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 spent the last two weeks out of the office, putting up Christmas lights and handling other house projects. Got a lot of stuff done, such as finally finding a new home for the giant air hockey table in the next room. And now that the room is empty, I get to transform the space into a dedicated farm'n office! No more having to store my Bokumono guidebook collection in topple-friendly stacks above my head. Maybe there will be space to put out some of the many plushies currently stored in boxes or some nice shelving the interns can use to run up the walls.

Yea, all that stuff is still in boxes, as the floors aren't in place yet. It was supposed to be the week of the 7th, then the 21st, and now, /shrug. It'll happen when it happens, I guess!

At least the interior issues don't deter from the external Christmas Light Extravaganza installation. That's ongoing too. The weather has been cold and rainy, which puts a damper on putting up lights. Currently, there are 11,500 lights installed, and it's not done yet!

Shepherd's Crossing Switch

The reimagined version of Shepherd's Crossing for Nintendo Switch was released in Japan on November 10. The game retails for 4180円 (~$30) with tax included, either digitally or physically. The physical edition includes a code to download a special commemorative item in the Shepherd's Crossing online game.

A few bugs had been reported, including a failed save-game loading hiccup, but Success Co is working on releasing a patch. Players have also let the publisher know that playing the game was confusing, so an online overview manual was added to the official website.

An English release is expected sometime in 2023.

SoS:AWL Updates

While I was on my much-enjoyed break, Marvelous' official Twitter account has been actively sending out screenshots of Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life. The developer/publisher has also been updating official website in Japan.

• Players can still whistle for their horse or their dog.
• Dog training lets players interact with their puppy using 4 tricks: jumping, shake (paw), stand, and circle (turning). Training the dog in the original game would result in the dog chasing Murrey away when he came to steal food. With our favorite vagabond completely revamped in SoS:AWL, we've no idea if he will still stop by the farm to sneak a snack.
• Murrey/Pui still likes to put out a mat and a coin cup. Looks like new-Murrey also says clothed when sitting on his outdoor mat. I hope I can still give him all my money since he's probably not a secret marriage candidate. Drat, my dreams have been crushed again! Maybe I can affectionately merge his old name and his new name to call him "Purrey" or something...
• The official site added a new page about the seasonal festivals (also over on the latest Famitsu article). Spring has a New Years Day gathering at Romana's mansion, a fireworks festival during Summer, the harvest hot-pot gathering in Autumn, and Starry Night during Winter.
• The new camera feature lets players collect pictures of their wonderful life. The camera also has a self-timer feature so players can put their protagonist in the frame before the picture snaps. Up to 25 pictures can be saved in the game's photo album.
• Pictures of Grant, Samantha, Kate, Kassey, Patrick, and Pui have also been added to the official website. Hardy and Daryl aren't there yet, but an earlier screenshot confirmed Hardy was still around while Daryl's laboratory buildings have been pictured. We just haven't seen either of their faces.

There are 2 months left to go before SoS: A Wonderful Life is released in Japan. The game's localized version is still roughly planned for "Summer 2023."

Kickstarter Updates

Meetlight and the Secrets of the Universe continues to grow, completing stretch goals such as seasonal outfits for NPCs and 4-player co-op. The next stretch goal is to add child adoption to the game at release instead of a feature that will be added later.

Sally successfully reached its campaign stretch goal to fund the development of a Nintendo Switch version at game release, currently planned for January 2025.

An update releasing later this month or early December is being tested for The Wandering Village. This future quality-of-life update will bring full Steam Desk and controller support, backdoors for buildings, autosave, and a new worker management screen.

Farm'n Game Sales

If you've been waiting for good deals on farming video games, this weekend is a great opportunity to stock up! First, we have the Steam Autumn Sale for PC games. These farming game deals expire on November 29 (next Tuesday). The prices below are in US dollars.

• Atomicrops (66% off - $5.09)
• Autonauts (50% off - $9.99)
• Big Farm Story (50% off - $9.99)
• Garden Paws (20% off - $15.99)
• Harvest Days: My Dream Farm (Early Access) (50% off - $8.99)
• Harvest Moon: Light of Hope (50% off - $9.99)
• Harvest Moon: One World (50% off - $24.99)
• Hokko Life (33% off - $13.39)
• Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure (Early Access) (15% off - $12.74)
• Immortal Life (Early Access) (10% off - $15.29)
• Kitaria Fables (45% off - $10.99)
• Little Dragons Cafe (70% off - $17.99)
• Littlewood (50% off - $7.49)
• Moondrop (Early Access) (20% off - $7.99)
• My Time at Portia (75% off - $7.49)
• My Time at Sandrock (Early Access) (20% off - $19.99)
• Pomo Farm (50% off - $2.49)
• Pumpkin Days (50% off - $12.49)
• Rune Factory 4 Special (35% off - $19.49)
• Rune Factory 5 (40% off - $29.99)
• Sakuna: of Rice and Ruin (35% off - $19.49)
• Slow Living with Princess (Early Access) (25% off - $8.99)
• Stardew Valley (20% off - $11.99)
• Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town (50% off - $19.99)
• Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town (40% off - $23.99)
• Stranded Sails: Explorers of the Cursed Islands (85% off - $3.74)
• Summer in Mara (65% off - $6.99)
• Sun Haven (Early Access) (10% off - $22.49)

XSeed Games is putting on a physical game sale from their online store. These deals end on November 28 (Monday).

• Rune Factory 4 Special (33% off - $19.99)
• Rune Factory 5 (Standard: 40% off - $29.99, or Earthmate: 12% off - $69.99)
• Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town (Standard: 35% off - $19.99, Premium not on sale)
• Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town (Ps4 and Switch: 35% off - $19.99, Xbox not on sale)
• Sakuna: of Rice and Ruin (Standard for Switch and Ps4: 35% off - $19.99, Divine for Ps4: 40% off - $29.99)

Oh, but there is MORE! Nintendo (North America) has a cyber deals sale that includes a few farming games. These deals expire on December 4:

• Doraemon: Story of Seasons - 70% off ($14.99)
• Harvest Moon: One World - 30% off ($34.99)
• Rune Factory 4 Special - 35% off ($19.49)
• Rune Factory 5 - 40% off ($29.99)
• Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town - 50% off ($19.99)
• Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive town - 40% off ($23.99)

Nintendo of Europe has a Black Friday sale until November 30 (next Wednesday):

• Farming Simulator 20 - 50% off (£19.99, €22.49)
• Farm for your Life - 50% off (£8.99)
• Harvest Life - 80% off (£3.99, €4.99)
• Real Farm, Premium Edition - 80% off (£5.99, €6.99)

Until next time!

Cher
(I finally cleaned my keyboard, but now some of my buttons are annoying me...)

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