Lets talk about Hometown Story (again)

[Googaboga]

That's a good question. I don't think there is a confirmed answer but from what we know I would guess you can work on more than one for at least awhile. But I think in the end you'll have to decide on one to ultimately complete. So far it seems to be implying that you can only finish one storyline per game (they talk about having to make important choices and only being able to grant one wish and stuff like that). But I would imagine you can at least begin more than one story throughout the game.

Despite that I wouldn't actually be surprised if you could complete more than one story per game. I image granting a wish is an important part of each story and even though it implies you can only grant one wish per game there are 30 wishes to grant for villagers and a long time ago they mentioned something about seven wishes you could grant for yourself. They do talk about choosing between what makes you happy and what makes others happy so wishes for yourself may not be included in the 30 wish count for villagers (if that feature is still there. They haven't mentioned it in a long time). It'd be pretty crazy if you had to play the game 30-30+ times to see every wish granted. I totally wouldn't mind that though.

I really hope they tell us more about the game play. I'm so interested in learning how it's gonna work.

[Taniyama Mai]

Yeah I think the few marriage candidate thing will work out. Wada is pretty happy with them so I'm not worried. Here's one of the things that was said on this topic:

Additionally, romancing a villager is an option, and Wada was happy he got to focus on just crafting a few romance options so he could put a lot of thought into them and make them all standout.

And it was also said that:

Wada crafted the characters and story scenarios for a year.

So I'm thinking that every main character got just as much attention whether they are a marriage candidate or not. And it won't be like HM where there is sort of this obvious difference between marriage candidates and villagers. I think it will be more like everyone is a villager and it just so happens that you can romance a few.

Thank you Bluie :].

that "make them all stand out" bit worries me, cause usually if they stand out, it doesn't mean they're 'special' per se, it just means everyone else got less attention and therefor you have no choice but to find those few more interesting. let's just hope the marriageable ones are not like, the only cute characters and all the not-so-cute (or the ones with less thought put into their design) are the ones we're left with like they usually are. (I mean, look back on AWL. they didn't expect to make a 'for girls' vr so the boys were not made to be intended as marriage candidates so they were ether ugly as hell or had no personality, or both. that's why Skye was made. even after they changed that characters that were not marriageable got the short end of the design stick, and even some that were still did)

I just hope you're right and they actually gave each character their own unique attention so that regardless of your gender, you can still become just as close to a character as you could if you were the opposite(minus the obvious getting married bit if they are marriageable) but with a game so centered around every character's story, if it's any kind of decent game it should be done pretty well.

I'm just wondering if you can be doing more than one story at one time. I don't really care about getting married the first time around. I plan on doing Ember's story first because he's so bloody adorable. But doing someone else's story at the same time on the side would be interesting.

I'm betting it'll be a lot like HoLV in that respect, but only with "no wrong answer" (and I assume no kicking out out of town aka "bad ending[s]" like just about every other game ever)

[Googaboga]

I don't think you have to worry about that. This is what Wada had to say about marriage in Harvest Moon and then marriage in Hometown Story:

When marriage eventually turned into the overall goal for some players, I started feeling a little awkward about that. With Hometown Story, I wanted to shift the focus from marriage to many different kinds of human relationships.

So since Wada had a big hand in all the character stories I doubt he'd allow the focus to be on making the bachelors/bachelorettes the most interesting of all the characters.

[Taniyama Mai]

I don't think you have to worry about that. This is what Wada had to say about marriage in Harvest Moon and then marriage in Hometown Story:

When marriage eventually turned into the overall goal for some players, I started feeling a little awkward about that. With Hometown Story, I wanted to shift the focus from marriage to many different kinds of human relationships.

So since Wada had a big hand in all the character stories I doubt he'd allow the focus to be on making the bachelors/bachelorettes the most interesting of all the characters.

awesome.

now I can go back to being as excited for this game as I was this morning when I saw the long English Trailer~

~faith restored~

[Googaboga]

I'm glad to hear that . Wada seems like a really cool guy so I'm excited to see the stories he's come up with.

[runefactor]

I'm actually really excited for Hometown Story! I don't think I'll pre order it but I'll get it as soon as I can. This game seems to be so focused on the characters and the story seems so cute and personal. I'm neutral on the gameplay from what I've seen so far but I'm definetily gonna spend more time socialising than taking care of my shop. I wonder if we'll be able to do a new game + every time we want to replay the game and keep the same shop. Maybe this game is like Save The Homeland where you only play for a year and get a new ending every new year? I want to do Sue's story first, she's so cuuuuuute. The dark haired girl too (I think she is a waitress or a maid)! Jack looks cute too as far as boys go.

Personally, I think Hometown Story looks way more fun than most recent HM games.

[Googaboga]

I must say a new game+ features sounds very nice. They made sure to list "Many endings" as a feature so I know I'll be replaying this game quite a few times. It would be nice not to have to start totally from scratch each time XD.

I'm really excited too. I will pre-order so I can get the bonus but I won't pre-order yet. I'm still waiting for Natsume to announce what their pre-order bonus is.

I think it's going to be really fun to get to know these characters. Personally I intend to aim for Mika's wish first. Since they kept showing her off I've gotten really comfortable with her XD. Or maybe I'll do Jack's first instead.

[Bluie]

Wada is my favorite game dev.

My jaw dropped when I found out a huge chunk of games I loved, he had a hand in.

Avalon Code, Rune factory, Friends of Mineral town, among many others!

I always get excited when I see his name in the credits of a game! Especially when i'm not expecting it.

[Googaboga]

Haha yeah his games are so great.

I'm pretty really curious to see who the other characters are (there are supposed to be 30 main characters so there have to be at least a few people left that we haven't seen). I am guessing that other silver haired guy talking to Jin in one of the trailers will be a main character and I am hoping this person will be a main character:

Spoiler:

I don't know I just really like the look of their design for some reason.

[runefactor]

^He does have a cute design, I hope he's a main one too! :3

I really want to see updated versions of Jinn, Clarissa and all the other characters we haven't seen the final versions of yet.

Another thing I like about this game is character customization. I really liked it in ANB, will be sure to enjoy it this time too. I'll surely make lots of different characters.

[Taniyama Mai]

I'm glad to hear that . Wada seems like a really cool guy so I'm excited to see the stories he's come up with.

yea, he does. I don't remember where I heard it, but I'm pretty sure he was the one who ether came up with the best friend/crossdressing thing or he advocated for them to be in the final cut of the games. I mean sure, the latter turned out to be a little more queerbating than necessary, but it was still a good idea and a good try.

I'm actually really excited for Hometown Story! I don't think I'll pre order it but I'll get it as soon as I can. This game seems to be so focused on the characters and the story seems so cute and personal. I'm neutral on the gameplay from what I've seen so far but I'm definetily gonna spend more time socialising than taking care of my shop. I wonder if we'll be able to do a new game + every time we want to replay the game and keep the same shop. Maybe this game is like Save The Homeland where you only play for a year and get a new ending every new year? I want to do Sue's story first, she's so cuuuuuute. The dark haired girl too (I think she is a waitress or a maid)! Jack looks cute too as far as boys go.

Personally, I think Hometown Story looks way more fun than most recent HM games.

I'm debating on which stufty I want, and if we want to get two(as we usually do) if we're going to get both stufties or not. most likely will, but still. gotta figure out which one I want more just in case~

I actually don't want it to re-start every year. I'd much rather be free to continue or start over if I choose to, instead of being made to. I know a lot of people complain about STH and AWL because their storylines are forced and you have no choice but to follow them. this game seems to be based around choices so I doubt you'd be forced to do something like that. especially if, as it's implied in the trailer I saw, each game experience will be different for every player and if you restart, every time you play it'll be a whole new story and experience every time. I'd prefer to be able to choose whether or not I want to start a new experience rather than have to restart at the end of a year or two.
(kinda like in HoLV, where Alice asks if she can stay after a particular ending and you can choose if you still want her around or not, and if you fail, you can start over with all the money and I believe events you unlocked still there or start fresh. I think it'd be best if we had the choice to continue or restart)

but I agree, it looks a lot more fun. Most of my HM games are spent foraging, taking care of my crops and animals, and the rest of the time with whatever characters I liked and who I wanted to marry. being that this game revolves around the town, and I bet if I'm not working the shop you'll ether be with villagers or foraging for things to sell which sounds PERFECT to me, as that's really all I did in the first place x3

plus I have always ADORED hearing about people's stories so that's a huge plus all on it's own =P

[runefactor]

The game seems to focus a lot on the ending part so I wonder if we'll get to play after the ending or if we'll choose when the game ends. Personally, I have no problems at all with constantly restarting to get all endings.

Do you know which character you'll want to see the story of first, Taniyama Mai?

[Googaboga]

Oh yeah I want to see that too. I think the updated sprites are much nicer so it will be neat to see the updated versions of Fawkes, Rook, Rock, Jin, etc.

Also this is just speculation but I think Rook and Rock could be Lily's brothers that she mentions in a screenshot. And I think Carl and Fawkes might be related. Carl's screenshot seems to show him in his home and Fawkes seems to be there with a women who could be Carl's wife and possibly Fawkes's mother.

It will be nice to know how things work but it is fun to try and guess in the meantime :]. A long time ago they mentioned something about your choices determining when or if you get your wish. So it is possible there may not be a specific time that these events happen. Perhaps you can play as you like and then choose to get the ending scene when you want and you don't have to get it by the end of year one or by summer year 3 or something like that. Or perhaps there is a cut off date but you can get it before the cut off if you want.

[Taniyama Mai]

The game seems to focus a lot on the ending part so I wonder if we'll get to play after the ending or if we'll choose when the game ends. Personally, I have no problems at all with constantly restarting to get all endings.

Do you know which character you'll want to see the story of first, Taniyama Mai?

I think it'd be better if we had the option of choosing, so those who want to restart can and those who want to continue can. that way, unlike STH/AWL everyone's happy.

that's what I'm trying to figure out x3 I have a lot going on and haven't had a chance to look back at the character list and figure that out x3

Oh yeah I want to see that too. I think the updated sprites are much nicer so it will be neat to see the updated versions of Fawkes, Rook, Rock, Jin, etc.

Also this is just speculation but I think Rook and Rock could be Lily's brothers that she mentions in a screenshot. And I think Carl and Fawkes might be related. Carl's screenshot seems to show him in his home and Fawkes seems to be there with a women who could be Carl's wife and possibly Fawkes's mother.

It will be nice to know how things work but it is fun to try and guess in the meantime :]. A long time ago they mentioned something about your choices determining when or if you get your wish. So it is possible there may not be a specific time that these events happen. Perhaps you can play as you like and then choose to get the ending scene when you want and you don't have to get it by the end of year one or by summer year 3 or something like that. Or perhaps there is a cut off date but you can get it before the cut off if you want.

I really like the graphics. reminds me of pokemon X and Y but with the HM feel. it's really nice =)

oh yea, to me it's the best part of games. nothing was more fun than when the first trailer for X and Y came out. there were so many possibilities, so many new things, so much speculation; it was amazing. it's that time I look forward to most with new games.
I really like the idea of waiting to trigger the ending scene. that would be perfect for people who want to wait, want a little more time, want to do something else before starting over, or wanting to finish quickly. that's a really good idea actually.

[Guest]

Eh. I'm actually one of the people who's main focus is marriage. I'm a bit ashamed to say it, but the main (pretty much only) thing that got me into this game was Jinn. I just hope he's one of the marriage candidates, the other guys just don't really look that appealing to me :/
Also, I wonder if this game will have more than one save file, I don't want to be forced to choose one guy if there are others that I like.