Viva Pinata Grows on DS
Rare's colourful series lives on. First screen.
For months Microsoft executives have been saying that we've not yet seen the end of the company's creature-rearing Viva Pinata series. Recently Microsoft confirmed work on Viva Pinata: Party Animals, a party game compendium for the Xbox 360. Now comes word that series creator Rare is working on another game in the series - for the DS.
Viva Pinata DS is not a cut-down version of the Xbox 360 game but rather the full game with a new control scheme and even a few other goodies thrown in.
"It's the same game, starting with ruined garden, attracting Pinata, growing flowers and trees, buying things from shops," a Rare representative wrote on the PinataIsland forums. "Like VP:PC it takes advantage of the hardware available, so you interact using the stylus."
The game is playing from a more top-down perspective and will include all the creatures from the first Xbox 360 game. Rare is also planning to add a few new ones.
The company is planning to make full use of the DS's wireless connection, letting you swap creatures with people over the internet. New modes include Sandbox, where you play with your favourite characters, and Episodes, which taps the kids TV show for inspiration.
Rare has not revealed when Viva Pinata will be out for the DS, saying only that it would be released "soon".
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo
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