Savannah was one of various prototypes in development at Rare Ltd. during 2006/2007. As the project remained in prototype stage and was not greenlit, only few elements were set in stone, but it could have been some sort of nature simulator, more than a realistic Viva Pinata. Sadly we don’t know exactly for which kind of gameplay these models could have been planned to, and sadly we’ll probably never know, as the project was lost forever in one of many Rare’s internal restructures. Only few images and animations remains to preserve the existence of this project.
In an interview with a former Rare employee by Emily Rogers on Not Enough Shaders we can read some more info on Savannah:
“Savannah” was the brain child of Phil Dunne. Phil’s concept was to create a realistic savannah environment where you raised a lion cub from birth to its adult life, teaching it survival and social skills to survive the harsh life in the wild. We knew of the Kinect coming out but we had no real info on how good it was, but the plan was to try and use that technology in “Savannah”.
It was an interesting concept and it was fun to work on, we really tried to push the technology of the 360 to get the most out of the graphics. The lions and Hyenas were using a custom shell system for the fur, and with the help of a great programmer called Cliff Ramshaw, I think we got some of the nicest looking in-game fur I’ve seen.
It was only ever a prototype, and it never got a green light.
Thanks to Otrant for the contribution!
Images:
Animations Videos:
What do you think about this unseen game? Give your vote!
(5 votes, average: 4.20 out of 5)
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And yet they didn’t cancel Viva Pinata…
^Umm why would they?
Viva Pinata is a great game
wat this wouldve been a great game
NO VIVA PINATA IS THE WORST GAME RARE HAS EVER MADE BECAUSE IT’S SO STUPID AND I DON’T GET WHY PEOPLE LIKE THIS GAME BECAUSE VIVA PINATA IS RETARDED I SWEAR IF THEY MAKE ANOTHER VIVA PINATA GAME I’M GOING OVER TO RARE’S HEADQUARTERS AND SMACKING THEM UPSIDE THE HEAD.
Worst game? No, It is a great simulation game with a beautiful art style, great gameplay, and amazing music. You seem to be really upset over it. Why don’t you like it?
Hate to break it to you but viva pinata is not only a bad game but it’s BORING as hell. Thank god that I don’t own an Xbox 360. You see it’s games
like this that RUIN Rare’s rep. By the way the game sold like shit because people would rather blow stuff up than play something that was made for pedos. Also the art style makes me want to throw up. Great gameplay? Are you serious? You’re making a garden full of pinatas, what else is there to do seriously. I could think of at least three casual games that were actually good that can blow vomit puke out of the water.
1. Wii series
2. Nintendogs and Nintendogs + Cats
3. Littlenbigplanet (even though I never played it ^^;)
Hate to break it to you but viva pinata is not only a bad game but it’s BORING as hell. Thank god that I don’t own an Xbox 360. You see it’s games
like this that RUIN Rare’s rep. By the way the game sold like shit because people would rather blow stuff up than play something that was made for pedos. Also the art style makes me want to throw up. Great gameplay? Are you serious? You’re making a garden full of pinatas, what else is there to do seriously. I could think of at least three casual games that were actually good that can blow vomit puke out of the water.
1. Wii series
2. Nintendogs and Nintendogs + Cats
3. Littlebigplanet (even though I never played it ^^;)
Ruin RARE’s reputation? Most of RARE’s game have been family friendly the obvious exception is Conker. Viva Pinata sold well enough to get two sequels. You sound bitter, the game is universally praised by critics and fans alike. You must hate color if you hate this art style, it must suck to live in a world of grey. Your argument against the gameplay is quite poor because you can say that about any game ” Mario has great gameplay? Are you serious? You just jump to the left, how is that any good?” Classifying this game as kiddy is immature. How about Sonic Colors you seem to like that and the target audience for that was for the under 10 crowd. You also seem to like Super Princess Peach for the DS and the main target for that was girls. I’m going to ask you a question , Have you even played Viva Pinata?
Hate to tell you this DUDE or DUDETTE but viva pinata only received good ratings because Microsoft BRIBED various video game magazines and web site. Also I do like games with color like Mario, Pokemon, Sonic and many of the Wii series games. I don’t need to play viva pinata to know the game was a piece of SHIT. I’m not the only one who thinks that viva pinata sucks, have you heard of a guy named GTAVCSPSP, he’s a youtube user who HATES the newer Rare Ware especially viva pinata. I don’t live in a world of gray because I play mostly e-rated titles and the occasional teen and e ten game.
Two reasons why I don’t play viva pinata
1) I don’t own an X Box 360
2) I have way better taste in games
Oh and one last thing if you REALLY think that I hate color. i’ll tell about
my GBA/DS/3DS collection
here I go…
Pokemon Ruby
Pokemon Sapphire
Pokemon Fire Red
Pokemon Leaf Green
Pokemon Emerald
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team
Pokemon Diamond
Pokemon Pearl
Pokemon Platinum
Pokemon Heart Gold
Pokemon Soul Silver
Pokemon Black
Pokemon White
Super Princess Peach
Tetris Party Deluxe
Mario Kart DS
Yoshi Touch and Go
Pet Catz 2
Brain Age
Brain Age 2
Nintendogs Lab and Friends
Pokemon Trozei
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of the Sky
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Blue Rescue Team
Nintendogs + Cats
BTW viva pinata is for preschoolers, saying that all mario does in his games is move to the left or right is just very weak.
Oh and one last thing not EVERYONE is going to like Viva Pinata, in fact it’s like the Twilight of Rare games and the cartoon series sucks too
So you and a guy on youtube have the same opinion? That must prove me wrong!/sarcasm
Where is this evidence of Microsoft bribing reviewers? Did they also bribe these people? http://www.gamefaqs.com/xbox360/932328-viva-pinata/reviews
You hate the game and you haven’t played it but, the youtube man sad it was bad so it’s true? Stop being a tool and form your own opinion based on what you play. Not on what you hear.
Better taste in games? From your collection you look like a sheep that would gladly buy anything that has Pokemon written on it.
BTW most Pokemon players are under the age of 10 so that “kiddy” argument is bs and you know it. And you apparently don’t get examples because I never said Mario has bad gameplay I was showing how your “argument” against the game was wrong.
Also if anything Twilight is more like Pokemon because their fanbase will gobble up anything thrown at them.
And what does the cartoon have to do with the game?
I think you need to drop this right here and now. Besides you’re just sounding pathetic. Also I’m not being a tool, I have free speech. Plus I’ve always hated viva pinata, even before I met GTAVCSPSP on youtube.
One more thing what’s wrong with having a lot a pokemon games in my collection? Tell me this what OTHER games do you have besides viva pinata?
How about this? I respect the fact that you like viva pinata, please respect the fact that I don’t like viva pinata okay? In other words agree to disagree.
MPNagem89,
Your a Moron
I think You mean MPN..Whatever his name is: You’re a moron.