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! Today was the harvest day for the radishes planted earlier this spring. Since I have a problem forgetting when something should be harvested, I scheduled a calendar event for 70 days out from planting, as recommended on the back of the seed packet.

Alas, I apparently can't grow a proper radish. Not sure if the leggy outcome is because of the unexpectedly cold and wet season or those pesky slugs that somehow got into the raised bed. Though one common-sense solution is that the variety I keep planting just isn't the best option for growing in Oregon. Oh well, guess this radish experiment was a bust! I'll let the strawberries take over the radish/daikon area and move on to growing something else, like replanting the Coleus killed by an unusual frost earlier this year. Seems like I'm doing more replanting this grow season than I typically do. Sheesh...

I helped out Captain Livia with the rune issues in the Meline Crystal Caverns in Rune Factory 5, and now I've to do the same with the lava dungeon. At least I finally found a source of Gold Ore in the Meline depths! The recipes in the crafting and forge are asking for monster drop items that I haven't located yet. You would hope that after all these years of Rune Factory that there would be a proper monster bestiary in the game by now. Even if it was something as simple as paying Terry a fee to investigate where a particular item could be found; he is a detective, after all. Go detective something useful!

RF5 PC is Official

Marvelous announced this week that Rune Factory 5 will be released on Steam on July 13 in North America and Europe, and July 14 in Japan. Preorders are open now on the game's Steam Store page.

• The normal edition costs $59.99.
• The Digital Deluxe Edition costs $69.99 and comes with the base game and the Rune Factory 4 marriage candidate costume DLC.

Currently, both Steam bundles are discounted 15% ($50.99/$59.49) until July 13. Preordered farmers will also receive the Beach Day outfits for Keil and Forte from Rune Factory 4, along with a special New Ranger Care Package that contains 9 Healing Potions, 9 Orange Juice, 9 Cooking Bread, and 9 Tomato Seeds.

Compared to the Nintendo Switch version, the PC edition of RF5 is anticipated to be the better, smoother, and less crashy version of the game.

New Kickstarter

A new farming video game crowdfunding campaign launched on Kickstarter this week. The Gods Fabled: Soil Frontier is an open-world fantasy farming game in the land of Telaku. Players will take on the role of farmer and rebuilder of Paleeto Town.

This in-development indie game has an extensive crop system where plant growth is impacted by environmental factors (sun, water, and temperature), so paying attention to the weather report is important for crop success. Crops can also influence the other plants grown within their area of effect, changing the properties of neighboring plants. Each mature crop's attributes will be graded by a local retired farmer, Parik, who will tag the crop with its weight, color, and other properties.

Farmers will also raise livestock, craft goods using processing stations, document new and interesting things found while exploring, locate and unlock the Pintari sprites hidden worldwide, and fill the museum with exhibits. Can you help Mayor Bolkido rebuild the town?

This PC game currently has an alpha planned for early 2023, with a full release later in 2024. You can learn more about it on the Kickstarter website:

• The Gods Fabled: Soil Frontier

Steam Summer Sale

The annual mega-sale of PC games on the Steam platform is taking place from now until July 7. Lots of farming games are discounted!

• Atomicrops - 60% off ($5.99)
• Big Farm Story - 50% off ($9.99)
• DeadCraft - 20% off ($19.99)
• Deiland: Pocket Planet - 60% off ($7.99)
• Doraemon: Story of Seasons - 45% off ($27.49)
• Farming Simulator 22 - 10% off ($44.99)
• Garden Paws - 25% off ($14.99)
• Harvest Days: My Dream Farm - 20% off ($11.99)
• Harvest Moon: Light of Hope + DLC - 50% off ($9.99)
• Harvest Moon: One World - 25% off ($37.49)
• Hogvalord - 25% off ($8.24)
• Immortal Life - 10% off ($15.29)
• Kitaria Fables - 40% off ($11.99)
• Little Dragons Cafe - 70% off ($17.99)
• Littlewood - 50% off ($7.49)
• Monster Harvest - 65% off ($5.94)
• My Time at Portia - 75% off ($7.49)
• Rune Factory 4 Special - 35% off ($19.49)
• Sakuna: of Rice and Ruin - 25% off ($22.49)
• Slow Living with Princess - 20% off ($9.59)
• Stardew Valley - 40% off ($8.99)
• Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town - 40% off ($23.99)
• Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town - 25% off ($29.99). Expansion Pass is also 25% off ($14.99) and DLC costumes are 50% off ($0.99)
• Stranded Sails: Explorers of the Cursed Islands - 85% off ($3.74)
• Summer in Mara - 60% off ($9.99)
• The Farmer's Story: Slow Life - 25% off ($18.74)

Nintendo eShop Sale

There's also a game sale taking place on the digital Nintendo eShop in various regions.

• Farm for Your Life - 50% off ($9.99 US / £8.99 UK / $10.69 AU)
• Farming Simulator 20 - 50% off ($22.49 US). Not discounted in the UK or AU.
• Monster Harvest - 60% off (£5.99 UK). Not discounted in the US or AU.
• Rune Factory 5 - 20% off ($47.99 US). Not discounted in the UK or AU.
• Stardew Valley - 20% off ($11.99 US) and 25% off (£7.99 UK) and 30% off ($8.55 AU)
• Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town - Regular edition is 25% off ($29.99 US), Game + Expansion Pass is 35% off ($38.99 US). Not discounted in the UK or AU.
• Summer in Mara - 60% off ($9.99 US) and 65% off (£8.99 UK / $11.23 AU)

Until next time!

Cher
(Put my seed starter boxes outside in the sun. Forgot to remove the clear lids. Soil reached 130°F. Oops. Replanting again...)

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