Microsoft’s Rare developing Nintendo DS version of Viva Pinata

Rare’s Viva Pinata is to be released for the Nintendo DS, according to reports emerging from this past weekend’s Comic-Con.

Microsoft-owned Rare will be using the original concept for the game – not the upcoming party version made by Australia’s Kaos – for the Nintendo machine. It’s not the first time the studio has developed games for Nintendo handheld formats since coming under Microsoft’s ownership – it devised a new game, It’s Mr Pants, and ported its Donkey Kong games to Game Boy Advance.

The IP itself should be a good fit for the DS – the game originally started as a mobile game concept before being ported to the 360.