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You Want Innovation? You Got Innovation!
Last week I was complaining that publishers aren't taking enough risks. Well color me impressed as Rare, Microsoft and 4Kids Entertainment are working together to create a brand new IP named Viva Piñata.
Described as "another world where wild-roaming, living piñata animals inhabit a growing, changing garden world. You take control of this environment and the piñata within it, influencing its contents to create your very own pet paradise." Living piñata animals ... very cool.
Clearly aimed to mimic the Pokémon craze, Viva Piñata is going to be both a video game on the Xbox 360 (of course) as well as an animated children's cartoon. So far I have to say that I'm really impressed with this original property. The visuals are incredible, the concept is interesting, the partnership with 4Kids is a great marketing channel, and taking aim at Pokémon empire is a pretty smart move. (In case you forgot Pokémon Emerald for the GBA was the 2nd bestselling video game of 2005 ... yeah, Pokémon is still pretty huge.)
And Rare is just so good at making these crazy games with colorful graphics and oddball characters I am really interested to see the final product (and on a related note, am I the only person on earth who really enjoyed Grabbed by the Ghoulies?).
Viva la Viva Piñata!
Hey check this out!!!
This is from a couple of years ago, and is entirely relevant!!
http://gameads.gamepressure.com/tv_game_commercial.asp?ID=1108
Posted by James G. at March 15, 2006 09:39 PMThis looks awesome! But 50 bucks is way to much i think for an oddball game.
Posted by patrick at March 15, 2006 09:40 PMHey, I thought _I_ was the only person who loved Grabbed by the Ghoulies. I was skeptical at first, but that launch video really won me over. Can't wait to see if Rare can pull this off.
Posted by gob at March 15, 2006 09:43 PMMeh,I think Spore will beat the crap out of this game by far.I like how it looks though,but if it was put agenst Spore.No way in hell its better.Good for people who want something different ;).
Posted by LONE GUNNER3 at March 15, 2006 10:24 PMWow! 4Kids is involved in something other than butchering anime!
Posted by Ryuukuro at March 15, 2006 10:24 PMI'm just a little shocked for the timming, as this seems to be the response to the PS3 announcements
Posted by Alfred at March 15, 2006 10:54 PMThe visuals look amazing! I really look forward to see how they plan to work this one out, it seems very creative. Plus I love games where you get to see working enviroments with animals etc. I hope they can add enough custimization to the garden and animals to make them truely unique as well as leaving space for downloadable ones. Hopefully there will be "made-up" animals as well as the real world ones we've seen so far, as well as very rare ones too...so excited!
Posted by Areku at March 15, 2006 11:13 PMLooks fantastic.
Posted by RealmRPGer at March 15, 2006 11:43 PMThe graphics are pretty uber. Reminds me of that whole "Toy story"-like graphics statement one company said. Because this /basicaly/ (mostly) achieves that level of quality.
Very colourful. But of course, the "kiddy" quality is disturbing to me... as kiddy things usualy are for us male teens. XD
Asides from my shudders of horror as I see happy colourful dancing pinatas; I can defently see the innovation and attraction to (mostly but not esclusive to) younger gamers.
Posted by Luke at March 16, 2006 12:04 AMI agree very smart move(s)...
It will help xbox360 sales very much so, by providing further incentive for iffy-parent's to get the system, seeing a few children games on board. If they can really extend into more of a children genre, then all I have to say is cha-ching$$$.
Posted by Leetard at March 16, 2006 12:11 AMThis is definatly a great move for microsoft, being aimed at the younger audiances, but I am hoping that it will be a fun game for all types of gamers. I love Rare and I'm sure that I will buy this game because it looks amazing and I know they can make a game that is funny and entertaining for both kids and adults, but I hope this game still poses a fun challenge for older gamers. I am very excited about it, and by the way, I loved Grabbed by the ghoulies.
Posted by Nate Herman at March 16, 2006 02:54 AMAm I the only one who thinks that these guys must have been smoking massive amounts of dope?
I predict the game becomes Vaporware, as soon as they sober up.
Posted by PC Dave at March 16, 2006 04:21 AMThe more I look at this game,the more I kinda like it.I think the great graphics are pulling me in ^_^.If it comes out before Spore,I might get it.Only if it comes out before Spore ;).But even then I might think about it,the Graphics make it hard to say no.
Posted by LONE GUNNER3 at March 16, 2006 05:34 AMI'm really looking forward to it! Finally not the standard shooter for the 360! (Last time I checked there were more than 10?!) I'm just concerned weither Pokemon kids would be interested in living pinatas. I suspect a movie of it will come too! Ther game looks fun, but I hope it doesn't become childish!
Posted by Daan at March 16, 2006 06:30 AMI'd rather play the cooking game than this. This looks horrible. This isn't inovation, this is just more marketing "IP" crap.
Posted by Indy406 at March 16, 2006 08:34 AMI can honestly say that I will not buy this game...
Well, that is unless I start smoking pot again, then it is a distinct possibility... but otherwise, no. :)
wow, i think this is the first time that I am impressed by Rare character designs
Posted by beo at March 16, 2006 10:10 AMI would buy a 360 just because of that game.....well ok let's put it this way: This is the only game for the 360 so far, that I'd pay 70 bucks for. It looks fantastic and sounds like loads of fun.
But I don't have a 360, I won't get one, because it's too expensive and soon there's going to be a Revolution !
I was reading about this game on gamasutra, it certainly seems cool, but didn't lucas arts try to do a similar game once upon a time, involving gunguns. In this game you're building a viable garden eco-system that grows over time. In Lucas' game you built ecosystems on alien worlds. Hmmm. Well, hopefully this one will turn out somewhat better.
Posted by Behumat at March 16, 2006 01:01 PMWell, it certainly won't overgrow Pokemon since you don't fight but it looks great nonetheless. The Pinata animals are just crazy, I love that oddball style.
Btw, Pokemon, I love it because of Ling-Ling. ;)
Sounds like Cubivore made for the Xbox 360 and...well, designed better.
Though I think the thing I like most about it is that it looks like it -reeks- of next gen material. King Kong, GUN, and similar things just don't cut it as next gen titles, to me.
Posted by Stangmar at March 16, 2006 09:01 PMI think Pokemon was so successful with the kids because it was for two main reasons:
1. It was for Gameboy. (So, every kid already owned or could afford to buy one. And, 1st party GB games are only $30, again affordable to the target audience.)
2. It geared itself towards becoming a trend. (Because it was on a portable system, and so could be brought to school or a friend's house. And, it came in two versions, you had to link-up to get all the monsters.)
I don't think Viva Pinata will establish itself as something "everybody's doing" and so will not gain the draw of a social phenomenon. Unless of course the pinata characters can level up by ripping their opponent in two and feasting on the candy guts within; that would be awesome.
Well, I read that when Pinatas get sick they become suspectible to enemies which can tear your pinatas to shreds and feats on their candy fillings.
It comes off more and more like a ecosystem creatiion game with breeding (completely G-rated). And candy violence :p
Posted by FoxSpirit at March 17, 2006 07:12 AMI like Grabbed by the Ghoulies..
Posted by Ryan at March 17, 2006 08:35 AMIt seems like their trying to capture the appeal of Animal Crossing, Pokemon, and Nintendogs into one game. So what if it's a kiddie game? As long as its fun, the word will get around.
Posted by Robb at March 17, 2006 02:08 PMI sounds good, Steve.
But is this the right way for Innovation or is it just an "add on" in the sense of implementing more?
J.
Posted by Jorg Hauan at March 17, 2006 03:23 PMI've actually created a fansite for this game already, http://pinataworld.danibanani.com, so join if you're interested!
Posted by Daan at March 17, 2006 04:38 PMThis game is gonna sell like hot cakes.
and I've never made use of that expression before, so that's got to mean something.
Posted by Jason at March 17, 2006 06:49 PMWhat's with everbody... I see no innovation here at all!
This is nothing more than an animal crossing/collect em up/trade a rama.. dull as hell rip off designed to exploit kids as usual.
This is desperate move for RARE... So they figured older players aren't falling for the dated gameplay in their recent titles anymore lets aim this one at the kids... I really hope they see through it.
Steve... This is the last thing I expected from someone who promotes intelligent game discussion... do grow up.
Realityman
Posted by realitymanuk at March 17, 2006 10:00 PMI think this game looks interesting, not to say colorful. While aimed at the younger set (see the 4Kids connection), that doesn't automatically mean it won't appeal to older people as well, see Pokemon. I wouldn't be surprised to see Rare create one or two really appealing 'pinatas' and push them in ads, much like Pikachu. If this game does well, I expect to see movies and, most likely, a collectible card game. Again, emulating Pokemon isn't a bad thing business-wise, especially if you can be even half as successful.
And I would think that a person called 'Realityman' would want to actually play the game, you know, test it's 'reality', before passing judgement. You may think its a dull rip-off, but you can't know right now. And I fail to see how talking about this game isn't 'intelligent'. I'd say calling for Steve to 'grow up' is on the other end of the 'intelligent discussion' spectrum, but then again, maybe you're just being cynical and I'm misreading your tone.
Posted by JP at March 21, 2006 09:27 PMThis is a fun game!!!... I hope star craft two comes out soon...
Posted by Pedro Romero at June 4, 2007 04:33 PMPlease keep your comments relevant to this entry: inappropriate or purely promotional comments may be removed. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.