Viva Pinata!

Wow, some of the screens certainly look amazing. Finally someone's actually putting next-gen graphics power to a non-conventional use! High-poly, high-res and some neat shaders aren't everything.

Gameplay sounds interesting too, 360 needs more variety and this looks like it could provide a quite unique and different experience form the rest of the software lineup.

 

What do you think you're looking at?

 

Given that next-gen graphics power has only been out for a few months, I think 'finally' is stressing it a bit much! I'll also say that it's not really doing anything different other than art style. The rendering engine is like a varient of Kameo's. I do wonder if they're using displacement to get the papery-ness. Looking at the near croc here
http://www.rareware.com/games/upcoming/pinata/shots/pinata_04hi.jpg
we see quads displaced from the surface.

I think rather than doing like hair with layers, there's a rectangular pattern as a texture with displaced quads to rough it up.

 

I don't know about you, but I've seen promo material and screenshots for several dozens of next-gen games and so far the overwhelming majority have been been using fairly conventional art styles and rendering technology, mostly to achieve a "realistic" look. (edit: Crackdown comes to mind as an exception)

Not that that's a bad thing, it isn't, but this is proof that all this power might also be put to a different use too. This is the first game I remember seeing that actually tries to do both things differently than the rest: use an over-the-top artistic style and some pretty rendering tricks to achieve a fairly unconventional and unique look.

Wether the game can actually deliver and be fun is an entirely different story.

You're mising my point. Of course the game uses polygons, textures and shaders, but it doesn't run around screaming: "Look at me! See how you can hardly make out the polygon edges and hey, don't forget to look at my normal maps, shiny specular highlights, reflections and most importantly that awesome new bloom filter, erm ... I meant HDR technology we came up with". It's trying to go a different route and I appreciate that. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

Didn't really miss that, as the...

...gave it away.

I totally agree by the way. It looks great.

Edit - Interview - Shane Kim: http://www.oxm.co.uk/articles/features/role_playing_games/viva_piata_interview_-_shane_kim

 

I think its a good idea, and the game/merchandise/TV show synergies seem very well thought out. The problem i have with the idea is not so much the idea itself, but the timeframe in which its going to be released.

Unless this is something like Spongebob, where it appeals to kids and adults as well, i dont see whos going to buy this. Youre aiming at a younger demographic, and thats fine. However, in order for them to take advantage of the video game tie-in they need to shell out $300 for a core, $30 for a memory stick, have broadband, and $50 for the game(going by PD0, Kameo pricing). SO its $400 plus broadband access to buy something your 8 year would will play? Its not like the 360 has awhole library of content for that age group already to justify the purchase of the hardware. Even if MS drops the price of the core by $50 this year thats still $350.

This is a game that i honestly feel would be much better suited to Revolution, if only becuase of the likely lower price point of the hardware.

Plus, i'm just not feeling the 360 is really ready for the 'playroom'. I mean, the gamecube can get bounced around and still keeps purring but i get the impression that the 360 and PS3 (and even Rev) wont take too much abuse.

 

They're pinatas... or have you never been to a child's birthday party?

Pin the tail on the donkey mini-game anyone? I just find this concept so hilarious... I just might buy it!

 

Well it certainly is disappointing to ruin my perfect record!

I agree with the scenarios you describe there and i think they are going to happen, i just dont know if those scearios are going to drive sales the way MS would like. I look at nintendo when games like this get released, and any deviation from their formula leaves me skeptical (both hardware and software). In this case, its the hardware cost thats got me unconvinced.

You know what might be good, sell the game for $30-$40 and put stuff on marketplace that add to the game. Stuff like bigger houses or pinata food or whatever. PLUS, give them one free pinata or accessory marketplace.

This way you reduce the entry price (at least for the software) but you draw people into marketplace. Also, the free item they get with the game purchase will ensure most of the owners who buy the game will get on XBL, at least silver.

 

A Nintendo game on the 360

Looks GOOD. Loving it. Not loving the cheesy donkey prima dona attitude or the sexual jokes with the other pinata in therapy (really makes me question the target audiance), but everything else looks really good. Maybe not a kids game (I could be out of touch though... I thought Shrek 1/2 were not very good children movies either) but looks to appeal to those of us who don't do the GTA thing and are looking of innovative and think-outside-the-box games with stylized graphics. Looks cool.

 

Just saw the treiler it looks fun, beautifull and it seems a good idea in general (althought ubless the serie is a big sucess I do have doubts of the sucess of the idea).

 

The TV show is going to be on a kids network (FOX kids i believe) so the game is definitely going to be for kids. However, like spongebob, there may be some content encoded for the parents taht the kiddies wont pick up on (as the trailer points out.)

I just wonder if:

1. Parents are going to buy it for themselves
2. Parents are going to shell out $350 so their kids can play it

 

wow, writing here is becoming very sociologico-filosofico-anthropologico-politologico-statisticlogico
chill out people

 

Would you say I have a plethora of pinatas?

 

Si Senior, ju have a plethora.

Count me as another demographic that is looking forward to more titles like this one. I bought a 360 for myself but have 2 young kids that would like to participate. But I don't really want them playing GRAW, Halo3, etc. They've already played through Kameo twice! (Incredible, incredible game BTW).

 

Hehe. I really hope this works out for them. I'm also hoping that IPs Microsoft has going for them in Japan workout as well. To bad they couldn't tack theirselves on to a really big childrens IP last gen.

 

Jefe, do you know what a "plethora" is?

 

I was listening to the Major Nelson podcast and this game sounds really, really good. I'm 20 years old and while I'm gonna wait to see reviews. I will probably own this title. It sounds like the gameplay is really emergen and their definetly playing towards a younger audience, so I have concerns. emergent games are often tough to make well and when you change the game to be accessible you risk over simplification. That said a year from now we might be talking about this game as a killer app.

 

Seems like a fantastic game to me. My 9-year-old played through Kameo twice.

 

Well give me a controller and a blindfold and let's have a good time!

 

Nice IGN Preview:

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/696/696080p2.html

I have a feeling I might like this game....but it's gonne be my dirty little secret...sshhhh!