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Someone buy our game please, Viva Pinata marketing returns photo

Microsoft and Rare thought they had it all figured out with Viva Piñata. Here was a game that was not only sickly adorable, but was also supposed to appeal to the same gene that controls a child's frenzied Pokémon collecting addiction. Coupled with its own animated television show and a solid marketing campaign, the game was set to be quite the success. 

Well ... oops! While the game didn't necessarily bomb (Microsoft publicly maintains that the game was a success), it certainly didn't reach the audience Microsoft had intended.

The problem wasn't that the game wasn't good. In fact, the game is pretty terrific, and even Ron Workman (under the influence of Jägermeister, no doubt) dabbled in his own little piñata garden. No, the issue was that the game was just too damned complicated for a child to play. That and they all thought the show was stupid, but that's another story. 

So Microsoft are giving it another go, this time appealing to adults with their "Viva Piñata Confessions" campaign. They've set up their own Windows Live Spaces page dedicated to the cause, with a "hardcore" gamer proudly and publicly saying, "It's okay to want to make two piñata snakes screw their brains out." 

So go on and confess. Remember -- if it's good enough for Ron Workman, it's good enough for you.


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24 comments | showing # 1 to 24

Mabec's Avatar
Mabec at 05/03/2007 20:01

It works, trust me...
Gameboi's Avatar
Gameboi at 05/03/2007 20:07
The game is underappreciated, to say the least. I rarely drink, and I love it.
Topher Cantler's Avatar
Topher Cantler at 05/03/2007 20:09
But... you can make crocodiles do it.
Oni's Avatar
Oni at 05/03/2007 20:09
http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=229

That is all.
Oni's Avatar
Oni at 05/03/2007 20:10
DeusPayne's Avatar
DeusPayne at 05/03/2007 20:22
Hello, my name is Ben, and I'm a Viva Pinataholic.
Nick Chester's Avatar
Nick Chester at 05/03/2007 20:29
I <3 Viva, too. I need to actually spend more time with it.
Niero's Avatar
Niero at 05/03/2007 20:41
That game is hard as fuck and has some valuable life lessons. You know, like killing the sick because it's more economic.
Zanch's Avatar
Zanch at 05/03/2007 21:59
100+ hours puts it in my top 3 favorite games of last year. It's just a shame that so few people bought it.
Foxtoid's Avatar
Foxtoid at 05/03/2007 22:07
I try to suggest it to everyone, otherwise how will I get new dlc PINATAS!!!!!!
bigbro2004's Avatar
bigbro2004 at 05/03/2007 22:50
Give me 5 key reasons to buy the game, and I am serious about this. I am curious as to 5 solid things about the game that make it worth buying.
Reverend Slim's Avatar
Reverend Slim at 05/03/2007 22:57
Microsoft gave me a free copy for being on 360 #6 and 7 ('cause I now have two from buying a Core while they sent me broken premiums for 2 months straight), and I actually quite enjoy it. I normally hate those types of games, but it really did suck me in. I would have never bought it myself though... because Microsoft never put a good demo of it on Marketplace (which, in my opinion, is why most didn't get hooked on it).
Nick Chester's Avatar
Nick Chester at 05/03/2007 23:03
Five things? Jesus. Well:

1) It's gorgeous.
2) It has more depth to it than you'd imagine out of a "children's game"
3) If you're into collecting and building and planning, there's plenty of that to be had.
4) You can name a pinata "Shit Biscuit" (if that's your thing)
5) Microsoft needs the money.
BluDesign's Avatar
BluDesign at 05/03/2007 23:40
6) It features forced animal breeding (YOU OVER THERE!!! SCREW AGAIN AND AGAIN!!!)

7) Your main weapon and attack is beating everyone with a shovel. Yeah, quite possibly one of the more potentially brutal ways to kill someone.

8) Setting pinatas on fire and then beating them ON PURPOSE.

9) The creepy Wally Builder's constant eating of foul foods.

10) Chicks dig paper mache animals.

11) Stupid easy achievements for Gamerscore whoring.
broham's Avatar
broham at 05/03/2007 23:46
You know what's strange? I have never heard or read of anyone NOT liking this game. I own it, and enjoy it. Why the hell was it so mediocre in the sales department? Was it all because of marketing? Or if they named it Toy Story 4, would it do better?
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 05/04/2007 00:21
I sat and watched an episode or two of the tv show with my kiddo one Saturday morning. Given a choice, next time I'd rather watch a home movie of Stalin raping my grandparents. The game's pretty cool though.
questworld's Avatar
questworld at 05/04/2007 01:10
So the Wii is for "kiddies" but Viva Pinata is for the "hardcore" too. Nothing against VP, but as the saying goes "it's a two way street" and at the very least I'd like to point out that I just hate all the bashing and trash talking (mixed within ironies and hypocracies) of the videogame community.
Axle's Avatar
Axle at 05/04/2007 04:22
My wife tells me it's the only game she doesn't like me playing because when I play it I totally ignore her.

It is one of the best games on 360, along with Fight Night 3 and Crackdown.
morbo47's Avatar
morbo47 at 05/04/2007 11:20
Ah, finally a game that can transport me back to the days of being a glassy eyed kid staring at the tv... Definitely one that makes it more than easy to completely tune out the outside world.

...Kinda scary, actually.

But hey! Lots of sex!!
Joe Burling's Avatar
Joe Burling at 05/04/2007 13:06
I got all 1000 achievement points in it. Big fan here.
robotplague's Avatar
robotplague at 05/04/2007 14:37
It is indeed fantastic. I'd rather look at this game than most other games, it's quite the looker.
Chibs's Avatar
Chibs at 05/04/2007 15:41
How is this game hard for children exactly?
My little brother who's 7 loves the game and has been playing it for quite some time now =]

I've even given the 360 to him :)
Lewis's Avatar
Lewis at 05/04/2007 17:23
it is also chaep to buy too i picked it up for $34 CDN at Wal-Mart
Ninjajuice66's Avatar
Ninjajuice66 at 05/06/2007 16:15
Alas, bad marketing.
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