Viva Piñata - OUT NOW! Commence the Whacking!

Deusfaux

Accualt jacked this thread to give it a proper OP.

Accualt wrote:

The game is OUT!
But it doesn't have assault rifles with chainsaws attached to them so hardly anyone has noticed.
Demo "not a demo" interactive video thing available on Live right now!


Official Webpage - Enjoy the Music!

Oh man, what the hell is this?
About five years ago Microsoft bought Nintendo and this is their first love child. Viva Pinata is best described as an addictive* mix of Pokemon, Harvest Moon, Animal Crossing, and all those other weird sims style games that feel oddly creepy. It will have over 60 species of pinata at launch and most likely plenty of others to purchase over live afterwards.

*May not be addictive.
Oh, and Rare, not Nintendo. My bad.



Kiddy gayzors game, huh?
Yeah, sure, whatever. VP is being marketed towards kids, we all know that. How do we know? Because the cartoon tie-in is being made by 4Kids Entertainment and will be shown on 4Kids TV. There is suppose to be some interaction between the cartoon and game, what that is exactly we are unsure. Just tips? Maybe some codes? Clearly this game is four the children. That doesn't mean we manly adults can't have fun growing gardens full of colorful pinata creatures. I hear you have to protect them.

From candy starved kids with sticks?
No, that is for the Wii tie-in...because of the motion control.....and stick like look of the remote....

I'm sure someone thought that was funny, you clever man. Seriously, though, what are you protecting them from?
From sour Pinatas, of course! That means they are red and sour at the world. Kind of like violent emo kids who traded in their black goth clothing for red goth clothing. "Eat that purple mouse!"



Oh you also have to make sure species that naturally would want to fight or eat each other are separated otherwise they will kill each other. Players also need to breed the pinatas, get a male and female together and they dance until a baby pops out. Yes, Viva Pinata will teach your child many life values. No need for that birds and the bees talk anymore!

Huh...does it have any Live features?
Are you kidding? it is a Microsoft first-party game, of course it has live!
You can view other players gardens, you can send Pinatas to friends as gifts, you can be a sneaky turd and send someone a Sour pinata, and you can use chocolate coins to buy all kinds of items. You can even customize your pinata's name, which it will keep no matter where you ship it off to, along with buying items for your creatures. What items? Backpacks for portable shelter and bigger teeth for bigger eating! Dentures, score!
Let us not forget the Achievements. through which you can become a Master Romancer!

Those graphics don't look next gen. They don't even look real!
Well, hey, not everything is brown. Viva Pinata does have some amazing visuals, though. Someone gave Rare a giant box of crayons to play with. Don't just take my word for it, though, check out these screen shots. If you have a 360 check out the Viva Pinata marketplace section, it has two full episodes of the cartoon up and an "interactive video" of the game in action.

And we are out of questions because I used all seven colors of the rainbow. Discuss.

Viva Piñata commercial - Gold
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svg-DvNARKE

heh, its a pretty good one - and yeah yeah this woulda gone in linksville normally

edit: and i did spend a few searching for this first


Release date(s) November 9, 2006

for X360

Rare's new game

Kewop Decam

"pants that fit"

that made me laugh a little

deadonthestreet

Wow this games looks...not good.

Decent commercial though.

Deusfaux

sunscreen for the ginger :P


also, those 2 brown boys look just like the 2 in the "music video" for Pi with those wizards and shit

Neo Rasa

:^:

What's the gameplay on this like anyway? The trailer makes it look sort of like Animal Crossing? May as well make this a thread for the game since it comes out on the tenth anyway.

Hensler

Damn, I didnt read the title well enough, thought the game was gold.

Edit: Wait - is it? I didnt think it was coming out till next year.

Aoi

deadonthestreet wrote:

Wow this games looks...not good.

Decent commercial though.

The hands on previews thus far have been really positive so, ya never know.

Drallo

Neo Rasa wrote:

:^:

What's the gameplay on this like anyway? The trailer makes it look sort of like Animal Crossing? May as well make this a thread for the game since it comes out on the tenth anyway.

Its basically a Animal Crossing clone with a cartoon tie in.

Couscous

Drallo wrote:

Neo Rasa wrote:

:^:

What's the gameplay on this like anyway? The trailer makes it look sort of like Animal Crossing? May as well make this a thread for the game since it comes out on the tenth anyway.

Its basically a Animal Crossing clone with a cartoon tie in.

And microtransactions.

Neo Rasa

Drallo wrote:

Neo Rasa wrote:

:^:

What's the gameplay on this like anyway? The trailer makes it look sort of like Animal Crossing? May as well make this a thread for the game since it comes out on the tenth anyway.

Its basically a Animal Crossing clone with a cartoon tie in.

Interesting. Originally I thought it was going to be more Pokémon oriented (wherein you'd collect or otherwise catalogue various sentient piñata for "gotta catch'em all" and "being the very best" purposes).

Aoi

Neo Rasa wrote:

Drallo wrote:

Neo Rasa wrote:

:^:

What's the gameplay on this like anyway? The trailer makes it look sort of like Animal Crossing? May as well make this a thread for the game since it comes out on the tenth anyway.

Its basically a Animal Crossing clone with a cartoon tie in.

Interesting. Originally I thought it was going to be more Pokémon oriented (wherein you'd collect or otherwise catalogue various sentient piñata for "gotta catch'em all" and "being the very best" purposes).

It's actually more like that mixed with The Sims or Harvest Moon more than anything else. There's little to no actual connection with Animal Crossing at all :?

Ranced

titmouse wrote:

Drallo wrote:

Neo Rasa wrote:

:^:

What's the gameplay on this like anyway? The trailer makes it look sort of like Animal Crossing? May as well make this a thread for the game since it comes out on the tenth anyway.

Its basically a Animal Crossing clone with a cartoon tie in.

And microtransactions.

totally not mandatory nor does it replace cheat codes so this is a non issue

just point this out in case this confuses anyone

but yea, i don't really expect much from this game, but if it turns out great, i'll definitely check it out

nice commercial anyway

Whiniest Man On Earth

... microtransactions?! Confirm/deny?

Neo Rasa

Aoi wrote:

Neo Rasa wrote:

Drallo wrote:

Neo Rasa wrote:

:^:

What's the gameplay on this like anyway? The trailer makes it look sort of like Animal Crossing? May as well make this a thread for the game since it comes out on the tenth anyway.

Its basically a Animal Crossing clone with a cartoon tie in.

Interesting. Originally I thought it was going to be more Pokémon oriented (wherein you'd collect or otherwise catalogue various sentient piñata for "gotta catch'em all" and "being the very best" purposes).

It's actually more like that mixed with The Sims or Harvest Moon more than anything else. There's little to no actual connection with Animal Crossing at all :?

Well, that's a wrap then, later.

APZonerunner

Hahahaha, that reminded me of the Matrix.

If you get me down from here, I'll show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.

Aoi

To throw out there what was said about gameplay from the last VP thread...

Aoi wrote:

AchtungBaby wrote:

syndalis wrote:

AchtungBaby wrote:

DeaconKnowledge wrote:

So, how does it play?

You build a garden to attract piñatas to live in it. You make them grow and then you blow them up hitting them with your shovel, releasing candy that I guess you can use it to feed other piñatas.

How the hell is this a children game?

Only if its compatible candy, I think.

Its an ecosystem game. You want worms to churn your soil, birds eat the worms, worms eat the dead birds, grass grows, sheep eat the grass... you get the idea.

The "candy" is the remains of the critter. Its a very polite way of handling death in an ecosystem.

Yeah you can also construct some buildings that will allow the piñatas do things like falling in love or something like that. There was a video where you saw two worm-like piñatas that went to some kind of disco to dance together and increase their, lets call it "friendship level".

Once you've attracted a certain kind of pinata and made them happy enough to stay in your garden you need to make them their own living space. Depending on the type it'll be desert, grass, water, tree, etc themed as well as a house for them to live and "mate" in.

There's a lot going on with the eco system too. Certain types feed off others naturally, some play out the flat out prey/hunter relationship so you need to keep an eye on what is going on around your garden, plan out how it is built up so as to not place opposing species too close to one another, etc.

You can also hire the equvilant to the underpants gnomes from Harvest Moon who can help you care for the garden, give you tips on how to build it up to keep them happy. Apparently there are various skill levels as well for the game to be played at so it is challenging for both children and adults.

There's also the online aspect. I'm not sure if it's in the game at launch or added later but there will be an aspect where people can visit each others gardens, help with the building/clearing. You can also send items you've bought in the games town (with the chocolate coins you earn in the game) to friends on your friends list, as well as if you want to be a total ass, you can knock out the sour pinatas, wrap em up like a present, and send them off to play havoc in your friend's garden. You won't know what they're sending you until you've opened it up.

There are also sour pinatas, each of the rather large list of pinatas have "wild/rabid" types that will wander in. You have to be careful as to how you take care of them though. You can wack them with your shovel, busting them open, but their candy can make your pinatas sick. You can knock em out and send them to a friend, but then you're an ass :twisted:, the more complicated way to handle them is to try (and I'm not sure how) to tame them and make them members of your garden.

It really sounds like an interesting game and I'm looking forward to it. The mix of Monster Rancher and Harvest Moon with a sprinkling of Sims really appeals to me personally and the newest impressions from X06 and TGS have been really positive.

Epiphyte

Aoi wrote:

Neo Rasa wrote:

Drallo wrote:

Neo Rasa wrote:

:^:

What's the gameplay on this like anyway? The trailer makes it look sort of like Animal Crossing? May as well make this a thread for the game since it comes out on the tenth anyway.

Its basically a Animal Crossing clone with a cartoon tie in.

Interesting. Originally I thought it was going to be more Pokémon oriented (wherein you'd collect or otherwise catalogue various sentient piñata for "gotta catch'em all" and "being the very best" purposes).

It's actually more like that mixed with The Sims or Harvest Moon more than anything else. There's little to no actual connection with Animal Crossing at all :?

Can you still evolve and breed the pinatas?

LordOfMeep

Heh, that was a good commercial. I'm impressed.

I can never listen to that voice actor (Dan Green, the pinata in the ad) without thinking of Yu-Gi-Oh, LOL.

DeaconKnowledge

Suckers.

I liked that ad.

KalTorak

Hehehe.

"That was ACTING, children!"

darleysam

Aoi wrote:

To throw out there what was said about gameplay from the last VP thread...

Aoi wrote:

AchtungBaby wrote:

syndalis wrote:

AchtungBaby wrote:

DeaconKnowledge wrote:

So, how does it play?

You build a garden to attract piñatas to live in it. You make them grow and then you blow them up hitting them with your shovel, releasing candy that I guess you can use it to feed other piñatas.

How the hell is this a children game?

Only if its compatible candy, I think.

Its an ecosystem game. You want worms to churn your soil, birds eat the worms, worms eat the dead birds, grass grows, sheep eat the grass... you get the idea.

The "candy" is the remains of the critter. Its a very polite way of handling death in an ecosystem.

Yeah you can also construct some buildings that will allow the piñatas do things like falling in love or something like that. There was a video where you saw two worm-like piñatas that went to some kind of disco to dance together and increase their, lets call it "friendship level".

Once you've attracted a certain kind of pinata and made them happy enough to stay in your garden you need to make them their own living space. Depending on the type it'll be desert, grass, water, tree, etc themed as well as a house for them to live and "mate" in.

There's a lot going on with the eco system too. Certain types feed off others naturally, some play out the flat out prey/hunter relationship so you need to keep an eye on what is going on around your garden, plan out how it is built up so as to not place opposing species too close to one another, etc.

You can also hire the equvilant to the underpants gnomes from Harvest Moon who can help you care for the garden, give you tips on how to build it up to keep them happy. Apparently there are various skill levels as well for the game to be played at so it is challenging for both children and adults.

There's also the online aspect. I'm not sure if it's in the game at launch or added later but there will be an aspect where people can visit each others gardens, help with the building/clearing. You can also send items you've bought in the games town (with the chocolate coins you earn in the game) to friends on your friends list, as well as if you want to be a total ass, you can knock out the sour pinatas, wrap em up like a present, and send them off to play havoc in your friend's garden. You won't know what they're sending you until you've opened it up.

There are also sour pinatas, each of the rather large list of pinatas have "wild/rabid" types that will wander in. You have to be careful as to how you take care of them though. You can wack them with your shovel, busting them open, but their candy can make your pinatas sick. You can knock em out and send them to a friend, but then you're an ass :twisted:, the more complicated way to handle them is to try (and I'm not sure how) to tame them and make them members of your garden.

It really sounds like an interesting game and I'm looking forward to it. The mix of Monster Rancher and Harvest Moon with a sprinkling of Sims really appeals to me personally and the newest impressions from X06 and TGS have been really positive.

i believe this is where i chipped in with "so it is a little like Animal Crossing, in the way you interact with other players/characters and stuff"

jothki

Anyone still have that Awesomesheep image?

Heck, does anyone here even still remember it? That meme deserved way better than it got.

Aoi

Epiphyte wrote:

Aoi wrote:

Neo Rasa wrote:

Drallo wrote:

Neo Rasa wrote:

:^:

What's the gameplay on this like anyway? The trailer makes it look sort of like Animal Crossing? May as well make this a thread for the game since it comes out on the tenth anyway.

Its basically a Animal Crossing clone with a cartoon tie in.

Interesting. Originally I thought it was going to be more Pokémon oriented (wherein you'd collect or otherwise catalogue various sentient piñata for "gotta catch'em all" and "being the very best" purposes).

It's actually more like that mixed with The Sims or Harvest Moon more than anything else. There's little to no actual connection with Animal Crossing at all :?

Can you still evolve and breed the pinatas?

Breed them yes. As for evolving, kind of. There are apparently sub breeds that you can access through different factors like diet.

Robo Beat

I probably would have been more amused if they listened to his whole spiel and then beat him open anyways.

Drallo

Robo Beat wrote:

I probably would have been more amused if they listened to his whole spiel and then beat him open anyways.

Robo Beat

Drallo wrote:

Robo Beat wrote:

I probably would have been more amused if they listened to his whole spiel and then beat him open anyways.

[im]http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2006/20060317.jpg[/img]

LAWL

FireWeasel

When is this game actually out?

Kyou

FireWeasel wrote:

When is this game actually out?

It's out.

It also apparently has a lot of humor...not appropriate for children. Which is fine in most games, but they're like the opposite of subtle in this.

"Wow, I havent seen anything that purple and swollen since...I stubbed my toe"

Drallo

FireWeasel wrote:

When is this game actually out?

You took the effort to find a week old thread and revive it rather than just google/wiki the game?

Today btw.

fragglefart

Gotta wait for 1st December for this over here.

Getting for Chrimbo.

jackal

Well, since the thread's been revived we should make the most of it. Has anyone else been exploring the brutal world or pinata?

Disclaimer: I am not opening charmap to find an nye at any point in this thread.

FireWeasel

Drallo wrote:

FireWeasel wrote:

When is this game actually out?

You took the effort to find a week old thread and revive it rather than just google/wiki the game?

Today btw.

First: I did google it. Came up with no reliable info, and incidentally, I trust forumers more than IGN. Plus it took two seconds to use the Search, which, if I recall, is something that most people don't do enough around here. SO NYAH!

Second: If my suspicions WERE correct and it IS out, I wanted to stir discussion about the damn thing.

Now, let's make with the talking about living smashable creatures.

Hensler

Havnt played it yet - but all the Gamestops and EBs around here have big ass pinata displays that are on a motion sensor and talk to you when you approach. Funny the first time, annoying as hell after that - their spiel lasts for a few minutes each time.

FreddyD

Hensler wrote:

Havnt played it yet - but all the Gamestops and EBs around here have big ass pinata displays that are on a motion sensor and talk to you when you approach. Funny the first time, annoying as hell after that - their spiel lasts for a few minutes each time.

If they have baseball bat displays the problem will practically solve itself.

I thought the line, "Don't beat em, join em" was pretty clever. Otherwise, the commercial wasn't that entertaining.

Final_Boss

I'm probably gonna pick this up sometime this weekend assuming I can find it. Should be a nice distraction from stomping faces in Gears. Plus, it might just be the leverage needed for one of my friends to convince his wife that they should get a 360 so I have another person to stomp said faces with.

FireWeasel

Final_Boss wrote:

I'm probably gonna pick this up sometime this weekend assuming I can find it. Should be a nice distraction from stomping faces in Gears. Plus, it might just be the leverage needed for one of my friends to convince his wife that they should get a 360 so I have another person to stomp said faces with.

Animal Crossing-type games are the perfect spousal gateway drug.

This just so happens to be a handy next-gen style gateway drug.

I swear the girlfriend is more excited about this than I am.

Final_Boss

FireWeasel wrote:

Final_Boss wrote:

I'm probably gonna pick this up sometime this weekend assuming I can find it. Should be a nice distraction from stomping faces in Gears. Plus, it might just be the leverage needed for one of my friends to convince his wife that they should get a 360 so I have another person to stomp said faces with.

Animal Crossing-type games are the perfect spousal gateway drug.

Yeah, she's already a big Animal Crossing/Harvest Moon fan. This should be a no brainer...

Aoi

FireWeasel wrote:

Final_Boss wrote:

I'm probably gonna pick this up sometime this weekend assuming I can find it. Should be a nice distraction from stomping faces in Gears. Plus, it might just be the leverage needed for one of my friends to convince his wife that they should get a 360 so I have another person to stomp said faces with.

Animal Crossing-type games are the perfect spousal gateway drug.

This just so happens to be a handy next-gen style gateway drug.

I swear the girlfriend is more excited about this than I am.

They eat the candy of their own kind... They mate with their own children... I'm... this game is weird O_o

Final_Boss

Aoi wrote:

FireWeasel wrote:

Final_Boss wrote:

I'm probably gonna pick this up sometime this weekend assuming I can find it. Should be a nice distraction from stomping faces in Gears. Plus, it might just be the leverage needed for one of my friends to convince his wife that they should get a 360 so I have another person to stomp said faces with.

Animal Crossing-type games are the perfect spousal gateway drug.

This just so happens to be a handy next-gen style gateway drug.

I swear the girlfriend is more excited about this than I am.

They eat the candy of their own kind... They mate with their own children... I'm... this game is weird O_o

Sounds like West Virginia...

Aoi

Final_Boss wrote:

Aoi wrote:

FireWeasel wrote:

Final_Boss wrote:

I'm probably gonna pick this up sometime this weekend assuming I can find it. Should be a nice distraction from stomping faces in Gears. Plus, it might just be the leverage needed for one of my friends to convince his wife that they should get a 360 so I have another person to stomp said faces with.

Animal Crossing-type games are the perfect spousal gateway drug.

This just so happens to be a handy next-gen style gateway drug.

I swear the girlfriend is more excited about this than I am.

They eat the candy of their own kind... They mate with their own children... I'm... this game is weird O_o

Sounds like West Virginia...

Seriously though, odd game. The first half hour is basically a tutorial of course. Not much past that yet.

Mai-Kero

360 commercials are so awesome. First the invisible gun combat one, now this.