Gamerscore blog's explanation:
I just saw the video of Viva Piñata gameplay that 1Up posted. I'm a big fan of Viva Piñata (can't you tell?), and I'm a bit miffed that 1Up is positioning the game the way they are-they're usually much more responsible than that. Instead of asking for a demo, they decided to jump in the middle of a level without any instruction, then complain about not understanding what they're supposed to do. Okay for them to do, of course, but I'm surprised they posted the video (including profanity forcing them to age-gate the video on their site) as representative of the game.
As for the game-play issues, there's actually a good explanation. From what I've been told, the issue is with a piece of hardware on the kiosks that we are using. Normally, we don't use retail kiosks at trade shows, but for GC, we did. I'm told the retail kiosks include a special piece of hardware that prevents someone from messing with the settings, or accessing the hard drive. For Viva Piñata, nobody can get to the tutorial because they can't leave the game (which asks for a save destination). Also, Viva Piñata has an auto save feature, and with these kiosks, it's not "aware" of where to save, so it pauses every few seconds while it tries to access the locked hard drive. I hear the team has removed the extra device from the show floor hardware, and the games should be performing more normally.
At the same time, we should have made sure that we had knowledgeable staff on hand to provide instruction, and we should have double-checked the game play before putting it on the show floor. So our bad.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JJ @ Aug 24th 2006 1:30PM
Yeah i guess it wouldnt be a good idea to put people wh ohave no idea what they're doing on a alpha build of a game on a show floor.
Thats not smart at all.
But the games premise does sound, interesting at least, it may be worth a rental in the future. If that is.. they fix it a bit heh.
Will @ Aug 24th 2006 1:33PM
I'm not all that concerned about the framerate issues. If they can't get it up to speed as it is, they can always just scale the graphics back slightly and be good to go.
I'm more interested in how it actually plays. Unfortunately, it seems the framerate issues have pretty much prevented anyone from being able to really get any sort of a handle on that right now.
Les Doodis @ Aug 24th 2006 1:35PM
Too Human and now Viva Pinata...Guess Microsoft shouldn't play their hand before they're ready.
Les Doodis @ Aug 24th 2006 1:36PM
By the way, I'm still looking forward to both (Too Human and Viva Pinata).
Petrie @ Aug 24th 2006 1:38PM
I'm not sure what to think of this one. Though if you're going to put your games out there, make sure they are playable people.
fagaymer @ Aug 24th 2006 1:40PM
It seems like Microshaft has a big framerate problem. That's what I hear most about the Xbox console lately. Can't wait to try PS3.
Will @ Aug 24th 2006 1:45PM
In my opinion a lot of recent frame rate issues have been due to bad coding or not taking full advantage of hardware and not limitations of the xbox itself. Just my opinion.
Renegade @ Aug 24th 2006 1:46PM
@5
You hear mostly that the Xbox console has a framerate problem? And where'd you hear that? Sony fanboy forums? Now this is a pure fanboy. Make up rumours about games based off of the alpha version of an unreleased game. Wait until your beloved PS3 is released and see what problems you get then.
logikil @ Aug 24th 2006 1:46PM
Fagaymer:
Seriously man thats a really stupid comment. The system itself does not have framerate issues. It pumps along just fine. Framerate issues are a coding concern and definitely not a result of the power of the system. It's got plenty.
In this case, as badly as SK got trounced about the Too Human E3 demo, MS really should have waited to show the game in a slightly cleaner demo.
X06 is likely to show something that's in much better shape.
nslookup @ Aug 24th 2006 1:53PM
Fagaymer = Sony employee.
Maximoisgood @ Aug 24th 2006 1:53PM
Man, what's up with BS always coming out of fagaymers fingers. You would think that he gets payed to badmouth Nintendo & Microsoft, and praise the PS3. Such a looooser.
gman @ Aug 24th 2006 1:56PM
it's what happens when all of the system's cores aren't even utilized yet because the developers still have a long way to go before unlocking the full potential of the 360. Makes you wonder how the cell will fare among the same devs
IslandLife @ Aug 24th 2006 1:57PM
Just like all the other losers that praise the Wii or Xbox 360 and badmouth the PS3. It goes both ways, so stop whining and ignore it.
pr0cs @ Aug 24th 2006 1:58PM
the demo stations were setup not to allow disk writes for caches/autosaves but the version displayed was still trying to do the writes, so it was timing out all the time, making the game chug down to an unplayable mess. Even during the press conference, which was very embarassing...
Phranctoast @ Aug 24th 2006 1:58PM
fagaymer is a rediculous fan boy. Ill support the ps3 before the xbox360 or wii, but hes just out there.
And to renegade. xbox 360 does have framerate issues in some games. Quake 4 is one of them.
burnt_secondary @ Aug 24th 2006 1:59PM
Ummmmm, is it just me or do the guys in the video sound a little . . . well . . . dim . . .
Yet another example of the issues with the state of video game journalism.
"What's the point of this game?"
"You go around and hit s@!t"
Brilliant deduction guys, next time you know your going to post a video, you might want to keep your mouths shut.
Silkios @ Aug 24th 2006 2:00PM
Oh man! I was, like, so looking forward to this Animal Crossing ripoff too!
Justin @ Aug 24th 2006 2:04PM
Guy #1: So what the heck is that used for?
Guy #2: It's to hit $#!+... I realy don't know.
Classic.
Agent_4187 @ Aug 24th 2006 2:11PM
Let's not kid ourselves here, this game was only shown a little to early, while it's still alpha. I like to give games a chance until they are released, in which I let "professionals" play it and figure out if it's worth my $60 or not. Nothing should look as good as it does in the middle as well as in the end of any project, so we'll see how it turns out in the end. Although the game is a clear rip-off of Animal Crossing, only difference being you can actually hit other inhabitents with shovels.
Mo Curious @ Aug 24th 2006 2:16PM
I thought 1Up journalists would be a little more sophisticated than--
Q:"What's the point of this game?"
A:"I don't know, to hit shit."
"Dude go hit that bird over there."
Joystiq "journalists" aren't like that too are they?:(
dvdguy @ Aug 24th 2006 2:16PM
So those two work for 1UP? And they don't understand work in progress builds? Didn't sound like that had any gaming knowledge at all quite frankly.
Justin @ Aug 24th 2006 2:17PM
Watching this video and listening to those guys, I can almost sympathize with Jack Thompson's stance on games. Operative word being "almost".
Mabui @ Aug 24th 2006 2:18PM
"Only difference is you can hit the animals with shovels"
Instead of fishnets..
In actuality, Microsoft needs to realize where Rare can make its money and stop trying to use them for Xbox whose whole core appeal group won't appreciate the titles. Ever hear something called "Games for Windows?"
Things like Viva would be much better suited to a larger audience, and one where a it has a good chance of reaching the little kids they are marketing it for.
pc @ Aug 24th 2006 2:37PM
HAHA looks like framerate issue is a touchy subject for xbox 360.. like fatwoman when u talk about about her weight.. its a problem deal with it.. dont deny it... look at saints row and 99 nights and now viva pinanta lol..
Wedge @ Aug 24th 2006 2:45PM
Last I checked Pinatas were supposed to get beat...
B33 @ Aug 24th 2006 2:45PM
Seems like MS is showing games way to early, or the developers are rushing the the demos. It'll probally be fixed. I have no desire to play Viva Pinata so it really doesn't matter to me. Seems like Rare has lost it. It's a shame to see a company that had such good potential put out "meh" games.
Robotic House Plant @ Aug 24th 2006 3:03PM
The problem is not the game, it was the demo station being setup improperly. The console was not allowing disk writes for caches and autosaves, which caused a problem with performance.
insane_cobra @ Aug 24th 2006 3:04PM
Well, I guess I'm one of the rare people still looking forward to this game and looking forward to it A LOT. I'm a little surprised they haven't ironed out the framerate issues yet as they've been rather apparent during the E3 presentation, but there's still more than enough time for that.
jimmcq @ Aug 24th 2006 3:17PM
For lots more information about the Viva Piñata Xbox 360 and the TV show, check out the Viva Piñata Wiki at http://PinataIsland.info
BMWM3P @ Aug 24th 2006 3:23PM
The big mistake that ms made is called xbox 360.
Aex @ Aug 24th 2006 3:30PM
I'm confused, is this a kids game? I thought it was at first, but it sorta looks like you go around massacreing defenseless pinatas. That sounds pretty damned cool!
Sean DL @ Aug 24th 2006 3:48PM
"I'm confused, is this a kids game? I thought it was at first, but it sorta looks like you go around massacreing defenseless pinatas. That sounds pretty damned cool!"
That's Rare for ya..they make games that sound liek kid games(Conker, Banjo) but under it all it's very adult stuff.....
epobirs @ Aug 24th 2006 3:54PM
#29
Alex, isn't that what kids do to pinatas in real life?
THe kid may be blindfoleded but the pinata is helplessly strung up by a hook in its back, like Richard Harris in 'A Man Called Horse.'
Probot @ Aug 24th 2006 4:07PM
This game doesn't make any sense. You lovingly raise pinatas only to smash them open. And correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this game gonna be tied in with a children's cartoon show of the same name.
I get that the point of the pinata is to smash it, but why would that be considered a good basis for a children's game?
Maybe this is a symbol for MS, EA and other big publishers, where they buy up a company (lovingly raise), fire everyone (smash it open), devour the IPs (eat the tasty treats within).
DDR @ Aug 24th 2006 5:14PM
Just for reference here's a very incomplete list of 360 games that have framerate issues (documented by reviewers):
-Quake IV
-MotoGP
-Ninety-Nine Nights
-Condemned: Criminal Origins
-Full Auto
-Oblivion
-Prey (runs at 30fps, PC version runs at up to 60fps)
-NBALive 06
-Too Human (not yet released)
-Viva Pinata (not yet released)
insane_cobra @ Aug 24th 2006 7:07PM
@Probot
The point of the game isn't to smash the pinatas open, it's just that it's the only thing the dim-witted morons who made that video could've thought of doing. Me smash!
Look here for more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viva_pinata
greenfly360 @ Aug 24th 2006 7:53PM
1up come across as real bellends there.
Probot @ Aug 24th 2006 8:27PM
@insane_cobra,
Even if smashing them isn't the overall point of the game, it is the point of a pinata. That's what they're made for. And smashing them is a part of the game.
To be fair, killing off characters is a part of the Sims as well, but that game isn't going to be tied into a children's TV show.
The point of the game seems to be raising the pinatas in your garden. But they're being raised to be smashed apart. That *has* to be psychologically damaging on some level.
nick @ Aug 24th 2006 9:41PM
I've been playing Ninety Nine Nights for the last week and have not noticed any frame rate issues.
Can't speak for any of the others on the list. Including titles that are under development and not yet released seems pointless as they could change before release.
insane_cobra @ Aug 25th 2006 3:19AM
@Probot
"That *has* to be psychologically damaging on some level."
Right, just like fairy tales in which wolves devour little girls and their grannies. Give kids some credit.
pickassoreborn @ Aug 25th 2006 6:26PM
Hooray for rampant fanboyism. 1up definitely come across as totally unprofessional and raises an interesting point - the fact they can put anything they like on gamevideos.com without real approval from Microsoft, Sony, etc. That's kind of worrying.