Viva Pinata

Rare was acquired by Microsoft back in 2002 and has been at the heart of the platform holder's internal development, but only now, with the upcoming launch of Natal, does the developer feel it and Microsoft are on the same page. Speaking to VideoGamer.com about Natal prior to gamescom, Rare design director George Andreas explained just why the motion sensing technology is such a big deal.

Console Monster writes: The first titles have launched for the Xbox 360 Games on Demand. The seven titles are now available to Xbox Live members that were fortunate enough to obtain a place in the Preview Program. What's interesting about the titles is the game's pricing, which is listed in pound and pence, rather than in Microsoft Points. The titles currently available are as follows: Call of Duty 2 - £19.99 Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - £19.99 Need for Speed Carbon - £19.99 LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga - £19.99 Mass Effect - £19.99 Viva Piñata - £19.99 Assassin's Creed - £19.99 The remaining Games on Demand titles, revealed yesterday, will be rolled out over the next few days, before the new dashboard update is available to all Xbox Live users on the 11th August...

Kotaku: Here's the list, which eschews games like Fable and Assassin's Creed in favour of some games with a more...Japanese fare. Idolmaster Idolmaster Live 4 U Viva Pinata Need for Speed: Most Wanted Perfect Dark Zero Bullet Witch Fight Night: Round 3 Rainbow Six: Vegas Each of those games will go for ¥2000 (USD$21), which might be a challenge for Microsoft, since you can find some of those games used for under ¥1000 (USD$10). Then again, others will be bargains! As with everywhere else, Games on Demand will launch in Japan on August 11.

Original Music Composed by Grant Kirkhope and Performed by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra

BeefJack writes: But only if you are lucky enough to go to school in Waikato, New Zealand. In three schools in this area, Microsoft are running an initiative that uses Viva Pinata to teach skills including group collaboration and problem solving. It is not just to do with playing games however, as in addition to being forced to play Viva Pinata, pupils also have to do internet research and blog about their experiences.

earvcunanan of Cheap Ass Gamer writes: Ending, 5/17, Buy.com has a buy 2 select Xbox 360 Platinum Hits, get 1 free promotion which includes free shipping.

GiantBomb We're suckers for Viva Piñata around here. So sue us. Rare's community manager George Kelion posted a nice little holiday gift over on the NeoGAF forums: A set of desktop backgrounds featuring piñatas in various scenes from classic film. They can be yours for the low, low price of...well, just click on them below.

MundoRare writes: No Holiday Season is complete without the traditional Rare Xmas Greeting, and this year isn't an exception! [...] The message from Rare coming along with this spiffy greeting card goes as follows: 'We wish everyone a very merry Xmas, a happy New Year and look forward to a fun-filled 2009 :)'

MundoRare writes: After the amazing Viva Piñata cards from the Tokyo Game Show or the ones hinting at a new Killer Instinct, it's time for the Banjo universe to meet the paper maché world! Some of the classical Banjo characters also got their own piñatesque representation in Piñata Island thanks to the exclusive cards released by Rare on three of the main Rare fansites, followed by another bunch of three at Rare's own online spot later this week.

Back in April this year, Disney Pictures announced like a zillion movies coming from all their divisions during the next four years. [...] The last of them, currently scheduled for a 2012 release, was called Newt. Some of you may have instantly thought of Viva Piñata's utterly beautiful newtgats after reading that. [...] However, the distance between Rare's and Pixar's newts narrows if we know that both are meant to perpetuate their breed.