Viva Piñata demo blooms

Following a rainy February, unseasonably warm weather has sprung up in some parts of the country, resulting in an unexpected influx of blooming vegetation.

One crop gamers certainly weren't expecting to spring up was a demo for Viva Piñata, the gardening game from Rare that was released last November. However, a 1GB trial of the game is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace in the US.

In the game, players assume the role of a disembodied entity who cultivates a plot of land into a thriving community of plants, trees, and living piñatas. By adding water and certain types of trees, the player can attract different piñatas or customize their gardens to their tastes. Players can also outfit their piñatas with accessories and ship them off to other Viva Piñata players.

Viva Piñata is rated E for Everyone and retails for $49.99. For more information on the game, read GameSpot's review.