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Viva Piñata(video game)

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Viva Piñata
Developer(s)Rare
Climax Group(PC)
Publisher(s)Microsoft Game Studios
Designer(s)Gregg Mayles
Composer(s)Grant Kirkhope
Steve Burke
SeriesViva Piñata
Platform(s)Xbox 360,Microsoft Windows,Xbox One
ReleaseXbox 360
  • NA:November 9, 2006
  • AU:November 30, 2006
  • EU:December 1, 2006
Microsoft Windows
  • NA:November 6, 2007
  • AU:November 15, 2007
  • EU:November 16, 2007
Genre(s)Life simulation
Mode(s)Single-player
Multiplayer

Viva Piñatais a 2006life simulation gamedeveloped byRareand published byMicrosoft Game Studiosfor theXbox 360.The game revolves around the player tending to a neglected garden in Piñata Island, in which different variations ofpiñatasbased on animals must be bred whilst fending off disruptive interlopers. The project was headed byGregg Maylesand the team behind theBanjo-Kazooieseries,based on an idea from Rare co-founderTim Stamper.Microsoft wanted the game to become a key franchise for the platform, and developeda tie-in television showto accompany the series.

AWindowsversion, handled byClimax Group,was released in November 2007. The game started theViva Piñataseries,witha direct sequelanda portable versionboth released in 2008.Viva Piñatais included in Rare's 2015Rare Replay,a compilation of 30 games for theXbox One.

The game received positive reviews from critics, who praised the graphics, color palette, soundtrack, replay value, numerous types of piñatas, and strategic gameplay. Much of the game's criticism was drawn to the disruption caused by frequent autosaving.Viva Piñatawas nominated for several awards, including those from theAcademy of Interactive Arts and Sciences,theBritish Academy of Film and Television Arts,and theParents' Choice Awards.Since its initial release,Viva Piñatahas been regarded as an underrated title by numerous critics,[1]with many noting it for aging well compared to modern video games,[2]and is often remarked as acult classic.[2][3]

Gameplay

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A screenshot of a garden. The top-right corner displays the clock, and the foreground shows various types of piñatas.

Viva Piñatais afirst-personlife simulation gamein which the player restores and tends to a neglected garden on Piñata Island.[4][5]The player uses gardening tools, such as shovels and watering cans, to plough their garden, sow seeds, create ponds, and sculpt the garden to their liking.[6][7]When certain requirements are fulfilled, the garden will attract a black-and-white outline of a given piñata species. After fulfilling additional requirements, the piñata will become a resident, changing into a full-color version.[8]

Once two piñatas of the same species are residents and their mating requirements are met, they can perform a "romance" dance. If the player successfully completes a mazeminigame,the romance results in a baby piñata egg, which is delivered by a stork. The piñatas are not gendered, and hence any two piñatas of the same species can mate.[9]Once a piñata species has successfully romanced, the player can use a candy shortcut to bypass their original romance requirements.[10]The player can hatch the egg or send it to another player overXbox Live.[11]The game's antagonists include the "Ruffians" led by Professor Pester[12]and "sour piñatas" who occasionally enter the player's garden with the sole intent of wreaking havoc: eating seeds, dropping poisonous piñata candies, and destroying objects.[13][8]The player may tame sour piñatas by constructing fences around them.[14]Weeds may occasionally sprout in the player's garden and will quickly spread to destroy vegetable rows if the player does not kill them in time.[13]

The game features sixty types of piñatas.[15]Certain animals are "piñatavores", and must eat other piñatas to become residents or reproduce.[16]Afood chain(referred to as thedoughnut of life)[17]exists, with a number of piñata species having one or two others that are considered prey.[16]When such piñatas are visiting the garden, they devour garden residents to satisfy their residency requirements. Once piñatas are residents, they will not eat each other unless instructed to do so by the player, although fights can break out between residents who do not share the predator–prey relationship.[14]Piñatas die when they are broken open, either from another piñata's predaciousness, the hit of the player's or Professor Pester's shovel, or following an extended illness.[14]Dead piñatas forfeit their equipped accessories.[8][14]Players were also able to trade their piñatas with other players over the internet viaXbox Live.[18]

Development

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Rareco-founder Tim Stamper conceptualized a gardening game for the handheldPocket PCplatform in 2002.[19]A three-person[20]team began work on a simple prototype while the company was still affiliated withNintendo,prior to itsMicrosoftacquisition.[18]Development transferred to the originalXboxand, ultimately, to theXbox 360for its enhanced graphical capabilities. The development team wanted its animals to have a unified style, which was how the concept artist arrived at thepiñataconcept. The idea was exciting for the team, as piñatas were not commonplace in the United Kingdom. The connection between piñatas and candy-filled insides led to new gameplay directions.[21]

TheViva Piñatateam was a model for productivity and regular output within Rare andMicrosoft Studios.[21]Though compared to the 12-person teams behind earlier Rare games, the company's Xbox 360 development teams consisted of 50 to 60 people.[22]TheViva Piñatateam included about 50 people at its zenith.[23]Microsoft transitioned its development teams to use itsXNApackage to streamline and reduce duplication in engineering efforts. Microsoft pressured theViva Piñatadevelopment team to keep the game's themes family-friendly,[21]as the parent company planned for the game and resulting franchise to increase the market appeal of their Xbox 360. In 2006, a Microsoft Games executive called the game its most important franchise.[24]

Viva Piñatawas planned as a larger intellectual property.4Kids Entertainmenthad agreed to make aViva Piñatacartoon before the game was released, having selected the series out of several Microsoft properties offered. 4Kids also handled the series merchandising. The cartoon was tied very closely to the game, and its animations were based on the game's own 3D character models, with Rare'sGregg Maylesapproving episodes for their applicability to the game during the show's development. The cartoon was also designed to give viewers tips on how to interact with the in-game piñatas.[21]The animated series' storyline later influenced the plot ofTrouble in Paradise.[25]

Release

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Hudson Horstachio, the world's largest piñata

After the release ofViva Piñatain 2006, its development team saw it as incomplete. The developers cut partial ideas from the release to meet their deadlines.[22]Rare'sGregg Maylessaid that the game sold well and steadily on par with their expectations[26]and Xbox executivePhil Spenceradded that the game was considered a success inside the company.[24]The team incorporated player feedback and worked towards a "more definitive version" of the original.[22]

During the Microsoft press conference atE32007, aMicrosoft Windowsport ofViva Piñatawas announced. The conversion was handled byClimax Group.[27][28]The game is part of theGames for Windowsprogramme which offers easier installation and support for Windows Vista's Games Explorer,Xbox 360 Controllerfor Windows, Parental Controls, and the use ofGames For Windows - Live.[29]

In December 2006, Microsoft collaborated with amusement parkSix Flags Mexicoto promote the Xbox 360 as well asViva Piñata.To accomplish this, a 48 feet (15 m) tall, 52 feet (16 m) long piñata, specifically a Horstachio, was constructed at the park. At the time, it was the largest recorded piñata ever built.[30]

Reception

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Viva Piñatareceived "generally favorable" reviews, according to video gamereview aggregatorMetacritic.[31][32]Nearly a year after its release, Rare's Justin Cook said that the game had sold about 500,000 copies.[38]

The graphics were unanimously praised by critics. Justin Calvert ofGameSpotstated the attention to detail was "uniformly impressive", and asserted that the visuals were cohesive.[5]Erik Brudvig ofIGNfound that the game's graphical slowdown during its frequent autosaving to be startling, although he praised the presentation overall.[8]Andrew Taylor of theOfficial Xbox Magazinepraised the vibrant use of colors and attention to detail.[37]Will Tuttle ofTeam Xboxsimilarly stated the colors were "vividly vibrant" and the design aesthetics "remarkably appealing", although he also found the autosaving slowdown frustrating.[15]Gerald Villoria ofGameSpystated the graphics were "breathtaking", and noted the color palettes of the piñatas themselves gave the appearance that they were "stripped directly from an animated show".[35]

Critics commended various aspects of the gameplay. Calvert enjoyed the wide customization options and large number of piñata variations, stating that the gameplay itself was "silky smooth".[5]Brudvig noted that there was a "ton to do"; he praised the encouragement of discovery and stated that it was "constantly filled with moments where you find something new to do".[8]Tuttle commended the large number of piñatas, stating that finding managing all of the resources is "a lot of work".[15]Villoria praised the "surprisingly deep" strategic gameplay, saying that it was one of the most "entertaining and fulfilling" experiences for the Xbox 360.[35]

Accolades

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TheAcademy of Interactive Arts & SciencesawardedViva Piñatawith "Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance - Female"(Louise Ridgeway as Leafos) during the10th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards;it also received nominations for "Console Game of the Year", "Family Game of the Year","Outstanding Innovation in Gaming ", and outstanding achievement in"Art Direction"and"Visual Engineering".[39]The music score byGrant Kirkhopewas nominated for Original Score at the 2007 BAFTA awards. The game was nominated for the "Best Original Game" inX-Play's "Best Video Games of 2006" awards.[40]Other accolades include aParents' Choice Awardfrom the Parents' Choice Foundation.[41]and GameSpot included the title as one of their ten nominees for their "2006 Game of the Year" award, although it received only 3% of the total votes.[42]In 2010,Viva Piñatawas featured in1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die.[43]

Legacy

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A sequel,Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradisewas released in September 2008.[44][45]The sequel adds more than 30 new piñata species, a "Just for Fun" sandbox mode, and new co-operative modes, as well as new desert and arctic environments.[46][47]The original game andTrouble in Paradisewere later re-released as part of the 2015 Xbox One compilationRare Replay,[48]but the server that handled their piñata sharing features had been shut down by that time.[49]In June 2019, both games wereenhancedto run at native4K resolutionon Xbox One X.[50]

Rare made a Nintendo DS version of the game,[51]titledViva Piñata: Pocket Paradise,released in September 2008. Key changes include a control scheme which makes use of the stylus, as well as the presence of additional context-sensitive information on the second screen.[52]Aparty gamespin-off,Viva Piñata: Party Animalswas released for the Xbox 360 in October 2007.[53]Developed byKrome Studios,the game features the TV show piñata characters competing in races and various partymini-games.[54]

In 2008,Viva Piñatawas included in the 2010 reference book,1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die,receiving praise for its innovative character designs, unique gameplay, and its developer's "enduring talent."[55]

References

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Further reading

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