10 press event next week in San Francisco. Originally released 10 years ago, the port to an Xbox LIVE Arcade game was announced last year and this is the first quality news leading up to a release date since then. Safe money would be to expect a late February or March release date of the digitally remastered classic. One new screen shot was sent along with the info and can be seen above.

Speaking in a recent interview with UK-based Official Nintendo Magazine, GoldenEye 007 designer Martin Hollis admitted that while he would love to see a re-release of the Rare developed FPS classic on Virtual Console, a muddle of licensing issues are waiting to be resolved before it can happen. Seeing as the parties involved have been unable to reach agreeable terms, there is little hope for such blockades to be lifted in the future:

There’s always someone with some exclusivity agreement, so there’s lots of lawyers… I’m not going to hold my breath. I’d love it to happen, but I can’t see it.

It’s unfortunate for us gamers when business entanglements from the legal side get in the way of things, but that’s the reality of it. Time to dust off that N64 if you want to relive the experience of playing what is often considered as a - if not the - defining title for the console first-person shooter market.

Good news for Banjo fans; Rare has just confirmed the release date and price of Banjo-Tooie for the Xbox Live Arcade. It will hit the XBL Marketplace on Wednesday, April 29th for a chunky 1200 Microsoft Points (roughly $15); the same price as the previous Banjo release, Banjo Kazooie.

Banjo-Tooie originally released for the Nintendo 64 as part of the Banjo-Kazooie game series. For those unfamiliar with the series, you play as a brown honey bear named Banjo. He is almost always accompanied by his big mouth friend Kazooie, a red female bird whose big mouth and rude remarks always seems to get them into dangerous situations. You control Banjo throughout a 3D world of platforms and try to collect objects along your way.

Banjo-Tooie will feature a minor refinement in the graphics department as well as "increased screen resolution", which should provide an overall better experience. The question remains however; will you be coughing up 1200 MS points for this port?

Banjo-Tooie Release Info [Banjo-Kazooie Forums]

* This article was written by Andy from our community, huge thanks to him!

Following word earlier this week that UK-based developer Rare was undergoing restructuring, it has come to light that around 12 positions have been axed. According to a GI.biz report, both the art and engineering departments suffered a reduction in headcount. Furthermore, project leads are being let go as well, with Rare asking employees to ask for positions elsewhere within the company.

It’s not all downhill though. In midst of all this, there has been no evidence of any major projects being canned over at Rare. Here’s hoping the restructuring effort puts them back on track.

Rare axes artist and engineer positions [GI.biz]

By way of a GI.biz report, word comes that Microsoft led UK-based developer Rare, creators of the Perfect Dark and Banjo-Kazooie franchise, is undergoing extensive restructuring and jobs may be cut as a result. Speaking on the move, studio manager Mark Betteridge said:

As the entire industry struggles to address the increasing scale and cost of development, we too have felt a need to restructure our current approach so we can speed development and better manage the scale required to create high quality games.

Going forward, Rare plans to focus primarily on expanding the Xbox 360 user base, as well as help grow the New Xbox Experience by better integrating the use of features such as avatar support and continue delivering AAA-quality efforts. Apart from the Xbox Live bit, this does not appear to be a significant departure from their previous strategy. Hopefully that means jobs losses, if any, will be minimal.

Rare restructures to simplify development process [GI.biz]

By way of a blog post, developer Rare confirmed today that the XBLA take on former N64 title Banjo-Tooie will hit this April in upscaled HD glory. Smoother framerates are being promised as well, in comparison to the N64 original, which did run sluggish in certain parts.

Additionally, Tooie XBLA will feature Stop ‘n’ Swop connectivity, a gameplay element that was left out of the N64 release due to hardware limitations. A number of items collected in Banjo-Kazooie will appear in Tooie, allowing players to access secret locations and items.

Hit the jump for screenshots.

Banjo-Tooie Screenshots

Speaking in a recent interview, Rare studio head Mark Betteriedge remarked that the company is aiming to surprise gamers with its future slate of titles. Just as they helped change the perception of the Xbox 360 into a family-friendly console with titles like Viva Pinata and Banjo-Kazooie, Rare also hopes radically change the way folks look at entertainment products.

It’s more about what we will do to change conventional thinking of games and entertainment. I don’t see us fighting the same battles as everybody else, I think some of the products we’ll do going forward will surprise a lot of people, both in terms of what they are and the different styles. I think that will be good.

Hmm. Hopefully these plans involve a new title in the Killer Instinct universe.

Rare: Our future products will “surprise” people [GI.biz]