Where was I? Oh yes! This is a pre-order bonus for Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon for the Nintendo DS, and you can only get it at Amazon.com. You might want to set up your order now before this baby winds up on eBay's ridiculously inflated rare, collectible, plush squirrel aftermarket.

NATSUME ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE PRE-ORDER GIFT WITH AMAZON.COM FOR RUNE FACTORY 2: A FANTASY HARVEST MOON FOR NINTENDO DS

Order The Game Now And Receive A Rare, Collectible Plush Squirrel

Burlingame, Calif., October 6, 2008 - Natsume Inc., a worldwide developer and publisher of family-oriented video games, announced today that it will offer an adorable squirrel plush as an exclusive pre-order gift for customers who order Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon for Nintendo DS from Amazon.com.

"There are gamers counting the days until they get their hands on Rune Factory 2, and we wanted to give them a little something special for being the first to order the game," said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO at Natsume. "Fans of Rune Factory and Harvest Moon have loved the exclusive plushes that we have created for the series over the years, so we know that they will be excited to get their hands on this one and add it to their collection."

Rune Factory 2 will be available for the Nintendo DS system in U.S. retail outlets later this fall. The Rune Factory series combines the fun and rewarding Harvest Moon gameplay that fans know and love with the fantasy and excitement of an action-RPG, offering Harvest Moon fans and traditional RPG players the best of both worlds.

Rune Factory 2 is set several years after the first game. The evil Sechs Empire has been defeated, and the Kingdom of Norad is once again at peace. Things may not stay that way for long, however, as strange disturbances in the earth warn that a great evil is stirring. It's up to player to uncover this new threat to the land and bring peace to the kingdom once more. Over the course of the story, players will build and develop a farm, befriend townspeople, raise monsters, take on quests, and find a wife.

In a first for the Rune Factory series, the story of Rune Factory 2 is multigenerational. Players begin the game as Kyle, a strange man who comes to Alvarna Village.

Eventually, players will take on the role of Kyle's child, opening up a whole new adventure. It's an innovative feature that allows players to follow the story of their family and the townsfolk over two generations!

Rune Factory 2 is rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).

To order Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon and receive the limited addition squirrel plush, please visit http://www.amazon.com/Rune-Factory-Fantasy-Purchase-Nintendo-DS/dp/B001BWRBA8/ref=pd_rhf_p_img_1.

For more information on Natsume's titles, please visit www.natsume.com.

The most exciting title Natsume is bringing? Princess Debut, hands down. We posted about it before, and the DS game is broken down into three parts: rhythm game, princess dress-up and find a prince. The game takes place within the thirty days before a big ball. The game has multiple endings in story mode, and the dancing sequences use full motion capture. It's even possible to watch footsteps on the dance sequence and learn the steps.

The game is geared towards the female pre-teen ('tween) audience, and while Princess Debut doesn't make any misgivings about its girlyness, the game doesn't appear to be shovelware in the least. While checking out Natsume's line-up, Princess Debut went from being the game we were least interested in to the game we were the most interested in. Hey, who doesn't want to play rhythm games, learn to actually dance and find a prince?! Princess Debut debuts later this year.

It sounds a little bit rhythm-action, a little bit dating sim (not the hentai kind of dating sim, of course). Players become a princess and have 30 days to master dance moves and woo one of six princes to be their partner, over the course of a branching, event-driven storyline before the dance portion begins.

There are 20 different outfits, 14 endings and 18 different musical styles like Waltz, Latin, Dance, Tango and Ballroom. Natsume knows its audience (e.g, me) — I'm generally not into "games for girls" per se, but multiple endings, tons of unlockables, romance and rhythm gameplay? Seriously, I'm so there.

Admit it, guys — this sounds kind of cool to you, too, right? Right?!

Dance Into a Prince's Heart With Natsume's Original IP Exclusively For DS

Burlingame, Calif., July 10, 2008 - Natsume, a worldwide developer and publisher of family-oriented video games, announced today a new original IP, Princess Debut, a rhythm and adventure game for girls. The game is coming to the Nintendo DS system this fall. Published and developed by Natsume, Princess Debut offers gamers the chance to step through a portal into a magical world where they become a princess. Girls will have to master their dance moves and woo one of the six charming princes in time for the big ball!

"What young girl doesn't dream of becoming a princess? Princess Debut transports girls into that magical fairytale world while introducing elements of dance and music," said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO at Natsume. "Princess Debut is a fun rhythm and adventure game with some of the most beautiful and fluid dancing ever seen in a DS title."

In the game, players find themselves in a fantasy world where they have 30 days to get ready for the big ball; they'll have to master their dance moves and win over one of the six handsome princes to be their partner. They'll meet and woo the princes through the game's large, branching storyline and exciting event system. Once the player convinces a prince to be their dancing partner, it's time to go out on the dance floor! Players will use the Touch Screen to guide their character gracefully across the dance floor while matching their partner's rhythm. All of the dances in the game are taken from motion-captured professional dancers, so the game is just as impressive to watch as it is fun to play.

Princess Debut offers four modes of play including Story, Ballroom, Practice, and Movie. With 20 outfits to find, 14 unique endings to experience, and 18 different kinds of music and dance styles to choose from (including Waltz, Latin dance, Tango, Ballroom, and much more), there's no shortage of things to see and do!

Princess Debut will be available exclusively for the Nintendo DS this fall. For more information on Princess Debut, please visit www.natsume.com.

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There's Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness for DS, and Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility for Wii. And yes, there will be pre-order bonus stuffed toys.

Please hold the girl jokes, but as a fan, I think this news is amazing. Especially because the screenshots, handily provided for you after the jump, show that in the Wii version, you can ride on an ostrich. Horses are so ten years ago. And screenshots for the DS version (one of which seriously shows a girl saying "Wow, it's bigger than I thought"), reveal not only that the possible girlfriends are as decision-wrenchingly cute as always, but that the top screen map will actually show you where townsfolk are so that you can visit them.

Full announcement along with the screens after the jump.

Special Anniversary Packaging, Plush Toys, Strategy Guides and an Exclusive DS Lite Kit Just Some of the Specialty Items that will Commemorate the Beloved Series

Burlingame, Calif., July 7, 2008 - Natsume, a worldwide developer and publisher of family-oriented video games, announced today that the company is celebrating the ten-year anniversary of its popular Harvest Moon franchise this summer. In commemoration of the anniversary, Natsume is launching two new Harvest Moon titles later this quarter and offering a host of retail promotions surrounding the launches.

Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness for the Nintendo DS and Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility for the Nintendo Wii will both be available at retail later this summer, and will be branded with special packaging marking the 10th anniversary. In addition, a line of collectible plush toys featuring the cute and friendly animal characters from the games will also be available as a pre-order bonus/gift with purchase at select retailers. Other special promotions surrounding the anniversary include an exclusive 10th anniversary Harvest Moon DS Lite Kit (with protective cover, stylus, screen wipe and more) and two new strategy guides from BradyGames.

The Harvest Moon series began ten years ago when it launched on the Super Nintendo. Since then, the RPG/Simulation series has garnered a large and loyal fan base, and has appeared on most every home and handheld console available, including GameBoy, GameBoy Color, GameBoy Advance, Nintendo 64, GameCube, Nintendo DS, PlayStation, PlayStation2, PSP and soon the Nintendo Wii.

The series has sold millions of units in North America, with 20 incarnations over the course of 10 years. The games are usually set in rural towns packed with interesting and friendly characters where the player is tasked with running a successful farm, creating a family by getting married, having children, and befriending the people in the town to help build up their land. The games are great for players of all ages because they provide wholesome, non-violent entertainment anyone in the family can enjoy.

"The concept of Harvest Moon games is simple: hard-working people should get rewarded for what they have done. We want players to take this concept they get in the game, and apply it to their real life, too," said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO of Natsume. "We couldn't be happier that the series has caught on with so many fans. It's their tremendous enthusiasm and support that has kept the series growing and evolving over these past ten years."

Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness (DS) In the largest portable Harvest Moon experience ever, Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness for the Nintendo DS tasks players with building their own paradise as they find themselves shipwrecked on a deserted island. Starting off with an abandoned farm, a handful of seeds, and the determination to start a new life, it's up to the player to attract settlers by making their farm robust and the island prosper, By harvesting crops, raising animals, and mining for precious gems, gamers will help the island grow into a vibrant town filled with people, businesses, and eligible bachelors and bachelorettes. Players can take on the role of a boy or a girl while falling in love and starting a family. For a competitive feel, gamers can also play against other ranchers via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility (Wii) In Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility for the Nintendo Wii, you find yourself in a troubled island town which once prospered with life and energy, but is now in serious trouble. The mystical Mother Tree that once watched over the island has disappeared, and the Harvest Goddess is nowhere to be found! The island has lost its connection with nature and the inhabitants don't know what to do - it's up to you to save the island! You must help to rebuild the island by tending to the earth, befriending and raising animals, nurturing friendships, and creating a family. When the giant Mother Tree is reborn, the Harvest Goddess will return and bring prosperity to the island once again. Long-time Harvest Moon fans as well as new players will find an exciting, involving storyline and plenty of activities including cultivating crops, caring for animals, and participating in festivals. All-new controls for the Nintendo Wii Remote give players the chance to feel like they're really farming!

Both Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness and Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility will be on display at this month's E3 trade show in the Los Angeles area and will be available at retail later this summer.

For more information on either of the new Harvest Moon titles, please visit www.natsume.com.

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About Natsume Natsume Inc. is a worldwide developer and publisher that specialize in unique and family-oriented interactive entertainment software for a variety of platforms. Most known for publishing Reel Fishing and Harvest Moon, Natsume is dedicated to producing quality video games. For more information about Natsume Inc., visit www.natsume.com

Natsume will be showing off the new title next month at their E3 booth, traditionally known as Paradise to Harvest Moon fans. We'll see if we can't stop by and give the old hoe a go.

NATSUME TO BRING THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RUNE FACTORY 2: A FANTASY HARVEST MOON TO NINTENDO DS LATER THIS FALL

Sequel to the Critically Acclaimed RPG Makes Its First Public Appearance at E3 Next Month

Burlingame, Calif., June 24, 2008 – Natsume Inc., a worldwide developer and publisher of family-oriented video games, announced today that Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon will be released for the Nintendo DS™ system later this fall. The company has also released the first screen shots of the game. The Rune Factory series is a unique blend of elements from the world of Harvest Moon and that of a fantasy RPG, offering Harvest Moon fans and traditional RPG players the best of both worlds.

“We are thrilled to announce that Rune Factory 2 is on its way to the U.S. The first Rune Factory title was a great success for us and our fans have been eagerly awaiting a sequel,” said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO at Natsume. "The Rune Factory series is a great expansion of the Harvest Moon universe; it takes the addictive Harvest Moon gameplay that fans know and love and combines it with the action and adventure of a fantasy RPG. Rune Factory 2 offers better graphics and even deeper gameplay than the first, along with many innovative new features.”

Rune Factory 2 is set several years after the first game. The evil Sechs Empire has been defeated, and the Kingdom of Norad is once again at peace.

Things may not stay that way for long, however, as dark premonitions foretell of dangers to come. It's up to player to uncover the source of these premonitions and bring peace to the kingdom once more.
Over the course of the story, players will build and develop a farm, befriend townspeople, raise monsters, take on quests, and find a wife.

Rune Factory 2 offers innovative Touch Screen controls, easy-to-use menus, and an all-new compelling storyline.

In a first for the Rune Factory series, the story of Rune Factory 2 is multigenerational. Players begin the game as Kyle, a strange man who comes to Alvarna Village. Eventually, players will take on the role of Kyle's child, opening up a whole new adventure. It's an innovative feature that allows players to follow the story of their family and the townsfolk over two generations!

Rune Factory 2 will make its first public appearance at next month’s E3 trade show in the Los Angeles area and will ship to retail later this fall.

For more information on Natsume’s titles, please visit www.natsume.com.

When naming our new company, we desire to maintain these objectives. We also thought of a Japanese word, "atari", used in the expression such as: A World of Hit business is counted by "How much you earn if you hit atari"; Pachinko is a game to aim "atari"; and thus in such a world by working hard We want to come up with big atari (big hit) machine!!. So, summing all up, we decided a company name, "Atari Inc."
Participating in all the business areas and projects, our top rated development staffs are aiming to reach literally the Biggest Atari by collecting all their wisdoms and ideas.

I know the 2600 was never big in Japan, but don't these guys know? Or Care? Maybe that's a good conversation starter. "No, we're the other Atari."

Greetings [ATARI Inc via Insert Credit]

Slated for a Fall 2008 launch, the first title they'll co-publish is Valhalla Knights 2 for PSP, a sequel to the April 2007 RPG that the two companies also co-published.

Full release follows the jump.

Torrance, Calif., (May 9, 2008) - Japan-based game publisher Marvelous Entertainment Inc. and Los Angeles-based game company XSEED Games announced today their entering into a strategic co-publishing partnership. The deal will help to establish a US publishing presence for Marvelous Entertainment and will provide XSEED Games an opportunity to access and bring to market titles from Marvelous' portfolio of high quality, popular games. Under the agreement, XSEED Games will support key Marvelous Entertainment titles for publishing and distribution in North America, with the first title to be announced under this partnership, Valhalla Knights 2 for the PlayStation® Portable (PSP), scheduled to launch in fall 2008. "We're pleased to be able to announce our new expansion into the largest gaming market in the world, the United States. I'm confident that together with our co-publishing agreement with XSEED Games, we will be able to hit the ground running as we ramp up our US operations," stated Yasuhiro Wada, Managing Director of Marvelous Entertainment. Jun Iwasaki, President of XSEED Games, shared Mr. Wada's sentiments. "We're honored to get the chance to partner with Marvelous Entertainment as they establish and grow their presence in the US market. They have an exceptional library of original and creative games many of which should prove a hit with Western gamers."

Sequel to the popular Valhalla Knights, Valhalla Knights 2 promises to give fans of the original game a vast and expansive world to explore, and the customization tools to create the ultimate battle party. This action RPG (Role Playing Game) sequel adds new races, job classes, weapons, magic spells, foes, armor and more to the Valhalla Knights universe, within an engrossing story arc. Controlling and choosing character aspects such as skills, race, and appearance, players can engage in real-time 6 on 6 battles, reliant on tactical combat strategies to achieve success. Supporting 2 player ad hoc network play, gamers can engage in Co-op and Versus modes with friends, or simply trade items and weapons.

"Valhalla Knights 2 will carry on the legacy its predecessor established as a beloved game in any RPG player's library," remarked Ken Berry, Marketing and Sales at XSEED Games. "We appreciate this game being the first in our co-publishing partnership with Marvelous Entertainment as it will help to set the quality standard high for all future games coming out of this deal."

Marvelous Entertainment and XSEED Games will be announcing additional titles under this co-publishing deal in the near future, as well as more specific game details and assets for Valhalla Knights 2.

Marvelous Entertainment Inc.

Marvelous Entertainment is a leading Japanese creator of interactive entertainment with such esteemed franchises as Harvest Moon, Rune Factory, Luminous Arc and No More Heroes under their corporate umbrella. More information on Marvelous Entertainment can be found at http://www.mmvus.com.

XSEED Games

XSEED Games was formed in November 2004, by a small group of industry veterans led by president Jun Iwasaki with a common vision; to cross pollinate the avid gaming culture of Japan and North America. Delivering unique, innovative titles across multiple platforms and genres, XSEED Games is dedicated to publishing products that appeal and enrich the North American market. More information on XSEED Games can be found at http://www.xseedgames.com.

As far as video game music is concerned, when the service first started, we either had to limit the number of the tracks or use built-in synth to play each tune in order to accommodate the capacity restrictions. I think that most of these technical problems can be solved now because of recent improvements in the technology. I think that it would be truly interesting if games come about using the powerful sound capabilities of the Xbox 360 while incorporating a system that manipulates sound in real-time so that the music interacts on a deep level with the gameplay.

January 9th Arcade Release Revealed [360 Monster via Destructoid]

Q). Do you have any plans to bring Omega 5 to PlayStation's PSN?

A). Not at present, no.

Q). Any particular reasons why not?

A). The specs of the respective hardware were one reason. We also determined that certain aspects of the development would be easier using the 360. The project was conceived of first for the 360, and we kept it exclusive to keep the development team small.

Q). Natsume has a long history of working with publisher Marvelous Interactive. Why the switch to Hudson this time?

A). For one, Hudson is very well established outside of Japan. They would also be able to help us take the game multi-platform if we ever decide to pursue that.

Unlike Forgotten Worlds, you won't purchase weapon upgrades from shops. However, there is an undeniable series of moments, enemy types and aesthetic decisions that invoke memories of Capcom's futuristic shooter.

Each character—two of which were on hand today, a female humanoid and a male four-armed alien—is equipped with a unique weapon. Hers is a satellite that fires independently and, when the right trigger is depressed, clamps onto whatever enemy you're aiming at. Yes, for massive damage. Shots are upgraded by grabbing one of three power up types that swarms of enemies drop. Similar to the Raiden series, shots can be upgraded up to three times. The female fighter, for example, upgrades her laser shot to the point where it bounces off surfaces.

The male fighter plays quite differently, employing a bizarre hose-hand that squirts one of three liquid shots. He can also deflect enemy fire back at enemies by moving dangerously close to bullets, then reflecting projectiles with a quick flick of the right analog thumbstick.

The controls, by the way, are simple, familiar, and tight. Left analog stick moves your character, right analog stick aims, right trigger modifies your shot—launching the satellite as mentioned earlier for her, changing the flow of the goo for him—and the left trigger launches a screen clearing nuke. Up to three of these are earned by collecting pink triangles dropped by destroyed enemies.

Oh yeah. Omega Five is hard. The team at Natsume certainly weren't catering to casual players with their upcoming shmup, giving it a challenging arcade difficulty and limiting your continues to three credits. As an XBLA game, Omega Five is planned to feature two-player co-op... and gamers will have to share these credits.

I managed to beat the demo on my second play through, but imagine that the game will require plenty of repeat plays to finally finish (sans credit feeding).

For an Xbox Live Arcade title, the game is absolutely stunning. It's arguably the best looking game on the service to date, filled with beautifully modeled characters and candy colored lighting effects. It has a crisp clean look in motion with some solid character designs.

Omega Five looks like it'll be packed with old school fun, offering plenty of challenge. It's quickly moved to the top of my list for future Live Arcade purchasers and anyone with a shmup streak in them need to give this game a shot. Me? I'm going back to the Hudson booth to gaze lovingly at it while waiting for time to pass.

Omega Five Gunning for Xbox LIVE(R) Arcade

Hudson to Release an All-New Sci-Fi Themed Side-Scrolling Shooter

REDWOOD SHORES, CA - September 12, 2007 - Leading video game publisher Hudson Entertainment has partnered with Natsume to bring gamers an all-new IP titled Omega Five for the Xbox LIVE(R) network. Omega Five is a graphically intense, side-scrolling shooter set in a three-dimensional environment, and features some truly hardcore action never before seen on the platform. The game is expected to launch worldwide in November 2007.

Set in a futuristic world, Omega Five is a shooter that pushes the visuals to the limit for a digital download game. The game feature 3D environments, dazzling special effects, and massive battles, all in high definition. Omega Five is unique in that players can choose from multiple humanoid characters, each with their own unique special attacks and upgradeable weapons, which they can shoot in 360 degrees. Omega Five also includes a local co-op function in which a friend can join in on the aerial mayhem.

"Hudson is truly pleased to be working with Natsume on bringing an all new franchise to shooter fans worldwide," said John Greiner, President and CEO of Hudson Entertainment. "Omega Five promises to be the most challenging shooter in the Xbox LIVE Arcade library, and will appease the most hardcore fan of the genre."

The game begins, as many other RPG titles do, with a young amnesiac. The hero of the game awakens in an unfamiliar village where a young lady named Mist helps him build a new life of farming, fishing, and macking on the local ladies. It's just like your average Harvest Moon titles, only this time around your stamina bar is replaced with a rune points meter, which depletes as you use tools or fight monsters.

Yes, monsters. Caves are opening around the land, filling with machine generated monsters for some mysterious purpose that is up to you to discover. Delve into the various caves to defeat monsters and face an end boss in traditional action RPG fashion, using weapons and magic at the cost of rune points and eventually your own HP. Luckily the dungeons contain parcels of land ripe for farming, and a well managed crop can mean the difference between life and death, a message I am sure is wholly supported by farmers associations everywhere.

It isn't all about killing, however. You can also befriend monsters and raise them much like livestock on your farm. Treat them well and they can act as companions in battle, suppliers of raw materials, or even help maintain your farm while you are out and about killing their friends and family.

Rune Factory features a robust crafting system where you can create all the tools you need to keep your farm in top condition and the monsters you face in dead condition. Players will even be able to trade items with their friends over the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection. Is a dungeon kicking your ass? Have a friend send you a badass weapon to help even the odds. It's a very nifty way to foster a community of players ready to lend a helping hand.

The game looks beautiful in motion, easily one of the prettier DS titles I've seen. The 3D characters animate very smoothly against some beautiful 2D scenery. The world of Rune Factory is as rich and detailed as you would expect from developer Neverland, the creators of the Lufia RPG series.

I have always been intrigued by the Harvest Moon series, but I never could find the hook that would keep me playing long after my brief passion for farming subsided. This is that hook. Released in Japan last year, the game garnered a score of 33/40 (9/8/7/9) from Famitsu, and proved so popular that sequels are planned on the DS as well as the Nintendo Wii. If a Harvest Moon game has ever gotten you so frustrated you just wanted to kill something, this is your chance.

Harvest Moon DS Cute? That sounds like overkill for a game that already has the most adorable chickens and cows the world has ever known. They're cuter than the girls you're supposed to hit on. Not that Natsume would ever openly include some bestiality in a game.

Oh, you know why you play, you sickos. Kim Phu

Natsume prepares to release a long list of Harvest Moon games [Siliconera]