Harvest Moon: Linking the New World

[Lawnachaun]

Harvest Moon: Linking the New World (or possibly, "Connecting New Lands")

Release Date: February 2014 - Japan (No North American or European release date set, at this time)

Developer / Publisher: Marvelous Interactive, Natsume

Platforms: 3DS Exclusive

---
Looks like a new Harvest Moon game is in the works, and will be out in Japan relatively soon. A Western release should be announced soon after.

New Harvest Moon en root to 3DS

A new Harvest Moon game is well into production, with Japan expecting to reap the 3DS game in February 2014. Unveiled in this week's Famitsu magazine (via Gematsu and Polygon), the game's subtitle of Tsunagari Shintench translates to something like 'Linking the New World' or 'Connecting New Lands.' We're sure this newest version of the long-running farming sim will have a clearer western name when it makes the journey abroad, although it's only confirmed for Japan so far.

The subtitle refers to a new trading station that allows you to purchase from and sell goods to foreign nations. Trading starts small, limited to one country, but as you continue to play the market your global contact list will start to fill up. Tsunagari Shintench also features a safari zone where you can interact with wild animals; according to Famitsu's interview, the game doubles the amount the number of different animals compared to before. Finally, as per previous 3DS entry A New Beginning, the new Harvest Moon supports StreetPass and Wi-Fi letting you trade with and visit other players' farms.

New Harvest Moon game announced for 3DS
Linking the New World hits Japan in February 2014.

The latest entry in the Harvest Moon series is Harvest Moon: Linking the New World for 3DS, this week’s Famitsu reveals.

Due out in February for 5,040 yen in Japan, the game is produced by Yoshifumi Hashimoto and features character design by Igusa Matsuyama.

The player takes on the role of a male or female farmer in Oaktree Town, where non-player characters like madam Elise, the bright and young Fritz, and the old lady Edda exist. Field work is said to be easier than before, and as you progress through the story, you’ll be able to enter a safari where you can take care of animals. You can also play at the river and fish. Marriage partner candidates, such as Ririe and Lega, are also shown in the magazine.

Tidbits from Famitsu’s interview with Hashimoto follow below.

• Among the other farmers there is also a tutorial character. Each farmer has their own personality.
• “Linking” also means connecting with the world of the game.
• StreetPass will allow you to exchange personal data.
• Countries that you can trade with will increase. As will the elements that allow you to ship popular goods and other items wanted in a certain country.
• In the safari, connections with wild animals are drawn. There are two times as many wild animals as there were in the previous game.
• The basic flow won’t change.

Development is currently 80 percent complete.

New Harvest Moon game coming to 3DS in February

Yasuhiro Wada, original creator of the Harvest Moon series, may be releasing the spiritual successor to his creation in a couple weeks, but current rights-holder Marvelous AQL is still proceeding along with the HM series itself. This week's issue of Famitsu magazine has the first info on the new official Harvest Moon title, called Bokujo Monogatari: Tsunagari Shintenchi and due out for the Nintendo 3DS next February in Japan.

The first new Harvest Moon release in two years, the game's subtitle translates to something like "Connecting New Lands." Series producer Yoshifumi Hashimoto explained to Famitsu that "connecting" has a dual meaning here. "One meaning of that lies in the connectivity functions we use," he said. "The game supports StreetPass and Wi-Fi; you can trade assorted data with friends and you can also visit each other's farms. It also refers to connecting with the world, making connections to other countries via trade."

Trade in the new HM takes the form of a trading station that allows you to engage in import/export operations with foreign lands, obtaining new stuff for your town and making money selling your crops across borders. "You're able to purchase unique goods from the world's nations, as well as send products out to them," Hashimoto said. "At the start you can only trade with one nation, but as you ship more product, you'll gain access to more and more countries. Each nation will react to your goods differently depending on their preferences, with some enjoying them but others giving more of a neutral reaction."

In addition to assorted gameplay enhancements (such as the ability to seed or water entire nine-square farm plots with a single operation), Tsunagari Shintenchi also lets you unlock a "Safari" zone that you can fill with all sorts of animals. Hashimoto told Famitsu that this game features twice the animal types as previous HMs: "HM games up to now have focused more on the farming process, but we created the Safari location here to put more of a spotlight on the livestock portion of the experience. These are wild animals, though, so instead of taking care of them you're more just helping them out with their lives, but you'll be able to watch over all sorts of animals in the Safari. Instead of taking them home and raising them, you're securing a sanctuary for them and building up the number of animals who live there. "

No word on a U.S. release yet for the new Harvest Moon.