Viva-Pinata
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TGS: Lost Planet and Viva Piata video
We know, it's been a slow couple of days if you don't like RPGs, and even though X360F is the one that brought you videos of all this turn based crap, we feel your pain. As such, we'd like to make amends with not one, but two videos of games that don't star doe-eyed pixie people with spiky hair. The first is a very long video of Viva Piñata that you can see above. The second video -- one we imagine is more interesting to action fans -- is of Lost Planet. Make sure you watch for the multiplayer madness at the end. Let's never fight again, okay?
Run XBLA games from DVD-R, CD-R
Those crafty fellows over at 360GameSaves have uncovered an interesting "feature" of our beloved 360. It looks like Xbox Live Arcade games will run off of an ordinary DVD-R or CD-R. There's some technical mumbo jumbo that we won't relate here, but the upshot is that all you have to do is pop in a CD or DVD with the games burnt onto the disc. The article does note, however, that these games will still only run in trial mode if the full versions haven't been purchased on the 360 being used. Please know that X360F will not be held responsible should you attempt to break open your 360 like a piñata in order to retrieve the delectable games inside. Hit the read link for more details.[Via Xbox-Scene]
Microsoft brings TGS and X06 home
Remember back at E3 when the Halo 3 trailer was available on Marketplace before Microsoft officially unveiled it at the show? That was only part of the barrage of E3 content that was piped directly into our 360s. It made it a cool perk to have the latest and greatest hardware, allowing thousands of 360 owners to get a piece of E3. It looks like Microsoft plans to continue that tradition at this year's Tokyo Game Show and its own X06 (I had to decline a trip to cover the latter, stupid wedding!). TGS coverage will start on September 20th and run through the 24th. X06 will run September the 25th through the 29th. There is a chance that US and European gamers won't see all the TGS coverage, but Japan got most of the E3 coverage so, it's stands to reason this will be the same.Now we can all look forward to previews of the latest and greatest. Expect more of Blue Dragon, Gears of War, Viva Piñata, Blue Dragon, Fable 2, and Blue Dragon. And, since it's TGS, you'll probably see some Blue Dragon. In all seriousness, we really dug Microsoft's coverage of the last E3 ever, and hopefully this will recapture the same excitement.[Via Xboxic]
Viva Pinata gameplay revealed
If you've been hungering to know (and see) more specifics regarding Rare's upcoming game, Viva Piñata, take a gander at this massive video demonstration from Leipzig. Clocking in at over twenty minutes long, the video goes over just about everything you've wanted to know, including: Attracting piñatas to your garden Tending said garden Piñata romance (rowr!) Xbox Live features Piñatas, piñatas, piñatas. The game looks great. Rare's first game developed entirely on the 360 is colorful, vibrant, and overall very nice. Check out the video if you've got the time to kill. Anyone else think it's strange not to have a third person avatar in a children's game?
Viva Pokemon, Piata explored [update 1]
I flipped on my TV this past Saturday, and what did I see? Lo and behold, it was Viva Piñata. Naturally, it was my journalistic duty to watch an entire episode. Seriously, it had nothing to do with me being a full grown adult who still feels a powerful need to watch cartoons. Microsoft has reiterated time and again that Viva Piñata is their most important game of 2006. Gears of War? That's peanuts to Viva Piñata. Microsoft hopes to hook millions of kiddies on the show, and thus the impending video game. The question is, will it work?
Viva Pinata more like Muerte Pinata [update 1]
Stopping by the Viva Piñata booth at the Leipzig convention, a couple of the boys from 1Up noticed that the game maybe wasn't ready for public viewing. Besides not really knowing what to do, the guys also experienced some deadly frame rate issues -- sometimes having their screen freeze on them. From the video, the game kind of looks like a Tim Burton rendition of Animal Crossing. But, putting a less-than playable version of such a much-hyped game on the show floor probably wasn't the smartest move for Microsoft. [Thanks, Andrew Yoon] [Update: Microsoft has responded to 1Up's video via the Gamerscore blog. Check after the break for the explanation.]
New Viva Piata species discovered
You know you're a fanboy when...you get all National Geographic about new species of psychedelic piñatas. Some would-be Jane Goodall at the Viva Piñata Wiki discovered two new species of walking, talking multi-colored freak. The new, never-before-seen species are the Dragumfly and the Sherbat. Before you go insane, remember, this is Microsof's most important game of the year.[Thanks Jimmcq]
Game box pr0n (or: Scary Pinatas)
Xboxic has posted a few box art shots for upcoming titles. The titles include Ninety-Nine Nights, Gears of War, Viva Piñata, and Crackdown. I know Gears of War is supposed to be filled to the brim with scary action, but somehow the Viva Piñata box frightens me more. Could piñatas be the new clowns?
X06 in sunny Spain
Planet Xbox 360 reports that Microsoft has announced the official date and location for X06, the European Xbox convention. The event will be held September 27th and 28th in Barcelona, Spain, allowing industry members to soak up some sun and an unhealthy dose of Xbox branding. New invitees to the event include South Africa, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland -- Microsoft having announced 360 launches in these countries by the end of 2006. Regional vice president, Xbox, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Chris Lewis, said this of the event: "We are really looking forward to X06 in Barcelona and believe this will prove to be an amazing experience for gaming enthusiasts across Europe. We have some exciting announcements to make and even more to show people. X06 will firmly place Xbox 360 as the console of the next generation." This would be the perfect place for Microsoft to shed some light on its European projects, namely Viva Piñata and Fable 2. Here's hoping. [Thanks, Matt]
$40 XBL Vision camera & UNO bundle detailed by MS source along with prices & dates for other 360 accessories
Our friendly anonymous source at Microsoft has provided us with a few more details concerning the 360 accessories announced back at E3.Perhaps the most important involves the bundling of the Xbox Live Vision camera with a wired headset, the popular Live Arcade title UNO, and a month of Live Gold service for $39.99 when it releases in the States on September 19, 2006.Granted, this is still an unofficial report (based on a leak of "official" info), so understand that you're probably not gonna get much confirmation from MS until they're good and ready to give it. If you'd like information on what other peripherals are coming out "Holiday 2006" (so sometime in the 4th quarter) and at what price, read on for more.
First looks at Viva Pinata
After the Microsoft press briefing today, we managed to get a demonstration of Viva Piñata, the upcoming 360 title from Microsoft and Rare. At first glance the game seems extremely colourful and inviting; the game is based around a single garden, which starts as a desolated area.By building up the garden and its ecosystem (of piñata creatures), more and more piñatas are attracted from nearby gardens to live in the player's -- the first piñata that will venture in is a worm, which needs nothing but some soil to flourish, but more demanding creatures come along later. By balancing all their requirements -- some creatures will want to eat each other, for example -- the player can create a happy environment.The game seems very much like a cross between Animal Crossing and traditional God-game titles like Dungeon Keeper. Although it looks to have immediate appeal to children and younger players, it's likely to reach out to Sims fans too -- possibly even the elusive female demographic. We'll have more on the title during E3.
Microsoft responds to PS3 news, plus more on Viva Piñata
In this interview with the UK's Official Xbox Magazine, Xbox General Manager Shane Kim holds forth on the upcoming title Viva Piñata while casually dropping in a few words on the PS3's November launch. Kim believes Viva Piñata to be a killer title for the 360, saying that he thinks "that families will buy an Xbox 360 because they want to play [it]", also saying that Microsoft will talk about future Halo plans "at the right time".On the PS3 launch, Kim was clear: "For us, it doesn’t change anything. We’ve had a very clear strategy for a long time now and we’re not going to change that. We’re not going to react to anything that they do." Entirely in line with a second official reaction over at Microsoft's gamerscore blog which claims that the "announcement certainly doesn’t change any of our plans."A lot of reassurances that things are the same as ever over in Xbox land, then; perhaps Nintendo will follow the crowd and post their entirely bland canned response to a competitor's plans next.
Rare to unleash Pinatas on 360s this holiday season
Rare's next project is apparently an original IP concerning living piñata animals that will be featured in a Saturday morning TV/3-D/CG show and then in an Xbox 360 game debuting this holiday season worldwide.
