Interview with Justin Cook from RARE

Juicy Details on the Next Installment of Viva Pinata

Posted 4 years ago By - Marcie McIndoe

Thank you for taking the time before E3 to answer a few questions on Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise for us, Justin. As everyone all ready knows Justin Cook is Lead Designer on this project. So now on to the interview.


ATC 1982: So how long after the first VP was made did you all decide it was time for a sequel?

Justin: We started work immediately. We had no idea what our next project was going to be so we started to make some changes to the game we had. When it was decided to make a sequel we just carried on working. 


ATC 1982: With every new game there is new functions and game play styles. Can you give us examples of some of the new functions you enjoy and why?

Justin: We have given the player more to do with the piñata they have in their garden. The game really rewards you for feeding your piñata the things they enjoy and sending them off to parties. You don’t have to just wait for the piñata to come to you. You can go to new parts of the island to trap new species. My favorite new tool is the ‘animal finder’ which skips the cursor around the garden. It lets you find the piñata you want quickly and even makes flying piñata land on the ground. 



ATC 1982: Some of the other reviews and interviews state that your piñata can perform tricks. Will there be away to create your own trick or is this something that is programmed all ready?

Justin: Each piñata species has two tricks that they can learn. The player has to discover the tricks rather than creating new tricks, and this works in a similar way to discovering the color variants. 


ATC 1982: What brought about the topographical elements into play and how did this idea help with the process of new Piñatas?

Justin: Many people expressed an interest in exploring more of Piñata Island, and we thought it would be nice to introduce new piñatas that preferred to live in different climates. This also allowed us to introduce new garden surfaces: sand and snow so players can customize their garden to an even greater degree.


ATC 1982: Piñata Cards so far have me very interested in this concept. What brought about this and how and why was it incorporated into the game?

Justin: Our lead engineer Will Bryan came up with this idea and asked if we could use it in the game. Of course we could see the potential of this straight away – allowing people to put new content into their game without using LIVE. We also allow players to turn creatures in their gardens into cards that they can send to www.vivapinata.com, where others can download them or print them out to use in their own garden. 


ATC 1982: Will there be special exclusive cards for this game? Example would only one person will ever have unless they give up the card. If this is possible how would you be able to get one of these cards?

Justin: We can create unique cards like this. We are still thinking of ways to use things like this, such as a prize in a competition or as a present for someone who deserves a treat. Wait and see what we come up with…

ATC 1982: I know E3 is around the corner and people are itching for more information on Multi-Player. Can you give any information even if it just a morsel to wet the appetite?

Justin: We have a new 2 player mode where you can share a garden with the person sitting next to you on the sofa. I can confirm that there will be multiplayer over LIVE this time.

ATC 1982: Were you able to keep the same engine you used on the original as you did this one or what obstacles were you face with using a new engine?

Justin: We’ve re-used the engine although we have added some new things to it like HDR lighting and some other clever technical stuff. I’m not a technical expert but I do know the game looks even prettier than before.


ATC 1982: As a team what would you say was your major team accomplishment on this project and why?

Justin: We created a whole new game with a team approximately half the size of the original team, in about 18 months. I think people will be surprised by the amount of new content in the game. 


ATC 1982: For my final question and the love of one of your other games. Will there ever be any Blast Corps items in Viva piñata like Mumbo?

Justin: We do have some new items from other Rare games. Is there anything from Blast Corps? You’ll have to wait and see…


This concludes the interview at this time. Have a great time at E3 and look forward to the release of this game.

Gamefocus would like to thank a valued member of the GameFocus community,  ATC 1982, for this interview! (Thanks!)

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