Ushi No Tane
Harvest Moon News
Issue 77
http://www.fogu.com/hm/


December 10, 2007

Lots of new bits of information has sprung up here and there.

SHINING SUN AND FRIENDS

The second version of "Island of Happiness" still does not have a set
Japanese release date other than 2008. Marvelous has added a white cat
and pig as potential house pets. The pig will hunt for mushrooms with
you and the cat doesn't seem to have a known purpose at this time.

You also can customize your house a little bit by purchasing
wallpaper from Goran the carpenter.

MMV is also holding a monthly contest where winners will be sent free
dairy products from Nakazawa Dairy in a special Harvest Moon box.
There are 10 winners per month and you have to enter by filling in a
questionnaire on their web site. Japan only of course. Imagine what
kind of horrible stench could come from the sour cream if the contest
winner was international!

RUNE FACTORY 2

The game is still set for a January 3 release date in Japan. MMV has
released information on the 7th bachelorette, Julia. She is a town
Idol, and also manages the bath house. There are also new artwork
images of Ars and Aria, the son or daughter you get to play as once
you, as Kyle, have been married and have had your child. Ars will have
a sweetheart from the Sainte-Coquille (Bianca's) family ("Viva Ju" in
Japanese) named Lamria, while Aria will have the hots for an elven boy
named Orphas.

http://www.mmv.co.jp/special/game/ds/runefactory2/chara/snd_hero.html

Another new feature added to RF2 is the dungeon map, which appears on
the top screen. When you first enter a dungeon the map will not be
populated, but as you go through the areas then your map will slowly
fill in.

Another new feature added to RF2 is the dungeon map, which appears on
the top screen. When you first enter a dungeon the map will not be
populated, but as you go through the areas then your map will slowly
fill in. 

Accessories will be more useful, and will add additional skills like
Back Step and Tame Attack. You also now have a Rune Ability slot where
you can equip attacks like Rush Attack.

Quests are also in the game. You can go to the bulletin board in the
Plaza to read who is looking for what, and then collect the item for
the task giver.

As for the Wifi system, it has been improved quite a bit. The game
still has the standard item trading from Rune Factory 1, but you now
also can play a dice/board game against 3 other players (wireless OR
wifi!), plus some sort of monster friend match up.

RIVER KING DS

The English version of the game still doesn't have a set release date
except for "Quarter 1", but Rising Star has stated that they plan on
releasing the European version in March 2008. Rising Star's version is
called "Harvest Fishing" for reasons unknown, but it is the same game
as North America's "River King". If you're curious what the latest and
great fishing RPG is all about, feel free to run over to the Fogu
River King DS site.

http://www.fogu.com/rk5/

HARVEST MOON DS CUTE

Reports are coming in from fans who have gone to preorder the game,
only to find out the game has been postponed to sometime in February.
The girl version of HMDS just received its "E" ESRB rating within the
last few days. HMDS Cute is currently NOT scheduled to be released in
Europe, as Rising Star has stated they have no plans to localize the
game. There is also no information on whether or not the Best Friend
feature will remain in tact.

HARVEST MOON WII

No, it will not be coming out in North America around February  :)  You
can dream all you want but it isn't going to happen.

HARVEST MOON MAGICAL MELODY FOR WII

Rising Star has finally been given the go-ahead for the Wii
adaptation of Magical Melody. The game is currently set to be released
in Europe on March 14th, 2008.

RUNE FACTORY 1

European release won't be until at least June 2008. Sorry guys.

I think that covers most of the upcoming games for now. Until next
time!

- What do you call a cow with a twitch?
-- Beef Jerky!