14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft threw the world's biggest pi?ata party in celebration of the "Viva Pi?ata" game launch for Xbox 360. The Santa Monica Pier was the stage for the Microsoft pi?ata frenzy. The characters Hudson Horstachio, Fergy Fudgehog and Paulie Pretztail from the animated series "Viva Pi?ata" were joined by Mario Lopez, from "Saved by the Bell"(photo) and by thousands of kinds and parents.
"How do you launch a game about pi?atas? You throw the world's biggest pi?ata party!" said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of global marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. "'Viva Pi?ata' on Xbox 360 is slated to be available in 37 countries and 17 languages next year, inviting kids, parents and all game players to create their own unique Pi?ata Island. They can also trade pi?atas and interact with one another in a worldwide online community through Xbox Live, for a truly global experience."
The nucleus of the biggest pi?ata party in the world is what else but... the biggest pi?ata in the world. The giant Horstachio pi?ata that is the heart and soul of the celebration weighs 2 metric tons, is 14.6 meters tall and 16 meters long and was built in no less than three weeks.
"It's great to see a video game that is safe and fun for kids but that adults will love just as much," Lopez said. "I had to battle my way through throngs of kids just itching to get their hands on the game, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. Starting with some basic tools that allow you to create a thriving pi?ata paradise that is teeming with wild and wonderful little pi?ata animals and is uniquely your own is incredibly entertaining and really quite satisfying."