It may not be the often rumored Halo DS but Rare was kind enough to release one of their new creations to the DS. Yes that's right, Viva Pinata is coming to Nintendo DS. Rare has reportedly also confirmed that it's a version of the original 360 garden sim, not a mini-game collection that is the announced expansion pack Viva Pinata: Party Animals for Microsoft's home console.



According to one Rare employee : "it's the same game [as the 360 title], starting with ruined garden, attracting Pinata, growing flowers and trees, buying things from shops. Like Viva Pinata PC it takes advantage of the hardware available, so you interact using the stylus."

Rare also has this to say:

As this one's being developed in-house we'll have a full section in the Games area when enough details and assets are available, but for now, here's the first official screenshot (click the icon above) and a rundown of what you can expect...

This is a full-size Viva Piñata game in your pocket, featuring not only the entire range of paper beasts from the Xbox 360 title but also a few new ones thrown in to spice things up for those familiar with the established cast.

You'll also be given free rein with an expanded selection of tools and tool actions, upgraded forms of the Journal and Encyclopedia, and brand new game modes such as Sandbox (for full and easy access to your favourite Piñatas) and Episodes (tying in more closely to the TV series and allowing fans of the show to spend quality time with familiar faces).

But one of the biggest changes is obviously the control method, with stylus input transforming the way in which you interact with your menagerie. Design, nurture, instruct, protect and care for your garden and animals through direct touch. The DS WiFi service also lets you send prime Piñata specimens to your friends, making the act of parading your Doenut around in a humiliating pirate outfit easier than ever.

And there you have it. More details as and when they arrive. When it comes to writing up the main game section we'll probably recycle most of the text above, so I hope you enjoyed it. Viva Piñata on DS - roaming your way soon

The title is developed by the same team that created the Xbox 360 project. Thanks to IGN and http://www.vagusnet.com/.