Viva Piñata (Xbox 360)

Prototype Info Prerelease Info Unused TextFrom temporary lines to old text a'plenty, we got it all at Piñata Central.

Unused Models#

Found within the games various data folders, a number of unused models can be found from various points of the game's development.

Banjo Model#

An upgraded model of Banjo, from the Banjo-X development days. Despite being the furthest thing from a Banjo title, it still shares the same team and thus access to the same assets. Presumably used for testing their joint system, the model file is named aid_model_common_test_jointtweak.
There's also a leftover animation for the model, named aid_anim_common_test_jointtweak. The animation file by default is partially broken and requires re-adjusting the internal rig to fix.

Unused Helpers#

During the games development, many helpers were pitched for the game and some didn't make the cut. Only two of these were left over in the final files.

Mumbo#

Originally wanting to ditch the bear and bird duo back in early 2005³, Mumbo was to make a grand appearance in Viva Piñata as a helper, as to what he would contribute to is unknown. Unfortunately, he was unable to make the jump to join the folks at Piñata Central.
Despite this, his model is still present in the final game, named aid_model_pinata_actor_helper_mumbo_default with an animation named aid_anim_pinata_actor_helper_mumbo_test.

Gardener#

The remnants of an old helper named "Gardener" going by the filename aid_model_pinata_actor_helper_gardener_default.
Donning a headpiece intending to represent a large flower (with broken textures for the petals) and green hair, her exact function in the garden is unknown.

Early Jukebox#

An early model of the Jukebox that appears during Romance Dances was left in the files, with the filename aid_model_pinata_background_homes_props_jukebox. The final model is named aid_model_pinata_background_homes_props_jukeboxnew.
The appearance of the early model is vastly different to the final model, with a less vibrant red-to-yellow colour scheme and based more closely on vintage jukeboxes.

Early Model	Final Model

Animal Gym#

A completely unused building for the game, named aid_model_pinata_avatar_home_animalgym_default. It's a rusted metal shed, poorly painted to be disguised in with its surrounding environment.

Unused Surface Packets#

While the final game only features two surface packets, those being for short and long grass, packets for Snow and Sand were originally intended to appear as well as a packet for a completely scrapped surface type, Oats.

The final packets for Snow and Sand that would be used in the sequel can be found, alongside an early design for the Snow Packet. Both the early Snow Packet and Oats Packet feature a much simpler design, with triangle trims rather than square ones.

Unused Textures#

Old Frontend Textures#

Some textures for an older version of the Frontend were leftover in the files, depicting an earlier logo for the game and a rough draw-up for a background.
These are named aid_texture_pinata_ui_frontend_logo and aid_texture_pinata_ui_frontend_background respectively.

Oats Particle#

One of the few remnants of the unused "Oats" Packet, the particle texture that was to be used with it named aid_texture_pinata_particle_oatsseed is also found here.
Interestingly, it appears to have overwritten part of an existing texture, it being of a musical note.

The Oats Seed sprite.

The full texture.

Unused Scenes#

Addressed with the type of script, many scenes would be left in the files of the final game. Most of them being work scenes for the developers.

In-Engine Rare Logo Cinematic#

Viewable by loading the script file aid_script_pinata_game_newfrontend_rare2, this scene contains an in-engine version of the Rare Logo sequence, albeit lacking music. The pre-rendered version is used during boot-up instead.

Unused Videos#

Found within the Beta/movie folder of the games data directory, several unused video files can be found.

Testing WMVs#

Aptly titled aid_movie_common_test_wmv on the first two identifiable files, three identical test videos exist of a Whirlm performing its walking animation while the camera pans around it.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" !Video Path(s) !Video |- !colspan=2|aid_movie_common_test_wmv1 & *_wmv2 (Jul. 28, 2005 at 09:58:16) |- |0512a211
0512a212
0dd13d07 | |}

Early Rare Logo#

Found in a grand total of 4 identical files, a lower quality version of the Rare Logo used in Kameo: Elements of Power can be found.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" !Video Path(s) !Video |- |09585405
08963e7e
0ec744ee
0deb4b89 | |}

References#