A small group of developers who worked on the best bear-bird game of all time, "Banjo Kazooie," have announced that they're working on the game's spiritual successor with a new work-in-progress titled "Project Ukelele." It's their first game at their new studio, Playtonic Games, and the six-strong team features artists, programmers and designers culled from Rare layoffs, with a portfolio including "Conker's Bad Fur Day," "Goldeneye" and "Donkey Kong Country."
It's not going to be a new "Banjo Kazooie" game, for the record. The world can't deal with that much awesome. But, it does look like it might be a pair of creatures, going on that teaser picture. Maybe a hippo and a myna bird, or a camel and a scorpion? It also isn't known at this time which consoles the game will appear on as of yet, since it's only been announced as "unnamed consoles."
Here's the full statement on Playtonic's new website:
"Playtonic's the name, and fun games, unique characters and absolutely-frickin-amazing worlds to explore are our game. Or at least they will be, once we eventually get around to releasing our first project instead of faffing around on WordPress.
"Ahem. Currently we're a sextet of artists, programmers and designers, sort of like The Pussycat Dolls with computer science degrees, with one thing in common; we were all once core member of famous UK studio Rare, where we helmed franchises such as 'Banjo-Kazooie,' 'Donkey Kong Country' and 'Viva Piñata.'
"We've got the bloke who programmed 'Donkey Kong Country,' the character designer behind 'Banjo and Kazooie,' and the artist who made your console fit to burst with lavish environments across a decade's worth of adventure games.
"Together, our all-star ensemble is aiming to build its debut game, 'Project Ukulele', into a worthy spiritual successor to those fondly remembered platforming adventures we built in the past.
By now, you might be thinking, 'hold on mate, didn't you make similar claims after drinking too many shandies in the pub in 2012, you muppet?' Perhaps. But this time it's real! We're making a real, proper, actual game.
"So what's next? Well first of all you need to know that our journey is at an early stage...we've barely left the Shire and Sean Bean's still an alright guy.
"Over the coming months we'll reveal more about our project and future growth plans, and we very much intend to get you involved and listen to your views on our game's direction. You'll ultimately shape the destination of our project and we plan to continue exchanging sweet glances across cyberspace at you until we get there.
So go on then...follow us on Twitter, slap your thumbs up on our Facebook and sign up for updates. ' Cos it's time to get this wagon rolling..."
Here's hoping this new title, whatever "Project Ukelele" may be, will live up to all this hype. I think the internet may explode otherwise.
Stay tuned for more on Playtonic's new game as it develops. Thanks to Polygon for the tip.
