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! It has been a few weeks, and the water-bottle method of succulent propagation has appeared to work for some of the cuttings. The smaller ones have sprouted roots, but the larger ones haven't grown much at all. The larger cuttings are actually growing new leaves and no roots, while the smaller ones are growing new roots and new leaves. Either way, using the water-bottle method has been more successful compared to simply tossing the cuttings on some dirt and misting them from time to time. Now to grow my succulent army... mwa ha ha...

The snow/ice mess that started on Thursday is expected to last the entire weekend. Since such weather would have destroyed that early-bird blooming daffodil, I cut the stem and brought it inside. I didn't realize how overwhelming its scent is, and that's not in a pleasant way! Wow, it is powerful.

Last night's freeze also damaged a potted geranium that was under-cover on the front porch. I didn't account for the freezing wind last night, and while it isn't covered in any snow, its leaves have ice damage. Let's hope it can recover.

As for my adventures through Rune Factory 4, the storyline finally moved forward after bumping into several cut scenes. Huzzah! I made it through the challenges and unlocked Rune Prana. I had no problems with the prior two bosses, but this dungeon is not at the same level I was expecting! Ouch! I'll need to work on improving weapons and armor and trying to find a better Cure spell. I haven't seen one for sale at the Magic Merchant yet.

HMOW Gameplay Details

This week, we finally learned some new information about Harvest Moon: One World, as Natsume released details to media and game streamers. Over on their Community Blog, we learn that Doc Jr.'s Expando-Farm invention will allow players to package up their house and combined livestock-and-poultry barn and move to a new area. The Expando-Farm does not move crops due to the nature of crop mutations (i.e., you don't want to kill off your mutations by moving them to a new environment). Traveling back to the old fields will be possible as players proceed through the game. Sections of the world tend to have a preferred season (Halo Halo is summer, Salmiakki is winter, etc.), so players will want to move their farm around for easier access when growing specific crops or mutations.

The little harvest wisps hold the special seeds that players will grow in their fields. Wisps can appear in various locations throughout the lands and even at different times of the day. Players can stay up late into the night (and early morning), hunting down little sparkles and not be forced to bed.

There are various animals that players can have on their farm, such as cows, sheep, and chickens, but players can also befriend wild animals and invite them to live on the farm as pets! The poultry and livestock are now sectioned off within the same barn.

Fishing is a little more detailed, as players can start by using optional bait to cast their line (fishing can be done without bait). When the fish gets close, a wavy gauge will appear above the bobber. Wait until the fish gets within the green area, and then press A to reel it in!

Like in the prior game, Harvest Moon: Light of Hope, this game will also have optional download content. These four packages of goodies can be purchased separately or as a season pass and will be released on and after the game's March 2 release date in North America.

• Interior Design & Tool Upgrade Pack ($2.99, March 2) - Adds five interior designs for the farm house (Farm, Castle, Steampunk, Spaceship, and Starlight) and ultra-level tool upgrades to make farming easier.
• Far East Adventure Pack ($12.99, March 23) - Adds new crops, animals, and two new marriage candidates from the new island of Wagashi. Shogen and Sana will be available to woo after downloading this content. Neither of those candidates is Doc!? What the heck!
• Precious Pets Pack ($2.99, April 13) - Adds 12 new animals to the game, such as dapple horses and Siamese cats. Meow!
• Mythical Animal Pack - ($2.99, May 4) - Adds 10 new and usual animals to the game, such as mint tigers and lava rabbits. Oh my!

Players can purchase each separately as they are released, or they can purchase a season pass for $14.99 starting on March 2. The season pass will add each DLC to the player's game as they are released. The season pass is the better deal, as individually, the four DLC cost about $22.

A special preorder bundle for One World is now available from Rising Star Games in the United Kingdom. Sold directly from Nintendo UK, this package includes a copy of the Nintendo Switch game, a sticker sheet, and a chicken keychain for £39.99:

• Harvest Moon: One World - Nintendo UK

Cafe Collab

In Japan, the GraffArt Shop in the Ikebukuro commercial district in Tokyo has an in-store cafe. From March 20 until April 18, the GraffArtCafe will serve Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town themed snacks and drinks. Yum!

The cafe will offer four BokuMono-branded treats:

• The Spring Thanksgiving Amazing Delicious Milk Set comes with a slice of tea-flavored chiffon cake, whipped cream, mixed berries, a sprig of mint, and a mug of either hot or cold milk. This treat is themed after Harvest Moon: A New Beginning
• A flavorful Lulukoko drink from Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns blends yogurt, mango juice, banana syrup, and milk, topped with a spring of mint.
• The very-purple Mineral Town Grape Soda combines grape juice and cider with a topping of mixed berries and mint.
• Lastly is the Olive Town Pancakes and Ice Cream combo: a set of cocoa-powdered cow-print pancakes with honey syrup, vanilla ice cream, mixed berries, and mint.

All orders will come with one of three special BokuMono drink coasters as a free gift, each printed with official artwork from the Olive Town game.

Ushi Game Center Prize

Also a Japan-exclusive, a stuffed cow and a strawberry cow will be available at select game arcade centers.

In celebration of the BokuMono series' 25th anniversary, these two udder-ly awesome large cows will be prizes for playing games at the arcades starting next week.

SoS:PoOT Details

Marvelous JP has also been sharing their latest game with media and streamers in Japan. Some of their Let's Plays have appeared on Youtube (Source 1, Source 2)

• We've seen how the game starts out by having the player customize their character and select their motor scooter color: red, blue, yellow, green, pink, just to name a few options.
• Players can easily remodel the dilapidated chicken coop within the first few days of the game and entice the wild chicken to live there. So basically, a free chicken right from the start.
• Mines have ore nodes and rocks to smash to find goodies. The ladder down to the next floor can be found under broken-up rocks. The Magma Earth Sprite can be found on floor 10. Another mine farther up the mountain contains pitfalls to fall down. Within that mine are moles that pop up out of the ground that you can hit with a hammer (whack-a-mole finally returns!) After hitting the mole enough times, it will drop an item for you.
• Furniture can be added to the house. Besides lamps, tables, etc., players can hang items on their walls like clocks.
• The dilapidated livestock barn takes a little bit more work, as it requires lumber to fix up. Players have to build lumber maker machines to convert branches into lumber before they can be used for construction. There is also a wild cow nearby that can easily be enticed to live in the fixed-up barn; so a free cow too!
• After upgrading the tent to a house, a pet can be purchased from Bridget. The pet sleeps inside the house on a cute little floor mat.
• There are different styles of storage boxes for hoarding items, such as a wooden box and a stone box.
• Collecting milk and wool does not require a milker or sheers. Just stand next to the animal when it has an icon above its head that indicates it can be milked or sheers, and then press the A Button.
• One Youtuber was able to go fishing in a rain puddle in the field area of their farm and catch a crayfish. No idea if that is an actual game feature or a bug!
• Extra barns can be purchased at Nigel's carpentry shop, and each barn (fixed up or built) can be assigned a name. The starting barn can hold up to 5 animals, but a large barn from Nigel can hold up to 10 animals.
• The black and white chicken is a Silkie Chicken.

Until next time!

- Cher
(Gotta melt this snow away with my warm Care Bear Stare!)

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