Microsoft sees DS as a 'very viable platform', says Rare

Members of the development team working on Rare's Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise for DS have spoken about Microsoft's support of Nintendo's handheld console.

"They see DS as a very viable platform," said one team member, according to Eurogamer.

He was soon joined by engineer Jon Humfrey, who went on to further explain Microsoft's decision to let Rare develop the Viva Piñata (originally published on Xbox 360) for DS: "They put the Viva Piñata franchise on TV to reach a broad audience, they put it on PC to reach a different broad audience, and they're doing the same thing with the DS. They're trying to widen the audience of the franchise, basically."

Microsoft acquired Rare in 2002 and has since allowed the studio to keep a handheld development team going on DS (and GBA) projects. This team last year released its first DS game, Diddy Kong Racing DS, which was published by Nintendo. Viva Piñata meanwhile will be published by THQ.

It's an interesting strategy by Microsoft and one which it probably wouldn't be adopting if it had a horse in the handheld race itself. Or would it? Nintendo's rivals in the hardware market often appear not to view Wii and DS as direct competitors, on the thinking Nintendo is targeting an entirely different audience.

If Microsoft's music player Zune can establish itself as a viable games machine, the company still might not change its stance on allowing Rare to develop for DS, possibly because Rare games will still be a far better fit for Nintendo's handheld than its own.

We'll have to wait and see, but in the meantime we're more than happy Microsoft's buying up of Rare hasn't completely ended the studio's long tradition of releasing games on Nintendo consoles.