Rare on Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise

We mull over this appealing new DS animal

More Images

Rare and THQ have teased us long enough over the DS version of Viva Piñata, the British game maker finally taking the wraps off 'Pocket Paradise' today. We've played the game, and recently sat down with Lead Designer Gary Richards and Software Engineer Joe Humfrey to learn more.

I was really pleased that the Viva Piñata experience is so complete on the DS. Was it a challenge including so much from the Xbox 360 version on the handheld? How did you strike an appropriate balance?

Gary Richards: Well, initially, we weren't really sure how we were going to get it on the DS. Our engineer was saying at the start: "there's no way we can do this on the DS."

Joe Humfrey: So, we were kind of split into two camps. Half of us were saying: "We're doing a 360 game on the DS? No way!" Then, we broke it down, and we considering leaving off more complex parts, unnecessary parts on the DS - Squazzils running up trees, pirching on buildings, etc.

GR: So when we cut it down to its core elements we realised we probably could manage it.

Was it important to include the whole game?

GR: I wanted to do it all along. The engineers had another idea, and eventually they came around. I think to do it justice you need the whole experience.

Do you view Viva Piñata as a kids game?

GR: Yes... and no. I think kids are attracted to it. But there's so much depth to it that adults are entertained at the same time. The kiddie graphics are appealing... and they like messing around in the garden. This is why we included the Playground, so kids can play with previously unlocked Piñatas. I can set-up a garden, unlock the animals, then pass the game to my son so he can play with the Piñatas.

JH: I'd compare it with a Pixar movie. Its something designed from the outset for both adults and kids to enjoy. The game can be enjoyed on multiple levels.

Do you know how the game will be marketed? It seems as if the 360 version got off to a slow start because the game's ideal audience are not hardcore 360 gamers.

GR: You'll need to speak with THQ about that, I think.

[All eyes turn to our friendly THQ PR lady, cue laughter]

GR: Fingers crossed the right people will find the game this time.

JH: Hopefully, yes! It really does suit the system, and we think it can really take off. We're also very proud of what we've achieved on the DS.

Visually, the game is suprisingly strong for a DS title. How challenging was this?

JH: Yes, the visuals were a major challenge, we spent a long time thinking about how to implement this side of the game. We really wanted to capture the beauty of the Xbox 360 version in this game, and get it on the DS. I was in charge of the engineering for the landscaping, and we could have used some tile-based system - had everything locked-on a grid. But we really wanted everything to be more free-form than that, so I'm really proud that players can literally draw on the screen; with the dirt and the grass, etc. You can also build ponds anywhere, of any shape.

Were the controls always conceived the way they are now from the outset?

GR: Kind of. They've sort of evolved through development. We originally thought the whole game would be played via the stylus. Then things evolved from there. Testers liked using the D-pad to scroll around the garden, so we added that.

The casual gamer will just use the stylus because its so easy to just point and click on everything.

As a left-hander, I was pleased that I could also use the right-side buttons to move around.

JH: Yes, we hoped there'd be a certain proportion who would appreciate that.

Are there seven new Piñata species?

GR: There are, yes.

Can you tell us what they are?

GR: Absolutely not.

[More chuckles]

GR: We're not allowed to say what the new ones are yet, unfortunately.

Connectivity. I heard a rumour that some form of link with the Xbox 360 was once under consideration?

GR: I'm not sure we can talk about that.

JH: It was briefly discussed.

It only happened on one day. It was conceived, and partially developed on that day, but never went any further.

GR: We didn't really look into it in any depth.

So, there won't be such connectivity with Viva Piñata 2?

GR: No, there won't be.

How close are the two games?

JH: Because the DS version was completed back in October, we've never really overlapped. Our game was virtually done by the time they were starting off.

Our teams are completely separate, and although we spoke with them at the start of the project, to find out their ideas and problems; to discover what possible engineering problems might arise, we haven't really spoken to them.

Will the new species be in both versions?

GR: Yes. We've got seven of there's and they've got a lot more. I'm not sure on exact numbers but yes, a lot more.

I like the VP content sharing. How will this work?

GR: It'll use the local Wi-Fi sharing on the DS, so you can just pack your Piñatas and other items in a crate, or try your hand at sabotage by packing-up a sour Piñata, and you can send that to your friend and it'll run around his garden destroying everything.