Viva Pinata DS confirmed by Microsoft for Nintendo (full details)
Back in February Microsoft Game Studios boss Shane Kim hinted “A Kameo or a Viva Pinata on a DS makes a lot of sense in a lot of ways from a franchise perspective.â€
Last weekend Microsoft confirmed at Comic-Con 2007 that Rare is developing their new Xbox 360 franchise Viva Pinata for the portable DS. Don’t worry it’s the actual paper pinata animals simulator, and not the Viva Pinata: Party Animals minigames collection, just smaller and with a top-down view. The new view should actually make the game somewhat easier to navigate, reports Kotaku.
Update: Thanks to jimmcq from Pinataisland, below you’ll find a short interview about Viva Pinata DS with a developer at Rare. Also mentioned is that the game will feature all of the species from the Xbox 360 title but also a few new ones, an expanded selection of tools, new game modes such as Sandbox and Episodes, and the ability to send pinatas via the DS WiFi service.
Q: Is it the same as the Xbox 360 game?
A: Game play wise, yes. It’s the same game, starting with ruined garden, attracting Pinata, growing flowers and trees, buying things from shops. Like VP:PC it takes advantage of the hardware available, so you interact using the stylus.
Q: How are the graphics compared the Xbox 360 version?
A: Beautiful. You will not be disappointed.
Q: When is it coming out?
A: “Coming soon” is the only info we have at present.
Q: Is Rare developing this?
A: Very definately ‘yes’ on this one. We have a dedicated handheld dev team.
Q: Has the original Viva Pinata team been involved?
A: Yes. From original assets from the game through to design and on-going feedback.
There is a brief Q&A about this game with a developer from Rare at pinataisland.info/forum/showthread.php?p=64497
30 July 2007 17:56supadupagama
Thanks a lot Jim, I’ve added those awesome answers along with a thank-you.
