Microsoft Game Studios Producing Games for Nintendo DS

At Comic Con 07, Microsoft Game Studios dropped a bomb when they announced that Viva Piñata would be releasing on the Nintendo DS. The generally 360 / PC publisher will be releasing a key title on a competitors platform? What are they thinking? Nonsense really. Or is it?

When it launched on the 360 Viva Piñata, while a very good game lost it's audience because there are few children who own Xbox 360's. Releasing the game on DS will allow it to hit that audience. This is a good strategy for selling the license, but this logic could go well beyond just selling a game. It could sell the console as well.

If Viva Piñata sells well on the DS you will have scores of PS2 owning children begging their parents for a 360 so they can play the new Viva Piñata: Party Animals. This is a great idea not only to snap up some children for Witch-Mattrick's stew pot, but to also steal just a bit of the Wii market share.

Now, while an excellent strategy this is, it pends on one very shaky fact. If the game is not compelling for kids, they aren't going to want more. I have no doubt that the game will sell well thanks to the TV show, but a main drawback on the 360 version was that it was too hard for most kids to enjoy.

If Rare simplifies the game and manages to port it well to the DS it will do well. With a weak DS showing this holiday Viva Piñata, may have a chance on the DS. Coupled with the PC release, the game will at least find it's target audience regardless of whether it convinces any moms to pick up 360's.