THQ Announces Fall Release For DS Viva Pinata

Following the announcement of an Xbox 360 sequel to Rare's Viva Pinata original sim/garden title, THQ has announced it will be publishing Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise, the DS exclusive version of the game, this fall. First announced in July 2007 at the San Diego ComicCon, THQ says the DS title will feature "an array of content exclusive to Nintendo DS" and a control scheme designed to take advantage of the handheld's unique features. The game specifically will feature seven new pinata species with new requirements, houses and cut-scenes, and a new Playground mode which allows players to "create a lush garden full of exciting and exotic piñatas in a very short amount of time." Finally THQ says players will be able to collect certain rare pinatas only by use of the DSs local wireless connection, which players can also used to transfer items from their garden to a friend’s. Said THQ senior marketing VP Bob Aniello, “Nintendo DS is the perfect platform for the Viva Piñata franchise because players can have direct interaction with the environment and their piñatas using the stylus. We are thrilled to introduce Microsoft’s critically-acclaimed Viva Piñata series to an entirely new segment of the gaming community.”