Ushi No Tane
Harvest Moon News
Issue 76
http://www.fogu.com/hm/


October 13, 2007

If you weren't already aware, Marvelous has announced a new Harvest Moon game for the Nintendo DS console. The game is called "Bokujou Monogatari: Kirakira Taiyou To Nakamatachi", which translated into English is "Harvest Moon: Shining Sun and Friends". The game will be released this Winter in Japan.

The game recycles the same graphics and characters from Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness (which will be released next Summer in North America). You still can choose your starting gender, playing as either Mark or Chelsea, as you travel to live on a group of 5 islands and away from the city. Hinata Island (from HM:I) has been said to be viewable out in the distance.

The new plot point is the addition of the Sun Stones. When you find a stone and use it in certain locations, another island will begin to appear in the Sunflower Archipelago. You can get the Sun Stones from the island residents, your pets, and in other unmentioned ways. You can then travel by boat to your newly discovered islands.

This version of HM also has item trading, where up to 4 players can get together and swap items from their own games. There is no word yet if this game will allow for players to visit other farms. The game also includes the Voice Chat system that exists in HM:Island.

Another included feature is the ability to befriend wild animals to live on your farm. This already exists in the Wii version of Harvest Moon, but you're only allowed a limited number of wild pets in that version. It is not known how many you can have in SS&F.

Returning livestock include chickens and cows, but it is probably safe to assume that sheep and ducks will also exist. The livestock animals have different colors, as there are screen shots of black chickens and brown-spotted cows.

MMV has already launched the official site, but there's not really a whole lot of information yet.

Marvelous official web site
http://www.bokumono.com/series/kiranaka/

Famitsu has a 2-page article about the game in their latest magazine, but unfortunatly the only scans that have surfaced so far are in Chinese and not Japanese. They're still neat to look at though.

Famitsu #984, page 96 (Chinese)
http://www.fogu.com/hm/scans/071012_famitsu984_p96_HM-SS&F_cn.jpg

Famitsu #984, page 97 (Chinese)
http://www.fogu.com/hm/scans/071012_famitsu984_p97_HM-SS&F_cn.jpg


Until next time!


- What carbonated beverage do baby chickens like to drink?
-- Peep-si!


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PAST POLL QUESTION

Q: Are you going to purchase Puzzle De Harvest Moon?

25.8% = Well duh! I like puzzle games with Kai!
25.8% = Puzzle games? Oh so boring....
24.2% = I might if it has a cute cow in it.
24.2% = I <3 Whisker Lickin's cat treats! MEOW!
(Total votes: 66)

This issue's poll:
Q: How long do you think SS&F will take to localize?

Vote at http://www.fogu.com/hm/hmlist/poll/
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