Farming MMPORG (I kid you not)

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=61503

 

Marvelous has announcified Harvest Moon Online. Producer Yoshifumi Hashimoto says it's his first online title, but won't commit to platform (reports tease us with suggestive nods to next-gen platforms and PC), and it sounds like Marvelous is entirely reluctant, for the moment, to say anything about it.

 

Still, the prospect of Harvest Moon going online is a nonetheless delightful one. Already we're imagining a virtual countryside full of real farms with real-life farmer's-daughters to befriend and be-bed. More realistically, we also like the idea of going fishing with our friends, real cattle markets, and siring virtual offspring with real other-people. All of which would probably be easier if we just went outside and did them, but, you know.

 

In less hazy news, Marvelous has also spoken out about its new PSP and DS Harvest Moons, one of which is literally a "New Harvest Moon": Innocent Life: Shin Bokujou Monogatari for the PSP, announced at the end of September, is in development at ArtePiazza, and will give you a farm in an idyllic island setting, with lots of towns to visit by bike and even a volcano. Probably not to visit though.

 

The other, Rune Factory: Shin Bokujou Monogatari for the DS, is a bit weird for a Moon title, but we're curious about it anyway. Developed by Neverland, the idea is that you live in a fantasy world where you capture and raise monsters on your farm, and then add them to your adventuring party. Which you lead with a sword. Very peculiar. It doesn't say if you'll be able to go fishing, but you better!

 

Shin Bokujou Monogatari sounds like a pared down version of Pokemon with more emphasis on breeding and less on capturing. Plus you can wade in yourself, which you cant with pokemon. Have to keep an eye on that one

 

*my comments in bold

[Reveilled]

 

Harvest Moon Online sounds like an MMORPG I'd actually play.

 

If everyone gets a huge farm to themselves, then there should be a much lower population density in Harvest Moon Online than there is in other MMORPGS. For the most part, huge population density has always been the main turnoff I've found in MMORPGs. There shouldn't be several million heroes all hanging around in the world's largest city. Hell, there shouldn't be several million heroes hanging around on a planet! Several million farmers, all living at least a kilometre apart, on the other hand, sounds much more reasonable.

 

I can hear the game in my head already...

"OMFG SOVIET BOARD OF AGRICULTURE! PK! PK!"

"collectivisation sux!"

"STFU t0wnE!"

"HOLY **** BIRD FLU DEBUFF WTF"

"nerf the CAP!"

:D

[jaguars4ever]

Still, the prospect of Harvest Moon going online is a nonetheless delightful one. Already we're imagining a virtual countryside full of real farms with real-life farmer's-daughters to befriend and be-bed. More realistically, we also like the idea of going fishing with our friends, real cattle markets, and siring virtual offspring with real other-people. All of which would probably be easier if we just went outside and did them, but, you know.

WTF?

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

 

Harvest Moon Online sounds like an MMORPG I'd actually play. 

 

If everyone gets a huge farm to themselves, then there should be a much lower population density in Harvest Moon Online than there is in other MMORPGS.  For the most part, huge population density has always been the main turnoff I've found in MMORPGs.  There shouldn't be several million heroes all hanging around in the world's largest city.  Hell, there shouldn't be several million heroes hanging around on a planet!  Several million farmers, all living at least a kilometre apart, on the other hand, sounds much more reasonable.

 

I can hear the game in my head already...

"OMFG SOVIET BOARD OF AGRICULTURE!  PK!  PK!"

"collectivisation sux!"

"STFU t0wnE!"

"HOLY **** BIRD FLU DEBUFF WTF"

"nerf the CAP!"

:D

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Don't get me wrong I like harvest moon a lot, but only when i'm in the right sort of mood. I couldnt see myself as a virtual farmer although if it has the month free trial or whatever I could see myself spending a week there.

[Kaftan Barlast]

-OMFG si dat a pitchfork of immunity against drought??!?!0101

-ye yoo nub ROFLMAO

-dupe plz.

-neg. u trade liek 4 rakes of multiseed

-WTF!!0101 dupe plz!!!

-NEG!!010101

-im telling my clan bout this u r so ded u fukin f4gg0t!!!

[SteveThaiBinh]

"HOLY **** BIRD FLU DEBUFF WTF"

Oh my God! Can we catch Bird Flu on the internet now? Someone should tell the tabloids.

[CoM_Solaufein]

Looks like some devs can't think of anything better.

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

Looks like some devs can't think of anything better.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I would imagine there is going to be some problems with the time scale. Harvest Moon works on an accelerated time which dosnt seem suited to an MMPORG of that nature.

 

For example if one game day equals one real day then things are going to grow really slowly. Unfortuanely if say you have X number of days in a 24 hour period then your going to have to practically live there in order to feed your animals and water the crops. Automate that and you kind of miss the point of the game.

 

Unlike games such as EQ where it dosnt much matter about how many actual game days are going by when your not online in Harvest Moon keeping track of how many days pass is vital.

[Reveilled]

Looks like some devs can't think of anything better.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I would imagine there is going to be some problems with the time scale. Harvest Moon works on an accelerated time which dosnt seem suited to an MMPORG of that nature.

 

For example if one game day equals one real day then things are going to grow really slowly. Unfortuanely if say you have X number of days in a 24 hour period then your going to have to practically live there in order to feed your animals and water the crops. Automate that and you kind of miss the point of the game.

 

Unlike games such as EQ where it dosnt much matter about how many actual game days are going by when your not online in Harvest Moon keeping track of how many days pass is vital.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

What they may do is simply have time on farms only pass when the farm's owner is online.

 

Alternatively, they might have several worlds where time passes at different rates which the player can choose to join based on the time he or she has. Thus, someone online every day could play in a world where seven in-game days pass per day, while someone who can only get on at weekends could play in a world where an in-game day passes monday-friday, and three days pass on each of saturday and sunday.

 

And "hardcore" farmers could play a day a day for that authentic boring farm life experience. :D

[Arkan]

This is stupid. I'm sorry, but it is.

[Reveilled]

This is stupid. I'm sorry, but it is.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh yeah? Well...well, you're stupid!

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

What they may do is simply have time on farms only pass when the farm's owner is online.

 

Alternatively, they might have several worlds where time passes at different rates which the player can choose to join based on the time he or she has.  Thus, someone online every day could play in a world where seven in-game days pass per day, while someone who can only get on at weekends could play in a world where an in-game day passes monday-friday, and three days pass on each of saturday and sunday.

 

And "hardcore" farmers could play a day a day for that authentic boring farm life experience. :D

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yes I suppose you could run each farm much like an instanced dungeon with time only mattering in social areas. That one seems the most logical to me.

[Arkan]

This is stupid. I'm sorry, but it is.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh yeah? Well...well, you're stupid!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

That may be, but that doesn't change the fact that this is a stupid idea for a game.

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

This is stupid. I'm sorry, but it is.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Never played a Harvest Moon game ?

[Arkan]

This is stupid. I'm sorry, but it is.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Never played a Harvest Moon game ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

It's online farming we're talking here right? I don't care what you're farming, it's still farming...in a video game....

 

It's one thing to kill some time with a single player 'harvesting' game, but to pay monthly fees to spend most of your time online...farming... it's just not right.

 

I mean what's next? Stock Market MMOG?

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

It's online farming we're talking here right? I don't care what you're farming, it's still farming...in a video game....

 

It's one thing to kill some time with a single player 'harvesting' game, but to pay monthly fees to spend most of your time online...farming... it's just not right.

 

I mean what's next? Stock Market MMOG?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Don't forget you can fish and mine too and cook :D

 

Must admit I'm having difficulty seeing the long term draw as well.

 

You never know.

[Arkan]

It's online farming we're talking here right? I don't care what you're farming, it's still farming...in a video game....

 

It's one thing to kill some time with a single player 'harvesting' game, but to pay monthly fees to spend most of your time online...farming... it's just not right.

 

I mean what's next? Stock Market MMOG?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Don't forget you can fish and mine too and cook :D

 

Must admit I'm having difficulty seeing the long term draw as well.

 

You never know.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Great, now I've got to do most of my daily chores twice! Ah I can't wait!

 

But yeah, you never know...them Asians is wacky sometimes...

[Reveilled]

What can I say? It appeals to me. Don't ask me how, but it does.

[Arkan]

What can I say?  It appeals to me.  Don't ask me how, but it does.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Are you buy chance, some sort of farmer?

[SteveThaiBinh]

If they have a demo, I'll play. It's always good to come across something that so completely different from anything you've tried before.

 

They should release it in the UK as 'The Archers online'.

[Judge Hades]

[Musopticon?]

This sort of reminds me of "A Tale in the Desert"

[Reveilled]

What can I say?  It appeals to me.  Don't ask me how, but it does.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Are you buy chance, some sort of farmer?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Alas, no. But if there was no physical effort involved, I might be. :cool:

[metadigital]

... And, in late-breaking news, Dufus have announced their latest game for release Spring 2006: Bring Home the Bacon®.

 

This will be a MMOPRG where people can join in the virtual community, go to virtual school, pass virtual exams and complete virtual vocational training, to go onto virtual employment; any career is possible, from neurosergeon, dentist and oncology specialist, through to teacher, lawyer, barrister, priest, deacon, garbage collector and even unemployed. There is even a special mode for incapacity benefit, and potentially even for fraud!

 

Future expansions will include Day in Court, with possible jail time for all sorts of fun crimes, from grand larceny to murder, and Afterlife, where high level characters can choose their diety and eternal domicile: including hell, valhalla and elysium.

 

[Musopticon?]

Hobo Simulator would so rock.