Killer Instinct For Hire (original) (raw)

In the massive Nintendo booth at the bustling Los Angeles Electronic Entertainment Expo, "Killer Instinct" is the order of the day. Booth attendants pass out pewter pins and temporary tattoos with the logo for the violent new video game. Blondes in figure-hugging costumes pose for pictures with well-muscled hunks in "KI" fighting garb. Easily overlooked amid all the hullabaloo are two shy and softspoken Englishmen, the creators of Killer Instinct: Christopher Stamper, 36, and brother Timothy, 34, of Rare Ltd.

The Stamper brothers are on hand because they are now central characters in a new game that Nintendo Co. is playing. The No.1 producer of video game players badly needs hot new software to keep the lead in the next generation of hardware. So in April, Nintendo plunked down an estimated 39.5millionfora2539.5 million for a 25% stake in Rare--its first investment in a video game developer outside of Japan. Nintendo is hoping that the Stampers can come up with another hit on the order of its Donkey Kong Country, a runaway bestseller last Christmas. With over 7.4 million copies sold, DKC has racked up revenues of 39.5millionfora25450 million for Nintendo, which makes and sells the game cartridges. Rare has netted some $32 million in royalties.