360's Killer Christmas App?

[Gadfly2317]

Continuing the discussion on the topic of MS having a chance to get a "killer app" out before the Ps3 comes out. . .

I just noticed they appear to be priming the next Rare game "Viva Pinata" for cultural saturation status, creating a line of toys as well as a cartoon. A 1up article described the game as melding elements of The Sims, Animal Crossing, Pokemon, Harvest Moon and Kameo and including online components for trading your Pinatas.

A colorful kiddy sandbox-style god-game with play elements supposedly sophisticated enough to appeal to adults, if Rare nails this game and it's actually an addictively fun game and not a shallow kiddy-game that's more marketing than substance. . .this potentially is the kind of game that could push me to get a system. There are plenty of reasons to be skeptical, but I'm hoping they pull it off.

In all our discussions here of whether any upcoming titles for 360 are being innovative, new, and potentially creating a gaming phenomenon, no one's mentioned this game. This seems like the kind of game that turns off the 360 hardcores, so to succeed, MS really will have to pull in new gamers I think.

So I'm just asking, how many of you 360 owners have this game on your "maybe" radar?

http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/696/696080/viva-pinata-20060315055443412.jpg

IGN: "A wild and easy-to-control kids' game by famed developer Rare. Designed together with the "Viva Piñata" Saturday morning 3-D animated TV series, this Xbox 360 game is a customizable, social and spontaneous game that invites players of all ages and skills to explore an immersive world where they are challenged to create and maintain a living garden ecosystem that grows in real time. Beginning with a few basic tools, players build and take control of their environment to attract and host more than 60 species of wild piñata, utilizing hundreds of customizable elements to create their very own distinctively unique thriving paradise. Viva Piñata gameplay continues to evolve with new content available via the Xbox Live service and the ability to play, trade and interact with Viva Piñata players everywhere."

[Mochan]

Picture is too big. Please just link the pic.

[trebor]

Look's like Rare's art direction is to have an Easter Bunny puke everywhere.

I.E. Pastel hell.

But seriously though, I think it's safe to say at this point that Rare isn't all it's cracked up to be (get it? "cracked up" like an Easter egg?), especially when one considers the mediocrity of PDZ and Kameo. This looks like a second hand idea, coming from a second rate developer, and the behest of the copycat company M$.

The best Rare can do these days is to borrow heavily from better developers and hope to coast on the name Nintendo made for them almost 10 years ago.

[Pandarbock]

Picture is too big. Please just link the pic.
The picture isn't big enough actually on my new 32" WXGA monitor :P

[Mochan]

'Twould fit if I were at home but I'm at work and I only have a small window to work with here!

[Gadfly2317]

Sorry. I rarely post pics, and didn't realize this one was so large. I just thought it was really pretty. Truthfully, I share Trebor's skepticism about this just being a collection of other's ideas, tidied up in what will be a big marketing push. It would fit with the track record of the last console.

Still, I'd LOVE to see a really groundbreaking fun game on the 360 with all-ages, all gender appeal--not just a guns and cars game--and that it DOES sell a lot so more of that will get made and the 360 can flourish as a fully functioning console.

The handful of titles on the xbox trying to broaden the system were all failures, though, so it just remains to be seen. I really like the idea's and concepts being talked about in Viva Pinata. This is no Barbie Horse Adventure, I don't think, and even if it borrows heavily from Pokemon and Animal Crossing, Rare has a great sense of polish and humor, and IF they can squeeze some new interesting gameplay in this gorgeous sandbox god-garden, I applaud the effort from Rare and MS.

[Pandarbock]

'Twould fit if I were at home but I'm at work and I only have a small window to work with here!
:P I just love this new toy so i have to brag about it is all. Makes everything I have thrown at it so far look so much prettier.

[Renzatic Gear]

Penny Arcade did a little comic about this. Considering the goal of all the animals in the game is to become some kid's pinata, this is what they came up with...

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO COMIC (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/03/17)
http://users.chartertn.net/greymatt/pa_va.jpg

[Glockstar]

In all our discussions here of whether any upcoming titles for 360 are being innovative, new, and potentially creating a gaming phenomenon, no one's mentioned this game. This seems like the kind of game that turns off the 360 hardcores, so to succeed, MS really will have to pull in new gamers I think.

So I'm just asking, how many of you 360 owners have this game on your "maybe" radar?

Shove off.

The only one that's talking that innovative ****e is you. Nobody else gives a flying eff.

Because you know why? Because most people consider the games they buy to be innovative enough. Condemned; Kameo; Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter; Oblivion...

Nobody would buy a game - or especially a sequel or follow up game - but period, if there wasn't a perceived innovation in it somehwere. And for the most part, I think people get what they want - I think they're happy with what they get.

The only one who's whacked out about "innovation" is you.

As for Viva Pinata...
eff no, I'm not interested! It's a kids game! What in praytell makes you think any adult - who's not a parent - would look twice at that game?!

Now, at the same time I say this, I also say, "good". Good for Rare. Good for MS. Good for the 360. I'll have more than enough other games to buy when this game comes out. I don't need every single game maker cowtowing to my every want and need. And MS is definitely going to want to get some more kids games in it's library if it wants to appeal to little kids, and parents with little kids. So in that regard, the game sounds good.

But other than that, it's not for me. In fact, I doubt it's for anyone here. ('Cept maybe TMG - because he actually has kids.) So this is the last I expect to hear of it.

[shogun]

Holiday Killer Apps of 360: Oblivion, Geometry Wars and Ninja Gaiden Black running at 1/2 speed.


Viva Pinata
I actually thought it looked kinda neat. Kinda reminds me of Animal Crossing. Of course, whether the game will appeal to kids without becoming too saccarine for adults is anyone's guess...

[Jupiter_x]

Shove off.

The only one that's talking that innovative ****e is you. Nobody else gives a flying eff.

The only one who's whacked out about "innovation" is you.



Wow, you really are a D**k! Grow up!

[Jupiter_x]

A 1up article described the game as melding elements of The Sims, Animal Crossing, Pokemon, Harvest Moon and Kameo and including online components for trading your Pinatas.
If 360 is the hot item over the holiday's and takes the #1 postition and if this title has the "Rare" touch? I think it could very well help 360 in areas where they seemed to fail before.


So I'm just asking, how many of you 360 owners have this game on your "maybe" radar?

Ufortunetly I don't think so, Most gamers in our age group are not into the quirky or simple style of games such as Harvest moon or Animal Crossing! I'll even admit that I highly anticipate such titles like GRAW and Oblivion, Killzone but I don't pay quite as much attention to Animal crossing, Pikmin or Harvest Moon....Yet I really enjoy those titles aswell!

[ThaMaskedGamer]

Well I have a whole new appreciation for kiddie games. I play Kameo with my youngest daughter and she loves the game even moreso than her Nintendogs(which you couldn't tear her away from). She loves all the characters and at first could barely control the game, but now she can control it, but makes me do the fighting parts. So i'd consider this game.

By the way, I don't know what is not innovative about Kameo. It controls beautifully and has gameplay unlike any other game i've seen. It is beautiful and while it maybe too shallow for us adults, what kiddie game isn't?

[shogun]

If 360 is the hot item over the holiday's and takes the #1 postition and if this title has the "Rare" touch? I think it could very well help 360 in areas where they seemed to fail before.


It very well might, especially if it has a JRPG and platformer as unlockables .

[Cuddly Knife]

Well I have a whole new appreciation for kiddie games. I play Kameo with my youngest daughter and she loves the game even moreso than her Nintendogs(which you couldn't tear her away from). She loves all the characters and at first could barely control the game, but now she can control it, but makes me do the fighting parts. So i'd consider this game.Have you considered some Live Arcade? Games like Feeding Frenzy, Marble Blast, and Zuma are great for the kiddies.

[Gadfly2317]

As for Viva Pinata...
eff no, I'm not interested! It's a kids game! What in praytell makes you think any adult - who's not a parent - would look twice at that game?!


"a kid's game." Maybe, or maybe it actually will hold appeal for all age levels, which is what Rare is shooting for, despite your premature judgement about the game without having played it.

We all know you have this same loathing for things with a cute visual style and a bright color pallette. If Rare is snagging some ideas from games like Animal Crossing but still making making something really different, more power to 'em, and I'd like to try it out. Animal Crossing had a lot of adult fans for a reason.

You have an unfortunate attitude, one that seems unhealthy and unhappy. If you are so damned worried about categorizing things as "adult vs kids" you oughta give up videogames entirely and take up golf, or spend your energy making some real bank and start collecting exotic cars. 'cause your post didn't sound like an adult, it sounded like a big whiny baby.

[Glockstar]

LOL 'Whiny baby'? Hah! Dude, all of the babies are in your camp.

Second off, you're wrong when you say that I 'loath games with cute visual styles and a bright color pallettes'. (You and trebor are both horrible generalizers and fact-distorters.) Why, I made a special trip just yesterday to go pick up Lego Star Wars for my Xbox. Now that game is cute! But it's funny-cute, see.

[trebor]

LOL 'Whiny baby'? Hah! Dude, all of the babies are in your camp.

Second off, you're wrong when you say that I 'loath games with cute visual styles and a bright color pallettes'. (You and trebor are both horrible generalizers and fact-distorters.) Why, I made a special trip just yesterday to go pick up Lego Star Wars for my Xbox. Now that game is cute! But it's funny-cute, see.

Don't drag me into this, Poopy Pants.