Re: Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town announced!

[keenocuous]

XSeed already has their timeline out here: https://www.xseedgames.com/2021/01/20/x ... do-switch/


It’s just a month off from Japan’s, which makes sense since the game itself comes out a month later.

[Kikki]

That's actually the same timeline as Japan in the case of the later bits of DLC. They have specific dates listed and Xseed only has theirs listed by month, but each one lines up in month in July/August, and they must be at nearly the same time since the JP release for the last piece is on Aug 26th...so Xseed's can't be more than a couple of days later since it is also listed for August. You can see them listed together on this page. (Under the 'release dates' section.) That's kind of nice. Our DLC spread is condensed into one less month because the initial release is a month later.

[AnonDude]

While I’m very excited for the dlc, I do have some concerns. I wonder how the dlc characters will be integrated into the town. My main concern is that they will just sort of ... exist. As in, having no real interactions with the original members of the town, outside of events. I’m mainly saying this because I’ve played other games that added dlc characters, only for them to be essentially non-existent to the original characters. Though I suppose we won’t know until the dlc is out. I’m going to try and stay hopeful, at least!

[Kikki]

I kinda think they won't integrate the DLC candidates all that much. They're going to exist in their own little areas, even...I'm thinking they may not even wander around Olive Town itself. Well, I'm really curious about how they're implementing the special new regions that come along with the candidates. Integrating them would make the workload increase a fair bit since they'd have to add dialogue for everyone...four new people to say stuff about for every one of the regular Olive Town folks. Which would be awesome, but that's kind of the balance. If they keep them separate, they continue to feel really unnecessary and just fluff bits of DLC, which may make the people who get angry at DLC happier, because it means the DLC is truly unimportant. But for those who buy the DLC, it sucks. They can't possibly please everyone. But the people who hate DLC are already mad that it exists, so I feel a bit like they may as well just commit to making great DLC that'll really enrich the game.

The only way to get around it is to wait until at least the first pack of candidates is released and see (via the experience of others) how they interact with the game before purchasing, I guess. It's hard to wait on this stuff, though. But I really ought to be waiting at least a month before buying the game itself anyway since I'm miserable when I don't have a guide to work with. We'll probably need at least a few weeks before good English-language resources start to build up.

[keenocuous]

Oops, you’re right! I didn’t read it all the way, I thought the first bit in April was the clothes from the previous protagonists, but I guess it is the same timeline.

And I was also worried about the integration of the NPCs. I’m not fond of characters that are just there, so I’d like them to be a part of things, and not act like special candidates. I think that the people that are mad about the DLC are just burned out by other companies that DO cut the original content and make you pay more for something that should have been there to begin with. That being said: DLC ≠ a rushed game like I’ve seen a couple of people say. If they hadn’t released the expansion pass, I would’ve still considered it a complete game and been happy to get it.

And even though we’re not getting it till March, I’m very curious and excited to see photos and videos of the Japanese release pop up in the meantime. It’s very surprising that we all get the DLC at the same time, though. Since it’s the same price bundled or not, I think I might actually just wait to get it. If the games good enough to me, then I’ll play it several times over the next few years. ToT was so good that I think I played it about 3 or 4 times since it released? Not in a row obviously, but it’s just a game I liked to play after work while I relaxed in bed. : p

[Kikki]

No, I think you were right for at least the first half of the DLC schedule, keenocuous. It looks like we get the first parts a little bit later than Japan. It just looks like that final two waves of it sync up, as far as I can tell...we both get our final bit of DLC in August. (Unless the information has been adjusted since I last looked at it a few hours ago, lol. It did get adjusted overnight and the info is really new, so maybe there are still tweaks being made.)

A lot of negative reactions I see to DLC on social media appear to be from folks who are triggered by any mention of DLC at all, without looking into it even slightly. I also agree that this game felt entirely complete within itself, without any of these returnee candidates or kitschy outfits or events about koropons dancing. Or a little 'mystery' side story. Those feel very incidental, to me, that you could easily give a pass to if you don't like to wait, are the type who only ever plays once, or if you think it's too expensive, or whatever other reason a person might have for the DLC not being worthwhile for them.

I don't like DLC that feels like cut content either; it makes me mad, too. But this doesn't feel that that at all, to me. The only argument I could make on the other side is that they only included 5 candidates of each gender this time, with no special or secret candidates.

[Floh]

A lot of negative reactions I see to DLC on social media appear to be from folks who are triggered by any mention of DLC at all, without looking into it even slightly. I also agree that this game felt entirely complete within itself, without any of these returnee candidates or kitschy outfits or events about koropons dancing.

For me it´s the odd timing they announced the DLC that I´m uncomfortable with.
This game isn´t even out yet but they allready told us, there will be 5 DLCs. I asume, the game development is completed and they worked after that on the DLCs, so it´s extra work they need to pay. It would have been a better choice to tell us first, that they finished working on it and than, when the games launched, that they put extra work in it to bring back some loved bachelors/bachelorettes and places for the best anniversary game ever.

I really looked into the DLC and at least the marriage candidates make me happy now, but I have to admit, it´s just an odd timing to announce it, so I can understand the critics.

I don't like DLC that feels like cut content either; it makes me mad, too. But this doesn't feel that that at all, to me. The only argument I could make on the other side is that they only included 5 candidates of each gender this time, with no special or secret candidates.

Like I said, I think it´s because of the timing.

With Dessie in my mind I´m happy they don´t make her a special bachelorette like Harvest Moon did in Light of Hope (boy, that felt wierd), but they had Woofio and Inari in the last games, so why not bring a candidate like that back.

I was a huge fan of Reager, Iris and Ludus, so I´m more happy about them being back. But all the costumes seem a bit over the top for me.

Has the japanese DLC allready told us, how much it will cost?
Seems like this could be a 30$ DLC ore more, depending on how big the new areas are.

[Kikki]

The Expansion pass is $20 USD, as far as I know. (It's mentioned on Xseed's page.)

I prefer to know in advance if there's going to be DLC. I'd be upset if I'd already started playing before they told me...I want to plan what I'm going to do before I make my first decision. Knowing there's going to be DLC with a bunch of additional candidates, I may prefer to wait a while before starting the game.

[Shan O 123]

Luckily, I’m a storyteller. So if the DLC does feel empty, there’s always imagination. Lol. Though, I have a good feeling about them adding more to the game since they’re a few months apart.

[Katze]

Huh, I definitely didn’t see this coming. I mean I figured there would be DLC, but not announced so quickly and not so much of it. I can’t say I’m too excited about any of the returning candidates, but then again if Nadi or Sanjay were coming back I’d be sorely tempted to marry them again when I should really be giving the PoOT bachelors a chance.

I’ll probably wait until it’s all released and then start a new file with the new stuff. Hopefully the additional characters move around the game world and interact with the original PoOT characters and don’t just stay secluded in their specific areas.

[greensara]

I don't know if the DLC will make choosing a spouse easier or harder as I like Ludus and Reager better than the native choices. I kind of regretted marrying Kamil in SoS rather than one of the new characters, though he is a sweet guy. I was not motivated to play that one a second time though.

Are you going to choose Reager again Shan? Too bad they didn't pick Wayne too for you, that would really make for an interesting story with both your guys returning.

[Ronin19]

So I've been hyped about the DLC since I saw it was announced. I'm a little disappointed that the new marriage candidates are from past games instead of changing some of the villagers into candidates, but, as I said, only a little disappointed.

I did marry Neil in A New Beginning and Lisette in Trio of Towns in my replay. Raeger was, I believe, my 2nd or 3rd favorite guy in Story of Seasons (I married Kamil). I like giving Felicity another shot; her design is interesting, but I didn't marry her (my favorite girls were Yuri, Witch Princess, and Michelle). Iris, same deal, great design, but I liked other girls more (Married Elise in the replay, but I liked pretty much all the girls). Ludus wasn't my type, but I'm wondering how the DLC will treat him.

Also, I can't be the only one hoping there's some confusion with Neil and Damon; they look kind of the same. Wouldn't mind an event between Damon, Neil, and Bridget with Bridget confused over which one is her brother.

So I know the silhouettes us the old artwork of the characters, but I wouldn't mind if they got some new clothes; Kamil and Licorice looked great with a little change in SoS.

[Shan O 123]

Are you going to choose Reager again Shan? Too bad they didn't pick Wayne too for you, that would really make for an interesting story with both your guys returning.

I...I have a weakness and you know it! Lol, I’m actually relieved that Wayne isn’t in this one along with Raeger Cuz I’d be having trouble lol.though yeah that’d be a interesting twist.

[Kikki]

I'm glad Sanjay didn't come back. He's my favourite ever, but I want him to always remain in Echo Village, very happily married to Cricket. If I want more Sanjay, I'll replay ANB. I don't ever want to have to explain to myself why he has left Echo Village to appear in the town of some other game. I didn't have a massive favourite in SoS1 nor in Trio. (Actually, I didn't have a favourite in SoS1 at all. I liked Raeger and Nadi both pretty well...I had more fun with Nadi but I wouldn't say I actually liked him better. Not exactly. In Trio it was Yuzuki who was my clear favourite and he was sweet, yet not the lightning-strike this is my guy! kind of fella that Sanjay was.)

I always thought I should give Neil a go, but always had a hard time even considering marrying anyone other than Sanjay when playing ANB. I don't know if I'll want one of the returnees or not. I'm extremely curious about their new events, their new appearance due to the new style, and what differences they may have put in.

For some reason, I find it hard to imagine Raeger mugging vigorously, the way all the characters in Olive Town seem to do with their comically over-exaggerated body language and expressions. He was always such a calm guy in Oak Town.

EDIT: New video. Shows an interesting thing...your skills level up in this game. I think it might make the harvesting a tiny bit faster? I hope so, cuz that is slooooow.

[Shan O 123]

What’s up with going back to harvesting one at a time lol