I doubt we can call this a huge surprise: everybody just knew that a sequel to Viva Pinata would be developed sooner or later. And it seems that those going with "sooner" are the winners, since we have a leaked pack of seven screenshots from what seems to be the second installment of Viva Pinata. Keeping in mind that all the screenshots followed the Microsoft Press Conference (the same that had as a result the leak of several Banjo Kazooie 3 screenshots), we can take these images as a true official confirmation.

Of course, there are no details yet regarding the game but, if we're to take a closer look at the pictures below, we can see that it doesn't appear that many things have changed. We have some much better visuals, we'll probably need Vista to fully enjoy the game (via DirectX) and we will, hopefully, get a wider garden - a place to create our own pinata planet. Anyway, I'm pretty sure official confirmation and details will soon hit the web since everybody knows now Microsoft's little secret, so we only have to wait and hope for the best.

The first Viva Pinata was a game developed especially for kids and casual gamers, released for Xbox 360 consoles and PC systems. Players had to create their own little paradise within the game - a cute, colorful one - by brining in the most beautiful living pinatas and taking care of them. In a way, Viva Pinata was considered to be a sort of The Sims with animals, more friendly graphics and a campaign mode made in such a way that no matter what you did, you were still in a win-win situation. Because that's how a game for kids or casual gamers should be like.

Here are the first ever Viva Pinata 2 screenshots (click to enlarge):