Microsoft might be interested in developing more games for the Nintendo DS, if representatives of studio Rare are to be believed. Rare is owned by Microsoft and is currently developing a DS version for Viva Pi�ata.

The studio was bought by Microsoft in 2002 and, even if the team has created some games for handheld gaming devices in the past, the publisher has not picked any of them up for release. But they have been allowed to develop Diddy Kong Racing DS directly for Nintendo.

Joe Humfrey from Rare says that Microsoft is now supporting development for Viva Pi�ata: Pocket Paradise because getting the game on the Nintendo DS will clearly expand the player base for the game.

He told Eurogamer that "They put the Viva Pi�ata 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."

The main issue the developers faced while creating the game port was that the amount of content that the Xbox 360 and the PC version had was so big that it was hard to take it all to the DS. There's also a focus on delivering on the DS the same experience that gamers can get while playing on other platforms.

The game will be easy to play thanks to the touchscreen capabilities of the Nintendo created device. Accessibility is always important for a game that has a core audience that does not regularly engage in playing hardcore games. Because of the fact that the Nintendo DS is in itself targeted towards more casual gamers Viva Pi�ata needs to provide an easy to grasp gameplay experience.

Rare, currently working on Pocket Paradise, is also prepared to get into some brainstorming sessions with the team developing Trouble In Paradise, the sequel to the original Viva Pi�ata for the Xbox 360. The DS game is expected later in the year.