E3 2007: Krome and Climax handling new Piñata games

A Viva Piñata spin-off and PC conversion of the first game are on the way from Australia's Krome Studios and UK-based Climax respectively.

The game was originally developed by UK-based Rare, owned by Microsoft.

Announced at Microsoft's E3 press conference last night, the Krome game is Viva Piñata: Party Animals, a multiplayer party game. It marks the first time Microsoft Game Studios has worked with the Brisbane, Australia-based developer.

“We’re very excited to work with Microsoft in making a fantastic series even better,” said Robert Walsh, CEO of Krome Studios. “Viva Piñata is a wildly imaginative property that offers something unique for casual players, as well as hardcore gamers. Party Animals will bring back what players love about the first game, but also deliver a set of all-new features and surprises”.

At the same time Portsmouth, UK-based Climax has been charged with handling the PC conversion of the original 360 game - developed for Vista, it's another cog in Microsoft's widened push behind its Games for Windows brand; Epic's Gears of War was also confirmed for a PC outing at E3.