The Ushi No Tane websites specialize in information, FAQs, and guides about the Nintendo console versions of the Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons, and Legend of the River King video games. These game genres are created and published in Japan by Marvelous (JP). In other regions, you'll find Natsume, XSeed Games/Marvelous (USA), Marvelous (EU), and Rising Star involved in the series' release.

The latest version of the mainstream farming series that have been released in various regions of the world are:

• Japan: Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life (January 2023)
• North America: Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos (September 2023) and Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life (June 2023)
• Europe: Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos (October 2023) and Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life (June 2023)

The latest version of River King, in all regions of the world, is River King: Mystic Valley (JP 2007, NA 2008, EU 2009).

Since 2000, Ushi no Tane has been run by a grouchy old lady who happens to be fond of video game agriculture along with two feline helpers: Intern Captain Bootu and Intern Hondo Mewnaka. The website is not officially affiliated, sponsored, endorsed, or employed by the developers of Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons, or River King. This is simply a fan site.

Latest Farming Video Game News

Happy Farm'n Friday! I hope you had a lovely Christmas, though as different as it may have been. It was a quiet day for us; a masked-up visit to his mom in the morning, then back home to play a new board game she gifted to Mr.Fogu called One-Hundred Torii. The game's goal was to earn points based on how long a path we can make through a Japanese garden. It was a bit confusing at first, but the two of us figured it out eventually. Ate some dinner while laying out our garden path, finished the game, then watched the new Pixar movie. It was actually a nice day without all the hubbub that typically takes place on Christmas.

Mr.Fogu's mom gifted me the Divine Edition of Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin and Layton's Mystery Journey, while my mom got me Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker and Dragon Quest Builders 2. They both picked some excellent gaming gifts! Though I must finish Rune Factory 4 SE first, which I've been able to play again now that my free time isn't dedicated to Christmas baking, gifting, and whatnot. Now my little princess is working her way through a floating castle fortress. Still, I happened to explore Leon Karnak and discovered I wasn't getting slaughtered by every knife-throwing baddie in the dungeon, so now the Goblin Bashing Fairy Crew are exploring that dungeon instead of going where we're supposed to be. That floating island isn't going anywhere anyway!

Mooo!

Year 2021 will officially be the year of the ox in February, but in the past, it was celebrated in BokuMono style at the start of the year. The last time the ox was the animal-of-the-year was in 2009, with Youkozo! Kaze no Bazaaru e (localized as Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar) as the latest released at the time. To celebrate the year, MMV published a New Year desktop wallpaper drawn by Igusa Matsuyama.

Here's a larger version of the wallpaper.

PoOT JP Preorder Update

While the most expensive PoOT bundle in Japan is the Ebiten Famitsu DX edition (~$95), with its bento lunch box and cloth carrying bag, the second-most-expensive preorder bundle is the Amazon.jp limited edition. This package contains a copy of the game, the Agate DLC costume, and a little plushie cow with a polyester shopping bag. Amazon recently uploaded a preliminary picture of what the eco-bag looks like:

The bag is about 17 inches wide, 14.5 inches tall, and only 3.5 inches deep (43cm by 37cm by 9cm) and is printed with crops on one side and the Bokujou Monogatari logo on the reverse side. The bag tucks inside a zipper pouch on the cow plushie. This special Amazon.jp preorder bundle is only $93!

The third-most-expensive bundle ($85) is the WonderGoo edition that comes with a coffee mug with Bokumono animals printed around it.

Natsume New Year Message

President Hiro sent out his good wishes for the new year today, highlighting the indie games they helped publish last year, along with ongoing news about sales of Harvest Moon: Light of Hope. Prez Hiro also revealed that the upcoming game, Harvest Moon: One World will also be released for Xbox One in North America. The release date for the Xbox version will be announced later. You can read Prez Hiro's message on the Natsume Twitter feed:

• https://twitter.com/Natsume_Inc/status/1345006869006307329

Nintendo New Year Sale

There are just a few farming games on sale this week on Nintendo's platform:

Nintendo NA

• Atomicrops = 40% off (ends January 2)
• Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town = 40% off (ends January 5)
• Summer in Mara = 45% off (ends January 8)

Nintendo EU

• My Time at Portia = 75% off (ends January 6)

Steam Winter Sale

Besides the Nintendo eShop and PlayStation Network game discounts, many farming games are now on sale during the annual Steam Winter Sale. These discounts are valid until January 5:

• Atomicrops: 40% off
• Doraemon: Story of Seasons: 50% off
• Farming Simulator 19: 30% off
• Harvest Moon: Light of Hope SE: 50% off
• Littlewood: 25% off
• Little Dragons Cafe: 70% off
• My Time at Portia: 66% off
• Stardew Valley: 33% off
• Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town: 40% off
• Stranded Sails: 60% off
• Summer in Mara: 40% off

January BokuMobile Events

New social events are scheduled to take place this month in the online browser-based version of Bokujou Monogatari in Japan:

• A harvest event to celebrate the year of the Ox started today. Players will care for cow-shaped darumas and kotatsu blanket cows, while growing new years milk kagami mochi and camellia flower decorations. Farmers will harvest as much as they can to earn in-game goodies based on the total amount of points earned from harvests.
• A large crop events begins on January 11. Grow crops to earn points towards playing a three-card-shuffle game, where players earn points for keeping their card-picking streak going.
• Finally on January 21 is the bingo event. Grow special crops on a 3x3 grind and hope they mature into the same type of crop to score big points.

Until next time!

- Cher
(Happy New Years! Guess it's time to dismantle the Fogu Christmas Light Extravaganza...)

RSS