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Viva Pinata 2 : More Incest & Candy

AoiAoi Registered User regular
edited September 2009 in Games and Technology
For some reason, after lamenting the middling sales of the original, and multiple articles on all the big websites that more people should have been paying attention to the original game, the sequel seems to have been almost universally ignored by most gaming sites, despite being shown several times over the past year at various conventions, such as E3. So it actually came as a surprise to me that the newest entry in the series (and last most likely the last, given the complete lack of promotion that MS seems to be giving it yet again) is actually being released this coming Tuesday, 9/2. So I just wanted to throw together a little thread to drum up interest, maybe build up a list of names for multi, etc.

Viva Pinata: Trouble In Paradise
Viva_Pinata_Trouble_in_Paradise.jpg

What is Viva Pinata?

Viva Pinata is the critically loved (and woefully underselling) virtual garden/life game by good ole developer Rare Software. The main gist of the game is you, the new owner of a run down garden, are responsible for turning your plot of land into a habitat suitable for drawing in, raising and breeding various species of pinata life. This time around there is also a bare bit of story to accomidate the alteration of the mission system (the pinata central orders) of the original.

What's New?

The base sandbox gameplay is mostly unchanged this time, though they are offering different modes to lighten things up a bit for younger players, and allowing for players who just simply want to jump in and play in their sandbox without having to worry about upgrading their tools, etc.
  • Player Guide - A mode intended for younger or newer players, where the fundamental aspects of the game are explained and the game pacing is relaxed.
  • Standard Mode - The primary game mode, which includes challenges from sour piñatas, Ruffians, and other forces.
  • Just For Fun Mode - A mode where players can hop in and immediately begin working on a garden without worrying about running out of money or having to unlock various items. However, certain more exotic piñatas are not available in this mode, nor are Xbox Live Achievements.

Other additions this time around include:
  • Contests - Players can enter their piñatas in beauty contests and races, the latter of which requires piñatas to race along a course collecting sweets and avoiding loathers (Pester's evil red bombs).
  • 30+ new pinatas, bringing the total to over 100.
  • Two new areas, an icy arctic area, and sweltering desert to accomidate some of the new species (also giving you new tile sets to edit your garden with).
  • 2 player local co-op, and 4 player co-op over live (though I've not seen any real talk about the features for this other than everyone will have maxed out equipment, so it sounds like it might be the Just For Fun mode, and not your personal single player garden).
  • Live Vision Camera Support: In a manner similar to what is done in titles such as Eye of Judgement, the camera is able to optically scan an image from a card and use the embedded matrix barcode to allow in-game content to be imported or activated.

Demo Incoming

Via Xbox360fanboy
Viva Piñata 2 demo in certification, releasing soon
Posted Aug 20th 2008

In an interview with Eurogamer, Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise lead programmer Will Bryan confirmed details regarding a Trouble in Paradise demo releasing to the Xbox Live Marketplace saying that it will release "as soon as possible."

According to Bryan, the demo is finished and is currently in the hands of Microsoft's certification team. Then, once it's approved by cert, it will be released to the Xbox Live masses. As far as demo specifics go, we're being told that it'll include 25 minutes of gameplay from the core game including a few Live features and the "Just For Fun" game mode. Sadly, the demo will not include any co-op support, local or Live, so we'll just have to imagine playing with three other piñata gardeners. Imagination FTW!

vptrouble_02.jpg
vptrouble_12.jpg
vptrouble_07.jpg
vptrouble_17.jpg
vptrouble_13.jpg

Anyway, there's some basic information, and I'll expand on it more when I get home this evening, and get some pics of the new pinata types and such thrown in. So yeah... VP2.

Aoi on
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Posts

  • XtarathXtarath Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    I'm sorry, I'll be too busy BLOWING SHIT UP in Mercenaries 2 to buy this game.

    Xtarath on
  • APZonerunnerAPZonerunner Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Day one.

    APZonerunner on
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  • The_ScarabThe_Scarab Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Does it let you start a garden as all dir or do I have to pat the ground for 20 minutes each time again?

    This determines whether I buy this game or not.

    The_Scarab on
  • AoiAoi Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Not a clue, though if it took you more than a couple minutes to flatten out the ground in the original, you were doing it wrong. O_o

    Aoi on
  • GanluanGanluan Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Viva Pinata is the biggest surprise game I've ever played. I picked it up used for cheap, and ended up playing it constantly until I had unlocked everything. I am really looking forward to the sequel.

    I also found it hilarious my wife would get home from work, and the first thing she would ask is "did you get the unicorn pinata yet?"

    Ganluan on
  • RamiRami Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Is the game area still going to be the size of my bathroom and will I be restricted to 5 pieces of fence before reaching the item limit again?

    Also will pinatas in my garden have any AI beyond walk around/sleep?

    Rami on
  • AoiAoi Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    The size of the garden are the same three stages as in the original game, though Rare has stated that the amount of stuff/pinatas allowed in your garden has been increased "greatly". As for the AI, you must not have gotten very far in, because even those god damned squirrels you get early on were a lot more active than that.

    Aoi on
  • GanluanGanluan Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Aoi wrote: »
    The size of the garden are the same three stages as in the original game, though Rare has stated that the amount of stuff/pinatas allowed in your garden has been increased "greatly". As for the AI, you must not have gotten very far in, because even those god damned squirrels you get early on were a lot more active than that.

    I liked the raccoon one that ran around like it was on crack stopping to sniff everything.

    Ganluan on
  • ToyDToyD Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    I loved the first one. Total sleeper hit. I got it for my son to look at and ended up playing it all myself. I'm looking forward to the winter areas and more pinatas.

    ToyD on
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  • AccualtAccualt Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Yay, I don't have to make the thread for this now!

    I am pumped for some pinatas. Pricing this at $40 is probably the nicest thing MS has ever done for me.

    Accualt on
  • NaloutoNalouto Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    The_Scarab wrote: »
    Does it let you start a garden as all dir or do I have to pat the ground for 20 minutes each time again?

    This determines whether I buy this game or not.

    this was a huge issue for me as well, until I realized that you could hold down the button and it pounded much quicker... could do a whole garden in about 3 minutes? yeah, I'll probably play this one too.

    Nalouto on
    :winky:
  • OpiumOpium regular
    edited August 2008
    This game always looked sort of interesting to me but I never came around to it for some reason. It looks like Pokemon meets Animal Crossing, is that what it is?

    Opium on
  • darleysamdarleysam On my way to UKRegistered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Will be buying this quite soon after release, I think. Loved the first one, was great to put on some Sigur Ros and just screw around in the garden.

    darleysam on
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  • AoiAoi Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Opium wrote: »
    This game always looked sort of interesting to me but I never came around to it for some reason. It looks like Pokemon meets Animal Crossing, is that what it is?


    Hmmm, no... Closer to Harvest Moon mixed with the old PC game creatures, than anything else. You don't catch the creatures like in Pokemon, you draw them in by having aspects of your garden enticing to their species, whether it be certain types of plants/foods growing, or certain pinatas lower on the food chain than them (for example, if I remember correctly, the Pretztail foxes would only come into/join your garden if you already had mice, which they were the natural predator of).

    Aoi on
  • PatboyXPatboyX Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    I liked the first one but I never played it all that much. Although I do like to put it in for a short while every now and again just to relax.

    PatboyX on
    "lenny bruce is not afraid..."
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  • TheSuperWootTheSuperWoot Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Aoi wrote: »
    Opium wrote: »
    This game always looked sort of interesting to me but I never came around to it for some reason. It looks like Pokemon meets Animal Crossing, is that what it is?


    Hmmm, no... Closer to Harvest Moon mixed with the old PC game creatures, than anything else. You don't catch the creatures like in Pokemon, you draw them in by having aspects of your garden enticing to their species, whether it be certain types of plants/foods growing, or certain pinatas lower on the food chain than them (for example, if I remember correctly, the Pretztail foxes would only come into/join your garden if you already had mice, which they were the natural predator of).

    Yeah, it's basically like Dungeon Keeper or the newer Evil Genius, except with pinatas.

    TheSuperWoot on
  • schmadsschmads Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Likely to be one of the better games of the year and they're going to price it at $40? I'm all over that. I never finished all that I wanted to with the original, because it wouldn't let me transfer my save to another harddrive when I got a new 360, but it was amazingly fun.

    schmads on
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  • AoiAoi Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Huh, apparently Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise for the DS streets on the same day.

    Aoi on
  • redfield85redfield85 Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Can't wait to pick this up this week. I will probably get the strategy guide as well. I like looking at pictures. 8-)

    And for the vision thingy, I assume they are selling packs of cards?

    redfield85 on
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  • APZonerunnerAPZonerunner Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    redfield85 wrote: »
    And for the vision thingy, I assume they are selling packs of cards?

    Nope. This is the beauty of it. Taking a picture of a Pinata with the in-game cam and sending it to the Viva Pinata website allows you to login there with your Live ID... and print off the card for that creature. You can then share with a friend. I think cards may be one use only or something, you'd have to print a second for a second person or something, so as to step cards for every single Pinata ending up on gamefaqs within the week.

    APZonerunner on
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  • Apothe0sisApothe0sis Have you ever questioned the nature of your reality? Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    I found the first game to be a realistic incest simulator, but a poor candy simulator.

    Apothe0sis on
  • joshua1joshua1 Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    It took me 6hrs to discover that I could direct the pinatas. I kept waiting and pulling my hair out to get such a pinata to eat an other pinata etc..... also i didn't like feeding my pinatas to other ones. Trees rock though.

    joshua1 on
  • cloudeaglecloudeagle Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    It's been getting good reviews, as people are saying it's better than the first if not revolutionary.

    That said, I wonder how many people are going to get snookered by the "Trouble in Paradise" tagline and all the invasion-looking materials in ads and expect something, well, combat-oriented?

    cloudeagle on
    Switch: 3947-4890-9293
  • AccualtAccualt Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Hmmmm, I might have to pick up the DS version as well. I don't know anything about it, though.

    I'm looking forward to picking up my TIP copy tonight. GOing to go home and big a big old candy colored nerd on my couch all night long.

    Accualt on
  • APZonerunnerAPZonerunner Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    NY Daily News put up an exclusive Pinata code. Those with the game scan this in using your vision camera to get this Pinata.

    amd_pinata.jpg

    APZonerunner on
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  • ToyDToyD Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    good lord I want this game. But I need to finish the first one.. first.... bah.

    Edit: Also... I may... MAY pick up the stupid camera for this. Boo.

    ToyD on
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  • MooreningMoorening Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Yeah, I played the hell out of the first one...a couple times. Once I had the tower of sour built up and the sword the keeps the ruffians away I let my 4 year old play. My wife loves it too...so much in fact that she has been clamouring over this one for a while. Of course finances prevented it from being a day 1 purchase, so we have just ordered it as a day 2 purchase. Now we sit and wait for more pinata goodness.

    edit: Just talked to the wife, she seems to be so interested in getting this game right now that she is willing to pay for overnight shipping.

    Moorening on
    It would appear there ain't no rest for the wicked...who knew?
  • darleysamdarleysam On my way to UKRegistered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Accualt, Eurogamer have a review of the DS version up if you want to read that. They really liked it, and it looks like one I'm going to have to get to complement Animal Crossing. That's the only game I can come back to after months of not playing.

    darleysam on
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  • Jam WarriorJam Warrior Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    darleysam wrote: »
    Accualt, Eurogamer have a review of the DS version up if you want to read that. They really liked it, and it looks like one I'm going to have to get to complement Animal Crossing. That's the only game I can come back to after months of not playing.

    As does IGN. They also like it.

    Jam Warrior on
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  • PolloDiabloPolloDiablo Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    I never could find a copy of the original, so I'm really looking forward to this. Is there content in the first that won't be in this? I mean, did they change things or just add to the game? I'm definitely getting it, especially for co-op, but I'd hate to feel like I'm missing out on awesome stuff from the first one.

    PolloDiablo on
  • syrionsyrion Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Does awesomesheep make a return?

    syrion on
  • MooreningMoorening Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    awesomesheep? I am frightened and confused...what is awesomesheep?

    Moorening on
    It would appear there ain't no rest for the wicked...who knew?
  • AccualtAccualt Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    The reviews say all of the old pinatas are in this one along with 32 (iirc) new ones. It sounds like this has all of the stuff from the old game with new things and a better interface. At $40 you can't go wrong, especially if you never played the first one.

    Is it sad that I keep looking at the clock, dreaming of when I get to go home and start [strike]shovel whacking[/strike] candy feeding pinatas?

    Accualt on
  • MooreningMoorening Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    No, I wouldn't say that's bad. At least not as bad as me checking every 10 minutes to see if my copy shipped yet, and when it does I will be checking the tracking every 10 minutes to see if it's delivered yet. Then I will be counting down the time to whacking hard soil and drawing in those pinatas. Then once I get a second controller, doing all the same stuff with my wife or daughter.

    I'm also really excited at letting my daugter go nuts in "Just for Fun" mode...so she quits spending all my damn chocolate coins on things I don't want or need.

    Moorening on
    It would appear there ain't no rest for the wicked...who knew?
  • HorseraddishHorseraddish Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    I bought the game mostly for my girlfriend as a way to get her used to dual sticks in a game she'd play a lot. We got a garden going as far as having some Badgicles, they died and she couldn't handle that. She was that attached to them, I'm afraid of what this might bring lol.

    Horseraddish on
    If you're gonna punch someone in the face, aim for the back of the head.
  • urahonkyurahonky Cynical Old Man Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Went to Best Buy to pick this up, but they won't have it till Friday. Damn it! Oh well, just picked up Infinite Undiscovery (holy shit what a terrible name) so maybe it's a good thing I only got one game.

    urahonky on
  • AoiAoi Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    We need to get some tags going on and start a "for fun" garden this evening.

    And um, am I the only person in the first game that turned off the tower of sour? I was good at hunting down the candy, and I never really had a problem with any of them actually attacking my pinatas. And to be honest, most of the sour forms were much more awesome looking/acting than their tamed counterparts. Macaracoon and Sherbat were just too damned fun to watch wander around.

    Another couple things I've read now, all pinatas and all their mutations are in this (though no new mutations like the abomination that was the pigxie) and all pay for download DLC from the first game is included on disk with this one as well.

    Ohhhh, also head to here and you'll find your own personal page on the Viva Pinata site that keeps track of your stats, screen shots, pinata cards, etc.

    Aoi on
  • syrionsyrion Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Moorening wrote: »
    awesomesheep? I am frightened and confused...what is awesomesheep?

    awesomesheepma9.jpg
    awesomesheep

    syrion on
  • AoiAoi Registered User regular
    edited September 2008
    Huh... Is it just me, or does it kind of feel like they're dropping you into the middle of someone elses garden at the start. The ground already nice and clean, a fenced in Pretztail already waiting for you, and a buuunch of pinata just wandering in from the start. I dunno, how its starting kinda bugs me.

    Aoi on
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