The first mainline Harvest Moon game developed by Natsume. Nintendo 3DS. [ Game Guide ] JP release = None. NA release = Nov 2014. EU release = Jun 2015.
Osuchin wrote:The question is will it just be Harvest Moon converted into katakana: ハーベストムーン? O
Or will it be the equivalent translation into onyomi and kunyomi?
Which is chuujuu no meigetsu: 中秋の名月.
My bet would be on kana.
They might get a few sales from Harvest Moon from those who know it's a series in the west, even if it's not much.
Osuchin wrote:The question is will it just be Harvest Moon converted into katakana: ハーベストムーン? O
Or will it be the equivalent translation into onyomi and kunyomi?
Which is chuujuu no meigetsu: 中秋の名月.
My bet would be on kana.
They might get a few sales from Harvest Moon from those who know it's a series in the west, even if it's not much.
If it is the kana, it will likely confuse fans, who will think it is a sequel to Back to Nature, which was Bokujou Monogatari: Harvest Moon, in Japan. I know my Japanese friend was confused when I said I like harvest moon/bokumono, and she thought I meant the one game in Japan, even after I explained the series name in America.
So judging by our convo, in Japan the name Harvest Moon is first associated with Back to Nature, nut the series' western name.
Oh wow, I never even knew it was used for BtN in Japan. If Natsume can get away with using Harvest Moon in Japan even though it was used with BtN then I can't see them passing that up.
Unless they have the subtitle lost valley (迷い谷[this is literally "lost valley;" but they may go for something different; such as "hidden valley")
Then it is kind of clear they aren't talking about the same thing.
Though then again, maybe not.
Aww. I thought it would be "Harvest Moon: Old Macdonald Strikes Back."
@Osu: I'm betting on Kana as well. Chuujuu no Meigetsu is not as catchy as Habetsuto Muun, but going with what Muse has said, it's possible they use the former to avoid associations.
That or Shiki Monogatori and use that for Harvest Moon's name in Japan *stop, don't give them ideas*
As a long time fan who's been looking for an opportunity to get back into the series, this sure does provide us with an interesting (and rather unique) scenario, as well as some enjoyable drama.
I'd say the most reasonable course of action would be to wait and see what happens, though; if The Lost Valley turns out to be an actually competent product, everyone wins and the inevitable rivalry between the two series might cause both to improve.
On the other hand, if TLV turns out to be the mediocre Harvest Moon cash-in some are expecting it to be, there'll always still be the Harvest Moon everyone knows and loves, just under another name.
I do think Ms Cher's word carries a lot more weight than she seems to think it does, though. As the owner of the biggest HM-fansite around, she'd be in an excellent position to condemn/silence TLV to death if it is indeed just a cheap Harvest Moon in name only, or at the very least help it along to an early grave.
As a European, however, I can only hope Xseed will at least be quicker with localising than Natsume used to be... I probably might as well get ANB instead of assuming I'll get either new game anytime soon.
I'm really interested in how they say they will discuss why this will be the "first truly 3D Harvest Moon" at E3.
As it really confuses me.
Random Evildoer wrote:As a European, however, I can only hope Xseed will at least be quicker with localising than Natsume used to be... I probably might as well get ANB instead of assuming I'll get either new game anytime soon.
XSeed is exclusively NA. As far as I am aware EU still has to go through Rising Star.
Osuchin wrote:I'm really interested in how they say they will discuss why this will be the "first truly 3D Harvest Moon" at E3.
As it really confuses me.
No 2d portraits? No 2d game art at all? Spinning 3d dialogue text like a windows 95 screensaver?
Even the Wii games etc. used 2d art for television shows and such.
Osuchin wrote:I'm really interested in how they say they will discuss why this will be the "first truly 3D Harvest Moon" at E3.
As it really confuses me.
No 2d portraits? No 2d game art at all? Spinning 3d dialogue text like a windows 95 screensaver?
Even the Wii games etc. used 2d art for television shows and such.
So similar to what they did in RF: Tides of Destiny and many of the games made by Compile Heart.
At least in regard to portraits and art.
The spinning dialogue box concept would be pretty unintuitive though.
Last edited by Osuchin on Jun 03, 2014 1:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Frankly I'm concerned about that myself. "Truly 3D Harvest Moon"... What? I really hope they mean something similar to the console versions and not a game that's meant to be played with the 3D capability always turned on. E3 cannot come soon enough now.
One thing I am wondering is how will Lost Valley get to Europe?
I mean Marvelous AQL Europe will handle the localization of Story of Seasons.
But Natsume doesn't have a European branch.
Does this mean Rising Star will get involved again with the HM name?
Will some other company handle it? Will it even come get brought to EU at all?
Last edited by Osuchin on Jun 03, 2014 2:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
