Would you play Viva Piñata on your Nintendo DS? That's the question Microsoft may be bouncing around the corporate board room table, because Shane Kim, Microsoft Game Studios VP, thinks it would be a great idea. In an interview with 1UP Kim said that "Viva Piñata on a DS makes a lot of sense in a lot of ways from a franchise perspective". We have to agree if they can pull it off on a DS and want those little piñatas to reach mass appeal. What do you think, would it be a good idea for Microsoft owned developer Rare to create a Viva Piñata spinoff for a competing company's handheld? Or do you think it would be a much better fit on Sony's PSP?Is Viva Piñata headed for the DS?
Would you play Viva Piñata on your Nintendo DS? That's the question Microsoft may be bouncing around the corporate board room table, because Shane Kim, Microsoft Game Studios VP, thinks it would be a great idea. In an interview with 1UP Kim said that "Viva Piñata on a DS makes a lot of sense in a lot of ways from a franchise perspective". We have to agree if they can pull it off on a DS and want those little piñatas to reach mass appeal. What do you think, would it be a good idea for Microsoft owned developer Rare to create a Viva Piñata spinoff for a competing company's handheld? Or do you think it would be a much better fit on Sony's PSP?Related Headlines
Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. Microsoft, give me a break. I played Viva Pinata for sixty hours straight when I first got it, now you want to pull this on me and make me go through all that again? Thank God that 360 owners don't fit the Viva Pinata demographic, or we would be in an economic depression. But releasing it on the DS? That's insane! You're going to ruin the world economy!
Posted at 3:38PM on Feb 13th 2007 by Jack the Ripper
3. This would have to be a DS game. "Touching" would be key I think. But would the amazing art direction stand up on the DS? Who knows? If they took a more Pokemon style to the Viva Pinata framework and tossed in some Animal Crossing features it would certainly work. And we know that those games sold pretty well on the DS. (^_^)
Posted at 3:41PM on Feb 13th 2007 by LunarDuality
4. Oh, and I forgot to say:
I don't think releasing this on a Nintendo Handheld hurts MS at all. They don't compete in that market (yet) but having a HUGE seller on a Nintendo platform (assuming it catches fire like Pokemon) would be a financial boon to MS but almost more importantly to Rare who seems to need a boost these days (even though I've enjoyed all their 360 games...yes, even PDZ).
Posted at 3:44PM on Feb 13th 2007 by LunarDuality
5. I've yet to play VP. Maybe I should wait and see what happens.
Posted at 3:53PM on Feb 13th 2007 by 3cubedminus3squared
6. I think it is a good idea for DS, but PSP? What is that? They still make that?
just kidding, but it would be smart for MS to go with the leader in handhelds, right?
7. Viva Pinata is an awesome, critically acclaimed game. I own it and love it. It's been touted by many as "the best game no one bought." I feel that its commercial failure is due to the fact that the Xbox 360 demographic is not like the Nintendo demographic. I would have no problem if MS released this game for DS. I think it would be a huge boost for Rare. This game deserves to have an audience.
8. The DS is a great platform to sell this on, it's already known for it's animal crossing type games, and that's where the animal crossing type gamers are hanging out.
That said, I'm glad it's on the 360 as I don't have a DS, and I'm not generally an animal crossing type. It's still a great game though.
Posted at 4:30PM on Feb 13th 2007 by King Keepo
9. i bought and still own the game and enjoy it...my only complaint is at times the gameplay can be kinda slow (like going to the store to buy things) also i wish there was a way to automate the 'mating' (i use the love candy, but as far as i can tell, that only works once)
Posted at 4:32PM on Feb 13th 2007 by Jason Seely
10. i think it would be great, i dont think of microsoft and nintendo as big rivals to each other, heck they can even join together to beat ps3~!
11. I think it would be a great move. There's just a ton of potential given the touch screen & Mic. I'd pick it up.
Posted at 4:52PM on Feb 13th 2007 by DeadPlasmaCell
12. I think Microsoft recognizes the dominating presence of Nintendo in the handheld arena. Also, since the PSP interfaces with the PS3, it certainly wouldn't hurt MS to try to one up Sony with a delicious offering, such as this.
This makes me wish that Goldeneye 007 or the original Perfect Dark would show up on either VC or XBLA.
Posted at 5:20PM on Feb 13th 2007 by Dolla Dolla
13. I would really like to see Halo on the DS ok not really. Rare just shipped a game on the DS Diddy Kong racing and it is great except for the touching part so I say bring it on besides it is always good to have something good to play while you wait for your ranked match room on gears to fill up.
14. Rare list the recently released DS title Diddy Kong Racing as one of their projects on the website (rareware.com), though they are not declaired on the game box. Also, they released a few GBA titles (Mr. Pants, Sabrewulf and Banjo-Kazooie) after the MS buyout. Why would this be any different?
15. The DS already HAS some Microsoft-owned titles. Hello, Age of Empires? Did that hurt the PC?
Viva Pinata on the DS could increase interest in the 360 version. DS version would be a stripped down version of it.
Posted at 6:38PM on Feb 13th 2007 by Jonah Falcon
16. It would be good for both Microsoft and Nintendo if Viva Pinata was released on the DS.
People that liked the 360 version may pick up a DS to play it, and people that like the DS version may buy a 360 to play the original.
17. Viva pinata would be great on the PSP... not so much the DS; it wouldn't be nearly so graphically appealing on the DS, but that may not be enough to deter people from getting it.
18. If there is a portable Viva Pinata, the DS is the way to go. I mean, a "kiddy" game sells very well on DS, but one on PSP would utterly fail.
I would also welcome another Rare game with open arms. I will buy it no matter what if it is on DS. I think the game would be amazing, as Viva Pinata could vary in genre. Sure a game like the 360 one would be nice, but a platformer wouldn't be bad either. Also, what I like the most is that they are talking about Viva Pinata being a franchise. Which means more games, which is just great. This means the VP kart racer might be true! ^_^
19. Well, if you want to devalue an exclusive, and support your competitors, simply to make a buck, then it's a great idea.
If Viva Pinata came from a third party, it's a no-brainer...support all the consoles and platforms you can.
Since Viva Pinata is from a first party, and a pretty great game, perhaps the first from Rare, I personally think it would be a bad idea.
Anyone notice the few Rare games that have appeared for the DS since the MS acquisition were titles that were not appearing on a Microsoft console?
If you could buy Viva Pinata on any other console, then why ever buy the version that appears on a Microsoft console? Wasn't the whole point of a first party publisher to have exclusives?
This is perhaps the worst idea floated in a while from a Microsoft perspective
20. i think VP fits the key demographic of the DS and so i think it would be a big hit on the ds...i havent played vp yet...but hearing so many good things about it...i might be compelled to go out n buy it once it ends up in the bargain bins or under greatest hits.
1. Was almost going to submit this. You forgot he also mentioned Kameo, too.
Posted at 3:32PM on Feb 13th 2007 by Jonah Falcon