Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise Prototype Preserved by Forest of Illusion

A rare prototype of the final Viva Pinata game has been discovered and digitally preserved.


Published: May 5, 2022 4:07 PM /

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Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise Preserved Forest of Illusion cover

Nintendo game preservationist team Forest of Illusion has announced that it has preserved a prototype version of Rare and THQ's Nintendo DS game Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise.

Viva Pinata is fondly remembered by many gamers as an adorable game that let you raise colorful pinata pets. It spawned a total of 3 Xbox 360 games, one Nintendo DS game, and a television show. That DS game marked the end of the franchise -- and now a rare prototype of the DS game has been discovered and digitally preserved.

Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise Prototype is Surprisingly Close to the Final Version

Nintendo game preservationists Forest of Illusion has gotten their hands on a rare prototype version of the Nintendo DS game Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise. Interestingly, it seems that this particular prototype was created shortly before the game's final version went to print.

"We've preserved a prototype of Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise for the Nintendo DS!" read a Twitter thread from Forest of Illusion. "It was developed by both Rare as well as THQ and released in late 2008. This build appears to be quite late into development, with minor differences within stage assets and FMVs."

Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise is largely similar in spirit to the original games. Players are required to turn a patch of land into a vibrant garden, tending to the various pinata creatures and helping them live their best lives. The Nintendo DS version of the game took advantage of that console's unique attributes, allowing players to control the entire game with the stylus.

Forest of Illusion specializes in preserving rare Nintendo games such as prototypes or promotional releases. Its previous releases include an unreleased 3DS tech demo called 3D Challenge and multiple pre-release versions of the classic N64 game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. You can learn more about Forest of Illusion's latest release in today's announcement.

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A photograph of TechRaptor Senior Writer Robert N. Adams.
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One of my earliest memories is playing Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo Entertainment System. I've had a controller in my hand since I was 4 and I… More about Robert N