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! There's another wildfire burning close by, so the valley air has smelled smokey all week. Bleh. The Nakia Creek fire started last Sunday and is over 150 acres currently. Unfortunately, this wildfire appears human-caused, and only a tiny bit of it has been contained.

While I was at an estate sale treasure hunt this morning (70s retro chic house with an entryway rock garden and carpeted master bathroom. Absolutely beautiful!), Mr.Fogu left the backyard patio door open for the interns. When I arrived home, the smoke alarm was having a fit! I found him fighting to quiet the noise because it interrupted his conference call. Lol! Oh dearest...

Dreamhack Indie Celebration

A demo of indie farming game Roots of Pacha is available again as part of Dreakhack Beyond's indie game celebration taking place from today (October 14) until October 23. You can download the free demo from the Steam Store page. Also available is a free demo of the River King like game, Fishing Paradiso.

Marv JP Launches Online Store

Marvelous has partnered with Ebten.jp to open their own online store to sell various Marv-goods in Japan. The Marvelous Shop on Ebten's website has preorders for the Famitsu DX bundle for Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life, the normal edition of SoS:AWL with Ebten's pre-order Hapi bonus outfit, the new deluxe bundles for Rune Factory 3, t-shirts and accessories from Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, and merchandise from other Marvelous games sold on Ebten's website.

Marvelous USA (XSeed Games) already has an online store. Marvelous EU doesn't have one at the moment.

RF3 SE Package

Marvelous JP released information the other day about the specialty goods available for Rune Factory 3 SE, scheduled to be released in Japan on March 2, 2023. RF3 is getting an RF4SE-style HD remake that includes a new Hell-level difficulty mode, Newlywed Mode with marriage side stories with all the bachelorettes, and an updated opening movie. Besides the stand-alone Nintendo Switch game for 4980円 (~$33.50), there are a few higher-priced options.

First, we have the Rune Factory 3 SE Digital Deluxe edition that costs 5980円 (~$40). This package comes with a digital copy of the game and a Swimsuit Mode DLC (pictured above) that players can enable in the game.

Of course, Daria is wearing a rainbow bikini. Ha!

We also have the Rune Factory 3 SE Dream Collection. This package costs 9800円 (~$66) and includes a physical copy of the game; the special Swimsuit Mode DLC; an all-star drama CD; a heroine love-story CD; an acrylic cut-out of the heroes from RF 3, 4, and 5; and a decorative box illustrated by the RF series artist, Minako Iwasaki. Whew!

(The Dream Collection is also available for preorder from Japan goods distributor, AmiAmi.)

Another option is available for those who want even more Rune Factory 3 goodies. Fans in Japan can buy the Rune Factory 3 SE Dream Collection + Wedding Collection (DC+WC). This super-duper special edition costs 33,600円 (~$226!) and combines the Dream Collection edition with a special Wedding Collection.

The Wedding Collection bundle comes with two non-digital, real-life rings - a size silver engagement ring and a Happy Ring - presented in an RF ring box. This bundle also contains

• a silver chain necklace to wear the rings,
• an 11-card collection of the RF3 bachelorettes in their bridal dresses,
• a pop-up diorama of Micah and Shara in their wedding attire with cut-outs to customize their wedding scene frame, and
• a special wedding-themed collection box.

The red stone in the silver engagement ring is red-colored glass, and the Happy Ring is made of brass. The rings are size 9 and good for those of us with stubby fingers.

Oh, we're not done! A Famitsu DX edition is also available on Marvelous' new Ebten store. This special bundle of RF3 contains a copy of the game, a poster of the game's box art, a 2023-2024 calendar, and two small bean bowls (mamezara) printed with illustrations of Micah and Karin. The Famitsu DX edition is 9878円 (~$66.50).

More? Of course! There is a Famitsu DX edition that also comes with a light-up crystal cube of Karin that costs 14,278円 (~$96).

Do you want it all? That's available too! For the ultimate Rune Factory 3 fan in Japan, the Dream Collection, the Wedding Collection, the Famitsu DX, and the Karin cube lamp can be purchased together on the Marvelous shop for 45,760円 (~$308!).

... and when preordering through Amazon.co.jp, players will get a copy of the game, the Newlywed Mode DLC, and Doug's Rune Factory 4 costume for Micah to wear.

What goodies do you think XSeed will offer? The Swimsuit DLC is a safe assumption since we got that with RF4SE, but I don't think we'll get the jewelry rings or the Karin light-up cube lamp.

SoS:AWL Hybrids

Marvelous JP released some images this week via their Twitter account

We already know that there were new crops added to the remake of Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life, and this latest screenshot appears to be one of those new crops - a Festival Day Fruit with a rank of B. The original third-generation hybrid crops were simply labeled "No Name 1" through "No Name 24", so giving the unique hybrid crops an actual name is a good change.

This is also the first screenshot I've noticed showing the game in Day #8. In the original version, each season was 10 days long. Marv hasn't come out and stated the season system is the same in the remake as the original, but images of the calendar on the farmhouse wall hint that each season is 10 days.

LiL's Deep Dive into HM64's TV

The guys over at Lost in Localization have been busy digging through the text of the Japanese version of Harvest Moon 64 to analyze and translate the fourth TV channel that was omitted from the EN localization of the game. Besides simply translating the text of the missing entertainment channel tv shows, they've also turned their work into a fun study guide for those learning Japanese.

Today's a special day for me. My interest in Japanese was sparked over 20 years ago by the mystery of Harvest Moon 64's untranslated 4th channel. Today, I begin solving that mystery, and help start your Japanese learning in the process. https://t.co/h3mw7PVE7V

— Lost In Localization (@lostinloc) October 13, 2022

Each article in Lost in Localization's Variety Channel breakdown will go through episodes available from the JP version of the game, documenting the Japanese text, the literal translation, and what the text might have become during localization. They also explain language nuances that are tough to translate into English. Check it out if you're a fan of learning about the inner workings of HM64.

• Harvest Moon 64's Variety Channel, Translated

Until next time!

Cher
(Treasure hunted a new mason bee house and a 7-Up recipe book published eons ago by the old Portland distributor!)

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