Rare
Rare Limited is a British video game developer based in Twycross, Leicestershire, and a first-party studio under Xbox Game Studios.[1] Founded in 1985 by brothers Tim and Chris Stamper as the successor to their earlier company Ultimate Play the Game, Rare has produced a wide array of influential titles spanning multiple genres and platforms over four decades.[2] The studio is renowned for its platformers, shooters, and action-adventure games, including the Donkey Kong Country series, GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, Perfect Dark, and more recently, Sea of Thieves.[3] Rare's early work focused on home computer games under the Ultimate Play the Game banner, starting with titles like Jetpac in 1983 for the ZX Spectrum, before transitioning to console development.[1] In the late 1980s, the company became one of the first Western developers to partner with Nintendo, producing NES hits such as R.C. Pro-Am (1988) and Battletoads (1991).[2] This collaboration deepened in 1994 when Nintendo acquired a 25% stake in Rare, establishing it as a key second-party developer and enabling advanced pre-rendered graphics in Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) games like Donkey Kong Country (1994), which sold over 9 million copies worldwide.[1] By the Nintendo 64 era, Rare delivered groundbreaking 3D experiences, including the critically acclaimed GoldenEye 007 (1997), which revolutionized first-person shooters with its multiplayer mode, Perfect Dark (2000), and the Banjo-Kazooie series (1998–2008), celebrated for its whimsical collectathon gameplay.[3] In 2002, Microsoft acquired Rare for $375 million in cash, outbidding Nintendo's offer for full ownership and shifting the studio's focus to Xbox platforms.[3] Under Microsoft, Rare has released remasters and new titles, including Conker: Live & Reloaded (2005), alongside family-friendly series such as Viva Piñata (2006).[1] The Stamper brothers departed in late 2006, marking a transitional period that saw mixed successes, including the sports title Kinect Sports (2010), which sold over 3 million units.[4][1] Since then, Rare has emphasized online multiplayer experiences, with Sea of Thieves (2018) achieving massive popularity, surpassing 40 million players by 2024 through its shared-world pirate adventures.[5] The studio also compiled its legacy in Rare Replay (2015), a collection of 30 classic games for Xbox One.[1] Today, Rare continues to innovate within the Xbox ecosystem and support ongoing titles like Sea of Thieves, maintaining its reputation for creative world-building and technical prowess, following the cancellation of Everwild in July 2025.[6][7]Acronyms
Scientific and Technical Acronyms
In scientific and technical contexts, the acronym RARE stands for several distinct concepts, primarily in medical imaging, molecular biology, polar exploration, and aerospace propulsion. One prominent application is in molecular biology, where RARE refers to Retinoic Acid Response Element, a specific DNA sequence that serves as a binding site for retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs). These heterodimers regulate the transcription of genes involved in cell differentiation, embryonic development, and homeostasis upon binding retinoic acid, a vitamin A derivative. RAREs typically consist of direct repeats of the hexameric motif 5'-AGGTCA-3' separated by 1 to 5 nucleotides, and their dysregulation is implicated in diseases such as acute promyelocytic leukemia and developmental disorders.[8] Another prominent application is in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), where RARE refers to Rapid Acquisition with Relaxation Enhancement, a fast spin-echo pulse sequence designed to accelerate image acquisition while preserving diagnostic quality.[9] Developed in the mid-1980s, the RARE technique, first described by Hennig et al. in 1986, employs a train of 180-degree refocusing radiofrequency pulses following an initial 90-degree excitation pulse to generate multiple spin echoes per repetition time (TR). This echo train allows multiple lines of k-space to be filled in a single TR, dramatically reducing overall scan duration compared to conventional spin-echo sequences—from minutes to seconds—without significant loss of spatial resolution. By minimizing the time between excitations, RARE mitigates T2 relaxation decay across the echo train, enabling high-quality T2-weighted images. In abdominal imaging, this rapid acquisition is particularly valuable, as it reduces motion artifacts caused by respiratory and peristaltic movements, improving image clarity in regions prone to physiological motion.[10][9][11] Another historical use of RARE denotes the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition, a privately funded U.S. scientific venture led by Commander Finn Ronne from March 1947 to February 1948. The expedition, based at East Base on Stonington Island in Marguerite Bay, aimed to conduct aerial mapping, geological surveys, and meteorological observations in the Weddell Sea region of Antarctica to expand knowledge of uncharted territories. Over its 13-month duration, the team utilized two seaplanes and ground parties to explore approximately 250,000 square miles of previously unseen terrain, while aerial photography covered a total of 450,000 square miles, contributing foundational data for Antarctic cartography. Key outcomes included the discovery and claim of new coastal features, such as the Ronne Ice Shelf and Edith Ronne Land, which advanced U.S. territorial interests and supported international polar research efforts.[12][13] In aerospace engineering, RARE also signifies the Ram Air Rocket Engine, an experimental solid-fueled integral rocket-ramjet (SFIRR) propulsion system developed by the U.S. Navy in the 1950s for high-speed, air-launched missiles. The design integrated a solid rocket booster for initial acceleration with a contiguous solid-fuel ramjet for sustained supersonic flight, using ram air compression in the inlet to mix with burning fuel grains for thrust augmentation beyond Mach 2. Initial ground testing at the Naval Ordnance Test Station in China Lake, California, began in the early 1950s, followed by rocket-sled validation of stability in 1956 and three captive flight tests from aircraft carriers between 1959 and 1960 as part of the Crow missile program. The 5-inch-diameter RARE configuration demonstrated viable transition from rocket to ramjet modes but encountered efficiency limitations, including suboptimal fuel combustion at varying speeds and airflow conditions, which hampered overall performance. The program was discontinued in 1960 due to persistent mechanical, electrical, and propulsion reliability issues that undermined its operational viability for tactical applications.[14][15]Organizational and Leadership Acronyms
In organizational and leadership contexts, the acronym RARE stands for a framework promoting emotional maturity and relational health in professional settings. Introduced in the 2016 book Rare Leadership: 4 Uncommon Habits for Increasing Trust, Joy, and Engagement in the People You Lead by Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder, the model outlines four key habits designed to foster secure leadership amid workplace pressures. These habits—Remain Relational, Act Like Yourself, Return to Joy, and Endure Hardship Well—draw on neurobiological insights into joy and trauma responses to help leaders build resilient teams.[16] For instance, "Return to Joy" emphasizes quick recovery from emotional distress through relational gladness, enabling leaders to maintain focus and productivity without burnout, as illustrated in the book's examples of team dynamics during high-stress projects.[17] "Endure Hardship Well" encourages proactive identity affirmation to withstand challenges, promoting a culture where emotional stability drives innovation and collaboration rather than reactive conflict. This approach integrates decades of counseling experience with brain science, positioning RARE as a tool for enhancing engagement and results by prioritizing people over mere task efficiency.[18] Another significant use of the RARE acronym in organizational contexts refers to Réseaux Associés pour la Recherche Européenne, a European association established on June 13, 1986, to coordinate computer science research networking among national academic and research entities.[19] RARE facilitated collaboration on data communications standards and infrastructure, playing a pivotal role in the adoption of early internet protocols across Europe by harmonizing efforts among member networks.[20] It supported initiatives like the formation of Réseaux IP Européens (RIPE) in 1989, which advanced IP address coordination and protocol development for research communities. Operating through the late 1980s and early 1990s, RARE connected multiple national research networks, enabling seamless data exchange for scientific projects and laying groundwork for broader European digital connectivity.[21] The organization evolved in 1994, renaming to the Trans-European Research and Education Networking Association (TERENA) to reflect its expanded scope in education and research networking.[19]Music
Albums
Rare is the third studio album by American singer Selena Gomez, released on January 10, 2020, through Interscope Records.[22] The project features 13 tracks that blend pop, dance, and R&B influences, with Gomez serving as executive producer alongside collaborators like Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter.[23] Lyrically, the album explores themes of self-empowerment, love, loss, and personal growth following Gomez's high-profile breakup and health challenges.[24] It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, earning 112,000 equivalent album units in its first week according to Nielsen Music.[25] The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album platinum in March 2025 for shipments exceeding one million units in the United States.[26] Critics praised Rare for its honest and uplifting tone, highlighting Gomez's vocal maturity and the record's focus on resilience and self-love, though some noted its midtempo consistency limited deeper emotional peaks.[27] Pitchfork described it as a "smooth and confident pop record that delves deep—but not that deep—into heartbreak, resilience, and self-love," awarding it a 6.8 out of 10.[27] Rolling Stone gave it 4 out of 5 stars, calling it an "act of divine ruthlessness, full of dance-y, mid-tempo clarity."[28] Key tracks include "Lose You to Love Me," which became Gomez's first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Dance Again," noted for its empowering dance-pop vibe. The standard track listing is as follows:- "Boyfriend"
- "Lose You to Love Me"
- "Rare"
- "Souvenir"
- "Look at Her Now"
- "She"
- "Crowded Room" (featuring 6lack)
- "Vulnerable"
- "Dance Again"
- "Ring"
- "People You Know"
- "Let Me Get Me"
- "Kinda Crazy"
- "Mr. President" (from Dog City) – 5:25
- "Love Me Like A Terrorist" (from Dog City) – 4:39
- "Live From The Greenhouse" (from From the Greenhouse) – 4:45
- "Lost In America" (from From the Greenhouse) – 4:10
- "Boilermaker" (from Raw) – 4:20
- "Mr. D.J." (from World in Motion) – 3:10
- "Drifting Back To Motown" (John Palumbo solo) – 4:17
- "Dancing With The Fuhrer" (John Palumbo solo) – 4:34
- "Monkey Time" (1983 outtake) – 3:01
- "Last Time" (1983 outtake) – 3:14
- "Crying Father From Idaho" (1977 outtake) – 4:23
- "Jungle Man" (1977 outtake) – 4:42
- "Atlantic City" (1977 outtake) – 4:35
- "Blowing Up Detroit" – 6:21
- "Let It Be" (with The Crack Pack Horns, The Softones) – 4:17[29]