PM: We're really very happy with the way Pocket Paradise came together and feel that it's a big enough and full enough featured game in its own right without having to add anything else. Though, if we were to release a sequel, I'm sure we could think of lots of new fun things to do with it. :)
We hear we'll be getting some new piñatas to play with -- can you shed a little light on them? (Note: as long as Horstachio is there, which he is, we're happy)JH: Nope, sorry, we're not ready to announce what the new piñatas are going to be yet!
PM: There are seven of them though, and one of them may be a bit elusive! :)
There's been talk of an expanded selection of tools and tool actions and some upgrades for the in-game Journal and Encyclopedia. What do these expansions and upgrades involve, exactly?
JH: For the most part, we've kept the tools intact from the original Viva Piñata. There's a new paving tool which allows you to lay down paving stones in a freeform manner.
PM: The fertilizer is also an aligned tool now, and you have to work at "earning" that fertilizer in the first place.
JH: And of course you can use all the tools by drawing directly onto the touchscreen. As for the Journal upgrade, the main feature is that you have access to lots of information on the top screen at all times. So, if you touch a visiting Quackberry, you can immediately see what its residency requirements are. You can also swap the screens around so that you can touch any of the icons, and it will take you straight through to the relevant Encyclopaedia page.
Pocket Paradise features local multiplayer, but nothing on the Nintendo Wi-Fi front? What prevented the inclusion of online play?
JH: Developing an online component for any game requires a very large investment in resources. While we knew that it was very important for a game such as Diddy Kong Racing DS, we decided that for a single-player centric game such as Viva Piñata, it was less important, given that we only had a team of around fifteen people! You can still swap crates with your friends over local multiplayer, which should be great fun.
Does Rare have any further plans for the DS, maybe in the form of original games? Does Microsoft have any say if you wanted to put a new original IP on the DS?
JH: We're always exchanging ideas with Microsoft about future titles, but I'm afraid we can't comment on unannounced products.
Finally, we have to ask: the whole cannibalism thing. We know this topic was raised back when the Xbox 360 version was released, and we know that this is a new team behind Pocket Paradise, but did the whole piñata eating piñata issue ever strike the team as a ... little disconcerting?
JH: Of course! I nearly cried when Barry, my first Mousemallow, was eaten by a visiting Pretztail when I played Viva Piñata on the Xbox 360. But you can't have drama without conflict can you?
PM: Piñata are paper animals filled with sweets, so there's no problem here ... is there?
