Viva Pinata

[carocat]

I haven't seen this posted anywhere, apologies if it has been:

Developer pledges franchise support for another three years

Rare has told GamesIndustry.biz that consumers can expect more Viva Piñata in the future - with the developer promising to support the Xbox 360 franchise for at least another two or three years.

Microsoft has targeted Viva Piñata at the family audience and with a tie-in animated series hopes to capture a younger market not currently associated with its next-gen home console.

"We're pleased with the overall support that it's got and there's more to come within that franchise," said Lee Schuneman, head of production at Rare.

"We'd obviously like more sales, but we were happy with the game and critically it's gone down very well."

The game was released at the beginning of December but failed to break into the top forty in the UK All Formats charts.

Yet despite the lacklustre sales performance Schuneman remains optimistic of its shelf life.

"If the sales were there to match that we'd be over the moon, but they're not. Although that doesn't mean we don't believe in the franchise," he added.

With the 4 Kids produced animated series doing well in North America, and just this week launching in Europe, the strength of the cartoon could help reignite sales of a title so far under appreciated by the consumer.

"The TV show has been doing well in North America and it's got pretty good figures," commented Schuneman.

"It launched in the UK this week on Nicktoons and it's due in the rest of Europe later this year. It's a two or three year push, and if after that it's a terrible failure then we'll say fair enough," he concluded.

The full interview with Rare, where the company discusses the next Banjo-Kazooie title, downloadable content and targeting different markets, will be published on GamesIndustry.biz next week.

I am the Source!!!

I think that's great news. Viva Pinata is a great title, although a bit smaller/shorter than I expected. The trading is great, so are all the little options, like being able to transform certain pinatas and dragons that come from mines.

If it's successful and we'd see a second one that qould sell quite well I think.

[Carsonal]

Woooh.
If i had to pick a few things i would want improved in VP2 it would be a bigger garden and the option to travel outside the garden borders.

[NeverNight]

Nevermind Viva Pinata 2, I want a sequel to Kameo!

[woodo]

I though VP1 was a flop sales wise?

[carocat]

I though VP1 was a flop sales wise?

Well, this is what he said:

"We're pleased with the overall support that it's got and there's more to come within that franchise," said Lee Schuneman, head of production at Rare.

"We'd obviously like more sales, but we were happy with the game and critically it's gone down very well."

"If the sales were there to match that we'd be over the moon, but they're not. Although that doesn't mean we don't believe in the franchise," he added.

[poematik14]

I got Viva Pinata for christmas, I was hookd for a couple days and then it got boring and now its sitting on the shelf. It was ok, I never really got into the open ended games.

[PSeew]

i loved VP. I ran out of things to do though, ive only got a few piniatas left to unlock, but after a month of playing it all the time, it just got boring. VP2 would be a great platform to put in some realworld physics and be able to create things to compete with LBW on the Ps3. Of course, id just love to see a port of that game

[Jalf]

I got Viva Pinata for christmas, I was hookd for a couple days and then it got boring and now its sitting on the shelf. It was ok, I never really got into the open ended games.

Very similar to me but other open ended games seemed to capture my imagination more, the garden just got boring, still cute though.

[justintheman99]

My g/f literally lives for this game. I want to buy another 360 just so she isn't on mine always playing this game. Gets annoying when I want to play something.

[carocat]

My g/f literally lives for this game. I want to buy another 360 just so she isn't on mine always playing this game. Gets annoying when I want to play something.

So you're one of the people using the gf excuse when in reality it's you playing it?

So many people have said that. LOL!

[poematik14]

So you're one of the people using the gf excuse when in reality it's you playing it?

So many people have said that. LOL!

Lol....I guess i have to say it.


Owned.

[Dark Energy]

Viva Pinata is a joke - a bunch of lame Pinatas - at least it would be fun if you could blow them apart with a HEAT shell, but nooo - it has to be child friendly...

[poematik14]

Viva Pinata is a joke - a bunch of lame Pinatas - at least it would be fun if you could blow them apart with a HEAT shell, but nooo - it has to be child friendly...

You have obviously never played the game before. Your past posts including this one have been churlish and flamebait-like. I suggest you clean your act up.

[G_H_G]

Viva Pinata is a joke - a bunch of lame Pinatas - at least it would be fun if you could blow them apart with a HEAT shell, but nooo - it has to be child friendly...

You call it child friendly... but you should have seen my younger sister when one of her named Pinatas got eaten. She then ranted 'I'm not going to name any of them anymore!' .

[kingsam]

You have obviously never played the game before. Your past posts including this one have been churlish and flamebait-like. I suggest you clean your act up.

He just has masculine identity issues, it seems.

[Gromet]

I picked this game up release day... Came home and played it that day/night. I thought it was basically the lamest game I had ever played. My Fiance came over the next day and she played it. About an hour later we went and returned it... This was by far the worst game I had ever purchased... I have bought games in the past gotten bored of them, but i have NEVER actually returned a game... I have ALL my games and game systems since I was a kid with my Atari 2600. Thats how bad I thought this game was. I was actually embarrassed to own it.

Gromet

[thekingofkings]

While it looked really nice I just couldn't get into the game. Too much micro management going on. I traded mine in the next day as well.