LAZY DAY TRAILERS: VIVA PINATA – SKULLS OF THE VANQUISHED

While "Skulls of the Vanquished" is not the actual title of this video, it is one of the things that makes the below commercial for Microsoft’s Viva Pinata absolutely hilarious. I won’t spoil the rest of it, other than to say that when Horstachio started quoting from Conan the Barbarian, I was literally on the floor laughing.

And now the shout-outs to all the places where I saw this video today;

• Hilarious Viva Pinata Commercial – Game|Life
• Viva Pinata Extended Video – Gamerscore Blog
• Extended magical Viva Pinata commercial – YouTube

XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS: JETPAC REFUELLED

You know, I’ll freely admit that I never played the original Jetpac, so I really don’t have much to talk about regarding this Xbox Live Arcade release. That said, Rare has released an updated version of the game in the form of Jetpac Refuelled, which is now available for purchase via the Xbox Live Marketplace. My advice would be to download the demo before you shell out any cash for this one.

Title: Jetpac Refuelled
Developer: Rare Limited
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 3/28/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Xbox Live Aware: Yes
HDTV Support: 1080i
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E (Everyone) – Mildly Fantasy Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

"Rare’s Jetpac Refuelled is a revamped and modernized version of the 1983 classic space blaster Jetpac. Clear a path through hordes of aliens to refuel your ship and amass a fortune over the course of 128 hi-definition levels, complete with achievements, leaderboards, and simultaneous multiplayer action.

Jetpac Refuelled provides everything you loved in the classic, plus 128 new levels of enhanced gameplay. Jetpac Refuelled can be played solo, or against another player on the same console or over Xbox Live.

• Retro version: Grab your controller and enjoy the classic eighties version of the game. 
• Refuelled version: Rare’s remake of the classic comes complete with entirely new hi-def graphics, menacing enemies, new smartbombs that produce an electromagnetic pulse, modernized weapon upgrades, and updated gameplay for next-gen gamers.
• Achievements: Earn up to 12 achievements and 200 Gamerscore points as you blast your way through space.
• Updated graphics: The completely updated graphical look of the game gives you a truly hi-def and in-depth gaming experience. – Xbox.com

I’d normally take a moment here to talk about last week’s XBLA release, but due to technical difficulties I still haven’t had a chance to play the XBLA port of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night – maybe next week will be a double dose of mini-reviews. Maybe. (Here’s to hoping Microsoft can get my 360 back in my hands by the time Guitar Hero II launches next week)

XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS: JETPAC REFUELLED

You know, I’ll freely admit that I never played the original Jetpac, so I really don’t have much to talk about regarding this Xbox Live Arcade release. That said, Rare has released an updated version of the game in the form of Jetpac Refuelled, which is now available for purchase via the Xbox Live Marketplace. My advice would be to download the demo before you shell out any cash for this one.

Title: Jetpac Refuelled
Developer: Rare Limited
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 3/28/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Xbox Live Aware: Yes
HDTV Support: 1080i
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E (Everyone) – Mildly Fantasy Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

"Rare’s Jetpac Refuelled is a revamped and modernized version of the 1983 classic space blaster Jetpac. Clear a path through hordes of aliens to refuel your ship and amass a fortune over the course of 128 hi-definition levels, complete with achievements, leaderboards, and simultaneous multiplayer action.

Jetpac Refuelled provides everything you loved in the classic, plus 128 new levels of enhanced gameplay. Jetpac Refuelled can be played solo, or against another player on the same console or over Xbox Live.

• Retro version: Grab your controller and enjoy the classic eighties version of the game. 
• Refuelled version: Rare’s remake of the classic comes complete with entirely new hi-def graphics, menacing enemies, new smartbombs that produce an electromagnetic pulse, modernized weapon upgrades, and updated gameplay for next-gen gamers.
• Achievements: Earn up to 12 achievements and 200 Gamerscore points as you blast your way through space.
• Updated graphics: The completely updated graphical look of the game gives you a truly hi-def and in-depth gaming experience. – Xbox.com

I’d normally take a moment here to talk about last week’s XBLA release, but due to technical difficulties I still haven’t had a chance to play the XBLA port of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night – maybe next week will be a double dose of mini-reviews. Maybe. (Here’s to hoping Microsoft can get my 360 back in my hands by the time Guitar Hero II launches next week)

VIVA PINATA DEMO NOW AVAILABLE

Just a quick note here – Major Nelson has announced that a playable demo of Viva Pinata is now available for download in the Xbox Live Marketplace The demo weighs in at approximately 1gb and is available to both Xbox Live Gold and Silver members in the United States.

PERFECT DARK ZERO MAP PACK AVAILABLE

Major Nelson dropped a note in his blog to let everyone know that the first premium map pack for Perfect Dark Zero is now available in the Xbox Live Marketplace for 500 points ($6.25). The map pack contains four new multiplayer maps: Plaza, Rooftops, Trench, and GasPlant.

RARE TO MAKE DIDDY KONG RACING FOR THE DS

It looks like Rare will be having a homecoming of sorts. The UK based, Microsoft owned, developer has announced that they will be teaming with Nintendo to bring Diddy Kong Racing to the Nintendo DS. Given Rare’s long history with Nintendo prior to the Microsoft buyout, this should be extremely happy news for dedicated Nintendo fans.

"Diddy Kong Racing is our first official DS project, and Nintendo are busily promoting it as part of their next wave of big DS offerings for late 2006. Based on the N64 classic but improved and expanded in ways that only the DS allows" – Rare Press Release

DS owners, you may now do yet another “Dance of Joy”. Check out the Rare Website for more details.