Viva Pinata announced for DS

Kotaku.com writes:
"Who wants Viva Pinata on the DS? Microsoft do. Announced at Comic Con yesterday, Viva Pinata DS will see the original game concept (ie not the party game) ported over to the DS, with the main changes a new top-down perspective and what I'd guess is an improved control scheme. The news is hardly surprising, what with Shane Kim's excessive hint-dropping a few months back, but hey. Best of luck to everyone involved. Viva Pinata was a good idea let down by the fact its target audience don't own 360s. They do own a DS, so maybe second time's a charm."

[iceice123]

This means Halo ds could have a chance, doesn't it?

[Effects Guardian]

but Bungie said, in an interview after E3, that Halo DS was pitched to them but they denied it because they wanted to work on Halo 3 and other things. If Halo DS were to happen, Ensemble would probably do it.

I really hope Viva Pinata for DS sells well in Japan so that they can see where the game originated from.

[Bloodmask]

but I guess good for the $$$. I bet Viva Pinata will sell lots of copies on DS. Seems like a good fit for a handheld.

It's just kind of strange to see Rare working with Nintendo again.

[FirstknighT]

Maybe we can get a trade...Let's see...I think I would want...a next gen Mario Kart!

[Like a shadow I am]

Rare used to make only Nintendo games, remember?

I think it's a mistake for Microsoft to buy Rare in the first place. Rare does not deserve the financial backing.

[Morbius420]

Rare should be a third party developer. I always thought Microsoft buying them was a bad idea. They just didn't fit together. Being independant Rare could make games targeted specifically to the core gamers for each system.

[TheMART]

This is wise, very wise of MS

DS is no competition for the 360, and could even help sales. Imagine this:

Many young kids own a DS and watch cartoons. Like Viva Piniata. They buy the DS game first. THey like it. It's christmas. They're walking in town with mum and dad see the 360 Viva Piniata pack and you know that parents are pretty bad in refusing their kids stuff...

Very wise indeed MS, getting money selling the game on DS and even get extra 360 sales in the end. Smart

@ Babylonian (below)

"But if you can't refuse your kid than your a bad parent and don't know how to raise them."

You're right, but you have no idea with how much kids actually parents think like that. That's the real world and yours is the ideal one. WIth Christmas they get presents you know. And 200 or 300 dollar/euro is almost normal in the western world right now.

"Besides, there is big competition for Viva Pinata like Pokémon, Yugi-Oh, B-daman, etc. And all of these games are on the DS or Wii."

Depends. If one likes Viva Piniata the cartoon, bought Viva Piniata the DS version, its very likely they want Viva on their TV through the 360.

"Do you think the parents will buy the 360 for 400 euros or dollars just so that their kids can play Viva Pinata, a new and not well established franchise? I think the chances for that are slim."

No, but because you're a PS3 fandroid, you don't say they are just fine with a core. Because those kids don't need online. The pricedrop of 50 dollar in August, will make the 360 249 Euro. Sometimes the memorystick is included to do savegames. Thus it's just as likable as the Wii. And we know how that sells. Chances are big actually.

"Parents with kids often buy stuff that are economicaly affordable for their standards, that's what MS probably thought too because of the amount of units the DS sold and it's low price compared to other consoles/handhelds."

Indeed. The core on 249, you see how the Wii sells like candy. That's why the Core with Viva Piniata will sell also. Thanks for proving my point.

"If you were/are a parent and you didn't have a 360, would you buy your kid a 360 just because he/she could play 1 game? I would buy him a PS2 or a Wii or a DS instead."

Thats whats happening with the WIi also. For one game. Or maybe only Wii Sports. So yeah. You have no idea if a kid really wants something and is mad about it what many parents with Christmas do. They give in just because they see how bad the kid likes the cartoon, maybe the DS game etc etc.

It's just a smart move from MS. Either way you look at it. THey'll make money on selling the DS game and EVERY extra sold 360 is nice.

But you dude, are just so out on trying to put stuff with importance like this down. Son of old Barbie Ken maybe?

[Babylonian]

But if you can't refuse your kid than your a bad parent and don't know how to raise them. Besides, there is big competition for Viva Pinata like Pokémon, Yugi-Oh, B-daman, etc. And all of these games are on the DS or Wii.

Do you think the parents will buy the 360 for 400 euros or dollars just so that their kids can play Viva Pinata, a new and not well established franchise? I think the chances for that are slim.

Parents with kids often buy stuff that are economicaly affordable for their standards, that's what MS probably thought too because of the amount of units the DS sold and it's low price compared to other consoles/handhelds.

If you were/are a parent and you didn't have a 360, would you buy your kid a 360 just because he/she could play 1 game? I would buy him a PS2 or a Wii or a DS instead.

[Odion]

no he has a point though, a lot more people are going to play Viva Pinata on the DS, if they really like it, hey a Core system is about to cost the same as a Wii, and there are 2 more Viva Pinata titles.

[Mandangoof]

This is unprecedented. Viva Pinata goes to DS, Gears goes to Mac. Blue Dragon and Halo are sure to follow Viva to DS, and the terrible thing is, they'll all bomb.

ESPECIALLY Viva. Especially. MS's plan is either to harm Sony's PSP (not with that trash) or earn some extra cash on DS (due to poor sales, fail), or even to try and lure HANDHELD gamers to a console with an entirely different spectrum of games (idiotic move).

This is hilarious. Rare sells more on Nintendo platforms even after they were sold to MS. I guess this is the only way to make back that 300million blunder MS payed for them, ey?

[Bloodmask]

I predict you will set an N4G record. You will be the first person to to be down to 1 Bubble after the new and improved feedback system.

I don't even think the new system can save you.

[Like a shadow I am]

and Microsoft allowed the Mac version to be made because Microsoft owns Bungie. Why Microsoft would allow Halo to be ported to Mac is beyond me.

BTW, don't be an idiot, we all know that DS is way, way more popular than PSP.

[darx]

you are right...How stupid of MS trying to make money! A company trying to make money, how stupid!

[God of Gaming]

Ummmmm I dont think you get it. MS is going to publish it on the DS, they own Rare... I am missing your point.

This is MS being very smart and basically confirms they will not have a handheld. Why not publish games for the DS.... and Viva is a perfect fit!

[gnothe1]

as far as Mac goes, I'm not 100% sure but I think MS owns a small % of Mac. then you guys talking about MS loosing exclusives, you guys have no clue do you. you guys better believe if MS publish a game with their money they OWN ALL rights to that game. speaking of VP do you guys think Rare is the one working on VP party animals, NO!! another company is doing that game an its MS decision what happens with that game not Rares.

[Salvadore]

Smart decision by MS to enter the portable market by software rather than making their own portable handheld.

[bung tickler]

how did this thread turn into a rare bashing? they have made some of he best games i can think of. and they have yet to develop a game from the ground up on the 360, so give them time. but even with that VP (development started on the original xbox) is really a good game, anyone that has played it will tell you the same. the only reason it didn't do too good is because on the surface it looks like a kiddy game. its the first 360 game i've owned that i've played to 100% completion, i couldn't put it down and i'm 23.

[PS360WII]

Well that's cool. We can now assume we won't need to spend a few hundered dollars on a MS handheld for a bit seeing that the like the DS so much. Wasn't Diddy Kong Racing a top seller for this 07 year already? MS and Rare knows that the audience for Rare games are not yet on the 360 and the DS is not a console so it's just extra money to them. We'll probably see more Rare games and MS funded games on the DS.

[BIadestarX]

Not that the DS needs help ripping the PSP in pieces... but having Microsoft Game Studio as an contributer can only help Nintendo. I think we are starting to see microsoft strategy a bit more clear... wherever hurts Sony... helps Microsoft.

[PS360WII]

Well I think we can all agree that Viva Pinata is more of a Nintendo game than a MS game right? I hope so at least. It would not sell well on the PSP for sure they only had two games reach good selling with Loco Roco and Monster Hunter Portable 2(over exaggeration I know but is it really?). PSP still needs to get their consumers to buy games rather than just the handheld for 3rd parties to want to make more psp games.

This is more of a way for MS to cash in on their new IP, they are not lying to themselves about the 360 not having the particular mass of kids this game is meant for like the DS has.

[Odion]

ya its pretty clear their doing this to create an easy flow of additional income, and to hurt the PsP.

[PS360PCROCKS]

haha wow Microsoft is going to make an assload off this now.

[CrazzyMan]

that is funny =))
M$ games coming to nintendo.. =))
desperate times... =))

[iceice123]

So scared that the PSP will fail, oh wait, it already has! =)) has sold about half as much as the DS and its games are half the quality, nice purchase there. Another nail in the coffin for the dead PSP :)

[Mandangoof]

Halo on Mac? How stupid can Microsoft get. It doesn't f***ing matter that MS is making money on it, how do you filthy Xbot f@ggots not see that?

MS is losing FIRST PARTY, I repeat, FIRST PARTY exclusives. I don't have to buy an MS platform to play them, I don't have to buy an Xbox 360 to play pretty much any worthwhile game on it either - Mass Effect, Bioshock, Halo 3, Splinter Cell 5, Gears, Alan Wake etc etc etc are all on PC, coming to PS3 (Bio, SC5) or even MAC!!!

This is ridiculous. Sony could make tons of money by putting Locoroco on DS, but that really isn't how things work. You don't give up 1st party exclusives if you want people to buy your platform, PERIOD.

By they way icewake, it seems PSP has sold 25 million in 2 years. It's doing great for itself with an attach rate of around 3.5-4, while XBox 360 (while a console, it was not facing ANY competition for a year, and nothing like DS when it was facing competition) suffers with a mere 10 million in around the same period.
360 doesn't need any help flopping. But MS insists on giving it every hand it can spare with these INSAAAAAANE blunders