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Viva Pinata DS sprouts Sept. 2

Pocket Paradise will launch day and date with Trouble in Paradise for the 360 next month.

Rare has already said that its next all-new installment in the Viva Pinata franchise--Trouble in Paradise--will be available exclusively for the Xbox 360 on September 2. What the developer failed to mention when it made that announcement in July, however, is that in tandem with that Xbox 360 release, the developer will also be bringing the THQ-published Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise to the Nintendo DS.

Pocket Paradise reprises the original Viva Pinata, released for Microsoft's Xbox 360 in 2006. The portable outing features gameplay along the same lines as the original, in which aspiring horticulturalists will build up their virtual gardens by creating an attractive living environment for wayward pinatas.

In addition to a redesigned interface and new control scheme, Pocket Paradise includes seven all-new pinatas as well as 12 full-motion tutorial clips and Playground mode, in which players can accelerate the development of their gardens. The DS game will also make use of the portable's Wi-Fi functionality, making it possible to swap pinatas locally.

Both Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise and Pocket Paradise will surface in North America on September 2, with their European rollouts penciled in for September 5.

40 Comments

  • necronaux

    Posted Sep 12, 2008 10:16 am GMT

    The ability to swap pinatas? Is this a good thing?

  • Robborboy

    Posted Sep 2, 2008 4:47 pm GMT

    If anyone has noticed the only games that do good in Japan are the games that are made in Japan.

  • tawagivercetti

    Posted Aug 19, 2008 5:33 am GMT

    360 and ds is quite the odd couple

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 6:21 pm GMT

    VP was a dud over in Japan I have to wonder how well it will do when it hits a different platform there, and a few questions might be answered.

  • kholdstareo1

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 5:46 am GMT

    same day i go back to school... damn you viva pinata!

  • Ra-Devil

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 5:11 am GMT

    Viva Pinata is one of the most addicting games ever.... I own the 360 version, but I don't know if that can stop me from getting this one.... choices like this make me wish I was made of money.

  • jakob_187

    Posted Aug 17, 2008 8:06 pm GMT

    Have to say that this is probably one of the weirdest and most unorthodoxed announcements I've ever heard.

  • rctyke

    Posted Aug 17, 2008 4:10 pm GMT

    Since Microsoft is not part of the portable market (Zune does not count), it isn't a surprise. Microsoft did release some of their franchises on nintendo's handheld, and a while ago they did rumored Halo going on to the Game Boy advance.

  • rctyke

    Posted Aug 17, 2008 4:09 pm GMT

    Since Microsoft is not part of the portable market (Zune does not count), it isn't a surprise. Microsoft did release some of their franchises on nintendo's handheld, and a while ago they did rumored Halo going on to the Game Boy advance.

  • killzone_gamer

    Posted Aug 17, 2008 1:10 pm GMT

    Great!
    *sigh*

  • ukillwegrill

    Posted Aug 17, 2008 11:45 am GMT

    It's suprising, but a smart move.
    Viva Pinata may appeal to some of the more casual DS owners, as well as the hardcore ones. In turn it may lead them to want to play the console version.

  • GamerDude3282

    Posted Aug 17, 2008 9:37 am GMT

    also it would be really funny if they had DS to 360 connectivity

  • GamerDude3282

    Posted Aug 17, 2008 9:35 am GMT

    The DS has a huge install base, and caters to everyone, and is really a great handheld, so its a great move for MS to allow Viva Pinata on DS, although I'm still some what surprised by it..

    I almost think MS should just join up with Nintendo sometimes (it almost happened with Sony) because they have pretty good relations and they could both have a better system because of it... I don't think Sony really needs to join up with anyone if they did it would be alright, but I feel the PS3 is the most complete system out there and is only growing bigger..

    But all 3 are awesome... but It would help to only buy 2 systems next gen and get the same amount of quality

  • Supabul

    Posted Aug 17, 2008 4:58 am GMT

    I'm surprised nintendo let MS use their DS to attract people to the 360. How let them put Halo on it.

  • MichaeltheCM

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 7:07 pm GMT

    too bad i dont have a DS. guess i'll just have to wait for the 360's pinata sequel

  • Questlove711

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 6:04 pm GMT

    Man... I might have to go and buy a DS now...

  • DoMiNiC147

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 5:49 pm GMT

    It's seems like a good idea the question is how bad are they going to change it

  • bubnux

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 2:00 pm GMT

    I'm buying them both, VP's got that crazy s**t they keep it crunk up, john blaze and s**t.

  • Nanaki_XI

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 1:54 pm GMT

    I can't afford a 360, so this is great news.

  • paullywog

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 10:46 am GMT

    yeah my guess is that microsoft wants people to see viva pinata on ds because they figure that's where most people see games, then advertise viva pinata being on 360 also and hopefully draw some new customers.

  • DJSMITH007

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 9:06 am GMT

    Not really surprising since Viva Pinata will probably sell the best on the casual market with the DS

  • OfficialBed

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 8:42 am GMT

    haha cool....it better be good!

  • flipin_jackass

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 7:40 am GMT

    yay!

  • flipin_jackass

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 7:40 am GMT

    yay!

  • EXxile

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 7:09 am GMT

    Since Rare is owned by Microsoft I have to say this is very generous of Microsoft to allow Rare to make Viva Pinata for the DS. I guess since MS isn't part of the handheld wars, it really does hurt them at all. Smart move considering the DS is a huge money maker.

  • aznjeon89

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 6:43 am GMT

    Could this mean that Nintendo might allow Goldeneye 64 on the Xbox Live Marketplace soon? And the Virtual Console?

  • beanofengland

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 4:41 am GMT

    freaking platform wars, don't worry xbox fans nintendo isn't going to steal rare back or anything, the devs are really happy working for Microsoft, they just want to make a quick penny, like diddy kong racing ds

  • amber_jade

    Posted Aug 16, 2008 12:13 am GMT

    Agentgamer001:

    They just want maximum sales (I don't blame them) and the DS will give them that because so many people own one and it's a typical style game (although different gameplay) for that platform.

  • Humikimi

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 11:40 pm GMT

    Nice...I'm interested in the DS version. I still have yet to open my 360 copy of the game :-\. So many good games to play...so little time.

  • Pete5506

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 10:37 pm GMT

    Nice, I might go pick this up

  • nickythenewt21

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 7:22 pm GMT

    Sweet!

    (pun absolutely intended)

  • CptJimDangle

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 6:58 pm GMT

    I played the demo of this game and I thought it was pretty fun, till the 4 or 5 different moves at your disposal got pretty old.

    Kinda fun though.

  • Trogeton

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 6:32 pm GMT

    I hope its as fun on the ds like 360 viva pinata is cool

  • xdeiri

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 6:30 pm GMT

    this is a smart move Microsoft developers cant resist the DS

  • Lord_Artix

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 6:29 pm GMT

    I'll check it out I guess. Got a backlog of games to play through first.

  • kcwsk8

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 5:57 pm GMT

    i hope ThyLord

  • Agentgamer001

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 5:30 pm GMT

    This seems wierd to me when a Microsoft owned company like Rare is making a game for a handheld that was made by Nintendo.

  • Swan3624

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 5:09 pm GMT

    Awesome, awesome news

    I'm a huge fan of the first game (and proud of it), and I just can't wait for the DS version of it. The 360 sequel is looking pretty fantastic, as well.

    Very good news that they are bringing them both out on September 2nd. I originally thought the DS version was coming out September 8th, but this is a great breath of fresh air, even if it is only a few days in difference. Can't wait!

  • polsci1503

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 5:05 pm GMT

    for when you need to take your garden on the go.

  • xxThyLordxx

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 4:45 pm GMT

    whats next? Halo on DS.

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