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! Remember that weird mystery grass from last April? It started producing some flower-like growths the other week that Farm'n Friday reader Miss Honey correctly identified the plant - it is a sedge, most likely a Yellow Nutsedge according to the Oregon Department of Agriculture website. The ODA says it is common to our area but categorized as a Class-B weed. Well, that's not ideal! Not sure where the squirrel found the original plant to bury in the garden, but if there's one, then there may be more. At least the sedge hasn't spread its tubers because it's in this flowerpot. Now what to do with this fellow...

As for my adventures in Rune Factory 5, I completed a few more rune placements as directed by Captain Livia, but then everyone in Rigbarth came down with the blues! Livia then sent me into the depths of Atohl's End to set the last rune stone. All was going well until I noticed the RP drain this dungeon curses explorers with. Ouch! With everyone in town out cold, I couldn't rely on the bath house to restore my stamina or get new Bread recipes from the shops. So I grabbed three buddy monsters (the fire fairy, the ground fairy, and the mermaid lady from Lake Yumina), cooked up some Hot Milk (+1000 RP), and ran through the Everlasting Darkens dungeon as fast as I could. That Black Dragon was no match for our powerful super ladies! Onward we go!

I also tried out Time on Frog Island last week based on its Nintendo eShop description of "discover new items by fishing and farming." Alas, there really isn't much fishing or farming in the game. It's a cute and sometimes frustrating game because of its you-figure-it-out playstyle (similar to The Touryst), but there's no need to buy the game if you're interested in trying a new farming or fishing game based on its description. To go fishing, you toss an item into the fish trap and collect the fish the next day. Farming isn't until late in the game when you unlock two holes in the ground to toss items into that become a plant the next day. Not a farming or fishing game, for sure.

PoOT Ps4 Next Week

The Playstation 4 version of Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town will be released next week on July 26 (North America), July 28 (China and Japan), and July 29 (Europe). The AU region is only digital, while EU, JP, and NA have digital and physical standard editions (no deluxe editions like the Switch release). The expansion pass containing the DLC costumes, events, and optional islands is a separate $14.99 purchase through the Playstation store. The digital version will be discounted 10% off during its first week of release.

Dinkum Released on EA

After 3 years of private development, the town building and outback farming game, Dinkum (Steam Store page) was released on Steam Early Access on June 14. Dinkum has been described as a mix of HM/SoS farming and Animal Crossing town building.

The game includes character customization, multiplayer, wilderness clearing, town design, insect/fish collecting (for the museum, of course!), treasure hunting, villager interactions, photography, mining, and more!

Players can grow a variety of crops on their farms. Utilizing fencing is important to keep the wild animals of Dinkum Island away from the precious seedlings. Harvested crops can be eaten, cooked into meals, or sold for money.

There are animals as well! Besides farm pets, players can raise chickens (as expected), but there are also strange ranch creatures called Vombats (i.e., Wombat) that will produce milk and duck-billed Pleeps (i.e., Platypus) that will produce fur when sheared.

Dinkum is priced at $19.99 and is expected to be in Early Access for a year, with several planned updates until the game is complete. Developer James describes his interest in community feedback as the reason why he launched the game on Steam's EA platform. Home console versions and additional language support are planned after the game's full release.

You can check out the game on the Steam Store page:

• Dinkum - Outback Farming

Kickstarter Updates

The crowdfunding campaign for The Gods Fabled Soil Frontier (Kickstarter Page) reached its goal with less than 40 hours left to go. The first stretch goal for Developer Zoyji is $52,000 to expand the game by adding more crops, clothing options, animals, and villagers.

A big content update was released for Spirit of the Island (Steam Store page) last week. Two new islands were added, the museum was expanded, and more weapon options and monsters were added. The game is still in Early Access on Steam.

If you're looking to help out another indie farming game, The Ranchers: New Beginning (Steam Store page) by RedPilz Studio is currently open to funding until August 4. This open-world farming game has already met its initial funding and several stretch goals. This game has the typical farming and animal husbandry but has a unique house construction component where players can choose the walls, doors, and other components used to build their farmhouse.

Additional unique features include selling excess solar-generated electricity to villagers, online multiplayer with 3 of your friends, wild game hunting, dynamically-changing weather, and a challenge-issuing Trade Guild. There will also be an online auction house to sell goods to other players in-game or via the planned mobile app. Motorized vehicles require fuel, which can be obtained at local gas stations, but you can always go fuel-free by utilizing a human-powered bicycle instead. It's up to you!

The game has standard content like villager friendships and romantic relationships, cooking, bug catching, a museum, fishing, country festivals, and mines containing bad monsters that must be defeated.

The Ranchers will first launch on Steam in eight languages and will support Steak Deck, with a full launch planned for Oct/Nov/Dec 2023. Other platforms are planned after its release. You can learn more about the game on RedPilz Studio's The Ranchers website

• The Ranchers - Farm, Ranch, Build, and Explore

Until next time!

Cher
(Finally replacing and upgrading Fogu HQ's archaic kitchen, but that means we'll be eating take-out for the next few weeks...)