Rare’s Creative Force Gregg Mayles Shares Banjo-Tooie Archives After Departure
In a significant moment for the British gaming industry, Gregg Mayles—one of Rare's most influential creative leaders—has announced his exit from the studio after an illustrious 36-year career.
Mayles' portfolio reads like a highlight reel of Rare’s legacy, spanning titles such as Battletoads, Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, and most notably, Banjo-Tooie, which recently reached its 25th anniversary. Upon announcing his departure, Mayles began celebrating his achievements with the Rare community by delving into his personal archive and sharing behind-the-scenes materials from Banjo-Tooie’s development.
These previously unreleased resources include original scripts, early concept maps, archived commercial scripts, and designs for unused special abilities—offering fans and historians alike an in-depth look at the creative process that produced one of Nintendo’s beloved platformers for the Nintendo 64. A humorous highlight among Mayles’ finds was a fax purportedly sent from Nintendo’s Japanese headquarters, bearing a note of approval attributed to Shigeru Miyamoto.
In a good-natured clarification, Mayles revealed that the message—an enthusiastic endorsement reading 'Splendid game' alongside a cheerful smiley—was, in fact, penned by himself, rather than the legendary Mario and Zelda creator.
This lighthearted anecdote underscores the camaraderie and collaborative spirit that defined Rare’s relationship with Nintendo during the N64 era. Despite the nostalgia, Mayles’ archival project underscores the significance of Banjo-Tooie as a landmark title.
Released in November 2000 for the Nintendo 64, Banjo-Tooie built on the critical and commercial success of Banjo-Kazooie, cementing Rare as a premier developer within Nintendo’s ecosystem.
The game's complex design, innovative mechanics, and humorous tone continue to influence platformers and maintain devoted fan communities.
Banjo-Tooie and its predecessor have since become available via multiple platforms, most recently with Banjo-Kazooie’s inclusion in Nintendo Switch Online’s library, broadening their reach to a new generation of gamers. As Mayles turns his attention to future projects outside of Rare, he remains connected to his past work.
"I hope to share more memorabilia and insights from the Banjo-Tooie era with fans," he stated, inviting the gaming community to follow his updates on social media channels.
With his departure, Mayles leaves a legacy of imaginative design and enduring characters that have shaped not just Rare, but the broader landscape of game development for Nintendo platforms. Stay tuned for further updates on Gregg Mayles’ archive reveals and retrospectives as the gaming world celebrates Banjo-Tooie’s ongoing influence.
Mayles' portfolio reads like a highlight reel of Rare’s legacy, spanning titles such as Battletoads, Donkey Kong Country, Banjo-Kazooie, and most notably, Banjo-Tooie, which recently reached its 25th anniversary. Upon announcing his departure, Mayles began celebrating his achievements with the Rare community by delving into his personal archive and sharing behind-the-scenes materials from Banjo-Tooie’s development.
These previously unreleased resources include original scripts, early concept maps, archived commercial scripts, and designs for unused special abilities—offering fans and historians alike an in-depth look at the creative process that produced one of Nintendo’s beloved platformers for the Nintendo 64. A humorous highlight among Mayles’ finds was a fax purportedly sent from Nintendo’s Japanese headquarters, bearing a note of approval attributed to Shigeru Miyamoto.
In a good-natured clarification, Mayles revealed that the message—an enthusiastic endorsement reading 'Splendid game' alongside a cheerful smiley—was, in fact, penned by himself, rather than the legendary Mario and Zelda creator.
This lighthearted anecdote underscores the camaraderie and collaborative spirit that defined Rare’s relationship with Nintendo during the N64 era. Despite the nostalgia, Mayles’ archival project underscores the significance of Banjo-Tooie as a landmark title.
Released in November 2000 for the Nintendo 64, Banjo-Tooie built on the critical and commercial success of Banjo-Kazooie, cementing Rare as a premier developer within Nintendo’s ecosystem.
The game's complex design, innovative mechanics, and humorous tone continue to influence platformers and maintain devoted fan communities.
Banjo-Tooie and its predecessor have since become available via multiple platforms, most recently with Banjo-Kazooie’s inclusion in Nintendo Switch Online’s library, broadening their reach to a new generation of gamers. As Mayles turns his attention to future projects outside of Rare, he remains connected to his past work.
"I hope to share more memorabilia and insights from the Banjo-Tooie era with fans," he stated, inviting the gaming community to follow his updates on social media channels.
With his departure, Mayles leaves a legacy of imaginative design and enduring characters that have shaped not just Rare, but the broader landscape of game development for Nintendo platforms. Stay tuned for further updates on Gregg Mayles’ archive reveals and retrospectives as the gaming world celebrates Banjo-Tooie’s ongoing influence.
