Rumor mill for now, but this is just the latest hint in the long line of tidbits that points to a Killer Instinct game in the works. According to IGN UK, characters available by scanning pictures using the Live Vision camera, gamers can unlock three characters from the Rare fighter. This may be proof that the developer is working on the game and has given us yet another bone to chew on to increase hype. Then again, it could just be nothing at all. You decide.

Just a quick heads up, the b-ball demo you have all been waiting for is now available on Xbox Live. The NBA 2K9 demo comes in at 549mb, so it is small enough to grab quickly. Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise also has a demo posted, but this one is big -- 1.5gb, so grab that only if you are into VP.

The latest edition of the Rare Scribes is posted over at the official Rare site. The post is packed full of great info, and when asked about Banjo Kazooie, they actually provide some solid info! Players modes are revealed and more. Check it out.

An actual playable demo of Viva Pinana is finally available on the Xbox Live Marketplace. The previous "demo" was only an interactive video, to be accurate. The download comes in large once again at 1gb, so start now. (Thanks, Deaftly)

Rare spoke with GI from the Game Devs Conf and revealed that we can all expect more Viva Pinata in the near future. The Perfect Dark dev promised that they would be supporting the quirky Animal-Crossing-esque game for at least another two to three years. Viva, for those who do not know, is a family oriented game which has been doing very well, even among adults. The spectacular graphics and simple, addictive game play is a winning combo.

Ever since E32006, the phrases "Real time weapon change," and "attack for massive damage," have become mantras for those wishing to poke fun at Sony. Well, it seems that even Rare has gotten into the action. There is a placard with phrases that sound suspiciously similar to those used in the Sony S32005 press conference. Read them and decide for yourself.

There is a reason why game slike PDZ and Kameo have had only minimal downloadable content. Rare is still undecided on the whole downloadable content issue. They claim that until the service proves itself more, they will continue to hold back. It seems to us that the downloadable content service has alreayd proved itself more than once over, but Rare says they are still afraid to commit manpower to developing downloadable add-ons. With Viva Pinata though, Rare will have to decide soon, the game is tailor-made for downloadable content.

"We've got plenty of ideas for what we can do with downloadable content because Piñata is such a unique game," said Gregg Mayles, lead designer at Rare. "But the jury is still out."

According to TeamXBOX, Amazon.com is giving away a free copy of Gears of War or Viva Piñata with every purchase of an XBOX 360 (core or premium bundle) during the month of October. Amazon will ship you the 360 right away and then the game when it's released. A pretty good bundle all things considered, and if you grab the $59.99 Gears of War, you're basically getting a 360 premium bundle for $340 with the most anticipated title of 2006.

UPDATE: The original deal link for the Amazon.com US store is now dead. However it remains at the UK store.

The Viva Pinata official website has been relaunched. It has a distinct Kameo-esque feel, which is normal. The game is due out within the netx 2 months, and it promises to be a ton of fun, very Animal Crossing.

Dailygame sat down with the lead designer of Viva Pinata, Gregg Mayles. He spoke about the game itself, the process of working simultaneously on a game and TV program, and most importantly, what Rare has in store for the revival of old franchises such as Killer Instinct and Battletoads. To be honest, the answer is wishy washy at best, but it is something.