About Viva Pinata

Games

• "Viva Pinata," the first game in the series, was released for the Xbox 360 in 2006, with a version for Windows computers released in 2007. "Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise" for the Nintendo DS came out in 2008, as did a sequel for the Xbox 360, "Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise." All three games were developed by Rare Ltd., a British company that was bought by Microsoft in 2002.

Game Play

• In each "Viva Pinata" game, players start out with a small, sparse garden. A girl named Leafos gives hints and instructions, and her brother, Seedos, provides the player with seeds that grow into flowers, vegetables, bushes and trees. Pinatas, which are attracted to the plants and decorations, first appear outside the garden, then visit and eventually become resident. Each pinata has a set of requirements that must be met before it comes to live in the garden. Players are armed with tools such as shovels and watering cans, and a nearby village is home to shops and workers who help out in the garden.

Pinatas

• The pinatas resemble animals, but have names with candy themes. Early in the game, players encounter Sparrowmints -- spearmint sparrows -- and Mousemallows. Later on, they'll attract advanced pinatas like Cocoadiles, Shellybeans and Elephanillas.

Sandbox Style

• "Viva Pinata" is a sandbox game, with no real strictures or plot to control game play. The player is free to choose his or her own path, deciding which flowers to plant and what pinatas to keep in the garden. Players can change the terrain of the garden, planting grass and digging ponds. "Trouble in Paradise" introduced sand and snow to the garden. The games unfold organically, with new pinatas appearing based on prior decisions. Each time the player plants a new type of seed or interacts with a new pinata species, the player gains experience and increases his or her gardening level, which allows even more pinatas to appear.

Reception

• All of the "Viva Pinata" games were rated "E" for everyone by the ESRB and were well-received by critics. IGN gave all three versions of the game a score of 8.5 out of 10, a "great" rating. In 2007, the Academy for Interactive Arts and Sciences nominated "Viva Pinata" for several awards, including "Console Game of the Year" and "Outstanding Achievement in Gaming."