S6 E204 Rare! All Your History Belong To Us, Really (Dec 2025)
On this episode of And Now For Something Completely Machinima, Damien, Tracy and Ricky dive into one of Machinima.com’s most unexpected gems: the documentary series “All Your History Are Belong To Us”, focusing on the Stamper brothers and their legendary studio, Rare.
💬 We talk about how the series charts Rare’s rise from a small UK outfit in Ashby-de-la-Zouch to a powerhouse behind classics like Donkey Kong Country, GoldenEye 007, and later Sea of Thieves – highlighting their pioneering use of pre-rendered 3D graphics and their influence on console FPS games. Ricky explains why, despite his misgivings about machinima.com, this more serious, low-flash, history-focused series stands out as a true passion project by writer/director Nicholas Werner, packed with fascinating early game footage.
Tracy brings in her deep-dive research: the meme origins of the title, the messy archival trail across YouTube, Rooster Teeth and the Internet Archive, the handover of the series, and why such valuable historical content never hit the popularity Machinima.com wanted. Together, we explore the cultural importance of the show, Rare’s place in UK games history, and why All Your History is now a kind of hidden treasure for anyone interested in game development and machinima’s legacy — all while Phil is, of course, busy “moving to Mars.”
YouTube Version of This Episode
Show Notes & Links
All Your History was written and directed by Nicholas Werner. Voiceover was by Rob Talbert and Khail Anonymous. Series was produced by Machinima.com. Link to Internet Archive files here.
YouTube channel showing many of the films, including one we reviewed here –
Rare Company given a ‘Blue Plaque’ in UK, news item here
Listing for RoosterTeeth upload to Internet Archive –
| Title | Links |
|---|---|
| Pandemic Studios: Containing an Outbreak | RT · Archive |
| Interplay Part 2: Meteoric Crash | RT · Archive |
| Gears of War Part 3: Trust Your Guts | RT · Archive |
| Splinter Cell Part 1: Stealth Attack | RT · Archive |
| Gears of War Part 1: Emergence Day | RT · Archive |
| Capcom Horror Part 2: …was that you? | RT · Archive |
| Spider-Man Part 3: With Great Power | RT · Archive |
| Irrational Part 2: Demons and Heroes | RT · Archive |
| World of Warcraft Part 1: Crafting a World of War | RT · Archive |
| Batman Part 4: Knight’s End | RT · Archive |
| Rare Part 4: Invaluable | RT · Archive |
| EA Sports Part 5: Overtime | RT · Archive |
| Castlevania (Konami) Part 2: Chorus of Confliction | RT · Archive |
| Capcom Horror Part 3: …where’d you go? | RT · Archive |
| Aliens Part II: Deadliest of the Species | RT · Archive |
| Capcom Horror Part 6: …is this the end? | RT · Archive |
| Remedy Part 2: Perfection is a Dish Best Served Late | RT · Archive |
| Command & Conquer Part 2: Corporations & Communists | RT · Archive |
| Bethesda Part 1: The Open World | RT · Archive |
| DICE Part 2: Time Travelers | RT · Archive |
| Sony Santa Monica Part 1: The God from the West | RT · Archive |
| Batman Part 2: The Dark Knight Reprises | RT · Archive |
| X-COM Pt 2: X-Communicated | RT · Archive |
| Tomb Raider Part 1: Hard Core Design | RT · Archive |
| Gearbox Software Pt 2: High Gear | RT · Archive |
| EA Sports Part 3: Getting in the Game | RT · Archive |
| Assassin’s Creed Part 1: Sneaking In | RT · Archive |
| Interplay Part 1: Meteoric Rise | RT · Archive |
| The History of “All Your History” Part 2: Ashes To Ashes | RT · Archive |
| Call of Duty Part 5: Declaring Victory | RT · Archive |
| Fable Part 1: Hopeful Youths | RT · Archive |
| Rare Part 3: One of a Kind | RT · Archive |
| Interplay Part 3: Life In The Crater | RT · Archive |
| Valve Ep 1: Unlikely Heroes (w/ Gabe Newell Interview) | RT · Archive |
| Aliens Part I: Heart of Darkness | RT · Archive |
| id Software Part 2: The Third Dimension | RT · Archive |
| id Software Part 5: The Silent Decade | RT · Archive |
| Call of Duty Part 1: Breaking Out | RT · Archive |
| BioWare Part 1: Setting Out | RT · Archive |
| XCOM Part 4: Aliens: Resurrection | RT · Archive |
| DICE Part 3: Unconventional Warfare | RT · Archive |
| Valve Part 5: Game Changer | RT · Archive |
| EA Sports Part 2: Maddening | RT · Archive |
| Blizzard Entertainment Part 1: Opening Build Order | RT · Archive |
| id Software Part 1: Scrolling Around | RT · Archive |
| Gears of War Part 2: Hope Runs Deep | RT · Archive |
| Creative Assembly Part 2: Seizing the Initiative | RT · Archive |
| 2009 Gaming: All Your History (Year’s Open) S1E23 | RT · Archive |
| CES Part 2: Booting Up – Consumer Electronics Show | RT · Archive |
| The History of “All Your History” Part 1: In the Beginning | RT · Archive |
| Splinter Cell Part 2: One Man Army | RT · Archive |
| Gearbox Software Pt 1: Low Gear | RT · Archive |
| Capcom Horror Part 5: …who’s there? | RT · Archive |
| Castlevania Part 4: Crescendo of Chaos | RT · Archive |
| Nintendo Part 7: Wii United | RT · Archive |
| Mass Effect 2: Part 4 of 5: Art Director | RT · Archive |
| BioWare Part 2: Gaining Allies | RT · Archive |
| Castlevania (Konami) Part 1: Overture of the Dawn | RT · Archive |
| Nintendo Part 4: Revenge Is A Disc Best Served Cold | RT · Archive |
| Devil May Cry – Part I | RT · Archive |
| Capcom Horror Part 4: …what happened to the light? | RT · Archive |
| Batman Part 1: Batman Begins | RT · Archive |
| Best of 2010 Part 2: High Noon | RT · Archive |
| X-COM Pt 3: Extinguished | RT · Archive |
| Irrational Part 1: Offshooters | RT · Archive |
| Creative Assembly Part 3: Global Conquest | RT · Archive |
| Bethesda Part 3: Rebirth | RT · Archive |
| EA Sports Part 4: Pros and Contracts | RT · Archive |
| Bethesda Part 4: The Next Level | RT · Archive |
| Mass Effect 2: Part 2 of 5: Lead Animator | RT · Archive |
| Volition Part 1: Degrees of Freedom | RT · Archive |
| Creative Assembly Part 1: Opening Salvos | RT · Archive |
| Devil May Cry – Part II | RT · Archive |
| Rare Part 1: Unusual | RT · Archive |
| Command & Conquer Part 3: Diverging & Merging | RT · Archive |
| Capcom Horror Part 1: …did you hear that? | RT · Archive |
| Call of Duty Part 2: Seizing the High Ground | RT · Archive |
| Rockstar Part 1: The Beginning of the Beast | RT · Archive |
| Aliens Part IV: Another Bug Hunt | RT · Archive |
| EA Sports Part 1: Play Ball | RT · Archive |
| Blizzard Entertainment Part 2: Harvesting Resources | RT · Archive |
| Assassin’s Creed Part 2: Free Running Out | RT · Archive |
| Nintendo Part 2: Pipe Dreams Do Come True | RT · Archive |
| Bethesda Part 5: Maxed Stats | RT · Archive |
| Fable Part 2: Growing Old | RT · Archive |
| Aliens Part III: Versus Predator | RT · Archive |
| Halo Part 5: Beyond Bungie… and Beyond | RT · Archive |
| Bethesda Part 2: Overload | RT · Archive |
| Best of 2010 Part 1: Rush Tactics | RT · Archive |
| Mass Effect 2: Part 1 of 5: Concept Artist | RT · Archive |
| id Software Part 4: Aftershocks | RT · Archive |
| Nintendo Part 6: Wiidemption | RT · Archive |
| Command & Conquer Part 1: Supply & Demand | RT · Archive |
| Rockstar Part 5: Cleaning Up Their Act | RT · Archive |
| BioWare Part 4: Upgrading Stats | RT · Archive |
| Silent Hill Part 1 (Halloween Game Development History) | RT · Archive |
| Valve Part 3: The Trouble with Sequels | RT · Archive |
| Command & Conquer Part 5: Death & Beyond | RT · Archive |
| Blizzard Entertainment Part 5: The Golden Throne | RT · Archive |
| Sony Santa Monica Part 2: Clash of the Directors | RT · Archive |
| 2012 Pt 2: The Rhode To Ruin | RT · Archive |
| Call of Duty Part 3: Supporting Fire | RT · Archive |
| Halo Part 2: Evolving Combat | RT · Archive |
| Valve Part 6: Beyond the Crowbar… And Beyond | RT · Archive |
| Spider-Man Part 2: (Almost) Whatever a Spider Can | RT · Archive |
| Valve Part 4: Half Times Two | RT · Archive |
| The History of Tomb Raider Part 2: A Survivor Is Born | RT · Archive |
| Retro City Rampage | RT · Archive |
| Nintendo Part 5: Boxed In | RT · Archive |
| Rockstar Part 6: The Big Score | RT · Archive |
| The Video Game Crash of 1983: Continue? | RT · Archive |
| Command & Conquer Part 4: New & Old | RT · Archive |
| X-COM Part 1: British Invasion | RT · Archive |
| Rockstar Part 4: In Hot Water | RT · Archive |
| DICE Part 1: Sleeping Giant | RT · Archive |
| BioWare Part 3: Leveling Up | RT · Archive |
| Mass Effect 2: Part 5 of 5: Lead Cinematic Designer | RT · Archive |
| Nintendo Part 1: Leave Luck To Heaven | RT · Archive |
| id Software Part 3: The Game That Stopped The World | RT · Archive |
| Nintendo Part 3: Going To War | RT · Archive |
| DICE Part 4: Firing on All Cylinders | RT · Archive |
| Batman Part 3: World’s Greatest Defective | RT · Archive |
| Metroid Part 2: Super Hero | RT · Archive |
| Metroid Part 1: Power Ups | RT · Archive |
| Metroid Part 3: Comeback Kid | RT · Archive |
| Rockstar Part 2: Overnight Sensation | RT · Archive |
| Volition Part 2: Gangbusters | RT · Archive |
| World of Warcraft Part 2: Maxing Out | RT · Archive |
| Rare Part 2: In Demand | RT · Archive |
| Blizzard Entertainment Part 3: Zerg Rush | RT · Archive |
| Valve Part 2: Half-Life’s Afterlife | RT · Archive |
| Splinter Cell Part 3: The Many Faces of Sam Fisher | RT · Archive |
| Mass Effect 2: Part 3 of 5: Art Producer | RT · Archive |
| Castlevania Part 3: Oratorio of Ovation | RT · Archive |
| Halo Part 4: The Air is Thin, but the View is Good | RT · Archive |
| Rare Part 5: Unique | RT · Archive |
| Best of 2010 Part 3: Finishing Blows | RT · Archive |
| Rockstar Part 3: Chart Toppers | RT · Archive |
| Call of Duty Part 4: Pressing the Advantage | RT · Archive |
| CES Part 1: Plugging In – Consumer Electronics Show | RT · Archive |
| Halo Part 3: That Was Perfect… Now Do It Better | RT · Archive |
| E3: Where Games Go to Play | RT · Archive |
| 2012 Pt 1: Double Trouble | RT · Archive |
| Castlevania Part 5: Epiphany of Epitome | RT · Archive |
| Remedy Part 1: Cars, Guns, and Payoffs | RT · Archive |
| Blizzard Entertainment Part 4: World War | RT · Archive |
| Season 5 Teaser | RT · Archive |
| Spider-Man Part 1: Bit by the Gaming Bug | RT · Archive |
| Metal Gear Part 3: Detonation | RT · Archive |
| Metal Gear Part 5: Beyond Solid | RT · Archive |
| Metal Gear Part 4: The Return of Solid Snake | RT · Archive |
| Metal Gear Part 2: Solid Gold | RT · Archive |
| E3 2012 – Bro Team Presents The History of E3 | RT · Archive |
| Adventure Games Part 5 | RT · Archive |
| Adventure Games Part 4 | RT · Archive |
| Metal Gear Part 1: Infiltration | RT · Archive |
| Adventure Games Part 3 | RT · Archive |
| Adventure Games Part 1 | RT · Archive |
| Adventure Games Part 2 | RT · Archive |
| Street Fighter Part 4: Return of the Champs | RT · Archive |
| Prince of Persia Part 1 | RT · Archive |
| Street Fighter Part 2: Greatest of All Time | RT · Archive |
| Prince of Persia Part 3 | RT · Archive |
| DoTA Part 3: Pro League | RT · Archive |
| David Jaffe Part 2 | RT · Archive |
| Prince of Persia Part 2 | RT · Archive |
| Street Fighter Part 3: Super Turbo Alpha Gold | RT · Archive |
| David Jaffe Part 1 | RT · Archive |
| 2011 Part 1: Boss Battle | RT · Archive |
| DoTA Part 2: Top Players | RT · Archive |
| Street Fighter Part 1: Raised on the Streets | RT · Archive |
| DOTA Part 1: The Pebble that Started the Avalanche | RT · Archive |
| 2011 Part 2: Second Chances | RT · Archive |
| 2011 Part 3: Crescendo | RT · Archive |
| Crytek Part 2: Cryating Worlds | RT · Archive |
| Crytek Part 1: Cryating Worlds | RT · Archive |
| MMO Part 4: End Game Content | RT · Archive |
| Call of Duty: Appendix A | RT · Archive |
| MMO Part 3: High Level | RT · Archive |
| Halo Part 1: Halo Before the Ring | RT · Archive |
| MMO Part 2: Expansions | RT · Archive |
| MMO Part 1: Crawling Through the MUD | RT · Archive |
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