Well folks, it's finally become a reality. Viva Piñata is getting a true and proper sequel in Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise. The details come by way of an accidental uploading of some screens to Microsoft's Game Day 2008 press site. The game will be available in September 2008.


So, right off the bat, one thing you should notice about this screenshot is the two cursors, which would indicate, that VP2 will include true co-operative play! (the original VP would only allow two controllers to share a single cursor) Other screens show different weather effects and climates, including a snowy environment, and new piñatas. Check out Xbox 360 Fanboy's screenshot gallery for the full-size versions of the below thumbs. Colour me excited! Hopefully this game launches sometime this year. [Story also via X3F]



Update: Some additional details come by way of the latest Game Informer magazine. It is confirmed that the game will feature two player drop-in-drop-out co-operative play, a trading card system (?), over thirty new pinatas and a photo mode (sorry GhostGundam, no more piñata custom portraits, it seems...). There will also be increased interaction between the piñatas and the environment, more piñata to piñata interaction (they mimic eachother and play follow the leader), toys for the piñatas including musical instruments, spaced-themed toys, and trains that the piñatas can ride around the garden in (wow).  It also promises to use the Xbox Live Vision Camera and game-generated codes to share objects with other Xbox Live users, including custom designed piñatas, buildings or abilities, the weather and more. All-in-all, it's shaping up to be an incredible leap in functionality and a worthy sequel to the original Viva Piñata. [Update via X3F] Digging deeper reveals that the snowy climate shown in the thumbnails above is actually a subarea called the Piñarctic that players can visit to set traps for piñatas. There will also be a "dessert" environment (that's probably an intentional candy-themed typo for "desert").



Update 2: Looks like Microsoft is read to let the cat out of the bag and have updated their website with a fresh new VP2 page. Additional details gleaned include: releases September 2008, some more focus on a storyline, as "as Professor Pester and his gang of Ruffians have wiped out Piñata Central's computer records, posing a threat to parties everywhere. Rebuild the computer database and thwart Professor Pester's evil plot by sending piñatas at full candiosity to parties all around the world." Sand and snow can indeed be placed in the garden. Special objects can be purchased to change the weather. The number of new species is 32, bringing the species total to over 100! From the looks of it, the 2-player co-op won't be available  over Xbox Live, but "second player has access to all tools, actions, activities, and can help by collecting magic". In addition to the traditional mode, there will be a "Just for Fun" mode "which allows you to build a garden full of colorful creatures without worries" (presumably without monetary constraints and the invasion of Pester/goons/sours and species conflicts). The Piñata Vision allows you to "scan" a card with your camera to add content to the game. Also, "[p]hotograph your piñata and turn it into a piñata card, then share it with your friends so they can scan it and put it into their own garden." There will also be a "trick stick tool. Watch as piñatas play together, perch on each other, and interact in new ways to make them even more appealing." Very promising news indeed. Just 4 months away! [Thanks for the heads up, Gh0sT B4cKFir3]

Update 3: 10 seconds of joy (see 0:49 to 0:59). [Via X3F]